president Hage Geingob

‘Quarantine’ details for tourists emerge

‘Quarantine’ details for tourists emerge

Andrew Kathindi It has emerged that tourists coming to Namibia as part of government’s initiative to rescue the country’s tourism sector will still be subjected to a seven days quarantine period, despite government’s reluctance to phrase it as such, Windhoek Observer has learned. This comes after President Hage Geingob had said that tourists coming to Namibia will be exempted to a mandatory quarantine period but will need to remain at their first destination in the country for seven days. However, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula told this reporter on Thursday that tourists in the first seven days’ period, will not be…
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Tourism sector initiative could risk lives

Tourism sector initiative could risk lives

Andrew Kathindi Thousands of workers in the tourism sector could be at risk of contracting COVID-19 as new measures announced by government to revive the sector do not require quarantine for incoming tourists. President Hage Geingob announced that the International Tourism revival initiative, which was initially supposed to kick off on 15 July but was delayed over disagreements on measures during the consultation process, has now been approved. According to new measures announced by the President which tourists will not be subjected to a mandatory quarantine, “They will however be required to remain at their first initial destination in the…
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Unions happy with Hage’s school decision

Unions happy with Hage’s school decision

Andrew Kathindi Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) said it is satisfied with President Hage Geingob’s decision to suspend face-to-face teaching for grades 0-9 countrywide. This comes after the union has been in meetings for the last two days over a possible call for the closure of schools out of concern for the rising number of cases around the country. “What directed our focus is the health and safety of everyone involved. The over-populated phase is grade 0-3. Schools that are in the rural and urban areas are not the same. Most of the schools in the northern regions are accommodating…
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Tourists to quarantine – Geingob

Tourists to quarantine – Geingob

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob has confirmed that tourists who plan to come into the country under the proposed International Tourism revival initiative, will be expected to undergo mandatory 14 day quarantine when they arrive in the country. Speaking during a COVID-19 Response Erongo region press conference on Monday, the President said quarantine will be a requirement for all tourists entering the country and those not willing to comply should not come. The proposal is intended to run from the 15th of July to the 15th of August 2020. “If you are not willing to quarantine for 14 days when…
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Namibia’s Long Road to National Reconciliation – Part 2

Oiva Angula All Namibians know it was war, but wars are less chaotic than they appear. Pain, suffering and death are inflicted on someone’s orders. And wars have laws – some are supposed to protect even ‘enemy spies’ by treating them humanely in all circumstances. Protecting such ‘spies’ against murder, torture, humiliating or degrading treatment, and providing such ‘spies’ a fair trial was and is in line with international law. In dealing with the spy hysteria “Swapo perfidiously defied all established international protocols regarding armed conflicts,” says Pauline Dempers, the BWS national coordinator. The Swapo Party has through the years,…
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Katjavivi must not ‘escort’, he must retire

A reliable source repeated a conversation he had earlier this year with the Honourable Speaker of the Parliament, Peter Katjavivi. When asked why he would not retire rather than attempt a second term as Speaker at this age, the Speaker said, “I want to escort my friend to his final term.” The ‘friend’ he refers to is President Hage Geingob. The two near octogenarians, indeed share a long history of friendship and comradery. But, the comment made as related, is quite telling. The Speaker’s decision to stay in office may not have been to first serve the people of Namibia,…
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Floodgate for job loses opens

Floodgate for job loses opens

Staff Writer The Tuesday High Court ruling in favour of employers, which declared parts of two proclamations issued by President Hage Geingob relating to the suspension of the Labour Act and also parts of the Covid-19 state of emergency regulations as unconstitutional, could spell trouble for workers. According to the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), the development will not auger well for workers who had found some form of job and remuneration protection under the government regulations. “The concern is that their aim is to pay workers less, cut salaries and take away leaves days but we won’t tolerate…
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Grandstanding Geingob sinks Air Namibia

President Hage Geingob stood up in the Parliament and dropped an attention-grabbing bomb. He stated that Air Namibia would be liquidated. Statesmanship and studied leadership was not his goal with that precipitous statement. Self-aggrandisement was. Our esteemed president holds an earned PhD and has 60 years of world experience and exposure to the way things work. He makes statements not from ignorance but with calculation. It is the self-serving side of his personality that is a fatal flaw in his otherwise reasonable leadership persona. When asked in that same parliamentary session about Fishrot, Geingob was demure and coquettish. He said…
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Erongo region placed under lockdown again

Erongo region placed under lockdown again

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob has placed the entire Erongo region back under Stage 1 of the state of emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes a complete lockdown. This action comes as a result of Walvis Bay residents not adhering to health and safety isolation measures for that city’s restrictions. The move is aimed at curbing the spread of the virus from the coastal region. The Coast has continued to record positive cases. “Stage 1 restrictions will be extended to the entire Erongo Region, for a period of 14 days, effective from midnight tonight, 8 June 2020 until…
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Creditor fears ground Air Namibia

Creditor fears ground Air Namibia

Staff Writer Air Namibia has ceased all its international repatriation missions amid fears its aircrafts could be attached by creditors following President Hage Geingob’s announcement that he wants to liquidate the airline. According to insiders, the airline’s board is said to have met over the weekend where it was agreed that it would avoid international flights amid concerns that its creditors could attempt to attach its aircrafts as part of efforts to recover funds owed, following the President’s announcement on Thursday during his State of the Nation Address. "Air Namibia must be liquidated; we have a serious problem with Air…
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