Windhoek Observer – Page 83 – Windhoek Observer

28 Aug

Two members reappointed to procurement panel

Uncategorised

Justicia Shipena The ministry of finance has appointed 15 members to the Public Procurement Review Panel. The panel will serve from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2028 on an ad hoc basis. It is tasked with handling disputes from bidders dissatisfied with procurement decisions. It will also decide on matters such as the suspension, debarment, and disqualification of suppliers. Wilson Shikoto, spokesperson for the ministry of finance on Thursday said the appointments were made to strengthen fairness, transparency, and accountability in the procurement system. “The diverse expertise represented on the panel will ensure that Namibia’s procurement system remains fair,…

28 Aug

‘Fitty’ reportedly suffers food poisoning in prison

Main

Renthia Kaimbi Fishrot accused Tamson “Fitty” Hatuikulipi has been hospitalised in Windhoek since last week following a suspected case of food poisoning. Associates of Hatuikulipi claimed toxicology tests showed he reacted to “excessive substances”, though they did not specify which substances. They said he and his co-accused, former Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) chief executive officer Mike Nghipunya, allegedly bought food from the correctional facility cafeteria shortly before the incident. Reports indicate they have not been allowed to receive food from outside the facility. Hatuikulipi’s lawyer, Mbanga Siyomunji, confirmed that inmates have not been permitted to receive outside food since…

28 Aug

Half a million hole in WFP budget

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The World Food Programme (WFP) Namibia has announced a funding shortfall of USD 0.5 million (N$9.5 million) for the next six months, representing 19% of its requirements. The gap could disrupt critical food assistance programmes across the country. According to the WFP Namibia Country Brief for July 2025, the organisation assisted 96 387 people in July through food vouchers, school feeding initiatives, and soup kitchens. During that month, 58 764 people received food vouchers, 25 585 children were served meals at soup kitchens, and 12 038 schoolchildren benefited from the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (Tier 2). “USD 0.5…

28 Aug

Supreme Court dismisses negligence claim in tender case

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The Supreme Court has overturned a High Court ruling that found a Windhoek law firm negligent in handling a municipal contract dispute involving Namibian Electrical Services CC (NES). The case stems from a contract awarded to NES in September 2013 by the City of Windhoek to carry out electrical works at Otjomuise Extension 10 under a FIDIC-based agreement. The contract required completion within ten months but dragged on for 18 months. NES blamed delays on the municipality's failure to approve drawings, while the municipality imposed penalties and deducted amounts from payments. Under financial pressure, NES turned to lawyer…

28 Aug

Electric grid expands to 700 Katima Mulilo households

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Over 700 households in Choto extensions 7 and 8 in Katima Mulilo will soon be connected to electricity as part of new electrification projects in the Zambezi Region. Schools in Old Masokotwani, Kahunikwa, Nsundwa, Ikaba, and Malal Nkanga will also receive power. Deputy prime minister and minister of industries, mines and energy, Natangue Ithete made the announcement on Wednesday during the commissioning of joint electrification projects in Kongola. He said the government remains committed to achieving universal access to electricity by 2040. “The benefits of electricity are clear. Schools need lights and computers, health facilities need power, and…

28 Aug

Angolan citizen wins Windhoek-West property dispute

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja An Angolan citizen, Samuel Dias, has successfully defended his ownership of a Windhoek-West property after the Supreme Court struck with costs an appeal by Windhoek resident Edward Nghitumbwa. Nghitumbwa had challenged a High Court order that nullified the transfer of the house into his name. The property in dispute is Erf No. 3733, at 4 Pavlov Street, which Dias bought in 2002. In a judgement delivered on Monday, the Supreme Court found that Nghitumbwa used the wrong legal procedure to challenge the High Court’s March 2023 ruling. The court held that he should have filed a rescission application…

28 Aug

Diamond cutting prices fall over 40%

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Producer Price Index (PPI) for production recorded declines in the second quarter, dropping by -3.1% quarter-on-quarter and -2.5% year-on-year. The drop was mainly driven by falling manufacturing prices, which contracted by 9.3% compared to the previous quarter. Statistician general and Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) chief executive officer, Alex Shimuafeni, said the annual decline was mostly influenced by lower prices in the mining and quarrying sector, which fell by 5.1%. The PPI tracks average changes in prices received by domestic producers for goods and services sold locally and abroad. Despite the annual decline, the index for mining and…

28 Aug

OBSERVER DAILY | Electricity cannot become a luxury for the rich

Featured, Main, Opinions

There was a time, not too long ago, when a twenty-dollar note could buy you enough electricity to last a few days. Today, that same N$20 barely gives you a handful of units that flicker out before you even notice the lights are on. For many Namibians, this is no longer just a minor inconvenience. It is a looming crisis that threatens to turn electricity, one of the most basic necessities of modern life, into a luxury product reserved for the wealthy. On Friday, the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) announced a 3.8% increase in tariffs for the current financial…

28 Aug

Bond auction exceeds N$3 billion

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Bank of Namibia’s government bond auction on Wednesday recorded bids over N$3 billion against an initial offer of N$2 billion. The GC35 recorded the highest demand, with tenders of N$585 million, or 24% of the total. Allocations reached N$312 million, double the initial offer of N$160 million. The GC40 also drew interest of N$214 million against an offer of N$140 million, but no allocation was made. Across the GC board, N$1.5 billion was offered, yet N$1.7 billion was allocated, resulting in an overallocation. “It is interesting to note that the GC40 also attracted significant interest of N$214…

28 Aug

Billionaire seeks to acquire Curro

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Windhoek Gymnasium, Walvis Bay Gymnasium and Oshana Gymnasium, the three schools jointly owned by Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)-listed Curro Holdings Limited, could soon have a new owner. Curro announced to shareholders on the JSE that its board has received a firm intention offer from the Jannie Mouton Trust. The trust, through Stigting, plans to acquire all issued Curro shares and delist the company from the JSE. Billionaire Jannie Mouton, founder of PSG Group and Capitec, owns the trust and has offered N$7.2 billion for the shares. He established the trust in 2004 to invest in education. Since then,…