Observer Money – Page 150

27 Jul

Finance ministry replaces Ericah Shafudah

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyEricah Shafudah, Francois Brand, Ministry of Finance (MoF)

Staff Writer The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has appointed its head of procurement, Francois Brand, as the new acting executive director, the ministry has announced. “Brand will fill the vacancy left by Ms Ericah Shafudah who is retiring from the public service end of this month,” MoF Spokesperson, Tonateni Shidhudhu, says. Shafudah announced her retirement from the ministry where she served as accounting officer for eleven years to join the United Nations earlier this month. Brand will serve as acting ED from 2 August until 31 January 2022.

27 Jul

COVID-19 contributes to drug use, psychiatrist says

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Windhoek Central Hospital

Tujoromajo Kasuto Stress during the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to increased substance abuse, thus causing a snowball effect on the demand of illicit substances amidst the pandemic. Over the weekend the Namibian Police reported a number of arrests across the country involving drugs. According to Psychiatry Specialist, Mental health and Addiction professional at the Windhoek Central Hospital, Lahija Hamunjela, most of the admissions at the psychiatry ward are connected to substance abuse, which are predominantly an outcome of mental illness. Hamunjela says there is a close relationship between people who have depression and the use of substances. “The current stress…

27 Jul

ACC, ECN to get new heads … as parli meets urgently

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAnti-Corruption Commission of Namibia, Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Parliament

Staff Writer The National Assembly will convene for a special session tomorrow, 27 July, to decide the appointment of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission of Namibia (ACC), Parliament has announced. ACC boss, Paulus Noa’s contract, which ended at the start of the year, was extended for six months by President Hage Geingob in January and then for another month again last month. “As provided for by article 62 sub-article (1) (c) of the Namibian Constitution, H.E. Dr. Hage Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia, has directed by Proclamation number 7586, that…

26 Jul

Dispute erupts as farmers occupy Otjiwarongo town land

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyOtjiwarongo

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,…

26 Jul

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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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…