National News – Page 384 – Windhoek Observer

15 Jul

Biomass offers another income stream to farmers

ObserverNational NewsAgricultural Bank (AgriBank) and Namibia Biomass Industry Group, Biomass offers another income stream to farmers, Chief Executive Officer, Dr Raphael Karuaihe, MoU with N-BiG

Obrein Simasiku The Agricultural Bank (AgriBank) and Namibia Biomass Industry Group have sealed an agreement to work on the development and amendment of financing products aimed at scaling-up projects in bush control and biomass utilization, as well as the sharing of data required to develop loan products that are responsive to market needs. In addition, the Biomass Group will provide expertise through the Advisory Service component, more especially on risk assessment of bush control and biomass utilisation loans, in line with the Bank’s policies and regulations. These were outlined during the signing of a five-year Memorandum of Understanding today, where…

15 Jul

Model law on PFM Adopted

ObserverNational NewsModel law on PFM Adopted, Right Honourable Nellie Butete Kashumba Mutti, SADC Parliamentary Forum

Moses Magadza in Malawi LILONGWE – The 51st Plenary Assembly session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum has today (14 July, 2022) adopted the much-anticipated Model Law on Public Financial Management (PFM), raising hopes in a region in which lack of accountability in the use of public funds has perennially jinxed socioeconomic development. The Plenary Assembly is the highest decision making body of SADC PF, the deliberative body that brings together 15 national parliaments of the SADC PF. It met under hybrid conditions - largely physically and partly virtually - in the Malawian capital city of Lilongwe and was taken through…

14 Jul

TransNamib facing strike action

ObserverNational NewsAbigail Raubenheimer, TransNamib facing strike action

Obrein Simasiku TransNamib is developing cold feet ahead of the looming strike set to begin on Monday across nine centres of the state rail and road transport entity. The strike is led by the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau). TransNamib is pleading with the union to avert the strike, saying it will just result in more repercussions on the financially embattled organisation. The strike is related to a protracted wage dispute as well as TransNamib's adopted strategy to lay-off employees through a voluntary retrenchment, dating back to 2020. "The management has also opened the books to the Union…

14 Jul

Gender completes new verification system

ObserverNational NewsDoreen Sioka, Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare

Staff Writer The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare has completed the verification of the beneficiaries of its social welfare programmes. Through this verification process the ministry has removed 18 503 beneficiaries from its register, saving the government five million dollars. This figure included 4156 deceased beneficiaries and 249 expired Disability Grants. “The deletion of the 4156 deceased beneficiaries has already realised a saving of N$ 5 million. The reason for the disparity is that some of the data transferred from SAS to ISAS, could not be positively verified against the NPRS as an authentic record of…

Women officers take charge of northern regions<br>…. Ndeitunga says patience is a virtue

14 Jul

Women officers take charge of northern regions
…. Ndeitunga says patience is a virtue

ObserverNational NewsCommissioner Julia Sakuwa-Neo, Lavinia Shaxula, Naftal Sakaria, Police Chief Sebastian Ndeitunga, Teopoline Kalompo-Nashikaku, Women officers take charge of northern regions …. Ndeitunga says patience is a virtue

Obrein Simasiku The Police have promoted three women as regional heads breaking with the tradition that most senior positions were reserved for men. Police Chief Sebastian Ndeitunga says he is happy that they exercise patience, which is a virtue, "I told them to be patient and not rush, their time was coming, and it has now happened." Recently Ndeitunga announced the promotion of Commissioner Julia Sakuwa-Neo, as the new regional commander of Kavango West, taking over from Josephat Abel, who retired. Sakuwa served as head of administration in the Oshikoto region and 26 years of experience in the force. Teopoline…

14 Jul

PM defends extradition draft with Russia

ObserverNational NewsLandless People’s Movement, PM defends extradition draft with Russia, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila

Martin Endjala Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila defended a draft extradition treaty between Namibia and Russia in the National Assembly yesterday. She said that the treaty between Namibia and Russia on extradition of persons for criminal matters is in accordance with the Namibian constitution and therefore supports the draft treaty for tabling in the chamber.Deputy Leader of the Landless People’s Movement, Henny Seibeb who said the draft treaty, creates the impression that the treaty will be retrospective, which he strongly denounced as not allowed in terms of the constitution. The provision, Seibeb referred to, suggests that assistance for extradition shall be…

14 Jul

Meat processing plant for Katima

ObserverNational NewsMeat processing plant for Katima, Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR)

Obrein Simasiku The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) has announced that it will be constructing a meat processing plant at Katima Mulilo, next to the existing Meatco abattoir. The project will cost N$35 million dollars and will be constructed on a five-hectare piece of land. "The construction of the Meat Processing Plant is among the major activities funded by the European Union (EU) through the Eleventh European Development Fund (EDF 11). Apart from the construction of the Katima Mulilo Meat Processing Plant, the funding also includes the construction of the Katima Mulilo quarantine facility and upgrading of…

14 Jul

Namibia faces reversal in gender equality ranking

ObserverNational NewsHealth and Survival sub-index, Managing Director at the World Economic Forum, Saadia Zahidi, World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2022

Tujoromajo Kasuto The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2022, has revealed that Namibia currently ranked 8th, is one of two countries in the Top 10 facing a reversal in overall performance following a significant COVID hit. Despite the country being one of only three states on the continent ranked in the top 10 across the overall score, the report observes that after continued positive progress since 2006, the country dropped two places in the ranking and slightly reopened its overall gender gap, reaching a score of 0.807 compared to 0.809 in 2021. But, Namibia’s performance on the Health…

14 Jul

Security firms going for juniors to pay less

ObserverNational Newsand Employment Creation, Balbina Pienaar, Industrial Relations, labour, Security firms going for juniors to pay less

Minister of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation says it has observed a trend by companies to fire experienced security guards to avoid salary hikes. Acting Executive Director, Balbina Pienaar says some companies are getting rid of such personnel for no apparent reason and recruiting new ones at a low salary scale. According to the Collective Agreement in Security Industry, security officers at the entry level are remunerated a minimum wage of N$8.75 per hour while those that have been in employment with the same employer are entitled to a minimum wage of N$10 per hour. This comes after the…

13 Jul

NamRA enhances clearance of goods for import

ObserverNational NewsAdvanced Ruling System, NamRA enhances clearance of goods for import, Sinikka Antila

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Namibia Revenue Agency (NAMRA) officially launched the Advanced Ruling System on Tuesday, which gives guidelines on the import of export of goods. The system is part of NamRA’s obligation in fulfilling its international commitment contained in the World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). It is a binding official decision issued by a competent Customs Authority in writing, which provides the applicant with a time-bound assessment on the goods to be imported or exported. According to the EU Ambassador to Namibia, Sinikka Antila at the official Launch of the Advance Ruling Programme this is a critical trade…