Windhoek Observer – Page 426 – Windhoek Observer

08 Aug

Modernising Namibian mining industry

Observer Money

CASPER LABUSCHAGNE Mark Twain famously said: During the gold rush it’s a good time to be in the pick and shovel business”. The mining, minerals and metals sector has certainly on moved on from just picks and shovels, and with that, countries like Namibia which is quickly becoming the next destination for the proverbial gold rush. According to Chamber of Mines in Namibia, mining accounted for 14.4% of the country’s GDP 2023, an increase from 9% in 2021 and 11.9 % in 2022. The sector therefore plays a fundamental role in Namibia’s job and wealth creation, showing consistency steady growth.…

08 Aug

Airlink to connect Cape Town with Gaborone

Observer Money

Airlink, Southern Africa’s premier airline, is expanding its network to include direct Cape Town-Gaborone flights from 1 April 2025. Flights on the route will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays departing Cape Town International Airport at 10.50 and arriving at Gaborone’s Sir Seretse Khama International Airport at 13.00. The return service leaves Gaborone at 13.45 and lands in Cape Town at 16.00. “As Botswana’s capital, Gaborone is an important regional destination for business with the city being home to thriving minerals, resources, automotive and tech sector companies and it hosts the Southern African Development Community headquarters. It is also an…

08 Aug

The real stewards of the country’s natural resources are the people

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro “We will continue to use our best endeavours to ensuring that our minerals and petroleum resources are exploited in the best interest of the country and its people. It is our resolve to be good stewards of our resources.” This is verse of what seems has become the personal anthem of Mines and Minerals Minister, Tom Alweendo, and his assembled choir and a popular rendition at almost at every choir competition of especially explorers and other mineral and mining vultures, whether on home turf or at one or the other forum. All meant so much to test the…

08 Aug

Judge clears Mulunga

Latest, National News

A disciplinary hearing on 7 August has determined that none of the disciplinary complaints against Immanuel Mulunga, the suspended managing director of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), were not sufficiently established.“In the result, my determination in these disciplinary proceedings against the employee is that none of the disciplinary complaints against the employee have been established by the employer on a balance of probabilities. It follows that all the complaints against him in these proceedings are dismissed,” chairperson of the disciplinary hearing, Gerhard Maritz, a retired Supreme Court judge of appeal said in his judgement.The charges included fraud and…

07 Aug

Chamber of Mines urge GRN to look beyond taxes and royalties

Main

Martin Endjala Namibia’s Chamber of Mines president, Zebra Kasete, has urged the government to focus more on skill development rather than solely on benefiting from mining exploration through taxes and royalties. He made these remarks during the opening of the 2024 Mining Expo and Conference in Windhoek on Wednesday. "The government should not be concentrating on the possible revenue from exploration activities but rather focus on skill development to unlock people's potential," he said. He proposed using taxes and fees from the industry to finance and provide people with the necessary skills. According to Kasete, this approach will empower both…

07 Aug

A new era of opportunity for Kunene’s youth

National News

Stefanus Nashama President Nangolo Mbumba urged private institutions to collaborate with the government to offer internships and job placements for graduates of the newly inaugurated Khorixas vocational Training Centre. Mbumba was speaking at the inauguration of the Khorixas Vocational Training Centre in the Kunene region on Wednesday. “We must be friendly. Those who have offices, shops and companies should be friendly to the graduates of this training centre because they will do beggar things for our country,” he urged. Mbumba reiterated that such a partnership will ensure Namibia meets the diverse needs of its economy while providing ample opportunities for…

07 Aug

Tragic drowning claims two brothers

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Tragedy struck when two minor boys, who are also brothers, drowned in the Kavango River near the Mayara village in the Mukwe constituency. The sad incident took place on Saturday. The two, Valentinus Mangundu, 7, and Gotfred Kushonya, 4, were playing by the river while their sister was washing clothes. Mukwe police reported that they slipped into the water and drowned. The search for their bodies began immediately. Mangundu's body was found, but Kushonya's body remains missing. Kavango East regional governor, Bonifatius Wakudumo, confirmed the incident's impact. "The whole community is affected by this incident. It affects everyone…

07 Aug

Community outraged by violent deaths in Namibia

National News

Niël Terblanché The Blue Project, a branch of Love in Network Namibia, has expressed deep grief and concern over the recent violent incidents in Namibia. This was prompted by the brutal assault and subsequent death of Sheehama Matheus in Walvis Bay and the fatal stabbing of a 20-year-old man by a 25-year-old man over N$5 phone credit in Gibeon. The project co-founder, Tangeni Mujoro, said in a statement released on Wednesday said these tragic events are seen as part of a broader crisis affecting Namibian communities. “The streets, once considered safe, are now fraught with fear as young men increasingly…

07 Aug

Namibians advised to avoid racist riots in the UK

National News

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation has issued an urgent notice to its citizens currently in the United Kingdom or planning to travel there, advising them to exercise extreme caution due to ongoing riots and unrest in several United Kingdom cities. Sabine Bölke-Möller, the acting executive director of the ministry, confirmed that anti-immigrant rioters have been involved in looting, arson, and violent clashes with police in cities such as London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Sunderland, Manchester, Hull, and Bristol. In a notice on Wednesday, Bölke-Möller urged Namibian citizens in the UK to stay indoors, avoid large gatherings, remain vigilant,…

07 Aug

Power outage disrupts Walvis Bay water supply

National News

Niël Terblanché The municipality of Walvis Bay has issued a notice to inform residents about an unexpected disruption in the water supply due to repair and maintenance work on the electricity supply network by NamPower. “Kindly note that some areas may be experiencing an interruption in water supply while others are experiencing low water pressure. This is due to power supply issues being experienced by our bulk supplier, Namwater,” reads the notice. The municipality also urged residents to conserve water and be patient as they work with NamPower to address the situation. The initial plan was for the scheduled power…