info_e12wt4cs – Page 179

06 Oct

Cirrus Capital warns against investing public money in green hydrogen

info_e12wt4csEnergy, MainGH2Namibia, Rowland Brown

Ester Mbathera Cirrus Capital, a corporate advisory, capital raising, and research company, has warned against public borrowing or any use of taxpayer subsidies for the development of green hydrogen initiatives. In a commentary released last week, the company’s founder, Rowland Brown, said the warning stems from the risks surrounding green hydrogen. “We further note that Namibians should hope that the hydrogen hype delivers. However, using Namibian public funds for this is nothing short of reckless, especially given the ample other, very real, demands on the public purse. Using Namibian tax-payers funds, whether from the revenue of today or through borrowing…

06 Oct

Illegal immigrants among hundreds left homeless after Otweya fire

info_e12wt4csNational Newsinformal settlements

Niël Terblanché Walvis Bay municipality has confirmed that a significant number of people who were left homeless as a result of the devastating fire at the illegal informal settlement next to the Otweya area are illegal immigrants. According to Victoria Kapenda, the chief executive officer of the town, municipal officials determined that more than 70 of the individuals who lost their homes in the blaze are non-Namibians. “This raised concerns about the legal status of many of the settlement’s residents,” Kapenda said in a statement released on Saturday. Kapenda added that the fire, which destroyed approximately 80 informal structures and…

06 Oct

Experts worried about NIPDB setup

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAdrianus Vugs, Escher Luanda

Ester Mbathera Financial sector and governance experts expressed concerns about the structure of the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB). This follows the announcement by the NIPDB that it is transitioning to a new governance structure. Adrianus Vugs, a financial sector expert, argued that the creation of the NIPDB outside of formal government structures was flawed. He questioned why the institution reports directly to the president instead of to the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade (MIT), which he says raised concerns about its governance and transparency. “Why should it still report to the president? And why should the chairperson…

06 Oct

APP pushes for LGBTQI rights

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The All People’s Party (APP) has reinforced its commitment to human rights, specifically addressing the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) community in its 2024 manifesto, launched in Rundu this weekend. The party pledges to work towards combating discrimination, decriminalising sexual orientation, and ensuring legal protections for LGBTQI individuals. The party highlights the universality of human rights and stresses that every Namibian, regardless of their sexual orientation, deserves equal treatment under the law. The manifesto sets out several objectives aimed at protecting and advancing the rights of the LGBTIQ community. According to the…

06 Oct

High Court overturns suspension of Karasburg councillors

info_e12wt4csNational News

Martin Endjala The Windhoek High Court has ruled that the suspension of the entire Karasburg Town Council, imposed in March by Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni, was unlawful. The court's decision, delivered last week, effectively reinstates the council members, who had been removed from office earlier this year. Presiding Judge Beatrix de Jager declared the minister’s decision null and void. The notice: “I declare that all powers, duties and functions of the Town Council of Karasburg vested in me; suspend, without remuneration or allowances, all the members of the Town Council of Karasburg from office, with effect from…

06 Oct

NUDO leaders to hand over power in May 2025

info_e12wt4csNational NewsEster Muinjangue, Joseph Kauandenge

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The National Unity Democratic Organisation's (Nudo) leadership will remain in charge until May next year although they did not run for office at the party's electoral college over the weekend. The party’s secretary general, Joseph Kauandenge, announced this on Sunday. “We will officially hand over these positions to new incoming leaders who will be elected at our congress, as we have indicated that both of us will also not stand for the president or secretary-general position at our congress next year,” he said. Kauandenge and the party’s president, Ester Muinjangue, have been at Nudo's helm for the past…

06 Oct

Lifesaving dialysis treatment now available in Oshakati

info_e12wt4csNational NewsDialysis treatment, Kalumbi Shangula

Niël Terblanché Oshakati Intermediate Hospital has been enabled to provide treatment to people suffering from chronic kidney failure after the inauguration of a new 15-machine dialysis unit. Viewed as a substantial advancement for public healthcare in Namibia and improving access to lifesaving dialysis services in the north, the facility was officially commissioned by the minister of health and social services, Kalumbi Shangula on Friday. “Until now, many patients had to travel long distances or rely on costly private sector services to manage their conditions,” the minister said at the inauguration. According to Shangula, renal dialysis is essential for individuals whose…

06 Oct

Ageing infrastructure blamed for Omusati region water supply challenges

info_e12wt4csNational News

Martin Endjala NamWater has attributed the low water pressure in the Okahao Constituency to feeder lines that have exceeded their design capacity and can no longer handle the pressure. The water utility’s spokesperson, Lot Ndamanomhata, said this to the Windhoek Observer last week. ”The core challenge lies in the fact that many of NamWater’s feeder lines have now exceeded their design capacity, with several areas experiencing ongoing suppressed demand,” he said. Ndamanomhata was responding to questions about the situation at the Okahao and Tsandi constituencies in the Omusati region, where many residents have been without water for two months because…

06 Oct

Namibia takes non-profit stance in electricity supply sector

info_e12wt4csNational NewsElectricity Control Board (ECB), Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA), Robert Kahimise

Niël Terblanché The government has reiterated that it does not intend to profit from the electricity sector, aiming instead to ensure the industry is affordable, reliable, and self-sustaining. This message was delivered by Robert Kahimise, chief executive officer of the Electricity Control Board (ECB), during the Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA) media briefing in Windhoek. “The electricity industry faces challenges in balancing affordability, reliability, and sustainability, all while remaining financially viable,” Kahimise said. He reiterated that the government’s goal, through regulatory mechanisms, is not to profit but to subsidize costs where necessary and maintain an efficient and…

06 Oct

Swakop Uranium donates IT equipment and classroom to Lazarus Haufiku Combined Schoo

info_e12wt4csNational NewsQiu Bin, Swakop Uranium

Niël Terblanché The Lazarus Haufiku Combined School in the Ohangwena Region is set to benefit from a recent donation by Swakop Uranium. The donation is viewed as a new milestone in the school's journey toward modernising its educational facilities. At a ceremony held on Friday, Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, expressed his gratitude to Swakop Uranium for their generous contribution, which includes IT equipment and a newly constructed classroom. Alweendo said that the donation is part of Swakop Uranium's ongoing efforts to support educational development in rural Namibia. Alweendo stressed the importance of corporate citizenship in fostering community…