National News – Page 125

02 Sep

GRN expands dialysis and ICU services to district hospitals

info_e12wt4csNational NewsBen Nangombe, Wilika Frai

Ester Mbathera The Ministry of Health and Social Services has initiated the installation of dialysis units in several district hospitals across Namibia. Ben Nangombe, the executive director of the health ministry, made this statement at the book launch of Wilika Frai, who received state support during her battle with endometriosis. Nangombe said the move is part of the government's broader effort to improve public healthcare delivery in the country. "As a ministry, we are working quite hard to improve the provision of public health care services in this country," said Nangombe. He said the government has previously spent over N$100…

02 Sep

Experts and activists call for reform in maternity leave disparities

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamibian Rural Women Assembly (NRWA)

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Maternity leave benefits in Namibia are under currently scrutiny after calls for urgent policy reforms to address disparities that affect women's economic empowerment. Toini Amaambo, the programme officer at the Namibian Rural Women Assembly (NRWA), has raised concerns about the differences in maternity leave policies between the public and private sectors. She said that a review of these differences is necessary to guarantee the full protection of all women's rights. "Some of these issues depend on where one is employed and the flexibility of the workplace. In the public sector, policies are generally clear, but the private sector…

02 Sep

Icelandic artist wants Samherji to apologise to Namibia

info_e12wt4csNational NewsOddur Eysteinn Friðriksson, Samherji

Ester Mbathera The Icelandic artist Oddur Eysteinn Friðriksson, known as ODEE, has condemned the actions of his country’s fishing giant, Samherji, in Namibia. In a video shared with the Windhoek Observer on Monday, ODEE criticised the company's practices of bribery and corruption, stating that they have strained Namibia-Iceland relations. He called for transparency and ethical behaviour from Samherji. “It is time for them to take full responsibility for their actions and work towards making things right. I also urge the international community to stand with Namibia in the fight against exploitation,” he said. ODEE expressed empathy and solidarity with those…

02 Sep

Vision for educational transformation outlined

info_e12wt4csNational NewsDigital School Pilot Project, Faustina Caley

Niël Terblanché The Deputy Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Faustina Caley, stressed the critical need for enhanced school governance, financial accountability, and stakeholder engagement to accelerate educational transformation. While addressing the 2024 Regional Engagement with Principals and Heads of Departments (HODs) from the //Kharas, Hardap, Oshikoto, Kunene, Otjozondjupa, and Erongo regions, Caley pointed to the gradual progress witnessed in Namibia's basic education system. She lauded the improvement in examination results for the 2023 academic year as a clear indicator of the system's recovery and resilience. "The African Union has declared 2024 as the year of education under the theme,…

02 Sep

Drought turns the Chobe River into a trap for 200 hippos

info_e12wt4csNational News

Ester Mbathera The government has been working for months to rescue 200 hippos stranded in mud puddles that shrink rapidly along a 16-kilometer stretch of the Chobe River in the Salambala conservation area. In one of the driest countries south of the Sahara, a terrible drought aggravated by the scarcity of rains has left these wild animals stranded for the past four months in an isolated and dry channel. To prevent his death, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Tourism has dug sounding wells and used pumps to supply water to ponds. But it has authorized almost at the same…

02 Sep

Namibia and Botswana launch Mamuno One-Stop Border Post trial run

info_e12wt4csNational NewsLeslie Mlungisi Mpofu, Mamuno One-Stop Border Post (OSBP)

Niël Terblanché Namibia and Botswana have commenced with a trial run for the Mamuno One-Stop Border Post (OSBP). This trial, which began on Monday, allows people travelling between Namibia and Botswana to clear customs and immigration for both countries at a single point, streamlining the process and reducing waiting times.The new facility is situated at the Trans-Kalahari border post on the main route from Walvis Bay to Johannesburg. Leslie Mlungisi Mpofu, Executive Director of the Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat, expressed optimism about the trial run and said that despite a few initial challenges, the overall process is running smoothly. "We…

02 Sep

City of Windhoek faces backlash over water bill estimations

info_e12wt4csNational NewsHarold Akwenye, Katutura Residents Committee, Shaun Gariseb

Martin Endjala Windhoek residents have accused the municipality of overcharging consumers in its estimation of water usage which led to significant debts incurred by households. On Monday, the Katutura Residents Committee (KRC) spokesperson, Shaun Gariseb, accused the City of Windhoek of overcharging residents through the use of estimates. Gariseb questioned the formula the municipality uses to calculate bills, arguing that the city has been using it incorrectly for years. “That is where the biggest catch is. That's how we are robbed by the municipality, and they know it. Now, the next question: How do they verify the accounts with us…

02 Sep

USADF pledges N$180 million to empower Namibian SMEs

info_e12wt4csNational NewsMarket Access Support Programme, Travis Adkins, United States African Development Foundation

Niël Terblanché The United States African Development Foundation (USADF) has announced a new round of funding aimed at strengthening the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector in Namibia. The initiative pledged approximately N$176 million to support Namibian entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth on Thursday. Speaking at the launch of the Market Access Support Programme in Windhoek, USADF President and chief executive officer, Travis Adkins highlighted the importance of this new round of funding. He stressed that the initiative aligns with the foundation’s commitment to ensuring that no Namibian is left behind in the nation’s economic empowerment efforts. “The programme is…

01 Sep

MUN leadership calls for an end to internal strife

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) has responded with concern and disappointment to a media statement allegedly issued by the union’s Western Region office under the leadership of Abiud Kapere. The union’s acting president, Mathews Mberiuana, in a statement released on Friday, accused Kapere of making "calculatedly misleading" claims intended to sow discord within the union and challenge its foundational principles. Mberiuana condemned Kapere's statement, saying that it contains serious allegations that could foster regionalism and undermine the internal social cohesion that the MUN is committed to as a member-centric organisation. The…

01 Sep

Windhoek woman’s fight for motherhood and survival

info_e12wt4csNational News

Ester Mbathera Wilika Frai endured endometriosis, a chronic and often painful condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus for more than ten years. This condition can cause severe pain, especially during menstruation, and can lead to fertility issues. Frai, who was born and raised in Katutura, faced years of ridicule for not having a child during her marriage. In 1992, she married veteran broadcaster Andreas Frai, whom she met in Rundu while working as a typing teacher at Dr. Romanus Kampungu. It took 11 years for her to conceive. During that period, friends…