Observer Money

No oil drilling objections received – Calle

No oil drilling objections received – Calle

Helena Johannes The Minister of Agriculture Water and Forestry Calle Schlettwein maintains his office has not been approached by any expert, with evidence on the negative impact of drilling wells for oil exploration in the Kavango region. “Our main aim is to ensure that it does not cause any economical and agricultural harm. However, on this project we have not been approached by anyone on the harms this might cause,” said Calle. This comes after Conservationists and community leaders in the Okavango wilderness region of Namibia according to media reports have raised alarms over oil and gas exploration and its…
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Namibia opens three border posts with Botswana

Namibia opens three border posts with Botswana

Clifton Movirongo Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Frans Kapofi on Wednesday announced the re-opening of three border points with Botswana, namely the Trans-Kalahari, Ngoma and Mohembo posts. “In terms of Regulations 8(3) (b) of the Public Health COVID-19 General Regulations: Public and Environmental Health Act 2015, I hereby designate the following ports of entry into and departure from Namibia, subject to applicable Health Regulations, effective immediately,” Kapofi said. The move by the Home Affairs ministry comes after the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) killing of the three Namibian brothers, Tommy, Martin and Wamunyima Nchindo, along with another Zambian…
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Opposition agrees on rotation system . . . As Job is appointed mayor

Opposition agrees on rotation system . . . As Job is appointed mayor

Andrew Kathindi It has emerged that opposition parties agreed to revolve the leadership roles at the City of Windhoek Council for the next five years as part of a coalition agreement deal reached Tuesday night to break an impasse over positions. As part of the agreement reached, Affirmative Repositioning leader, Job Amupanda will have the first go at the Mayor role, a development that saw him standing unopposed for the position on Wednesday. Amupanda was nominated by Independent Patriots for Change’s (IPC) Fillemon Hambuda and seconded by PDM’s Clemecia Hanases. He replaces outgoing mayor and Councilor Fransina Kahungu. Clemenncia Hanases…
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The missing link: including civil society in COVID-19 responses

The missing link: including civil society in COVID-19 responses

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK - A rapid assessment on the impact of the COVID-19 national measures on community-led HIV responses in the SADC Region shows a complex scenario in which interventions aimed at containing the spread of COVID-19 significantly disrupted community-based responses to HIV and AIDS, while also catalysing creativity and innovation in the way Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) respond to the health and rights challenges facing their communities. The AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) and the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Health Economics and HIV and AIDS Research Division (HEARD), undertook the assessment, whose findings were released virtually yesterday…
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Keetmanshoop CEO accused of going rogue again

Keetmanshoop CEO accused of going rogue again

Andrew Kathindi Keetmanshoop Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Desmond Basson once again stands accused of costing the town millions after allegedly entering into an agreement on 22 October 2015 with a South African company without council’s approval. The town currently faces an invoice of N$1.8 million from South African profit recovery firm, Maxprof for "generated financial benefit to the municipality amounting to N$8.2 million." However according to sources, this was done without officials from the company who were operating in Namibia having work permits. In addition, the initial agreement for work to commence was allegedly done without council approval. Further accusations…
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Ndeitunga contradicts Geingob’s BDF report claims

Ndeitunga contradicts Geingob’s BDF report claims

Helena Johannes President Hage Geingob’s statement on Tuesday that he had now received a joint investigation report on the fatal shooting of four unarmed Namibian fishermen by the Botswana Defence Forces (BDF) last month, have been contradicted by head of the investigation, Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga who says the investigations are yet to be concluded. “The team from Namibia went back today (Tuesday) to meet with the Botswana team in Kasane. Investigations are not yet concluded as more information is yet to come from the joint investigation,” Ndeitunga said. Quizzed on the report that the President had received, Ndeitunga the…
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COVID-19 measures extended to 2021

COVID-19 measures extended to 2021

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob has extended the period under which current COVID-19 regulations are observed to 25 January 2021. This comes after the current set of measures to fight COVID-19, which came into force on 17 October, will expire at midnight, 30 November 2020. Following the lapse of the State of Emergency in September, the Health Minister, Kalumbi Shangula was empowered, under the Public and Environmental Act to make further adjustments to measures even after the end of the State of Emergency, which could not be extended beyond six months without cabinet approval. “I observed, with great concern, that…
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Swapo snubs LPM overtures

Swapo snubs LPM overtures

Andrew Kathindi The ruling Swapo party has snubbed Landless People’s Movement’s (LPM) olive branch and sent out directives to its elected councilors to only work with National Unity Democratic Organization of Namibia (NUDO) and United Democratic Front of Namibia (UDF). This comes as LPM leader Bernardus Swartbooi earlier on Monday revealed that the party would welcome the opportunity to work with Swapo. Following a Swapo Politburo Central Committee meeting, with the aim of reflecting on the recently held elections, Swapo Secretary General Sophia Shaningwa directed regional leadership to “enter into a coalition with only (NUDO) and (UDF) where Swapo party…
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Voter apathy strikes elections again

Voter apathy strikes elections again

Andrew Kathindi Voter apathy continues to mire the local authority and regional elections after it has emerged that less than half of registered voters showed up for the past elections. This comes after the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) earlier this month announced that over 1.4 million Namibians had registered to vote. In Windhoek, the local authority with the highest number of registered voters was especially hard hit. Out of 150,172 eligible voters, only 60,339 cast their votes. And from this number, 561 votes were rejected. In Rundu, the local authority with the second highest number of registered voters, 25,962…
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Nghipondoka in the dark over DHPS racism allegations

Nghipondoka in the dark over DHPS racism allegations

Helena Johannes Minister of Education Arts and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka says she is unware of ongoing racism allegations at the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule School (DHPS) and thus the government department has not taken any measures to investigate the issue. “I have never heard about it and I did not receive a written complaint from anybody either,” she told the Windhoek Observer. This comes after allegations of racism and prejudice continued to surface at the school, after a 2016 incident where white mother barred a black Grade 1 boy from attending her daughter’s birthday. Affirmative Reposition leader, Job Amupanda’s efforts to…
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