Blog – Page 306 – News Stand

01 Aug

Namibia going through a ‘glow up’

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

JULIE HAUWANGA Our country looks to be going through a ‘glow-up,’ and the world is noticing. Oil and gas exploration, the Green Hydrogen projects that are being developed, and a resurgent tourism sector all bode well for Namibia’s socio-economic future. As a young Namibian, this fills me with joy, but there is also some apprehension. Every day, we hear of an imminent economic boom and the amazing opportunities it will bring our nation. My apprehension stems from my worry about this growth. How can Namibians benefit and prosper from the oil and gas boom and the various green Hydrogen projects?…

01 Aug

Dealer indicted for swapping synthetics for natural

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

New York diamond dealer Manashe Sezanayev has been charged with stealing from diamond merchants by replacing US$460 000 worth of natural diamonds with synthetic stones. Sezanayev, who operates Rachel’s Diamonds in New York’s diamond district, pleaded not guilty to the charges, which included stealing and fraud, according to a recent release from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. In February, Sezanayev made an appointment with a diamond merchant to view two stones he claimed to be interested in buying. During the visit, he allegedly swapped the two natural gems with synthetics he had previously cut to match, while inspecting them. The…

01 Aug

Amidst unabated land theft NIPDB now the new apologist for capitalism?

info_e12wt4csOpinions

Ownership of land by rich foreign whites was the headline lately in one of the English dailies that seem to awaken many out of their usual slumber that land in Namibia, the little that may be left, if there’s any left from colonial capitalist plunder and thievery, is anything to go by. What is disturbing about this headline it is as if this is new phenomenon in Namibia, whether predating capitalist colonialism and even post capitalist neo-colonialism as pertaining today in an independent and free Namibia. The colonial agenda has been and is still about the natural resources of the…

01 Aug

“Bridging the Gap: The Impact of Transportation Infrastructure on Namibia’s Economic and Social Equity”

info_e12wt4csOpinions

Tomas Nashongo Access to reliable public transportation is a catalyst for urban mobility, linking individuals to socio-economic opportunities and employment. Public transportation serves as a lifeline, connecting people to essential services and financial activities. However, in Namibia, the legacy of apartheid—a policy of political, social, and economic discrimination against non-white people—has left many without adequate access to transportation. Orcutt explains that apartheid-era policies marginalized certain communities, restricting their mobility and access to transportation services. This deliberate exclusion not only limited access to transport but also preserved economic inequalities by denying people opportunities for work, social interaction, and cultural engagement. The…

01 Aug

COMPANIES FINED:

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The Namibia Competition Commission (NaCC) has fined several Chinese companies in the cement industry N$5 million for merging without notification to the relevant authorities. According to the NaCC, the companies merged without its approval. The decision to mete out the fine comes after the High Court ruled in favour of NaCC on Monday. The companies are Fan Qingmei, Wang Zhonkge, Hong Xiang Holdings and Whale Rock Cement which owns Cheetah Cement.Report: Martin Endjala.

31 Jul

Okongo Village Council employees grab low-cost houses

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Ester Mbathera and Martin Endjala Officials of the Okongo Village Council have allocated low-cost houses to themselves. Senior council members received the houses intended for low-income families in the village, despite their ineligibility based on salary criteria. Documents obtained by the Windhoek Observer reveal that Maria Shikomba, a senior accountant, Maria Kaluvi, the head of administration, and Abraham Kapembe, the building inspector at the Okongo Village Council, allocated themselves houses under the Build Together National Housing Programme. This programme specifies a maximum salary threshold of N$6 000 for eligibility, which the officials exceed by several degrees. According to the documents,…

31 Jul

Namibia forges ahead with providing Universal Health Coverage

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché Namibia has officially taken another step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and enhancing the country's public healthcare infrastructure with the official inauguration of the Gcaruhwa Clinic in the Kavango West Region. Dr. Kalumbi Shangula, the Minister of Health and Social Services, said during the ceremony on Wednesday that the newly opened clinic will provide accessible and affordable health care to all Namibians while also aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the country. "This facility is paramount because it will serve communities that for a long time had to work long distances, confronting the elements…

31 Jul

Mbangu demands transparency in the allocation of heroes and state funerals

info_e12wt4csNational News

Stefanus Nashama Rundu Rural Constituency Councillor, Paulus Mbangu has questioned the allocation of heroes and state funerals to prominent politicians and other famous Namibians. “We are a nation whose cup overflows with hypocrites who give heroes and heroines nothing but pain during their lives and mourn and groan inappropriately upon their deaths. It is painful to note that the state discarded and forgot the contribution of our heroes before Mother Earth accepted the bones of our heroes,” he said in an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday. According to Mbangu, the issue has turned into a political script that…

31 Jul

Lüderitz to write-off pensioners’ debt

info_e12wt4csNational News

Martin Endjala The Lüderitz Town Council has approved the cancellation of pensioners' debts, which are estimated to be several thousands of dollars. The chairperson of the management committee, Annemarie Hartzenberg, presented a motion last month to write off pensioners' debts. The council made this decision last week during the ordinary council meeting. "It is necessary for such a motion to be implemented and executed. We have observed that unemployment and poverty levels in Lüderitz are increasing, and there is also a growing concern with regard to household but income remains stagnant due to economic decline," she said. Hartzenberg, the committee…

31 Jul

Venaani urges parliament to investigate N$230 million losses at Namdia

info_e12wt4csNational News

Stefanus Nashama The leader of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), McHenry Venaani has called on the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources to conduct an urgent investigation into the revenue loss of approximately N$230 million at Namdia. He also called on relevant stakeholders to address the issue decisively. "An expedited investigation is necessary to ascertain the full extent of the losses, identify any underlying issues, and hold accountable those responsible for this situation," he said. In a statement released by the party on Wednesday, Venaani said the impact of such financial losses goes beyond the immediate figures. "It has broader…