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Niël Terblanché The secretary to the Cabinet, George Simataa, has issued a call to action, highlighting significant challenges in public service delivery within the country's institutions of higher education. In a statement, Simataa said that these challenges require collaborative efforts from all Namibians, not just the institutions themselves. Simataa addressed concerns about the quality and appropriateness of courses offered by various higher education institutions. He stressed that resolving these issues demands a collective approach, involving all stakeholders in the education sector. Simataa's response follows a public debate regarding the roles and course offerings of the International University of Management (IUM)…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The United Democratic Front’s (UDF) spokesperson, Mabasen Narib said if the party gets the chance to govern Namibia, education will be free of charge from pre-primary up to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) level in the country. Narib said this during an interview with the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday while explaining the party’s plans for the November elections. He said Namibians should trust the UDF with their votes because it will govern through the principles of social democracy. "The needs of the nation will be prioritised and not left in the hands of the monopoly capitalists. This includes…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The digital transformation of the education system is progressing, although, not without challenges. Oshigambo Secondary School Principal Pinehas Ekongo highlighted several issues faced by schools, including poor internet connectivity and the need for teacher training. “Our school initiated digital learning several years ago. In fact, almost 70 percent of our students have laptops at school, and that led to bad internet connectivity. We had to consult with MTC due to the high cost of internet access. Another thing is teaching and training. Some of the teachers lack the skills to use digital tools. So we also have to…

Stefanus Nashama Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, the former Swapo Secretary General, has denied that she is one of the founders of the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC). She threatened to sue Paulus Hakalume, also known as Ndjaba Yolupangi, for N$300 000 if he did not retract his assertions that she is a founder member of the IPC through her lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo. The letter to Kahalume reads, "You maliciously authored statements and circulated them through various social media platforms concerning our client, in which you stated that our client is a hibernator in the Swapo Party and/or that she is one of…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Yvonne Dausab, the Minister of Justice said the proposed amendments to Namibia’s divorce laws are not aimed at making it easier to break up families. She asserts that lawmakers must carefully consider and balance the rights and needs of all parties involved when making laws. The minister said this on Tuesday in the National Assembly while motivating the divorce bill. She said the proposed reforms seek to address the reality that current divorce laws may not adequately support individuals in untenable and harmful marital situations. “The intention is not to undermine the institution of marriage but to provide…

Ester Mbathera The Ministry of Health and Social Services has made it clear that dietary needs determine meal sizes and the amount of food provided to patients when admitted to the various state hospitals in Namibia. This comes after patients have raised concerns about the adequacy of food portions provided during their hospital stays, claiming that the amount of food is insufficient to meet their needs. A patient shared a picture showing a plate of bread and liver for breakfast and a plate of bread and peas for dinner with the Windhoek Observer. Ben Nangombe, the ministry's executive director, explained…

Niël Terblancé Officials from the Keetmanshoop drought relief warehouse, in collaboration with the Namibian Defence Force, have commenced distributing food aid to vulnerable populations in the Barseba Constituency, located in the Kharas region. This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to ensure that no Namibian goes to bed hungry during the ongoing drought crisis and is a crucial step towards modernising drought relief efforts. Despite the government's recent efforts to roll out the e-voucher system, many beneficiaries in the Kharas region continue to receive their drought relief through traditional in-kind distribution. This dual approach ensures that immediate needs are…

Martin Endjala Swakopmund’s mayor, Dina Namubes has assured the public that a proposal by Rössing to donate and build a new police station in the town does not constitute a conflict of interest for the council or the police. Namubes said this in a telephone interview with the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday, responding to the public's concerns. According to the mayor, all processes must be followed before the council approves anything. She clarified that after completing all procedures, the council had to review and approve the proposed police station, which it had received as a donation. “I do not know…

Ester Mbathera The Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises (MFPE) has clarified its stance on the appointment and extension of contracts for chief executives in state-owned enterprises who have reached or surpassed the age of 60. Among the senior CEOs is Social Security Commission head, Milka Mungunda, who is 64 years old. Her contract was extended in 2021 when she had just turned 61. The appointment of the governor of the Bank of Namibia, Johannes !Gawaxab was also questioned when he was appointed in 2020 at the age of 64. The latest appointment is that of TransNamib’s CEO, Desmond van…