National News – Page 350 – Windhoek Observer

08 Mar

Witbooi hopeful for re-election

ObserverNational NewsLandless Peoples Movement (LPM), Witbooi hopeful for re-election

Martin Endjala Former Landless Peoples Movement (LPM) Councilor for the Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency, Gerrit Witbooi, says he is hopeful that he will be re-elected as councilor as an independent candidate . Witbooi was suspended by LPM on accusations of being in cahoots with opposition parties to “embarrass the LPM”. Optimistic about his prospects he said he is looking forward to being re-elected in the upcoming by-elections due to the work he was doing until his suspension. He sees it as his duty to stand up for the plight and development of the Constituency to ensure that they live a dignified…

08 Mar

Namibia-South Africa BNC 3rd session kicks off

ObserverNational NewsNamibia-South Africa BNC 3rd session kicks off

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Senior Officials Meeting of the Third Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) has officially kicked off today in the Windhoek at the Safari Court Hotel and Conference Centre. The commission provides opportunities for the presidents of the two countries to further enhance bilateral cooperation and serves as a platform to exchange views on issues of mutual interests and concerns. Executive Director at the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (Mirco), Penda Naanda, says the main objective of the Senior Officials Meeting is simply to prepare the ground for the ministerial and presidential segments of the BNC,…

Court denies Hatuikulipi and co bail, fears<br>they might abscond, tamper with evidence

07 Mar

Court denies Hatuikulipi and co bail, fears
they might abscond, tamper with evidence

ObserverNational NewsCourt denies Hatuikulipi and co bail, fears they might abscond

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The bail appeal of six of the suspects charged in Namibia’s biggest fishing corruption scandal, notoriously known as Fishrot has been dismissed by the Supreme Court today. Former justice minister Sacky Shanghala, his business partner James Hatuikulipi, former National Fishing Corporation of Namibia chief executive Mike Nghipunya, Pius Mwatelulo, Otneel Shuudifonya and Phillipus Mwapopi appealed against a decision by High Court judge Shafimana Ueitele. “The court could not make a finding whether the applicants will or will not abscond’, that the appellants did not satisfy the court that if they are released on bail they will not distort…

07 Mar

Windhoek’s oldest building to be turned into business center

ObserverNational NewsArts, Crafts and Heritage Centre of Excellence at the Alte Feste Building, Windhoek’s oldest building to be turned into business center

Steve Nashama The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture last Thursday announced that it will establish and maintain the Arts, Crafts and Heritage Centre of Excellence at the Alte Feste Building, after they entered into a ten-year-agreement with the Namibia Arts, Craft and Design (NACD) to renovate, manage and redefine the complex into a business center. The Alte Feste is the oldest building in Windhoek and is of significant historical value to the country. It was declared a national museum in 1957 and turned into the National Museum of Namibia after independence. The building became severely dilapidated, and it is…

07 Mar

Judgment for surrogate child’s citizenship reserved

ObserverNational NewsJudgment for surrogate child’s citizenship reserved, Phillip Luhl and Guillermo Delgado

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Supreme Court today reserved judgment in a matter in which same-sex couple, Phillip Luhl and Guillermo Delgado are fighting to have their son granted Namibian citizenship status. The child was born in 2019, via surrogacy, in South Africa. Luhl, a Namibian is married to Delgado, a Mexican National. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against a 2021 ruling in the High Court declaring that the couple’s first-born child be granted citizenship by descent. The ministry’s position is that the child, a boy, could not be granted citizenship…

06 Mar

Seals a threat to the Namibian fishing industry

ObserverNational NewsDerek Klassen, Seals a threat to the Namibian fishing industry, Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

Martin Endjala The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klassen has reiterated that the management of Seals in the sea is not as easy as people make it out to be, as one adult seal is said to feed on 3.8 kg tons of fish daily, meaning that 1.5 million seals would eat 5,7 million Kg, 5 700 metric tons of fish per day and 2,8 million metric tons of fish per year. This amount is approximately four times more than the annual combined Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for hake, horse mackerel and monk per year. “The issue of…

06 Mar

HIV positive women more than HIV positive men in Namibia

ObserverNational NewsHIV positive women more than HIV positive men in Namibia, Kalumbi Shangula

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula revealed on Sunday that the number of HIV infections is disproportionally high among females compared to their male counterparts. The prevalence is high among women at 15.1 percent compared to 8.4 percent in men, he said. Shangula said that an estimated total of 215 348 people in Namibia are living with HIV. This number includes adults and children. “The latest HIV prevalence among adults 15-49 years is 11.8 percent. It is estimated that a total of 7 193 Children less than 15 years are living with HIV,” Shangula said.…

06 Mar

Roll-out of green loans earmarked for youth entrepreneurs

ObserverNational NewsEnvironmental Investment Fund (EIF), Iipumbu Shiimi, Roll-out of green loans earmarked for youth entrepreneurs

Martin Endjala A green concessional loan facility, targeting youth entrepreneurs will be rolled out to the tune of N$72 million over the next 12 months and is expected to grow to N$300 million by the 2024/25 financial year. This was revealed by the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi during his Financial Year 2023/24 National Budget as well as the Medium Term Expenditure Framework for FY2023/24 – FY2025/26 on 22 February 2023. During the 2023/24 financial year, the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) through an Ecosystem-based Adaptation Project funded by the Green Climate Fund, will provide grants amounting to…

06 Mar

Woman arrested for burying stillborn baby

ObserverNational NewsNampol Spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, Woman arrested for burying stillborn baby

Martin Endjalo Police in Oshikoto region are investigating a case of concealment of birth, after a 23 year-old woman allegedly buried the body of her stillborn baby, aged seven months on Saturday. The incident happened at Oneputa village in Oshigambo constituency. Police allege that the woman buried the deceased, a female baby, in a shallow grave at an unknown time. Nampol Spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi in a weekend crime report said that the suspect gave birth to a lifeless baby girl and buried the fetus in a shallow grave at home. The suspect is reported to have been seven…

04 Mar

Drought threatens communal farmers in Omusati

ObserverNational NewsDrought threatens communal farmers in Omusati, Erginus Endjala

Martin Endjala The Omusati Governor Erginus Endjala says he is worried about the persistent drought in the region due to low rainfall and crop plants dying as a result. He says the situation will require assistance from the Disaster Management in the Office of the Prime Minister. Endjala said the last time the region received rainfall was on the 31st January 2023 and a few drops of rain earlier this week. He stressed that the crops will require above normal rainfall for them to grow. “As we currently speak the crops are drying up, and they will require above normal…