Observer – Page 269 – Windhoek Observer

10 Jul

Venaani wants cheaper electricity for single parents

ObserverNational NewsVenaani wants cheaper electricity for single parents

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani will table a notice of motion in parliament on Tuesday, to explore possible remedies such as subsidised utilities and public transport to create better safety nets for single mothers. In addition, he will call for lessening the disproportionate socio-economic burden placed on single mothers. “Single-parent households generally have lower incomes and are more vulnerable to food insecurity. Further, that this motion be referred to the relevant Parliamentary Standing Committee,” read the notice of motion. In his notice, Venaani said according to the most recent census Namibia has 464 839 households, of…

10 Jul

NUST rectifies delayed exam results

ObserverNational NewsNUST rectifies delayed exam results

Martin Endjala Following growing concerns expressed by some Namibia University of Science and Technology students who are unable to access their results due to invoices that were not submitted to the Namibia Student Financial Assistant Fund (NSFAF), the university claimed that it has rectified the issue and that results will be made available. NUST spokesperson, John Haufiku could not confirm or deny that results were delayed. He, however, confirmed that all senior NSFAF students, who passed and progressed to the current academic year already have access to view results and register for the second term. “The accounts status of the…

10 Jul

O&L to invest more than N$ 1 Billion in solar powerplant

ObserverNational NewsO&L to invest N$ 2 Billion in solar powerplant

Niël Terblanché Nexentury, the energy subsidiary of the Ohlthaver and List Group will invest more than N$1 billion in the construction of a 100 Mega Watt solar power plant near Windhoek. The announcement by the O&L Group follows shortly on the heels of the Electricity Control Board’s (ECB) approval of Nexentury’s generation and export licenses. Both licenses are valid for 25 years and Nexentury indicated that Phase 1 of the project will be operational by July next year. Nexentury’s Managing Director, Bernd Walbaum said the more than N$1 billion project is aligned with the parent company’s mission statement, ‘Creating a…

10 Jul

FFI wants to assist with Namibia’s green revolution

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché Dr Mark Hutchinson, the Chief Executive Officer of Fortescue Future Industries, has proposed a joint venture with the Namibian Government to produce an important element in the production of green hydrogen and ammonia. Hutchinson made the proposal to manufacture electrolysers, on Friday during a courtesy call on President Hage Geingob at State House. When electrified electrolysers separate the oxygen and hydrogen molecules when submerged in water. Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) is a global green energy company committed to producing green hydrogen from 100 percent renewable sources. The company operates renewable energy, green hydrogen, and green ammonia projects in…

10 Jul

Shaama appointed as Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer

ObserverNational NewsShaama appointed as Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer

Niël Terblanché Peter Shaama was appointed as the Chief Electoral and Referenda Officer at the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) and will serve for five years from 01 September 2023. ECN in a statement said that Shaama will be responsible for administering and managing Namibia’s electoral processes in accordance with an electoral cycle approach once his tenure starts. According to the statement, Shaama’s appointment follows an extensive recruitment process, which saw shortlisted candidates vying for the position of the commission’s head at the end of last month. Shaama currently serves as the Director of Operations at ECN. He has more…

10 Jul

Rössing Uranium phase 4 set to start in 2027

ObserverNational NewsRössing Uranium phase 4 set to start in 2027

Martin Endjala Phase 4 of the Rössing Uranium mine near Swakopmund will be fully operational in 2027 following a 13-year contract agreement signed in May this year with Biefang Mining Technology Services after the board approved it in February. This agreement will extend the life of the mine to 2036. The mine has been in existence since its inception in 1976 and has been mining on phase 2 and phase 3 pits which will reach its end in 2026. The 13-year contract is matched with the ten-year life cycle of the mining equipment. “After a feasibility study, we conducted which…

10 Jul

Oshakati finally gets a new fire station

ObserverNational NewsOshakati finally gets a new fire station

Martin Endjala Service delivery by the Oshakati Town Council to its residents has been boosted by the finalisation of the construction of a brand new fire station at a cost of N$8.8 million. The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni inaugurated the fire station in Oshakati last Thursday. The town has been without a properly fixed functioning fire station for some time now and only used to operate from a temporary station. The completion of the new fire station will enable the Town Council to conveniently take care of fire incidents within the town. This is the first…

10 Jul

New drug commission must protect communities

ObserverNational NewsNew drug commission must protect communities

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has inaugurated a new National Drug Control Commission (NDCC). Namibia ratified and acceded to the UN Convention against Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 in 2009. Namibia also joined the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, as well as the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. Dr Kalumbi Shangula, the Minister of Health and Social Services, during the inauguration of the commission, said that Namibia had experienced an increase in the usage of illicit drugs since 2021. He mentioned that cannabis is the most commonly…

10 Jul

Social grants not a result of Namibia’s struggle for independence- Itula

ObserverMain

Stefanus Nashama The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Leader, Panduleni Itula, said that social grants were not created by the struggle for the independence of Namibia nor do political parties provide it. Itula said the government, as stipulated in Article 95 of the Namibian Constitution provides the pension. He said people should understand that even during colonial times, the regime of the day was providing social grants to senior citizens. He stressed that Article 95 of the constitution states that, senior citizens are entitled to regular pensions. Itula stressed that many people especially elders have misunderstood the concept of the…

07 Jul

Green hydrogen could end unemployment

ObserverObserver Money

Presidential economic adviser and Green Hydrogen Commissioner, Office of the President of Namibia, James Mnyupe gives an update on the current green hydrogen projects in the country. CHAMWE KAIRA (CK): There have been a lot of developments regarding the development of green hydrogen in Namibia. Briefly, give us where we are as a nation in terms of developing green hydrogenprojects? JAMES MNYUPE (JM): Before we consider where we are, it is useful to meditate on where we have come from, because that indeed may give us context on how we got here, where we are going and howmuch confidence should…