Observer – Page 40 – Windhoek Observer

19 Mar

Cybersecurity behind SIM card registration

ObserverNational NewsCybersecurity behind SIM card registration

Niël Terblanché In order to strengthen national security and enhance digital innovation, the Namibian government has reinforced its commitment to combating cybercrime and ensuring a secure digital environment for its citizens. This commitment was articulated in a comprehensive ministerial statement delivered by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus to the National Assembly. Theofelus addressed critical topics of SIM card registration and cybersecurity measures. According to the Theofelus, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology mandated the registration of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards as a strategic measure to deter mobile fraud, and identity theft, and facilitate lawful…

19 Mar

MP calls for remuneration of caregivers

ObserverMainMP calls for remuneration of caregivers

Martin Endjala Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Disability Affairs, Alexia Manombe-Ncube, has called on the treasury to start considering monthly incentives for persons who take care of people living with disability. The MP said this in the National Assembly while contributing to the national budget. She pointed out a concern she observed and wants to see urgent interventions to address the issue with caregivers. She said often a parent with a child with severe disabilities, such as cerebral palsy cannot leave the child alone to go and work outside the house. “Most of these children and adults need…

19 Mar

Nedbank hosts budget dialogue

ObserverObserver Money

Niël Terblanché Nedbank Namibia played host to the business community of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay where it facilitated a crucial discussion on the implications of the recently tabled 2024/2025 national budget. This forum provided an essential platform for dissecting the budget’s impact on the socio-economic landscape of Namibia. The event was marked by the insightful opening remarks of Nedbank Namibia’s Managing Director, Martha Murorua, who emphasized the bank’s dedication to aligning its operations with the national budget’s socio-economic objectives. Murorua stressed the transformative potential of every dollar lent, highlighting the bank’s collaborative approach with clients to identify and seize commercial…

19 Mar

Venaani engages unemployed fishermen

ObserverNational NewsVenaani engages unemployed fishermen

Stefanus Nashama McHenry Venaani of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), last week, met with the retrenched fishermen who live in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. His journey was to inform the fishermen of the progress of his queries to both the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and President Nangolo Mbumba, during the State of the Nation Address. During the State of the National Address, last week, Venaani questioned the efficiency of the Government Redress Employment Program. Speaking to the fishermen, the leader of the official opposition called on all fishermen to be sent back to the sea, as per their…

18 Mar

Suspension saved Karasburg from going into the dustbin – Swapo councillors

ObserverMain

Martin Endjala One of the suspended Swapo Councillors of the Karasburg Town Council, Elia Hauwanga says the decision undertaken by the Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni, to suspend the entire council, has saved the town from going into the dustbin. Hauwanga told the Windhoek Observer yesterday that both the Swapo party and the Independent Patriot for Change (IPC) view the suspension executed by the Minister as per the Government Gazette Notice under Section 92(9) Act no 23 of 1992 of the Local Authority, as the right decision. “This has been long coming. We anticipated it to happen. Following…

18 Mar

Alweendo’s decision to cancel Fuel Retail License ruled unlawful by court

ObserverNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja In a landmark judgment delivered by High Court Judge Eileen Rakow, the decision by the Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, to cancel a fuel retail license has been declared unlawful and contrary to the provisions of Article 18 of the Namibian Constitution. The ruling, following a review application brought by Gochas Lewende Hawe Agente CC against the Minister of Mines and Energy, highlights the limitations of Alweendo’s authority and the legal grounds upon which the fuel retail license was revoked. The license was revoked on 15 March 2022. Judge Rakow said the powers of the Minister…

18 Mar

Crumbling infrastructure endangers detainees

ObserverNational NewsCrumbling infrastructure endangers detainees

Niël Terblanché A recent fact-finding mission by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs to Walvis Bay has shed light on the grim reality faced by trial awaiting prisoners in the Namibian Police holding cells. The committee's visit, aimed at assessing infrastructure and conditions within the justice system, has uncovered a situation that calls for urgent governmental intervention. During their visit, the committee discovered that detainees, including mentally ill individuals and juveniles, are subjected to appalling conditions. Overcrowding has become a significant issue, with some detainees forced to sleep on the floor without mattresses. The revelation that juveniles…

18 Mar

Fishing rights owned by 90 percent of Namibians

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala President Nangolo Mbumba, during the State of the Nation Address (SONA), revealed that to date, 90 percent of fishing rights are owned by Namibians and that the sector employs an estimated 18,000 Namibians. He said the promotion of Namibianisation in the fisheries sector is progressing well. Additionally, the government has successfully implemented the employment redressing programme which employs 2,367 people. Mbumba emphasised that the move is a sustainable job opportunity initiative, addressing the challenges of joblessness experienced by former fishermen since 2015. With regard to job creation to secure livelihoods, the government facilitated the placement of 1,350 job…

18 Mar

Namibia launches Central Securities Depository to boost stock market efficiency

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché In a significant development for Namibia's financial market, the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) has announced the approval of the Central Securities Depository (CSD). According to Victoria Raimond, spokesperson of Namfisa, the approval of a CSD is set to revolutionize stock trading in the country. She added that the establishment of the CSD aims to provide a centralized platform for the holding, safekeeping, and settlement of securities such as shares, bonds, and other financial instruments in electronic form, thereby enhancing market efficiency and liquidity. Owned jointly by the Bank of Namibia and the Namibia Stock Exchange, the…

18 Mar

CRAN wins Supreme Court challenge on regulatory levies

ObserverMain

Martin Endjala The Communication Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has won a constitutional challenge filed by Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) against the amendment of Section 23 of the Communications Act, in the Supreme Court concerning the collection of levies. After appealing the High Court judgment of 22 August 2022, the Supreme Court heard the appeal on the 14th of April 2023. The Supreme Court of Namibia delivered a judgment in CRAN’s favour on 13 March 2024. MTC’s application was based on the grounds that Section 23 as amended, which allows CRAN to collect regulatory levies was unconstitutional as the amended…