National News – Page 399

28 Apr

BoN records increase in the use of counterfeit money

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has recorded 206 incidents where counterfeit banknotes were used in the span of a year. According to the central bank’s 2022 annual report, the number of incidents represents an increase of 32.9 percent during the year in review. “Two-hundred-and-six (206) counterfeit notes were recorded in 2022 and it is more than the 155 recorded in the previous year. However, the counterfeit notes remained of poor quality and below the Bank’s threshold of 10 pieces per million in circulation, as well as the industry standard of 70 pieces per million in circulation,” read the…

27 Apr

Fitty’s application for bail appeal fails

info_e12wt4csNational NewsFitty’s application for bail appeal fails

Niël Terblanché Tamson ’Fitty’ Hatuikulipi, one of the six main characters in the Fishrot corruption saga, will not be able to appeal against a decision by a high court judge that denied him bail shortly after Christmas last year. Earlier on Wednesday Judge David Munsu delivered his ruling in which he refused Hatuikulipi’s application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Namibia. The judge also struck the matter from the roll. Hatuikulipi approached the High Court about two weeks ago with an application to appeal against the judge’s decision. On the 13th of April, Judge Munsu postponed the…

27 Apr

Couple sues government for N$4 million over stillbirth

info_e12wt4csNational NewsCouple sues government for N$4 million over stillbirth

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A couple from Otjiwarongo is suing the government for N$4 million after their baby died during birth because hospital staff allegedly refused to treat the woman days earlier. In documents filed at the Windhoek High Court last month, Yvonne Pollmann and her husband Rodney Pollmann cite Kalumbi Shangula, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Doctor Biti, and Doctor Felix Mutombo as the first, second, and third defendants. According to the documents, Pollmann who on the 6th of March 2022, was nine months pregnant was in immense pain and asked her husband to take to her to hospital…

27 Apr

Financial allocation for Standing Committees increased

info_e12wt4csNational NewsFinancial allocation for Standing Committees increased

Stefanus Nashama The Chairperson of the National Council, Lukas Sinimbo Muha yesterday stated that the National Council financial allocation for Standing Committees has been increased by about 133 percent He said the increase from N$300 000 to N$400 000 in the 2022/2023 financial year to N$700 000 to N$900 000 in the 2023/2024 financial year, amounts to more than 130 percent. The increment is with the exception of the Standing Committee on Implementation and Coordination, which has been, appropriated an amount of N$300 000 for this financial year. The N$700 000 to N$900 000 financial allocation aims at improving key…

27 Apr

Okongo Constituency makes strides in the fight against drought

info_e12wt4csNational NewsOkongo Constituency makes strides in the fight against drought

Martin Endjala The Okongo Constituency in the Ohangwena Region is making strides in the fight against drought, following its fully-fledged Omauni project that is progressing well with ensuring food security. “Food security is our first priority in the Okongo constituency as well as ensuring that the region shy away from buying vegetables and fruit from other towns such as Etunda and Tsumeb,” said the Okongo Constituency Councillor, Efiaim Lebbius. During an interview with this publication, the councillor stated that since his election in 2020, his main priority was to ensure food security for the region, and to date, he has…

27 Apr

Lungameni fired by his board

info_e12wt4csNational NewsLungameni fired by his board

Niël Terblanché The Agro-marketing and Trade Agency (Amta) managing director Lucas Lungameni has been fired by the agency’s Board of Directors today after he was found guilty on eight counts of misconduct, which includes the disappearance of around N$6,2 million. Lungameni was suspended last year after irregularities and rampant corruption were reported to the board. In a statement, Lorna Shikongo-Kuvare, Chairperson of the Amta Board of Directors, confirmed the sacking of Lungameni and said he breached several contractual obligations to the agency. “Despite the unfortunate outcome of the disciplinary hearing, the board of Amta assures the public and its stakeholders…

27 Apr

Constitution authors omitted recognition of the genocide

info_e12wt4csNational NewsConstitution authors omitted recognition of the genocide

Stefanus Nashama Member of Parliament, Vipuakuje Muharukua, says the authors of the Namibian Constitution have omitted to recognize the Herero and Nama Genocide that occurred in Namibia between 1904 and 1908. “This makes someone wonder if the genocide has a specific recognition in the history of Namibia,” Muharukua argued during his contribution to the motion tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, titled ‘Building a Memorial Genocide Museum. He stated that the Namibian Constitution does not recognize the genocide as a dark event and as part of Namibian History. “We are still calling for it to be recognized as part of Namibian…

27 Apr

Musheko refutes allegations of neglect

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Martin Endjala The Ministry of Agriculture Water Land and Reform has refuted allegations that no budget was allocated to the Mashare Agriculture Development Institute (MADI). The allegations were described as a blatant lie and that budget allocation has indeed been made available, except for the fact that it is decentralised in Windhoek. The ministry’s Spokesperson, Jona Musheko, during an interview with this publication yesterday, explained that due to high inflation, which has heavily impacted the economy, the budget allocated to the Agriculture Ministry was reduced, which then led to the Ministry only allocating certain budget to MADI. This comes after…

26 Apr

Ndeunyema will continue running Namcor for now

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNdeunyema will continue running Namcor for now

Niël Terblanché Shiwana Ndeunyema will remain as the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia’s Acting Managing Director after the negotiation process with Lionel Matthews came to a dead end. The negotiation process between Matthews and the Namcor Board of Directors started a few weeks after the dramatic suspension of Immanuel Mulunga from the position. The negotiation process started because the board made no formal offer to Matthews to act as the interim Managing Director. A statement issued by Namcor’s board, confirms that Ndeunyema, the company’s Business Strategy Executive, will continue to oversee the day-to-day operations of the corporation while other candidates…

26 Apr

PM loses court battle against ACC Investigator

info_e12wt4csNational NewsPM loses court battle against ACC Investigator

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has been defeated by Phelem Masule, an investigator of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) when a High Court Judge yesterday set aside her decision to reverse his promotion. Masule whose promotion was reversed by Kuugongelwa-Amadhila in 2020 applied to the High Court to challenge the decision. An ecstatic Masule after the court case was concluded said: “The Prime Minister’s decision has been set aside and I am ready to go into office and take on the challenge.” According to documents filed at the Windhoek High Court, former Executive Director of the ACC Hannu Shipena notified…