Blog – Page 629 – Windhoek Observer

13 Jun

Couch Cat – baking your own bread

ObserverUncategorisedCouch Cat, lockdown

Jackie Wilson Asheeke In pandemic lockdown, I began to rediscover my old skills for baking bread. It was like dusting the cobwebs off my inner mind. But, I enjoyed it every step of the way. My momma taught me about using yeast and baking bread when I was a little girl. But, I was the youngest so my job was to set and clear the table after all meals. My older sisters did the cooking and baking with momma. So, I put those lessons aside for an entire lifetime and resurrected them when I lived in Ethiopia for four years…

13 Jun

Culture must be a podium not a noose

ObserverUncategorisedNamibians

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Tradition and culture must be tools to celebrate history, language and the stories of the past. Tradition must be a podium for bringing people together, not a noose or whip to force them in line. In Namibia, there are too many infuriating cases, when tradition and culture are cherry picked and used as a sexist sledge hammer to oppress women who are marginalized within a community. When a ‘tradition’ favors someone, they are all for it; when it doesn’t, they are quiet. This weakens the entire concept of respecting tradition. The recent story of a criminal headman…

13 Jun

Are the youth any better?

ObserverNational Newsfishrot, NSFAF

When we see those involved in the Fishrot debacle, we see that male youth empowerment is well underway - in the wrong direction. The rhetorical anthem of anyone seeking political kudos always includes youth SME loans, youth bursaries, more NSFAF loan money, and the usual vague comments in speeches about helping youth advance. Given that the majority of the population in Namibia is below 39, this makes sense. But, have the youth prepared themselves to build a better Namibia? Or is it all about self-enrichment? The younger people in lucrative power positions are overwhelmingly young men. Are the shouts about…

13 Jun

Namibia faces essential drugs shortage

ObserverObserver Money

Andrew Kathindi Namibian pharmacies have accused South Africa of hoarding essential medicines, a move which has negatively impacted their availability to Namibian patients. On 27 March, following the declaration of the state of national disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa, South African Minister of Trade and industry, Ebrahim Patel introduced new export control measures on essential goods such as alcohol-based hand sanitizers, face-masks, gas masks, other breathing appliances, hydroxychloroquine, antisera and other blood fractions, vaccines for human medicine and medicaments. “I understand why the decision was made; it was to ensure that they don’t run short. And if we were talking…

13 Jun

Dos Santos bank stake up for sale

ObserverObserver MoneyAngola

Staff Writer Angola's former first daughter Isabel dos Santos indirect stake in Bank BIC Namibia Limited is up for sale with other shareholders in the bank reportedly to keen to acquire the shares. Dos Santos who currently stands accused of theft, corruption and money laundering by Angolan authorities, is reported to be a majority shareholder in the banking concern, with a 42.5 percent shareholding. “We can confirm, however, that the shares currently held indirectly by Ms dos Santos are still for sale but how this is done is a matter for shareholders to decide,” Bank Bic said in response to…

12 Jun

When ‘deep regrets’ are not enough

ObserverNational NewsCorien Steenkamp, Hillside Christian College

The country is abuzz with comments on the Facebook rant of Corien Steenkamp, a second-grade assistant teacher from Hillside Christian College in Walvis Bay. The mere thought that someone with such guttural racist beliefs is anywhere near children, is extremely disturbing. She has made a statement that she deeply regrets her racist rant. Does she regret the fact that she is holds racist beliefs or that she was caught doing so? These are two very different things. We believe everyone is very sorry when they get caught. Very few are actually sorry that did the nasty deed in the first…

12 Jun

MTC ‘Paint Namibia Blue’ Project starts

ObserverUncategorisedMTC, Paint Namibia Blue’ Project, Tim Ekandjo

Staff Writer Following the launch of the MTC ‘Paint Namibia Blue’ Project in March 2020, Omaruru, Okakarara and Omuthiya towns were amongst the latest beneficiaries of the MTC Paint Namibia Blue” Project, with a new fresh coat of paint dotted on some of the town’s land marks. The project is aimed at increasing the company's visibility, by creating opportunities that would benefit the growing numbers of unemployed youth, whom are earmarked for the various paints jobs in major towns selected as part of the project. “The plan and intention remains to only partner with local skillful and capable painters (men…

12 Jun

The winter lambing and kidding season

ObserverUncategorisedAgribank

Erastus Ngaruka With the commencement of the winter season, small stock (goats and sheep) farmers have a big task at hand of ensuring that this lambing (sheep birth) and kidding (Goat birth) season progresses well in order to potentially achieve their production targets. Generally, animals’ breeding activities take place during seasons or times most favorable to their bodily functions and wellbeing. For example, mating commences during times of plentiful forage resources amongst others, and this is because the nutritional status of the animal has a direct influence on conception (the better the nutritional status the higher the chances of conception).…

12 Jun

Cabinet approves new boards

ObserverObserver MoneyCabinet

Staff Writer Cabinet has approved the appointment of University of Namibia Director of Research, Innovation and Development, John Sifani as the Chairperson of the board of New Era Publication Corporation (NEPC) for a period of 3 years. Sifani who replaces Esau Mbako, will be joined on the government owned publishing house board by Helena Amutenya, Selma Ambunda, Johannes Sheya and Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) General Manager for Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement, Edwin Tjiramba, a media and communication specialist. Similarly, Cabinet endorsed the appointment of Bank of Namibia official, Emma Haiyambo as Board Chairperson of Southern Times Newspaper. Other board…

12 Jun

Namibia faces drinking crisis

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Health and Social Services

Andrew Kathindi According to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, 44 percent of Namibian children start drinking alcohol from as early as nine years old. This according to Deputy Program Manager for Substance Abuse Prevention, Drug Control and Rehabilition in the ministry, Geraldine Kanyinga, who raised the alarm on the state of alcohol addiction in Namibia. “We have done a research and the findings show that 44 percent of Namibian children are already drinking from as early as nine years. So for us it is scary that alcohol has become a norm in society. We have to take shebeens…