National News – Page 294 – Windhoek Observer

14 Mar

Katima Mulilo gears up for historic Independence Day celebrations

National News

Niël Terblanché Katima Mulilo, the capital of the Zambezi region, is pulsating with energy as preparations for the 34th Independence Day celebrations reach a fever pitch. With just seven days remaining until the monumental day on March 21st, the town has transformed into a bustling hub of activity, eagerly anticipating its role as the host of this year's official national festivities. The focal point of the preparations is the Katima Mulilo Sports Complex, where the official celebrations will unfold. Chaired by Governor Lawrence Sampofu, the Local Preparatory Committee orchestrates meticulous planning, holding regular meetings to ensure every aspect is meticulously…

14 Mar

MoHSS aims to set new standards with Performance Management System

National News

Niël Terblanché In an ambitious stride towards reforming health care services, the Ministry of Health and Social Services is leading with the introduction of a new Performance Management System (PMS), in its efforts to enhance service quality and efficiency. This initiative is part of a series of directives emanating from its National Management Development Forum, aimed at elevating the standards of health care delivery across the nation. At the heart of these reforms is the ministry's commitment to fully implement the PMS, a task that has presented its share of challenges. Ben Nangombe, the ministry's Executive Director, has been instrumental…

14 Mar

NCCI extends call to business community to comply with regulations

National News

Martin Endjala Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) President, Bisey /Uirab has extended a call to the business community to play their part in ensuring compliance with laws, rules and regulations of the industry and those of the country. This is amidst the NCCI’s ongoing partnership with the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) in ensuring tax compliance by businesses, big and small. “With NamRA, we have made strides in sensitising businesses on tax compliance and the importance of meeting obligations through initiatives like the ITAS training programme. I am pleased to announce that in 2023 alone, we successfully trained 108…

14 Mar

SONA: analysts anticipate policy continuity

National NewsSONA: analysts anticipate policy continuity

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Nangolo Mbumba is expected to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, with analysts anticipating a continuity of policies amidst the sad passing of President Hage Geingob last month. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah, highlighting the incumbent president’s role as a caretaker, said that Mbumba is likely to adhere to the legacy of late President Geingob rather than introducing new initiatives. “President Mbumba is sort of a caretaker president that’s finished a term. From that perspective, I don’t think that we will hear new initiatives in terms of policy directions. Instead, I think he will stick…

14 Mar

Paragon scores a legal victory in Supreme Court against Central Technical Supplies

National NewsSupreme Court rules in Paragon’s favour

Niël Terblanché In a landmark ruling delivered on 13 March 2024, a panel of judges of the Supreme Court of Namibia set a legal precedent on the appealability of default judgments in the nation's legal system when they found that Paragon Investment (Pty) Ltd could indeed install a weather analysis system for the Namibian Meteorological Service. The case, involving a dispute over the procurement of an Automated Weather Observing System for the Namibian Meteorological Services, saw Central Technical Supplies (Pty) Ltd challenge the awarding of the contract to Paragon who entered into a joint venture with the China Huayun Group…

14 Mar

Mass civic registration program prompts 17,182 applications for national documents

National News182 applications for national documents, Mass civic registration program prompts 17

Stefanus Nashama The Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security has in total received 17,182 applications for birth certificates, Identity Documents (ID cards), and for the conversion of old South West African ID cards through the mass civic registration program countrywide. According to Margaret Kalo, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, the registration program began on 5 February and will run until 30 July 2024. Kalo said 17,182 applications were received since the inception of the mass civic registration outreach program from 5 February to 12 March 2024. The program aims to increase the registration coverage for…

14 Mar

Namibia needs N$14 billion for electrification

National NewsNamibia needs N$14 billion for electrification

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s ambitious goal to achieve nationwide electrification by 2030 has been deemed unrealistic by John Titus, the Director of Energy at the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Titus made the statement during a critical discussion on rural electrification held between the Energy ministry and the Kavango East Regional Council where he pointed to the significant financial and logistical challenges that might hamper the process. He said Namibia’s vision to illuminate every corner of the country requires a staggering N$14 billion investment, a figure that starkly contrasts with the N$130 million currently earmarked in the national budget for this…

14 Mar

Police crackdown on illegal fuel trade

National NewsPolice crackdown on illegal fuel trade

Niël Terblanché Smugglers have suffered a significant blow to their illicit fuel trade that has been plaguing the northern border towns of Namibia. The Ohangwena Police, in a coordinated crackdown, have arrested four men involved in the smuggling and sale of approximately 2,700 litres of illegal fuel. The operation saw the suspects being apprehended at Omafo, with the illegal commodity sourced from Angola. Officers detained three men, aged 44, 33, and 20 when they were caught red-handed while in possession of the smuggled fuel. A fourth individual, a 57-year-old man, was arrested while in the act of refuelling his vehicle…

14 Mar

Gobabis municipality workers threaten to down tools

National NewsGobabis municipality workers threaten to down tools

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Gobabis Municipality workers through their labour union representative, Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU), have threatened to stop work unless management takes action on issues raised during a meeting last year November. NAPWU, on behalf of the workers, penned a letter to the municipality’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sophia Eises highlighting unfair labour practices and disciplinary hearing discrepancies within the municipality. Union representative, Betuel Jamuine, in the letter, expressed dismay over the perceived lack of response to grievances voiced during a meeting with the workers, asserting that the situation has only worsened since. “NAPWU has realised with great concern…

13 Mar

Opposition question N$15 million reduction of ECN budget in an election year

National NewsOpposition question N$15 million reduction of ECN budget in an election year

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Popular Democratic Movement’s Member of Parliament, Elima Dienda said she is perplexed by the reduction of N$15 million in the Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) budget. Dienda was of the opinion that this is an oversight that seems inconsistent with the fact that ECN is scheduled to organise Presidential and National Assembly elections this year. She also raised concerns about the budget allocation for Planning, Registration and Voting and staff remuneration which she said has been cut by N$4 million. “This raises a critical question: Given the upcoming elections, won’t there be a need for additional part-time…