Observer – Page 316 – Windhoek Observer

05 Apr

Modern day slavery in Namibia

ObserverMainFisheries Observer Agency, Modern day slavery in Namibia, the Namibian Police

Niël Terblanché An investigation by various international bodies launched into the use of slavery or trafficked humans to serve as fishermen in Namibian waters will eventually result in criminal charges against the Namibian registered owners of two fishing vessels. The 60 fishermen were rescued in September 2022 after officers of the Fisheries Observer Agency, the Namibian Police and immigration officers got involved. Although the incident caused huge embarrassment for Namibian authorities because the country is a signatory to various programs to end human trafficking, the government has promised to assist international bodies in their investigation into the allegation of modern…

05 Apr

State House maintenance conundrum

ObserverNational NewsDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), George Simataa, State House maintenance conundrum

Niël Terblanché Allegations that the Namibian Cabinet has had to find an alternative venue for its regular meetings because of a situation of disrepair at State House as a result of international sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have been disparaged by a variety of officials. A North Korean company was responsible for the renovation of State House and it is alleged that the sanction package aimed at the country and its businesses is causing difficulties at the Office of the Presidency. The sanction package was originally initiated by the United Sates of America and their allies…

05 Apr

Poultry ban lifted

ObserverFeaturedAlbertina Shilongo, Poultry ban lifted

Niël Terblanché Namibian businesses that deal in poultry and ostrich products will again be able to import these products from Ireland, after the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza halted the process five months ago. The Chief Veterinary Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture, Albertina Shilongo yesterday announced that the import and in-transit movement of live poultry, birds and poultry products could again be imported to Namibia. “The import ban was imposed as a result of an outbreak of the avian influence that was reported on 12 November last year,” Shilongo said in the statement. According to the statement, Ireland was declared…

05 Apr

PDM displeased with government’s high operational budgets

ObserverNational NewsMaximalliant Katjimune, PDM displeased with government’s high operational budgets

Martin Endjala Popular Democratic Movement Member of Parliament, Maximalliant Katjimune is disenchanted with the government’s high operational expenditure over the development budget, citing that this practice is one of the main contributing factors to youth unemployment in the country. “The operational expenses are always more than the developmental budget. How are we going to achieve tangible development if in all sectors of the operational expenditure always far exceeds the development budget?” he asked. Katjimune said it is high time that government starts looking at reducing the operational budgets in all ministries, given the fact that most of the operational budgets…

05 Apr

Rundu Councillor worried about delayed constituency funding

ObserverNational NewsMinistry of Urban and Rural Development, Paulus Mbangu, The Rundu Councillor in the Kavango East Region

Martin Endjala The Rundu Councillor in the Kavango East Region, Paulus Mbangu, has expressed concern about the delayed Regional and Constituency Fund Bill which he says has halted projects and the development of the constituency. “We need the finalisation of the bill in order to carry out projects and develop our constituencies. The constituencies had drastic budget cuts last year which have left many of us operating with almost nothing in the coffers”, Mbangu explained. Last year’s proposed budget allocation for the Kavango East Region is estimated to be around N$100 million, but it only received about N$60 million. This,…

05 Apr

NHE strike ends with no salary hike, staff receive once off N$5k

ObserverNational NewsNHE strike ends with no salary hike

Stefanus Nashama The National Housing Enterprise and the Public Service Union of Namibia yesterday agreed to end the national strike with the conditions of no salary increment, and the deduction of employees’ salaries will be enforced over a period of eight months for the days the workers were striking. The parties instead agreed to a once of N$ 5000 payment for employees. The workers were demanding a seven percent salary increment, better working conditions and against nepotism, favouritism and corruption in the company. The workers downed tools in February this year and eventually ended the strike yesterday after both parties…

05 Apr

NABTA’s removal from Puma was instigated-Nakathingo

ObserverNational NewsNABTA’s removal from Puma was instigated-Nakathingo

Martin Endjala The Namibia Bus and Taxi Association’s (NABTA) Secretary-General, Pendapala Nakathingo, has alleged that its removal from the premises of the Rhino Park Puma Energy Namibia Service Station in Windhoek was driven by hidden agendas of its rival association’s operators. Puma Rhino park was home to long-distance operators and seven-seaters operating between Windhoek and the coastal towns. The dispute between Puma and the NABTA-affiliated long-distance bus operators, over ownership of the premises, has been ongoing since 2013. A court order was issued by the High Court last year, which ruled in favour of Puma Energy Namibia, forcing the taxi…

05 Apr

Helicopter crash ends in lawsuit

ObserverNational NewsHelicopter crash ends in lawsuit

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A dispute has erupted between Tsumeb businessman, Rainier Arangies and founder of Namibia Base Aviation (NBA), Schalk Nel, over a helicopter worth N$18 million, which belonged to Arangies. The helicopter in question was involved in an accident, in which it was destroyed beyond economic repair. The 49-year-old pilot Frans Henning narrowly escaped death after the privately owned helicopter crash landed at the Tsumeb airstrip in March 2020. The helicopter was allegedly chartered by NBA based in Swakopmund for the purpose of spraying bushes at a farm situated a few kilometres from the airstrip. According to documents filed in…

31 Mar

Mulunga hauled before investigators of the ACC

ObserverFeaturedMulunga hauled before investigators of the ACC, National Petroleum Corporation (Namcor)

Niël Terblanché Immanuel Mulunga, the Managing Director of the National Petroleum Corporation (Namcor), is set to appear before a panel of Anti-Corruption Commission investigators to attest to N$270 million that was taken from the state-owned company's coffers to invest in offshore oil blocks in Angola.Namcor, as a partner in Sungara Energies, and under the direction of Mulunga has already paid N$170 million as part of a deposit that would give it a working share in three oil blocks off the shore of Namibia’s northern neighbour.Mulunga has allegedly requested that a further N$100 million be paid towards the deposit because the…

31 Mar

PM clarifies her statement at the UN

ObserverNational NewsPM clarifies her statement at the UN, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila

Stefanus Nashama The Prime Minister of the Republic of Namibia, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has retaliated to public criticisms, clarifying the statement she made at the United Nations Water Conference on the high percentage of access to potable water in Namibia. She said the high percentages she presented, are based on official data from approved sources and are not determined on an ad-hoc basis by the Office of the Prime Minister. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila added that the ministry responsible for water, based on official data, confirms the cited water access levels. The Prime Minister, in her speech to the UN congress last week stated…