Page 333 – News Stand

08 Aug

Tax threshold increase brings relief to homeowners

info_e12wt4csMainIipumbu Shiimi, Income Tax Act 24 of 1981

Martin Endjala Homeowners stand to benefit from the increase in the tax threshold from N$50 000 to N$100 000. This follows the presentation of proposed amendments to the Income Tax Act, 24 of 1981, in the National Assembly by finance minister, Iipumbu Shiimi this week. According to Josef Sheehama, an independent bank researcher and economist, homeowners will only have to pay tax on the amount that exceeds N$100 000. "This is a wise decision, even though government tax revenue will marginally decline. For those looking to purchase a home, this is welcome news because bond costs are expensive," he said.…

08 Aug

Katjimune warns of constitutional violations in Public Protests Law

info_e12wt4csNational Newsconstitutional violations, Katjimune, Public Protests Law

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Maximalliant Katjimune, a Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of Parliament, has criticised the government for introducing the Public Gatherings and Public Processions Bill. He described the bill as an oppressive law that is in violation of the Namibian Constitution. Albert Kawana, the Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, introduced the bill in the National Assembly on Wednesday. “Introducing a bill called the Public Gatherings and Public Processions Bill. That is wrong. Because effectively, what this bill aims to do is suppress Article 21 of the Constitution as far as fundamental rights and freedoms are concerned, specifically…

08 Aug

Labour introduces workplace flexibility for breastfeeding mothers

info_e12wt4csNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The deputy minister of labour, industrial relations, and employment creation, Hafeni Ndemula, has presented a proposal to adopt and implement the International Labour Organisation (ILO) law to allow breastfeeding women to have a daily break or reduction of hours. During the presentation in parliament on Wednesday, Ndemula emphasised the ratification of ILO Convention No. 183 of 2000 on maternity protection. He said the proposal will enable women to continue breastfeeding upon return to work after maternity leave, which is in the best health interests of mother and child and is also in line with the World Health Organisation's…

08 Aug

NEFF’s court challenge against deregistration dismissed

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché A full bench of justices of the High Court of Namibia dismissed the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters' (NEFF) case against the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) on Thursday. The NEFF had challenged the ECN's decision to deregister the party, alleging procedural and substantive irregularities. The judgment was delivered by Judges Hosea Angula, Orben Sibeya, and Beatrix de Jager, who found that the Electoral Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter. The bench concluded that the NEFF's application did not raise an electoral issue as defined under Section 168(1)(e) of the Electoral Act, which limits the court's review jurisdiction…

08 Aug

Mulunga cleared of all disciplinary charges

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNAMCOR

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The suspended managing director of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), Immanuel Mulunga, has been cleared of all charges in a disciplinary hearing held in Windhoek. The judgement was delivered on 7 August by the chairperson of the hearing, retired Supreme Court Justice, Gerhard Maritz. Maritz determined that the disciplinary complaints against Mulunga were not sufficiently established. "In the result, my determination in these disciplinary proceedings against the employee is that none of the disciplinary complaints against the employee have been established by the employer on a balance of probabilities. It follows that all the complaints against…

08 Aug

Health ministry pushes for one health regulatory body

info_e12wt4csNational NewsHealth Ministry

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Dr Kalumbi Shangula, the Minister of Health and Social Services has introduced the Health Professions Council of Namibia Bill, which seeks to reduce the number of health regulatory bodies from five to one umbrella body. Esther Muinjangue, the deputy minister of health and social services, argued in Parliament on Tuesday that the bill is long overdue and would help reduce the number of council members and save money on travel, meetings, and other expenses. “It means that there are five acts or laws currently administered by one secretariat. The bill makes provision for the establishment of a single…

08 Aug

IPC calls for collective efforts to fight crime

info_e12wt4csNational NewsIndependent Patriots for Change

Stefanus Nashama The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has called on the nation to unite in efforts to collectively fight violent crime. The party spokesperson, Immanuel Nashinge, made this statement on Thursday in response to the recent violent death of Matheus Sheehama from Walvis Bay. “We call upon the Namibian police, parents, and our communities to bolster their efforts in addressing these violent crimes as a collective. Efforts to combat crime can’t be left alone to Nampol,” he said. Nashinge said the incident in which Sheehama lost his life highlights a grave issue that demands immediate attention. He said the…

08 Aug

Labour Commissioner’s officer undergoing business process reengineering

info_e12wt4csNational NewsBusiness Process Reengineering (BPR), Office of the Labour Commissioner

Niël Terblanché The Office of the Labour Commissioner (OLC) is undergoing changes as part of the Business Process Reengineering (BPR) initiative that is focused on improving service delivery and efficiency. This was announced during a stakeholder meeting held in Windhoek on Wednesday to review the next phase of the initiative. Lydia Indombo, the executive director of the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations, and Employment Creation (MLIREC), outlined the ambitious goals of the BPR initiative. “The BPR process is focused on achieving the development of customer service-orientated processes to eliminate complaints, reducing task completion times, reducing complexity throughout processes, building in…

08 Aug

Lesley Goraseb appointed as Usakos CEO

info_e12wt4csNational News

Martin Endjala Former Karibib chief executive officer Lesley Goraseb has been appointed as CEO of Usakos on a five-year contract effective 1 August 2024. This was confirmed by the mayor of Usakos, Irene Kurtz. Kurtz explained that the post became vacant after former CEO Ivan Lombard resigned on 25 November 2022. “The position has been vacant ever since and the acting CEO was Reinhold Evenson, the manager of finance and administration,” she said. She said Goraseb’s appointment not only marks a new chapter but a bold leap forward in their journey towards a brighter future. “We thank our finance and…

08 Aug

Ambassadors keep jobs despite reaching retirement age

info_e12wt4csNational News

Ester Mbathera The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Peya Mushelenga, explained that civil servants in diplomatic missions who have reached retirement age will retire as per public service rules. Mushelenga was responding to questions about diplomats beyond retirement age who are still serving on missions during a public briefing on the ministry’s activities. “There are two streams of diplomats: Career diplomats, who are employees of MIRCO, and non-career diplomats. The president appoints heads of mission from both streams. There is nothing that precludes the president from appointing individuals of a certain age,” Mushelenga said. He added that there…