Windhoek Observer – Page 321 – Windhoek Observer

01 Dec

Still no justice for workers impoverished by fishrot corruption scandal

National News

Corruption Watch Have you ever heard of the notion that “Corruption is a victimless crime”? This is something that corrupt people, and their supporters, would like us to believe. Even our own Jacob Zuma is reported to have said it. The truth, however, is that the victims of corruption are TNTC – a microbiological term meaning too numerous to count. They are ordinary people, vulnerable people, many of them driven to poverty or kept in poverty because of eroded quality of life, poor service delivery, human rights violations, lack of development, no employment, absence of the rule of law, and…

28 Nov

Worst election process post-independence – Rui

Main

Ester Mbathera & Martin Endjala Political Analyst Rui Tyitende has described the ongoing presidential and national assembly elections as the worst in the history of post-Apartheid Namibia. “Considering the widespread chaos across the polling stations, one can only deduce that this was either choreographed chaos or gross incompetence, or a combination of both,” he said. The ECN leadership informed the public that they were ready for the elections but the evidence suggests otherwise. On election day many people could not cast their votes because of many logistical issues at polling stations. “It appears as if they prepared everything this week,…

28 Nov

ECN blasted for silence on election process

National News

Martin Endjala & Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)'s decision to maintain radio silence amid a crisis of their own making has compounded fears of a sham election. Since Tuesday, the ECN has been unresponsive to questions from political parties and the media about logistics around the elections. On Thursday, opposition political parties, led by Christine !Aochamus, the national secretary general of the Independent Patriots of Change (IPC), held a media conference at the ECN headquarters to express their frustration with the ECN's silence regarding the issues on the ground. “Why is ECN not speaking to us? Why…

28 Nov

NaCC fines Choppies N$2.2 million for unapproved merger

National News

Martin Endjala The Namibia Competition Commission (NACC) has fined Choppies Supermarket Namibia Pty Ltd N$2.2 million for implementing a merger without its approval. According to an investigation by NaCC, Choppies entered into a settlement agreement with Johannes Jacobus De Jager trading as Grootfontein Supermarket and Grootfontein Bottle Store a transaction amounting to a merger without the prior approval. Choppies and Grootfontein Supermarket and Grootfontein Bottle Store entered into a memorandum of agreement on 12 May 2022 and 19 May 2022. Dina //Gowases, the NaCC corporate communications practitioner, confirmed this on Thursday in a statement. “The merger falls within the prescribed…

28 Nov

Electric shock injury lands general worker a six-figure payout

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A cleaner in the Kavango West region has secured a N$300 000 settlement from the Ministry of Health and Social Services following an electric shock he suffered while on duty. Alfons Hausiku, 32, was electrocuted at the Nankudu District Hospital in March 2024 while assisting in offloading fuel from a truck. Hausiku sustained electrical burns to his head, chest, right arm, neck, right thigh, and foot, and was hospitalized from 15 March to 5 May. He sought general damages for pain and suffering as a result of the incident. Hausiku filed a lawsuit in July this year, alleging…

28 Nov

GIPF members gain from N$118 million in tax refund

National News

Niël Terblanché The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) on Thursday announced the disbursement of over N$118 million in tax refunds. According to Martin Inkumbi, the chief executive officer of the fund, the payments at the end of this month aim to benefit 24 173 qualifying annuitants, including pensioners, spousal and child beneficiaries. Inkumbi stated that the refunds are the result of recalculations based on revised tax tables. He added that these recalculations compare the tax members paid throughout the year with what they would owe under the updated structure. “The difference has enabled refunds ranging from less than N$1 to…

28 Nov

Fibre upgrade enables Ganab Station to operate more efficiently

National News

Niél Terblanché Deep Yellow Limited, through its subsidiary Reptile Mineral Resources and Exploration (RMR), has upgraded the internet connectivity at the Ganab Station in an effort to advance conservation efforts in the Namib-Naukluft National Park (NNNP). According to RMR, the initiative is a demonstration of the company's commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development in Namibia. The N$53,338.90 investment which was handed over on Tuesday, involved installing a fibre optic Speedlink over a 63-kilometre stretch, elevating internet speeds to 25MB/s - 12 times faster than the previous satellite-based system. According to RMR, the enhancement facilitates seamless video communication and significantly…

28 Nov

ReconAfrica appoints new directors

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) Ltd has announced an operational update with respect to its exploration activities on Petroleum Exploration Licence 073, onshore Namibia, the appointment of directors and the filing of its financial results for the quarter ended 30 September. The highlights included the Spud the Naingopo exploration well in the Damara Fold Belt on 7 July, 2024. The well is currently drilling at a depth of 4 000 metres. The company entered into a definitive agreement with BW Energy Limited, for a 20% working interest in Petroleum Exploration Licence 073, including a US$22 million (US$16 million) equity…

28 Nov

ANIREP takes over HopSol Africa

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA The board of directors of Alpha Namibia Industries Renewable Power Limited (ANIREP) have announced that the company has entered into an agreement to acquire an additional equity stake in HopSol Africa (Proprietary) Limited, increasing its ownership in the entity to 100%. HopSol Africa, a leading Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) company specialising in renewable energy projects, has been a pivotal partner in advancing ANIREP’s vertically integrated renewable energy strategy. The company said this acquisition underscores ANIREP’s commitment to strengthening its position in Namibia’s renewable energy sector and enhancing its operational capacity to deliver sustainable and innovative energy solutions.…

28 Nov

Sulphuric acid storage plans ready for review

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA The draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Report and the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the Cooperative Bulk Handling Terminal (Pty) Ltd (CBHT), in the port of Walvis Bay has been finalised and is ready for the public review, documents have shown. CBHT will offer services to Bannerman Resource’s Etango uranium project. The project includes a proposed sulphuric acid storage and handling facilities in the Port of Walvis Bay. The Etango uranium project is located on the Mining Licence 250 (ML 250), which was granted by the Ministry of Mines and Energy on 14 December 2023. The Etango…