National News – Page 280 – Windhoek Observer

11 Jul

National Council calls for proper domestic financial stock

ObserverNational NewsNational Council calls for proper domestic financial stock

Stefanus Nashama The Rehoboth Urban Constituency Regional Councillor, Harald Kambrude noted that Namibia can move away from the South African Rand and minimize international debts by building proper financial stocks. The Councillor made these remarks yesterday while contributing to the Second Reading of the Banking Institution Bill in the National Council. Financial stocks are a type of security that gives stockholders a share of ownership in a company. Kambrude argued that Namibia is still piggybacking on the South African financial system which he says is making the country too vulnerable. He called on the country to localize the financial system…

11 Jul

Veteran loses out on grant

ObserverNational NewsVeteran loses out on grant

Hertta-maria Amutenja The former Secretary General of the Namibia National Liberation Veterans Association (NNLVA) and Veteran of the liberation struggle, Alex Kamwi has lost his application with the High Court of Namibia to have his veterans grant reinstated by the Veterans Board. High Court Judge Marlene Tomasi found that Kamwi could not prove the oral agreement he claimed he entered into with Thadeus Elago, the Director for the Directorate of Policy, Heritage and Registration at the Veterans Ministry. Elago has denied having entered into such oral agreement. Judge Tomasi ruled that Elago’s denial is not so far-fetched. “The respondents’ version…

11 Jul

Basic income grants needed to address malnutrition

ObserverNational NewsBasic income grants needed to address malnutrition

Martin Endjala Following an announcement by the Ministry of Health and Social Services that 45 children under the age of five died due to malnutrition in the Omaheke region between January and June 2023, measures are needed to redress the scourge of extreme poverty. The universal basic income grant is seen as a tool that could provide an answer to the question of hunger. Basilius Kasera, a lecturer of Religion, Philosophy and Applied Ethics at the University of Namibia told this publication that he believes that this is not a political statement, but one proven to guarantee households with the…

10 Jul

Venaani wants cheaper electricity for single parents

ObserverNational NewsVenaani wants cheaper electricity for single parents

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani will table a notice of motion in parliament on Tuesday, to explore possible remedies such as subsidised utilities and public transport to create better safety nets for single mothers. In addition, he will call for lessening the disproportionate socio-economic burden placed on single mothers. “Single-parent households generally have lower incomes and are more vulnerable to food insecurity. Further, that this motion be referred to the relevant Parliamentary Standing Committee,” read the notice of motion. In his notice, Venaani said according to the most recent census Namibia has 464 839 households, of…

10 Jul

NUST rectifies delayed exam results

ObserverNational NewsNUST rectifies delayed exam results

Martin Endjala Following growing concerns expressed by some Namibia University of Science and Technology students who are unable to access their results due to invoices that were not submitted to the Namibia Student Financial Assistant Fund (NSFAF), the university claimed that it has rectified the issue and that results will be made available. NUST spokesperson, John Haufiku could not confirm or deny that results were delayed. He, however, confirmed that all senior NSFAF students, who passed and progressed to the current academic year already have access to view results and register for the second term. “The accounts status of the…

10 Jul

O&L to invest more than N$ 1 Billion in solar powerplant

ObserverNational NewsO&L to invest N$ 2 Billion in solar powerplant

Niël Terblanché Nexentury, the energy subsidiary of the Ohlthaver and List Group will invest more than N$1 billion in the construction of a 100 Mega Watt solar power plant near Windhoek. The announcement by the O&L Group follows shortly on the heels of the Electricity Control Board’s (ECB) approval of Nexentury’s generation and export licenses. Both licenses are valid for 25 years and Nexentury indicated that Phase 1 of the project will be operational by July next year. Nexentury’s Managing Director, Bernd Walbaum said the more than N$1 billion project is aligned with the parent company’s mission statement, ‘Creating a…

10 Jul

FFI wants to assist with Namibia’s green revolution

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché Dr Mark Hutchinson, the Chief Executive Officer of Fortescue Future Industries, has proposed a joint venture with the Namibian Government to produce an important element in the production of green hydrogen and ammonia. Hutchinson made the proposal to manufacture electrolysers, on Friday during a courtesy call on President Hage Geingob at State House. When electrified electrolysers separate the oxygen and hydrogen molecules when submerged in water. Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) is a global green energy company committed to producing green hydrogen from 100 percent renewable sources. The company operates renewable energy, green hydrogen, and green ammonia projects in…

10 Jul

Shaama appointed as Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer

ObserverNational NewsShaama appointed as Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer

Niël Terblanché Peter Shaama was appointed as the Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer at the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and will serve for five years from 01 September 2023. ECN in a statement said that Shaama will be responsible for administering and managing Namibia’s electoral processes in accordance with an electoral cycle approach once his tenure starts. According to the statement, Shaama’s appointment follows an extensive recruitment process, which saw shortlisted candidates vying for the position of the commission’s head at the end of last month. Shaama currently serves as the Director of Operations at ECN. He has more…

10 Jul

Rössing Uranium phase 4 set to start in 2027

ObserverNational NewsRössing Uranium phase 4 set to start in 2027

Martin Endjala Phase 4 of the Rössing Uranium mine near Swakopmund will be fully operational in 2027 following a 13-year contract agreement signed in May this year with Biefang Mining Technology Services after the board approved it in February. This agreement will extend the life of the mine to 2036. The mine has been in existence since its inception in 1976 and has been mining on phase 2 and phase 3 pits which will reach its end in 2026. The 13-year contract is matched with the ten-year life cycle of the mining equipment. “After a feasibility study, we conducted which…

10 Jul

Oshakati finally gets a new fire station

ObserverNational NewsOshakati finally gets a new fire station

Martin Endjala Service delivery by the Oshakati Town Council to its residents has been boosted by the finalisation of the construction of a brand new fire station at a cost of N$8.8 million. The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni inaugurated the fire station in Oshakati last Thursday. The town has been without a properly fixed functioning fire station for some time now and only used to operate from a temporary station. The completion of the new fire station will enable the Town Council to conveniently take care of fire incidents within the town. This is the first…