National News – Page 376 – Windhoek Observer

17 Oct

Jerry verdict coming on Friday

ObserverNational NewsJerry verdict coming on Friday, n Jerry Ekandjo, Richard Metcalf

Martin Endjala The final decision on Jerry Ekandjo to rejoin the race for the Swapo Vice Presidency will be decided at a Swapo Party Central Committee meeting slated for Friday in Windhoek.Ekandjo was beaten to the post by Defence Minister, Frans Kapofi, who came fourth in the elimination contest ahead of Ekandjo and Minister and Energy Minister, Tom Alweendo. Kapofi was the fourth candidate after Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Saara Kuukongelwa-Amadhila, who qualified automatically and Environment, Tourism and Forestry Minister, Pohamba Shifeta. Immediately after the central committee elimination process on 10 September, Ekandjo threatened to challenge the process on the basis that…

17 Oct

Driver commits suicide after caught stealing diesel

ObserverNational NewsDeputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, Driver commits suicide after caught stealing diesel, Nampol Weekend Serious Crime Report

Tujoromajo Kasuto A 42-year-old Zambian male truck driver committed suicide on Saturday on the road behind Dune 7. He threw himself into an oncoming truck after being caught red-handed stealing diesel from a stationary truck. According to Nampol Weekend Serious Crime Report for the previous weekend, compiled by Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, while driving his truck, he came across an abandoned truck parked next to the road. He stopped his truck, got out, and began stealing diesel from the abandoned truck. ‘’While the deceased was busy taking diesel from the abandoned truck, the owner of the truck came and caught…

17 Oct

SAN condemns G4S strike

ObserverNational NewsNamibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), SAN condemns G4S strike, Security Association of Namibia (SAN)

Staff Writer The Security Association of Namibia (SAN) has condemned an illegal strike allegedly instigated by the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) on Monday by G4S securities. The workers are demanding a salary increase. SAN president Dhiginina Uutaapama said the association strongly condemns the strike, stating their members, the owners of security companies, were not notified of the strike. “We are in a country with rules and regulations and no person should enter somebody’s building without any permission or following the right procedures. We also have to look at it as it politically motivated strike. If they (NEEF) want to…

Ohangwena HIV treatment yields positive results<br>…Virus not detected in blood of positive children

14 Oct

Ohangwena HIV treatment yields positive results
…Virus not detected in blood of positive children

ObserverNational NewsOhangwena HIV treatment yields positive results …Virus not detected in blood of positive children, Ohangwena Region, Vann Rolfso

Staff Writer Strict adherence to antiretroviral therapy and other support services provided by Project Hope’s Namibia Adherence and Retention Project (NARP), HIV concentrations in 90% of children living with the virus in Ohangwena Region is so low that a blood test cannot detect HIV. This is yet another step towards Namibia meeting the United Nations 95-95-95 goals, which are that 95% of the HIV-positive population knows their status, 95% of those who know are on antiretroviral treatment, and 95% of those on treatment have a suppressed and undetectable viral load. According to Vann Rolfson, Acting Country Representative of the United…

14 Oct

Housing database system launched

ObserverNational NewsHousing database system launched

Tujoromajo Kasuto Namibia Statistics Agency, in collaboration with the Ministry of Urban and Regional Development, has launched a centralized fully fledged housing information system that caters to and tracks housing needs, housing stock, land use management, and informal settlements. According to Erastus Uutoni, Minister of Urban and Rural Development the launch of this project is an important milestone, not only to the Ministry but to the country at large, as it will allow for better informed decisions and interventions on housing. ‘’It is acknowledged that real time and reliable housing statistics in Namibia are hard to find and if available…

14 Oct

Ombudsman independence in the works

ObserverNational NewsJustice Minister Yvonne Dausab this afternoon tabled the rape amendment bill, Ombudsman independence in the works

Martin Endjala A long overdue cry for the independence of the Office of the Ombudsman will soon become a reality. Once the proposed legislation that will give the office teeth and punitive powers, bringing to book all those not complying with orders of the Ombudsman to appear before it in relation to investigations carried out by the Ombudsman. This was revealed by the Minister of Justice Yvonne Dausab when she was responding to a question by the Popular Democratic Movement MP, Reggie Diergaardt on the recommendations made by Ombudsman on granting it autonomy. The bill, she said, is in the…

14 Oct

Steytler prefers economic architect as VP

ObserverNational NewsDr John Steytler, Steytler prefers economic architect as VP

Obrein Simasiku Former Presidential advisor on economics and ex-statistician general, Dr John Steytler says the next Vice President of Swapo, who in most probably will become the President of the country after the 2024 Presidential election should be a person that will grow and stabilise the country’s economy. “We need someone who will be strong enough with a financial understanding including his whole team, because these are the key players especially the deputy and minister of finance. Reforms need to be done in order to handle the fiscus very well, if not, then we will not recover quickly,’’ Steytler said…

14 Oct

Geingob campaigns for youth empowerment

ObserverNational Newse Youth Connect Africa Summit, Geingob campaigns for youth empowerment

Martin Endjala African leaders are encouraged to put in efforts to enhance youth participation and inclusion through representation at all levels of decision-making. President Hage Geingob said this during his virtual address to the Youth Connect Africa Summit, which started in Kigali, Rwanda, today. The summit is convening under the theme “Accelerating Investments in Youth: Resilient Youth, Resilient Africa”. The summit was first hosted in Kigali in 2017, and has since grown into a formidable event for young people in Africa. The President said that young Africans are more integrated and connected than at any stage in the continent’s history,…

14 Oct

Lutombi waits for official CoW offer

ObserverNational NewsCity of Windhoek (CoW), Lutombi waits for official CoW offer

O’brien Simasiku Conrad Lutombi who is touted to take over the helm of the City of Windhoek (CoW) says he has not been formally informed yet, thus he has nothing much to say on whether he accepts or rejects the offer. Lutombi who is the current CEO of Roads Authority (RA) came tops in the three level interviews in which he scored 80%. But this was questioned by some city councillors who wanted to have the process scrapped and redone. Among the reasons were that Lutombi was politically associated to the ruling Swapo Party, and they did not want such…

14 Oct

Opportunities abound to improve trade with Zambia

ObserverNational NewsOpportunities abound to improve trade with Zambia

Tujoromajo Kasuto Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, Lucia Iipumbu, stated at the beginning of the Swakopmund International Trade Expo that trade between Zambia and Namibia is unequal with Namibia importing more from Zambia in terms of the value of the goods. She stated that the regional and continental trade arrangements that both countries are party provide a very good opportunity to increase value addition and establishment of viable and competitive industries in the continent that could create a lot of employment opportunities for especially women and youth. Iipumbu noted that the statistics show that Zambia has the potential export of…