National News – Page 335 – Windhoek Observer

01 Sep

EIF continues to strengthen its collaborative chain

ObserverNational NewsEIF continues to strengthen its collaborative chain, Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF), Lot Ndahmanomhata

Martin Endjala The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) continues to grow and strengthen its stakeholder collaboration despite mounting economic challenges facing the country. The fund was established in 2001 by an Act of Parliament and started its operations in 2011. EIF started accessing funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in 2016 and has to date seen the approval of four GCF projects, for a total funding amount of nearly 40 million US dollars. The EIF became one of the first institutions to access the GCF through the “direct access” modality, whereby developing country institutions can access funds without…

31 Aug

Old Mutual settles with Competition Commission

ObserverNational NewsOld Mutual Short-Term Insurance Company (OMSIC), OMSIC

Staff Writer Old Mutual Short-Term Insurance Company (OMSIC) has become the latest short term insurer to have entered into settlement agreement with the Namibian Competition Commission over price fixing. The short term insurance giant together with six other major short term insurance companies were investigated and found to have been involved in collusive behaviour. The insurance companies are Santam Namibia, Alexander Forbes Insurance Company, Hollard Insurance Company, Old Mutual Short-Term Insurance Company, Outsurance Insurance Company of Namibia, Phoenix Assurance Namibia and Momentum Short-Term Insurance. Santam and Hollard have admitted already in 2019 that they engaged in ‘’unintended contravention’’ of the…

31 Aug

Zambian firm eyes scrap metal from local mines

ObserverNational NewsChamber of Mines President Hilifa Mbako, Mining Expo and Conference, Zambian firm eyes scrap metal from local mines

Obrein Simasiku Scaw Limited, a Zambian based company has presented a proposal to local mines to supply steel balls including other casting products in exchange for scrap metals. “Ideally, Namibia needs a foundry to manufacture such items and reduce imports and deepen the upstream linkages with industrialization and job creation,” said the Chamber of Mines President Hilifa Mbako, at the opening of the Mining Expo underway at the Windhoek Showgrounds that ends tomorrow. On that note, Mbako said the Expo offers a platform to cement such exchanges. “The main objectives of the Mining Expo and Conference have remained the same…

31 Aug

Ndeitunga bows out in style

ObserverNational NewsChief Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga, Mayor General Joseph Shikongo., Ndeitunga bows out in style

Martin Endjala The outgoing Police Chief Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga described his 17-year tenure as bumpy, rough and stoney, but that he finally accomplished the mission of leading the force. The Inspector General was speaking today at the change of command ceremony held at the Israel Patrick Iyambo Police College in Windhoek, where he handed over the instruments of power to his successor, Mayor General Joseph Shikongo. Police gave a befitting farewell parade to the outgoing Ndeitunga yesterday through the streets Independence Avenue. Ndeitunga who took over from Lukas Patrick Hangula, is the second longest serving chief of the Namibian…

31 Aug

Swapo failing to adjust to changing political climate

ObserverNational NewsHidipo Hamutenya, Political analyst Henning Melber, Swapo failing to adjust to changing political climate, SWAPO Party Youth League

Tujoromajo Kasuto Political analysts have chastised the Swapo party for failing to adapt to the political climate of the day by promoting the younger generation within its leadership structures, saying the party still considers those under the age of 50 to be youth, despite the fact that the world is moving towards younger leaders in top leadership positions. Political analyst Henning Melber notes that the party needs to do more than to ‘’pay lip service’’ to promoting a younger generation and stop defining “younger” as the age group 50 years and above. Addressing the Swapo Party Youth League congress recently…

31 Aug

Ndeitunga gets fitting farewell

ObserverNational NewsDan Munyuza, Ndeitunga gets fitting farewell, Police Inspector General (IG) Sebastian Ndeitunga

Obrein Simasiku “Oka Ndeitunga is going, bye” these were the words the outgoing Police Inspector General (IG) Sebastian Ndeitunga jokingly repeated with laughter, as he was being ushered with kind words by staff members bidding farewell. Oka Ndeitunga is a phrase coined in 2013 following his opinion on the issue of women wearing miniskirts, saying it was indecent; but that was received with mixed feelings, instigating demonstrations which were termed “Oka Ndeitunga miniskirt protest.” A street procession was held in honour of the long-serving police chief who is retiring tomorrow, 31 August having served for 17 years, thus he was…

31 Aug

MURD fast tracking housing delivery

ObserverNational NewsErastus Uutoni, MURD fast tracking housing delivery, Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF), Ongwediva Town Council

Martin Endjala The Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni has heaped praises on the Ongwediva Town Council and the Oshana Region for leading the way in the provision of housing. Uutoni was speaking at an information session organised by his ministry at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF). The information sharing session was to provide the public an opportunity to ask questions surrounding land, issuing of land certificates, housing and development in rural and urban areas. The session, the minister explained in his address was to continue the dialogue on topical issues such as access to urban land, housing…

31 Aug

Venaani fumes at Mulunga remarks

ObserverNational NewsImmanuel Mulunga, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) McHenry Venaani, Venaani fumes at Mulunga remarks

Martin Endjala The leader of the official opposition and Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) McHenry Venaani is fuming about what he describes as reprehensible and alleged ill-advised utterances by the Managing Director of Namcor Immanuel Mulunga, in a letter addressed to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, dated 23rd of August 2022. Mulungu said that Venaani lacks understanding of the oil industry following his claims that the oil exploration licences the ministry entered into with petroleum companies are not favouring Namibia and therefore should be renegotiated. Venaani in his response said Mulunga’s remarks are only ‘’embarrassing but regrettable’’ and an indication…

29 Aug

Dausab lays the rules for Hardap governor

ObserverNational NewsGershon Dausab, Hardap Regional Council, Landless People’s Movement, Swapo Party

Martin Endjala The chairperson of the Hardap Regional Council, Gershon Dausab has reminded the Swapo Party that it is no longer in charge of the region, following the fallout between the office of the governor and the regional council around the weekend’s organisation of Heroes Day at Mariental. The regional and the local Mariental local authority council are controlled by the Landless People’s Movement, while the governor is appointed by the President as the representative of the Head of State in the region, which is in opposition hands. The regional council withdrew its staff from the organising committee of Heroes…

29 Aug

Geingob commends OATF organisers

ObserverNational NewsGeingob commends OATF organisers, Harambee spirit’s power, Vice President Nangolo Mbumba

Staff Writer Vice President Nangolo Mbumba said the Head of State has commended everyone who has worked hard to make the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) a success and for having demonstrated that the Harambee spirit’s power is well and alive. “As Namibia continues along its development trajectory, concepts such as Smart Economy will become more important in order to support our developmental aspirations in a rapidly changing world. Given the fact that Namibia is a nation positioning itself to stay ahead of the development curb by adapting to the 4IR, concepts such as Smart Economy should become part and…