City of Windhoek – Page 3 – Windhoek Observer

03 Jul

The new normal must include support

Jackie Wilson Asheeke The new normal must have a requirement that each person is our sister and brother’s keeper. We must move outside of selfishness and into a new world of standing together. If we cannot do this, anger will permeate the ‘newness’ of the normal. I read about a woman named Wilhelmina Afrikaner in Windhoek’s Dolam area who runs a self-initiated hostel where she takes care of young children in need. She gives them food, a fire to warm their hands and a place of safety. And yet, our dearly beloved City of Windhoek gave her a bill for…

01 Jul

Retrenchments could spell trouble for CoW

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Covid-19, Samuel Mutonga

Andrew Kathindi City of Windhoek (CoW) has warned that the city could be headed for trouble if retrenchments continue. The City’s Acting Strategic Executive for Finance and Customer Services, Samuel Mutonga said although CoW would be minimally affected by recent job loses as the majority of those losing jobs come from the informal settlements – a low contributor to the City’s revenues —but if the trend is extended to Windhoek’s middle and upper class, the development could spell trouble for the municipality. This comes after numerous companies around the country have been notifying their employees on their intentions to slash…

19 Jun

Job vs Swapo is not the point . . . inclusive democracy is

ObserverNational NewsAffirmative Repositioning (AR), City of Windhoek, Electoral Commission of Namibia, Job Amupanda, SWAPO

The new normal could mean a serious reconsideration of proportional representation in Parliament and an end to parties making decisions about who represents people locally. Affirmative Repositioning (AR) has registered with the Electoral Commission of Namibia in time for the upcoming 2020 local authority and regional council elections. AR co-leader Job Amupanda has had long-stated aspirations to be the Mayor of the City of Windhoek. The stage has been set for an exercise in inclusive democracy that is long overdue in Namibia. Namibian politics has shifted significantly from where things were in March 1990. The world has altered remarkably since…

26 May

Sanlam donates Protective and Screening equipment

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Covid-19, Sanlam Group

Staff Writer Sanlam has donated protective and screening equipment to the City of Windhoek. The items were handed over in support of the City of Windhoek’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic within the city. Speaking at the handover, Sanlam Group CEO Tertius Stears said Sanlam was committed to fight the pandemic in the city in particular and the whole country in general. Stears said, “The world as we know it has changed and we are still to find and adjust to the “new normal,but in getting there we all have to work together and pull our efforts in the…

21 May

City of Windhoek or Huawei City?

ObserverNational News5G, City of Windhoek, CoW, Huawei

The decision about 5G technology in Windhoek in order to allow the city council to create what will be effectively, another an SOE is alarming. A quasi-SOE jointly owned by the City of Windhoek (CoW) and Huawei will supposedly run a fast, state-of-the-art internet ‘system’ conceived, financed, installed and operated by the Chinese. This is supposed to be a good thing for Windhoek. We disagree. First off, Huawei has been blocked from installing its high-tech internet infrastructure in the United States because there are concerns of Chinese control and access to national concerns. Also, THEY will have the on/off switch…

13 May

CRAN licensing brews a storm

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, CRAN, MTC, Paratus, Paratus Telecommunications, Tim Ekandjo

. . . as telcos object to CoW licence Staff Writer The awarding of telecoms licence to the City of Windhoek (CoW) by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) is brewing up a storm in the telecoms sector, with players accusing the regulator of violating its own rules in the awarding process. This comes as the CoW licence was upgraded by CRAN from the initial application of a Network Facilities Service License, allowing it to lease its fiber optics to other licensed operators to a Class Comprehensive Telecommunications Service License, allowing the municipality to offer integrated telecommunications services, directly…

04 May

Informal sector sidelined

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, lockdown, Namibia Informal Sector Organisation

Andrew Kathindi Informal sector traders have accused government and the City of Windhoek of sidelining them when it came to polices regarding their operations during and post-lockdown. According to Namibia Informal Sector Organisation’s Secretary General, Veripi Kandenge, the 7,000-member strong organization was never consulted by government and the city council regarding its members’ concerns and operating conditions. “We have not been consulted about the way forward regarding the opening of markets despite certain informal markets set to reopen by Monday,” he said, “We call on policy-makers to include the informal sector representatives when developing policies concerning them. Our sector provides…

04 May

Kahimise, Council showdown looms

ObserverObserver MoneyAbraham Kanime, City of Windhoek, City Police Chief, Robert Kahimise

Staff Writer A legal showdown is looming between the City of Windhoek and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Robert Kahimise as the latter has threatened to take legal action over Wednesday’s council decision to reappoint City Police Chief, Abraham Kanime to a three year contract without following set procedures. This comes as the council took the unprecedented decision to appoint an acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to preside over the Kahimise appointment, despite the substantive CEO being in office. This is a move which has caused even more fractions between the CEO and the 15-member council dominated by the ruling…

06 Apr

Free water will cost CoW millions

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Robert Kahimise

The reconnection of running water for many cash-strapped Windhoek residents, especially those living in the burgeoning informal settlements surrounding the capital, is expected to cost the city an estimated N$8.9 million, according to the Chief Executive Officer, Robert Kahimise. Kahimise made the announcement this week during a media conference in the council chambers. He said the council approved an emergency response plan to help mitigate the risks associated with the virus. The measure will also benefit about 1 200 taps or households of clients who were disconnected for non-payment. Around 18 water tanks have been deployed strategically at various locations…