National News – Page 273 – Windhoek Observer

18 Apr

Lack of fuel hampers Police patrol in Terrace Bay

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Police officers in Terrace Bay are sometimes unable to patrol along the sea due to a fuel shortage in the town, which can last for a week. Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration revealed this in its report on the oversight visits to the Skeleton Coast in Erongo and Kunene regions. The report stated that the police barracks where officers are accommodated had broken windows due to strong winds and a dilapidated roof. There is a lack of hot water, and officials are forced to use cold water despite the weather conditions in the town being…

18 Apr

EU spends over N$324m on early childhood development

National NewsBeatriz Ana Martins, EU spends over N$324m on early childhood development

Martin Endjala The European Union (EU) has spent over N$324 million on Namibia’s early childhood development, a three-year financial agreement signed in July 2023. This is according to EU Ambassador to Namibia, Beatriz Ana Martins, during the launch of the EU Namibia Early Childhood Development Sector Reform on 17 April at the Mix informal settlement on the outskirts of Windhoek. The Ambassador said the funds reaffirm the continuation of the partnership with Namibia and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), building on the results achieved under previous programmes. “We all know that many children have no access to…

18 Apr

Disaster relief programmes depended on data – Irimari

National NewsElia Irimari, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila

Martin Endjala Oshana region Governor Elia Irimari says the disaster relief programme under the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) depends on data availability to determine whether there is enough food, particularly the number of registered people. The governor told Windhoek Observer Namibia on Thursday, following concerns raised by some quarters, who argued that assistance through the disaster relief programme is insufficient and does not benefit all regions. Oshana region benefited from the program last year after it was hard hit by drought and flash floods. Irimari argued that disaster crises should not be OPM’s baby alone but rather a…

17 Apr

New clinic to enhance health services in Otjiwarongo

National News

Niël Terblanché In order to significantly boost healthcare services in Otjiwarongo, a new N$6 million clinic will soon rise in the Ombili informal settlement. This project, generously funded by B2Gold Namibia, aims to upgrade the existing health post centre to a full-service clinic. The announcement was made during a ground-breaking ceremony where Ben Nangombe, the Executive Director of the Health and Social Services Ministry, highlighted the benefits of the new facility. According to Nangombe, the Ombili Clinic will alleviate the existing pressures faced by the Otjiwarongo Hospital and the Orwetoveni Clinic. “Additionally, it will reduce the travel distance for residents…

17 Apr

Councilor accuses government officials of deliberately keeping vacancies open for years

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Grootfontein Constituency Councillor, Elder Filipe, who is also a Member of the National Council, said he has witnessed deliberate attempts to keep vacancies within certain organisations open for years by those trusted to govern and manage public institutions. Filipe was speaking in the National Council yesterday while contributing to the Fiscal Budget debate. He stressed that sometimes it takes more than five years to employ personnel like cleaners and labourers to serve in public institutions. He added that this is an unrealistic trend. “It’s time to conduct an audit of public institutions such as Local Authorities to ascertain…

17 Apr

Court again dismisses Africure’s challenge against CPBN tender decision

National News

Hertta- Maria Amutenja Africure Pharmaceuticals Namibia's attempt to contest the Central Procurement Board of Namibia's (CPBN) decision on the supply of antiretroviral medication to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, has hit a wall after the Windhoek High Court delivered a blow to its legal challenge. Africure is owned by businessman Shapwa Kanyama. In the most recent ruling, High Court Judge Orben Sibeya, dismissed Africure's urgent application, marking the failure of its attempt to halt the implementation of procurement contracts with successful bidders while seeking a review of the CPBN's selection process. Acting judge Kobus Miller, in a judgement…

17 Apr

Namibia’s mining sector lacks links to local industries – NCCI

National News

Martin Endjala Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), says at present, Namibia’s natural resource industries such as the mining sector have a very low number of links to local industries. “For example, the just-ended Fifth National Development Plan (NDP5) acknowledged this challenge and further provided for deliberate interventions to deepen local industry participation along the mining sector supply chains”. These were the sentiments expressed by NCCI President, Bisey Uirab on Tuesday at the Namibia Local Content Conference (NLCC) of the Oil and Gas industry held in Lüderitz. He said the conference is held against the background of the emerging…

17 Apr

Opposition MP questions Mushelenga over EU envoys summon

National NewsMaximalliant Katjimune, Peya Mushelenga

Stefanus Nashama Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of Parliament, Maximalliant Katjimune, is questioning minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Peya Mushelenga for summoning European Union (EU) envoys for meeting a local politician. This is according to a notice of questions submitted by the parliamentarian in the National Assembly on Tuesday. To Katjimune, the summoning of EU envoys and the local German Embassy over a courtesy meeting with leaders of registered political formation is worrisome. “It was therefore quite concerning when the ministry summoned envoys from the delegation of the European Commission to Namibia, as well the local German Embassy over…

17 Apr

Nedbank Namibia to host fourth Women in Media Conference

National NewsLimba Mupetami, Nedbank Namibia to host fourth Women in Media Conference

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The fourth annual Nedbank Women in Media Conference is set to take place this Saturday at the Nedbank Campus in Windhoek. Organised by Women in Media Co-Founder, Limba Mupetami, the event aims to provide a platform for women in the Namibian media industry to engage in dialogue, networking and collaboration. With a focus on advancing gender diversity and empowerment within the media sector, the conference will feature panel discussions and interactive conversations led by esteemed speakers from media organisations, scholars and corporate entities. Topics will range from the portrayal of women in media to strategies for career advancement…

17 Apr

Outdated legislation hinders financial sector innovation- NAMFISA CEO

National NewsOutdated legislation hinders financial sector innovation- NAMFISA CEO

Hertta- Maria Amutenja Chief Executive Officer of Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA), Kenneth Matomola, has highlighted that the outdated legislation is hindering financial sector innovation. This assertion stems from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration’s report on the stakeholder's consultative and oversight workshop on the Financial Institution and Markets Act (FIMA) held last year. The report sheds light on the regulatory challenges facing the non-banking financial institution (NBFI) sector. According to the report, various stakeholders in the financial sector raised concerns, urging a reconsideration of certain clauses within the legislation. “NAMFISA therefore indicated that the current…