Blog – Page 274 – News Stand

12 Sep

Green hydrogen energy shall not benefit ordinary Namibians ever!

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro IT is not a matter of pessimism but the hard and harsh facts and reality that industrialisation as trumpeted by the current political leadership is nothing but a pipedream that shall never be realised, soonest or ever in Namibia. Going by the experience of many African countries who 60 years or so after independence, are nowhere closer to industrialisation. A typical example being oil rich African nations, like Nigeria in West Africa, and closer to home, Namibia’s northern neighbour of Angola, that is not refining its own oil. Because simply it is not in the interest of world…

12 Sep

Swapo ‘POT’ cooked a generational mix list

info_e12wt4csOpinionsElectoral College, Netumbo clique eyes dominance

Paul Shipale Despite conspicuous rumours and glaring headlines in the daily newspapers yelling ‘Netumbo clique eyes dominance’ and talks of ‘underground machinations to ensure that those who supported the party’s vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the 2022 congress dominate the upper half of the party’s parliamentary list’, the Swapo Party leadership has done its homework and listened to the cry of the nation clamouring for help, as some say, “the ‘pot’, which has been cooking and simmering for over 72 hours, burned many of the old guard and delivered a fresh meal of a mixed stew, one Swapo had yearn for…

11 Sep

Aranos mayor faces recall following GBV accusation

info_e12wt4csMainHans Bafrath

Martin Endjala The mayor of Aranos, Hans Bafrath faces a possible recall following a gender-based violence incident. According to reports, Bafrath, a member of the Landless People's Movement (LPM), assaulted his girlfriend last weekend. Johannes Kooper, the chairperson of the town council, confirmed this, saying that given the gravity of the situation, he is currently discussing with the council whether to recall the mayor. The Windhoek Observer understands that this is the second time the mayor assaulted his girlfriend. “We cannot have a party member who continues to be conducting himself in this manner and whose actions are not dealt…

11 Sep

Katutura Hospital unveils N$16.5 million dialysis unit

info_e12wt4csNational NewsDr. Kalumbi Shangula, Katutura Intermediate Hospital

Niël Terblanché The Katutura Intermediate Hospital in Windhoek now boasts a state-of-the-art dialysis unit. Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, the Minister of Health and Social Services, officially commissioned the unit on Wednesday that was built at a cost of N$16.5 million. Shangula said that the new facility represents a giant step forward in providing life-saving treatment to Namibians suffering from chronic kidney disease, a condition that requires regular dialysis for patients whose kidneys are unable to filter blood effectively. “With over 85% of the Namibian population relying on public healthcare, the establishment of dialysis services at Katutura Intermediate Hospital addresses a long-standing…

11 Sep

Disaster strikes at Aussenkehr

info_e12wt4csNational NewsFelicia Motinga

Martin Endjala On Wednesday afternoon multiple shacks in the Aussenkehr informal settlement, primarily made of reed, were destroyed after a fire broke out in one of the houses. According to a report provided by the Namibian Police, the blaze, driven by a strong wind, destroyed 72 shacks before the fire could finally be extinguished. The cause of the fire at this point is not yet determined and an investigation in this regard has been launched. Felicia Motinga the assigned Popular Democratic Movement party’s (PDM) chairperson in the Karas region confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that the fire broke out around…

11 Sep

MP pushes for N$100 000 fine on farmers neglecting road safety

info_e12wt4csNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), has proposed a fine between N$80 000 and N$100 000 for commercial farmers who fail to maintain a proper fence to keep animals away from roads that ends up causing road accidents. The proposal was made by Nico Smit while contributing to the Roads Bill debate in parliament on Tuesday. He said families are losing their loved ones and vehicles because of road accidents caused by animals that are supposed to be kept inside the fence but are allowed to roam freely on national roads. “There must be a fine for commercial and…

11 Sep

Swapo electoral college outcome cause simmering discontent: An assessment

info_e12wt4csOpinionsNamibian Constitution

Haulamba la Nangobe My fellow Namibians, in general, and, in particular, my fellow SWAPO members, supporters, or sympathisers. Following its Electoral College over the weekend, there is now a simmering unhappiness, particularly among returnee SWAPO members who say that the top positions on SWAPO’s list for National Assembly ("NA") are dominated by remainees and youthful members of SWAPO who were never in exile during the liberation struggle for Namibian independence. This discontedness is particularly acute among ex-PLAN combatants and old guard SWAPO leaders, many of whom are now saying that they are extremely under-represented or even excluded on the latest…

11 Sep

Frank Fredericks Foundation awards N$10 000 Scholarship to Otjinene Athlete

info_e12wt4csSportsOtjinene Athletics Club

Ester Mbathera The Frank Fredericks Foundation has awarded a N$10 000 scholarship to 16-year-old track and field athlete Kambiri Kazaatjo, a rising star from the Otjinene Athletics Club in the Omaheke region. The scholarship will support both her educational and athletic endeavours. Kazaatjo specialises in the 400 metre track event and has already made waves in the national and international athletics scene. Her journey into track and field began in 2019 as a fun activity, but under the guidance of her coach, Kaupasaneua Mervin Tuaire, in 2022, her true potential became clear. Since then, she has emerged as a national…

11 Sep

Rukoro group dragged to court for illegally seizing NUDO offices

info_e12wt4csNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Kadhila Amoomo, who represents the National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO), has formally cautioned Barry Rukoro and six others to refrain from calling themselves the party leaders and interfering with party leadership activities. Additionally, Rukoro's team received instructions to stop using the party letterhead or risk legal action. According to summons documents seen by the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, the defendants (Rukoro and others) unilaterally seized the plaintiff's (NUDO) rental premises at Clemence Kapuuo Street, Windhoek, between August and September 2024. The lawyers claim that the group incorrectly assumed leadership. Under a lease agreement between the plaintiff and the…

11 Sep

LPM concerned about land allocation delays and maladministration

info_e12wt4csNational NewsJoyce Muzengua

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has raised concerns about delays and administrative challenges in the allocation of farming units to cooperatives, following the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform's announcement regarding Farm Kunibes No. 88 last month. Joyce Muzengua, the head of the human rights desk of the LPM, expressed concerns about the ministry's handling of the land allocation process, citing systemic maladministration. “One would definitely look at the time of application as to when these applications were done and how long it took for them to approve these applications. Contemporary applications are done over two to…