Observer – Page 255 – Windhoek Observer

05 Jul

Shikongo dismisses 17 Omaheke reservists

ObserverNational NewsShikongo dismisses 17 Omaheke reservists

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo has dismissed at least 17 reservists who were unable to carry out their duties in the Omaheke Region. Shikongo made these remarks during the swearing-in, transfer, appointment, and change of command ceremony which was held in Windhoek yesterday. He said the reservists were dismissed because they we inactive as they are required by law to work at least 16 hours a month to be regarded as active members. “The 17 reservists, who were no longer active, were discharged last week. You have to work 16 hours a…

05 Jul

GRN employees will be able to lend against their pensions

ObserverNational NewsGRN employees will be able to lend against their pensions

Niël Terblanché The Government Institutions Pensions Fund (GIPF) and the Namibian Government will sign an agreement that will enable public servants to lend against their pension to build or buy their own homes. David Nuyoma, the outgoing Chief Executive Officer of the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) during a courtesy call on President Hage Geingob at State House, shared the good news and added that the fund has already taken a decision about the matter “We crafted a mechanism that will allow members to use their pension credit to create their own dwellings to shelter themselves. We did this because…

05 Jul

Amupanda happy with GIPF pension-backed home loans

ObserverNational News

Stefanus Nashama The City of Windhoek’s Former Mayor and Affirmative Repositioning Leader, Job Amupanda has expressed his satisfaction with the Government Institutions Pension Funds’ pension-backed home loan initiative. Amupanda yesterday told the Windhoek Observer that he is happy that after several years of advocacy and drumming of superior logic, the Government Institutions Pension Funds (GIPF) has understood and acted on the side of the workers. This follows after the outgoing GIPF Chief Executive Officer David Nuyoma recently said the fund expects to finally roll out pension-backed home loans to help workers secure houses in the coming weeks. Nuyoma said that…

05 Jul

Namcol boss unfazed by LPM

ObserverNational NewsNamcol boss unfazed by LPM

Martin Endjala Heroldt Murangi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) says he does not report to the Landless People’s Movement and he has other important issues that need his attention instead of being asked about advertising billboards. The CEO was responding to questions concerning a letter directed to him by the LPM Youth Command Element Leader, Duminga Ndala on Sunday. NAMCOL launched its first illuminated double-sided LED billboard at a reported cost of N$2.3 million to advertise services and products of the institution. Although this is seen as a gesture to reach a wider…

05 Jul

Residents expose Karasburg’s dirty laundry

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala Following a recent visit by Erastus Uutoni, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development to the Karasburg Town Council, residents were quick to expose the local authority’s purported dirty laundry. One of the issues brought to light is the dormant build-together programme that was implemented by the ministry but has for a decade failed to construct new houses. Angry residents claimed that the Council has been mismanaging the funds allocated to it, with some also revealing that some residents, who are on the list for houses to be built are those who have not been paying anything, whilst…

05 Jul

Ondangwa Town Council plans to address the housing shortage

ObserverNational NewsOndangwa Town Council plans to address the housing shortage

Stefanus Nashama Paavo Amwele, the Mayor of Ondangwa said the town already raised and set aside N$2.4 million to address the issue of housing along with a market space that would see members of the public conducting business and at the same time pay for services. According to the Mayor, the town never received money from the government or any financial assistance from anywhere and added that the N$2.4 million came from residents who paid for the town’s services with the little money they have. He said the town council will do everything possible to create formal and informal areas,…

04 Jul

Why the City of Windhoek Councillors Repeatedly Fail us

ObserverFeatured, OpinionsWhy the City of Windhoek Councillors Repeatedly Fail us

Isaack Kambwa Municipalities in Namibia are mandated to deliver services that meet basic communal needs such as housing, water and sanitation, land, electricity and infrastructur. The municipality as an institution is considered an engine for local development and central to service delivery. The government has implemented an elaborate statutory framework which operationalise the Municipalities. The powers of Municipal councils are regulated within this statutory framework, despite the powers conferred upon the councilors, they tend to fail in running their Municipalities. In case study research on the performance of councillors in the South Africa by Stellen press highlighted a number of…

04 Jul

Synthetic diamonds negatively affect the market

ObserverObserver Money

Martin Endjala The Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo stressed yesterday that laboratory-produced diamonds, commonly known as synthetic diamonds, pose a danger to the natural diamond market and that robust interventions are needed to safeguard prices. “Like with other minerals, we need to continue to ask ourselves the question of whether our diamonds can contribute more to our economy. What more can we get from our diamonds? How can the diamond sector contribute more to our local economic activities?” he asked. The Minister made the remarks during the announcement of the appointment of 12 new Diamond Board Members in…

04 Jul

The ghost of Twaloloka still haunts residents

ObserverMainThe ghost of Twaloloka still haunts residents

Niël Terblanché The allocation of houses to families who fell victim to the devastating Twaloloka fire disaster almost three years ago will now be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission. The investigation by the corruption watchdog follows after a group of 21 beneficiaries of Twaloloka-Otweya houses were served with eviction notices by the Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre. The group is claiming that lists of beneficiaries that were compiled in the wake of the disaster have been tampered with repeatedly by the various authorities that were involved with the rehousing of the victims. The group in a letter signed by the…

04 Jul

‘Urgent’ Bills now in the hands of the National Council

ObserverNational News‘Urgent’ Bills now in the hands of the National Council

Martin Endjala The ball is now in the hands of the National Council to debate and consider the urgent bills referred to it by the National Assembly after the latter deliberated and passed the legislation in accordance with Article 75(1) of the Namibian Constitution.This was necessitated to ensure that Namibia is not greylisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). So far, eight urgent bills and one ordinary bill were referred last week to the National Council which resumed its 6th session yesterday and is expected to conclude on 20 July. The Chairperson of the National Council, Lukas Sinimbo yesterday…