Observer Money

Education and child marriage in focus …as MPs meet to discuss impact of COVID-19

Education and child marriage in focus …as MPs meet to discuss impact of COVID-19

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK - Data generated by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) shows that there has been a marked decrease in the prevalence of child marriage in East and Southern Africa, but a spike of such cases in West and Central Africa, according to an official. Ms Yvette Kathurima Muhia, the Head of Engagement at Girls Not Brides – an organisation that brings together more than 1000 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) striving to end child marriage globally – recently told SADC PF Members of Parliament that progress against the phenomenon had not been uniform across all regions. The lawmakers…
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Khomas region tops COVID-19 cases …as the country records 122 new cases

Khomas region tops COVID-19 cases …as the country records 122 new cases

Helena Johannes On Thursday Namibia recorded 122 positive cases of COVID-19, the highest number recorded in recent months, with Khomas region leading with 66 of the total cases. The development comes after the country held its Regional and Local Authorities elections and the region having previously topped as the epicenter of the pandemic prior. Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula said the confirmed cases represent a nine percent positivity ratio, which is three times the ratio reported the previous day. “The increasing number of new Covid-19 cases in the Khomas district is concerning and calls for extra precaution especially during this time…
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Pendukeni warns Swapo

Pendukeni warns Swapo

Andrew Kathindi Former Swapo Secretary General and cabinet minister, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana has warned that if the ruling party fails to introspect and iron out internal differences, the party could be in for a rude awakening in the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections. This comes as the ruling party lost numerous local authorities and constituencies in the recently held elections, including key economic towns such as Windhoek, Keetmanshoop, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. “If this leadership is not carrying out an agenda to destroy Swapo, and what happened was just a mistake, then they will call for indaba, because Swapo has…
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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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