National News – Page 337 – Windhoek Observer

19 Apr

Namibia invited to attend Russia Africa summit

ObserverNational News

Niel Terblanche Namibia could be represented at the highest level at an upcoming Russia-Africa summit that is slated to take place in St. Petersburg in July this year. The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Ipumbu Shiimi, on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group conference in Washington, told Russian media representatives that a high-level government delegation will in all probability attend this very important summit.The finance minister told Sputnik that he might not be part of the delegation that will represent Namibia. "I believe Namibia will have a delegation because Namibia and Russia are…

18 Apr

Itula against abortion

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala The Independent Patriots for Change Leader, Panduleni Itula says that legalizing abortion could pose a danger to the nation as he opines that there hasn’t been adequate information to suggest why abortion should be legalized. Itula said that based on the numerous contributions he has heard so far, he has not obtained enough information as to why abortion should be legalized, adding that more information is needed on the subject matter in order to make an informed decision. Itula was speaking at a Public Hearing on Abortion held by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Social Development…

18 Apr

IPC to tackle public and political issues

ObserverNational News

Stefanus Nashama The Independent Patriot for Change (IPC) says it is ready to tackle public issues and its internal political businesses as the party prepares for the 2024 national elections. The party’s National Spokesperson, Immanuel Nashinge on Monday, said this. IPC held a High-Level Consultative Planning meeting last week Saturday in Windhoek, under the theme “reorganisation for victory in 2024 and the role of a patriotic Namibia”. Nashinge said the consultative planning meeting looked at the issues of genocide and ancestral land with its concern on how the party can address the issues. He said the ongoing issue of high…

18 Apr

ECB to announce new electricity tariffs before end of April

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala The Electricity Control Board (ECB) will announce itself on electricity tariffs before the end of April, with Nampower said to have applied for a 16.87 percent tariff increase. This was confirmed yesterday by the Electricity Control Board Public Relations Officer Ferdinand Molale, who informed this publication that the ECB endeavours to announce the 2023/2024 bulk electricity tariff before the end of April 2023. “The ECB, after studying the application, would make an announcement on the approved tariff. The ECB will endeavour to educate the public on tariff adjustment using various mass media channels”, Molela explained. When asked about…

18 Apr

Uapingene calls for gender balance in Junior Councils

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala The Mayor of the City of Windhoek, Joseph Uapingene has called for gender balance, citing its importance to recognize gender equality by 2030, in line with the United Nation’s Planet 50-50 goals. The Mayor made these remarks during the 24th official inauguration ceremony of the Junior Council for 2023 /2024 held last week in Windhoek. Since its inception in 1999, the Junior Council has been represented by 37 schools, including both private and government schools, in the Khomas Region. The Junior Council programme also includes two special schools for learners with visual and hearing impairments to equip the…

18 Apr

805 DRC residents receive land ownership certificates

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché A great sense of happiness and optimism descended on a group of 805 residents of the DRC informal settlement of Swakopmund after they signed contracts on Sunday, legalizing their ownership of land and subsequently permitting them to build permanent homes. Some of the recipients of the flexible land Tenure certificates stated that their lives will improve significantly as a result. The provision of adequate housing not only allows Namibians to live with their dignity intact but also enables people to access other aspects of well-being in general. The flexible land tenure system, developed by the Namibian Government in…

18 Apr

Namibia slowly becoming self-sustainable with energy

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché In an effort to decrease Namibia’s reliance on electricity supply from neighboring countries, the country’s national electricity supplier, NamPower, yesterday signed exclusive Power Purchase and Transmission agreements with CERIM Lüderitz Energy to supply electricity to the national grid. As a result of the agreement signed in Windhoek, CERIM will construct a 50 Mega Watt wind power plant at a cost of N$1.4 billion. The power plant is expected to be put into commission in mid-2025. Although 50MW of wind-generated electricity is not nearly enough to supply Namibia in its entirety, an increase in the generation of low-cost power…

17 Apr

Progress with Universal Health Care under scrutiny

ObserverNational NewsProgress with Universal Health Care under scrutiny

Nël Terblanché The Executive Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe says every Namibian should have access to quality and affordable healthcare services without it causing severe financial hardship for the individual or their family. Nangombe said this during the official opening of a consultative meeting between the Ministry’s officials and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Universal Health Care (UHC) in Swakopmund. According to him, such services should also include access to essential medicines, therapeutics, vaccines and technologies that are effective, safe and of good quality. Nangombe said the country has made great strides in its…

17 Apr

Comalie still facing drug charges as she continues to serve as Namcor board Chair

ObserverNational NewsComalie still facing drug charges as she continues to serve as Namcor board Chair

While Jennifer Comalie, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Energy Corporation of Namibia, has largely been found to be innocent by public opinion, she still faces the judicial consequences of being found in possession of illicit drugs. The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi, while attending the spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Washington, took time out to address questions by the Windhoek Observer regarding Comalie’s status as the Namcor board Chairperson. “Ms Comalie is indeed still serving as the Namcor board Chairperson,” Shiimi said. Comalie’s position…

17 Apr

New community facility to ensure dignified lives for Etoshapoort residents

ObserverNational NewsNew community facility to ensure dignified lives for Etoshapoort residents

Niël Terblanché Robust processes, systems and institutions need to be created to buttress efforts to battle abject poverty, inequality and corruption to usher in a new era of prosperity for all in the wake of the establishment of Green Hydrogen projects and the discovery of viable oil resources off the Namibian coast. President Hage Geingob during the official inauguration of a new Community Legacy Centre in the Etoshapoort suburb of Outjo over the weekend said all the attention of Namibians has been focused on an all-out war on poverty. “As we continue with our national developmental initiatives, our attention has…