Windhoek Observer – Page 39 – Windhoek Observer

07 Aug

How different is Russian, Chinese capital from Capitalism?

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Stumbling on a quote by the first Zambian vice president at independence in 1964, Yours Truly Ideologically could not but reflect deeply on it, especially its reference to the much-sought-after investment by Southern African countries, let alone Namibia. “If we don’t handle our independence very well, colonisers will come back in the form of investors.” Ex-Zambian Vice President Simon Kapwepwe is quoted as having once said. It looks like independence did not need to have gone wrong, the late Kapwepwe, for the colonisers to come back. If they ever left. But more than anything, independence opened the floodgates…

07 Aug

How genomic research and medicine can advance African public health

Opinions

Prof Lamech M. Mwapagha Africa faces a heavy disease burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Although the continent has generally succeeded over the last 20 years in decreasing the levels of a number of communicable diseases (e.g. cholera and polio), there are some (e.g. malaria and HIV/AIDS) whose prevalence remains quite high. This disease burden has been aggravated with the emergence of drug-resistant strains of various pathogens. Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (e.g. heart attack and stroke), cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases are also on the rise in Africa, with the number of deaths from these projected…

07 Aug

When one job isn’t enough

Opinions

Ashante Manetti There was a time when having one job was enough. You’d go to work, earn your salary, and manage your responsibilities as best as you could. But for many Namibians today, that model simply doesn’t cut it anymore. The numbers say it plainly: nearly a third of working Namibians are juggling more than one income stream. Some have side hustles after hours. Others run small businesses alongside their nine-to-five. A growing number are freelance, rent out rooms, sell goods online, or tap into gig work just to make ends meet. This trend, often referred to as “poly-jobbing”, isn’t…

07 Aug

Namibia mourns with Ghana following tragic helicopter crash

Uncategorised

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has extended her condolences to Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and the people of Ghana following a tragic military helicopter crash in the southern Ashanti Region on Wednesday. The crash claimed the lives of eight individuals, including defence minister Edward Omane Boamah and environment, science and technology minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, along with three Ghana armed forces crew members and other senior officials. In a statement released on Wednesday, Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed Namibia’s sympathy to the victims' families and the nation of Ghana. “On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of Namibia, and…

07 Aug

Petrofund sends graduates for subsea training in Malaysia

Uncategorised

Justicia Shipena Three Namibians will undergo specialised subsea operations training in Malaysia. The training is part of a partnership between the Petroleum Training and Education Fund (Petrofund) and oil and gas service company Subsea7. The trainees, Leonard Johannes, Erasmus Shikongo, and Rikardo Samuyumbe, are graduates of the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) with qualifications in power and mechanical engineering. On Thursday, Petrofund spokesperson Shoki Kandjimi announced that the candidates were selected for a Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) Pilot Technician training programme at the Netherlands Maritime University College in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.The fully funded scholarship, valued at over N$870,000,…

07 Aug

Dunaiski tricked Mulunga into N$53m asset offer

Main

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) chief investigating officer Oberty Inambao told the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday that the former managing director of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), Immanuel Mulunga, was tricked into making a N$53 million offer to acquire fuel storage facilities. He said Namcor, through Mulunga, had made an offer to acquire storage facilities. However, this offer was never executed. “Mulunga represented Namcor, and he was misled on the 15th of July 2022. Those storage facilities have never been acquired by Namcor, even though the asset purchase agreement was signed on that day,” said Inambao during…

07 Aug

Debmarine to ask US for tariff exemption

National News

Justicia Shipena Debmarine Namibia plans to request a blanket exemption from the US government on rough and polished diamonds. CEO Willy Mertens said the US does not produce diamonds and should not impose punitive tariffs on the industry. “We are going to try and seek a blanket exemption from the US government on both rough and polished diamonds,” he said. He was speaking on Wednesday at the 2025 Mining Expo and Conference in Windhoek. The event, which runs until today, features 198 exhibitors and 335 booths,the largest in its 12-year history. The conference is held under the theme, “Mining for…

07 Aug

AR to nominate teachers for November elections

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Movement on Wednesday announced that it will contest the upcoming regional and local authority elections scheduled. AR spokesperson George Kambala said the movement will nominate community organisers, unionists, teachers, unemployed youth, and activists rather than career politicians. Namibians are set to vote in the Regional Council and Local Authority Elections on 26 November 2025, while a Special Voting Day for election officials and police officers will be held on 24 November 2025. “The movement will not be funded by tenderpreneurs or looters,” Kambala said, adding that AR will campaign with truth, integrity, and a…

07 Aug

Ondangwa residents, LPM oppose plot subdivision

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Residents from Ondiyala and Onantsi in Ondangwa, together with the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), have called on the Ondangwa Town Council to reverse its decision to subdivide and reallocate residential plots The petition comes amid concerns that long-standing land rights are being ignored. Silas Moses, a member of LPM’s political action committee, said some affected plots, including erven 5253, 5254, and 5255 in Ondiyala, have been lawfully occupied since 2000. “These are not just pieces of land. They are homes where families have lived peacefully since the year 2000. We cannot allow decisions that uproot communities without proper…

07 Aug

Financial access remains a challenge, says Uanguta

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Bank of Namibia (BoN) deputy governor Ebson Uanguta says many Namibians continue to face financial exclusion, despite official figures showing increased access to financial services. Speaking at the launch of BoN’s national financial inclusion campaign in Windhoek on Tuesday, Uanguta said statistics alone do not reflect the full reality. “An inclusive financial system is not a luxury; it is a necessity. True monetary stability cannot exist without meaningful economic participation by all our citizens,” Uanguta said. BoN data show that 78% of adult Namibians have access to some form of financial service, but Uanguta emphasises that many citizens…