Windhoek Observer – Page 372 – Windhoek Observer

06 Oct

APP pushes for LGBTQI rights

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The All People’s Party (APP) has reinforced its commitment to human rights, specifically addressing the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) community in its 2024 manifesto, launched in Rundu this weekend. The party pledges to work towards combating discrimination, decriminalising sexual orientation, and ensuring legal protections for LGBTQI individuals. The party highlights the universality of human rights and stresses that every Namibian, regardless of their sexual orientation, deserves equal treatment under the law. The manifesto sets out several objectives aimed at protecting and advancing the rights of the LGBTIQ community. According to the…

06 Oct

High Court overturns suspension of Karasburg councillors

National News

Martin Endjala The Windhoek High Court has ruled that the suspension of the entire Karasburg Town Council, imposed in March by Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni, was unlawful. The court's decision, delivered last week, effectively reinstates the council members, who had been removed from office earlier this year. Presiding Judge Beatrix de Jager declared the minister’s decision null and void. The notice: “I declare that all powers, duties and functions of the Town Council of Karasburg vested in me; suspend, without remuneration or allowances, all the members of the Town Council of Karasburg from office, with effect from…

06 Oct

NUDO leaders to hand over power in May 2025

National NewsEster Muinjangue, Joseph Kauandenge

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The National Unity Democratic Organisation's (Nudo) leadership will remain in charge until May next year although they did not run for office at the party's electoral college over the weekend. The party’s secretary general, Joseph Kauandenge, announced this on Sunday. “We will officially hand over these positions to new incoming leaders who will be elected at our congress, as we have indicated that both of us will also not stand for the president or secretary-general position at our congress next year,” he said. Kauandenge and the party’s president, Ester Muinjangue, have been at Nudo's helm for the past…

06 Oct

Lifesaving dialysis treatment now available in Oshakati

National NewsDialysis treatment, Kalumbi Shangula

Niël Terblanché Oshakati Intermediate Hospital has been enabled to provide treatment to people suffering from chronic kidney failure after the inauguration of a new 15-machine dialysis unit. Viewed as a substantial advancement for public healthcare in Namibia and improving access to lifesaving dialysis services in the north, the facility was officially commissioned by the minister of health and social services, Kalumbi Shangula on Friday. “Until now, many patients had to travel long distances or rely on costly private sector services to manage their conditions,” the minister said at the inauguration. According to Shangula, renal dialysis is essential for individuals whose…

06 Oct

Ageing infrastructure blamed for Omusati region water supply challenges

National News

Martin Endjala NamWater has attributed the low water pressure in the Okahao Constituency to feeder lines that have exceeded their design capacity and can no longer handle the pressure. The water utility’s spokesperson, Lot Ndamanomhata, said this to the Windhoek Observer last week. ”The core challenge lies in the fact that many of NamWater’s feeder lines have now exceeded their design capacity, with several areas experiencing ongoing suppressed demand,” he said. Ndamanomhata was responding to questions about the situation at the Okahao and Tsandi constituencies in the Omusati region, where many residents have been without water for two months because…

06 Oct

Namibia takes non-profit stance in electricity supply sector

National NewsElectricity Control Board (ECB), Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA), Robert Kahimise

Niël Terblanché The government has reiterated that it does not intend to profit from the electricity sector, aiming instead to ensure the industry is affordable, reliable, and self-sustaining. This message was delivered by Robert Kahimise, chief executive officer of the Electricity Control Board (ECB), during the Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA) media briefing in Windhoek. “The electricity industry faces challenges in balancing affordability, reliability, and sustainability, all while remaining financially viable,” Kahimise said. He reiterated that the government’s goal, through regulatory mechanisms, is not to profit but to subsidize costs where necessary and maintain an efficient and…

06 Oct

Swakop Uranium donates IT equipment and classroom to Lazarus Haufiku Combined Schoo

National NewsQiu Bin, Swakop Uranium

Niël Terblanché The Lazarus Haufiku Combined School in the Ohangwena Region is set to benefit from a recent donation by Swakop Uranium. The donation is viewed as a new milestone in the school's journey toward modernising its educational facilities. At a ceremony held on Friday, Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, expressed his gratitude to Swakop Uranium for their generous contribution, which includes IT equipment and a newly constructed classroom. Alweendo said that the donation is part of Swakop Uranium's ongoing efforts to support educational development in rural Namibia. Alweendo stressed the importance of corporate citizenship in fostering community…

06 Oct

NIP cuts waiting time in remote clinics with technology

National NewsKapena Tjombonde, Za Tuka Strategy

Martin Endjala The Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) has begun the rollout of tablet devices at all clinics countrywide to streamline the retrieval of patient test results. The NIP’s chief executive officer, Kapena Tjombonde revealed this on Friday at a media engagement event in Windhoek. “This initiative is aimed at cutting out the long waiting hours. Once the tests are completed, NIP will then inform the clinic and the results are automatically loaded on the system, which can be accessed via the tablets that we are installing countrywide,” she explained. So far, the NIP has placed 170 tablets in remote…

03 Oct

Nursing council caps student intake

Main

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Nursing Council of Namibia has issued new directives aimed at addressing growing concerns over the quality of nursing and midwifery training in the country, effective from 1 October 2024. The directives are in response to the rapid increase in nursing and midwifery educational institutions, which has surpassed the capacity of approved training hospitals and health facilities. The council’s chief executive officer, Cornelius Weyulu, said this has negatively affected nursing and midwifery training and compromised patient safety. “This contributed to the high unemployment rate among nursing and midwifery graduates,” said Weyulu. The council has capped student intakes at…

03 Oct

Cabinet heeds Amupanda’s call to implement a small claims court

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The cabinet has approved the implementation of a small claims court as a matter of urgency to decongest the courts, a call made in August by Affirmative Repositioning movement (AR) leader, Job Amupanda. The deputy minister of information, communication and technology, Modestus Amutse, announced on Thursday that Cabinet directed the Ministry of Justice to deliver quality service to the public. In August, Amupanda said he will not allow the establishment of a tender court, and the government should rather concentrate on enforcing the bill to establish a small claims court, which has been with the government for 34…