Observer – Page 228 – Windhoek Observer

11 Sep

Down memory lane

ObserverFeaturedDown memory lane, Padlangs

Manni Goldbeck I was going through old boxes the other day from my Top Travel days, a tourism company I started in 1992, when I came across some of the old slips. I looked at the dates and discovered that they were all from 1993, exactly thirty years ago. How things have changed . . . When I left the teaching profession after many fulfilling years at Concordia College, I started ‘Top Travel Information’. It was the early days after independence when tourists were starting to visit Namibia. I employed several upcoming guides, among them Jochen Beckert, Peter Pack and…

11 Sep

Lea’s Sins: An exclusive interview with author, Lea Matheus.

ObserverFeaturedLea’s Sins: An exclusive interview with author

Lea Matheus is a 31 years old Science teacher, a profession she absolutely loves. She recently published her debut novel titled, “Worry about your sins, God won’t ask you mine.” Where were you born and raised?I was born in Okahandja, and due to unforseen circumstances, we moved to the north. Though I moved to Luderitz, and Windhoek later; I’d say my life was based more in the north. Can you tell us about your family?When I was very young, my parents sadly passed away. It was a difficult time for our family, and I was left without their guidance and…

11 Sep

Unions call for cancellation of parastatal tender projects

ObserverNational NewsUnions call for cancellation of parastatal tender projects

Stefanus Nashama Construction Industries Federation (CIF) and Metal, and Allied Workers Unions of Namibia (MANWU) are calling for the cancellation and re-advertising of parastatal tender projects, claiming that local contractors have been excluded from the process. The projects include the Road Authority (RA) project, NamWater projects, Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA) Head Office, the NamPower project for 70MWp in Rosh Pinah, and the tender awarded to August 26. Union representatives are claiming that the exclusion of local contractors in these projects is below the interest of maintaining and further developing the Namibian construction sector. They say the matter does…

11 Sep

Only five registered labour unions are in compliance with the Labour Act

ObserverNational NewsOnly five registered labour unions are in compliance with the Labour Act

Erasmus Shalihaxwe As of 1 September 2023, only five out of 47 registered trade unions, along with two out of 17 registered Employers’ Organizations are in compliance with their registration obligations. While the rest are violating the Labour Act 11 of 2007 by not submitting their annual returns. Acting Labour Commissioner Kyllikki Sihlahla, issued a stem warning to last week those none compliance unions and gave them until 30 September to submit their annual returns or face the music. She said there are currently 47 trade unions and 17 employers’ organisations including three trade union federations and three employers’ federations…

11 Sep

African Union Joins G20 Bloc on African Union Day

ObserverNational NewsAfrican Union Joins G20 Bloc on African Union Day

Niël Terblanché In a historic move, the African Union has been officially granted permanent membership in the G20, marking a significant diplomatic victory for the host nation, India, and a momentous occasion as the African Union celebrates its existence on African Union Day. The expansion of the G20 to include the African Union is a testament to India’s efforts to enhance its international standing and bolster its image as a global statesman, especially in the run-up to next year’s national elections. India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, welcomed the African Union’s new status within the G20, stating that India tabled a…

11 Sep

Mandate of the African Union is transformational: Geingob

ObserverNational NewsMandate of the African Union is transformational: Geingob

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob in a statement on the occasion of the Africa Union Day said The mandate of the African Union is transformational. “However, there have been democratic reversals with the rise in coups and unconstitutional forms of Government.” Geingob said whenever these happen, it is us Africans (and not others) who have been consistently first to condemn as regional organizations and African leaders under the African Union. He added that we can only achieve our true potential when we silence the guns. “Therefore, as the Third Wave of African leaders, who aspire to come to leadership through…

11 Sep

Swakopmund pastor accused of sexual assault

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché Swakopmund, September 10, 2023 - A church pastor in Swakopmund is currently facing serious charges of indecent assault after he was accused of sexually abusing two female members of his congregation. These serious allegations have sent shockwaves through the local community. According to a report provided by the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region, the pastor, a 34-year-old man, is alleged to have committed indecent acts with two women, aged 31 and 37, at his residence in the Mondesa residential area of Swakopmund over a period spanning from May to September of this year. Details emerging from the…

11 Sep

Dundee employees suffer from stomach aches after consuming unfit water

ObserverNational NewsDundee employees suffer from stomach aches after consuming unfit water

Martin Endjala Dundee Precious Metals (DPM), a smelting company in Tsumeb, has confirmed that five of its employees were recently treated for stomach illness after consuming poor-quality water at the site of the facility. The company’s Communications Manager Alina Garises, announced last week that the company took immediate action to address the water quality that resulted in minor gastro-intestinal illnesses among some employees. She said that as part of the company’s routine water management plan, they previously detected that the quality of water was out of specification in its water systems in December 2022. Then the authority accountable for domestic…

11 Sep

Search continues for missing Omaruru man at Mile 72

ObserverNational NewsSearch continues for missing Omaruru man at Mile 72

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Police in the Erongo Region have launched an urgent search operation for 53-year-old Robby Michael from Omaruru, who is suspected to have drowned in the area of Mile 72 north of Henties Bay sometime during Saturday night. The alarm was raised on Sunday morning when a passerby discovered a white extended-cab Toyota bakkie partially submerged in the sea with no occupants in sight and no one in the immediate vicinity. Police officers who responded to a report of a possible tragedy arrived at the scene and pieced together a puzzling chain of events that suggested that…

11 Sep

National Green Hydrogen Roadshow visits the south

ObserverNational NewsNational Green Hydrogen Roadshow visits the south

Martin Endjala The highly anticipated National Green Hydrogen Roadshow organised by the Namibian Government and Hyphen Hydrogen Energy (Hyphen) has landed in the projected world’s green energy hub in the Hardap and //Kharas regions The roadshow which began in August and ends in November is expected to attract many residents from communities around the country, has seen and will continue to see government and Hyphen officials engage with various stakeholders across Namibia, sharing information on the Hyphen project and the Socio-economic Development Framework. Last week the roadshow visited Hardap and //Kharas region, where people have been asking questions about all…