info_e12wt4cs – Page 209

11 Sep

Swapo electoral college outcome cause simmering discontent: An assessment

info_e12wt4csOpinionsNamibian Constitution

Haulamba la Nangobe My fellow Namibians, in general, and, in particular, my fellow SWAPO members, supporters, or sympathisers. Following its Electoral College over the weekend, there is now a simmering unhappiness, particularly among returnee SWAPO members who say that the top positions on SWAPO’s list for National Assembly ("NA") are dominated by remainees and youthful members of SWAPO who were never in exile during the liberation struggle for Namibian independence. This discontedness is particularly acute among ex-PLAN combatants and old guard SWAPO leaders, many of whom are now saying that they are extremely under-represented or even excluded on the latest…

11 Sep

Frank Fredericks Foundation awards N$10 000 Scholarship to Otjinene Athlete

info_e12wt4csSportsOtjinene Athletics Club

Ester Mbathera The Frank Fredericks Foundation has awarded a N$10 000 scholarship to 16-year-old track and field athlete Kambiri Kazaatjo, a rising star from the Otjinene Athletics Club in the Omaheke region. The scholarship will support both her educational and athletic endeavours. Kazaatjo specialises in the 400 metre track event and has already made waves in the national and international athletics scene. Her journey into track and field began in 2019 as a fun activity, but under the guidance of her coach, Kaupasaneua Mervin Tuaire, in 2022, her true potential became clear. Since then, she has emerged as a national…

11 Sep

Rukoro group dragged to court for illegally seizing NUDO offices

info_e12wt4csNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Kadhila Amoomo, who represents the National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO), has formally cautioned Barry Rukoro and six others to refrain from calling themselves the party leaders and interfering with party leadership activities. Additionally, Rukoro's team received instructions to stop using the party letterhead or risk legal action. According to summons documents seen by the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, the defendants (Rukoro and others) unilaterally seized the plaintiff's (NUDO) rental premises at Clemence Kapuuo Street, Windhoek, between August and September 2024. The lawyers claim that the group incorrectly assumed leadership. Under a lease agreement between the plaintiff and the…

11 Sep

LPM concerned about land allocation delays and maladministration

info_e12wt4csNational NewsJoyce Muzengua

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has raised concerns about delays and administrative challenges in the allocation of farming units to cooperatives, following the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform's announcement regarding Farm Kunibes No. 88 last month. Joyce Muzengua, the head of the human rights desk of the LPM, expressed concerns about the ministry's handling of the land allocation process, citing systemic maladministration. “One would definitely look at the time of application as to when these applications were done and how long it took for them to approve these applications. Contemporary applications are done over two to…

11 Sep

NEFC launches manifesto

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hilarius Hamutenya The Namibia Empowerment Fighting Corruption party (NEFC) will launch its first-ever election manifesto during its congress in Windhoek. The party was established in 2020 by Kenneth Iilonga, its founding president. Iilonga participated in the Local Authority and Regional Council election in 2020 in Walvis Bay. He contested as the candidate for the Walvis Bay Urban Constituency which was won by Deriu Benson of Independent Patriots for Change (IPC). Iilonga said his party’s manifesto will include people with disabilities. ”We did not see people with hearing challenges being nominated in the list of parliament despite we have so many…

11 Sep

Serious concerns about Health Professions Bill in its current form

info_e12wt4csNational NewsKalumbi Shangula, Popular Democratic Movement

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) member of parliament, Nico Smit, said the current form of the Health Professions Bill raises significant concerns that could hinder the effective practice of healthcare professions rather than support it. Smit was speaking in Parliament on Tuesday while contributing to the proposed health professional bill debate, which was introduced by Minister of Health and Social Service Kalumbi Shangula recently. Smit stated that the bill presents several critical areas of concern that require a deeper evaluation to ensure the legislation effectively supports and regulates Namibia's healthcare professionals without imposing unnecessary barriers or compromising professional…

11 Sep

Namibian youth urged to drive digital transformation

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNational ICT Summit

Niël Terblanché Namibia is making good progress in its journey towards becoming a digitally inclusive society and through sustained collaboration and investment in ICT infrastructure and human capital, the country is ready to unlock the potential of the next generation of innovators. The eighth National ICT Summit held in Windhoek concluded on Wednesday with a call for young Namibians to take centre stage in the country’s digital transformation journey. The Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Modestus Amutse, stressed the essential role that the youth must play in shaping Namibia's future within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector,…

11 Sep

Maritime Museum inaugurated in Lüderitz

info_e12wt4csNational NewsFluksman Samuehl, Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company, Namibia’s maritime history, President Nangolo Mbumba

Niël Terblanché A landmark achievement in preserving Namibia’s maritime history was realised on Wednesday when President Nangolo Mbumba officially inaugurated the Namibian Maritime Museum in Lüderitz. President Mbumba stressed the museum's importance in documenting the role the ocean has played in Namibia's development. "Our coast, stretching 1,572 kilometres along the Atlantic Ocean, has been central to trade, exploration, and cultural exchange for centuries. This museum stands as a resource for discovering our rich maritime history and understanding the ocean’s economic significance," he said. He said that the new facility is more than a repository of historical artefacts, the museum will…

11 Sep

Namibia and Kenya focus on trade and cooperation

info_e12wt4csNational NewsTripartite Free Trade Agreement (TFTA)

Niël Terblanché Namibia and Kenya are both seeking greater leverage in regional and continental opportunities for improved economic growth, trade, and regional integration. The Namibia–Kenya political and diplomatic consultations held in Windhoek earlier this week resulted in a joint communiqué in which the countries stressed their commitment to deepening their bilateral relations, with a strong emphasis on economic cooperation and increased political engagement. The consultations related to a broad array of mutual interests were hosted by Namibia's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Peya Mushelenga, and Kenya's prime cabinet secretary and cabinet secretary for foreign and diaspora affairs, Musalia…

10 Sep

Political analysts questioned Tutyavi’s appointment

info_e12wt4csMainJoseph Diescho, Ndumba Kamwanyah

Ester Mbathera Political analysts have questioned whether the appointment of 22-year-old university student Fenny Tutjavi to Swapo's parliamentary list is a genuine attempt at youth empowerment or merely political tokenism. Tutjavi, who hails from the Erongo Region, was one of the youngest candidates chosen by Swapo vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for the party's parliamentary list. Veteran political analyst Joseph Diescho warned that while the inclusion of young people in leadership roles is commendable, the principles of democratic leadership must not be overlooked. “We tend to get carried away with ethnic and youth gesturing that is in essence undemocratic in the…