Windhoek Observer – Page 283 – Windhoek Observer

24 Feb

UK-based firm acquires majority stake in Rosh Pinah solar plant expansion

National News

Niël Terblanché A United Kingdom-based investment firm Appian Capital Advisory LLP has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Emesco Energy’s 5.4 MW photovoltaic installation near the Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine. The deal sets the stage for an expansion that will more than triple the plant’s current capacity to 16.3 megawatts, supplying the mine with cleaner and more cost-effective energy and is a substantial boost to the country’s renewable energy sector. In its statement announcing the takeover, Emesco managing director Rinus Strydom stressed the importance of the initiative and expanded on the financial and environmental benefits of the plans.…

24 Feb

Football referees attend VAR training course in Egypt

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Football referees Fillipus Nghilinganye and Petrus Amutenya are currently in Cairo, Egypt, attending a Confederation of African Football (CAF) refereeing course focused on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system and the latest officiating rules. The training, organised by CAF and FIFA, runs from 23 to 27 February. Amutenya said that the course aims to equip referees with the knowledge needed to officiate CAF and FIFA matches across Africa and the world. ‘’We will be taught how to operate with VAR, get more knowledge on FIFA rules and how to talk to teams officially,’’ said Amutenya. He said refereeing…

23 Feb

‘Nujoma gave us a home’ – Catherine Kaunda

Main

Ester Mbathera In 1999, Catherine Kaunda, the oldest child of Zambia's founding president, Kenneth Kaunda, became homeless after a High Court ruling declared her father stateless. This decision affected his children and grandchildren. Catherine lived in South Africa at the time when the Thabo Mbeki administration offered her only refugee status. She was eventually given a seven-day ultimatum to leave the country. "Nujoma was God-sent. My father arranged with Nujoma to take me in. I had no travel documents to come to Namibia. It was all arranged by Uncle Sam. I am now a citizen of Namibia. This is my…

23 Feb

Media Ombudsman advises bigger political parties to learn from Lukato

National News

Allexer Namundjembo John Nakuta, Namibia’s Media Ombudsman, advised bigger political parties to learn from Martin Lukato when it comes to media engagement. He said this last week during the launch of the final election media monitoring report. “We saw how Martin Lukato of the NDP worked. Due to financial constraints, he didn’t have much media coverage, but the little coverage he received single-handedly made people aware of him, and people voted for him. He is now coming to parliament next month. He is now known, and we have learnt from the media that he’s been around for a decade and…

23 Feb

Judiciary condemns misinformation that undermines its integrity

National News

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Judiciary has responded firmly to misinformation circulating on social media, which it says aims to discredit the institution’s integrity and transparency. In a statement issued by the Judiciary’s executive director, Benhardt Kukuri, the office reaffirmed its independence and commitment to upholding the rule of law. Kukuri stressed that the Judiciary operates independently in accordance with Namibia’s Constitution and the law, and it remains solely accountable to these guiding principles. “The members of Namibia’s Judiciary, bound by their oath to uphold and protect the Constitution, owe their loyalty exclusively to the Constitution and the law,” he said.…

23 Feb

‘Apartheid fought communism, not Swapo’ – Mudge

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The president of the Republican Party (RP), Henk Mudge recently claimed that the apartheid South African government did not fight Swapo during Namibia’s liberation struggle but opposed the communist system Swapo leader Sam Nujoma aimed to implement. Mudge made these remarks during an interview with Hennock TV, an online show focusing on African politics, culture, and the environment. “Nujoma made a lot of mistakes before and after independence. Some of those mistakes included allowing himself and other Swapo leaders to be influenced by communist countries like Cuba, Russia, China, and East Germany during the liberation struggle,” Mudge said.…

23 Feb

Nujoma praised for prioritizing food security

Featured, National News

Allexer Namundjembo During the state memorial service in Rundu, President Nangolo Mbumba honoured Founding President Sam Nujoma for recognizing that independence without food security was meaningless. In a speech delivered on his behalf by the minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security, Dr Albert Kawana at the Rundu Sports Stadium, Nujoma's focus on green schemes in the Kavango regions to boost agriculture was lauded. "Our Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation had a passion for agriculture. He realized that independence without food security was meaningless. It is against this background that one of the most visited regions…

23 Feb

Namport pays tribute to a visionary leader

National News

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) paid homage to the late Founding President, Sam Nujoma, in a solemn memorial ceremony held in Walvis Bay on Friday. Speaking at the event, Namport’s chief executive officer, Andrew Kanime, reflected on Nujoma’s enduring legacy, describing him as a visionary leader whose sacrifices paved the way for Namibia’s independence and economic growth. Kanime opened his tribute by acknowledging Nujoma’s profound impact on Namibia and said that the gathering was a testament to the influence Nujoma had on all Namibians, regardless of whether they were born before or after independence. Reflecting on Nujoma’s journey…

23 Feb

Walvis Bay community honours legacy of Founding President

National News

Niël Terblanché The streets of Walvis Bay were lined with spectators on Saturday morning as the community united in a warm tribute to the late Founding President Sam Nujoma. A motorcade procession travelled through Kuisebmond, the central business district, and Narraville, honouring the legacy of the revolutionary leader who played a fundamental role in Namibia’s eventual independence. The tribute began with a briefing of police officers to ensure that the event proceeded smoothly and in an orderly manner. Residents and officials alike adhered to directives, allowing the motorcade to pass seamlessly through the town. The atmosphere was one of deep…

23 Feb

No progress for small agro-processors despite trade deals

Observer Money

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Despite preferential trade agreements, Namibian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in agro-processing continue to struggle with barriers that limit their market access and growth. The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) has found that small businesses can't fully benefit from these trade agreements because of problems with infrastructure, strict rules for following them, and a lack of money. Titus Shivute, marketing and corporate communication manager of the NIPDB highlighted the opportunities available under agreements such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Trade, the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union, and the…