National News – Page 432 – Windhoek Observer

29 Oct

Human-Wildlife Conflict is not a small thing

ObserverNational NewsCovid-19, Minister of EFT, Pohamba Shifeta

In all the necessary noise around COVID-19 and the upcoming elections and the various newsy points of the day, something that affects Namibians in a major, yet unappreciated way, is human-wildlife conflict (HWC). Too many newsmakers go on as if HWC is not their problem. It is some ‘distant’ issue. One of Namibia selling points for travel, tourism and hospitality is wildlife. This country's contribution to the worldwide wildlife conservation is EVERYBODY’S BUSINESS. Entire communities, our fellow citizens who have an equal right to a quality, safe life just like anyone else. And yet, they battle wildlife every day and…

28 Oct

Mental health patients need their medicine

ObserverNational NewsCOVID, Oshakati, Oshakati State Hospital

The mental health unit at the Oshakati State Hospital does not have the medicines needed to treat patients. This is disgraceful. Front line medical personnel tasked with helping those in mental distress are under siege. Their patients whose medical needs cannot be addressed are a threat to themselves and their caregivers. This crisis was avoidable. The officials responsible for the lack of medicines needed must be fired with immediate effect for incompetence. People are suffering because of this situation. Someone must be held accountable or it will keep happening. COVID is a national medical challenge, no doubt. But, we cannot…

27 Oct

Democracy must be unhindered

ObserverNational NewsDeputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, USA

Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said that she believes democracy exercised by any who choose to participate, causes instability in Namibia. As a higher-performing government official for the last three decades, her comments are a concern. First, we must fact check the Honourable. She is quoted as saying that the "USA is the oldest democracy in the world but they only have two political parties." The USA could claim to be the largest, oldest CONTINUOUS democracy (recall that only white male landowners could vote at first - no blacks, no women). But, it is widely known that Greece (particularly Athens)…

23 Oct

Choosing a PG is not a beauty pageant

ObserverNational NewsJudicial Service Commission (JSC), NGO

We are opposed to a public runway display for serious, professional legal candidates for the post of Prosecutor General (PG) A public interview process for the PG job is counterproductive. It can lower the dignity of the position and does not address the concerns about corruption in political appointments. Let the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) do their expert work according to the criteria. They should make their recommendations to the President in confidence. We do not accept that the appointment of the outgoing PG, Martha Imalwa over 17 years ago was tainted in any way. Allusions to this as if…

23 Oct

We must live with COVID …but we must not pretend it is gone

ObserverNational NewsCOVID, WHO

The president’s recently announced steps to further re-open Namibia as a country, society and economy are welcome. The year 2020 has been an unprecedented financial disaster for Namibia as a whole. We all have taken a major hit. Governments had to respond in the way that science and their best guesses dictated; they are doing their best. The danger with reported deaths and recorded new infections decreasing is that people think COVID is ‘over.’ People think that life can go back to the way it was before the outbreak. We must never lie to ourselves. Whatever was happening ‘before’ is…

22 Oct

The 800 pound gorilla in the room

ObserverNational NewsFinance minister, Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR)

There is no doubt that Minister of Finance Iipumbu Shiimi has to drink from the dual poisoned chalices of taking on the Finance portfolio in the middle of a severe economic recession and then COVID-19. The 800-pound gorilla in the room is that after the smoke clears, there remains a budget deficit of N$17 billion. How will we fill that gap? The mid-year budget review announced yesterday is, at the end of the day, only a plan; it is not money in the bank. It declares what the government should earn and what it will spend in a particular period…

21 Oct

Who cares for the children?…we must change our culture and traditions

ObserverNational NewsNangula Haikali

The tragic story of baby Nangula Haikali, her parents, grandmother, aunt and neighbours that knew the child was having a ‘difficult time’, raises disturbing questions. According to reports, a vulnerable baby girl was mistreated, unloved, and murdered bit by bit. Those arrested for the horrific deed are the same people who should have been her first nurturers. But, society must not only point a finger at the two women accused and forget about this issue. The problem is deeper than that. It is a tradition here in Namibia to leave babies and young children with elderly relatives in villages or…

20 Oct

Geingob should not apologize…Henk must not re-write history

ObserverNational NewsNamibians, President Geingob, SWAPO

The comments made on the campaign trail by President Geingob about white voters who should be grateful to Swapo are typical campaign rhetoric. There is nothing there to get hot-and-bothered about. There is more noise about Geingob’s comments than proposals to mitigate the economic disaster on Namibia’s doorstep. Let us hear the opposition party’s viable plans to uplift the economy – that is how to win votes. It is the response by the faded politician Henk Mudge regarding Geingob’s comments that should engender an apology. Henk claims that whites do not have to thank Swapo for the country being peace-loving…

17 Oct

Ndaitwah’s suppression of CSE is contradictory

ObserverNational NewsDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

[et_pb_section][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type="4_4"][et_pb_text] Over the decades of her public service, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation grew to prominence as a staunch advocate of women’s rights. We find the new position of Nandi-Ndaitwah against comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), a total contradiction to her erstwhile claim to fame as an advocate for women. Sexuality education for young girls and women is the first step towards their empowerment. Women must make choices about their bodies and their futures. We fail to see a logical reason for Namibia’s #1 international women empowerment advocate to shift gears and withdraw…

16 Oct

Joubert has a point

ObserverNational NewsCOVID, Gondwana, Gondwana Collection Group, Gys Joubert

Gondwana, a respected tourism group, in Namibia is first among equals in the tourism industry for empowerment, training and skills transfer, promotions on the basis of performance and a wildlife/conservation focus that is important to Namibia. The outspoken CEO of the Gondwana Collection Group, Gys Joubert sent a letter to the Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres. He is fired up about World Health Organization protocols and their vastly negative impact in Namibia. The angered CEO says he is tired and battle weary of having to fight for his 1,102 employees and their jobs and for the financial viability…