National News – Page 391 – Windhoek Observer

25 Aug

Swapo makes friends at CoW…regional exec supports alliance

ObserverNational NewsAustin Kwenani and Sam Nujoma, Fransina Kahungu and Magdalena Pienaar-Lombardt, Queen Kamati, Swapo makes friends at CoW…regional exec supports alliance

Obrein Simasiku Five serving Swapo council partaking in the vote of no confidence exercise held on Tuesday, which was initiated by the Affirmative Repositioning Movement leading to the dissolution of the previous management. The exercise saw two Swapo councillors, Austin Kwenani and Sam Nujoma joining the management committee, placing the party in a decision making organ, as all its five members were just ordinary councillors. Following Tuesday’s dissolution, the Swapo councillors including Queen Kamati, Fransina Kahungu and Magdalena Pienaar-Lombardt, were summoned yesterday to explain to the Regional Executive Committee, how and why they participated in the vote of no confidence…

25 Aug

LPM shoots down changes to Electoral Act

ObserverNational NewsBernadus Swartbooi, Chief Executive Officer of ECN, Landless People’s Movement, Theo Mujoro

Staff Writer The Landless People’s Movement has described the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act of Namibia as going against the democratic values the country has embraced. The leader of LPM has taken particular clauses relating to the Chief Executive Officer of ECN, whose tenure, according to him is not specified, unlike the term of the current chief electoral officer whose term is five years, as well as the endorsement of the appointment of the CEO. During the recent retreat of LPM in Swakopmund during the by-election there, Bernadus Swartbooi expressed concerns surrounding some of the proposed amendment bill. The…

25 Aug

MPs happy with climate resilient projects in Kunene

ObserverNational NewsEnvironmental Fund of Namibia (EIF), Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR)

Martin Endjala The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources led by Chairperson Tjekero Tweya has lauded the Kunene region’s envisaged projects that are underway as commendable and uplifting community livelihoods. These projects are implemented by the Environmental Fund of Namibia (EIF) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR). The committee recently toured the mountainous and vast Kunene region to inspect progress, assess impact of climate change and familiarize themselves with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) sponsored projects. The committee also had consultative meetings at Khorixas with local authority leaders. Committee member, Gothard Kandume, who is also from…

25 Aug

TransNamib auctions off properties to raise funds

ObserverNational NewsCorporate Communications Officer, Integrated Strategic Business Plan (ISBP), TransNamib auctions off properties to raise funds

Tujoromajo Kasuto TRANSNAMIB Holdings is auctioning off its non-core properties in nine towns across the country from its properties portfolio valued at N$2,4 billion. According to Abigail Raubenheimer, the railway company’s Corporate Communications Officer, the properties being auctioned are part of their commercial non-core properties that were approved for sale by Cabinet to raise funds as part of the Integrated Strategic Business Plan (ISBP). “In 2018 we received the go ahead from the Cabinet, to alienate properties that are not central to business operations. We have quite a big property portfolio and thus we are alienating them to raise funds…

Namibia’s compliance to UN<br>corruption code under scrutiny

24 Aug

Namibia’s compliance to UN
corruption code under scrutiny

ObserverNational Newsand Louise Portas on behalf of the UNCAC secretariat, Namibia’s compliance to UN corruption code under scrutiny, Tanja Santucci, UNCAC secretariat

Tujoromajo Kasuto A country review of implementation by Namibia of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) is being conducted by experts from France on Uganda. The review will cover five main areas that relate to preventive measures, criminalisation and law enforcement, international cooperation, asset recovery, and technical assistance and information exchange against corruption. The review is done by Tanja Santucci, and Louise Portas on behalf of the UNCAC secretariat. According to Paulus Noa, the Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission the draft country review report sets pertinent questions drawn from articles of the two chapters under review and he…

24 Aug

Venaani wants oil agreements renegotiated

ObserverNational NewsPopular Democratic Movement (PDM) McHenry Venaani, Tom Alweendo, Venaani wants oil agreements renegotiated

Martin Endjala The leader of the official opposition, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) McHenry Venaani, is concerned about the handling of oil exploration licenses by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, saying they should be renegotiated. In an open letter dated 23rd August, Venaani is requesting Tom Alweendo to open up all existing and new oil exploration and extracted agreements concluded thus far by his ministry. Venaani said concerns are raised by the public that the agreements may not be in the best interest of Namibia in future. “If these Namibian oil resources are used sustainably, they can serve as…

24 Aug

Outapi maternity waiting shelter opened

ObserverNational NewsOutapi maternity waiting shelter opened

Staff Writer Kalumbi Shangula, the Minister of Health and Social Services, said that maternity homes help to reduce maternal and infant mortality He was speaking at the official opening of the maternity waitig home in Outapi in the Omusati Region. “It should be noted that, in general, the majority of maternal deaths are caused by preventable or treatable complications. It is therefore, important that all expectant mothers make an effort to present to health facilities on time before labour, during the Third Trimester. This will save lives. It is the reason that the Maternity Waiting Shelters have been built at…

Ancestral powers divine unbreakable<br>bond among genocide descendants

24 Aug

Ancestral powers divine unbreakable
bond among genocide descendants

ObserverNational NewsAncestral powers divine unbreakable bond among genocide descendants, Apology and Reparations, Chief Vipuira Kapuuo of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA)

Staff Writer It seems there’s no turning back on the unified and resolute march by descendants of the victims of genocide in their demand for an apology and reparations. Joined this time around by Chief Vipuira Kapuuo of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) reigning in Ovitoto, Ovaherero and Ovambanderu chiefs this morning reveals the content of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Genocide, Apology and Reparations, known as the Okandjoze MOU. Where they on Sunday morning signed it. But Kapuuo could not be there due to the burial of Jane Katjavivi, wife of one of the affable sons of Ovitoto,…

Endorsements stifle democracy<br>…Geingob urged not to anoint any candidate

23 Aug

Endorsements stifle democracy
…Geingob urged not to anoint any candidate

ObserverNational NewsEndorsements stifle democracy …Geingob urged not to anoint any candidate, president Hage Geingob, Rui Tyitende, Sophia Shaningwa, Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Secretary General

Tujoromajo Kasuto Political Analysts have welcomed the fact that President Hage Geingob has so for not endorsed anyone for top positions in the Swapo Party at the upcoming elective congress, stating that it will enhance democracy, competency and candidates who meet the necessary requirements may compete, including for the position of party President. Nomination for the positions is next month in September, it was announced at the weekend’s Central Committee meeting. Political analyst Rui Tyitende notes that the tradition of the sitting President endorsing a candidate of his choice has been the norm since President Nujoma and this practice does…

23 Aug

Heroes’ Day a self-celebration of Swapo: LPM

ObserverNational NewsHeroes’ Day a self-celebration of Swapo: LPM, The Landless People’s Movement has described Heroes Day

Martin Endjala The Landless People’s Movement has described Heroes Day celebration as an event where the incumbent ruling party engages in ‘’self-celebration’’, disregarding the ordinary hero on the street who does not receive any recognition. LPM, who is the controlling party in the Hardap Region, where the official commemorations are to be held in Mariental has withdrawn the regional council staff from all preparations of the event. The regional governing party withdrew from the preparations as the regional council was not consulted. The leader of LPM Bernadus Swartbooi, as well as the regional council chairperson Gershon Daniel Francior Dausab, questioned…