National News – Page 374

23 Aug

Africa must find funds to close the water investment gap

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAfrica must find funds to close the water investment gap, Calle Schlettwein

Niël Terblanché It is the ambition of Namibia to address and bring about a safe, and secure water supply for all but several severe challenges are hampering the process. Calle Schlettwein, the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform while attending the Stockholm World Water Week at the High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa, said Namibia strives to provide adequate water to promote sanitation to enable development and decent urban and rural living standards for all people. The conference in Sweden is focused on accelerating the implementation of the UN 2023 Water Action Agenda in Africa through the International…

22 Aug

Eurowings resumes direct flights to Namibia

info_e12wt4csNational NewsEurowings resumes direct flights to Namibia, Menzies Aviation Namibia, Namibia Airports Company

Niël Terblanché After diverting its flights to the Oliver Thambo International Airport in Johannesburg over the past weekend due to uncertainties created by the eviction of Menzies Aviation Namibia as the ground handling service provider at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA), Eurowings Discover will resume direct flights to Namibia. Paragon Aviation Services have successfully taken over ground handling services ever since the eviction of Menzies from the premises of the Namibia Airports Company early on Saturday morning. Eurowings Discover announced that two of its aircraft will depart from Frankfurt on Monday evening and these flights will arrive at the…

22 Aug

Unemployment blamed on debt owed to Katima Mulilo Town Council

info_e12wt4csNational NewsRaphael Liswaniso, Unemployment blamed on debt owed to Katima Mulilo Town Council

Hetta-Maria Amutenja Katima Mulilo Town Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Raphael Liswaniso, has attributed the town’s staggering debts of over N$99 million to high unemployment rates, which has led to residents being unable to pay for their water, land, rates and taxes. Liswaniso made these remarks yesterday in an interview with Windhoek Observer, where he emphasised that a significant portion of the town’s population lacks a reliable income. “The country is grappling with an unemployment rate of approximately 52 percent. With a population ranging from 45,000 to 50,000 inhabitants, nearly 80 percent of them are unemployed. The residents do not have…

22 Aug

Massive port expansion planned to increase capacity

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAndrew Kanime, Massive port expansion planned to increase capacity, Namibian Ports Authority (Namport)

Niël Terblanché While Namibia is aspiring to become a new global fuel and energy exporter, port facilities will have to be upgraded to accommodate the new industry and its supply chain needs. Andrew Kanime, Chief Executive Officer of the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) in an interview with Bloomberg recently, said private investment of N$40 billion is needed for the proposed port infrastructure expansion. Kanime announced plans for new berths and quay walls to support the country’s booming energy industry. The expansion is targeted for the port of Walvis Bay while an entirely new deep-sea port will be built in Lüderitz…

22 Aug

Chinese company denied relief forN$33 million worth of income tax

info_e12wt4csNational NewsChinese company denied relief forN$33 million worth of income tax, Eileen Rakow

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The High Court of Namibia rejected an interim relief request from a Chinese construction company for N$33 million in income tax. According to a judgement delivered last week Friday in High Court by Judge Eileen Rakow, said the concept of ‘pay now, argue later’ should be applicable in this case. “I find no reason to conclude that the ‘pay now argue later’ concept should not be applicable in this matter and thus find that the monies attached by the first respondent should remain with them for now as it is in the public interest,” said Rakow. The money…

22 Aug

Drought necessitates small-scale import of grains and beans

info_e12wt4csNational NewsDrought necessitates small-scale import of grains and beans, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata

Niël Terblanché Mahangu grains and beans purchased from Angola for own consumption within a radius of 60 kilometres from border posts will for the time being be exempted from the rules that verify agricultural products have been inspected and are pest and disease free. In a statement, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform said the looming drought has necessitated the lifting of stricter Phytosanitary measures. At the same time, the ministry is initiating awareness about the importation of grains and beans and the effect such material might have on the health of…

21 Aug

Strong workforce provides smooth ground handling service at HKIA

info_e12wt4csNational NewsParagon Aviation Services (PAS), Strong workforce provides smooth ground handling service at HKIA

Niël Terblanché For a second consecutive day, Paragon Aviation Services (PAS) provided seamless ground handling service at the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA). Shortly after Menzies Aviation Namibia were evicted from the premises of the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) on Saturday morning flights by Eurowings Discover and Qatar Airways flights were redirected to other international airports in the southern African region because of insurance issues. On Sunday, some of the issues were resolved and Qatar Airways flights landed without any disruption or delay. Eurowings, however, chose not to change their stance because Menzies Aviation Namibia filed yet another urgent application…

21 Aug

Trustco Bank’s license temporarily suspended

info_e12wt4csFeatured, National NewsBank of Namibia (BoN), Johannes !Gawaxab

Martin Endjala The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has temporarily suspended Trustco Bank Namibia’s license for a period of six months to rectify certain stipulated and communicated instances of non-compliance. This comes after BoN issued a statement last week Friday stating that the suspension is in accordance with Section 15(5) of the banking institutions Act no 13 of 2023, and it was done after consultations with the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprise, which resolved to halt the authorisation of the Trustco Bank Namibia to operate as a banking institution with immediate effect. According to Johannes !Gawaxab, the BoN’s Governor, the…

21 Aug

Uutoni to attend an urgent meeting withKarasburg Town Council amid employment chaos

info_e12wt4csNational NewsUutoni to attend an urgent meeting withKarasburg Town Council amid employment chaos

Martin Endjala Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni, is set to hold an urgent meeting today with Karasburg Town Council, which has been accused of employing some staff members illegitimately. Last week, Uutoni wrote a letter to the Mayor of Karasburg, Maria Veldskoen, requesting for an urgent meeting to look into the state of affairs at the Town Council. The minister demanded that all councillors be present in the meeting. “This letter serves to inform your good office that I would like to further engage all councillors regarding the state of affairs at the Karasburg Town Council as a…

21 Aug

Court orders SPYL to return the membership system

info_e12wt4csNational NewsCourt orders SPYL to return the membership system, N$14 million

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Windhoek High Court has issued an order to the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) directing them to return all hardware, software, and accessories associated with its integrated membership system. The integrated electronic system belongs to True Media Trading. The court ruling comes after SPYL failed to pay N$14 million, a breach of contract terms with True Media Trading. High Court Judge, George Coleman recently ruled that the initial agreement between True Media Trading and SPYL was void due to vagueness. “The agreement is depicted as a ‘joint venture agreement’ and reads more like a memorandum of understanding…