National News – Page 123

05 Sep

Lawmaker warns divorce rate could soar if new bill makes separation easier

info_e12wt4csNational NewsDivorce Amendment Bill, Paulus Mbangu

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Paulus Mbangu, a member of the National Council, warns that once the proposed Divorce Bill becomes law, the divorce rate will skyrocket, making it cheap to divorce. This, he said, is despite the fact that divorce is currently expensive. Mbangu made this statement on Wednesday while participating in the National Council's debate on the Divorce Amendment Bill. “My concern is if the divorce rate skyrocketed when marriage dissolution was expensive and difficult, what will happen when dissolution of marriage is made easy and less expensive?” he said. According to Mbangu, in 2018, it was reported that nearly 1…

05 Sep

Namibia secures N$730 million for green hydrogen future

info_e12wt4csEnergy, National NewsGlobal African Hydrogen Summit, Kadri Simson, Tom Alweendo

Martin Endjala Tom Alweendo, the minister of mines and energy, said continuous investment in the country’s green hydrogen projects strongly contradicts the belief that the development of a synthetic fuel industry in Namibia is merely a pipe dream. Alweendo made these remarks on Wednesday at the Global African Hydrogen Summit, where Team Europe signed an agreement to contribute N$730 million to advance Namibia's green industrialisation agenda. “Some people think we are going too slow, but we are also trying to go systematically to ensure we achieve what we need to be achieving,” Alweendo said. He said that the country reaches…

05 Sep

ECN prepares officials for November elections

info_e12wt4csNational NewsElsie Nghikembua, General Registration of Voters (GRV)

Niël Terblanché More than 130 regional electoral and returning officers from all over the country have converged at Swakopmund, where they are undergoing an eight-day training in preparation for the November elections. Elsie Nghikembua, chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), said during the official opening of the training session on Thursday that the training is a crucial part of preparations for the upcoming elections. “These elections will not just be a test of our administrative capability but also an opportunity for us to reinforce public trust in our electoral process. Each one of you has been selected for…

05 Sep

Oshikoto struggles with high number of vehicle accidents

info_e12wt4csNational NewsPenda ya Ndakolo

Stefanus Nashama The Oshikoto regional governor, Penda Ya Ndakolo, has stated that while combating crime remains a top priority in the region, the high incidence of road accidents is also a significant concern. Ya Ndakolo shared this during his State of the Region address last week. “Our police and other key stakeholders are working tirelessly for our safety and to prevent crime. However, the high rate of road accidents continues to be a cause for concern in our region,” he said. Ya Ndakolo said that, during the reviewed period, there were 207 crashes, 452 injuries, and 49 deaths. He said…

05 Sep

Police introduce new directives for traffic law enforcement

info_e12wt4csNational NewsLieutenant General Joseph Shikongo

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Police introduced a series of new traffic law enforcement directives aimed at improving road safety and increasing trust between the public and law enforcement officers. These measures, outlined in a circular issued on Thursday by the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, stress the importance of visibility, fairness, and discretion in traffic law enforcement practices. The directives come in response to numerous complaints from road users regarding unsafe practices by some traffic officers, particularly those rushing into roads to stop vehicles or positioning speed traps in concealed locations. Shikongo said that these…

04 Sep

PDM parliamentarian says Public Gatherings Bill is a step back to apartheid-era repression

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAlbert Kawana, Public Gatherings Bill

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Nico Smit has warned that the proposed Public Gatherings Bill could regress the country to the repressive conditions of the apartheid era. Apartheid restricted citizens' ability to gather and express their political views. Smit made these comments on Tuesday in Parliament while participating in the discussion of the bill that Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security Albert Kawana introduced last month. “This bill, reminiscent of apartheid-era restrictions, emerges precisely as Namibians increasingly exercise their right to public gatherings to voice critical concerns about the current administration,” Smit said. The…

04 Sep

Dienda criticises pension payments done ‘under trees’

info_e12wt4csNational NewsDoreen Sioka, Epupa Investment Technology

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Member of Parliament Elma Dienda has criticised the method of paying pensioners their old age grant as stressful and unacceptable. According to Dienda, the current practice of giving pensioners payments under trees is unacceptable, especially after Epupa Investment Technology has held the contract for more than a decade. Dienda is calling on the ministry to take action to improve service delivery. Dienda made these remarks on Tuesday in parliament while questioning Doreen Sioka, the Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare. ‘’What is the total value of the current 5-year contract? What…

04 Sep

Mbumba champions Namibian’s investment potential in Beijing

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAlfredo Hengari, Chinese investors, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)

Erasmus Shalihaxwe President Nangolo Mbumba held several meetings with Chinese investors in Beijing, China, at the ongoing ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Presidential press secretary, Alfredo Hengari said on Wednesday that the Chinese investors have expressed interest in different sectors of the Namibian economy, including mining, tourism, renewable energy, and infrastructure. Mbumba along with other African leaders, are participating in the forum that started on Wednesday. He is also expected to hold a courtesy meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Mbumba has urged Chinese business people to continue investing in Namibia, stating that there is no reason why they…

04 Sep

FIMA still under review

info_e12wt4csNational NewsFinancial Institutions Markets Act (FIMA), Kenneth Matomola

Martin Endjala The technical committee under the Ministry of Finance is still scrutinising the Financial Institutions Markets Act (FIMA). The Windhoek Observer understands that while public consultations have concluded, the research component is still ongoing, and findings have yet to be presented to the finance minister. During a media engagement last week in Windhoek, Namibia Financial Institution Supervisory Authority’s (Namfisa) chief executive officer, Kenneth Matomola stated that FIMA can only come into effect once the minister gives the green light. “As it stands now, FIMA can only come into force once the minister says, ‘Yes, let’s go and implement,’” he…

04 Sep

City Police struggle to secure crime-ridden former Club Pamodzi

info_e12wt4csNational NewsClub Pamodzi, Windhoek City Police

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Windhoek City Police are facing several challenges as they seek to secure the abandoned building in Rykmans Dorp, formerly known as Club Pamodzi. This site has been a hotspot for criminal activities since its closure in 2015, leading to mounting safety concerns among nearby residents. The spokesperson of the Windhoek City Police, Marceline Murapo, highlighted the difficulties in resource allocation and communication between various stakeholders. “The rapid population growth in Windhoek has contributed to rising crime rates, necessitating a comprehensive approach to urban safety and law enforcement,” she stated. Last week, a woman and her two sons…