National News – Page 315 – Windhoek Observer

15 Feb

Urgent call for action to transform education in Namibia

National News

Niël Terblanché Namibia stands at a critical juncture and actions taken to improve the education standard could very well shape the future of many young people and at the same ensure that every learner has the opportunity to succeed and thrive in a rapidly evolving global landscape. The Standing Committee on Education, Science, ICT, and Youth Development presented a comprehensive report to the National Council, shedding light on the pressing issue of the high failure rates among learners at the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) and Advance Subsidiary (NSSCAS) levels for the year 2022 in an effort to improve…

15 Feb

National council highlights urgent need for school halls

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja In an outreach program undertaken by the National Council led by Victoria Kauma, the delegation discovered a pressing concern regarding the lack of school halls in numerous educational facilities across Oshana, Omusati and Kunene regions. According to the committee’s report, this infrastructure gap has far-reaching implications, affecting the quality of education and overall experiences for learners in these areas. The outreach program aimed to engage with learners and youth, shedding light on the challenges faced by communities following significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Kauma, reflecting on the findings, expressed concern over the absence of school halls…

15 Feb

CoW and Vivo Energy donate learning materials worth N$112 000

National News

Martin Endjala The City of Windhoek (CoW) in collaboration with Vivo Energy Namibia, on Wednesday donated 572 books and two computers worth N$122,000 to the Nathaniel Maxuilili Library and Greenwell Matongo Library. According to CoW Mayor Queen Kamati, the handover of library books and two computers to the two community libraries in the city’s informal settlements marks a milestone in their ongoing commitment to promote literacy and digital inclusion. "This donation aims to enrich the knowledge of our learners in subjects such as English, Science, Entrepreneurship, and Commerce, by further enhancing access to educational resources in our community, " Kamati…

15 Feb

Fuel theft costs NAMCOR more than N$1 million

National News

Martin Endjala National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) has discovered an incident where fuel worth more than N$1 million was stolen from the National Oil Storage Facility at Walvis Bay. The discrepancy was discovered with the loading of 39,993 litres of 50 ppm diesel in December 2023 and 39,891 litres of the same product in January 2024. Despite loading documents suggesting that the two loads were destined for a customer’s site, there is no evidence of the product having arrived or received by the bulk fuel customer. As a result, the state-owned entity conducted an extensive internal investigation into the…

15 Feb

Armed robbery leaves Windhoek residents in shock

National News

Niël Terblanché A brazen cash-in-transit heist that unfolded at the Grove Mall in Windhoek on Wednesday morning, left the city’s residents in disbelief. A group of five robbers, armed with pistols and an AK47 assault rifle, made off with N$305,987 during the daring cash-in-transit robbery. According to the incident report provided by the Public Relations division of the Namibian Police, the daring robbery took place when three employees employed by Namibia Protection Services were collecting cash from various retail outlets situated in the mall “The three guards started collecting money from the various shops at about 08h00 and at about…

15 Feb

Taxi boss’s claim against government balloons to more than half a billion dollars

National News

Stefanus Nashama Werner Januarie, the President of the Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU), has written to the Popular Democratic Movement’s McHenry Venaani and the Republican Party’s Henk Mudge to help him sue the government for N$522 million. According to court documents, Januarie has previously sought damages amounting to N$74 million, however, in the letter, he stated that amongst other things, the lawsuit of N$74 million has ballooned to N$522 million in the appeal he registered as SA 82/ 2023. In the letters to the various political leaders, Januarie expressed disappointment in the Namibian judicial system. “As a union, we…

14 Feb

Namibia remains on high alert amidst cholera crisis

National NewsNamibia remains on high alert amidst cholera crisis

Niël Terblanché As the cholera crisis intensifies across the African continent, claiming over 4,419 lives and affecting more than 266,000 individuals in the past year, Namibia remains on high alert. The Ministry of Health and Social Service recently confirmed that it is bolstering its disease surveillance and precautionary measures, responding proactively to the outbreak ravaging the populations of neighbouring nations. The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a significant burden of the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), accounting for over 16 percent of the continent’s cholera cases. Concurrently, the DRC has been the…

14 Feb

NBL accelerates commitment to reach zero emissions by 2030

National NewsNBL accelerates commitment to reach zero emissions by 2030

Martin Endjala Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL), a pioneer in sustainable manufacturing, has accelerated its sustainability efforts by committing to reach zero emissions across its operations by 2030. This science-based target, a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement climate goal, will be realised through a comprehensive strategy that emphasises increased renewable energy usage, enhanced energy efficiency, emission reduction across NBL’s value chain, and the implementation of innovative low-carbon technologies, and nature-based solutions. According to NBL Managing Director, Peter Simons, this net-zero commitment signifies a monumental leap in NBL’s sustainability journey as part of Brew a Better World 2030 strategy. “Climate change…

14 Feb

Repo rate remains unchanged

National NewsRepo rate remains unchanged

Martin Endjala In a move to justify its decision to maintain the repo rate at 7.75 percent, a level kept since June 2023, the Governor of the Bank of Namibia (BoN), Johannes !Gawaxab said that despite many wanting the central bank to reduce the repo rate, the benefits outweigh the costs. Most monitored central banks kept their policy rates unchanged at their most recent monetary policy meetings, mainly due to easing inflation and the moderation in growth. The BoN Governor was responding to questions posed to him during the announcement of the repo rate as to why it remains unchanged.…

14 Feb

“A big tree has fallen” – Simataa

National NewsSimataa remembers the legacy of Geingob

Niël Terblanché In a heartfelt tribute George Simataa, Secretary to the Cabinet, honoured the indelible legacy of Geingob, whose recent passing has left a profound void in the heart of the nation and the African continent. Simataa’s eulogy, delivered with a mix of sorrow and reverence, painted a vivid picture of a leader whose life was dedicated to the upliftment and unity of the Namibian people and the broader African cause. Simataa remembered Geingob, as a “big tree” under whose shade many found refuge, and was a stalwart of development, unity, and the fight against poverty. “His sudden silence has…