Observer Money – Page 213 – Windhoek Observer

28 Jul

Northern Namibia may become epicentre

Observer MoneyBen Nangombe, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Tujoromajo Kasuto Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Executive Director, Ben Nangombe, is urging people in the north to comply with Covid-19 regulations or otherwise the northern part of the county might become the new epicentre. Nangombe however states that, “It is too early to say” to decide if as yet the north is the new Covid-19 epicentre in the country. He says people are urged to comply with the measures that are already in place, like the restriction of movement between the zones, to observe social distance, to sanitize, avoid unnecessary gatherings and so forth, as these measures…

28 Jul

PDM to oppose Noa’s re-appointment

Observer MoneyAnti-Corruption Commission (ACC), McHenry Venaani, Paulus Noa, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Andrew Kathindi The Leader of the official opposition, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), McHenry Venaani says his party will reject the nomination of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General, Paulus Noa, when the matter is brought for debate tomorrow, 28 July. Prime Minister, Saara Kugongelwa, on Tuesday afternoon confirmed to the National Assembly, which met for a special session after it has been on an indefinite break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that Noa and his second in charge, Erna van der Merwe, have been nominated by President Hage Geingob. “We are going to vehemently argue against the reappointment of Noa. He…

27 Jul

Finance ministry replaces Ericah Shafudah

Observer 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

Observer 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

Observer 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

Observer 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

Observer 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

Observer 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

Observer 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

Observer 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,…