Observer Money – Page 110 – Windhoek Observer

10 Jun

Ovaherero and Nama leaders plan ahead …as appeal to US Supreme court is declined

ObserverObserver MoneyParamount Chief of the Ovaherero, US Supreme Court, Vekuii Rukoro

Andrew Kathindi Paramount Chief of the Ovaherero, Vekuii Rukoro, has revealed that they will now seek recourse at the United Nations and the African Union for justice in the matter regarding the genocide that was committed by Germany between 1904 and 1908. On Monday 7 June, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a petition by the Nama and Ovaherero leaders, which sought to restart a lawsuit for damages against Germany for the genocide. “In light of the latest diplomatic and legal developments, we shall now escalate our campaign at the diplomatic front by ensuring that the United Nations, the…

09 Jun

High Court Skips Case Over German Imperial Africa Atrocities

ObserverObserver MoneyNama, Ovaherero, U.S. Supreme Court, Vekuii Rukoro

Lauren Berg The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a petition to revive a lawsuit seeking damages from Germany for atrocities and property seizures committed by its colonial authorities against Indigenous groups from southwestern Africa more than a century ago. The high court’s denial comes after the Second Circuit in September tossed the suit after finding that a proposed class seeking to represent members and descendants of the Ovaherero and Nama Indigenous peoples could not overcome Germany’s sovereign immunity because they hadn’t proved that money used by the country to purchase property in New York could be traced…

09 Jun

Education ministry buys touch screen devices at N$8 million

ObserverObserver MoneyEducation, N$8 million

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has said that COVID-19 precipitated its purchase of 97 touch screen devices valued at N$ 8 773 407 (N$ 78 650 per screen, excluding VAT. “Given that we operate in a corona virus era which is characterized by remote teaching and learning, the interactive touch screens offer us versatility,” Education ministry Executive Director, Sanet Steenkamp, told Windhoek Observer. According to the device’s specifications, they are able to allow for remote teaching where teachers are able to connect their learners through their smart gadgets and teach remotely in real time. “The screens…

09 Jun

Health Ministry says no to ivermectin approval … as doctors submit petition

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS), South Africa, Zimbabwe

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) says it has no intentions to approve ivermectin for COVID-19 treatment. A petition by over 30 doctors was sent to the MOHSS and Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC), asking that the drug should receive an emergency approval for COVID-19 treatment in the country. Health Executive Director (ED), Ben Nangombe, and the council's registrar of medicine, Johannes Gaeseb, both confirmed receiving the petition. “The ministry issued a document, a public notice on the second of February about the views on ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 in Namibia. A that point…

08 Jun

Reconciliation, Reconstruction Agreement a fait accompli?

ObserverObserver MoneyNational Assembly, Omurari Wondjivisiro Ombaranga, Usutuaije Maamberua

Staff Writer The Reconciliation and Reconstruction Agreement between the Namibian government and its German counterpart, is now headed for Parliament this week. It seems a fait accompli that the agreement will sail through the National Assembly given the Swapo majority in this house. Following Vice President, Nangolo Mbumba’s national address last Friday, the agreement is now bound for the National Assembly this week which resumes its session tomorrow. Albeit Mbumba this is after passing and stopping at the Office of the General Assembly. This is worrying some members of the affected communities, notably among them former Member of Parliament, Usutuaije…

08 Jun

Witness delay parliament disciplinary hearing

ObserverObserver MoneyBernardus Swartbooi, Henny Seibeb, Landless People’s Movement (LPM)

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri and Andrew Kathindi Outstanding witness statements have delayed the on-going matter between Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leaders Bernardus Swartbooi and Henny Seibeb and Parliament. This comes after the two members of Parliament had not submitted themselves to a disciplinary process at Parliament after raising concerns with how the process was being conducted. “The Committee of Privileges sat today. However, the Committee could not do much in relation to the disciplinary process as there are still a few outstanding witnesses’ statements from MPs who some attended the just-ended Pan African Parliament session,” Parliament’s spokesperson, David Nahogandja, said. This comes…

08 Jun

Family to sue for death after COVID-19 vaccine

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Rhino Park Medical Centre

Andrew Kathindi The family of Usiel Uapiona Kajovi, a 62-year-old man who died hours after being vaccinated with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine plan to file a lawsuit after they suspect negligence led to his death. Kajovi was inoculated against COVID-19 at Rhino Park Medical Centre on 17 May, the day he died. The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) stated that an investigation into what transpired was launched. “We are looking for a lawsuit. The nurses didn’t check his vitals. That is something that should have not been allowed to happen to him,” Kajovi’s step-son, Uendjii Tjituka told Windhoek Observer.…

04 Jun

OTA, NTLA rubbishes Katjirua’s stance …as Rukoro calls for referendum

ObserverObserver MoneyAdvocate Vekuii Rukoro, Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA), Ovaherero and Nama, Paramount Chief of the Ovaherero

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Nama Traditional Leaders Association (NTLA) and Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) have rubbished the announcement by Chairman of the Ovaherero-Ovambanderu and Nama Council for Dialogue (ONCD) 1904-1908, Gerson Katjirua, saying he does not have the authority to speak for the broader majority of the Ovaherero and Nama descendants of the genocide victims. Katjirua on Thursday morning, claimed that, “we as the entire council are not here to reject the offer, we are here to give it a go ahead, adding that “we would like to see that when the declaration is signed, we as the chiefs representing the…

04 Jun

Shaningwa ignores Geingob’s orders

ObserverObserver Moneypresident Hage Geingob, Sophia Shaningwa, SWAPO, Swapo Secretary-General

Staff reporter It is alleged that Swapo Secretary-General, Sophia Shaningwa, continues to defy an order issued by President Hage Geingob to apologise to Okorukambe district coordinator, Frans Murangi, for having removed him from his position in 2017, in place of another candidate despite the ruling party having endorsed his election. The matter arises after Murangi was summoned before the Swapo party politburo earlier this year after being deemed disruptive in the region by Shaningwa. Murangi, however, explained to Geingob that he had been endorsed and appointed by the politburo in 2017 but a delegation led by Shaningwa had instead appointed…

03 Jun

Genocide deal review urged

ObserverObserver MoneyGenocide

Tujoromajo Kasuto and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Political commentators in Namibia and abroad have urged the German government to relook at its offer and how it handled negotiations that have led to a deal being announced between the country and the Namibian government. This comes as representatives of the descendants of the victims of the genocide have unanimously rejected the deal as well as an apology offered by German Foreign Affairs Minister, Heiko Maas. On the rejections of the deal in Namibia, President of the International Network of Genocide Scholars (INoGS) and German Historian, Jürgen Zimmerer, stated that “it is a missed…