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Dispute erupts as farmers occupy Otjiwarongo town land

Dispute erupts as farmers occupy Otjiwarongo town land

Tujoromajo Kasuto Chaos erupted in Otjiwarongo on Tuesday 20 July as the municipality confiscated about 600 livestock belonging to farmers who have illegally occupied town land The confiscated livestock were taken to the Showgrounds where a throng of about 40 farmers gathered demanding their livestock back. Farmers warned that if any of the confiscated livestock goes missing or is wounded, the municipality will pay dearly. The farmers also claimed that attempts to communicate with the municipality have fallen on deaf ears or have received unfavorable responses. Otjiwarongo Municipality’s Chief Emergency Officer, Daniel Pavaza, in an audio circulating on social media,…
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Shaningwa tells LPM to fight own battles …as LPM accuses Swapo of staging pistol affair

Shaningwa tells LPM to fight own battles …as LPM accuses Swapo of staging pistol affair

Andrew Kathindi Swapo Party of Namibia Secretary General, Sophia Shaningwa, says the ruling party will not be drawn into a war of words with the Landless People’s Movement (LPM). LPM Member of Parliament, Utaara Mootu on Friday, 23 July, claimed that an incident in which a security monitoring system at parliament is alleged to have picked up a gun in LPM’s lawyer, Patrick Kauta’s briefcase, was orchestrated by Swapo in a move of desperation to frame the LPM legal representatives. “Swapo is not going to fight other people’s battles. Let them fight their own battles and leave Swapo Party alone,”…
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SPYL asks government to look at NSFAF salaries

SPYL asks government to look at NSFAF salaries

Andrew Kathindi The Swapo Party of Namibia Youth League (SPYL)’s Secretary, Ephraim Nekongo, is calling on the Government to re-examine the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF)’s top brass’s salary structure. Nekongo says this should be part of the Government’s effort to urgently re-organise the whole institution. “The salary structures of NSFAF must not be higher than that of the public sector. The institution barely makes N$0.50 (0.50 cents) per year to supplement the Government's annual budget. As a result, having employees paid millions of dollars to push papers is laughable.” NSFAF has been ordered by the Labour Commissioner to…
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Demolished Shack owners left homeless

Demolished Shack owners left homeless

Tujoromajo Kasuto Owners of the Mukwanangobe informal settlement shacks which have been demolished say they have been left in the streets with no immediate plans to relocate them. Some of the families whose homes were demolished by the Windhoek City Police and Namibia Police (Nampol) on Wednesday, on Thursday afternoon 22 July, camped in front of City of Windhoek Headquarters demanding answers and to see the court order which they claim was not issued. They also told Windhoek Observer that they have sent numerous letters to the City’s Mayor, Job Amupanda, and have not received any responses yet. At a…
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Thumbs up for new Political Declaration on ending AIDS

Thumbs up for new Political Declaration on ending AIDS

Moses Magadza The AIDS and Rights Alliance for southern Africa (ARASA) has welcomed the new Political Declaration on Ending AIDS by 2030, saying it includes clear targets that should prompt member states to take pointed action to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. United Nations Member States adopted the Political Declaration: Ending Inequalities and Getting on Track to End AIDS by 2030, during the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS last month. In the Political Declaration, world leaders expressed concern over inequalities across multiple forms and national contexts based on HIV status, gender, race, ethnicity, disability,…
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Ombudsman interviews delayed

Ombudsman interviews delayed

Andrew Kathindi The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has postponed interviews for the next Ombudsman indefinitely as one of the shortlisted candidates was hospitalised. “Following the placement of the notice in the media, the JSC on 20 July 2021, received a written communication from a candidate shortlisted in which the JSC was informed that the concerned candidate was hospitalized and was thus unable to attend the interview,” JSC Public Relations Officer, Selma Mwaetako, states. Secretary to the National Council, Tousy Namiseb, lawyer Ruth Herunga and Legal Officer at Justice Ministry Basilius Dyakugha have been shortlisted. According to Mwaetako a new date…
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Shangula refutes Delta variant being airborne

Shangula refutes Delta variant being airborne

Tujoromajo Kasuto Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, is refuting claims about the possibility the delta variant being airborne. “We have not said so, when we get new medical information, we will inform the public,” Shangula told Windhoek Observer. International media outlets, have quoted medical experts claiming that the Delta variant remains airborne longer than other previous variants. This is after Shangula announced the presence of the Delta variant, which the Health ministry confirmed earlier this month. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Acting Director in Namibia, Steven Hong, explained that COVID-19 and all known variants…
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Swapo Headquarters completion a surprise

Swapo Headquarters completion a surprise

Swapo Party of Namibia Secretary General (SG), Sophia Shaningwa, says the completion of its headquarters is a surprise. Shaningwa says the party decided to keep the construction of its headquarters under wraps from the public. “We have taken the decision that when we are constructing it, it should be covered. So that you people cannot know what we are doing inside and the day when it opens, you see your surprise,” She states. She is tight lipped about the completion date saying “I don’t see any reason, why the Windhoek Observer should be concerned with regards to the completion of…
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LPM leaders skip Parley disciplinary hearing

LPM leaders skip Parley disciplinary hearing

Andrew Kathindi Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leaders, Bernardus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb, did not attend the Standing Committee on Privileges and Immunities hearing today, Parliament has revealed. The hearing which was concluded today, chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, was focused on their conduct on 15 April during a question and answer session after President Hage Geingob delivered his State of the Nation Address. “They were not in attendance, they chose rather to send their legal representatives. The hearing was concluded unless something else should come up. A report will now be concluded to be submitted…
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Mixing COVID vaccines a no go for Namibia

Mixing COVID vaccines a no go for Namibia

Tujoromajo Kasuto Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, says the country does not have a need for mixing Covid-19 vaccines. “Currently we have one vaccine and give only what we have, we continue doing as we have been doing up to now,” states Shangula further questioning “who said that mixing is more efficient, where is the medical evidence that mixing is much more powerful than taking the one vaccine.” According to media reports, countries in Europe, namely Spain, Germany, Canada and the United Kingdom, have implemented a mixed dosage approach, where people get the first dose of…
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