Observer Money

Amutenya freed with state withdrawing charges

Amutenya freed with state withdrawing charges

Maria Hamutenya Addis Ababa murder accused, Kristofina Amutenya, was on Wednesday freed after the state provisionally withdrew charges against the former spouse of a diplomat. The charges were withdrawn in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court after Magistrate Alweendo Venatius was informed in a letter from the Office of the Government Attorney that the withdrawal had been agreed with Amutenya's lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo. Amoomo challenged the Namibian authorities’ decision to arrest and charge Amutenya with two counts of murder, and one of attempted murder upon her arrival from Addis Ababa. Amoomo claimed that she (Amutenya) was not presented with any documents or…
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Addis murder suspect appears in court

Addis murder suspect appears in court

Maria Hamutenya Kristofina Amutenya (33) made her first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. H owever, Magistrate Venatius Alweendo postponed the matter to Wednesday pending an urgent High Court application filed by her lawyers. Lawyer Kadhila Amoomo, who is representing the murder accused, has challenged the decision of the Namibian authorities to arrest and charge Amutenya with two counts of murder, and one count of attempted murder upon her arrival from Addis Ababa on Monday. Amoomo has filed for an urgent application in the High Court to ask for her arrest and detention in Namibia to be declared…
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Defence Minister resigns . . . as ACC maintains it won’t investigate

Defence Minister resigns . . . as ACC maintains it won’t investigate

Andrew Kathindi and Rose-Mary Haufiku Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Peter Vilho, has resigned, following his afternoon-long meeting with President Hage Geingob on Tuesday, the Presidency has announced. Geingob summoned Vilho to State House to explain himself following allegations of illicit proceeds in an undeclared Hong Kong bank account. Vilho served as minister for a year and a month, after he was appointed by Geingob in March 2020. His tenure at the ministry was, however, riddled with corruption allegations. According to the Presidency, Vilho informed the President that his continued membership of the Executive was “untenable” and the “ongoing…
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BoN declares N$278m dividend

BoN declares N$278m dividend

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Bank of Namibia on Wednesday declared a N$278.2 million dividend for the 2020 financial year to the State Revenue Fund, lower than the N$399 million declared prior year. This comes as the apex bank declared a N$532 million surplus for the period under review. “The financial performance of the Bank in 2020 was negatively impacted by low interest rates in the global markets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; nonetheless the Bank still recorded a notable surplus albeit lower in comparison with 2019. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 was characterised by…
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COVID-19 restrictions extended …as Namibia passes COVID-19 death estimates

COVID-19 restrictions extended …as Namibia passes COVID-19 death estimates

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob on Wednesday extended the current COVID-19 regulations, with minor changes to the measures. Under the current dispensation, which will last until 30 April, restriction on movement will remain in place from 22h00 until 04h00, daily. Restaurants, bars and shebeens will be permitted to extend the trading hours for liquor up to 22h00, Mondays to Saturdays. The sale of alcohol on Sundays will remain prohibited, while attendance at public gatherings have been increased from the current number of 50 to 100 persons per event, whether the event is held indoor and outdoor. Minister of Health and…
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Windhoek budgets N$350m for cycle lanes … Electric cars not a priority

Windhoek budgets N$350m for cycle lanes … Electric cars not a priority

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The City of Windhoek plans to implement bicycle lanes within the City at an estimated cost of N$350 million for Phase 1. The Windhoek Observer can reveal the development will now make bicycle lanes compulsory for all newly constructed roads moving forward. “Since the City developed the non-motorised transport (NMT) strategy, there is a condition that says ensure that NMT requirements are incorporated in all new developments; private sector and public sector projects alike. Each road within the City should include cycling lanes, going forward,” City Spokesperson, Harold Akwenye, said. The plan, which falls in line with plans…
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New 213 applicants awarded fishing quota

New 213 applicants awarded fishing quota

Andrew Kathindi The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Albert Kawana, has announced that 213 new applications for fishing quotas were approved by the Government. This number represents 71 percent of all the successful applicants. According to the ministry, 298 applications were successful out of the initial 5, 176 submitted in 2018. The main beneficiaries for the quotas are applicants in the Khomas region with 11 percent with Erongo with 9,9 percent. Kavango East and Kavango West regions were the lowest with 0,6 percent and 0,4 percent applications approved respectively. "It will also be shown that, unfortunately, some regions did…
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Covid-19: Judge calls for parliamentary oversight & democratic accountability

Covid-19: Judge calls for parliamentary oversight & democratic accountability

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK - A widely-acclaimed judge, Professor Justice Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake, has implored legislative functionaries in the SADC region to “ensure the observance of parliamentary oversight and scrutiny, democratic accountability, transparency, legitimacy” at all stages in the legislative process as the world grapples with Covid-19. Dingake is a former Judge of the High Court of Botswana. He is now a Justice of the Residual Special Court of Sierra Leone, the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea and the Court of Appeal of Seychelles. He made the call when he virtually addressed Clerks of national Parliaments affiliated to the…
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Vaccine arrival delayed again

Vaccine arrival delayed again

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has bemoaned the delay in the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines which it purchased through the COVAX Facility. This comes as the latest communication from the Facility coordinators, which came last week, stated that the vaccines will only arrive in the country in the next three weeks. This is the third time that the vaccine arrival date has been announced, after an email in January from the COVAX Facility, had informed MoHSS Minister, Kalumbi Shangula, that the vaccine would arrive in mid or end of February, and later shifted to…
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Taxi fare increase set for Wednesday

Taxi fare increase set for Wednesday

Maria Hamutenya Taxi fares will increase from N$12 to N$ 13.20 as of 31 March, Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) leader, Werner Januarie, announced on Monday. According to Januarie, the increment is in line with the law, section 12 of the Road Transportation Act of 1977, which states that when there is any fuel increment, unions are allowed to give notice for taxi fare increment. “It is only in subsequent section where board’s approval is sought and only in instances where the increase requested is above the threshold of ten percent, thus the NTTU pricelist is now finalised and…
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