Page 1279 – Windhoek Observer

14 Aug

Netflix – The Old Guard – check it out!

UncategorisedNetflix, The Old Guard

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Ok, Martha, my youngest daughter and movie-watching BFF, and I saw The Old Guard on Netflix. OMG (as she would say) – that movie was lit! Ironically, my other daughter, Neni in France also watched it. We agreed that the next movie we watch, we will do it via Netflix Party so we can text each other while the movie is going on. I must give context that we are a super-hero-movie-loving household. Therefore, a movie about a hidden team of immortal mercenaries that have been running around the planet fighting in wars and conflicts for centuries…

14 Aug

COUCH CAT: Send for take-out, please

UncategorisedCOVID, State of Emergency

Jackie Wilson Asheeke With the setback in our advancement towards a full end of the State of Emergency, restaurants and cafes are getting kicked in the butt again. We can’t go to our usual places and meet friends, socialize (from a distance), or get a hot meal or cappuccino anymore. We can only get take away. To keep the declining restaurants alive for a bit longer, those who can, must get take-aways as often as possible. If you are like me and working remote and suffering on half salary indefinitely, money is super tight (even though you are actually putting…

14 Aug

Clash of the Doctors

UncategorisedDr Bernard Haufiku

The Time Traveler: Hugh Ellis The President’s Special Adviser on Health Matters, Dr Bernard Haufiku, was given his marching orders by Hage Geingob recently. This was reportedly after Minister of Health Dr Kalumbi Shangula complained to Geingob that Haufiku was ‘causing discord among team members’ in the fight against Covid-19, and ‘disclosing sensitive information’ without prior clearance. Personally, I’ve no idea if Dr Haufiku was indeed being a difficult git - or whether, as many of the public suspect, he had a knack for telling the unvarnished truth, which rubbed career bureaucrats obsessed with protocol the wrong way. Having worked…

14 Aug

Poor and black does not equal criminal and bad

Uncategorisedneighbourhoods, Operation Kalahari

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I read an interesting opinion piece in the Namibian from Elifas Nghtomoka about the criminalization of poverty. It is a fact of life in Namibia that if you are poor and black in Namibia you are guilty until you are proven innocent. This must stop. The police are extra vigilant against the poor and black particularly in the tin shack suburbs as if that is the only place where crimes happen. People would be shocked about the high levels of criminality that takes place behind the high walls of lovely homes in affluent areas. Indeed as the…

14 Aug

How can capitalism be expected to deliver?

Uncategorisedcapitalism

Yours Truly Ideologically-Eighth Instalment: Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Yours Truly Ideologically, inaugurated with a broadside at local analysts for their hollow, empty and ideologically void verbiage on the management of state and/or governmental affairs, socio-economically, and also politically. Observing that for most the analytical verbiage has never posited the system in its proper ideological context, either way be it socialist-oriented , capitalist or a mixture of the two, as Namibia’s is proffered to be. For these analysts, the bottom line has been seemingly the non-delivery of the system. Ignoring the fundamental question: Deliver what, and who from what? Deliver the workers from…

14 Aug

Affected communities reject government efforts

National NewsGermans, Namibia, president Hage Geingob

The most emotive and sensitive issues in Namibia are the genocide of 1904-1908 and reparations. This week, President Hage Geingob rejected a monetary offer by Germany as ‘reparations’ for genocide. Colonial Germany specifically targeted and killed tens of thousands of people. They stole everything these people owned. They engaged in a vicious military action that permanently drove thousands out of the country of their birth. Deutsche Welle (DW) announced the proposed amount was 10 million euros. Geingob declared the amount, “insulting.” But inside Namibia this issue runs deep. Communities of people directly affected by the genocide are not a part…

14 Aug

NUST still hunting for VC

Observer MoneyNamibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Vice-Chancellor

Andrew Kathindi The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) is yet to appoint a substantive Vice-Chancellor over a year after long-serving Vice-Chancellor, Tjama Tjivikua stepped down. The University Council, which is chaired by Florette Nakusera and appointed by Higher Education Minister Itah Kandji-Murangi in November last year to serve until 2022, is yet to find a suitable candidate. In May this year, Dr Andrew Niikondo was appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a period of six months or until a substantial Vice Chancellor is appointed by council. He replaced Morné du Toit, after his term lapsed. Du Toit serves on…

14 Aug

Travel ban hits Air Namibia

Observer MoneyAir Namibia, Covid-19

Andrew Kathindi The grounding of Air Namibia flights amid the recently imposed national travel ban is set to hit the national carrier’s falling revenues, thus impact its turnaround strategy. Domestic travel was reintroduced in the country on 4 May following the initial State of Emergency proclamation by President Hage Geingob. Earlier this week however, following fears of rising cases of COVID-19, the President declared domestic travel restrictions. “As Air Namibia is involved in the business of transporting passengers and cargo, the temporary suspension of all domestic flights has a detrimental effect on the airline’s already difficult cash flow position, considering…

14 Aug

Law Society loses Sisa Namandje case

Observer MoneyJudge Herman Oosthuizen, Law Society of Namibia’s (LSN), Sisa Namandje

Andrew Kathindi Judge Herman Oosthuizen on Friday dismissed the Law Society of Namibia’s (LSN) application to probe the financial records of lawyer Sisa Namandje’s law firm as part of its investigation into his connections to the Fishrot saga. Judge Oosthuizen, however, found that the application was not properly and lawfully authorized. In his judgment delivered via Zoom, Judge Oosthuizen ordered the LSN to pay the costs, which include the costs of one instructing and two instructed counsel. “I am seriously concerned by the modus operandi followed by the LSN as the regulating body of all enrolled legal practitioners in Namibia…

14 Aug

Government must declare independence from Struggle Kids

National NewsChildren of the Liberation Struggle, Covid-19, Namibia

It is time for the government to free itself from the emotional stranglehold exerted by the group calling themselves Children of the Liberation Struggle. The country is being strangled by COVID-19. It is also facing drought recovery challenges and overall economic disaster. There is alarming unemployment levels (and rising), a horrific housing crisis, and the soon-to-arrive IMF. The government must forgive its original poor handling of this crisis years ago, add up what has been done well, declare victory, and move on. This is a country of 2.5 million people. The needs of 300 citizens calling themselves children of the…