info_e12wt4cs – Page 906

28 Apr

Namibia lags behind in herd immunity target

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyChina, Covid-19, Government

Rose-Mary Haufiku It’s going to take Government nine years to reach 1,700 000 people it has targeted to vaccinate across the whole country. This is because the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has to date vaccinated 14,069 people against COVID-19 since the rollout began on 19 March. Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula, previously stated that Namibia would need to vaccinate 70 percent of its estimated 2.5 million population to reach herd immunity. Herd immunity (population immunity) is the indirect defense against an infectious disease that occurs when a population has gained immunity to the disease, either by vaccination or…

28 Apr

Nchindo family looks to sue Botswana government

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyBotswana, Botswana Defence Force (BDF), Namibia, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi The Nchindo family is looking to sue the Botswana government for damages after Botswana Defence Force (BDF) soldiers shot and killed three brothers and a cousin, last year at the Chobe River between Namibian and Botswana. The revelation comes after President Hage Geingob recently paid a courtesy visit on the family. “That is one of the items we highlighted when we had a meeting with the President. We asked that our government should be able to assist us with negotiating for compensation from the Botswana government. But definitely, suing for compensation is a priority as we seek recourse,”…

27 Apr

Tightening of teaching requirements mooted

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyArts and Culture, Ministry of Education

Andrew Kathindi and Rose-Mary Haufiku The Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) says the proposed regulatory body for teachers will address a deficiency in the quality of teaching in the country. During his state of the nation address recently, President Hage Geingob stated that to address the plight of the youth, Government will “establish a Teachers’ Professional Regulatory Body to improve the quality of training of Educators and prescribe minimum standards for the Profession.” Nantu, Secretary General, Loide Shaanika, said “Yes. In fact, those are some of aspects. We need to look at how to improve the standards in providing quality…

27 Apr

NamPol opens case against Ethiopian child murder suspect …as PG orders investigation

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMartha Imalwa, Namibian Police (NamPol), NAMPOL, Prosecutor General (PG)

Rose-Mary Haufiku The Namibian Police (NamPol) has opened a case and started investigations into murder allegations against, Kristofina Amutenya, the ex-wife of Diplomat Petrus Haufiku. Prosecutor General (PG), Martha Imalwa, ordered the police investigation, a development confirmed by NamPol spokesperson, Kauna Shikwambi. “Investigations are underway and there is constant liaison between the Investigating office and the office of the PG,” Shikwambi told Windhoek Observer. The state provisionally dropped charges against Amutenya after Amutenya’s lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo, challenged the decision of the Namibian authorities to arrest and charge her on two counts of murder, and one count of attempted murder upon…

24 Apr

No cause célèbre yet for media freedom in Namibia

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedNo cause célèbre yet for media freedom in Namibia

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro On May 3 this year, which is World Press Freedom Day, Namibia, as it has become customarily mundane over the years since the declaration of the Day by the United Nations 30 years ago, joins the rest of the global media fraternity in observing the Day. For Namibia, particularly Windhoek, the birthplace of the Windhoek Declaration on an Independent and Pluralistic Media in 1991, and the media, if not only a section of it, the Day may have particular meaning. Windhoek this year hosts the event. Hence the hype among some strata of society, notably the Government. Because…

24 Apr

African countries turn to Sputnik V

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedAfrican countries turn to Sputnik V

Staff Writer As the global demand for COVID-19 vaccines continue to increase, a position also worsened by rising cases in India which manufactures the Covishield (the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine) and Covaxin, many African countries have begun turning to Russia to acquire its Sputnik V vaccine. This comes as India halted large exports of vaccines in an effort to expand its domestic vaccination programme with country currently seating on 332,730 new cases, bringing the country total caseload to over 16 million and deaths reaching 186,920. In Namibia, the Sputnik V is among COVID-19 vaccines that government, through the Ministry of Health have…

24 Apr

Tjombe to sue Oshakati violent nurses

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedJunias Shilunga, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS)’s, Tjombe to sue Oshakati violent nurses

Rose-Mary Haufiku and Tujoromajo Kasuto Human Rights lawyer, Norman Tjombe, will be suing the three unidentified nurses from the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital on behalf of the family. The lawyer confirmed this to Windhoek Observer. The three nurses have since been moved from their stations after a viral video in which they appear to be physically abusing an elderly patient at the hospital was leaked. “We have started the process already, we have given the necessary notices to the government, hopefully within 30 days or so we should be able to issue a summons,” said Tjombe. This is in response to…

24 Apr

Jooste rules out Shivute’s NHE return …as an investigation is ordered

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedGisbertus Mukulu, Hon Erastus Uutoni, Jooste rules out Shivute’s NHE return, Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA)

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri, Andrew Kathindi National Housing Enterprise (NHE) Board Chairperson, Sam Shivute, will not be reappointed when his term is up, Minister of Public Enterprises, Leon Jooste, has revealed. The revelation by the minister comes with Shivute admitting failure at the company but resisting calls by NHE staff to stepdown as the company Chairperson, citing his imminent departure to the Namibia Revenue Agency ( NamRA) as its head. “The board’s term will expire in about two months and the current Chair will not be considered due to his appointment at NAMRA,” Jooste said. The minister, however, said long-term decisions taken…

23 Apr

Walvis Bay to fork out N$700k for audit

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMunicipality of Walvis Bay

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Municipality of Walvis Bay has to fork out close to N$700 000 an on-going audit into irregularities at the Municipality. Auditing firm, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, which is currently under investigation by the Public Accounts and Auditor's Board (PAAB) regarding its handling of the August 26 audit, was appointed to carry out the audit. “PriceWaterhouseCoopers was appointed to carry out an independent audit report with a charging fee of N$671,853.00 including VAT and investigation is still in process,” Walvis Bay Municipality Council Communications Officer, Anita Kaihiva, told the Windhoek Observer The revelation comes after the municipality committed to appoint an external…

23 Apr

High Court postpones LPM’s Parliament case

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyBernardus Swartbooi, Henny Seibeb, Parliament, Peter Katjavivi

Andrew Kathindi A ruling on an urgent application with the High Court, filed by Landless People’s Movement (LPM) to challenge the Speaker’s decision to have the leaders of the LPM withdrawn from the National Assembly, was postponed to Monday 26 April. This was confirmed to Windhoek Observer by Parliament’s Spokesperson, David Nahogandja. “Case postponed to Monday to allow responded enough time to respond.” This comes as LPM’s leader, Bernardus Swartbooi, and the party’s Chief Whip, Henny Seibeb, were removed from Parliament after being deemed by the Speaker, Peter Katjavivi, to be disruptive during a question and answer session with President…