Observer Money – Page 146 – Windhoek Observer

26 Jul

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

ObserverObserver MoneyLandless People’s Movement, LPM, Sophia Shaningwa

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,”…

23 Jul

SPYL asks government to look at NSFAF salaries

ObserverObserver MoneyEphraim Nekongo, Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund, NSFAF, Swapo Party of Namibia Youth League (SPYL)

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…

23 Jul

Demolished Shack owners left homeless

ObserverObserver MoneyMukwanangobe informal settlement, Municipal Council of Windhoek, Namibia Police (Nampol), Windhoek City Police

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…

22 Jul

Thumbs up for new Political Declaration on ending AIDS

ObserverObserver MoneyAIDS, AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA), 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,…

22 Jul

Ombudsman interviews delayed

ObserverObserver MoneyJudicial Service Commission (JSC)

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…

22 Jul

Shangula refutes Delta variant being airborne

ObserverObserver MoneyCentre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Covid-19

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…

21 Jul

Swapo Headquarters completion a surprise

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Sophia Shaningwa, SWAPO

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…

21 Jul

LPM leaders skip Parley disciplinary hearing

ObserverObserver MoneyBernardus Swartbooi, Henny Seibeb, Landless People’s Movement (LPM), National Assembly

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…

20 Jul

Mixing COVID vaccines a no go for Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHSS)

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…

17 Jul

Doses of 250 000 of the Sinopharm vaccine arrives in the country

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Tujoromajo Kasuto A consignment of 250 000 doses of Sinopharm vaccine bought by the Namibian government from China National Pharmaceutical Group, arrived in the country today 16 July, a day before scheduled. According to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Deputy Executive Director, Petronella Masabane, the Government forked out about N$ 3.3 million, N$ 130.14 per dose for the 250 000 doses. , Kalumbi Shangula, announced the presence of the Delta variant as the country is currently experiencing a Third Wave of Covid-19 and too announced all vaccination sites were closed as from 13 July due to the…