Observer – Page 334 – Windhoek Observer

06 Apr

More Fishermen facing retrenchments

ObserverNational NewsManaging Director of Etosha Fishing, More Fishermen facing retrenchments, Volker Paulsmeier

Niël Terblanché The moratorium that has been placed on the harvesting of pilchards in Namibian waters has again left hundreds of fishermen from Walvis Bay with the bleak prospect of unemployment. The Managing Director of Etosha Fishing, Volker Paulsmeier, in a short statement, acknowledged that the company has given the Labour Commissioner a formal notice about the company’s intent to lay off 30 permanent and 420 seasonal workers. “The company has given notice to the Labour Commissioner on the 31st March 2023 of its intention to terminate contracts due to operational requirements as is required by the Labour Act (Act…

06 Apr

Learner’s woes discussed at Ministerial level

ObserverNational NewsLearner’s woes discussed at Ministerial level, Moses Nghitotelwa

Stefanus Nashama Moses Nghitotelwa, a learner at the Oshikunde Combined School, who complained about walking long distances to attend classes on an empty stomach, will possibly be allowed to stay in the hostel facility, after education authorities took up the matter. The Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka said Nghitotelwa should approach the Regional Education Director to help him find accommodation in the hostel, rather than walking 14 kilometres per day to attend classes. Nghitotelwa(19) however says he was left with no choice but to walk seven kilometres from his home in the Omhito village to the school…

06 Apr

Namcor board suspends Mulunga with benefits

ObserverNational NewsNamcor board suspends Mulunga with benefits

Niël Terblanché Immanuel Mulunga, the Managing Director of the National Petroleum Corporation, has been suspended by the state-owned company’s board of directors. In a statement released yesterday, the board said that the suspension is effective 4 April 2023. “We wish to inform our stakeholders that the board has resolved to place our Managing Director, Immanuel Mulunga, on suspension with immediate effect pending an investigation,” the board said. Following Mulunga’s suspension, the board has elected and appointed Lionel Matthews as Acting Managing Director for an initial period of six months. He is the current Financial Manager in the Ministry of Finance.…

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…