National News – Page 325 – Windhoek Observer

16 May

More landless people move to home ownership

ObserverNational NewsMore landless people move to home ownership

Niël Terblanché More residents of the stretched-out DRC informal settlement in Swakopmund have taken ownership of their own land by signing contracts with the coastal town’s municipality. The latest batch of 270 land owners of the Wagdaar area of the DRC joined the 708 people who already signed their ownership certificates last month. The certificates will enable the newly minted land-owners to build their own homes through various other initiatives that are working tirelessly to house more Namibians in urban areas. The provision of adequate housing not only allows Namibians to live with their dignity intact but also enables people…

16 May

FLON speaks on sex, alcohol and drugs

ObserverNational Newsalcohol and drugs, FLON speaks on sex

Stefanus Nashama The First Lady of the Republic of Namibia, Monica Geingos has encouraged the youth to refrain from sexual activities and the use of alcohol and drugs. Geingos shared these motivational words over the weekend during an interactive dialogue with the youth from Ohangwena Region held at Helao Nafidi. Geingos said young women who involve themselves in sexual activities might end up falling pregnant for men they do not want to have a baby with. She reiterated that girls are more likely to have lower self-esteem after having sex. She said young people should always think about the consequences…

16 May

Januarie wants taxi fines revised and reduced

ObserverNational NewsJanuarie wants taxi fines revised and reduced

Stefanus Nashama The Namibian Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) President, Werner Januarie says there is a need for the Government to revise and reduce fines for taxis since the majority of taxi drivers struggle to pay fines and debt due to the low salaries they are paid. Januarie said taxi fines have been an issue for the past 30 years, adding that it is time for the Government to look into the matter to revise, adjust and reduce them to be affordable to taxi drivers. “Drivers are people who get paid a low commission-only salary and they do not have…

16 May

Fesmedia Namibia to host regional conference on media rights

ObserverNational NewsFesmedia Namibia to host regional conference on media rights

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The FES Africa Regional media project of the Friedrich- Ebert-Stiftung in Namibia, and its partners are hosting a two-and-a-half-day regional conference on Information and Communication Rights in Africa from 31 May to 02 June 2023 in Windhoek. Digital rights, access to information (ATI), freedom of expression (FOE), press freedom, media sustainability, and human rights issues are at the center of the conference. According to Poiyah Media, the conference will be an opportunity to examine the challenges facing the region, to learn from each other, and to identify opportunities for collaboration and cooperation to strengthen information and communication rights…

16 May

IPC partially victorious in lawsuit

ObserverNational NewsIPC partially victorious in lawsuit

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Independent Patriots for Change(IPC) will now defend the lawsuit in which the party is being sued by Anga Enterprise, owned by Gabriela Nietche-Kandolf after it allegedly failed to pay for promotional branding items and related services. High Court Judge Boas Usiku dismissed Anga Enterprise’s application for a summary judgement, which sought a direct order without the party’s argument. Nietche-Kandolf allegedly branded promotional items of t-shirts, golf shirts, caps, berets, bucket hats and badges and related services worth of N$ 3.2 million. Usiku found that Anga’s application for a summary judgment was flawed, in that it did not…

16 May

Hoachanas community in uproar over delayed Admin post filling

ObserverNational NewsHoachanas community in uproar over delayed Admin post filling

Martin Endjala Controversy over an Administrative Officer position in the Ministry of Education Arts and Culture in the Hardap region at the A.M.E Community Private Primary School in Hoachanas became the order of the day, with alleged irregularities and unauthorized interviews by school staff members. Allegations are that the interviews were conducted without the involvement of the school board members. As a result, the Hardap Regional Education Director Gerhard Ndafenongo said that the post has lapsed and will now be readvertised. According to Ndafenongo, the said post was advertised on the local notice board with a closing date of 29th…

16 May

Waves set to accelerate Namibian Green Hydrogen projects

ObserverNational NewsWaves set to accelerate Namibian Green Hydrogen projects

Niël Terblanché Electricity generated by wave energy will not only add to national generation capacity but also provide a more reliable alternative energy resource from which Namibia can tap to eventually become a net exporter of green energy. To realize the goal, Kaoko Green Energy Solutions from Namibia and AW-Energy from Finland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop near-shore wave energy infrastructure for green hydrogen production in Namibia. The plans are to construct a wave farm off the coast of Swakopmund which will enable significant cost reductions for new Green Hydrogen generation and production developments. The concept…

15 May

SWAPO owes almost N$2 million for services rendered

ObserverNational NewsSWAPO owes almost N$2 million for services rendered

Niël Terblanché The Oranjemund branch of the SWAPO Party will be evicted from their offices in Oranjemund after it failed to pay for services rendered by the mining town’s local authority. In a final letter of demand dated 11 May 2023 and addressed to the Secretary-General of the SWAPO Party, the Oranjemund Town Council’s legal representative states that the branch office owes it N$1 881 735 for services provided between June 2021 and January 2023. “Despite the numerous assurances and arrangements made by your Oranjemund Branch to settle your outstanding debt, regrettably, you have thus far failed to fulfil your…

15 May

Venaani concerned about the working conditions of health staff

ObserverNational NewsVenaani concerned about the working conditions of health staff

Stefanus Nashama The Leader of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and the official opposition party, McHenry Venaani called on the Government and stakeholders to prioritise the well-being of health workers and address the challenges they are facing. Venaani said many nurses in the country face numerous challenges like detrimental working conditions in government hospitals and clinics as well as dilapidated conditions of nurses’ homes which negatively impact their health and well-being. “Many employees in public health care centres, particularly nurses face the challenge of inadequate salaries and lack of resources and supplies,” he stated. Venaani further said nurses work long…

15 May

Innovative technology needed for economic growth

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala The recently concluded Fintech Square 2023 innovation event in Windhoek which ended on 11 May 2023, is hailed as a game changer in particular in the public sector that is mainly dominated by young people. For this reason, the Deputy Minister for Finance and Public Enterprise Maureen Hinda-Mbuende said that requires there is a need for innovation and technology to drive economic growth, due to changing financial landscape, therefore, emphasizing the need for cooperation to support such innovation. “In this regard, public-private partnership is key not only to support and create an enabling environment but also to protect…