National News – Page 191 – Windhoek Observer

14 Aug

Creative economy poised for growth

National NewsDr Itah Kandjii-Murangi, Namibia and Estonia

Niël Terblanché Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi, the Minister of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation, stressed the fundamental role of education, digital technologies, and heritage preservation in fostering the creative economy. Kandjii-Murangi said this during the opening of the 2024 Creative Entrepreneurship Academy conference, which is hosted under the theme "The Role of Education in Preserving and Digitising Cultural Heritage." “This project seeks to equip Namibian youth with the necessary knowledge in product development, entrepreneurship, the circular economy, and digital technologies,” she said. The conference is a collaborative initiative between Namibia and Estonia, funded by the Estonian Centre for International Development (EstDEV),…

14 Aug

NTB “Reason to Visit Namibia Roadshow,” kicks off

National NewsCharmaine Matheus, Loide Paulus

Martin Endjala The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) on Tuesday launched the “Reason to Visit Namibia Roadshow,” which aims to showcase all the unique attractions Namibia offers visitors. NTB's acting chief executive officer, Charmaine Matheus, made the announcement in Botswana. According to Matheus, the roadshow will occur in three cities in Botswana from August 13 to August 15, 2024. “This initiative aims to showcase the diverse attractions and unique experiences Namibia has to offer travellers, solidifying its status as a premier travel destination in Southern Africa. The roadshow, according to her, aims to educate potential travellers, travel agents, and local partners…

13 Aug

Nandi-Ndaitwah advised to pick competent people, not loyalty, ahead of the electoral college

National NewsBen Mulongeni

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Political commentator and Swapo veteran Ben Mulongeni advised Swapo vice president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah that if she wants to govern effectively, she should choose her top 10 candidates at the party's electoral college based on their competence rather than their loyalty. Mulongeni shared this opinion during an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday, where he discussed the upcoming party electoral college or POT. Mulongeni believes that loyalty alone does not lead to success or benefit the country. “We have already seen how loyalty has been messed up during campaigns. Imagine telling people that if they don’t vote for…

13 Aug

Agriculture ministry sets aside N$62 million to transform farming

National NewsFifth National Development Plan (NDP5), Harambee Prosperity Plan

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform has declared its intention to provide subsidies to farmers in various regions through its agriculture program. The estimated funding for this initiative is approximately N$62 million. According to Jona Musheko, the ministry's spokesperson, these subsidised production programs are not new and are implemented annually. The program has already started and will continue until next year. “The subsidies are as high as 65% and 50% minimum. Three are available in all regions, apart from the dairy, which started as a pilot and is now slowly moving to other regions. We have…

13 Aug

Namibia demands reform of UNSC to correct Africa’s exclusion

National NewsUnited Nations Security Council

Niël Terblanché International relations minister, Peya Mushelenga wants the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to address the historical exclusion of Africa from permanent membership. Mushelenga was speaking at the UNSC high-level debate on international peace and security that took place in New York on Monday. "Africa cannot continue to stand as a passive spectator in the global political field," he said while stressing that the current geopolitical power distribution sidelines an entire continent from crucial decision-making processes. Mushelenga stressed that the reform of the UNSC is not a request for favours but a legitimate plea for justice and equality. “Maintaining…

13 Aug

Taxi union leader accuses Supreme Court of stalling multimillion-dollar lawsuit

National News

Stefanus Nashama Werner Januarie, the President of the Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU), has accused the Supreme Court of not giving a satisfactory explanation for not reinstating his N$74 million claim against the government. Januarie, speaking with the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday, expressed frustration with the court’s inability to set a hearing date for the case. “The problem is that the Supreme Court has not determined the date on which the matter will be heard,” he said. The Supreme Court's decision led to the removal of the matter from the court roll, according to the court documents. Since then,…

13 Aug

Lüderitz port expansion to transform energy and trade landscape

National News

Niël Terblanché Namibia is advancing its plans to expand the Port of Lüderitz, integral to the country’s strategy for enhancing support to industries such as oil, gas, and green hydrogen production. The Namibian Ports Authority’s (Namport) executive of port engineering, Elzevir Gelderbloem, has stressed that the Robert Harbour quay wall extension project will undergo rigorous inspections, including underwater surveys. In a report by nambusinessexpress.com Gelderbloem said that the expansion of the Port of Lüderitz is not just about increasing capacity; it is about positioning the port as a key logistics hub for Namibia’s oil, gas, and green hydrogen industries. According…

13 Aug

WHO drives immunisation and nutrition intervention

National NewsAfrican Vaccination Week in Namibia, World Health Organization

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and with support from the Government of Japan, conducted an urgent health intervention from 5 to 9 August during African Vaccination Week in Namibia. According to a report published by the WHO, the initiative that was launched in the Omaheke region was aimed at addressing critical health challenges, including vaccine hesitancy and malnutrition, particularly among children under the age of five and vulnerable populations in remote areas. The WHO report states that the Omaheke region, known for the long distances people must…

12 Aug

Works ministry weighs in on Road Safety Bills

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Works and Transport is moving forward with legislative initiatives aimed at improving road safety in the wake of a tragic bus accident last week. These measures include the finalisation of several key bills that address various aspects of road safety. The deputy executive director of the department of transport at the ministry, Jonas Sheelongo, provided an overview of the ministry's approach following a call from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) for stricter regulations, specifically targeting the operating hours and rest periods of small bus drivers to prevent fatigue-related accidents. "In the short term, promotional and…

12 Aug

LPM criticises education minister’s ‘Think Outside the Box’ approach

National News

Stefanus Nashama The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has criticised education minister Anna Nghipondoka for her recent call to educators to “think outside the box” to improve learners' performance despite the challenges of a lack of classrooms and overcrowding. The LPM’s spokesperson, Lifalaza Simataa, in a statement last week, said the minister’s remarks lack innovation. “The minister's approach, ironically, lacks innovation, and she fails to ‘think outside’ the box," as she echoes the same sentiments expressed by the minister of education in 2017. Similar sentiments place immense pressure on under-resourced teachers, with zero accountability for the failures of the ministry,” Simataa…