National News – Page 492 – Windhoek Observer

24 Mar

Namibian Banks remain resilient and sound – !Gawaxab

National News

Martin Endjala As the world reels from the closure of a number of regional banking institutions in the United States and a global systemically important bank based in Europe, the Bank of Namibia (BoN) has given the assurance that Namibian banks continue to remain resilient and sound, with solid capital and liquidity buffers in place to withstand risks emanating from internal and external shocks. Despite the ongoing global developments, the Namibian banking system remains liquid and well-capitalised. In this regard, the total risk-weighted assets stood at 17.0 percent at the end of December 2022, higher than the statutory minimum risk-weighted…

24 Mar

Debmarine announces record diamond production

National NewsDebmarine announces record diamond production

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Debmarine Namibia, last year, produced a whopping 1,725 million carats of diamonds. According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Debmarine, Willy Mertens, the production numbers is a new record in the history of the company. He added that the number constitutes around 80% of the total diamond production in Namibia. “Putting the 2022 record production in perspective, this number is more than triple from 506 000 carats with six vessels compared to when Debmarine Namibia commenced operations. “We achieved this not only through additional capacity but also through continued innovation and investment in new technology,” he said.…

23 Mar

Hopwood blasts Geingob over employment promises

National NewsHopwood blasts Geingob over employment promises, president Hage Geingob

Martin Endjala The Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research, Graham Hopwood has blasted the government over its mixed messages on the size of civil services which it said it will cut down to 50 percent. The announcement of more than 2 000 jobs to be created this year will only put more strain on the high budget already accumulated, Hopwood said. According to Hopwood, it is easier for government to add jobs to the defence and police forces because the educational requirements for recruits are relatively low. Hopwood further stressed that President Hage Geingob wants to see the…

23 Mar

PDM condemns activists’ arrests, police brutality

National NewsMan loses N$ 200K Police brutality lawsuit, PDM condemns activists’ arrests

Stefanus Nashama The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) yesterday condemned the arrests, alleged police brutality and intimidation of protesters against youth unemployment. This follows the arrest of PDM Member of Parliament, Inna Hengari and activists Michael Amushelelo and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma on Tuesday after they were reportedly addressing a crowd of young people who showed up to protest against youth unemployment. They were reportedly informing the crowd about a high court verdict dismissing their permission to protest on Independence Day, at Katutura Youth Centre. The Public Gathering of Proclamation of 1989 used by the police to arrest the three protesters was a…

23 Mar

Prioritize inclusivity: General Nainda

National NewsMajor General Anne-Marie Nainda, Prioritize inclusivity: General Nainda

Niel Terblanche New and old government policies in Namibia will henceforth be integrated at all stages and levels with a gender equality perspective to ensure an inclusive decision-making process. The criminal justice sector in Namibia, in particular, will come under the searchlight and in this regard a workshop to create an understanding of the impact of gender mainstreaming in the context of institutional transformation, and the integration of a gender equality perspective. The Deputy Inspector General of the Namibia Police, Major General Anne-Marie Nainda officiated at the opening of the workshop and said that it is imperative to highlight that…

23 Mar

Katjavivi optimistic about peace between Ukraine and Russia

National NewsInter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, Katjavivi optimistic about peace between Ukraine and Russia

Martin Endjala Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi says he is optimistic that continuous collaborative efforts between the parliaments of Ukraine and Russia will result in a breakthrough for peace after Russia invaded Ukraine on the 24th of February 2022. The Speaker made the statement during the Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly and related meetings, held last week, in Manama, Bahrain. Katjavivi says peace is achievable given the two countries’ willingness to come to one table to discuss meaningful and lasting solutions to the war. The Inter-Parliamentary Union is a global organization of parliaments that brings together lawmakers to identify international…

22 Mar

Namibia must move forward in unity

National NewsNamibia must move forward in unity, president Hage Geingob

Niël Terblancé Independence without economic emancipation will impede the peace and stability that Namibians have been enjoying for the past 33 years. President Hage Geingob during his keynote address during Namibia’s 33rd Independence celebrations at Outapi said that the government intends to move with lightning speed to seize opportunities and capitalise on the myriad of economic endowment the country is blessed with. Geingob added that the process will occur in a coordinated manner to ensure that sustainable jobs are created as a matter of urgency. “Indeed, it is a given that we must be forward-looking and there is no better…

22 Mar

Amushelelo, Nauyoma and Hengari arrested after unemployment protest

National NewsAmushelelo

Stefanus Nashama The police yesterday arrested Social Activists Michael Amushelelo, Dimbulukweni Nauyoma and Popular Democratic Movement Member of Parliament, Inna Hengari after they organized a national protest against youth unemployment. Hundreds of young protesters were ordered by the police to disperse while protesting yesterday at Katutura Youth Centre. According to Amushelelo’s wife, Julieta, the group was on their way home when police officers approached them and arrested Amushelelo and Nauyoma. She also alleged that police officers took away their car keys. Hengari was detained at the Klein Windhoek Police Station, a facility primarily for female inmates, while Amushelelo and Nauyoma…

22 Mar

Venaani asks Environment Ministry to mitigate climate change …as cyclone kills hundreds in Malawi

National Newsas cyclone kills hundreds in Malawi, Cyclone Freddy, Venaani asks Environment Ministry to mitigate climate change …as cyclone kills hundreds in Malawi

Hertta- Maria Amutenja President of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) McHenry Venaani, has urged the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) to develop key interventions to manage inevitable climate change in the country. Venanni shared his concerns about climate change in a statement of solidarity on Cyclone Freddy that recently hit Malawi. “I am calling upon the Ministry, as the focal point ministry to devise key interventions to manage inevitable climate change impacts through actions that build and sustain social, economic and environmental resilience and emergency response capacity so as to avoid being caught off guard in the event…

22 Mar

Parliamentary committee wants public to benefit from mining

National NewsMaria Kamutali, Parliamentary committee wants public to benefit from mining

Martin Endjala The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources says that there is a need for Namibians to benefit from the accrued shares from the mine sectors and thus they are dismayed to have learned that Namibia does not have shares in a number of mines in the country. The committee has since called for the urgent identification of such mines, to be aligned with the rest. Mining companies in which Namibia has no shares are seen as a good example to renegotiate better shares for Namibia, given that the mining sector is the main economic driver for Namibia and…