Namibia – Page 11 – Windhoek Observer

26 Jun

The ‘opening’ moment of truth is approaching

ObserverNational NewsGerman, Namibia

As the government continues with the plan to move towards the total lifting of the state of emergency in Namibia, a moment of truth for decision-makers is coming. Do we open faster to save parts of the economy or slow down? Namibia is not the only country dealing with this dilemma. Business executives with access to high offices are screaming because their net worth of millions is dropping. Their lifestyles are threatened and they are closing ranks to stop the downward trend. At the same time, these investors, business people and captains of industry are the engine that runs the…

26 Jun

Calle in land ownership dilemma

ObserverObserver MoneyAffirmative Repositioning (AR), Calle Schlettwein, Minister of Agriculture, Namibia, water and land reform

...as AR petition is tabled in Parliament Andrew Kathindi Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein says foreign land ownership in Namibia should not be allowed, but can only be enforced with new regulations. Schlettwein said currently his ministry was being guided by the resolutions of the second land conference, held in 2018, where some of the pertinent topics discussed included resettlement policy and criteria, land allocation and administration and the expropriation of agriculture land. “But we must distinguish between different categories of land. Our reading is that the prohibition is primarily for agricultural land. Industrial development is…

24 Jun

Win first – then run the tourism victory lap

ObserverNational NewsCOVID, Namibia

Headlines blaring: ‘Tourists to return’ or ‘Namibia to open borders’ need to be examined carefully. The small print ‘terms and conditions’ for stages 4 and 5 of the re-opening, make those headlines too broad. Let us not raise expectations that cannot be met. It is important to not run a victory lap before the race is run. The hospitality, travel and tourism industry is failing and it is hurting tens of thousands of Namibians. No tourists = no tourism revenue = sector collapse. We know the industry is in pain. We do not envy policymakers who are juggling sharp knives…

17 Jun

Gender ministry rejects abortion rights

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Gender Equality, Namibia, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare has stated it does not support recent calls to legalize abortion in Namibia. This declaration was made amid increased calls after an online petition by psychological counsellor, Beauty Boois calling for the legalizing of abortion in the country, garnered over 4,000 signatures. Currently, abortion is illegal in Namibia except under specific conditions involving a pregnancy due to proven rape or incest according to the Abortion and Sterilisation Act of South Africa of (1975), which Namibia inherited at independence in 1990. This remnant law from the apartheid days has…

13 Jun

The Time Traveler: Dear white people…

ObserverUncategorisedNamibia, white

Hugh Ellis The latest racist outrage in Namibia was two white men killing a black man over allegedly stolen glue. This incident happened at Otjiwarongo last week. The Police have arrested two suspects, Jonathan Patrick Myburgh and Jannie Jansen van Vuuren, and charged them with murder. Meanwhile, the Henties Bay municipal council has agreed to consider taking down the macabre hangman’s noose monument at the town. This strange monument was set up in the 1970s to warn people not to litter on the beach. But it would obviously remind most black people, and many whites, about how Hereros and Namas…

11 Jun

Localizing native languages …the key to economic upliftment

ObserverUncategorisedMonica Geingos, Namibia

Festus Commodore Tshirumbu "Some of our policies are great, but when it comes to translating them to the people who must interact with them, they must make sense." - Monica Geingos, the First Lady of Namibia. She explained that when she speaks of an afrocentric approach, it means policies must be able to accommodate those who utilize them without them having difficulties. Madam Geingos could have not said it any better. This remark triggered a spark of thought within me that our government spends millions of dollars printing and publishing tender documents and not one is printed in our local…

10 Jun

Take it seriously and let’s finish

ObserverNational NewsErongo, Namibia, State of Emergency, Walvis Bay

The expansion of the Stage One regulations for the current State of Emergency to the Erongo region is a nightmare. But, it has been bought on by the people of that area not taking the government’s declaration on June 1st for Walvis Bay seriously. If you were warned that a huge pride of lions is in the area, why hold an outside braai and then cry foul when they come running towards the smell of your meat? Let the rest of us in Namibia get tough with ourselves, our friends, family members and those in our communities regarding this pandemic.…

05 Jun

Germany continues support for COVID-19 testing in Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Germany, MoHSS, Namibia

Staff Writer Rapidly identifying infections with the novel corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial to enable immediate outbreak management and to initiate public health interventions. Germany therefore supports the development of testing capacities for COVID-19 in Namibia. After a first diagnostic laboratory training in Windhoek in the beginning of March the German partners continue to provide critical testing materials like swabs and reagents. This has enabled the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) to conduct more than 2,000 tests in Namibia so far. This support is based on a recently established working relationship as part of a twinning project between the Robert…

02 Jun

Are we prepared for COVID round two?

ObserverNational NewsCovid-19, Namibia, president Hage Geingob

For the past 2-3 months, the shape of Namibia has been re-moulded, stretched, and remade to fit the government’s efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic. Through it all, the leadership credibility of President Hage Geingob is on the line. But has the foundation to get ahead of this disease actually been laid to battle the spread of the virus? Or are we assuming progress on the basis of hopeful reports and general briefings? During round one of the president’s proclamations have people been cutting corners? Have allocated funds been chopped? Are people scamming on project implementation? If the…

26 May

Lettin’ folks out of lock-up – is it a good thing?

ObserverUncategorisedNamibia

Jackie Wilson Asheeke When the president decided to pardon petty criminals, I thought, “ok…that’s nice…now what?” ‘Ripping-the-band-aid-off’ abrupt actions can cause more harm than good. These former inmates will be thrown out onto the streets and expected to ‘be ok.’ Reality check: They won’t be ok. What is the plan beyond unlocking the doors and saying, ‘get out?’ Proven criminals with no money will be stealing within hours just to get a bus ticket to get home or find food that day. It is colder these days…shall they steal blankets and coats to sleep outside at night? There are no…