Windhoek Observer – Page 298 – Windhoek Observer

20 Oct

Legal threats escalate in /Khomanin communal land dispute

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The ongoing dispute over ancestral land rights within the /Khomanin community has taken a new turn as legal threats have emerged. The /Khomanin Traditional Authority (TA), led by Chief Julienne Gawa!nas, has issued a letter of demand against social justice activist Shaun Gariseb, accusing him of defamation and undermining the authority of the Chief. In a letter dated 18 October, Kadhila Amoomo Legal Practitioners, acting on behalf of the /Khomanin Traditional Authority, they demand that Gariseb retract statements he made during a press conference on 10 October. The letter claims that Gariseb falsely accused Chief Gawa!nas of collaborating…

20 Oct

Turkey aids Namibia’s drought relief efforts with food donations

National NewsComprehensive Drought Response Relief Programme

Niël Terblanché The Turkish government has stepped in to strengthen Namibia’s drought relief programme by donating food aid worth approximately N$350 000. The much-needed assistance that was handed over on Friday, comes at a critical time, as almost half of the country’s population faces hunger because of the impact of the ongoing drought that has severely affected food security and the livelihoods of many vulnerable communities. During a ceremony held in Windhoek on 18 October 2024, Namibia’s Deputy Prime Minister, John Mutorwa, expressed deep gratitude on behalf of the Namibian government for the country’s timely donation. He explained that the…

20 Oct

Capacity building and market access for small-scale fisheries vitally important

National News

Niël Terblanché By addressing these key challenges, Namibia’s small-scale fisheries (SSF) sector can play a more significant role in the country’s economy, improving food security and livelihoods, particularly for rural communities. To achieve this, strengthened collaborations between government entities, non-governmental organisations, and SSFOs will be vital in ensuring the sector’s success as it adapts to evolving market conditions and climate-related challenges In this regard, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in partnership with the Namibian Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), held a one-day workshop to validate the results of a Training Needs Assessment (TNA)…

20 Oct

Veteran broadcasters set to guide next generation

National NewsSociety of Broadcast Veterans

Niël Terblanché Seasoned professionals from the broadcasting industry launched the Society of Broadcast Veterans (SBV) an initiative to mentor, inspire, and support the next generation of media talent. The forward-thinking initiative was launched on Friday. By bridging the gap between traditional broadcasting principles and modern journalism, the SBV aims to equip young broadcasters with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in a constantly changing industry, ensuring that the future of media remains rooted in credibility, integrity, and passion. Kolie van Coller, convener of the SBV, stressed the significance of this initiative. “We recognise the challenges that young and…

20 Oct

NamPost Bank goes digital

Observer MoneyFestis Hangula, Namibia Post Limited (NamPost)

Martin Endjala The Namibia Post Limited (NamPost) last week launched a banking application (app) that will enable customers to make transactions and pay bills at their convenience. Festis Hangula, the chief executive officer of NamPost, explained that the app is designed to meet the needs of savings and transactional account holders. “For savings bank account holders, especially savings and transactional accounts, they need access to their funds to transact, pay bills and send money,” said Hangula. The postal operations have been running financial services under the savings bank for many years. He emphasised the institution's ongoing commitment to serving the…

20 Oct

Brave Warriors assemble for Chan qualifiers

Featured, Sports

The co-coaches of Namibia’s CHAN team, have announced the selection of a 36-player squad to commence preparations for the upcoming CHAN (Championship of African Nations) qualifiers against Lesotho. The squad, comprised of players from various leagues across Namibia, will convene at the NFA Technical Centre on Monday, 21 October 2024. Namibia will travel to Lesotho for the first leg of the CHAN preliminary round on 25-27 October with the return leg scheduled for 1-3 November 2024. The winner of the tie will face Angola in the second round for a place in the CHAN finals, which will be held in…

20 Oct

FC Ongos Ladies and Eeshoke Chula-Chula triumph in Hage Geingob Cup finale

Sports

FC Ongos Ladies and Eeshoke Chula-Chula won the final edition of the Hage Geingob Cup held on Saturday at the Independence Stadium. The FC Ongos Ladies defeated Julinho Sporting Football Club 3-1 on penalties after both teams struggled to convert during the 90 minutes. The Ongos Ladies walked away with N$200,000, and Julinho with N$100,000 in prize money. Eeshoke Chula-Chula defeated African Stars 2-0. The goals came from Marselinu George and Jackson Eliakim. Eeshoke Chula-Chula goalkeeper, John Muronga, was the hero of the day after saving several shots from African Stars players, including a penalty taken by Awillo Stephanus. Chula-Chula…

20 Oct

Talking sport with Dimitri Bittler

Sports

Sports Facilities Should Be a Ticking Box for Local Authorities’ Status In Namibia, the lack of adequate sports facilities across many towns and local authorities has become a growing concern. As our communities strive for better health, youth engagement, and social cohesion, the government needs to make sports infrastructure a key benchmark for local authority recognition. By doing so, we can ensure that every town, council, and municipality prioritizes community well-being through the development and maintenance of sports facilities. At present, the criteria used to recognize and assess local authorities rarely take into account the availability or quality of sports…

17 Oct

Visionary woman converts guesthouse into a school

Main

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Late President Hage Geingo once said, ‘While you wait for the government, why don’t you put one pole here, one pole there, one there, and one pole there, and put blikkies on top?". A 26-year-old Jessica Amoonga from Omindaba village in Onesi constituency took this advice and went a step further. In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced businesses and schools to shut down, Amoonga found herself in a situation that would change the course of her life. At the time she was running a guesthouse. When the guesthouse ceased its operation as a result of the pandemic,…

17 Oct

Political interests spark renewed /Khomanin communal land dispute

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Special advisor to the chief of the /Khomanin Traditional Authority, Walter /Hâseb, has accused certain individuals of exploiting the ongoing /Khomanin communal land dispute for political gain. The dispute, which revolves around ancestral land rights, has resurfaced with allegations from the community that a farmer, John Cuff, is infringing upon their rights to access, use, and control the land. “These individuals are being economical with the information they are sharing. They have their own political objectives that they want to achieve through elections. They are using this land issue to rally support, but they are not telling the…