Uncategorised – Page 50

30 Jan

The CCN urges Namibia to embrace ignorance

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedcnn, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), embrace ignorance

Khanyiswa Mogotsi Last year, the Council of Churches of Namibia (CCN) pressured Namibia to pull out of the Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programme. That information programme was meant to be available to those wishing to use it in 2021. Doing this shoves Namibia backwards into the dark ages of ignorance. Once again, über conservatives, the blindly religious, menopausal matrons and disconnected tatekulus have imposed their antiquated values on a majority youthful Namibian population. A significant number of those blindly against any sex education in schools have never read the CSE curriculum guidelines they are so afraid of. This program is…

30 Jan

Goodbye Shout Out!

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedGoodbye Shout Out!, Jackie Wilson Asheeke

Jackie Wilson Asheeke This is my last Shout-Out column. In life, all things change. To live with everything the same, would make our minds and spirits go numb. Change is scary but exciting at the same time. I began writing my signature column ‘shout out’ in March 2009, nearly 12 years ago. It has been a fantastic ride! My journey from writing that first column to becoming Senior Editor at the Windhoek Observer is a personal and professional triumph. From as far back as 2004, I have edited or written over 5,000 articles, columns, proposals and research pieces. I have…

30 Jan

Murderers on bail and haircuts

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCaprivi Secondary School, haircuts

Two recent incidents do not show well for the officials responsible. In Katima Mulilo students were sent home from the Caprivi Secondary School because the school said their hair was not cut properly. In the other strange happening, Morne Mouton was convicted of culpable homicide this week and yet was given bail pending the sentencing hearing. How can such foolish decisions stand unsanctioned? After struggling to get our children back into the classrooms during a pandemic, myopic school officials are worried more about haircuts than education. The Ministry of Education's Executive Director must sanction those responsible for denying education because…

30 Jan

Botswana president denies shoot to kill policy

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedBotswana Defence Force, Ian Khama, Mokgweetsi Masisi, shoot to kill policy

Maria Hamutenya Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi says his country does not have a shoot-to-kill policy towards Namibians and foreign nationals who that country decides (without arrest or trial) has encroached illegally on its borders. Masisi’s statement are in stark contrast to his predecessor, former President Ian Khama, who had defended the policy saying his country's strategy to enforce a shoot-to-kill approach against Namibians should be a warning to potential poachers. “When something happens a number of times and repeats itself, a label is put to it and some people even domicile in Botswana begin to use the language and that…

30 Jan

Air Namibia faces uncertain future

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedAir Namibia, Iipumbu Shiimi

Andrew Kathindi The future of Air Namibia is uncertain after government on Friday announced that it can no longer afford to bailout the national carrier despite it reaching another settlement agreement with Belgian company, Challenge Air. Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi on Friday restated that Air Namibia had significant debts that are unsustainable and that a business plan to save the state-owned enterprise would cost more than N$7 billion, funds which government does not have. "The government approached all airlines currently operating in Namibia as well as those that intend to operate in Namibia to assess if there would be any…

29 Jan

Five money management principles to start 2021

info_e12wt4csUncategorised

Staff Writer The New Year is upon us and brings new energy and opportunity for us to put in place or relook our financial plan for the year ahead. Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still very much our reality and continues to put a heavy strain on people’s wellbeing and finances. It is in these uncertain times that we encourage consumers to focus on the things that they can control such as managing their money effectively and taking charge of their financial future. Elzita Beukes, FNB Communications Manager says, “Financial planning has never been more important, and we encourage customers to devise…

28 Jan

A new way to handle the unthinkable

info_e12wt4csUncategorised‘baby-dumping’

Namibia must tackle the issue of so-called ‘baby-dumping’ a different way. The conservative mindsets of past generations are insufficient to handle this deadly challenge. Rather than punishment, communities must look at what drives a girl/woman to do the unthinkable to her infant. A solution to this problem lies in focusing on why it happens. What is going on with the birth mother? Far too often, the first response to reports about finding another newborn baby discarded is about whodunnit. This allows the problem to repeat itself. It is time to get our heads out of judgmental church prayerbooks when seeking…

28 Jan

Nuclear science can fight climate change- Dr Schneider

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedclimate change, Dr Schneider, Nuclear science

Francis Lungu AS most African countries continue to grapple with the effects of climate change such as extreme weather conditions resulting in floods and droughts, which in turn affects food and drinking water security, nuclear science can play a critical role to avert the situation. Namibian Uranium Institute (NUI) Director Dr Gabi Schneider said in an interview that the utilization of nuclear science in developing technologies of drought-resistant crops and the identification of new groundwater resources can effectively address the pangs of climate change. “However, it has also become clear that if the World wants to achieve the goals set…

28 Jan

Agribusdev investigation report out next month

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedAgribusdev investigation report, Leon Jooste, Petrus Uugwanga

Maria Hamutenya The Public Enterprise ministry is next month set to release the long awaited report into its investigations into the operations Agricultural Business Development Agency (Agribusdev) including its late Managing Director, Petrus Uugwanga. The investigation which was commissioned last year, came after the government owned agency had been embroiled in various scandals, including alleged questionable acquisitions of materials such as fertilizers for its green schemes and the recruitment of the South African consultant who was believed to be close to Uugwanga. Public Enterprise Minister Leon Jooste confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that his ministry had been presented with a…

28 Jan

Pressure mounts on Swapo

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedfishrot, Manuel Ngaringombe, Pendukeni Ivula-Ithana, Sisa Namandje

Andrew Kathindi Calls continue to mount for Swapo to again clarify its involvement into the Fishrot saga after lawyer Sisa Namandje damning allegations contained in an affidavit presented to the Anti-Corruption Commission that he had made payments to the ruling party from funds allegedly illegally funneled out of Fishcor. Despite the party having previously denied its involvement, its deafening silence over the recent revelations have raised concern among its rank and file and the official opposition party. Popular Democratic Movement Secretary General, Manuel Ngaringombe challenged Swapo to address the allegations. “PDM challenges SWAPO to come clean on Fishrot, and for…