Observer

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Miracle birth in the middle of the bush

Miracle birth in the middle of the bush

Martin Endjala THE help of two men, who has no medical experience, enabled a young San woman from the Kavango East Region, Dominga Nxharu Hausiku, to give birth to a little baby girl in the middle of the bush. The 26-year-old mother was able to deliver the baby on 6 March this year when the driver of a Recon Africa vehicle, Jonas Siteketa (35) saw the expression of excruciating pain on her face while he passed by her on the road. Siteketa who was accompanied by the 23-year-old Junion Balzar stopped along the road to find out if the can…
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Ward contractors threaten to strike again

Ward contractors threaten to strike again

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Close 500 ward cleaners employed by the City of Windhoek who went on strike in February to demand better working conditions and an end to their undefined employment contracts from the municipal council, have threatened to go on strike once more. The group gave the Windhoek municipality until 15 March to respond to the demands of their previous petition. According to group spokesperson Mbenda Immanuel, the group will hold a meeting in town on Saturday to determine when exactly they will approach the city’s management structures and also when to carry out another strike in order to have…
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“We have done all that we could”-Smith

“We have done all that we could”-Smith

Steve Nashama TransNamib Chief Executive Officer, Johny Smith yesterday confirmed that he rejected an offer to extend his stay at the troubled parastatal and that he is pursuing other ventures. Smith, who tendered his resignation earlier this year and is expected to leave the company at the end of this month said in an interview that the old and deteriorating state of TransNamib railway infrastructure hampers operations, resulting in bottlenecks, and has the potential to cause derailments, which can lead to a loss of life, environmental harm and damage to expensive equipment at any given time. “Some of our locomotives…
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Passports, Visa applications now online

Passports, Visa applications now online

Steve Nashama With the launch of online applications for Passports and short-term Employment Permits yesterday, the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Albert Kawana said cases of corruption pertaining to the issuance of work visas and passports will be minimized.Kawana yesterday introduced online applications for short-term employment permits and passports. “No more corruption, agents or paying money behind the doors. The online documents application system requires clients to make an online payment for their service straight to government coffers, through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT),” says the minister. The Minister indicated that there has been many instances happening inside…
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OBSERVER SPOTLIGHT: Mulunga Interview

OBSERVER SPOTLIGHT: Mulunga Interview

Every Thursday the Windhoek Observer puts a spotlight on Namibian making news and shifting the needle. This week we feature Immanuel Mulunga, Managing Director of National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR). Mulunga started his career at NAMCOR in 2015 where he served as a Managing Director. He previously served as the Petroleum Inspector in the Ministry of Mines and Energy. OS: Can you please give us a brief synopsis of your educational background?Mulunga: I grew up in the dusty streets of Katutura, during the last decade of apartheid where I attended Mandume Junior Primary School (Grade 2-4) and later went…
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IPPR calls for Public Procurement Policy Unit’s independence

IPPR calls for Public Procurement Policy Unit’s independence

Martin Endjala The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) is calling for full autonomy to be accorded to the Procurement Policy Unit in order for it to have the power in holding individuals and entities accountable. The current limitations when it comes to accountability, according to IPPR Researcher Frederico Links have caused a spike in abnormalities and the unit is proving to be weak as far as holding entities, particularly in the procurement industry accountable. Links was speaking at the launch of the Procurement Tracker Namibia today in Windhoek, where he said that following the occurrences on the public procurement…
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Central bank launches regulatory reporting system

Central bank launches regulatory reporting system

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Bank of Namibia yesterday launched an Automated Regulatory Reporting System, which the central bank says will assist in maintaining financial stability and mitigate risks. The system, according to BoN will further enhance data collection and analytics capabilities. It will be available to regulated and supervised entities licensed by the Bank to conduct banking, currency exchange, and payment service provision activities. The system is a first for Namibia and is effective 1 February 2023. The Governor of the bank, Johannes !Gawaxab said the system engenders confidence in and contributes significantly to the stability and soundness of the domestic…
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Is Kandjeke irreplaceable?

Is Kandjeke irreplaceable?

Martin Endjala A motion passed in parliament today, to reappoint Auditor General Junias Kandjeke, has sent the August house into an tense debate as opposition parties questioned the rationale behind reappointing the current AG for another five-year term, given the availability of other capable candidates like his Deputy Gommes Menette. Landless Peoples Movement Leader, Bernadus Swartbooi stressed that Kandjeke has raised concerns about not having the power to hold government sectors accountable, in that public finance sectors are said to be auditing themselves which, lessens the powers of the Auditor General. This will be Kandjeke’s third reappointment in the position…
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No Namibian citizenship for Walvis Bay investors

No Namibian citizenship for Walvis Bay investors

Steve Nashama The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security yesterday denied that it has introduced a policy that grants Namibian citizenship and permits to foreign nationals who purchase residential property in the “Presidents Links Estate” in Walvis Bay. The total investment value of the golf estate is set to be more than N$4 billion in which the project is expected to create over 2,500 temporary jobs and 1,300 permanent jobs. It will build over 700 low cost houses for Namibians, in addition to the homes constructed on the estate. In a statement, the Ministry’s Executive Director Etienne Maritz…
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NSFAF, Welwitchia Health Training Centre sign agreement

NSFAF, Welwitchia Health Training Centre sign agreement

Steve Nashama The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) and Welwitchia Health Training Centre (WHTC), yesterday signed an agreement to strengthen the existing relationship between them and to ensure efficient service delivery to Students at the Centre. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by NSFAF Acting Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Kandume and WHTC Rector, Andreas Mwoombola at NSFAF Headquarters, Eros in Windhoek. Kandume pointed out that the agreement will see NSFAF providing WTHC with the names of NSFAF-funded students immediately after the award process has been completed and to make tuition fee payments to the WHTC directly. The agreement will…
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