National News – Page 468 – Windhoek Observer

07 Mar

Judgment for surrogate child’s citizenship reserved

National NewsJudgment for surrogate child’s citizenship reserved, Phillip Luhl and Guillermo Delgado

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Supreme Court today reserved judgment in a matter in which same-sex couple, Phillip Luhl and Guillermo Delgado are fighting to have their son granted Namibian citizenship status. The child was born in 2019, via surrogacy, in South Africa. Luhl, a Namibian is married to Delgado, a Mexican National. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against a 2021 ruling in the High Court declaring that the couple’s first-born child be granted citizenship by descent. The ministry’s position is that the child, a boy, could not be granted citizenship…

06 Mar

Seals a threat to the Namibian fishing industry

National NewsDerek Klassen, Seals a threat to the Namibian fishing industry, Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

Martin Endjala The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klassen has reiterated that the management of Seals in the sea is not as easy as people make it out to be, as one adult seal is said to feed on 3.8 kg tons of fish daily, meaning that 1.5 million seals would eat 5,7 million Kg, 5 700 metric tons of fish per day and 2,8 million metric tons of fish per year. This amount is approximately four times more than the annual combined Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for hake, horse mackerel and monk per year. “The issue of…

06 Mar

HIV positive women more than HIV positive men in Namibia

National NewsHIV positive women more than HIV positive men in Namibia, Kalumbi Shangula

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula revealed on Sunday that the number of HIV infections is disproportionally high among females compared to their male counterparts. The prevalence is high among women at 15.1 percent compared to 8.4 percent in men, he said. Shangula said that an estimated total of 215 348 people in Namibia are living with HIV. This number includes adults and children. “The latest HIV prevalence among adults 15-49 years is 11.8 percent. It is estimated that a total of 7 193 Children less than 15 years are living with HIV,” Shangula said.…

06 Mar

Roll-out of green loans earmarked for youth entrepreneurs

National NewsEnvironmental Investment Fund (EIF), Iipumbu Shiimi, Roll-out of green loans earmarked for youth entrepreneurs

Martin Endjala A green concessional loan facility, targeting youth entrepreneurs will be rolled out to the tune of N$72 million over the next 12 months and is expected to grow to N$300 million by the 2024/25 financial year. This was revealed by the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi during his Financial Year 2023/24 National Budget as well as the Medium Term Expenditure Framework for FY2023/24 – FY2025/26 on 22 February 2023. During the 2023/24 financial year, the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) through an Ecosystem-based Adaptation Project funded by the Green Climate Fund, will provide grants amounting to…

06 Mar

Woman arrested for burying stillborn baby

National NewsNampol Spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, Woman arrested for burying stillborn baby

Martin Endjalo Police in Oshikoto region are investigating a case of concealment of birth, after a 23 year-old woman allegedly buried the body of her stillborn baby, aged seven months on Saturday. The incident happened at Oneputa village in Oshigambo constituency. Police allege that the woman buried the deceased, a female baby, in a shallow grave at an unknown time. Nampol Spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi in a weekend crime report said that the suspect gave birth to a lifeless baby girl and buried the fetus in a shallow grave at home. The suspect is reported to have been seven…

04 Mar

Drought threatens communal farmers in Omusati

National NewsDrought threatens communal farmers in Omusati, Erginus Endjala

Martin Endjala The Omusati Governor Erginus Endjala says he is worried about the persistent drought in the region due to low rainfall and crop plants dying as a result. He says the situation will require assistance from the Disaster Management in the Office of the Prime Minister. Endjala said the last time the region received rainfall was on the 31st January 2023 and a few drops of rain earlier this week. He stressed that the crops will require above normal rainfall for them to grow. “As we currently speak the crops are drying up, and they will require above normal…

04 Mar

Cop arrested after trying to deliver drugs to inmates

National NewsAlex Josef, Cop arrested after trying to deliver drugs to inmates, Naftal Sakaria

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A 28 year-old Police Officer deployed at the Ondangwa Police station was arrested on charges of dealing and possession of illicit items. The police have since identified him as Constable Alex Josef. He was denied bail and his next court appearance is 20 June 2023. Josef, according to Oshana Regional Commander Commissioner Naftal Sakaria was found in position of 195 Yes Cigarettes, valued at N$390 and 46 ballies of Cannabis with the Value of N$6350. The officer, according to Sakaria already has a pending similar case. The suspect was on duty at the Charge Office department. A colleague…

04 Mar

NAMPU condemns assault of journalists by inmate

National NewsNAMPU condemns assault of journalists by inmate, Sakeus Iikela

Steve Nashama The Namibia Media Professionals Union (NAMPU) has condemned the recent assault on journalists by an inmate appearing in a Walvis Bay court in the presence of law enforcement officers. NAMPU Secretary General Sakeus Iikela says the attack is an unacceptable violation of the rights of journalists to carry out their duties without fear of harm or intimidation. “As a media professionals’ union, we are deeply concerned about the reluctance of the police to protect and ensure the safety of journalists when they operate in hostile situations,” Iikela said. He added that the incident has heightened the union’s concerns,…

03 Mar

Black and White farmers fight brewing as Ghana meat export saga intensifies

National NewsBlack and White farmers fight brewing as Ghana meat export saga intensifies, Calle Schlettwein, Namibian Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU)

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU) and Namibian Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU) have rejected racial claims by some local farmers. A group of black farmers are alleging white farmers are the ones who spread the rumor that Namibian beef from the northern communal areas is contaminated with foot and mouth disease and that the Ghanaian government should stop buying it. The Ministry of Agriculture has since pronounced itself on the matter, saying that the authors of the report are commercial farmers whose identities are unknown. An investigation, the Ministry said has begun. The group is further alleging…

03 Mar

Venaani clarifies on MPs removal from standing committee

National NewsPopular Democratic Movement (PDM), Venaani clarifies on MPs removal from standing committee

Steve Nashama Following the removal of Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Members of Parliament, Inna Hengari and recently relinquished party Chief Whip, Vipuakuje Muharukua as members of the Parliamentary Committee on Standing Rules and Orders yesterday, PDM Leader McHenry Venaani says the removal was nothing sinister, as parties change committee members daily. “The nature and art of legislative Committees is that we all change at many intervals. The Standing Committee of Rules and Order is represented by Caucus leader. I was in the Foreign Affairs Committee and then moved to the Economic committee. What is the fuss,” he remarked. Venaani clarified…