National News – Page 353 – Windhoek Observer

25 Feb

Employees of the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) went on strike today to demand for higher wages

ObserverNational NewsEmployees of the National Housing Enterprise (NH

Employees of the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) went on strike today to demand for higher wages. The process which led to the breakdown of negotiations between the company and employees has been going on since 2019. In this exclusive interview with the Windhoek Observer Spotlight (OS), the Chief Executive Officer of NHE, Gisbertus Mukulu (GM) shed some light on the strike and other operational matters at the NHE. OS: Mr. Mukulu, in a nutshell, what led to the breakdown in talks between union, board and management? GM: From the beginning of our negotiations until the end, which eventually led to…

25 Feb

Petrol prices rise, diesel remains unchanged

ObserverNational Newsdiesel remains unchanged, Petrol prices rise

Steve Nashama The Ministry of Mines and Energy announced today that oil prices will rise in the coming weeks due to carefully managing undersupply and a rebound in demand, although central banks continue to increase interest rates to counter inflation. The ministry indicated that petrol prices will increase by 150 cents per litre while diesel will remain unchanged. Petrol prices in Walvis Bay will become N$19.78 per litre while diesel will remain at N$20.65 per litre. Spokesperson Simon Andreas said that this is after the ministry completed the fuel price review for the month of March 2023. Petrol prices across…

25 Feb

Over 200 000 tourists visit Namibia in 2022

ObserverNational NewsOver 200 000 tourists visit Namibia in 2022

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Namibia’s tourist arrival numbers have increased by 37.3 percent since 2021 and has seen the country receiving a total 243 466 tourists in 2022. Speaking at the official launch of the Tourism Expo Calendar Events for 2023, Minister of Environment,Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta said it is commendable considering the negative impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, on the tourism sector globally and in Namibia since its outbreak in late 2019. “These visitor numbers however remain very low for this country as it only represents about 15 percent of the pre-Covid -19 numbers (1,595,973 tourism arrivals)…

24 Feb

Health ministry accused of removing woman’s womb without consent

ObserverNational NewsFestus, Health ministry accused of removing woman’s womb without consent

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Amalia Festus an unemployed mother from Windhoek is claiming N$ 3 850 000 in damages from the Ministry of Health and health and Social Services for negligence, after the Ministry reportedly removed her womb without her consent. Festus is claiming the ministry failed to execute their duties professionally and as reasonably expected from trained and qualified medical professionals from the ministry. The hearing began in the high court this week. According to documents filed in the High Court, Festus is claiming N$ 100 000 for patrimonial damages, N$ 750 000 for pain and suffering, N$ 750 000 for…

24 Feb

NHE workers feeling neglected

ObserverNational NewsMatheus Haakuria, NHE, NHE workers feeling neglected

Steve Nashama The Public Service Union of Namibia Secretary General Matheus Haakuria confirmed today that the employees of the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) want a salary increment of seven percent and that the union has been requesting for the NHE management and the board to negotiate, but the request he says, fell on deaf ears. The workers will embark on a nationwide strike tomorrow, from 8 am, he added. Haakuria said workers voted for a strike after the refusal of NHE management to negotiate. “All the demands of the workers were not considered and that is where the problem is,”…

24 Feb

SPYL joins opposition in bashing youth budget

ObserverNational Newser Iipumbu Shiimi, SPYL joins opposition in bashing youth budget

Martin Endjala Swapo Party Youth League Secretary Efraim Nekongo said he is dissapointed with the low allocation of money to the youth ministry, compared to the veterans ministry. The Ministry of Youth received N$473 million. Nekongo said that although he did not fully peruse Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi’s statement, he scanned it. “I am yet to fully peruse the budget document, however, upon scanning through it, i am not happy at all, given the fact the youth are the majority in the country. I am disappointed with the outcome of the budget and when I return from my parliamentary mission…

22 Feb

Venaani labels social income grant as an insult to elders

ObserverNational NewsIipumbu Shiimi today tabled the national budget. Presented under the them, Minister of Finance, Venaani labels social income grant as an insult to elders

Martin Endjala The Minister of Finance, Iipumbu Shiimi today tabled the national budget. Presented under the theme, “Economic Revival and Caring for the Poor”, the budget attempts to be pro-poor, a move the official opposition labels an insult. Popular Democratic Movement President McHenry Venaani has labeled the social income grant N$100 increase for pensioners, vulnerable children and disabled persons as an insult. “What the Minister of Finance did to bring elders here in the chamber parading them for N$100, while this government spend N$650 million on a condom tender is an insult to the elders it is a shame”, Venaani…

22 Feb

Works Ministry justifies “old, worn-out, dirty”govt houses

ObserverNational Newsdirty”govt houses, Works Ministry justifies “old, worn-out

Steve Nashama The Ministry of Works and Transport says a lack of adequate funding and the minimal budget it receives annually has contributed to the state that government houses and apartments find themselves in. This was said by the ministry’s Public Relations Officer , Julius Ngwedha in the interview with the Windhoek Observer. Ngwedha added that it is thus difficult to renovate and ensure better basic maintenance of government houses. The state of government houses are questionable and not in a good condition, especially the ones inherited from the colonial regime, and there is a need for the government to…

22 Feb

Struggle kids denied bail

ObserverNational NewsBernarhd Ngifenwa (46), Johaness Kamati, John Amadhila, Struggle kids denied bail

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The five children of the liberation struggle who were arrested earlier this week for allegedly blocking the entrance of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs were denied bail today when they made their first court appearance. The suspects, John Amadhila, Johaness Kamati, Bernarhd Ngifenwa (46), and Elisabeth Shityeni (37) and Immanuel Paulus (41) appeared today in the Windhoek Magistrate’s court and were denied bail. They, on Monday blocked and prevented anyone from entering or leaving the building. Today, a crowd of other exile kids stood outside the court room, and pleaded for the release of their colleagues.…

22 Feb

FlyNamibia withdraws Fly Etosha objection

ObserverNational NewsFlyNamibia, FlyNamibia withdraws Fly Etosha objection, Transportation Commission

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The FlyNamibia board today announced that it is withdrawing its objection against Fly Etosha’s application for a scheduled air transport service licence. “On 14 February 2023 FlyNamibia submitted documents to the Transpotation Commission of the Namibia Ministry of works and transport outlining the airlines objection to the application for granting of a schedule air transport service licence filed by Mr William Aupapa Ekonjo for a proposed airline to be called Fly Etosha, FlyNamibia said today. last week FlyNamibia said they were exercising their right to object to an application to the Transportation Commission in accordance with section 6(1)…