Observer – Page 296 – Windhoek Observer

23 May

Social media masterclass will empower youth

ObserverNational NewsSocial media masterclass will empower youth

Niël Terblanché Young people from all over Africa, who work in tourism, are set to be empowered with practical skills in the application of social media marketing, business planning and investment pitch to potential investors during a masterclass that will take place in Swakopmund. Africa Tourism Partners (ATP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) and the Namibia Investment, Promotion and Development Board are collaborating to roll out MICE, Digital and Social Media Marketing Masterclass as a precursor of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit 2023. The Summit will take place in the coastal town…

23 May

Release TransNamib Audit Report – IPPR

ObserverMainRelease TransNamib Audit Report - IPPR

Martin Endjala The Institute for Public Policy Research, IPPR, is demanding for the release of the Ernst and Young, E&Y, auditing firm’s forensic report on alleged irregularities at TransNamib which was conducted in 2022. The IPPR says the report ought to be released, given the fact that TransNamib is a public entity. In 2021, it was also reported that there was over-compensation of non-performing executives, while the institution was underperforming and making losses of an estimated N$10 million monthly. According to IPPR researcher, Frederico Links it is time that state-owned entities stop operating in silos when it comes to reports…

22 May

Man dies in freak accident at Walvis Bay port

ObserverFeaturedMan dies in freak accident at Walvis Bay port

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Police in Walvis Bay has registered a case of culpable homicide after the tragic death of 42-year-old Enos Tangeni Antindi on a container ship that was moored at berth 10 in the port. According to the incident report provided by NamPol’s Public Relations Division, the tragedy occurred at about 12:55 on Friday when a container that was being loaded onto the Maria Da Paz cargo vessel slipped from its locks and hit Antidi in the chest. “Antindi along with one of his colleagues were directing a crane operator on the correct placement of the container that…

22 May

Namibia receives biggest batch of Chinese tourists since COVID-19

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Niël Terblanché For the first time in three years, Namibia welcomed a large group of tourists that arrived from China on Friday evening. The 20 tourists who departed from Hangzhou city in south-eastern China made their first stop in neighbouring Zimbabwe, where they visited Victoria Falls, before travelling to Namibia. The visit by Chinese tourists follows a little more than a month after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an end to the public health emergency of international concern. In short, it meant that COVID-19 was no longer a pandemic. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of the WHO, in…

22 May

N$ 85.9 million paid out to 80 SMEs

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Central Bank’s Small and Medium Enterprises Economic Recovery Loan Scheme has paid out N$85.9 to 80 SMEs across the country to allow them to continue operating while providing further impetus to the revival of the economy. This was announced by the Bank of Namibia’s Strategic Communications and International Relations International Relations Director, Kazembire Zemburuka. Zemburuka said the recently relaunched loan scheme’s goal is to assist small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in fostering the nation’s economic recovery. “The loan scheme is designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to promote economic recovery. It involves the allocation of…

22 May

Legal and policy reforms on oil needed, IPPR says

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Martin Endjala With the discovery of oil and gas in Namibia, the country will need effective, practical, fair and transparent legal policies to evade the curse of other African countries like Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This was emphasized by the Institute for Public Policy Research Executive Director Graham Hopwood last week as he took a swipe at the upstream Petroleum sector in the country, amidst the discovery of oil and gas in the country and the recent announcement by the Mines and Energy Minister Tom Alweendo on the reviewing of the Petroleum Act which is long overdue.…

22 May

Supreme Court undermines constitution –SPYL

ObserverFeaturedSupreme Court undermines constitution –SPYL

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) has condemned the Supreme Court’s ruling, compelling the government to recognize same-sex marriages certified in courts outside the borders of Namibia. The landmark ruling, delivered by a full bench of Judges including Chief Justice Peter Shivute overturned a high court ruling from last year, which refused to recognize same-sex marriages in Namibia. SPYL Secretary Ephraim Nekongo says there is no provision of Namibian laws, written or unwritten, supporting homosexuality. He has since suggested that the SWAPO led government “should avoid participating in the dark forces’ demonic agenda, which aims to undermine our…

22 May

Venaani condemns electricity tariff increase

ObserverNational NewsVenaani condemns electricity tariff increase

Stefanus Nashama The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Leader, McHenry Venaani says the increase in electricity tariff would only exacerbate the dire economic situation that countless Namibians find themselves in and harm those who are already struggling to make ends meet. This comes after the Electricity Control Board approved an 8.97 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the current financial year, which resulted in a total bulk tariff increase from the current N$1.82 to N$1.98 per kilowatt-hour. Venaani said electricity is a fundamental necessity to society, and any increase in tariffs would disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of society. “This…

22 May

Namibia supports Saudi Arabia’s bid to host World Expo 2030

ObserverNational NewsNamibia supports Saudi Arabia’s bid to host World Expo 2030

Niël Terblanché Namibia has joined the ranks of countries around the globe that will support Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. On Friday, President Hage Geingob received a courtesy visit at State House from the Advisor to the Royal Court of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Kattan. The discussion between the President and the special advisor centred on enhancing bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest and Namibia’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia to host the World Expo in 2030 in Riyadh. The World Expo 2030 is expected to present a golden opportunity to…

22 May

Covid-19 prevention measures reinstated at Namibian courts

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Niël Terblanché Despite the fact that Namibia along with the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Covid-19 no longer represents a global health emergency, Namibians might still get infected with the latest evolution of the SARS-CoV2 virus. In this regard, the Office of the Judiciary informed all employees, the legal fraternity as well as the public that precautionary measures to combat the spread of Covid-19 in the superior courts of Namibia will still be enforced. According to an internal office memorandum, the recent increase in the number and in particular the percentage of positive cases in Namibia, necessitated the courts…