Page 634 – News Stand

13 Jul

Critical need for a referral hospital at Otjiwarongo

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Governor of Otjozondjupa Region James Uerikua has reiterated the critical need for the Ministry of Health and Social Service to construct a referral hospital at Otjiwarongo, to help decongest the patient population at state facilities in Windhoek and in neighbouring areas. Despite a referral hospital with an intensive care unit having been planned and approved for the Otjozondjupa Region, construction of such a facility has not commenced. “There is a need for us to call upon the Ministry of Health and Social Services to build a referral hospital here in Otjiwarongo. The town is the centre of our…

13 Jul

LPM claims Motinga runs NamPower on his own terms

info_e12wt4csMainLifalaza Simataa, LPM claims Motinga runs NamPower on his own terms

Stefanus Nashama The Landless People’s Movement (LPM) has accused the NamPower Chairperson, Daniel Motinga, of running the parastatal like his private company. LPM National Spokesperson, Lifalaza Simataa, yesterday said there is a disconnect between the mandate of NamPower as a State-Owned Enterprise and that of the current chairperson. He claimed Motinga lacks understanding of how NamPower is supposed to work for the interest of the public, and because of that, he has no consideration of what happens to the general public. Motinga reportedly threatened to resign from his position, due to the constant political interference he has experienced during his…

13 Jul

Namibia is vulnerable to climate change

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamibia is vulnerable to climate change

Stefanus Nashama The Minister of Environment, Tourism and Forestry, Pohamba Shifeta said that Namibia is amongst the countries recognized and projected to be vulnerable to climate change. According to Shifeta, the high vulnerability of Namibia is a result of its already arid weather conditions. He said that Namibia is already experiencing extreme drought, flash floods, unpredictable rainfall, and extreme temperatures because of climate change. The minister explained that these impacts increase the country communities’ exposure and the pressing social-economic challenges and further limit their ability to adapt. The country’s vulnerability to climate change is justified by the previous rainfall onset…

13 Jul

Development of Communication structures a challenge for govt

info_e12wt4csNational NewsDevelopment of Communication structures a challenge for govt

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Despite the legal and institutional frameworks put in place by the government to guide the operations of the media sector in the country, there is still a need for the development and establishment of Communication structures and a function and accountability mechanism. This is according to the Communicating for Effective Government Communication Strategy for 2022 to 2027. It is stated in the strategy that: “Although the above legal and institutional framework exists, there are obvious challenges in the way Government handles the Communication function. During the Communication Needs Assessment, it was demonstrated that there was a need for…

13 Jul

Namibia to seek investment at the US – Africa Business Summit

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché A high-level delegation led by Namibia’s Vice President, Nangolo Mbumba will be representing the country at the United States – Africa Business Summit in Gaborone to highlight investment opportunities in priority sectors. According to a statement issued by the Namibian Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), the country’s energy sector has become famous for its diversity and growth. In terms of oil and gas, recent significant exploration activities have led to considerable discoveries of approximately 11 billion barrels of oil equivalent that have the potential to place Namibia among the top oil and gas-producing nations in Sub-Saharan Africa.…

13 Jul

Controversial rhino hunt could generate millions for conservation

info_e12wt4csNational NewsControversial rhino hunt could generate millions for conservation

Niël Terblanché Mixed feelings about Namibia’s wildlife conservation principles have been expressed after the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced that it will avail an old black rhinoceros bull to the highest bidder. The country has the largest population of black rhinos in the world because of innovative conservation methods, and as a result, can afford to utilize resources to raise much-needed funds for conservation. Romeo Muyunda, the ministry’s spokesperson, said the single animal will be of a post-reproductive age and that it still has to be identified. He added that the rhino was made available for sustainable hunting…

13 Jul

Safety and stability must be guarded at all cost

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché Militant behaviour by rebels in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and terrorist activities in northern Mozambique are threatening the stability of the Southern African Development Community and the safety of its people. In this regard, an extraordinary summit of the heads of state and governments of the SADC Organ Troika and Force Intervention Brigade (FIB) and Contributing Countries to the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Mozambique was held virtually on Wednesday. The summit was officially opened by Dr Hage Geingob, the President of the Republic of…

13 Jul

Electricity prices rise in Erongo

info_e12wt4csNational NewsElectricity prices rise in Erongo

Niël Terblanché The Regional Electricity Distributor of Erongo announced that consumers of the electricity it sells have increased by nine percent and that prices will be reviewed in June 2024. According to Nico Niemand, the acting Chief Executive Officer of ErongoRED, the Electricity Control Board (ECB) earlier this year approved an average tariff increase of nine percent for NamPower. Niemand said that the ECB announced that NamPower’s average tariff will increase from N$1.82 to N$2.12 per kilowatt hour for the 2023/2024 financial year. “This constitutes a weighted average increase of 8.97 percent, however, the actual impact to Erongo RED is…

12 Jul

FNB reduces service fees

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Observer MoneyFNB reduces service fees, Nangula Kaulum

Martin Endjala The First National Bank of Namibia has reduced the charges on some of its services as a way of cutting deeper to support customers. The fee reductions include card swipe fees on Bankwise lifestyle accounts, fees on international card swipes, reduced cost of ATM withdrawals for its student client base and reduced external debit order fees for its transmission account holders. The reduction in service fees will offer huge fee-saving opportunities for customers who use the bank’s alternative channels, feature across FNB Namibia’s newly released July 2023-June 2024 pricing for products and services. This pricing is effective from…

12 Jul

Green schemes expecting good harvest

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyGreen schemes expecting good harvest

Niël Terblanché Significant investment in the renovation of key infrastructure to increase the production of maize and other types of staple grains on Namibia’s green schemes will pay off when current harvest is brought in. According to an audio-visual documentary presentation by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR), the various green schemes that benefitted from the investment, expect to harvest about 7 000 tons of maize by the end of July. Towards the end of 2022, MAWLR mobilized funds to commence production at the green schemes and irrigation projects of Sikondo, Ndonga Linena, Uvungu Vhungu, Shadikongoro and…