National News – Page 271 – Windhoek Observer

28 Jul

Namibia admitted to the UN Water Convention

ObserverNational NewsNamibia admitted to the UN Water Convention

Martin Endjala Namibia’s accession on 8 June 2023 to the United Nations Water Convention, made it the first Southern African country to the organisation. The landmark step will help Namibia to consolidate its long-standing commitment to transboundary water cooperation in Southern Africa. By joining the convention, Namibia aims to enhance water security and foster socioeconomic development for its population of 2.5 million people. By signing the UN Water Convention, Namibia has become the first country in southern Africa and the eighth country in Africa to join. The Water Convention, otherwise known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of…

28 Jul

Chinese company seek relief for N$ 33 million worth of income tax

ObserverNational NewsChinese company seek relief for N$ 33 million worth of income tax

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A Chinese construction company is seeking interim relief in the High Court of Namibia while alleging that N$33 031 543.04 was transferred from its bank account to the Bank of Namibia. The money is allegedly the total and combined tax payable in respect of income tax that was owed to the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa) by the Zhong Mei Engineering Group. The company claims it was only informed in an audit exit meeting, which they claim they were not aware of, on 7 July 2023 that it owed that amount and it was due or payable prior on…

28 Jul

SORED establishment on track

ObserverNational NewsSORED establishment on track

Martin Endjala The establishment plans of a Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (SoRED) which emerged in 2014, have received the blessings of the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development. The development follows a recent circular from the ministry’s Executive Director, Daniel Ngidinua which stated that shareholding and asset transfer agreements have been approved. The circular stated that the granted approval by the Ministry as advised by the Attorney General’s Office is set with conditions. The circular stated that the proposals, comments and changes made by the AG’s office must be inserted before the agreements are signed and copies sent copies of…

28 Jul

Trillions are lost to cybercrime

ObserverNational NewsCybersecurity Ventures, Trillions are lost to cybercrime

Martin Endjala With Cybercrime and cybersecurity constantly evolving and new threats emerging every year in different forms, there is a high risk of trillions of dollars getting lost to thieves. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the cost of cybercrime in 2023 is predicted to hit a staggering N$141 trillion and is expected to further grow to N$176 trillion by 2025,. “This is trillion, not billion, more than Apple and Amazon are worth combined, and that’s just in one year, and every day we go online, our devices are Internet-enabled, and we rarely think about the security risks we take and how…

28 Jul

NBL and Nafau sign wage increase deal

ObserverNational NewsNamibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU), NBL and Nafau sign wage increase deal

Martin Endjala Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU) recently agreed to sign a substantive wage increase agreement for the 2024 financial year. As part of the new agreement, the two parties have agreed on an overall increase of 7.5 percent in basic salaries for NBL employees. The agreement is for all bargaining unit employees and applicable for the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 and 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2024 respectively. The company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Surihe Gaomas-Guchu said that it will continue with the current incentive scheme that…

27 Jul

Kneejerk reaction unleashes a chain reaction

ObserverNational NewsKneejerk reaction unleashes a chain reaction

Niël Terblanché The opportunistic misinterpretation of the ruling of Namibia’s Supreme Court with regard to the immigration rights of people in same-sex marriages consummated outside the borders of the country by many influential personalities might have far-reaching funding consequences for the country. The initial kneejerk reaction to the Supreme Court’s ruling and the subsequent tabling and approval of a private member’s bill in the National Assembly to change the definition of the word spouse as described in the Namibian Constitution has had a chain reaction amongst donor countries and organisations that politicians and legislators should have anticipated.Ambassador John Nkengasong, the…

27 Jul

Venaani blames GRN for abandoning crucial projects

ObserverNational NewsMcHenry Venaani, Venaani blames GRN for abandoning crucial projects

Stefanus Nashama The leader of the official opposition in the Namibian Parliament, McHenry Venaani, blamed the government for failing to complete more than 43 capital projects. He said for the government to abandon such huge and crucial capital projects, represents gross mismanagement which is a severe blow to the Namibian Nation’s progress and ability to address the pressing needs of the people. According to him, the backlog of incomplete projects in the health, housing, education, and agriculture sectors is a sign of the government’s failure to prioritize the well-being of citizens. This follows a recent media report by the Ministry…

27 Jul

Retirement investment is a must for the construction industry

ObserverNational NewsEstablishment of the Namibian Building Workers Pension Fund (NBWPF), Retirement investment is a must for the construction industry

Martin Endjala The construction industry is among some of the most neglected industries when it comes to retirement investment given the model of its work and as a result, many self-employed businesses find it hard to join retirement pension funds. It is against this background that the Establishment of the Namibian Building Workers Pension Fund (NBWPF) was created on 1 March 1990 to minimize this gap that has been excluding the construction sector for some years. After applying for the rule amendment which was approved in October last year, by the registrar of pension funds under the auspices of the…

27 Jul

The majority without national documents are Angolans-Wakudumo

ObserverNational NewsBonifatius Wakudumo, The majority without national documents are

Stefanus Nashama Bonifatius Wakudumo, the Governor of the Kavango East Regio, has clarified that the majority of people without national identification documents in the Kavango community are Angolans who settled in Namibia a long time ago. The Governor said he is aware of this issue and added that they have all records of the number of Angolans without national identification documents. Wakudumo, however, indicated that there are some Namibians without national identification documents and that the government is working hard to register them. “Some African nationals from other countries who came to Namibia in the 1960s are also without national…

27 Jul

Two foreign nationals were arrested for attempted bribery

ObserverNational NewsNamibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), Two foreign nationals were arrested for attempted bribery

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Following a sting operation by Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), a Chinese man and an Angolan woman have been arrested in Windhoek on suspicion of trying to bribe someone. The two suspects allegedly offered a NamRa employee a N$ 50,000 bribe and were arrested on 25 July 2023. “The bribe was intended to influence the release of N$ 6 million belonging to a trading entity, which has been subject to intervention. The suspects are scheduled to appear in the magistrate’s court in due course,” said Yarukeekuro Ndorokaze, Chief of Strategic Communications and Support Engagements…