National News – Page 171 – Windhoek Observer

19 Sep

ECN assures no interference in counting of votes by Swapo

National NewsNational Council

Martin Endjala The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has assured the public and all political parties that the governing Swapo Party will not interfere with the counting of votes at polling stations in November. Paulus Mbangu, a member of the National Council, expressed concern about remarks made by Swapo’s secretary general Sophia Shaningwa at the party manifesto launch last weekend. “The SG cannot be the spokesperson of the ECN. Her remarks sound like she is giving orders to ECN, which is not good in democracy. Who gave the party SG the power to speak on the ECN's behalf? Because announcements…

19 Sep

Special task force to combat GBV in Erongo

National NewsErongo Regional Gender Permanent Task Force

Niël Terblanché The Erongo region is taking determined steps to confront the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) with the launch of the Erongo Regional Gender Permanent Task Force to address one of the most pressing social issues facing all Namibians. The initiative, launched by the Erongo regional governor Neville Andre in Swakopmund on Thursday morning, is a direct response to the rising tide of GBV, particularly violence against women and girls, in the region. “This task force is part of a broader national strategy, in line with Namibia's National Gender Policy and National Plan of Action on GBV, aimed at…

19 Sep

Revised code of conduct will ensure free and fair elections

National NewsCode of Conduct for Political Parties

Niël Terblanché In a move to strengthen democratic practices, the government has revised the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Political Organisations to ensure the promotion of democratic tolerance and the protection of citizens' rights to choose their political representatives freely. The new code of conduct, as gazetted on 5 September under Government Notice No. 257 stipulates new regulations, issued by the Electoral Commission of Namibia under the Electoral Act, 2014 (Act No. 5 of 2014), and is an important update to the nation’s election oversight, aiming to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections while promoting a climate of…

19 Sep

New advisory council to strengthen management of electronic information systems

National NewsElectronic Transactions Act, Modestus Amutse

Niël Terblanché In yet another step toward improving Namibia's digital economy, the deputy minister of information and communication technology (MICT), Modestus Amutse, inaugurated the Electronic Information Systems Management Advisory Council (EISMAC) on Thursday. The newly established council, formed under the Electronic Transactions Act, Act 4 of 2019, aims to provide strategic guidance in the ever-evolving field of electronic transactions and digital information management. Amutse stressed the critical role the council will play in addressing both the challenges and opportunities that come with the growing digital economy. He requested that the newly appointed council members, who come from diverse backgrounds, would…

19 Sep

‘Intensive agriculture is the way to go’ – Schlettwein

National NewsAgricultural Global Value Chains for Inclusive Development, Global Value Chain

Martin Endjala Water, agriculture, and land reform minister, Carl Schlettwein believes that intensive agriculture is the way forward. According to Schlettwein, there is a need for a policy shift from over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture to de-risking the sector to protect against climate change and to improve variety. He made these remarks on Thursday in Windhoek, during the 25th Annual Symposium of the Bank of Namibia, themed “Agricultural Global Value Chains for Inclusive Development: How can Namibia position its Agricultural Sector?” “Global Value Chain related trade, rather than conventional trade, has a positive impact on investment, productivity, income per capita, and…

18 Sep

Ekandjo pressures Mbumba to sign anti-same-sex marriage bill into law

National Newsban and criminalise same-sex marriage, Christine Hoebes, Jerry Ekandjo

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Jerry Ekandjo, a Swapo member of parliament has accused President Nangolo Mbumba of going against the constitution for not signing the Private Members' Bill into law. The bill seeks to ban and criminalise same-sex marriage in Namibia. Parliament passed it in July of last year after Ekandjo moved the motion. On Tuesday, Ekandjo notified the minister in the presidency, Christine Hoebes to pass on his questions to Mbumba and explain why it is taking so long to sign the private members’ bill into law. He stated that Article 30 of the Namibian Constitution addresses the oath or affirmation…

18 Sep

Deaf people fight for digital inclusion

National NewsNamibian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD), Paul Nanyeni

Ester Mbathera Namibia faces challenges in bridging the digital gap, especially for deaf people, who are heavily reliant on visual communication methods, such as sign language. Paul Nanyeni, the national executive director of the Namibian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) called on internet providers to ensure access to affordable and reliable internet for his members. “Many deaf individuals rely on video conferencing tools, instant messaging, and social media platforms to communicate. However, inconsistent connectivity, especially in rural areas, limits access to these essential tools. To address this issue, Telecom Namibia can focus on expanding high-speed internet to rural and…

18 Sep

Public gatherings bill debate to continue after elections

National NewsAlbert Kawana, Maximalliant Katjimune

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The minister of home Affairs, immigration, safety and security, Albert Kawana, has requested that the public gatherings and procession bills be discussed after the November elections. Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Kawana claimed that people had misunderstood and misinterpreted the bill. He accused some members of parliament from opposition parties of thinking the bill was introduced to suppress them and limit their ability to express and carry out their political activities. ‘’When I was out on an official mission, this bill attracted a lot of debates…some aspects of the debates were perhaps genuine, whereas others were based on…

18 Sep

Otavi experiencing seismic heat activity

National News

Martin Endjala On Wednesday, the town of Otavi woke up to the news of seismic heat activity. Johannes Johannes, who shared videos with the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, observed the activities on his property. “The area is in Otavi, where seismic heat seemingly erupts from underground. The ground is very soft; anyone or anything stepping above it is engulfed. We need assistance,” he said. Some community members even poked the ground with sticks, while others sprayed water on the bubbling ash. It is not clear what has caused the heat at this stage. The mines and energy spokesperson Eshioshange Hasheela…

18 Sep

Geingos appointed as UN SDG advocate

National NewsSustainable Development Goals (SDGs), United Nations (UN)

Ester Mbathera The third first lady of Namibia, Monica Geingos, has been appointed as one of four new United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocates by the UN secretary general António Guterres. Guterres announced Geingos’ appointment on Monday. Geingos, who is also the executive chairperson of the One Economy Foundation, chancellor of Kepler University (Rwanda), and a leader in global health and development, will leverage her platform to champion development and drive global action under the hashtag #SDG. “In these challenging times, we must reflect on the true meaning of shared values and what they look like in action.…