Windhoek Observer – Page 465 – Windhoek Observer

13 Jun

Delayed construction of Otjiwarongo Hospital hampers healthcare access

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The construction of the Otjiwarongo referral hospital planned seven years ago with a budget of N$720 million, remains stalled, causing challenges for healthcare access in the region. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Thursday, Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua said that decentralisation of procurement functions to local governments could expedite the process. “As the regional government, we do not have much control over what happens in procurement, and it is hampering progress because it is at the central government. If this element could be decentralised, it could speed up the process,” said Uerikua. Despite allocating an erf,…

13 Jun

Swapo members drag party to court

National News

Ester Mbathera In an effort to invalidate a crucial decision the party's central committee made to postpone the extraordinary congress to 19 April 2025, five members of the SWAPO have filed a lawsuit against their own party. The applicants, Joshua Vaino Martins, Petrus Ndeshipanda Shituula, Aina Kalimba Angula, Reinhold Nghihepavali Shipwikineni, and Erich Chrismann Shivute, filed a Notice of Motion with the High Court of Namibia on Thursday. The five have been insisting on the party holding an extraordinary congress in order to elect a party president before the November elections. Swapo currently has no president, just Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as…

13 Jun

More calls for constituencies to split

National News

Martin Endjala Several communities across the country have proposed the creation of their own constituencies for better service delivery. This trend emerged during ongoing consultation meetings with the Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission in the Khomas region. The residents of the informal settlements in Havana and Goreangab are the latest community to express a desire for representation. They are currently part of the Samora Machel Constituency. Affirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) Khomas region chairperson and youth community leader Sem David of the Samora Machel Community Development Committee (CDC) and community members rejected the border demarcation commission's decision to split the Samora…

13 Jun

Undocumented persons struggle to register for voter cards

Main

Martin Endjala Although voter card registration in the Ndiyona Constituency in the Kavango East region is progressing well, undocumented people find it hard to register. On Thursday, Ndiyona constituency councillor, Mukoya Laurentius, told the Windhoek Observer that he had not encountered any hiccups at most of the registration points. Laurentius said he has received complaints from undocumented people who want to register but are unable to do so because they lack identity documentation. “We do not have any challenge. The only challenge we have is documenting those who are undocumented. The mass state documentation capturing programme by the Ministry of…

13 Jun

Who is learning what from who between Namibia and South Africa?

Opinions

“You will not be able to stay home, brother You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out You will not be able to lose yourself on skag And skip out for beer during commercials, because The revolution will not be televised”. Goes the opening lyrics from the song by Gill Scott-Heron, pioneer of rap music. I relived the song live at Hyde Park in the late 1980s while performing live during the days of agitation for the end of Apartheid capitalism colonialism in Namibia, and likewise the reform of Apartheid in South Africa. Reform of…

13 Jun

Oceana’s horse mackerel sales volumes drop

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Oceana Group’s horse mackerel sales volumes in Namibia reduced by 20,5% mainly due to a reduction in catch rates. Oceana said firm market demand, together with the benefit of the weaker exchange rate on US dollar export sales, resulted in an improvement in rand prices partially offsetting the volume reduction. The company said an improvement in fishing days and vessel utilisation resulted in hake sales volumes increasing by 20,8%. “Industry wide catch rates remained below historical average for the period with some improvement experienced in the second quarter,” the company said. The total allowable catch for pilchards in…

13 Jun

MICC Properties records N$44 million profit

Observer Money

MICC Properties Namibia (Pty) Ltd, recorded a profit of N$44 million for the year ended 30 March 2024 compared to N$41 million in the previous year. The company controls 269 Independence, Katutura Shopping Centre, and retail centres in Ondangwa, Oshakati and Oshikango. Vukile Property Fund of South Africa has a 36% interest in MICC Properties Namibia. The group said opening balance at carrying value at N$134 million compared to N$119 million in 2023. Rental revenue during the period was N$137 million compared to N$129 million in 2023. MICC said net operating income was N$86 million while profit was N$44 million…

13 Jun

Government to borrow N$15 billion

Observer Money

The 2024/25 financial year borrowing plan released by the Bank of Namibia outlines a net financing need of N$15.3 billion for the financial year, including a significant Eurobond maturing in October 2025. The Bank of Namibia plans to source funds primarily through local government debt securities and external debt financing. The strategy includes raising N$12,8 billion from the domestic market, N$8,8 billion from fixed-rate bonds, N$2,9 billion from Treasury Bills (TBs), and N$1,1 billion from inflation-linked bonds. “A new fixed rate bond may be issued later in the year. If the domestic target is not met, a JSE-listed fixed-rate bond…

13 Jun

Germany has given Namibia N$32b since 1990

Observer Money

Germany’s official development assistance since Namibia's independence until 2023 amounts to approximately 1,6 billion Euro (roughly N$32 billion). In per-capita terms, Namibia is thus the largest recipient of German development cooperation in Africa, according to figures released German Embassy Windhoek. Employment creation, poverty reduction and reducing inequality is a central component of the relations between Namibia and Germany. The National Planning Commission and the Federal Republic of Germany, have since signed two government agreements on financial cooperation and technical cooperation between Namibia and Germany. These agreements cover three new programmes to the value of 19 million Euros (currently approximately, N$386…

13 Jun

Alexander Forbes has N$14m outstanding on loan

Observer Money

Alexander Forbes Namibia Holdings Proprietary Limited has an outstanding principal of N$14 million on its of N$28 million loan it got in December 2020 for the refurbishment of the Namibia head office. The Senior Debt Facility (SDF) is an unsecured five-year term loan facility. Alexander Forbes Financial Services Namibia Proprietary Limited has provided a guarantee to the lender for this obligation. The outstanding principal of N$14 million and outstanding interest are payable at maturity, the company said. In December 2020 Alexander Forbes Namibia obtained a senior debt facility (SDF) of N$28 million dollars to finance the capital expenditure on the…