Page 134 – News Stand

19 Jan

SSC member contributions increased

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Martin Endjala The Social Security Commission (SSC) has announced that it will increase maternity leave, sick leave, and other benefits as of 1 March. The commission announced this in a notice issued on Friday. This means that registered members will now have to pay more for their social security monthly contribution. It also means that the commission will have more funds to pay out to all members, especially for retirement, sick leave and maternity leave benefits. Last year there were calls to increase the set benefits. As of 1 March, the maximum basic wage ceiling, which is the limit to…

19 Jan

Beyond the game with MT – A call for a change in mindset for sports leadership

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Sports

Mathew T Haikali Am just saying, the dream of professionalizing sports in Namibia will remain out of reach unless there is a shift in the mindset of those leading the sector. Despite claiming to be passionate about sports, many leaders have failed to prioritize the long-term development of the industry. All I am saying is that this stagnation is evident in how teams, clubs and academies continue to rely on handouts and grants without showing genuine commitment or the accountability expected of professional organizations. I still remember a time when a major bank pledged N$2.5 million annually over three years…

19 Jan

PDM and NANSO call for broadened debt relief for graduates

info_e12wt4csNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe A member of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and member of Parliament, Maximilliant Katjimune and Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO) president Dorthea Nangolo called on the government to settle all outstanding debts for all graduates, rather than limiting the intervention to those who graduated in April 2024. Their appeal follows a recent directive by the Cabinet, through the Ministry of Higher Education and Innovation, instructing the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) to write off the outstanding debts of April 2024 graduates. This measure is intended to allow these graduates to obtain their qualifications and secure employment. “One…

19 Jan

Student organisations call for focused intervention in English and Afrikaans

info_e12wt4csNational News

Allexer Namundjembo NANSO spokesperson Junias Haufiku has identified students' reluctance to study key subjects as a major contributor to high failure rates. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer last week, Haufiku noted that this trend is particularly noticeable in languages like English and Afrikaans, where many learners believe they can pass without putting in the necessary effort to study. “The assumption that they can succeed without diligent study creates a gap between their expectations and the reality of the exam's challenges. As a result, the level of difficulty in the exams often comes as a shock to many students,…

19 Jan

Essential services will be provided for Windhoek flood victims

info_e12wt4csNational News

Stefanus Nashama Victims of stormwater flooding in Windhoek two weeks ago and who were recently relocated to Farm 508, situated behind the Goreangab informal settlement, will soon have access to essential services, including schools, a clinic, and a police station. Samora Machel Constituency councillor, Nestor Kalola confirmed this in an interview with the Windhoek Observer over the weekend. "The construction of the clinic, police station, and schools is in progress," he said. He said the site for the new services was handed over to the contractor by the Khomas Regional Council on January 9, and work has begun. Kalola added…

17 Jan

Young author from Ongha seeks support to publish first novel

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Opinions

Mallex Shipanga Seventeen-year-old Julia Shaama from Ongha village in the Ohangwena region is seeking assistance to publish her debut novel, Behind Me. Shaama, a learner at Dr Abraham Iyambo Secondary School, has completed her manuscript but faces challenges in getting it published. “The book is complete, but I still have not published the book. I do not know where to publish the book. I have got no sponsors,” she said. She expressed her pride in completing the novel and her eagerness to see it published. “With happiness and a smile on my face, I will be proud to see that…

17 Jan

“QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES?”

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Opinions“QUIS CUSTODIET IPSOS CUSTODES?”

PAUL T. SHIPALE “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” But who will guard the guardians? - Who watches over the watchdogs? In a letter advising a friend about marriage and infidelity in the second century CE, Juvenal posed the question: “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” (But who will guard the guardians?). He argued that since men were guilty of infidelity, they could not use marriage to police women into fidelity. In around 380 BC, Plato had tried to grapple with this question politically in the Republic through his Socratic Dialogue. In trying to explain Socrates’s views on the question, he argues that the…

17 Jan

Breaking Stereotypes and Embracing Vocational Education for a Brighter Future in Namibia

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Opinions

JUNIAS ERASMUS For too long, vocational education in Namibia has been seen as less important because of the pervasive belief that only university degrees lead to success. This misconception has not only limited opportunities for many young people but has also contributed to a mismatch between workforce needs and available skills. In reality, vocational education offers a practical and empowering path to personal fulfillment, financial stability, and national development. It is time for Namibians to break free from outdated stereotypes and embrace vocational training as a cornerstone of a brighter, more inclusive future. Vocational education equips individuals with specialized, hands-on…

17 Jan

Capitalism be warned it is “business unusual!” For Meme Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is here?

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Opinions

Since the official announcement of the presidential and national elections by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) on the 30th of November last year, the local media, both the traditional mainstream media, printed and broadcast, as well as the social media, has seen a mixed bag of congratulations and exasperation. Punctuated by celebrations with praise-singing for President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, popularly and gloriously dubbed NNN by the media, dubbing that seems indeed to have received the popular approval at large of her Swapo Party of Namibia, of which she was the presidential candidate. As for the party diehards, membership, supporters, sympathisers,…

17 Jan

Namibia’s national sanitation and hygiene strategy 2022-2027, could be a beacon of hope to address the country’s sanitation predicament

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Opinions

Wayambekange N. Hamufenhu Each evening, “Kelao,” a 16-year-old girl, and her peers undertake a dangerous journey to the mountains of the “One Nation” informal settlement of Windhoek. The young Kelao, like many residents of the informal settlements, daily navigate risks such as snake bites and potential assaults in their search for basic hygiene. The urgency of their situation is heightened by the unintended consequence of trampling upon the waste they carry back to their shacks amid hurried retreats prompted by any hint of danger. The Government of Namibia has boldly decided to address the challenges faced by residents like Kelao,…