Observer Money

A 16-year-old raped at knife point

A 16-year-old raped at knife point

Tujoromajo Kasuto A 16-year old girl was yesterday allegedly raped after her cousin forcefully dragged her to his friends place in Windhoek’s Damara location. Police say the rape occurred around 00h30 on Sunday after the victim’s two cousins and a male suspect forced her to the suspect’s house to sit and hang out. It is alleged that the suspect took the victim into the house under false pretences, threatened her with a knife and raped her. According to Namibian Police (NamPol) Spokesperson, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the suspect has not yet been arrested and efforts in tracing him are underway…
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Coffin “pointing” to alleged witch triggers mob attack …. Church condemns brutality amidst two separate “witch-hunts”

Eba Kandovazu A TRADITIONAL Kaokoland ritual in which family members of a departed member carry the casket at the burial site, asking it to point in the direction of those responsible for the death, has led to the arrest of eight people, after a 61-year-old man was beaten up last Saturday on allegations of witchcraft. Kunene Police Commander, James Nderura, says the victim was beaten up by his family members at Otjakati Tjovahimba village, who accused him of being responsible for the death of his 17-year-old nephew. “It is a tradition for the Himba people. What happens is that people…
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Suspended IPC councilor drags party to court

Suspended IPC councilor drags party to court

Eba Kandovazu SUSPENDED Independent Patriots of Change (IPC) Councilor, Ciske Smith-Howard, has now turned to the High Court to have her suspension nullified and declared void, barely a month after the party summoned her to a disciplinary hearing in Windhoek. Smith-Howard, prior to her suspension was the constituency councilor of Swakopmund. She was also the Chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council. In combined summons filed in the Windhoek High Court this afternoon, Smith-Howard also wants the court to set aside the party’s decision to discipline and charge her. She was suspended last October reportedly facing nine charges, including misconduct after…
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Kora case judgment next Thursday

Kora case judgment next Thursday

Eba Kandovazu THE Windhoek High Court today postponed a judgment in which the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) is suing Kora Music Awards organisers, Sarl Mundial Telecom, a company owned by Ernest Adjovi. Adjovi is being sued for about N$ 23.5 million (US$ 1.5 which NTB paid in 2015 to host the show in Namibia. The show was scheduled for March 2016 although it never happened. The NTB, represented by Advocate Thabang Phatela, in its heads of argument said that the case concerns one of the most far reaching abuses of a Namibian public entity by a foreign company in its…
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NSA’s Board Chair envisions a great 2022

NSA’s Board Chair envisions a great 2022

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), Salomo Hei, says 2022 promises a big year in the life of the NSA pointing out that the past 24 months have been dominated by the terrible pandemic, which continue to disrupt and shape lives in equal measure. He states that, “over the past few months, we have been busy developing a transformational new strategy that puts us on course to deliver a professional service around institutional reform, which is ambitious, inclusive and sustainable.” The new strategic plan is a mechanism for identifying opportunities, driving…
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Assistance needed to bury man who committed suicide after false paternity claim

Assistance needed to bury man who committed suicide after false paternity claim

Eba Kandovazu THE family of 20-year-old Eddy Ortmann, who killed himself after finding out he is not the father of a three-month old baby girl, is seeking assistance in burying him tomorrow. His sister, Queen Ortmann, told the Windhoek Observer that Eddy committed suicide on January 1st, following an argument between him and his girlfriend. The two had been together for a year. According to her, during the argument, Eddy's girlfriend (name withheld to protect the baby's identity) had been out the previous night and only returned the following morning. Her mother, during the argument reportedly shouted that Eddy is…
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No PCR tests for vaccinated Namibians entering the country

No PCR tests for vaccinated Namibians entering the country

Eba Kandovazu AS of Sunday, fully vaccinated Namibians, permanent residents and truck drivers will no longer be required to present a negative PCR test result upon entry into Namibia as long as they present their vaccination cards. The announcement was made today by President Hage Geingob at the 39th COVID-19 public briefing. Minister of the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Dr Kalumbi Shangula, explains that this category of people can enter the country at any time as long as the vaccine cards are authentic. “For all other categories of travelers, including truck drivers who are not fully vaccinated,…
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Four Outjo trial-awaiting inmates escape

Four Outjo trial-awaiting inmates escape

Eba Kandovazu FOUR trial awaiting inmates at Outjo Police holding cells escaped on Christmas Eve. Police say two of the suspects are involved in a rhino poaching case together, with one of them facing another separate poaching case. Kunene Region Spokesperson, Inspector Vehangaiza Ruiter, says the four suspects Shinghole Shitoko (24), Hengua Ngange (40), Dawid Komondjila (28) and Kamunongava Katjinaumue (32) escaped by cutting the roof iron bars with unknown sharp objects and went out through the hole. According to Ruiter, Shitoko and Ngange were initially arraigned for poaching, while Komondjila and Katjinaumue face stock theft charges separately. Ngange, according…
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Exam delays cause no implications on first-year registration

Exam delays cause no implications on first-year registration

Tujoromajo Kasuto With universities starting with registration the same time as learners rewriting their exams, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture ((MOEAC), through the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, has engaged the institutions of higher learning on this matter and arrangements are in place for the affected learners to register upon the release of their examination results. MOEAC Executive Director (ED), Sanet Steenkamp, says that the examination results for the full time National Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinarily Level (NSSCO) and Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS level), New Curriculum, will be released mid February. Whilst the results of part-time…
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New look for identity cards of refugees  ….“African Guest Identity Card”

New look for identity cards of refugees ….“African Guest Identity Card”

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security (MHAISS), has released another batch of new-look identity cards for refugees. It says it is done within the ambit of applicable international and national legal framework. MHAISS Executive Director (ED), Etienne Maritz, says as a child of international solidarity, Namibia always seeks ways to accommodate guests seeking asylum and refuge, as evident in the inclusion of refugees in the new look IDs. Maritz says that the ministry wishes to inform members of the public, asylum seekers and the refugee community at large that it has been considered appropriate that…
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