National News – Page 367 – Windhoek Observer

02 Jun

Pro-abortion voices gather traction

ObserverNational NewsParliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Pro-abortion voices gather traction, Social Development and Family Affairs in the Zambezi Region, Zambezi Girl Child

Martin Endjala Members of the public feel that women should be given the right to decide on their reproductive health. This sentiment was expressed during the public hearing of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Social Development and Family Affairs in the Zambezi Region collecting information on the public perception regarding abortion. The National Council parliamentary committee hearings are led by the deputy chairperson of the house, Amilia Amupwa. The standing committee is carrying out its last regional outreach on the consultative dialogues on the matter of whether to legalize abortion or to amend the current Act 2 of…

02 Jun

Namibia drops on budget transparency ranking

ObserverNational NewsAuditor-office General, Namibia drops on budget transparency ranking, The Open Budget Survey

Tujoromajo Kasuto Namibia has dropped on the International Budget Partnership’s global rankings on budget transparency and accountability. The Open Budget Survey is the world’s only comparative, independent, and ongoing assessment of public budget transparency, oversight, and public participation in 120 countries. Namibia’s transparency rating fell from 51 in 2019 to 42 in 2021. A score of 61 is regarded as the bare minimum for fostering an informed public debate on budgets. In the OBS 2021, the global average transparency score for Namibia was 45. Namibia completed six of the eight required public documents within the timeframe specified by the Survey.…

01 Jun

Geingob calls for more green buildings in Windhoek

ObserverNational NewsFidel Castro Street, Geingob calls for more green buildings in Windhoek, Nedbank Managing Director Martha Murorua

Tujoromajo Kasuto President Hage Geingob said at the inauguration of the Nedbank’s new Green Campus today that the building is not only a symbol of the institution’s confidence in the country, but also its commitment to the preservation of the Namibian environment. The new Green Campus situated on Fidel Castro Street, opposite the City Zoo Park, in the heart of Windhoek offers a 180 degree view from the top floor that has completely changed the Windhoek Central Business District with an incredible design. Nedbank Managing Director Martha Murorua, says the construction of the building started in June 2018 and the…

Shifeta in ‘love triangle’<br>…Swapo District Coordinator wants him out

01 Jun

Shifeta in ‘love triangle’
…Swapo District Coordinator wants him out

ObserverNational NewsJohn Elago, Shifeta in ‘love triangle’ …Swapo District Coordinator wants him out

Tujoromajo Kasuto SWAPO Party Chairperson of the Leaders Assigned to Khomas Region and Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta is allegedly finding himself in a love triangle which could compromise his impartiality in his party function. The Windhoek Observer is in possession of a letter directed to the Secretary General of the Swapo Party, Sophia Shaningwa, written by the Windhoek Rural District Coordinator, John Elago, requesting the SG’s office to withdraw Shifeta from any party activities of the Getrude Kandanga Branch. Elago’s request follows an alleged fallout or confrontation between two of Shifeta’s lovers at an Elissenheim Flat,…

31 May

All-time high fuel increases

ObserverNational NewsAll-time high fuel increases, Kornelia Shilunga, Ministry of Mines and Energy, National Energy Fund (NEF)

Obrein Simasiku Namibian motorists will have to dig deeper into their inflation hit pockets to pay more for their full. Fuel pump prices have reached historic highs after the Ministry of Mines and Energy announced an exponential increase in fuel, whereby petrol will cost N$2.50 more and diesel is adjusted by N$1.50, effective 1 June. This will be an all-time high adjustment that will see pump stations at Walvis Bay shoot up to N$20.40 in petrol and N$21.43 diesel, which means across the country, it is estimated to cost over N$22 and N$23, respectively. The ministry recorded a huge under-recovery…

31 May

PDM ordered to remove six National Assembly MPs

ObserverNational NewsECN appealed against an earlier ruling of the Electoral Court, Esmeralda Esme !Abes, Godfrey Kupuzo Mwilima, Johannes Martin, Kazeongere Zeripi Tjeundo, PDM ordered to remove six National Assembly MPs, Timotheus Sydney Shihumbu

Staff Writer The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and the Electoral Commission of Namibia (EN) lost their appeal in the Supreme Court, which has ordered the party to recall six of its National Assembly MPs. The party and ECN appealed against an earlier ruling of the Electoral Court to remove the six that was lodged by another group of six who were originally on the party’s 2019 National Assembly list of MPs, but were replaced. PDM appealed against the Electoral Court decision in which the swearing-in of six PDM members as members of the National Assembly in March 2020 was declared…

31 May

Call to review fuel levy regime

ObserverNational NewsCall to review fuel levy regime, Harald Kambrude, National Council, Paulus Mbangu

Martin Endjala Several member of the National Council has expressed deep regret about the fuel price increase that was announced today by the Ministry of Mines and Energy ministry. The price of petrol will increase by N$2.50 per litre and diesel by N$1.50. The MP said the increase will put more pressure on household which are already struggling to survive. Paulus Mbangu said during his budget motivation of the Ministry of Mines and Energy today in the National Council that an alternative has to be looked at to relief people from the burden of fuel increases. Among other things, he…

31 May

Boardroom infights delay development of towns: Uutoni

ObserverNational NewsBH properties, Boardroom infights delay development of towns: Uutoni, Erastus Uutoni, N$305 million

Martin Endjala Local authorities have been advised to stop their boardroom wars which disrupts much needed service and the overall development of their towns. These were the comments of the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni during his oversight visit to the Oshana Region over the weekend. Uutoni stressed the importance of local councillors to deliver on their promises during election campaigns, emphasising that the cease their board fights and attend to the needs of their local authorities. He said these fights have become toxic to the community and a waste of time. “These boardroom infights must stop…

28 May

AFD to fund DBN programmes to the tune of N$5m

ObserverNational NewsAFD to fund DBN programmes to the tune of N$5m, Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Officer Martin Inkumbi, Sébastien Minot

Staff Writer French development agency, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) have signed an agreement in terms of which AFD will provide funding of five million dollars for two DBN research programmes. The agreement was signed by DBN Chief Executive Officer Martin Inkumbi, Sébastien Minot, French Ambassador to Namibia, and Bruno Deprince, AFD Regional Director for Southern Africa to fund investigating opportunities in the fields of affordable housing and the development of Namibian women entrepreneurs. Speaking about the research, Inkumbi said the institution is not just a source of finance but also a knowledge…

Venaani laments inadequate funding<br>…office of the leader of official opposition not respected

28 May

Venaani laments inadequate funding
…office of the leader of official opposition not respected

ObserverNational NewsPopular Democratic Movement, Venaani laments inadequate funding, …office of the leader of official opposition not respected

Martin Endjala The Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani has criticized fellow politicians for failing to address issues that will change the lives of the people further accusing them of just driving their own agenda that is not aimed at developing the country. Venaani made these critical remarks during a public dialogue on the office of the leader of the official opposition held at the NUST auditorium organised by PDM this week. “We do not have effective dialogues to deal with matters affecting the people, nor are we concentrating on coming up with bright ideas that will improve people’s livelihoods,…