Page 677 – News Stand

17 Jul

23 Questions with Miss Namibia

info_e12wt4csFeatured

Jameela Uuras was recently crowned Miss Namibia 2023. She managed to grant Observer Weekend a quick sit-down in between a hectic schedule of photoshoots and interviews, both from the local and regional media. Do you follow politics? Absolutely. If you don’t follow politics, politics will follow you. Which 3 political issue are close to your heart? Youth unemployment: We face high levels of unemployment, particularly among the younger generation, which poses a significant challenge for our country's development and stability. Land reform: Specifically because I did research on this during my preparations as a Miss Namibia finalist and it's sad…

17 Jul

Vehicle sales are steadily increasing

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyVehicle sales are steadily increasing

Martin Endjala Amid financial constraints, the sale of vehicles in Namibia is on a year-on-year upward trajectory. Vehicle sales increased from 872 units in June 2022 to 1,320 in June 2023 which represents an increase of 51.4 percent. According to a Simonis Storm Securities report, in prior months, sales were declining since March 2023, with June’s sales being the first monthly increase in sales since then. Light commercial vehicles drove sales in June 2023, increasing by 74.7 percent from a low base of 375 units to 657 units. At the same time, passenger vehicles accounted for 44 percent of sales…

17 Jul

Recon Africa gets the green light for more drilling

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Observer MoneyRecon Africa gets the green light for more drilling

Niël Terblanché Although there is increased pressure to shift away from fossil fuels and to move towards low-carbon energy sources such as hydropower, solar and wind, this energy transition must be done in a way that shall be fair and affordable for developing countries like Namibia. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism recently issued an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) to Recon Africa to drill more exploration and appraisal wells in the Kavango Basin to search for oil and gas resources. The project situated in the Kavango West Region of Namibia was the cause of huge controversy amongst environmental activists…

17 Jul

Same-sex marriage debate puts human dignity at stake

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The rights to human dignity, freedom from discrimination and freedom of association are enshrined rights in the Namibian Constitutional Rights which cannot be changed by any politician. According to Advocate Richard Metcalfe, Article 25 of the Constitution specifically bars Parliament from making any law or the Executive from taking any action which abolishes or abridges such fundamental rights and freedoms. Advocate Metcalfe’s reaction follows the private member’s bill that was tabled in Parliament last week. The debate reached a deadlock after parliamentarians from different sides of the political spectrum could not agree on the specific definitions of marriage…

17 Jul

Water shortages and power outages challenge Kavango East

info_e12wt4csNational NewsWater shortages and power outages challenge Kavango East

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Electricity blackouts continue to be a problem in the Kavango East region despite the electrification of Mutengo Mukuru in the Rundu Rural Constituency and Ncushe Primary School in the Mashare Constituency, which was successfully completed at the cost of N$714 889.54 and N$96 545.39, respectively. The region’s Governor, Bonifatius Wakudumo, stated that the issue of electricity blackouts in the region is regrettable and causes both business disruption and inconvenience to residents of Kavango East. “We must move with speed to end the nightmare of frequent blackouts or find a solution that will eliminate the blackouts before people call…

17 Jul

Trade unions and workers not part of the agreement – Klazen

info_e12wt4csNational NewsTrade unions and workers not part of the agreement – Klazen

Stefanus Nashama During the engagements with the trade unions and fishing companies on Friday at Walvis Bay, the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Derek Klazen, said unions and workers are not part of the agreement signed between the fishing companies and the government. The agreement signed between the government and the fishing companies is that of ‘the government employment redressing programme’ which aims to employ the fishermen who lost their jobs since 2015. The agreement also included Namsov workers, who experienced job cuts after the drastic reduction of horse mackerel quota allocations, and an estimated 1 000 fishermen who…

17 Jul

Namcol strives for quality education and inclusivity

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamcol strives for quality education and inclusivity

Martin Endjala The Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) wants to become an outstanding open distance and e-learning institution, that provides inclusive, high-quality education and training through innovative approaches. The institute stated that it strives to offer opportunities for adults and out-of-school youth to advance their education and acquire new skills Namcol signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Namibia Investment Promotion Development Board in May 2023 to strengthen its position in reaching its goal to implement the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Digital Bootcamps across nine regions at the NAMCOL Computer-Based Learning Centres. Responding to questions sent to…

17 Jul

Sleeping woman killed by cash in transit vehicle

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The 54-year-old Emilia Kuhafi Shuudifonya was killed on Saturday morning when a vehicle burst through the walls of her shack, located in the Tutaleni informal settlement of Walvis Bay while she was sleeping. According to the official incident report, provided by Inspector Ileni Shapumba, the head of the Community Affairs Division of the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region, the tragic accident occurred at about 10:00 when an employee of Namibia Protection Services, driving a Cash-in-Transit vehicle, lost control of it and smashed into the shack on the corner of Seemeeu and Cormorant streets. Inspector Shapumba said the…

17 Jul

Transforming school funding is key to inclusivity

info_e12wt4csNational News

Martin Endjala The designing and implementation of a provision of school grant policy will do much for the realisation of two of the goals of education, equity and equality. Hofni Iipinge, the Central Committee and Politburo Swapo Party Member and Deputy Secretary of Education Arts and Sport at the party level, welcomed the decision to approve the School Grant Policy by Cabinet, citing it as a very positive move. Iipinge said that in the past, the provision of equal resources to state schools has been inappropriate, considering that schools in rural and remote areas face more pressing challenges than schools…

17 Jul

Woman (22) attempts to kill her baby

info_e12wt4csNational NewsWoman (22) attempts to kill her baby

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A 22-year-old mother from the Okahandja district was arrested after she tried to kill her 11-month-old son by hanging him from the roof of a shack. The infant was miraculously saved by his uncle. Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, Spokesperson for Nampol, said the incident occurred on Saturday morning at the Uitkomst resettlement farm near Hochfeld. “The baby was rescued by the suspect’s elder brother, who broke the door, entered and removed him from the hanging rope just in time. The victim is in a stable condition and received necessary medical assistance,” said Shikwambi. The suspect is detained and…