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NUNW endorses Nandi-Ndaitwah as Swapo presidential candidate

NUNW endorses Nandi-Ndaitwah as Swapo presidential candidate

Niël Terblanché The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) as the umbrella organisation for all workers’ unions in the country has thrown all their weight behind Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah as the workers’ presidential candidate for Swapo. The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) announced its endorsement during the celebration of Workers’ Day in Rundu on Wednesday. Job Muniaro, the NUNW’s secretary general said that he made the announcement because the leadership of all unions mandated him to do so. “We feel strongly that Nandi-Ndaitwah will be the workers’ president as well as their leader,” he said. Muniario added that Nandi-Ndaitwah is…
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Sandwich Harbour concession tender causes outcry among tour operators.

Sandwich Harbour concession tender causes outcry among tour operators.

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) is facing pushback for its decision to issue a concession tender for the management of one of Namibia’s major tourist attractions, the Sandwich Harbour area south of Walvis Bay. A coalition of tour guides has launched a petition in which they voice their discontent and challenge the ministry's decision to put the concession for the area on tender. The group asserts that the tender process could potentially monopolise access to the area, disadvantaging smaller tour companies and contradicting the ethos of freedom and enterprise championed by leaders in the fight…
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Political parties accused of only remembering workers in election years

Political parties accused of only remembering workers in election years

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Social activist and member of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF), Michael Amushelelo, said when it comes to addressing workers' sufferings, only his party responds, while other political parties do nothing but watch from a distance. He accused other parties of only remembering workers’ sufferings during the election years. Amushelelo was responding to comments made by Independent Patriots for Change's (IPC) Rudolf Kahingunga of the party's Department of Employment Affairs on Thursday. “Most political parties sit back and relax. When workers are asking for assistance, there is only one political party that responds, and that is NEFF. Now…
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Activist blasts Ekandjo bill after LGBTQI+ man was killed

Activist blasts Ekandjo bill after LGBTQI+ man was killed

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex (LGBTQI+) activist, Nicodemus Auxumub, also known as Mama Africa, claims that the private member bill that Swapo backbencher Jerry Ekandjo introduced in the National Assembly last year is inciting violence against their members. Mama Africa said this on Thursday after the body of Christof Fredricks (30), was found in a riverbed near Chairman Mao Zendong School in Ganzi Street, Otjimuise. According to City Police spokesperson Marcelline Murapo, the body was found with multiple stab wounds, and the private parts were removed. The activists said the bill is putting the lives of…
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Maasdorp murder suspect remanded in custody

Maasdorp murder suspect remanded in custody

Niël Terblanché Wentzel Maasdorp, the man suspected of murdering the 40-year-old Angelique Delia Maasdorp in her flat before stealing her car last week, made his first appearance before a Windhoek magistrate. During the court proceedings, Maasdorp was informed that he is charged with one count of murder that will be read with the Domestic Violence Act as well as a count of theft of motor vehicle. Delia Maasdorp’s body was discovered in the lounge of her home in the Eucalyptus Apartment Complex late on Sunday by investigators of the Namibian Police. The officers also found several bloodstains on one of…
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Windhoek Observer and Shipi FM join forces.

Windhoek Observer and Shipi FM join forces.

Ester Mbathera As the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day, Namibia’s online newspaper Windhoek Observer and community radio station Shipi FM signed a collaboration agreement. The agreement signed by Paragon Media’s co-founder, Lazarus Jacobs and Shipi FPM executive chairperson Martin Shipanga focuses on gathering and sharing news. The two organisations also agreed on sharing human resources and infrastructure, as well as human capital and training. Jacobs explained that the sharing of resources in a small country such as Namibia is the way to go. He cautioned Namibians to guard against allowing nonNamibians to control the narrative and news cycle. “We…
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Meatco reports N$258 million loss

Meatco reports N$258 million loss

Ester Mbathera Meatco has reported an operational loss of N$258.1 million in its group performance for the year-to-date period that started in January 2024. This loss, excluding a government grant, amounted to a budgeted loss of N$61.5 million. The company's bottom line reflects a reduced loss, primarily due to accounting for a state grant of N$135 million received in April, June, and July of 2023. Meatco during the period under review (2022-2023) slaughtered more than 60 820 cattle including animals behind the red line, compared to a budget of 50 000. According to the group report, the revenue generation fell…
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B2Gold starts process to cut 550 jobs

B2Gold starts process to cut 550 jobs

CHAMWE KAIRA B2Gold Namibia has started the process that will see the company cut 300 jobs in 2024 and a further 250 jobs in 2025. The company has about 820 permanent employees. The company has termed the exercise ‘downscaling and retrenchments.’ Eric Barnard, the general manager at the Otjikoto Mine, owned by B2Gold said in response to questions by Observer Money that the process of job cuts is being done in phases so as not to cripple mining operations. The first phase will be voluntary separation, which will be followed by forced retrenchments. “The retrenchments are across the board, from…
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Usakos piggery to handle 14 400 pigs

Usakos piggery to handle 14 400 pigs

CHAMWE KAIRA Xeva Investment CC plans to invest in a new piggery facility at Usakos with a capacity to slaughter 14 400 heads of pigs as well as renovating the existing piggery facilities at the town. Acacia Enviro Consulting CC has been appointed by Xeva Investment Cc to act on their behalf in obtaining an Environmental Clearance Certificate to construct and operate the piggery facilities. The project aims to address a number of needs in Usakos and the Erongo region at large including that the piggery could reduce the need for long-distance transport of animals for processing, potentially lowering costs…
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Competition Commission to decide Osino deal

Competition Commission to decide Osino deal

The Namibian Competition Commission is expected to decide in the coming weeks the approval of the takeover of local gold mining company, Osino Resources Corporation by Yintai Gold Co. The deal is worth US$272 million. Earlier, Osino Resources Corporation announced that the company’s special meeting saw an overwhelming majority of security holders vote in favour of the takeover. Osino said the shareholders authorised the deal that will see the Yintai Gold Co acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Osino for cash consideration of 1.90 Canadian dollars for each Osino share. “The vote of Osino security holders in favor…
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