National News – Page 231

09 May

Beifang affirms commitment to employee well-being

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Ester Mbathera Beifang Mining Technology Services (Namibia) (Pty) Ltd. says it is committed to ethical business practices and employee well-being. The statement comes after the Windhoek Observer’s article in which the employees accused their employer of not adhering to labour laws and subjecting them to bad working conditions. Anthony Wilson, the Human Resources Manager at Beifang, said in a statement that the company is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of corporate citizenship. “Beifang values its employees as its most critical asset, as they remain and are the bedrock upon which our success over the years is founded. We are…

09 May

BoN governor fined over merger missteps

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Niël Terblanché The Namibian Competition Commission fined Johannes !Gawaxab, the Governor of the Bank of Namibia (BoN), and two others for failing to properly notify relevant authorities about a business transaction that violated the country's merger control regulations. The penalty, amounting to N$1 million, also shed light on !Gawaxab’s prior business dealings have continued to attract scrutiny after his ascent to one of the country's top financial posts. Before his appointment in 2020, !Gawaxab was a distinguished figure in the business sector, known for his roles across various African countries with Old Mutual and as CEO of EOS Capital, a…

09 May

34 000 applications received for national documents in three months

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Stefanus Nashama In just three months, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security has received a total of 34,000 applications through the mass civic registration program countrywide. Services on offer during the outreach program include national documents such as birth registration for persons of all ages, applications for duplicate birth certificates, applications for identity documents, and applications for duplication of identity documents. The outreach registration program began on 5 February and will run until 30 July. Margaret Kalo, the ministry's public relations officer, said that applications for the mass civic registration outreach program will be accepted from 5…

09 May

Combating wildlife trafficking must be a collective effort – NamRA

info_e12wt4csNational News

Martin Endjala Combating wildlife trafficking in Africa should not be the responsibility of one country but rather the collective responsibility of all African countries. This was said by NamRA’s commissioner, Sam Shivute, during the conclusion of the first operation that focused on wildlife trafficking targeting Africa in coordination with other customs authorities, held on Tuesday in Windhoek. “When you are fighting wildlife trafficking or international organised crimes, it does not make sense for one jurisdiction to be doing better while other jurisdictions are not doing as well as they are supposed to. It will only help us if we all,…

09 May

Walvis Bay Council puts hold on suspensions

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Ester Mbathera The municipal council of Walvis Bay requested the chief executive officer to put on hold the suspension of the town’s general manager for finance and the manager of finance following a council resolution on Tuesday. Frans !Gonteb and Johana Shidute were suspended on Wednesday morning to allow for a full investigation into the appointment of RedForce Debt Management CC to assist the municipality collect outstanding debt. In a letter to the acting CEO, John Esterhuizen, the mayor, Trevino Forbes, acknowledged that they had not followed the proper procedure for the suspension of the two office bearers. “The Ministry…

09 May

Katutura ratepayers threaten CoW with court action

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Martin Endjala Katutura Ratepayers, through their legal representative, Henry Shimutwikeni and Co. Inc., have threatened to take the City of Windhoek (CoW) to the High Court for alleged violations of the Local Authority Act. In a letter dated 8 May, seen by the Windhoek Observer, the ratepayers have given CoW the right to respond to its demands before or on 24 May. The ratepayers are accusing CoW of allegedly using the practice of estimating water usage as opposed to measuring and reading ratepayers' actual water consumption, whose rates are currently set at N$47.18 per kilolitre for domestic usage as per…

09 May

Namdock backpedals on mass disciplinary hearings

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Niël Terblanché In a recent turn of events, Namibia Drydock and Ship Repair (Pty) Ltd. (Namdock) has postponed its planned mass disciplinary hearings following a formidable challenge by the Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (MANWU), represented by Metcalfe Beukes Attorneys. The planned mass disciplinary hearings stem from the first week in April when employees of Namibia’s premier provider of marine engineering solutions downed tools in protest of the company’s decision to change their working conditions without any prior notice. Initially set for May 10 and May 13, 2024, the hearings were intended to address allegations against a total of…

08 May

Border delimitation consultation underway amidst election preparations

info_e12wt4csNational NewsPetrus Unengu

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission, chaired by acting Judge Petrus Unengu, has embarked on a nationwide tour to demonstrate the government’s commitment to accurate and democratic electoral processes. The commission is currently in the process of conducting consultations and technical assessments in the various regions of Namibia, and in this regard, the government has urged all stakeholders, from community leaders to ordinary citizens, to cooperate and contribute to this essential national endeavour. The nationwide tour aims to ensure that the upcoming electoral processes are both fair and reflective of the nation's current state. The commission's national…

08 May

Police station commander of Leonardville arrested for stock theft

info_e12wt4csNational NewsUrsula Binga

Hertta-Maria Amutenja An investigation into an incident of stock theft led to the arrest of Inspector Ursula Binga, the commander of Leonardville police station and wife of Gobabis local authority councillor Sylvester Binga. Inspector Binga was arrested on Monday for allegedly taking sheep that were meant to be in police custody for her personal use. Commissioner Andreas Haingura, the Omaheke Regional Police Commander, confirmed the arrest. Reports suggest that Binga was arrested two weeks after the case was registered, raising concerns about abuse of power within law enforcement. She allegedly used her authority, even enlisting the assistance of senior commanders,…

08 May

City of Windhoek and MTC join forces to fight crime

info_e12wt4csNational NewsCity of Windhoek and MTC

Martin Endjala The City of Windhoek and MTC have cemented a strategic partnership aimed at deploying cutting-edge technology to assist the Windhoek City Police in preventing crime. The agreement was signed on Tuesday. MTC pledged its support for the city police by procuring Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and supporting equipment as well as assisting with the installation thereof. MTC managing director, Licky Erastus emphasised the role of technology in addressing societal challenges and advancing national development agendas. “The challenges that face society today require smart partnerships, the embrace of relevant technologies, and innovative approaches to solving them. Crime affects…