Blog – Page 36 – News Stand

26 Mar

Goraseb questions Public Service Commission’s autonomy

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché Former Brave Warriors midfielder and current civil servant, Sylvester “Lolo” Goraseb, staged a solitary protest in chains at the entrance of the Office of the Prime Minister on Wednesday morning. The unusual demonstration, which attracted the attention of the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), was a protest against what Goraseb described as a lack of structural independence and integrity in Namibia’s public service. Goraseb, who is currently employed within the Department of Public Service Management, raised concerns over the current placement of the Public Service Commission under the Office of the Prime Minister. He argued that this arrangement compromises…

26 Mar

Onemanya residents demand urgent road upgrade

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Residents of Onemanya in the Omusati region are calling on authorities to urgently upgrade the Okahao-Amwaanda gravel road, especially the 15 km stretch between Okahao and the Indira Gandhi Clinic. They say the road has become nearly impassable due to recent heavy rains, creating safety risks and making access to healthcare services difficult. The road is a key link for residents, schoolchildren, and emergency services, but has deteriorated to the point where vehicles struggle to pass and pedestrians risk slipping in the mud. Maria Alweendo, a resident of Onemanya, told the Windhoek Observer that daily life has become…

26 Mar

Okahandja’s water supply restored after five days

info_e12wt4csNational NewsLot Ndamanomhata, Municipality of Okahandja, Namwater

Niël Terblanché Residents of Okahandja can again breathe a sigh of relief as the town's water supply has been fully restored following a five-day interruption caused by the main bulk water supply pipeline that burst due to pressure from heavy rainfall on 20 March. The Municipality of Okahandja announced the restoration on social media, urging residents to allow time for the system to stabilise and to use water responsibly. The pipe burst, which occurred after heavy rains damaged the town's main water supply line, led to school closures and disrupted businesses and essential services. In a statement, the municipality expressed…

26 Mar

Rehabilitation work on Osona bridge to commence soon

info_e12wt4csNational NewsConrad Lutombi, Hileni Fillimon, Veikko Nekundi

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Roads Authority (RA) has confirmed that rehabilitation work on the damaged bridge near the Osona Village, between Windhoek and Okahandja, will begin in the first half of this year following concerns over its structural condition. The move comes after the RA announced on 22 March that the old part of the B1 Road between Windhoek and Okahandja had been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure due to heavy rains. In a notice shared on its social media platforms, the RA urged all road users, including residents of Osona Village, to use the freeway as an alternative route.…

26 Mar

Osino desires to draw water from Kranzberg Aquifer

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Osino Gold Exploration and Mining is conducting water supply investigations for its planned mining operations at its Twin Hills Gold Mine, located 25 km northeast of Karibib within the Erongo Region. Despite the success of water supply investigations undertaken close to the mine licence area, Osino has investigated other water sources to further secure water supply. NamWater, in collaboration with Osino, investigated and confirmed the feasibility of abstracting groundwater from the Kranzberg Aquifer. “This finding supports the expansion of the Kranzberg Water Supply Scheme, operated by NamWater. Therefore, NamWater, in collaboration with Osino, proposes to abstract groundwater from…

26 Mar

Deepening of Walvis Bay harbour completed on time

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Niël Terblanché The dredging project to deepen and widen the access channel to Walvis Bay Harbour was recently completed. The deepened and widened access channel is expected to accommodate larger vessels, thereby boosting trade and economic growth. The project also enhanced Namibia's maritime infrastructure. The initiative, undertaken by Van Oord in partnership with Boskalis, involved deepening the ten-kilometre-long access channel from 14.4 to 16.8 metres and widening it from 130 to 200 metres. Additionally, the harbour basin was dredged to a depth of 16.3 metres and expanded by more than 400 metres. According to the contractors, one of the primary…

26 Mar

UN Tourism backs Namibia as Africa’s next hot investment spot

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Niël Terblanché The tourism sector has been placed firmly in the international spotlight with the launch of the “Tourism Doing Business Investing in Namibia” guidelines by UN Tourism. According to UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, the initiative is aimed at encouraging global investors to consider Namibia as a destination not only for travel but also for strategic, long-term investment in tourism development. He said the newly released guidelines provide a comprehensive overview of the country’s potential, detailing the current state of the economy, the steady rise in tourism arrivals, and favourable conditions for doing business. According to Pololikashvili, Namibia’s blend…

26 Mar

Swakopmund school gets N$61 000 boost from uranium mining company

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Niël Terblanché The Vrede Rede Primary School in Swakopmund has undergone upgrades to its infrastructure, thanks to a N$61 631 donation from uranium exploration company Deep Yellow Limited and its Namibian subsidiary, Reptile Mineral Resources and Exploration (RMR). The funds were used to repair cement walkways between classrooms and reconstruct a sports field for netball and soccer. According to RMR’s public relations officer, Sugnet Smit, the initiative was part of the company’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility and its aim to foster a safe and supportive learning environment for children. “Recognising that quality education is the foundation of a…

26 Mar

FIMA Act: A Step Towards Financial Transparency or an Economic Burden?

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Opinions

Thomas Nashongo The Financial Institutions and Markets Act (FIMA) is a Namibian financial regulation law designed to strengthen oversight of financial institutions, protect clients, and encourage transparency. FIMA was gazetted in 2021 to replace the Pension Fund Act of 1956 it was put on hold owing to public concerns, and is now being evaluated for re-tabling in Parliament. The FIMA act was scheduled to be enacted on 01 October but subsequently faced societal criticism leading to its postponement. The lack of consultation during the drafting phase also stems as a flaw in the act. The Act contains a pension preservation…

26 Mar

NYC pledges N$10 000 sponsorship for para swimmer

info_e12wt4csSports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The National Youth Council (NYC) of Namibia has pledged N$10 000 to support paralympic swimmer Namasiku Van Der Linden. NYC executive chairperson, Beverly Silas-Garas, announced the sponsorship on Wednesday to assist Van Der Linden as she prepares to compete at the Level 3 Paralympic Swimming Championships in South Africa. Van Der Linden will be the first Namibian with Down Syndrome to participate in the event. "NYC is immensely proud of you. And we wish you well in your para-swimming career,” said Silas-Garas during Van Der Linden’s courtesy visit to the NYC office to receive the sponsorship. The 2025…