National News

Ester Mbathera The Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises (MFPE) has clarified its stance on the appointment and extension of contracts for chief executives in state-owned enterprises who have reached or surpassed the age of 60. Among the senior CEOs is Social Security Commission head, Milka Mungunda, who is 64 years old. Her contract was extended in 2021 when she had just turned 61. The appointment of the governor of the Bank of Namibia, Johannes !Gawaxab was also questioned when he was appointed in 2020 at the age of 64. The latest appointment is that of TransNamib’s CEO, Desmond van…

Stefanus Nashama More young people are visible at the numerous registration centres in Windhoek as Namibia gets ready for the presidential and national assembly elections in November. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer over the weekend, Marine Beukes, a registration officer at the Electoral Commission of Namibia's (ECN) offices at Wernhill Park Mall in Windhoek, said since they started issuing the voter cards on 3 June, many young people have registered for voter cards. “It seems that young people are serious about the upcoming elections. I have worked as a registration officer before, but I have never seen young people come…

Niël Terblanché Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), Namibia’s leading mobile service provider, has become the first company in Namibia and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to simultaneously secure certification for six different excellence standards. This noteworthy accomplishment also positions MTC as the first organisation in Africa to achieve certification for its Integrated Management System (IMS) under the 2022 version of ISO 27001 Information Security. The certification ceremony, held on 7 June, was attended by MTC’s managing director, Licky Erastus, and other key members of the company’s executive committee. Erastus, while receiving the certification, said the milestone emphasises MTC’s commitment to…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Hilya Nghiwete, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), has accused Minister of Higher Education, Training, and Innovation Itah Kandji-Murangi of pressuring NSFAF board members to fire her for no reason. Nghiwete said this in a letter addressed to Kandji-Murangi dated 16 April seen by the Windhoek Observer. The letter includes President Nangolo Mbumba, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, and Swapo Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa on the carbon copy list. When contacted on Monday to confirm if she is indeed the author of the letter, Nghiwete promised to call back, but she never…

Stefanus Nashama Elma Dienda, the chief whip for the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) in the national assembly, has criticised the ministers for avoiding answering questions in parliament. Dienda made the remarks on Monday in an interview with the Windhoek Observer. According to Dienda, it is always a problem for the ministers to come to Parliament on Thursday when they have to answer questions. “It is not the first time for ministers to absent from parliament on Thursday. It is always an issue just because they do not want to answer questions,” she said. Last week, while parliamentarians had just returned…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Landless People's Movement (LPM) is engaging the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) on the procedures to replace the party’s former deputy leader, Henny Seibeb and member of parliament, Edson Isaaks in the National Assembly. Last week, the two resigned from the party and the National Assembly. On Monday, the party spokesperson, Lifalaza Simataa, said that the party is still engaging the ECN on the right procedures to follow and ensuring everything is done within the confines of the law. “The party is still consulting with ECN on the appropriate measures to take in the instance of the…

Stefanus Nashama The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) believes that Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's proposal to increase the old-age pension to N$3 000, as proposed by the late President Hage Geingob, seems to be more about political opportunism than genuine concern for the elderly. Over the weekend, Nandi-Ndaitwah announced her plans at the Hage Geingob Memorial Lecture in Ongwediva. She said that if elected into power at the upcoming presidential and national assembly elections, she would fulfil President Geingob's wish to increase the old-age pension. “You will agree with me that it is not easy to double the old-age grant…

Niël Terblanché Residents of Namibia's Kunene Region have voiced strong support for the establishment of a new region in northwestern Namibia, calling for the division of the current Kunene Region into two separate entities. This proposition was presented during recent public hearings conducted by the Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission, reflecting a collective desire to enhance administrative efficiency and local governance. The residents propose splitting the current Kunene Region into two parts, naming one Kunene and the other Welwitschia Region. The belief that a more focused and localised governance structure would better serve the needs of the community and improve…

Martin Endjala The Oshikoto Regional Police Commander, Commissioner Teopoline Kalompo-Nashikaku, has asked residents to refrain from demanding that the police arrest suspected drought relief food thieves. Her demands come after residents of Tsumeb accused Tsumeb Constituency Councillor Gottlieb Ndjendjela and council officials of stealing the estimated N$100 000 worth of drought relief food last month. “The Namibian Police also warned people not to demand the arrest of others but rather come to the police and give correct information or provide such information anonymously on the established platform. Finally, rest assured that the public will soon be updated in this regard,”…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The recent decision by the Labour Commissioner to deregister seven trade unions and one employers' organisation has left workers and employers in a state of uncertainty. Daniel Imbili, president of Namibia Fishing Industries and the Fisherman Workers Union (NFI and FWU), expressed concern over the implications of the deregistration. "Labour cases of union members are now left hanging in the air unless the companies and perhaps the Labour Commissioner grant us permission to complete the cases. The major issue here is one never knows who their friend or enemy is," he said. Imbili also stated that the union…