Observer Money

Swapo constituency councillor could be heading out …as APP seeks eight months back pay

Swapo constituency councillor could be heading out …as APP seeks eight months back pay

Andrew Kathindi Swapo party’s Ndonga Linena Constituency councillor in the Kavango East region, Kampota Michael Shiwana, could be forced to relinquish his position. This is after the High Court ordered the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to disclose to All Peoples Party (APP) 57 ballots that had been rejected. The APP earlier this year through their lawyer, Henry Shimutwikeni, argued that a number of ballots that had been rejected by ECN officials were actually valid. If so, they argued, this would make the APP candidate, Djami Balthazar Daniel, the winner in that Constituency. Shiwana was declared the winner in the…
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No second opinion for Harvey Boulter medical state

No second opinion for Harvey Boulter medical state

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Police are yet to receive a second medical opinion on the medical condition of murder suspect, Harvey Boulter, two weeks after he was admitted to the Paramount Healthcare Centre, it has emerged. Boulter is still undergoing treatment for an undisclosed medical condition at Paramount Healthcare Centre, where the murder suspect was directly relocated after being quarantined for Covid-19 at the Safari Court Hotel. According to Khomas Police Commander, Commissioner Ismael Basson, Boulter is hospitalised as per doctor’s instructions. He is not aware if the Police have looked for a second opinion to confirm the legitimacy of Boulters…
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Rukoro unlikely to be buried this week

Rukoro unlikely to be buried this week

Andrew Kathindi It is highly unlikely that the Paramount Chief of the Ovaherero, Vekuii Rukoro, will be buried within the seven days as per the COVID-19 regulations. Although Minister of Health and Social Services (MOHSS), Kalumbi Shangula, has not pronounced himself on the matter following a request from the Ovaherero Traditional Authorities (OTA) to extend the window in which Chief Paramount of the Ovaherero, Vekuii Rukoro may be buried, logistics are in a premature stage for Rukoro to be accorded a State Funeral by Friday. OTA Secretary General, Mutjinde Katjiua, who wrote to Kalumbi requesting an extension, says he has…
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Government, OTA love-hate tiff refuses to subside

Government, OTA love-hate tiff refuses to subside

Staff Writer The love-hate tiff between the Government and the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), a factor of the negotiations for Genocide, Apology and Reparations between the Namibian government and its German counterpart in which the OTA has not been part of, seems to be continuing, spilling over into the death of Ovaherero Paramount Chief, Vekuii Rukoro, and his funeral arrangements. The Government and the OTA has as yet to reach a compromise over the burial of Rukoro, on whom the President, Dr Hage Geingob, on the recommendation of the Honours Conferment Advisory Committee has conferred a State Funeral. The OTA…
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Youth in the capital scramble to vaccination centres

Youth in the capital scramble to vaccination centres

Tujoromajo Kasuto Youth in Windhoek surge to vaccination centres amidst increasing COVID-19 cases reported within the last week in the country. The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) in March expressed concern’s at the low turnout of people being vaccinated for COVID-19, and that the number of elderly people getting vaccinated was more contrasted to the youth. Minister Kalumbi Shangula revealed that there has been an increase in people taking the vaccine within the last month. “At the beginning we noted that people would come at a particular time and currently we are seeing by 06:00 am the queue…
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The rich hoard oxygen in homes

The rich hoard oxygen in homes

Staff Writer AS the Covid-19 crisis worsens and state hospitals in particular, get overwhelmed with the number of patients gasping for air in the face of the dire shortage of oxygen at the institutions, a number of rich people have resorted to buying their own oxygen tanks and turning their homes into intensive care units. Namibia is reeling under increasing Covid-19 infections with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) announcing 1 518 new cases and three deaths were recorded in the country on Monday. Khomas has the largest share of new infections with 927 cases followed by Erongo…
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OTA appoints Transitional Committee

OTA appoints Transitional Committee

Staff Writer Following the sudden death of Ovaherero Paramount Chief, Vekuii Rukoro, the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA) has appointed a Transitional Committee assuming all the functions of the Paramount Chief. The Committee, appointed on Saturday, consists of three chiefs and four former advisers of the late paramount chief. The three chiefs are Vipuira Kapuuo of Ovitoto, Boas Tjingaete of Otjombinde and Rehabeam Rukambe of Okamatapati. The advisers are Mac Hengari, Amon Ngarite, Laurencia Katjitai and OTA Secretary, Mutjinde Katjiua. The chairperson of the OTA Genocide Committee, Nandiuasora Mazeingo, is an ex-officio member of the transitional committee. Katjiua will chair the…
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Ovaherero Paramount Chief, Vekuii Rukoro, remembered

Ovaherero Paramount Chief, Vekuii Rukoro, remembered

Andrew Kathindi Namibians on Friday morning woke up to the news of the passing of Paramount Chief (PC) of the Ovaherero, Vekuii Rukoro. This is two days after Secretary General of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), Mutjinde Katjiua, confirmed that Rukoro had tested positive for COVID-19 but was in good spirits and responding well to medication. The PC’s wife, Dina Rukoro, arrived earlier on Friday morning in the country from the United States of America (USA), where she works. “President Hage G. Geingob extends deepest sympathies to the bereaved wife, Mrs. Dinah Jorokee Rukoro, the children, entire family, Ovaherero Traditional…
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Did van der Merwe assist de Klerk?

Did van der Merwe assist de Klerk?

Staff Reporter Speculation that Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director General, Erna van der Merwe, assisted fugitive lawyer Maren de Klerk to flee refuses to subside as the Prosecutor General’s Office eagerly awaits his extradition from South Africa. De Klerk, who is accused of being the pay master in the Fishrot case, fled the country a few days after a meeting van der Merwe and other investigators at the ACC Head Office. As PG’s Office is working round the clock to bring de Klerk back to Namibia, prosecution officials are blaming van der Merwe for giving de Klerk preferential treatment, which…
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Metcalfe accuses state of more delays in Fishrot trial

Metcalfe accuses state of more delays in Fishrot trial

ANDREW KATHINDI Defence lawyer, Richard Metcalfe, who represents former Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, Bernard Esau in the Fishrot case, has accused state prosecution of delaying the case. According to Metcalfe, the state has known since 19 February, 2021, that their extradition application for Icelandic nationals who are implicated in the Fishrot scandal, was declined. According to Iceland’s Extradition of Criminals and Other Assistance in Criminal Proceedings Act, “Icelandic citizens may not be extradited unless the request stems from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.” Prosecutor General, Martha Imalwa, had indicated that she wants Samherji employees, Ingvar Júlíusson, Egill Helgi Árnason…
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