National News – Page 105 – Windhoek Observer

26 Oct

Namibia and EU join forces for Sustainable Development

ObserverNational NewsNamibia and EU join forces for Sustainable Development

Niël Terblanché In a historic address at the Inaugural Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Namibian President Hage Geingob outlined a collaborative vision for a sustainable future, stressing the importance of green energy transition and green hydrogen in the global landscape. President Geingob’s remarks came during a Leaders Session at the forum, where leaders from around the world convened to discuss critical issues related to sustainability. The President recounted his significant meeting with Dr Ursula von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission, at COP27 in Sharm-El Sheikh, Egypt, last year. During this meeting, the two leaders signed a Memorandum of…

25 Oct

Namibia fully committed to a transparent partnership with the EU

ObserverNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Hage Geingob has affirmed Namibia’s commitment to fostering a transparent partnership with the European Union (EU) in the transition to cleaner energy sources, with a significant emphasis on green hydrogen and critical raw materials. The declaration was made during Geingob’s address at the EU-Namibia Green Hydrogen and Critical Raw Materials Business Forum under the theme, “Mobilizing Quality Investment and Value Addition for Green Growth in the EU-Namibia Partnership in Brussels, Belgium this week. “The collaboration with the EU is aligned with our National Development Plans, including Vision 2030, our National Industrial Policy, Growth at Home Strategy, the…

25 Oct

Pilchards will remain off-limits for commercial fishing

ObserverNational Newsdeclared during a recent Cabinet briefing that the moratorium on commercial fishing of pilchards will be extended for another year., Derek Klazen, The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources

Niël Terblanché The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klazen, declared during a recent Cabinet briefing that the moratorium on commercial fishing of pilchards will be extended for another year. This decision comes in light of the ongoing concerns regarding the health of the pilchard resource, which has not yet returned to a biologically sustainable state. The minister said that even if pilchards are incidentally caught as by-catch, it does not signify a full recovery of the species. Instead, he stressed the importance of relying on scientific research to determine the sustainable yield and biomass of the pilchard population.…

25 Oct

German funding will help communities affected by human-wildlife conflict

ObserverNational NewsGerman funding will help communities affected by human-wildlife conflict

Niël Terblanché The Zambezi Region of Namibia is home to lions, elephants, hippos, and crocodiles, and has been struggling with an increasing number of human-wildlife conflict situations that result in the loss of livestock, crops, infrastructure, and, tragically, human lives.In this regard, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) has stepped in to support efforts aimed at mitigating these conflicts by contributing N$37 million in funding, grants, and equipment.The impoverished communities in the Zambezi Region are among the hardest hit by the relentless challenges posed by interactions with wildlife. Such incidents not only threaten their livelihoods but…

25 Oct

New substation project set to power economic growth

ObserverEnergy, National NewsNew substation project set to power economic growth

Niël Terblanché In a significant development for the energy infrastructure of Namibia’s coastal region, NamPower’s Managing Director, Kahenge Haulofu, announced the construction of a state-of-the-art indoor substation with a capacity of 132/66/33kV. This essential project is set to be located just outside Swakopmund. The introduction of this new substation is poised to be a game-changer, bolstering the bulk electricity supply to towns and industry along the coast It’s a crucial step to meet the escalating electricity demands, driven by the rapid socio-economic growth in the Erongo region. “The Sekelduin substation holds a prominent place among several vital transmission capital projects…

25 Oct

New GH2 legislative framework on the cards

ObserverEnergy, National News

Martin Endjala Namibia will soon be commencing with preparations for the legislative framework of the highly anticipated green hydrogen that will see Namibia position itself not only as a leader in the green energy sector but also in sustainable energy. Green Hydrogen Commissioner James Mnyupe, announced significant advancements in the green hydrogen ecosystem, with the potential of propelling Namibia towards a sustainable energy future. Mnyupe said the Ministry of Mines and Energy is set to inaugurate an inception workshop from 30 to 31 October 2023, heralding the commencement of preparations for the Namibian legislative framework for green hydrogen. Key government…

25 Oct

Namibia and Germany partners up for skills transfer

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala Namibia, represented by the Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR), and Germany, through the Inter-Cultural Relations Foundation, have joined forces to strengthen their diplomatic ties. This collaboration aims to facilitate a skills exchange program that will foster closer relations and shared knowledge between the two nations. NWR spokesperson Nelson Ashipala disclosed this partnership, emphasizing its significance in enhancing cooperation and knowledge sharing. He stressed the vital role skill transfer plays in the industry, providing Namibia with an invaluable opportunity to learn from its German counterparts, while Germany gains insights from Namibia’s unique experiences. “With many interns already actively involved in…

24 Oct

Respondents incorrectly cited in Sperrgebeit Diamond Mine labor dispute

ObserverNational NewsRespondents incorrectly cited in Sperrgebeit Diamond Mine labor dispute

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A labour dispute at the Sperrgebeit Diamond Mine (SDM) has taken a perplexing turn as approximately 45 retrenched workers wrongly cited a fellow employee, Bobby Mbeeli, instead of the actual employer, Sperrgebeit Diamond Mining. The revelation came after Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member Jennifer Van Den Heever recently posed questions to the Minister of Labor, Industrial Relations, and Employment, Uutoni Nujoma, regarding the mine’s recent retrenchments in parliament. “During the conciliation meeting, it was revealed that the respondent, Bobby Mbeeli, mentioned in this case, serves as a Human Resource Specialist employed by Sperrgebeit Diamond Mining Company Operations, which…

24 Oct

Namibia takes strides towards Green Hydrogen future in high-level talks

ObserverEnergy, National NewsNamibia takes strides towards Green Hydrogen future in high-level talks

Niël Terblanché Namibian President Hage Geingob is poised to elevate Namibia’s role in the global transition to cleaner energy sources. His participation in the European Union’s Inaugural Global Gateway Forum (GGF) and the EU-Namibia Green Hydrogen and Critical Raw Materials Business Forum in Brussels, Belgium, stresses Namibia’s commitment to green hydrogen’s potential as an economic driver and climate change solution. Scheduled for October 25-26, 2023, the GGF will feature President Geingob delivering a keynote speech during the Leaders’ Session on “Green Energy Transition and Green Hydrogen.” This session will emphasize the importance of cleaner energy sources and the role of…

24 Oct

China extends a helping hand with food aid

ObserverNational NewsChina extends a helping hand with food aid

Niël Terblanché In a gesture of solidarity and support, the China International Development Cooperation Agency has announced a significant food aid donation of N$25.9 million to Namibia. The announcement by the Chinese development agency came during a courtesy call to President Hage Geingob at State House last week. Tang Wenhong, the vice-chairperson of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, explained that this generous contribution was a direct result of food aid measures outlined by Chinese President Xi Jinping during the China-Africa leaders’ dialogue. The primary objective of this donation is to alleviate Namibia’s food supply challenges. This benevolent gesture from…