Windhoek Observer – Page 317 – Windhoek Observer

17 Dec

Mbakera leaves FC Ongos

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Football Club Ongos and former head coach Mervin Mbakera have parted ways following the club's poor performance, which saw them end at the bottom of the log in the Debmarine Premiership under Mbakera’s reign. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the club confirmed the departure of Mbakera, stating that the mutually agreed upon contract termination is effective from 17 December 2024. “FC Ongos would like to announce that the club and coach Mbakera have mutually agreed to terminate the agreement effective 17 December 2024. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to coach Mervin Mbakera for his…

17 Dec

Telecom Namibia hack: Namibia’s Cybersecurity wake-up call

Opinions

Setson Tangeni Haidula The recent hacking of Telecom Namibia has exposed serious flaws in the nation’s approach to cybersecurity. Sensitive data was reportedly compromised, exposing vulnerabilities in critical systems—an event that underscores how unprepared we are for modern digital threats. This breach isn’t just Telecom’s problem; it reflects the vulnerability of Namibia’s digital infrastructure, including public institutions and government ministries. It’s a wake-up call to take cybersecurity as seriously as other countries have done. Namibia’s approach to cybersecurity is outdated and reactive. For instance, the United States established the National Security Agency (NSA) as a central pillar of its cyber…

16 Dec

Lack of oversight and legislation blamed for cyber attack

Main

Niël Terblanché The absence of a robust Data Protection Act and more stringent regulatory oversight by Namibia’s Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) is partly to blame for the massive cyber terrorist attack on the country’s key telecommunications provider and other government institutions almost three weeks ago. Paul Rowley of My Digital Bridge Foundation, whose mission is to enrich the lives of marginalized communities through equitable access to technology, said a comprehensive data protection act in Namibia could have significantly reduced the damage caused by the attack. He explained that the Act could have established clear guidelines and obligations for…

16 Dec

Windstorms rip through Eengodi and Omuthiya leaving many homeless

National News

Martin Endjala Heavy windstorms last Wednesday left several houses in the Eengodi and Omuthiya constituencies without roofs. People in Onamushi, Onyavia, Ongaka and Okambuguthe villages were badly affected by the strong winds. Mwawendange Petersen, a priest at the House of Healing International Ministry in the Ongaka area, told the Windhoek Observer on Monday that the roof sheets were blown off and lying around the ground, along with poles and trees that were uprooted by the windstorm. “At this stage, it is hard to tell or put the exact number of houses or people affected because other areas in the Oshikoto…

16 Dec

Labour unions and media advocates welcome NAMPU registration

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Labour unions, media advocates, and stakeholders widely celebrate the Namibia Media Professionals Union's (NAMPU) official trade union registration as a significant step towards strengthening workers' rights in Namibia's media industry. NAMPU received its certificate of recognition from the Office of the Labour Commissioner on Monday, 16 December 2024, after a four-year campaign for formal recognition. The media ombudsman, John Nakuta, hailed the development as a landmark moment for media workers. “It is really good news to hear that NAMPU has finally been registered officially as one of the many trade unions in the country. For that reason, I…

16 Dec

Child Marriage in the SADC Region: A Persistent Human Rights Crisis

Africa / World, Featured

Sally Ncube and Moses Magadza Child marriage remains a pressing human rights issue globally, with alarming rates and low progress toward addressing the crisis persisting in regions such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Although there has been a global decline in child marriage, progress is insufficient to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target of eliminating it by 2030. At the current rate, it will take 300 years to eradicate child marriage entirely, according to the latest research from UNICEF. The SADC’s statistics are stark, with almost 40% of children married before 18 years in at least five…

16 Dec

Okahao residents left without vital medical supplies

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Okahao State Hospital in the Omusati Region has been grappling with a critical shortage of essential medical supplies. Patients seeking medical care have been left stranded without critical items such as health passports, tonsil medication, and amoxicillin syrup, sparking growing concerns over the deteriorating state of healthcare services in the area. The Windhoek Observer visited the hospital on Sunday and witnessed that the essential items were indeed out of stock. Due to a lack of medical passports, patients received handwritten documents to record their medical information. “This is frustrating. I came here for my child’s medication, and…

16 Dec

Netball Namibia president calls for better sports facilities

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Netball Namibia’s president, Rebekka Goagoses has called on local authorities to prioritise the construction of proper sports facilities or repurpose warehouses and community spaces into sports venues, particularly those that can accommodate netball. Goagoses made the appeal during the closing ceremony of the Africa Netball Cup 2024, held at the Dome in Swakopmund from 9 to 14 December. “For this, I call on our local authorities to prioritise the construction of proper sports facilities. Let us turn our warehouses and community spaces into venues that nurture our athletes and prepare them for international competition,” she said. The tournament…

16 Dec

Swakopmund adds measures to ensure a safe festive season

National News

Niël Terblanché Swakopmund is gearing up for a festive season filled with joy, safety and security. A special detachment of the Namibian Police’s Special Reserve Force arrived in the holiday town on Sunday and their mission is to enforce law and order throughout the bustling festive period, ensuring a safe and tranquil environment for both residents and visitors. Linda Mupupa, the spokesperson of the municipality, reiterated the council's support for the endeavour. “As part of its commitment to a safe and secure environment, the town council sponsored N$147 027 to accommodate and provide meals for the Special Reserve Force members,”…

16 Dec

Ballot battles continue as opposition calls for electoral overhaul

National News

Martin Endjala The Namibian United Party (UNP) has described the just-concluded 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections as illegitimate. In a statement issued recently, UNP chief servant, Amos Likuwa criticised the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), saying it had no valid reason to create a chaotic voting process given the time and resources at its disposal. “Fellow Namibians, the ECN’s actions are undeniable, unbelievable, indescribable and unacceptable,” he said. Likuwa claimed that the ECN was acting against the interests of many Namibians, denying and grossly violating citizens' rights throughout the nation. “The only question that lingers in my mind is…