National News – Page 287 – Windhoek Observer

05 Apr

PDM displeased with government’s high operational budgets

ObserverNational NewsMaximalliant Katjimune, PDM displeased with government’s high operational budgets

Martin Endjala Popular Democratic Movement Member of Parliament, Maximalliant Katjimune is disenchanted with the government’s high operational expenditure over the development budget, citing that this practice is one of the main contributing factors to youth unemployment in the country. “The operational expenses are always more than the developmental budget. How are we going to achieve tangible development if in all sectors of the operational expenditure always far exceeds the development budget?” he asked. Katjimune said it is high time that government starts looking at reducing the operational budgets in all ministries, given the fact that most of the operational budgets…

05 Apr

Rundu Councillor worried about delayed constituency funding

ObserverNational NewsMinistry of Urban and Rural Development, Paulus Mbangu, The Rundu Councillor in the Kavango East Region

Martin Endjala The Rundu Councillor in the Kavango East Region, Paulus Mbangu, has expressed concern about the delayed Regional and Constituency Fund Bill which he says has halted projects and the development of the constituency. “We need the finalisation of the bill in order to carry out projects and develop our constituencies. The constituencies had drastic budget cuts last year which have left many of us operating with almost nothing in the coffers”, Mbangu explained. Last year’s proposed budget allocation for the Kavango East Region is estimated to be around N$100 million, but it only received about N$60 million. This,…

05 Apr

NHE strike ends with no salary hike, staff receive once off N$5k

ObserverNational NewsNHE strike ends with no salary hike

Stefanus Nashama The National Housing Enterprise and the Public Service Union of Namibia yesterday agreed to end the national strike with the conditions of no salary increment, and the deduction of employees’ salaries will be enforced over a period of eight months for the days the workers were striking. The parties instead agreed to a once of N$ 5000 payment for employees. The workers were demanding a seven percent salary increment, better working conditions and against nepotism, favouritism and corruption in the company. The workers downed tools in February this year and eventually ended the strike yesterday after both parties…

05 Apr

NABTA’s removal from Puma was instigated-Nakathingo

ObserverNational NewsNABTA’s removal from Puma was instigated-Nakathingo

Martin Endjala The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association’s (NABTA) Secretary-General, Pendapala Nakathingo, has alleged that its removal from the premises of the Rhino Park Puma Energy Namibia Service Station in Windhoek was driven by hidden agendas of its rival association’s operators. Puma Rhino park was home to long-distance operators and seven-seaters operating between Windhoek and the coastal towns. The dispute between Puma and the NABTA-affiliated long-distance bus operators, over ownership of the premises, has been ongoing since 2013. A court order was issued by the High Court last year, which ruled in favour of Puma Energy Namibia, forcing the taxi…

05 Apr

Helicopter crash ends in lawsuit

ObserverNational NewsHelicopter crash ends in lawsuit

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A dispute has erupted between Tsumeb businessman, Rainier Arangies and founder of Namibia Base Aviation (NBA), Schalk Nel, over a helicopter worth N$18 million, which belonged to Arangies. The helicopter in question was involved in an accident, in which it was destroyed beyond economic repair. The 49-year-old pilot Frans Henning narrowly escaped death after the privately owned helicopter crash landed at the Tsumeb airstrip in March 2020. The helicopter was allegedly chartered by NBA based in Swakopmund for the purpose of spraying bushes at a farm situated a few kilometres from the airstrip. According to documents filed in…

31 Mar

PM clarifies her statement at the UN

ObserverNational NewsPM clarifies her statement at the UN, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila

Stefanus Nashama The Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has retaliated to public criticisms, clarifying the statement she made at the United Nations Water Conference on the high percentage of access to potable water in Namibia. She said the high percentages she presented, are based on official data from approved sources and are not determined on an ad-hoc basis by the Office of the Prime Minister. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila added that the ministry responsible for water, based on official data, confirms the cited water access levels. The Prime Minister, in her speech to the UN congress last week stated…

31 Mar

Struggle Kids are unaware of farmland donation

ObserverNational NewsNamibia Exile Kids Association (NEKA), Struggle Kids are unaware of farmland donation

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Children born during the Liberation Struggle of Namibia also known as ‘struggle kids ‘ not resorting under the Namibia Exile Kids Association (NEKA) umbrella organisation have denied receiving land from the King of the Ondonga. King Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo has allocated 50 hectares of farmland to the children of the liberation struggle, represented by NEKA. The spokesperson of a splinter grouping of the Struggle Kids is not aware of the donation. “We are not aware of the land. Maybe it was given to the other struggle kids and NEKA but it was not given to us,” he said…

31 Mar

SACU adopts a safety, security and compliance supply chain programme

ObserverNational NewsSACU adopts a safety, security and compliance supply chain programme

Martin Endjala The Southern African Customs Union have adopted the implementation of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme to strengthen compliance, safety, and security within the supply chain, and to address inefficiencies amongst customs and other government agencies. The programme is a Voluntary Accreditation Programme designed by the World Customs Organisation (WCO) as a global standard used by Customs Administrations, other government agencies, and private sectors to strengthen compliance, safety, and security of the supply chain, whilst also building mutual trust and partnerships between government and businesses. During the official opening of a breakfast workshop organised by the Namibia Revenue…

31 Mar

CENORED warns against electricity dependency on SA

ObserverNational NewsCENORED warns against electricity dependency on SA, Chali Matengu

Martin Endjala The Central North Regional Electricity Distributor (CENORED) have warned against dependency on electricity supply from South Africa amidst that country’s inability to provide the utility to its own people. The Marketing Corporate Communications Manager of Cenored, Chali Matengu, argued that efforts now need to be diverted for Namibia to free itself. Matengu took this stance during an interview with the publication yesterday during which he stressed the urgency for Namibia as a country to accelerate its energy strategies to detach itself from its neighbouring country which of late has been suffering from load shedding, where many households have…

31 Mar

President appoints six new Judges

ObserverNational Newsand Justice Schimming-Chase, Dr Hage Geingob, Justice Johanna Sophia Prinsloo, Justice Rita Makarua, President appoints six new Judges

Stefanus Nashama President Dr Hage Geingob has appointed three acting judges to the Supreme Court and three to the High Court of Namibia. The Judicial Service Commission in an announcement on Wednesday said that the new appointments were made on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission. Sakeus Akweenda, the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, said in the statement that Justice Rita Makarua, Justice Johanna Sophia Prinsloo, and Justice Schimming-Chase were appointed as acting Judges of the Supreme Court effective from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. Justice Makarau is currently serving as a Judge in the Constitutional…