National News – Page 362 – Windhoek Observer

17 Jun

Omudsman directs NBC to refer to Ovambanderu Paramount Chief by her customary title

ObserverNational NewsAletha Karikondua, Omudsman directs NBC to refer to Ovambanderu Paramount Chief by her customary title

Staff Writer The Media Ombudsman is directing the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) to allow followers of Aletha Karikondua Nguvauva to address her by her traditional title of Ombara Otjitambi (Paramount Chief) on the broadcaster’s platforms as accorded to her office by the by the customary laws of her community. This ruling follows a public hearing by the Ombudsman’s Complaints Committee on 17 May this year following a complaint by Senior Chief Erastus Kahuure of the Ovambanderu Traditional Council (OTC), against the NBC, specifically its Omurari FM, which is the Otjiherero Language Service, which he lodged with the office of the…

17 Jun

Skills empowerment of young women on track

ObserverNational NewsAgnes Tjongarero, Project Hope, Skills empowerment of young women on track

Tujoromajo Kasuto Project Hope Namibia who is implementing DREAMS project has supported over 560 adolescent girls and young women to complete vocational training. Of these it has linked up 245 of them to internships and wage employment and provided 148 with entrepreneurial start-up kits. These interventions are additionally informed by the Labour Market Assessment, which was today launched by the Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service.The US-funded DREAMS programme together with Project Hope Namibia is meant to identify economic growth sectors, occupational and entrepreneurship opportunities for adolescent girls and young women in Namibia. The Labour Market Assessment Report is…

16 Jun

BoN hikes lending rate …Hard times laying ahead

ObserverNational NewsBoN hikes lending rate …Hard times laying ahead, Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Repo rate hike to 4.75 percent

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Bank of Namibia has announced another half a percent repo rate hike to 4.75 percent, following the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting of the 13th and 14th of June 2022.Financial analysts predict to more increases this year with more to come in 2023 to take interest rates to pre-pandemic levels.The repo rate affects interest rates, which in turn affects instalment payments on a house and other debts such as bank overdrafts and loans.This is the third hike in the repo rate in succession. The central bank uses repo rate to arrest inflation, but reduces consumer purchasing power.…

16 Jun

NEFF complaint was ‘political and emotional’

ObserverNational Newse President Hage Geingob, NEFF complaint was ‘political and emotional’

Martin Endjala The Ombudsman has declined to investigate President Hage Geingob for allegedly concealing money laundering and theft at a farmhouse in South Africa of President Cyril Ramaphosa, because it does not fall in his mandate, a political analyst said. The Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman following accusations that Geingob assisted his SA counterpart in the arrest and questioning of individuals who crossed into Namibia after breaking into the latter’s Phala Phala farm in the Limpopo Province. Approach for comment about Ombudsman Basilius Dyakguha decision, political commentator, Ndumba Kamwenya said the NEFF…

16 Jun

Khomas Region owes 5.6 billion in taxes

ObserverNational Newse Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), Khomas Region owes 5.6 billion in taxes, N$5.6 billion

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) is owed over N$5.6 billion in taxes by residents of the Khomas Region that was accumulated the past few years prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. In terms of revenue for the fiscal year ended March 2022, the Khomas and Omaheke regions brought in N$11 billion, while the rest of 11 regions contributed N$23 billion. Head of Domestic Taxes, Idi Itope, said individuals ‘’who need to submit a tax form by the end of June contributed 49 percent, businesses contributed 36 percent, and corporates came in last with 11 percent’’. The Agency issued nearly…

15 Jun

Kharas and Hardap directed to submit clean books

ObserverNational NewsNatalia Goagoses

Martin Endjala The Karas and Hardap regional and local authorities have been given directives by the ministry to get their financial and annual reports in order not to delay financial planning and investment possibilities. Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Natalia Goagoses said investors are looking for well-documented and outlined financial reports, adding that they always request for financial outlook before committing their money. Goagoses expressed dismay over non-factual financial reports, adding that it shows lack of leadership by the councilors, CEOs, Governors and also complacence of accounting officers. She further gave directives that before the reports are distributed…

15 Jun

Lands not in support of AR petition

ObserverNational NewsLands not in support of AR petition, Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board, Petrus Nangolo Director of Land Reform

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, says it is not in full agreement with a petition by the Affirmative Repositioning movement demanding that foreigners not be allowed to owned land in Namibia. More so, said the ministry that many of the proposals in the AR petition is accommodated in the current land bill under consideration in Parliament. Petrus Nangolo Director of Land Reform in the ministry narrated this during the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources public hearing on AR petition that is calling for the regulation of foreign ownership of land in Namibia in Windhoek…

15 Jun

CRAN and MTC bury hatchet on levies

ObserverNational NewsCommunications Act, CRAN, CRAN and MTC bury hatchet on levies

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) and Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) reached a settlement agreement, ending a 10-year legal dispute on the legality of regulatory levies for the period 31 March 2016 to 11 June 2018. MTC and certain industry players challenged Section 23 of the Communications Act (No. 8 of 2009) in the High Court was approached in 2012 to determine the constitutionality of the regulatory levies as enforced by CRAN. The parties have been engaged in negotiations over an extensive period and CRAN has now announced that the matter is now settled amicably. Consequently, the…

15 Jun

11 poached rhino carcasses found

ObserverNational News11 poached rhino carcasses found, Namibia Defence Force (NDF), Romeo Muyunda

Staff Writer 11 poached rhino carcasses were discovered since the beginning of June in the Etosha National Park.The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda in a statement today said all the rhinos were found without horns and they were all black rhinos.“With our ongoing operation in Etosha National Park, we unfortunately discovered eleven (11) rhino carcasses as from the beginning June 2022 to date. All the eleven are black rhinos. Investigations indicate that the carcasses range between 3 weeks and older. This is regrettable and a strong indication that the fight against poaching is not over,”…

15 Jun

Citizens urged to stay vigilant amid winter Covid spike

ObserverNational NewsCitizens urged to stay vigilant amid winter Covid spike, Kalumbi Shangula, President Hage Geingo

Martin Endjala The public has been urged to be vigilant against Covid-19 as a spike in cases have reported from the onset of the Fifth Wave where 222 were recorded. President Hage Geingob made this remark during the 44th Covid-19 briefing today at State House. He said that only through vaccination and observing social distancing as well as wearing of face masks when in confined spaces can the country fight off this invisible enemy. Regrettably, Geingob said that 21 deaths were recorded during this wave that started on 10 May.The president said that the current health dispensation will remain unchanged…