Blog – Page 573 – Windhoek Observer

05 Apr

Cross-border Governors’ Forum meets in Eenhana

National News

Niël Terblanché order to continue building stronger bilateral ties, the Governor's Forum of the bordering regions of Namibia and Angola was officially inaugurated in Eenhana earlier this week. The initiative is a crucial tool in the hands of the two neighbouring countries to address and surmount shared challenges along their borders through enhanced collaboration and strategic dialogue. The forum brings together key stakeholders from both Namibia and Angola, providing a vital platform for discussing a wide array of political, security, and commercial issues that affect both nations. The urgency of activating this forum has been accentuated by the pressing issue…

05 Apr

Fisheries Ministry dishes out more quotas for employment redress programme

National NewsFisheries Ministry dishes out more quotas for employment redress programme

Ester Mbathera The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klazen on Friday signed the second designation agreement for the re-employment of fishermen who lost their jobs in the fishing sector in 2015. According to Klazen, the agreement is in line with the Cabinet Directives on the re-employment of fishermen under the Government Employment Redressing Programme (GERP). "We are busy trying to solve these issues. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) since I became a minister in 2021, I have been faced with these workers' issues. This is a very busy ministry. I have to run the fisheries…

05 Apr

!Gawaxab cautions against Dutch Disease amidst oil and gas optimism

National News

Martin Endjala The Bank of Namibia’s (BoN) Governor, Johannes !Gawaxab has cautioned against the Dutch Disease stating that despite the oil and gas discoveries, growth is not guaranteed, due to the volatility of commodity prices. Dutch disease is a paradoxical situation where good news for one sector of the economy, such as the discovery of natural resources, negatively impacts the country's overall economy. He added that if the country has no long-term goal and vision for the future, it might succumb to Dutch Disease. He said this yesterday, during a stakeholder engagement in Lüderitz, //Karas Region, while highlighting key opportunities…

05 Apr

Farmers seek urgent drought relief measures

Main

Niël Terblanché In a desperate effort to mitigate the harsh impacts of the ongoing drought, representatives from the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), the Namibia National Farmers' Union (NNFU), and the Namibian Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU) convened with Calle Schlettwein, the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, on Thursday. The unions' visit was aimed at discussing a set of proposed emergency measures to address the drought conditions worsening in certain areas of Namibia, despite recent rains. The key proposals put forth during the meeting encompassed a wide range of initiatives intended to alleviate the drought's socio-economic effects on both…

05 Apr

Unregistered companies face N$50,000 fine

National News000 fine, Unregistered companies face N$50

Martin Endjala The Business Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) has recently issued directives regarding administrative sanctions against non-compliant companies and closed corporations with a financial year end in February 2024, pertaining to Beneficial Ownership (BO) lodgment. According to Bipa spokesperson Ockert Jansen, entities failing to comply with BO lodgment requirements face an initial administrative penalty of N$50,000, along with an additional daily penalty of N$1,000 for each day the contravention persists. Approximately 120,000 businesses are currently listed as inactive, with around 45,000 having met the necessary requirements. “All entities with February 2024 financial year end that have not lodged their beneficial…

05 Apr

Katiti victorious in N$2.5 million lawsuit against NIP

National NewsKatiti victorious in N$2.5 million lawsuit against NIP

Niël Terblanché The Namibian High Court has in Friday ordered the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) to pay its former chief executive officer (CEO), Augustinus Katiti, N$2,5 million with interest. Judge Hannelie Prinsloo presided over the case and also dismissed the counter claim by NIP. Furthermore, the NIP was held liable for the legal costs incurred by Katiti. The legal battle stems from Katiti's dismissal from his role as CEO in 2018 amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement. The dismissal led Katiti to pursue legal action against NIP, demanding a payout of N$3.8 million for a clause in his contract…

05 Apr

When cometh the hour, man for genocide and reparations?

OpinionsWhen cometh the hour

"Cometh the hour, cometh the man" is an old English proverb meaning when a situation demands it, the right person will appear or step forward to deal with it. It suggests that in times of need, the appropriate person will rise to the occasion to address the challenges at hand. Historically there’s no iota of doubt that the descendants of the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu, and Nama have their hour and man cometh. That is why today we have the proud history of the resistance movement against German Imperialism and Colonialism, which laid the strong and solid foundation for the latter day…

05 Apr

Just Saying

Opinions, Sports

Matts Haikali In the ever-evolving landscape of Namibian sports, a refreshing breeze of positivity is blowing, heralding a promising era of growth and professionalism. Am just saying that the recent interest shown by policymakers in the area of sports is not just commendable but deserves a resounding applause from all quarters. Am saying for years, voices advocating for the professionalization of sports have echoed across the nation. Now, it appears that these calls are finally being heeded, with signals emanating from the Ministry of Sports, Youth, and National Services indicating a concerted effort towards elevating sports to a professional pedestal.…

05 Apr

Oil and Gas puts Namibia on the brink of economic boom

Energy, National NewsOil and Gas puts Namibia on the brink of economic boom

Terblanché Bank of Namibia Governor Johannes !Gawaxab has indicated that the recent oil and gas discoveries off the coast of Namibia hold the transformative potential to double the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and substantially increase its economic output. central bank’s governor predicted amid a period where exploration activities have already marked a positive influence on the economy, contributing an estimated growth of 0.4 percent annually between 2021 and 2023. !Gawaxab said that as exploration ventures intensify, these contributions are anticipated to soar, ushering in a new era of prosperity for Namibia. He emphasized the potential for currency appreciation as…

05 Apr

Nampol set to revolutionise its recruitment procedures

National News

Niël Terblanché In an ambitious move towards fostering diversity and inclusivity, the Namibian Police is set to overhaul its recruitment process. The Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo said the initiative will be aimed at reflecting the nation's diverse demographic fabric within the law enforcement ranks and that it marks a significant step forward in the police force's commitment to equality and representation. General Shikongo, speaking at a promotion ceremony at the National Police Headquarters in Windhoek, stressed the essence of this transformative agenda. "Our goal is to ensure that the composition of the police force…