Observer Money

Health Ministry says no to ivermectin approval … as doctors submit petition

Health Ministry says no to ivermectin approval … as doctors submit petition

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) says it has no intentions to approve ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment. A petition by over 30 doctors was sent to the MOHSS and Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC), asking that the drug should receive an emergency approval for COVID-19 treatment in the country. Health Executive Director (ED), Ben Nangombe, and the council's registrar of medicine, Johannes Gaeseb, both confirmed receiving the petition. “The ministry issued a document, a public notice on the second of February about the views on ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 in Namibia. A that point…
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Reconciliation, Reconstruction Agreement a fait accompli?

Staff Writer The Reconciliation and Reconstruction Agreement between the Namibian government and its German counterpart, is now headed for Parliament this week. It seems a fait accompli that the agreement will sail through the National Assembly given the Swapo majority in this house. Following Vice President, Nangolo Mbumba’s national address last Friday, the agreement is now bound for the National Assembly this week which resumes its session tomorrow. Albeit Mbumba this is after passing and stopping at the Office of the General Assembly. This is worrying some members of the affected communities, notably among them former Member of Parliament, Usutuaije…
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Witness delay parliament disciplinary hearing

Witness delay parliament disciplinary hearing

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri and Andrew Kathindi Outstanding witness statements have delayed the on-going matter between Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leaders Bernardus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb and Parliament. This comes after the two members of Parliament had not submitted themselves to a disciplinary process at Parliament after raising concerns with how the process was being conducted. “The Committee of Privileges sat today. However, the Committee could not do much in relation to the disciplinary process as there are still a few outstanding witnesses’ statements from MPs who some attended the just-ended Pan African Parliament session,” Parliament’s spokesperson, David Nahogandja, said. This comes…
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Family to sue for death after COVID-19 vaccine

Family to sue for death after COVID-19 vaccine

Andrew Kathindi The family of Usiel Uapiona Kajovi, a 62-year-old man who died hours after being vaccinated with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine plan to file a lawsuit after they suspect negligence led to his death. Kajovi was inoculated against COVID-19 at Rhino Park Medical Centre on 17 May, the day he died. The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) stated that an investigation into what transpired was launched. “We are looking for a lawsuit. The nurses didn’t check his vitals. That is something that should have not been allowed to happen to him,” Kajovi’s step-son, Uendjii Tjituka told Windhoek Observer.…
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OTA, NTLA rubbishes Katjirua’s stance …as Rukoro calls for referendum

OTA, NTLA rubbishes Katjirua’s stance …as Rukoro calls for referendum

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) and Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) have rubbished the announcement by Chairman of the Ovaherero-Ovambanderu and Nama Council for Dialogue (ONCD) 1904-1908, Gerson Katjirua, saying he does not have the authority to speak for the broader majority of the Ovaherero and Nama descendants of the genocide victims. Katjirua on Thursday morning, claimed that, “we as the entire council are not here to reject the offer, we are here to give it a go ahead, adding that “we would like to see that when the declaration is signed, we as the chiefs representing the…
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Shaningwa ignores Geingob’s orders

Shaningwa ignores Geingob’s orders

Staff reporter It is alleged that Swapo Secretary-General, Sophia Shaningwa, continues to defy an order issued by President Hage Geingob to apologise to Okorukambe district coordinator, Frans Murangi, for having removed him from his position in 2017, in place of another candidate despite the ruling party having endorsed his election. The matter arises after Murangi was summoned before the Swapo party politburo earlier this year after being deemed disruptive in the region by Shaningwa. Murangi, however, explained to Geingob that he had been endorsed and appointed by the politburo in 2017 but a delegation led by Shaningwa had instead appointed…
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Genocide deal review urged

Genocide deal review urged

Tujoromajo Kasuto and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Political commentators in Namibia and abroad have urged the German government to relook at its offer and how it handled negotiations that have led to a deal being announced between the country and the Namibian government. This comes as representatives of the descendants of the victims of the genocide have unanimously rejected the deal as well as an apology offered by German Foreign Affairs Minister, Heiko Maas. On the rejections of the deal in Namibia, President of the International Network of Genocide Scholars (INoGS) and German Historian, Jürgen Zimmerer, stated that “it is a missed…
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Johnson & Johnson vaccines could cost millions annually

Johnson & Johnson vaccines could cost millions annually

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS)’s decision to acquire the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine could cost the country N$34 million per year for an unspecified number of years after it emerged the vaccine has to be continuously taken annually. According to the MoHSS, Namibia is expected to receive 250,000 doses at a cost of US$2,500,000.00 (N$ 34,375,000.00) sometime in August. According to American media reports, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Johnson & Johnson, Alex Gorsky, has stated that people who are inoculated with Johnson & Johnson may have to received annual doses…
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Gobabis municipality yet to pronounce itself on CEO

Gobabis municipality yet to pronounce itself on CEO

Staff Writer Gobabis Town Council is yet to pronounce itself on the future of the southern town’s Chief Executive Officer, Ignatius Thundinyane. The CEO stands accused of making irregular payments of N$6 million to Ewi Technical Civil Construction, a company that is alleged to have attained a fake bank guarantee to secure a tender at the town. Chairperson of the Gobabis management committee, Dewaal Louw, had in May stated he would seek clarity from the CEO on why payment of N$6 million were made to the company without council approval. Whether an explanation from the CEO had been offered and…
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Billionaire’s special treatment rattles Ndeitunga … as Police ignore court orders

Billionaire’s special treatment rattles Ndeitunga … as Police ignore court orders

Rose-Mary Haufiku Namibia Police Force (NamPol) head, Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga, says he is concerned about the continued special treatment being given to British billionaire, Harvey Boulter, who has evaded staying in prison since his arrest on murder charges more than three months ago. An irate Ndeitunga said he suspects there are individuals aiding his continued stay in hospital, amid claims he is “sick.” “I have a problem because he is always admitted. He does not want to go to the cells. I’m even suspecting that some people are favouring him to be a permanent patient in hospital. All suspects…
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