National News – Page 373 – Windhoek Observer

27 Oct

Khomas fish consumption gala raises N$762 000

ObserverNational NewsDerek Klazen, Khomas fish consumption gala raises N$762 000, National Fish Consumption Day (NFCD) gala dinner

O’Brien Simasiku The Khomas region managed to raise contributions valued at N$762 500 in cash and in kind at the 10th National Fish Consumption Day (NFCD) gala dinner held on the outskirts of the city yesterday. The proceeds will be directed towards addressing educational needs in the region. The Zambezi region was drawn as the next host of the revolving fish promotion day covering all the 14 regions, of which N$5.5 million ha so far been raised since the maiden edition in 2012, excluding last night’s pledges. The National Fish Consumption Day is a day to celebrate Namibian fisheries, through…

27 Oct

Candidates vying for Swapo top positions impress

ObserverNational NewsCandidates vying for Swapo top positions impress, Oshana Region Samuel Nelongo, Samuel Nelongo

Martin Endjala The internal Swapo Party campaigns are running smooth with delegates showing appreciation to the performance of the candidates bring their A performance game to the fore. The Swapo regional coordinator for the Oshana Region Samuel Nelongo said during the campaign at Ongwediva yesterday the candidates well organized and demonstrated a level of maturity and preparedness. “I am mostly happy for the performances that the candidates brought, they were really sharp and all came across very confident,’’ Nelongo said. Nelongo in an interview with the Observer said that the delegates were accorded equal opportunity to share their campaign manifestos…

26 Oct

Repo rate raised for the fifth time

ObserverNational NewsMonetary Policy Committee (MPC), Repo rate raised for the fifth time

Staff Writer The Bank of Namibia’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) today raised the repo rate by 75 basis points from 5.50 percent to 6.25 percent for the fifth time this year. At the beginning of this year the country’s rate was 3.75 before it was raised by 25 basis points to 4%. The central bank kept the repo rate at 3.75 percent for the whole of 2021, the lowest the country has enjoyed in a long time. However, since the beginning of this year on 16 February it started pushing it up and has raised it cumulatively by 250 basis…

26 Oct

Gender equality vital for human rights

ObserverNational NewsAfrican Gender Index (AGI) report, Gender equality vital for human rights, Peter Katjavivi

Martin Endjala National Assembly Speaker, Peter Katjavivi told the 145th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda that gender equality is fundamentally linked to sustainable development which is vital to the realisation of human rights for all. The assembly was held from the 11th–15th October under the theme, “Gender equality and gender-sensitive parliaments as drivers of change for a more resilient and peaceful world”. He said the realization of a society where women and men enjoy equal opportunities and equal rights in all spheres of life is cardinal. He emphasized that gender inclusivity should be our collective pre-occupation as members of…

26 Oct

AgriBank stops cash payments

ObserverNational News, Observer MoneyAgriBank stops cash payments, Agricultural Bank of Namibia (AgriBank), Know Your Customer (KYC)

Obrein Simasiku The Agricultural Bank of Namibia (AgriBank) will no longer accept cash as a form of payment starting from December. This decision is to curb money laundering in the country, said the public relations officer of the bank, Fillemon Nangonya in a statement. ‘’This change is an effort by Agribank to further contribute to the combating of money laundering in the country.’’ Money laundering is regulated in terms of the Financial Intelligence Act, with specific reference to Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements. ‘’This requires stringent verification of the source of cash funds and reporting thereon,” Nangonya emphasised. The measure…

26 Oct

EU funds waste project worth N$36.8 million

ObserverNational NewsEU funds waste project worth N$36.8 million, Improving Solid Waste Management in Windhoek, Sade Gawanas

Staff Writer Mayor of City of Windhoek, Sade Gawanas and the Ambassador of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Namibia, Sinikka Antila signed an agreement for the construction of two waste buy back centres in Katutura, as part of EU-funded project to improve solid waste management in Windhoek under a project titled: “Improving Solid Waste Management in Windhoek” The “Improving Solid Waste Management in Windhoek” is a four-year project implemented within the framework of the Windhoek-Bremen Sister Cities Cooperation funded by the EU to the tune of N$36.8 million. The project is expected to recycle 2000 tons of waste, with…

25 Oct

Four billion additional budget tabled

ObserverNational NewsFour billion additional budget tabled, MTEF, operational expenses from N$56.6 billion to N$60.1 billion

Staff Writer The Minister of Finance has announced an additional expenditure of four billion dollars in the 2022/23 Mid-year Review Budget. Tabling the additional budget this afternoon, Iipumbu Shiimi said the additional allocations reflect pressing and urgent priorities which could not be deferred to the upcoming main budget. The additional expenditure takes the operational expenses from N$56.6 billion to N$60.1 billion. The development budget has also been adjusted upwards from N$5 billion to N$5.5 billion. The minister said that during the compilation of the review budget, ‘’additional expenditure requests to the tune of N$4 billion were received. At the same…

25 Oct

Fire prone Walvis only has 10 permanent firefighters

ObserverNational NewsFire prone Walvis only has 10 permanent firefighters, Jeremia Shikongo, Tutaleni Kathindi

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Walvis Bay Municipality, which has been grappling with the issue of shack fires for years, is currently only operating with 10 full-time employees at the fire department, despite residents’ complaints and frustrations about slow reaction and delivery. Tutaleni Kathindi, the town’s acting chief of fire services, says this is “normal practice” when people work with volunteers in the fire industry, but he also says the municipality employs permanent firefighters who are supported by volunteers. “We are 10 full time employees in the fire industry and so delays can there be,’’ he said and when quizzed on whether…

25 Oct

BPEEA calling for nationalisation of mineral resources

ObserverNational NewsBlack People Economic Emancipation Association, BPEEA calling for nationalisation of mineral resources

Staff WriterThe Black People Economic Emancipation Association is calling on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX), Bank of Namibia(BoN) Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Parliament to nationalise mineral resources in the country. Today, the BPEEA, led by Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) economic commissar and activist Michael Amushelelo, demonstrated in front of the NSX, BoN, Ministry of Mines, and Parliament. Amongst their demands the BPEEA demanded urgent action plans and programs which will lead to the transfer of wealth to the ownership and bring it under the control of historically disadvantaged people, the nationalisation of all foreign-owned banks operating…

24 Oct

Green Hydrogen investor wants concessions from Govt

ObserverNational NewsDr Job Amupanda, Green Hydrogen investor wants concessions from Govt, Hyphen and the Namibian, Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund

Staff Writer The green hydrogen project negotiations between Hyphen and the Namibian government are stuck in negotiations with the developer wanting concessions from government. According to confidential information leaked by the Affirmative Repositioning activist, Dr Job Amupanda, Hyphen that has been touted to be coming with a 10 billion US dollar investment to develop the green hydrogen ambitions of Namibia is negotiating for some give-aways and changes to the country’s laws, including prospecting and mining rights. So far, what is known about the negotiations is that the newly created Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund will take the role of strategic equity…