National News – Page 488 – Windhoek Observer

15 Dec

Witbooi, LPM at loggerhead over appointments

National NewsGerrit Witbooi, LPM at loggerhead over appointments, Quinton Visagie, Witbooi

Martin Endjala Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency Councilor, Gerrit Witbooi, is in a standoff with his party, the Landless Peoples Party (LPM), with whom he is in disagreement regarding the appointment of officials on the regional council. He disagree with those the party has recommended for appointment in two vacant positions of Deputy Director: Auxiliary Services and Administration and Deputy Director for Finances stating that the disagreement is not due to his deviation over the appointment of key senior leaders to the //Kharas Regional Council. He says it is unfair for the party to recommend those it has recommended while the positions…

15 Dec

Youth finally get their wish-Iipinge

National NewsIipinge, Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) Secretary for Education, Youth finally get their wish-Iipinge

Martin Endjala The just ended 7th Swapo congress three weeks ago, has seen a good number of young cadres being elected to the Central Committee (CC). Hofni Iipinge comments that the wish of youth representation in top decision-making bodies in the party has been finally answered. The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) Secretary for Education says the call for 60 per cent of youth representation on the CC and Parliament, is finally materialising as for the first time the youth is being represented on the CC, with six SPYL cadres so far and one on the Politburo (on which Iipinge…

14 Dec

N$2 billion funding for road, water infrastructure

National NewsKFW Development Bank, N$2 billion funding for road, water infrastructure

Obrein Simasiku A combined funding of N$2 billion, will be geared towards the upgrading of the 33km stretch between Usakos-Karibib, as well as the construction of a direct portable reclamation plant in the central area, including the Namibian Water Sector Support Program (WSSP) for the northern parts. The German government in collaboration with the KFW Development Bank, will bankroll the construction and rehabilitation of road networks and water infrastructure in Namibia, through a concessional loan signed today. About 40 million Euros (N$746 million) is for road construction, while 50 million Euros (N$932 million) is for water infrastructure. A further loan…

14 Dec

More fraudulent activities prevalent during holiday shopping

National NewsDigital Holiday Shopping Fraud in Namibia, More fraudulent activities prevalent during holiday shopping, Shai Cohen

Martin Endjala Fifteen percent of all global e-commerce transactions reviewed between November 24-28 are said potentially fraudulent. The latest findings released on 12 December 2022 by TransUnion Africa around global e-commerce fraud occurring during the start of the 2022 holiday shopping season reveal. In Namibia, 6% of e-commerce transactions during that period were suspected to be fraudulent. These findings are based on intelligence from billions of transactions contained in TransUnion’s fraud analytics solution suite. The analysis also determines that the average number of suspected digital fraud attempts on any given day during that holiday period globally was 82% higher than…

31 Oct

Geingob charged with Africa’s peace

National NewsAfrican Union Peace and Security Council (PSC)

Staff Writer Namibia will chair the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) for November 2022, the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation has announced in a media release. This comes as President Hage Geingob already chairs the SADC Troika. Namibia became the member of the AU Peace and Security Council on 1 April 2022 for a period of three years ending at the end of March 2025. The council is the continent’s premier peace and security body and is a ‘’standing decision-making Organ of the AU for the Prevention, Management and Resolution of Conflicts on the Continent. The 2002…

31 Oct

Global diesel shortage puts pressure on price

National NewsGlobal diesel shortage puts pressure on price, Walvis Bay

Tujoromajo Kasuto With oil prices expected to rise in the coming months following the continued ban on Russian crude oil by the European Union, with additional sanctions taking effect on the 5th of December 2022, economists predict that diesel prices are still likely to increase given global shortages. This comes as the Ministry of Mines and Energy today announced that that diesel prices will increase by N$1.98 cents per litre with petrol prices remaining unchanged. The new fuel prices in Walvis Bay will thus become N$ 24.10 per litre for diesel, while petrol remains N$20.08 per litre for petrol. The…

Shifeta underscores importance<br>of adapting to climate change

31 Oct

Shifeta underscores importance
of adapting to climate change

National NewsEnvironmental Investment Fund (EIF), Sheya Shuushona Conservancy, Shifeta underscores importance of adapting to climate change

Martin Endjala The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta highlighted that adopting to climate change is the only way to preserve the livelihoods of the people and curbing carbon emissions. He was speaking during the handover ceremony of a solar plant at Sheya Shuushona Conservancy, at the Sheya Shuushona lodge in the Otamazi constituency of the Omusati region, during his visit to the region last week. The project is funded by the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) to the tune of N$5,191,468.13 under the Ecosystem Based Adaptation investment window under the theme, ‘Empower, Adapt, Creating Climate Change Resilient Livelihoods’…

30 Oct

Telecom Namibia to invest N$2.3 billion in modernising network

National News, Observer MoneyEquiano cable, Telecom Namibia to invest N$2.3 billion in modernising network

CHAMWE KAIRA Telecom Namibia which is marking 30 years in business this year plans to invest over N$2.3 billion in the next five plus years to modernize its national network both fixed and mobile, starting from its national backbone to the core network and the access technologies, chief executive officer, Stanley Shanapinda revealed in an interview. Shanapinda said the first investment of about US$5 million has been invested in the co-landing of the Google Equiano submarine cable, in partnership with the private company Paratus, also allowing for the sharing of infrastructure as envisaged under HPPII. The Equiano cable landed in…

28 Oct

Alweendo axes mining commissioner

National NewsAlweendo axes mining commissioner, Erasmus Shivolo, Isabella Chirchir

Staff Writer The Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo in a terse media release announced the immediate replacement of Mining Commissioner of 15 years, Erasmus Shivolo, without providing any reason. Shivolo is replaced by Isabella Chirchir, which the minister says ‘’will execute her new duties with integrity, commitment and professionalism’’. The axing of Shivolo comes hot on the heels of widespread allegations of corruption in the Ministry of Mines and Energy relating to the issuance of mining licence and a bribe of N$50 million. The ministry has been rocked by allegations of a mining licence that had been sold…

28 Oct

Dienda concerned over Namibians in Botswana custody

National NewsDienda concerned over Namibians in Botswana custody, Elma Dienda, shoot to kill policy

Martin Endjala Popular Democratic Movement MP Elma Dienda is concerned over the treatment of Namibians incarcerated in neighbouring Botswana. Her concern, it appears emanate from Botswana’s human rights record such as its alleged shoot to kill policy for poachers and death penalty still on its statue books. “ If Botswana has a shoot to kill policy and capital punishment is legal by virtue of Section 203 of the Penal Code of Botswana, how will incarcerated non-nationals be treated within the prisons of Botswana? Will dignity be observed? Will the objective of rehabilitation be observed,” Dienda asked in her statement in…