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Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba has called for substantial reforms in Namibia’s banking sector to address the concerns of ordinary Namibians, particularly regarding the financing of entrepreneurial initiatives. The President made the request during a meeting held at State House on Friday with the top management of all commercial banks in Namibia. Mbumba pointed out the critical role that banks play in the country's economic and monetary stability. He stressed the need for banks to extend their mandates beyond traditional roles and actively foster entrepreneurship, drive innovation, and promote technological advancement. Mbumba pointed out that high interest rates, excessive bank…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A dispute involving Afrika Stadt Haus Hotel employees has been brought before the Labour Court. Gelemina Ngenokesho and 11 others have filed a case against the Afrika Stadt Haus Hotel, detailing grievances related to unpaid overtime and Sunday work, denied leave, and salary issues. This is after their employment contracts were changed without their consent. They claim that they have not received payment for overtime or for working two Sundays since January 2023. They also claim that their leave requests were not fully honoured, leaving many days unused. Harold Schmidt, his wife Annelise, and their son Willie-Thomas allegedly…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Gobabis Municipality has postponed the disciplinary hearing for Frieda Shimakeleni, the suspended strategic executive for human resources and corporate services. The postponement was announced in a letter dated 9 July by the chief executive officer, Sophia Eises seen by the Windhoek Observer. The letter cited the need for all officials to participate in the compilation of the 2024/2025 budget, as mandated by the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, which has set a final submission date of 17 July 2024. ‘Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we were unable to finalise the budget in time for…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Movement's leader, Job Amupanda says the movement has been redirecting Namibian society by engaging senior government officials and organising mass protests, which have resulted in high decisions that have saved the country billions of dollars. Amupanda was speaking at the movement’s November election preparation workshop that took place in Windhoek over the weekend. He said that over the years, the movement has managed to open the eyes of many Namibians, especially the youth, who believe in the movement with the conviction that they are fighting for the right principle. "Even those who work for…

Niël Terblanché As Namibia prepares for its presidential and national assembly elections, the top command structure of the police has been urged to ensure that law and order are maintained during this crucial process. Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, made this call to action during the Senior Command Conference's closing ceremony last week in Ongwediva. Shikongo stressed the importance of neutrality and professionalism, warning officers against engaging in political activities. "Our duty is to maintain law and order and to ensure that the electoral process is conducted in a safe and secure environment. It…

Niël Terblanché The project to rehabilitate and widen Auas Road, a major road traffic artery in Windhoek, will commence soon. The announcement was made during a groundbreaking ceremony by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa on Thursday. The Auas Road, which leads south to Rehoboth and serves as the main route into the central business district from the densely populated southern neighbourhoods of Windhoek. According to Mutorwa, the road has long been plagued by heavy traffic, congestion, and frequent accidents. "Once this project is completed, road safety will undoubtedly be improved because of the…

Martin Endjala The National Petroleum Corporation (Namcor) suspended the terminal manager at the National Oil Storage Facility in Walvis Bay due to a loss of stock and commercial documentation at the facility. Ellis Egumbo's suspension became effective on 24 July, and it was announced in a statement released on Friday. The corporation intends to use the suspension to facilitate a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter. “Namcor reiterated its steadfast commitment to upholding the highest commercial transparency and ethics standards in all its interactions with stakeholders,” read the statement. The petroleum corporation discovered earlier this year that the suspected…

Martin Endjala Twenty young people from the Leonardville village in the Omaheke region will receive artisan training through a partnership between Headspring Investments (PTY) Ltd. and the Namibia Institute of Mining Technology (NIMT). The cooperation agreement, valued at over N$500 000 for the 2024/2025 year, covers tuition and accommodation fees for the trainees. The agreement was signed recently and aimed at providing ongoing support for skill development in the community. Kirill Egorov-Kirillov, director of Headspring Investments, said the initiative is proof that the company is ready to contribute to Namibia's economic landscape. “Even though we are only in the exploration…

Niël Terblanché In a substantial effort to improve passenger safety at the various airports across Namibia, 49 newly qualified Airport Rescue and Firefighting trainees graduated on Friday after six months of rigorous training. The graduates who were trained by the Namibia Airports Company (NAC), will henceforth be stationed at various airports throughout the country, enhancing emergency response capabilities at these key facilities. The graduation ceremony, held at the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM), was a key moment for safety in Namibia's aviation sector. Bisey Uirab, the Chief Executive Officer of NAC while addressing the graduates, stressed the…