Blog – Page 733 – Windhoek Observer

14 Jul

Itula concerned about hunger in the country

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Panduleni Itula, the leader of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), said if Namibia does not exercise extreme caution and if the government does not have a comprehensive strategy, the country will experience starvation. Itula yesterday said the suffering of the people is the manifestation of 33 years’ failure of the Swapo-led government. “Our people are hungry and we have got real poverty in this country. And if we are not very careful and our government has no contingency plans, we will be facing famine in this country, especially with the failure of the rains in various parts…

14 Jul

Walvis Bay applies for boundary extension

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Walvis Bay Mayor Trevino Forbes said the local authority has requested the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to extend the boundaries of the town. Forbes revealed this yesterday while reporting on the accomplishments of his office. According to a 1978 map, the municipal area of jurisdiction is estimated to be 1 124 square kilometres along 60 kilometres of coastline. This includes the airport, dunes, wetlands, Kuiseb River, Rooibank in the desert, and Sandwich Harbour. It stretches up to the middle of the Swakop River at the bridge south of Swakopmund. However, the town’s boundaries only cover an…

14 Jul

Thieves prey on shack fire victims

National NewsThieves prey on shack fire victims

Niël Terblanché Residents of the informal part of Mondesa in Swakopmund have expressed despair after their belongings were stolen by bystanders while their shacks were being destroyed by fire. One of the residents, whose shack was miraculously saved from burning down, said that chaos erupted when the fire broke out in one of the backyard shacks on the same property. “We had to hurry to carry all the children to safety and save as much of our belongings as possible,” she said. The resident, who is a domestic worker and identified only as Julia, looks after children of primary school…

14 Jul

“ACC will never yield to kangaroo courts” – Noah

MainItah Kandjii-Murangi, “ACC will never yield to kangaroo courts” - Noah

Niël Terblanché The Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Paulus Noa indicated that the heads of public enterprises that are accused of funding international trips of the Minister of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, Itah Kandjii-Murangi will be served with summonses to provide sworn affidavits about their alleged corrupt spending. Noa also confirmed that the institution awaits formal statements and documentary proof from the minister’s accusers. He added that Minister Kandjii-Murangi will also be served with a summons to depose a statement under oath and confirm that she does not owe the ministry any amount of money. “The ACC is…

14 Jul

“Come and invest”, Mbumba pleads with investors

National NewsMbumba pleads with investors, Nangolo Mbumba, “Come and invest”

Martin Endjala The Vice President of Namibia Nangolo Mbumba has called on investors to come and explore what Namibia has to offer and invest, saying that it is a land with vast potential that offers trade investment opportunities in multiple sectors beyond energy. He made these remarks during the US-Africa Business Summit 2023, yesterday in Gaborone, Botswana. “With its overarching goal to enhance bilateral and multilateral trade between the United States and African nations, I would like to reiterate that Namibia is open for business and we are inviting investors who are interested in exploring the available opportunities for shared…

14 Jul

Traffic officers embroiled in a legal fight with CoW

National NewsTraffic officers embroiled in a legal fight with CoW

Martin Endjala Officers of the City of Windhoek’s Traffic Department have locked horns with their employer, in their pursuit of justice. The traffic officers are claiming their five-year bonus leave payment, saying they have not received it yet as agreed in their employment contract of 2014. The officers signed a five-year and ten-year circle bonus leave agreement. The case was laid before the Windhoek High Court in 2020 where the court ruled in favour of the traffic officers to the entitlement of their bonus leave. The CoW opposed the ruling in an appeal, prompting a postponement in the matter. Since…

13 Jul

Namibia’s GDP growth expected to slow down

Observer MoneyNamibia’s GDP growth expected to slow down

Martin Endjala Namibia’s real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is expected to slow down in 2023 and 2024, due to weaker global demand. Considering the current macroeconomic conditions, the Macroprudential Oversight Committee (MOC) deliberated and deemed it important to recommend a policy intervention on the existing Loan-To-Value ratios (LTV) regulation. Contrary to the robust growth of 4.6 percent observed in 2022, the domestic real GDP growth is projected to moderate to 3.0 percent in 2023 and is further expected to slow down to 2.9 percent in 2024. The moderation is mainly on account of global monetary policy tightening and ongoing…

13 Jul

Balance sheet growth remains strong

Observer MoneyBalance sheet growth remains strong

Martin Endjala The Namibian banking sector’s balance sheet growth has remained strong and reflects an improved liquidity position and adequate capital levels. Records show that on a quarterly basis, total assets for the banking sector grew by 5.3 percent to N$173.2 billion in the first quarter of 2023. The growth was driven by cash and balances at banks as well as net loans and advances. The liquidity ratio of the banking sector stood at 19.1 percent during the first quarter of 2023, from 17.8 percent in the last quarter of 2022, due to diamond sales, government spending, capital inflows and…

13 Jul

Critical need for a referral hospital at Otjiwarongo

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Governor of Otjozondjupa Region James Uerikua has reiterated the critical need for the Ministry of Health and Social Service to construct a referral hospital at Otjiwarongo, to help decongest the patient population at state facilities in Windhoek and in neighbouring areas. Despite a referral hospital with an intensive care unit having been planned and approved for the Otjozondjupa Region, construction of such a facility has not commenced. “There is a need for us to call upon the Ministry of Health and Social Services to build a referral hospital here in Otjiwarongo. The town is the centre of our…

13 Jul

LPM claims Motinga runs NamPower on his own terms

MainLifalaza Simataa, LPM claims Motinga runs NamPower on his own terms

Stefanus Nashama The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has accused the NamPower Chairperson, Daniel Motinga, of running the parastatal like his private company. LPM National Spokesperson, Lifalaza Simataa, yesterday said there is a disconnect between the mandate of NamPower as a State-Owned Enterprise and that of the current chairperson. He claimed Motinga lacks understanding of how NamPower is supposed to work for the interest of the public, and because of that, he has no consideration of what happens to the general public. Motinga reportedly threatened to resign from his position, due to the constant political interference he has experienced during his…