National News – Windhoek Observer

25 Sep

Two Namibian long-distance trucks burn in Botswana after crash

ObserverNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Two Namibian registered long-distance trucks are confirmed to have burnt down in a road accident last week Friday at Bere on the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) in Botswana. The accident involved five trucks and resulted in two drivers dead and one hospitalized. Ankwetse Odirile Hunda, the Trans Kalahari Corridor Marketing and Communications Officer, announced over the weekend that they are in constant communication with authorities in Botswana. The authorities have confirmed that the other two trucks are Botswana-registered. Unfortunately, the fifth truck burnt to ashes, and its registration and the identity of the driver are yet to be…

25 Sep

Walvis Bay comes into FlyNamibia’s focus

ObserverNational NewsWalvis Bay comes into FlyNamibia’s focus

Niël Terblanché FlyNamibia, the country’s only private airline, has marked yet another milestone with the inauguration of a new air route, connecting the integral ports of Walvis Bay and Windhoek in Namibia to Cape Town, South Africa. In an official statement, Andre Compion, the Managing Director of FlyNamibia, unveiled the airline’s innovative approach to establishing this route as a strategic link, thereby facilitating enriched travel options and contributing to regional growth and development. “We are excited to introduce this new route, underscoring FlyNamibia’s commitment to expanding our network and enhancing travel options for our passengers,” Compion said. The strategic schedule…

22 Sep

Namibia’s economy grew by 3.7 percent in the second quarter

ObserverNational Newsreflecting a slowdown compared to the remarkable 8.5 percent growth recorded in the same quarter of 2022., The Namibian economy showed a growth of 3.7 percent during the second quarter of 2023

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibian economy showed a growth of 3.7 percent during the second quarter of 2023, reflecting a slowdown compared to the remarkable 8.5 percent growth recorded in the same quarter of 2022. Namibia’s nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter of 2023 was N$58.6 billion, displaying an increase of N$7.3 billion compared to the same period in 2022. This is according to Alex Shimuafeni, Statistician-General and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), who presented the economic performance report for the second quarter of 2023 this week. He, however, indicated that the real…

22 Sep

Swartbooi concerned about certain aspects of the fishing industry

ObserverNational News

Stefanus Nashama The leader of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Bernadus Swartbooi, has expressed deep concern about the Namibian fishing industry which he feels has been under constant attack and in crisis because of illegal fishing by foreign vessels due to poor governmental policy implementation. He was speaking at a media engagement in Windhoek this week where he discussed several issues surrounding the Namibian Fishing Industry, accountability structures in Namibia and the Southern Africa Development Community observer mission to the recent Zimbabwean elections. According to Swartbooi, six to seven foreign fishing trawlers sailing under the Angolan flag are harvesting close…

22 Sep

NAMSIP boosted by 168 brand new tractors

ObserverNational NewsMusheko, NAMSIP boosted by 168 brand new tractors

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform (MAWLR) has acquired 168 of the 350 tractors expected under the Namibia Agricultural Mechanization and Seed Improvement Project (NAMSIP). The ministry’s spokesperson, Jona Musheko says the initiative is set to empower small-scale farmers and bolster agricultural productivity across the nation. In addition to the tractors, the ministry has also launched a tender for the design and construction of the proposed seed processing plants. “The Seed Processing Plants will be built in the Zambezi, Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshikoto and Omusati regions once the designs are complete,” he said. He said…

22 Sep

Genocide and apartheid still pose a risk to restorative justice

ObserverNational NewsGenocide and apartheid still pose a risk to restorative justice

Stefanus Nashama Panduleni Itula, the Leader of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), says the genocide of both the Ovaherero and Nama people and the torturous years of apartheid are foundational pains that still reverberate in Namibian society. Itula yesterday said that the comparison of this foundational trauma risks undermining the quest for restorative justice for both. According to Itula, the evils of genocide and apartheid each scarred the national psyche in unique ways. He added that the comparison sets the stage for structural inequalities the country still grapples with. Itula echoed the sentiments of McHenry Venaani, the leader of…

22 Sep

Predictable financing needed to reach developmental goals

ObserverNational NewsPredictable financing needed to reach developmental goals

Niël Terblanché While addressing the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, President Hage Geingob advocated for the urgent need for sustainable and predictable financing to achieve global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Reflecting on the past eight years, Geingob recalled the collective commitment made to prioritize people-centred development, emphasizing the need to ensure no one feels marginalized. “The promise to ensure that no one feels left out remains the clarion call,” he said. The President brought Namibia’s challenges to the forefront during his address. He recounted the myriad of adversities the nation has faced, ranging from the commodity crisis…

22 Sep

Less than a third of cell phone subscribers have registered their SIM cards

ObserverNational NewsLess than a third of cell phone subscribers have registered their SIM cards

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Executive Director of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Dr Audrin Mathe, has characterized the pace of Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card registration by the public as sluggish. According to Mathe, only 795,991 out of 2,760,804 cellphone users have heeded the call. Dr Mathe revealed yesterday that the ministry is concerned about the lukewarm response from the public regarding registering their SIM cards with network service providers. “The set due date is looming, and he emphasized that it will not be extended,” he warned. According to the information received from the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) as…

22 Sep

Bank Windhoek employees received an 8.5 percent salary increase

ObserverNational NewsBank Windhoek employees received an 8.5 percent salary increase, Baronice Hans

Martin Endjala Bank Windhoek has announced an 8.5 percent salary increment for all its employees following the successful conclusion of negotiations this week between the bank and the Namibian Financial Institutions Union (NAFIU). Baronice Hans, Managing Director of Bank Windhoek, stated that for the fiscal year 2023/24, staff members would receive the mutually agreed-upon increments of eight percent on their salaries, rental, and transport allowances. Hans explained that the increment was necessary as the bank recognizes its employees as the voice and face of the bank’s brand. “We understand that our staff members are our most significant assets, representing the…

21 Sep

Venaani takes issue with Geingob’s genocide remarks

ObserverNational News

Stefanus Nashama McHenry Venaani, the leader of Namibia's official opposition party, the Popular Democratic Movement, has taken issue with comments made by President Hage Geingob on the topic of the genocide in 1904. The President delivered the remarks at the Paris Institute of Political Studies in France last week. During the lecture, President Geingob opined that the cruelties of the apartheid-era South African regime surpassed the severity of the genocide enacted by Germany against the Nama and Ovaherero peoples. Geingob said that some individuals, who collaborated with the regime during the apartheid era, are now prominent voices demanding reparations for…