Namibia – Page 5 – Windhoek Observer

03 Feb

President denies systematic corruption in Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob insists corruption in Namibia is not a systemic problem, but rather a result of some corrupt officials. The President remarked at the official opening of Cabinet this year. “I believe that corruption is not systemic in Namibia, but perceptions have been created that Namibia is a corrupt society. Although corruption is not systemic in Namibia, we recognise that some corrupt officials have tainted the name of our country. It is therefore important for all citizens to emphasise that corruption in any form, e.g. kickbacks, or percentage commission for the amount of a contract, is unacceptable,”…

26 Jan

Land issues in 2021 will no longer wait

ObserverNational NewsNamibia

The time to get something going on land redistribution and land reform is now. 2021 is the time for the new normal. The same old meetings, platitudes and fake solutions are bankrupt. The people who want land for themselves (there is little concern about a national policy) are tired of waiting. Decision-makers must think about land reform differently and begin to enact even partial solutions, now. Land grabbing cannot be allowed. Forced redistribution of private land owned by others even with the compensation offered, is illegal in most cases. It is unpolitic to make these statements bluntly, but it must…

15 Jan

COVID-19 vaccines are arriving soon; are we ready?

ObserverNational NewsCOVAX, Covid-19, Namibia

The rich countries of the world are already receiving their COVID-19 vaccines. Many have inoculated millions of their citizens so far. That won’t happen here; we can’t afford it, and we are not producing the vaccine locally. The ministry of health's announcement indicated that vaccine doses for 20 percent of the population (or about 508,000 people) could start in February. Namibia must handle the entire process with effectiveness, fastidiousness, trained workers, and discipline. We cannot afford to mess this up. We assume that our health officials are conquering the logistics of maintaining the extreme cold required for the doses' storage.…

14 Jan

Smile! You may be on a viral video

ObserverNational NewsNamibia, video

In the new normal, video clips of anything and everything can go viral. Some of this footage is heartwarming or harmlessly hilarious. At other times, what is captured on camera is disturbing, frightening and whips up anger. But, those of us watching and forwarding such video clips or so-called ‘reports’ must be more responsible. The public must STOP believing everything they read and see automatically. People must check the source, corroborate, verify and question everything they read, hear or see online. If the public does not do this, access to the internet will be lost. Those in power will eventually…

13 Jan

Shoprite vs workers – a mixed bag of concerns

ObserverNational NewsCovid-19, Nafau, Namibia, Shoprite

There are arguments on all sides of the gap in the labour conflict at Shoprite. The solution will not be easy, and each side will end up feeling aggrieved. But, a resolution must be found. There is a need for clarification of ‘temporary’ worker. A part of the list of complaints by Nafau is that ‘temporary’ workers stay on staff for years as if they are permanent. They do the same jobs as ‘permanent’ employees. And yet, they have no benefits and no job security. There is a loophole being exploited. The call for a boycott and demonstrations should yield…

17 Dec

Hospitals must be first in the money line

ObserverNational NewsCOVAX, Government, Katutura Hospital, Ministry of Health, Namibia

When hospitals run out of vital supplies, the government does not have its spending priorities straight. No matter what excuses are offered by the Executive Director of the Ministry of Health about why vital medicines are missing, they are insufficient. The reason medicines and supplies have run out in hospitals is not an error or a mix-up. Saying they are aware and "looking into it" falls short of the credibility mark. Let us stop saying that hospitals ran out of medicine or supplies. Let us speak the truth. Government has not provided funds so that state medical facilities can serve…

15 Dec

Winds of Change in //Kharas and Hardap

ObserverUncategorised//Kharas, Hardap, Landless People’s Movement, Namibia

Fritz H. Dausab The Landless People’s Movement, the second newest political party in Namibia, less then two years old currently has done what many older parties have never achieved. The achievement of winning 12 Regional Councilors and 39 Local Authority Councilors is a loud voice from disenfranchised voiceless in Namibia. The two regions of //Kharas and Hardap are coming of age after 30 years of oppression. As these winds of change has brought political change in these two regions, in terms of social and economic changes, the Landless People’s Movement have been in tune with its Regional and Local Authority…

08 Dec

Mistreatment in prisons cannot be Namibia’s legacy

ObserverNational NewsNamibia

Reports from prisoners about ill-treatment while in jail or guards who ‘beat up’ the inmates are very disturbing. Namibia, a country whose most esteemed heroes suffered torture in prison cannot possibly bathe in the hypocrisy of the mistreatment of its prisoners. Officials responsible for inspecting prisons and those providing services to prisoners must be questioned and the truth uncovered. Mistreatment in prisons cannot be Namibia’s legacy. Our leaders that have passed on and those who are still with us know by personal experience what it means to be locked up, vulnerable to a jailor, and treated as if they were…

01 Dec

Understanding regional and local elections

ObserverUncategorisedNamibia, National Assembly, President, Regional and local elections

Willem N Namboga Regional and local elections are important, but many people do not understand how they are constituted. The President and the members of the National Assembly represent all the people of Namibia. But individual communities need other government bodies which are closer to them to focus on the issues and problems of the community. Local government focuses on the needs of the people who live in that local authority. Regional and local councilors are important contacts for lobbying on regional and local issues. Some regions are very well developed, with many schools and clinics and a good supply…

19 Nov

Barking at the wrong threat

ObserverNational NewsChinese, Namibia

There is negative shade flying all over about a recent N$530 tender bid won by a Chinese company to construct the road from Tses to Gochas. People are barking at the wrong threat. Rather, we need to sound the alarm because Namibia still does not possess the technical expertise to be substantive practical, logistical and development partner on major infrastructure projects in our own country. That is a real threat to our sovereignty and we are quiet. We have been inviting the world in to build things for us before independence and after. We happily remain ignorant about how to…