Windhoek Observer – Page 297 – Windhoek Observer

22 Jul

Beyond the feed: What social media gets right, and what it can’t do alone

Opinions

Angela Ndatipo A few years ago, social media was considered the new frontier in marketing and communication. Social media platforms promised brands a direct line to their audiences due to its setup of being fast, dynamic, and disruptive, in this respect it has delivered on this promise in more ways than one. The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has embraced this new and emerging technology as it has become a vital tool to share news, views, updates, and can respond to queries, and speak to our members in an engaging, personal, and accessible manner to many. But here’s the one…

22 Jul

Windhoek’s tap water: Among the safest to drink in Africa

Opinions

Harold Bolla Akwenye The City of Windhoek would like to assure its residents and the broader public that our tap water is not only safe for consumption but is also ranked among the safest and most advanced in Africa—if not globally. Windhoek has long been a pioneer in sustainable water management, standing tall as the first city in the world to implement Direct Potable Reuse (DPR)—a highly advanced process where treated wastewater is directly returned to the drinking water network. Today, the Windhoek Goreangab Operating Company (WINGOC), which oversees the city’s state-of-the-art purification facility, continues to set global benchmarks in…

22 Jul

The quintessential intellectual-RBK

Opinions

Kae Matundu Tjiparuro I have purposefully titled this tribute to Rikondja Ben Karamata The Quintessential Intellectual. Because despite having been many different things to me during what I would say have been a short sojourn that I have been and come to be and know him, more than a good time, and indeed it has been a good time of knowing him. A good time while to many and most may have seemed like a time of socializing, it has been for me more a time of fertilising off his rich intellectual proclivities. During the time I have had the…

22 Jul

Success is not copy-paste: Charting your own path to a meaningful future

Featured, Opinions

Ester Shangandi & Junias Erasmus . In our pursuit of success, it is natural to look around for examples that inspire us. Often, we find motivation in those closest to us, family members, mentors, or even neighbours who seem to be living the life we desire. For instance, if your neighbour (From the village) owns a beautiful house in the expensive suburb, drives a nice car, and appears fulfilled, it is easy to think that studying the same programme or walking the same professional path will yield similar results. While this reaction is human and understandable, it also presents a…

22 Jul

NDP6: Big Promises, Thin Substance — But We Must Still Hope

Featured, Opinions

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s launch of the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) marked a historic moment - not only as Namibia’s first female Head of State, taking the reins of long-term national planning, but also as a leader seeking to chart a new direction in the face of stagnating growth. Her leadership carries the promise of renewal. NDP6 presents an ambitious blueprint that speaks to the country’s most pressing concerns—economic diversification, youth empowerment, climate resilience, and national cohesion. Namibia is not short of plans. From Vision 2030 to Harambee Prosperity plan and five previous NDP’s, the country has demonstrated an admirable…

21 Jul

Nandi-Ndaitwah reviews seeds planted in first 100 days

Main

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says food produced by the Namibia Correctional Service (NCS) saved the government N$6.7 million between May and June this year. The NCS farms located at Divundu, Oluno, and Hardap, produced food valued at N$ 13.9 during this period. “This is a clear demonstration of how we can leverage government institutions to be more productive and self-sustaining,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah made these remarks on Monday in Windhoek during the launch of the 6th National Development Plan (NDP6), where she also reported on her administration’s first 100 days in office. She said agriculture remains a key focus…

21 Jul

Enercon in covert fuel rights sale

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A document presented in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court revealed that Enercon Namibia (Pty) Ltd sold fuel station assets to the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) without informing the ministry of defence and veterans affairs. The document, signed by the ministry’s executive director Wilhelmine Shivute, stated that Enercon never communicated its intention to sell the assets, which were situated on ministry property. The state argued that the ministry had not granted any authorisation for the sale. During cross-examination on Monday, state prosecutor Menencia Hinda told accused Malakia Elindi—then a director at Enercon—that he had no legal right to…

21 Jul

‘This plan will deliver’ – NNN

National News

Allexer Namundjembo President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has launched the sixth national development plan (NDP6), presenting a clear roadmap to transform the economy, improve public services, and reduce structural inequality. “We can no longer continue to speak the language of ‘plans are not implemented.’ This plan will deliver,” she said during the launch on Monday. The launch comes after repeated delays. In 2023, then prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila had announced that NDP6 would be launched in March 2025. The National Planning Commission later stated in January 2025 that it was finalising consultations and waiting for Cabinet approval. In the same month, the…

21 Jul

Grootfontein in the dark over N$8.9m discrepancy

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Grootfontein municipality has come under scrutiny following revelations in the auditor general’s report highlighting a significant discrepancy of over N$8.9 million between the bank balance reported in its financial statements and the reconciled cash book balance. During a recent public hearing convened by the parliamentary standing committee on public accounts, officials were questioned over the variance, as well as several other irregularities identified in the financial year under review. According to the auditor general Junias Kandjeke’s findings, the financial statements for the 2019/2020 financial year reflected a bank balance of N$11.1 million. However, the actual reconciled cash…

21 Jul

Zaamwani learns of Meatco shake-up from the press

National News

Justicia Shipena Agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani says she only officially learnt about the suspension of the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco)’s acting chief executive officer, Patrick Liebenberg, on the same day it was reported in the media. “I read it in the newspapers, and I was informed telephonically on the day of the suspension, which was on Tuesday morning I think, 15 July 2025,” Zaamwani told the Windhoek Observer on Friday. She said no reasons were provided at the time. “They have not indicated the issue and said they are still investigating.” Meatco suspended Liebenberg on 14 July pending an…