National News – Page 186 – Windhoek Observer

22 Aug

Shipwiikineni urges lawyers to defend social justice

National NewsAina Kalimba, Electoral Commission of Namibia, Erich Chrismann Shivute, Joshua Vaino Martins, Petrus Ndeshipanda Shituula, Shipwiikineni

Martin Endjala Swapo member Reinhold Shipwiikineni has urged lawyers to stand firm in the pursuit of social justice and not abandon clients. Shipwiikineni's call follows the withdrawal of a letter to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) by its Ondangwa-based legal representative, Nicky Ngula Attorneys, without consulting them. Shipwiikineni, Joshua Vaino Martins, Petrus Ndeshipanda Shituula, Erich Chrismann Shivute, and Aina Kalimba Angula allege that the Swapo party central committee's nomination of Nandi-Ndaitwah as presidential candidate is invalid because it violates Article 15(9) of the party's constitution. Ngula withdrew the group’s request to the ECN to not allow Vice President Netumbo…

21 Aug

Ally Angula blames Swapo for 34 years of economic disaster and broken dreams

National Newsnational economic disaster

Stefanus Nashama Independent presidential candidate, Ally Angula has accused the Swapo-led government of causing a national economic disaster and financial struggle. Angula made this statement on Monday on her digital election campaign platforms. She believes that, economically, the past 34 years have yet to deliver a satisfactory life for most people. “The current administration led by the Swapo party has for 34 years slowly created an economic national disaster that has left way too many people out in the cold with no chance at earning an income,” she said. According to Angula, many regional capitals lack a manufacturing base to…

21 Aug

Experts urge funding for media fair 2024 election reporting

National NewsChristian Keulder

Martin Endjala Several experts have called for increased funding for media personnel covering the 2024 national elections due to financial constraints. Christian Keulder, an independent researcher, said many media houses are grappling with the harsh reality of a lack of funds when covering news events across the country, with journalists resorting to only covering news in their immediate areas. On Wednesday, FesMedia organised a panel discussion on the role of media in promoting democratic elections in Namibia, during which he shared this information. Keulder is worried about the accuracy and coverage of the 2024 elections due to the circumstances he…

21 Aug

PDM’s Hamata pushes for leadership continuity

National NewsHidipo Hamata, Popular Democratic Movement

Stefanus Nashama A member of the Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) central committee, Hidipo Hamata, is advocating for the party members to give the current top six leaders another term. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, Hamata said the upcoming election requires PDM to maintain the current leadership to navigate and ensure the party’s continuity, leveraging their necessary experience and strategic insight. “As our party approaches the upcoming national congress in the Zambezi region, I strongly urge all delegates to endorse the current top six leaders for another term. The forthcoming election is a pivotal moment for the…

21 Aug

Character witnesses testify in mitigation of Dippenaar’s sentencing

National NewsSwakopmund Regional Court

Niël Terblanché Jandre Dippenaar’s legal team and the state prosecutor are set to present arguments for mitigation and aggravation of sentencing before Magistrate Gaynor Paulton at the Swakopmund Regional Court when the pre-sentencing portion of the murder trial continues on Thursday. This comes after two witnesses testified on behalf of Dippenaar's character in mitigation of sentencing Wednesday. In June, Magistrate Paulton convicted Dippenaar on six counts of murder, one count of reckless and negligent driving, and one count of driving a vehicle without a valid driver's license in a trial that continued for almost ten years. The guilty verdict stems…

21 Aug

Omaheke governor refutes claims of 800 hunger deaths

National Newscases of malnutrition, Pio Nganate

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Omaheke regional governor, Pio Nganate has refuted reports that 800 people died of hunger in the region over the past two years. Nganate reported that during the specified period, malnutrition resulted in 139 fatalities. He said that in the 2022/23 financial year, there were a total of 554 new cases of malnutrition, and 15 malnourished patients were successfully treated. “When it comes to deaths due to malnutrition in the same period under review, 13 cases were recorded out of the total number of 554 new cases and this translates to 2.3%. Malnutrition deaths due to integrated management of…

21 Aug

Hippos saved by decisive action

National News

The Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has successfully intervened to rescue a group of hippos stranded on dry land in the Salambala Conservancy in the Zambezi region. The severe drought caused a significant decrease in water levels in the floodplains of the major rivers that flow through the region, leaving the pond where the hippos had been making their last stand for months reduced to mud that did not protect them from the sun. Romeo Muyunda, the ministry’s spokesperson, said on Wednesday that by May 2024, the situation had become critical, prompting immediate action from officials.…

21 Aug

CoW needs N$308 million to extend Kupferberg dumping site lifespan

National NewsAna-Beatriz Martins, Kupferberg landfill site, Queen Kamati

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The City of Windhoek (CoW) needs to commit approximately N$308 million to extend the Kupferberg landfill site's lifespan and create more dumping sites to deal with the ever-growing city waste. The capital city’s mayor, Queen Kamati, made this revelation on Wednesday during the stakeholders' engagement workshop for the European-funded project to improve solid waste management. Windhoek and the free Hanseatic city of Bremen are jointly implementing the project. She said the municipal area's rapid population growth has led to a surge in monthly waste generation, thereby placing pressure on the available airspace and lifespan of the existing landfills.…

21 Aug

MICT and LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia unite to protect children from cyber attacks

National NewsDr. Audrin Mathe, LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with LifeLine/ChildLine Namibia in a concerted effort to enhance the safety of children online. The new partnership, signed in Windhoek on Wednesday, aims to intensify public education on cybersecurity, with a particular focus on equipping children with the knowledge to navigate the digital world safely. Dr. Audrin Mathe, the executive director of MICT, stressed the importance of this collaboration, stating that the partnership will strengthen the National Cybersecurity Strategy and Awareness Raising Plan 2022–2027, which was adopted by the Cabinet. “Cybersecurity requires…

20 Aug

MUN accuses Swakop Uranium of undermining workers’ rights

National NewsMineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN), Phillipus George Ampweya

Niël Terblanché The Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) has strongly condemned what it describes as a calculated attempt by Swakop Uranium’s management to undermine the union's independence and integrity. Phillipus George Ampweya, the union’s general secretary, accused the company of engaging in union-busting activities that violate both the Namibian Labour Act and the fundamental principles of democratic industrial relations. In a statement, Ampweya expressed grave concerns over Swakop Uranium's alleged interference in the union's internal processes, labelling it a direct attack on the union's inherent organisational rights. Ampweya claimed that by instructing the national structure on how to restructure the…