Page 246 – News Stand

23 Sep

NamWater rushes to restore water supply in Okakarara

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s national water utility has assured residents of Okakarara and surrounding areas that it is busy with restoring consistent water supply after disruptions caused by issues with the Okakarara-Elandspan pipeline. The temporary shutdown of the water transfer from Kombat Mine on September 10 disrupted the water supply to Okakarara and nearby areas like Ombinda and Elandspan, according to Lot Ndamanomhata, NamWater's spokesperson, on Monday. “This measure was taken by NamWater to manage energy costs,” he said. The water supply to Okakarara is sourced from the Grootfontein-Kombat Omatako canal system and processed at the Okakarara purification plant. This facility…

23 Sep

Internal politics disrupt MUN operations

info_e12wt4csNational NewsGeorge Ampweya, Mineworkers Union of Namibia

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Mineworkers Union of Namibia’s (MUN) secretary general, George Ampweya has attributed the union’s current difficulties to internal divisions and factionalism, which he says are undermining the organisation's work. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer, Ampweya identified ongoing infighting, which he believes is driven by loyalties to former union leaders, as a major challenge. “The problem I am picking up is that there are a lot of issues coming from the region, the infights and loyalty to specific individuals. There are several alliances that want to tarnish the reputations of individuals currently in office,” Ampweya said. The issue came…

23 Sep

APP not interested in 96 parliamentary seats

info_e12wt4csNational NewsElectoral Commission of Namibia

Stefanus Nashama Unlike other political parties, the All People’s Party (APP) has only nominated 50 people for parliament. Last Wednesday, the party released a list of only 50 candidates, whereas other parties have 96. The party’s leader, Ambrosius Kumbwa, told the Windhoek Observer last week that there is no need for a complete list since no political party has obtained 96 seats in parliament before. "We are not interested in 96 seats." No one has managed to get so many seats before, not even the Swapo, which used to have the majority,” he said. Kumbwa attributed his reasoning to the…

23 Sep

No government or ruling party lasts forever – Venaani

info_e12wt4csFeatured, National NewsPopular Democratic Movement, SWAPO

Stefanus Nashama The Popular Democratic Movement’s (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani believes the reign of Swapo will not last forever. He made the remarks while addressing a PDM mega rally at Nkurenkuru on Saturday. “There is no loyalty to the Namibian people. However, ladies and gentlemen, let me remind you: no government or ruling party lasts forever. The reign of Swapo shall not last forever either,” he said. Venaani claimed that the current government has been manipulating the country for a long time. “We must confront the undeniable reality that our communities have been manipulated for far too long,” he stated.…

23 Sep

Bondelswarts gears up for cultural showcase at World Tourism Day

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The Bondelswarts Heritage Foundation is preparing to host a historical cultural event at the Warmbad Heritage site, embracing the theme “Promoting Unity, Tourism, and Culture for Development” on World Tourism Day on 27 September. This global day of recognition presents an opportunity to explore the transformative power of tourism, especially in rural communities like Warmbad, situated in the //Kharas region. Mathew Veldskoen, the spokesperson for the Bondelswarts Heritage Foundation, stated that tourism has the potential to be a force for positive change in rural areas across the world. He stressed that the event in Warmbad will not only…

23 Sep

Omungwelume Sports Club working on developing a stadium

info_e12wt4csSports

Hilarius Hamutenya The Katunanghee Football Club is organising a youth tournament to help raise funds to develop sports facilities in the village of Omungwelume in the Ohangwena region. The event is slated for December. The club’s co-founder, Ndatipo Shomongula, said they came up with the idea to attract sponsorship. “We don't have enough financial support. I tried to ask many business owners for assistance to help us with funds, but no one helped me,” said Shomongula. He added that he bought the land in January 2018 with the idea of building facilities for basketball, volleyball, and soccer. He said that…

23 Sep

Chief Justice urges consistency in court rulings nationwide

info_e12wt4csNational News2024 Annual Magistrates Conference, Peter Shivute

Niël Terblanché Namibia's Chief Justice, Peter Shivute, during the official opening of the 2024 Annual Magistrates Conference reiterated the importance of a unified magistracy in delivering justice efficiently and fairly across all regions of the country. The conference that started in Swakopmund on Monday morning will focus on the theme of “Fostering a Unified Magistracy.” The event that brought together magistrates from across Namibia serves as a platform for exchanging ideas and addressing the many challenges facing the lower courts in the country. Justice Shivute stressed that for many Namibians, their first encounter with the legal system happens in the…

23 Sep

NAMPOA empowers journalists with in-depth insights into oil and gas industry

info_e12wt4csEnergy, Observer MoneyEnvironmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA)

Niël Terblanché As Namibia’s upstream petroleum industry continues to grow, driven by significant offshore discoveries, public interest has surged. Along with growing interest comes a pressing need for the media to provide accurate, well-informed coverage of the sector. In response, the Namibia Petroleum Operators Association (NAMPOA) is hosting a press seminar aimed at enhancing journalists’ understanding of the oil and gas industry, particularly its upstream operations. Scheduled for 24 September 2024, this seminar seeks to bridge the information gap between the oil and gas industry and the public by equipping media professionals with the tools necessary for informed reporting. The…

23 Sep

Residential development dominates August building statistics

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNational Housing Enterprise (NHE), Simonis Storm Securities

Martin Endjala Residential development in Windhoek and Swakopmund dominated building statistics during August, with construction activities in both cities continuing to show growth. According to a report by Simonis Storm Securities, construction activity remained modest in both Windhoek and Swakopmund, with continued development in both regions. Windhoek recorded an increase in approvals from 189 in July 2024 to 222 in August 2024, the highest on record for the year. Swakopmund also saw a rise in approvals, jumping from 39 to 64 during the same period. Despite this increase in construction activity, the overall value of completed projects experienced a sharp…

23 Sep

A 50MW solar power plant to be constructed near Ruacana

info_e12wt4csEnergy, Observer MoneyCathral Investment Seventy-Seven (Pty) Ltd

Martin Endjala A 50-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) power plant is set to be constructed near Ruacana if a proposal to build it is approved. Cathral Investment Seventy-Seven (Pty) Ltd. (CI77), plans to develop a 50 MW solar power plant on a site at the NamPower Kunene substation in the Omusati region. “The plant is not for local supply, but it's for international supply and central Namibia,” Enviro Dynamics’s environmental consultant, Norman Van Zyl said during a telephone interview with the Windhoek Observer on Monday. Enviro Dynamics has been instructed to apply for an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) on behalf of CI77.…