Observer

Niël Terblanché Factors such as limited access to water, resources and financing are blocking the Namibian government from providing adequate toilets and other sanitation facilities in various communities in Namibia. According to the World Health Organization and UNICEF’s Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) 2020 data, Namibia ranks sixth for the highest rates of open defecation in the world. More than 40 percent of the nation or about one million people do not have access to proper toilet facilities and the situation is getting worse. The situation is exceptionally dire in the various informal settlements where people have no choice but to…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Standard Bank Namibia’s Chief Executive Officer Mercia Geises has resigned. Confirming the resignation, Geises said she is resigning to pursue other interests. “I just resigned to pursue other personal and professional interests nothing else,” said Geises. Geises was appointed last year on 1 May after Vetumbuavi Mungunda stepped down in April 2021. “In accordance with Paragraph 3.59 of the Listing Requirements, Shareholders are hereby advised that Mercia Geises has advised that, after seven years with the SBN Holdings Group she wishes to step down as Chief Executive and leave the Group to pursue other personal and professional interests,”…

Martin Endjala Lawyer Kadhila Amoomo has come out strongly in support of the amendment of labour laws in the country by saying that there is an ambiguity on the power of the police when it comes to labour-related issues. “The law in its current form should be amended in order to remove the ambiguity on the power of the Namibian Police,” he said. Amoomo, during an interview with this publication yesterday said that workers often fall victim to police harassment during labour disputes and strikes. “This is a problem, as workers are supposed to exercise their rights if they feel…

Niël Terblanché Enthusiasts from the Namibian civil aviation community are all set to welcome Kerry McCauley, an American ferry pilot who has flown light aircraft all over the world in his extensive career during a fly-in event that will be hosted at Lapa Lange for the next few days. McCauley is credited with delivering aircraft of all shapes and sizes to more than 60 countries while flying over vast stretches of the earth’s surface whether it be ocean or land. His adventures were immortalized in the book ‘Ferry Pilot’ and he also starred in a Discovery Channel series ‘Dangerous Flights’.…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Grootfontein Town Council has been dragged to court by a solid waste disposal company, Frontier Multi Industries (FMI) for allegedly refusing to pay N$ 1.8 million due to the company. According to documents filed in the Windhoek High Court, in November 2021 the council and FMI entered into an agreement for the solid waste company to provide solid waste and disposal services for a period of three years to the council. The two also agreed that the council would make payments for the services,30 days after the invoices were submitted. FMI is claiming that the council failed…

Martin Endjala Although the country’s economic recovery is in its early stages, credit growth will have to improve in order to support improved economic growth rates going forward. According to Economist Theo Klein, a myriad of other factors also needs to change in order to support higher growth, but prolonged negative real credit growth can limit growth. “Various factors would likely also have to change, whether it’s the mathematics behind internal models used to assess credit risk by banks or local businesses and entrepreneurs coming forth with better ideas that are bankable,” he said. Klein does not foresee higher interest…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Several murder cases were reported over the long weekend, including an incident reported on Saturday, in which the lifeless body of a new born baby boy was found dumped in the bushes. Police said it is unclear when exactly the baby was dumped, but the incident happened at Ogongo settlement in Omusati region.“It is alleged that the suspect hit a newly born baby boy on the head near the right ear with an unknown hard object which caused severe injury and resulted in the death of the baby. It is further alleged that the suspect dumped the body…