National News – Page 357 – Windhoek Observer

15 Feb

CoW workers demand improved conditions

ObserverNational NewsCoW workers demand improved conditions, Kashimbi

Martin Endjala The City of Windhoek’s temporary workers have downed tools, demanding for permanent employment saying that they are tired of working on temporary contracts for over 30 years without benefits and better salaries. Their monthly salaries are reportedly N$3 300. The workers are claiming that their employer has been treating them unfairly as they continue to extend their contracts after every six months when their contracts expire. Their protest began yesterday. Today, they told the media that that they can no longer allow this to go on, as they too, deserve to live decent lives and this can only…

15 Feb

MEFT Employee Nabbed for Poaching

ObserverNational NewsGaeb Franklin and Veldskoendraer Neely, MEFT Employee Nabbed for Poaching, Otto Jan Uirab

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has identified its employee Otto Jan Uirab as the suspect in the poaching incident that occurred last week. He is charged alongside Nedbank employee, Harold Xarageb, and two other suspects Gaeb Franklin and Veldskoendraer Neely. The suspects were arrested on suspicion of illegally hunting a blue wildebeest in the Dan Viljoen Park near Windhoek last week. They have since appeared in the Katutura Magistrate’s court.A case has been opened with the Otjomuise Police station and the suspects were remanded in custody until the May 2023. The suspects were arrested at the…

15 Feb

President calls on MPs to uphold their promises

ObserverNational NewsChild Justice Bill, Divorce Bill, Hage Geingob, High Court Amendment Bill, Magistrates Court Amendment Bill, President calls on MPs to uphold their promises

Martin Endjala President Hage Geingob has called on parliamentarians to uphold the promise to deliver a better life for all Namibians by working together in unison. Geingob made the call at the official opening of the 7th session of the 7th Parliament for the year 2023 today in Windhoek. At the same time, he highlighted that several bills will be attended to during the course of the year. He noted that some of the bills listed for tabling during this year are such as the High Court Amendment Bill, Magistrates Court Amendment Bill, Divorce Bill, Child Justice Bill, Ombudsman Bill…

15 Feb

Police say they killed man with “warning shot”

ObserverNational NewsNegumbo Embashu, Police say they killed man with “warning shot”

Martin Endjala A police report suggests that the murder of a 59-year-old man, a former police officer was accidental, in that the man died after a warning shot hit him on the thigh. Negumbo Embashu was allegedly shot in his thigh and was presumed dead upon arrival at the Onaanda clinic in the Oshana region. Nampol Spokesperson Chief Inspector Elifas Kuwinga said the incident took place in Oshakati on the 10th of February 2022 at Ehafo lya Kandenge village. Police say Embashu died after he was struck by a bullet in his right thigh and fell down. It is alleged…

14 Feb

Finally! Auditor General to audit Defence Ministry

ObserverNational NewsFinally! Auditor General to audit Defence Ministry

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Office of the Auditor General, which was previously prohibited from entering military bases has been granted access to audit the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs. This is according to a reliable source at the Attorney General’s Office, who revealed that they will soon embark on the much anticipated audit. In 2020, the Attorney General, Junias Kandjeke was blocked from inspecting N$506,4 million of the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) expenditure for the 2018/19 financial year. Kandjeke revealed this in the ministry’s 2018/19 financial year audit report. This is despite the law providing that the Attorney General or…

14 Feb

Northern Governors welcome N$ 90k flood donation

ObserverNational NewsEhenye Relocation Centre, Elia Irimari, Northern Governors welcome N$ 90k flood donation

Martin Endjala The Oshana regional Governor, Elia Irimari has lauded the Old Mutual Foundation for its intervention in availing N$90 000 to the two affected regions by flash floods mainly Oshana and Ohangwena region. The seasonal floods, commonly known as Efundja, recently hit the northern regions of Namibia, affecting the Ohangwena and Oshana regions severely. The floods caused extensive economic losses, consequently affecting livelihoods, businesses, infrastructures, and basic services. A number of schools in the region have since been closed as a result of the flash floods. The Governor made the remarks during last week’s handover at the Ehenye Relocation…

14 Feb

Lack of proper housing leaves devastating consequences

ObserverNational NewsCity of Windhoek (CoW), Katijiomukao Mungunda, Lack of proper housing leaves devastating consequences

Stefanus Nashama “People do not have places to live so they erect shacks anywhere they find open spaces and the challenge is that there is no water and electricity. Unfortunately they have to use firewood, candles and gas stoves,” these were the words of Jochobeth !Noabes, an eyewitness to a tragic shack fire that left a family of three homeless last Thursday. The three bedroom shack caught fire last week Thursday evening, leaving a mother and two children homeless. The incident took place in Windhoek’s Goreangab informal settlement at around 20H30 when two boys (7 ) and (15) were cooking…

14 Feb

Fire Kapofi and Nicanor: Ex-Combatants.

ObserverNational Newse Minister of Defence Frans Kapofi, o National Assembly Secretary Lydia kandetu, The Former Refugees Repatriation Association Namibia

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Former Refugees Repatriation Association Namibia, previously known as Former Plan Combatants have requested President Hage Geingob to remove the Minister of Defence Frans Kapofi and his Deputy Minister Hilma Nicanor as well as Director of the Department of Veterans Thaddeus Elago in Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs for allegedly mistreating veterans. The group made these demands in a petition handed over to National Assembly Secretary Lydia kandetu today. The Founding President of the association, Matheus Nangolo said they also want the veterans department dissolved. “They must be removed with immediate effect, because of ill-treating veterans and…

10 Feb

“Building houses doesn’t happen overnight” – Uutoni on unoccupied houses

ObserverNational NewsErastus Uutoni, Minister of Urban and Rural Development, “Building houses doesn’t happen overnight” - Uutoni on unoccupied houses

Martin Endjala The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni says the impression that his ministry is just sitting idle with unoccupied houses is misleading as they are “hard at work” delivering houses in partnership with other stakeholders across the country. “We the ministry are hard at work to ensure that all Namibian people own a house since it is a source of belonging and security and we will continue to do so till the last person, but people need to stay calm and patient, as this will not happen overnight like many people are assuming.”, Uutoni said. In…

10 Feb

N$3.3 million for families affected by human-wildlife conflict

ObserverNational NewsN$2.9 million, N$3.3 million for families affected by human-wildlife conflict

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism paid out a total N$3.3 million translating to N$100 000 per affected family from 2019 to date to bereaved families across the country that lost relatives due to human-wildlife conflict. The financial assistance was provided in the form of covering funeral expenses to those who lost their family members. Within the same period the ministry also paid over N$2.9 million for livestock losses; N$2.6 million for crop damages; N$640 000 for injuries and N$14 000 was paid to conservancies to offset human-wildlife conflict losses to their members. Romeo Muyunda, the ministry’s…