National News – Page 240 – Windhoek Observer

20 Aug

Afrobarometer defends elections survey results amid political backlash

National NewsAfrobarometer team, Christie Keulder

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Afrobarometer's representative in Namibia, Christie Keulder, has clarified that their survey on the outcome of the November elections was conducted with a specific focus on democracy and governance. He clarified that people should not mistake the results of an election opinion poll for actual election results. Keulder made this statement on Tuesday in response to media reports where local politicians questioned the credibility of the survey and dismissed it as a meaningless poll that does not reflect the political reality in Namibia. He said Afrobarometer is a Pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African…

20 Aug

MoHSS intensifies Mpox preparedness

National NewsMinistry of Health and Social Services, World Health Organization

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) announced that it has intensified its surveillance and preparedness measures in response to the declaration last week of Mpox as a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). This declaration followed the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) classifying Mpox as a public health emergency of continental security which called for urgent coordinated public health responses across the continent. Ben Nangombe, the executive director of MoHSS in a statement on Tuesday, said that Namibia has not yet detected any suspected or confirmed…

20 Aug

Nguvauva refutes claims of brawling at Omaheke Swapo meeting

National NewsBianca Van Wyk, Rocco Nguvauva

Stefanus Nashama The Regional Councillor of the Okorukambe Constituency, Rocco Nguvauva, claims that the allegations of physical assault and beating against the former Omaheke governor, Festus Ueitele, made by the former Omaheke Swapo Women's League regional coordinator, Bianca Van Wyk, are baseless. On Friday, Nguvauva accused Van Wyk of being hired to disrupt the process of restructuring the leadership of the Okorukambe branch. ‘’I must bear witness here that the lady who claimed to be beaten by the former governor, her claims don't hold water at all and are those people who are hired to come disrupt the peaceful process…

20 Aug

GIPF will aim to enhance member wellness during OATF

National NewsGovernment Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF), Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair

Niël Terblanché The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) announced its participation in the upcoming Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF), which will take place from 23 to 31, 2024 and aims to enhance member experience and improve stakeholder engagement. According to Edwin Tjiramba, the GIPF’s General Manager of Marketing and Stakeholder Engagement, the Fund will provide a broad range of services to its members, pensioners, and beneficiaries during the trade fair. “These services include biometric enrolment and verification, updates on membership status, information on pension benefits, claim procedures, and assistance with submission and claims status,” he said in a statement issued…

19 Aug

RP to expropriate unproductive farms dubiously awarded to Swapo cronies

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Republican Party (RP) President, Henk Mudge has pledged that, if elected as the next president, his administration will expropriate farms currently allocated under the government’s flawed Land Reform Scheme. Mudge stated that he would target farms that are currently allocated to government figures, Swapo elites, and their relatives. He said these farms are underutilised and only used as mere weekend retreats and that these properties will be reclaimed by the state. Mudge made these statements in the party's manifesto, which was released over the weekend in preparation for the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly elections. “Land is a…

19 Aug

Thousands invited to commemorate Heroes Day

National News34th Heroes Day commemoration

Hilarius Hamutenya Fifteen thousand people have been invited to the 34th Heroes Day commemoration that will be held at Omuthiya in the Oshikoto Region on 26 August. The day will be commemorated under the theme "Honouring our Martyrs" (Heroes and Heroines). This was confirmed by Penda yaNdakolo, the Oshikoto regional governor. “The town is more than ready. We have teams to ensure that the event goes smoothly in terms of logistics, safety and security, protocol and entertainment,” he said. YaNdakolo added that 120 former freedom fighters have also confirmed their attendance. He said the national event is open to all…

19 Aug

Paragon Aviation Services: 1 year on

National NewsDesmond Amunyela, Hosea Kutako International Airport

An exclusive interview with Desmond Amunyela, Executive Director, Business Development. Paragon Aviation’s executive director, Desmond Amunyela (DA), shared insights on the company’s first year managing ground handling services at Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA), which began on 19 August 2023. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer’s (WO) Hertta-Maria Amutenja, he described the journey as both challenging and successful, highlighting significant improvements in service quality, including on-time performance. Amunyela emphasised Paragon’s commitment to supporting Namibia’s aviation infrastructure, including plans for a technical centre and training facility. WO: Can you tell us a bit about Paragon’s journey and what led it to…

19 Aug

PDM aims to bring Swapo’s votes down to 40%

National NewsMcHenry Venaani, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Stefanus Nashama The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) wants to bring down the ruling party, Swapo, to less than 40% of the votes in the upcoming presidential and national assembly elections. The PDM’s leader, McHenry Venaani shared this goal at the party's Trinity Congress last week in Windhoek. "In light of these elections, the goal is clear: we must bring the ruling Swapo party's share of the electoral vote under 40 percent," Venaani said. He acknowledged that this is an ambitious target but expressed confidence in the party's ability to achieve it. "We are capable of reaching that target because we…

19 Aug

Selection process of IPC parliamentary candidates commences

National NewsIPC parliamentary candidates

Stefanus Nashama The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has begun the process of selecting candidates for seats in the National Assembly next year. The party’s national spokesperson, Immanuel Nashinge, told the Windhoek Observer on Monday that the selection process started over the weekend at the branch level and that the party is now preparing for the selection of candidates at the constituency level. "Yes, we have started with identifying and selecting our candidates from the grassroots level, because we are a party that upholds the principles of democracy, and that is what matters," he said. Nashinge said the process is…

19 Aug

Namibia leads regional push for smarter HIV funding

National News

Niël Terblanché Representatives from 12 African countries as well as stakeholders from international organisations such as PEPFAR, UNAIDS, and the Global Fund attended the Regional Technical Network (RTN) on Resource Optimization of HIV and Broader Health Resources in Windhoek on Monday. This is the second meeting where stakeholders discuss strategies to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of HIV programs and health systems. Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, while opening the meeting stressed the progress made in combating HIV/AIDS over the past decade. “While there have been notable reductions in new infections and AIDS-related deaths, the challenge…