Page 681 – News Stand

05 Jul

Amupanda happy with GIPF pension-backed home loans

info_e12wt4csNational News

Stefanus Nashama The City of Windhoek’s Former Mayor and Affirmative Repositioning Leader, Job Amupanda has expressed his satisfaction with the Government Institutions Pension Funds’ pension-backed home loan initiative. Amupanda yesterday told the Windhoek Observer that he is happy that after several years of advocacy and drumming of superior logic, the Government Institutions Pension Funds (GIPF) has understood and acted on the side of the workers. This follows after the outgoing GIPF Chief Executive Officer David Nuyoma recently said the fund expects to finally roll out pension-backed home loans to help workers secure houses in the coming weeks. Nuyoma said that…

05 Jul

Namcol boss unfazed by LPM

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamcol boss unfazed by LPM

Martin Endjala Heroldt Murangi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) says he does not report to the Landless People’s Movement and he has other important issues that need his attention instead of being asked about advertising billboards. The CEO was responding to questions concerning a letter directed to him by the LPM Youth Command Element Leader, Duminga Ndala on Sunday. NAMCOL launched its first illuminated double-sided LED billboard at a reported cost of N$2.3 million to advertise services and products of the institution. Although this is seen as a gesture to reach a wider…

05 Jul

Residents expose Karasburg’s dirty laundry

info_e12wt4csNational News

Martin Endjala Following a recent visit by Erastus Uutoni, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development to the Karasburg Town Council, residents were quick to expose the local authority’s purported dirty laundry. One of the issues brought to light is the dormant build-together programme that was implemented by the ministry but has for a decade failed to construct new houses. Angry residents claimed that the Council has been mismanaging the funds allocated to it, with some also revealing that some residents, who are on the list for houses to be built are those who have not been paying anything, whilst…

05 Jul

Ondangwa Town Council plans to address the housing shortage

info_e12wt4csNational NewsOndangwa Town Council plans to address the housing shortage

Stefanus Nashama Paavo Amwele, the Mayor of Ondangwa said the town already raised and set aside N$2.4 million to address the issue of housing along with a market space that would see members of the public conducting business and at the same time pay for services. According to the Mayor, the town never received money from the government or any financial assistance from anywhere and added that the N$2.4 million came from residents who paid for the town’s services with the little money they have. He said the town council will do everything possible to create formal and informal areas,…

04 Jul

Why the City of Windhoek Councillors Repeatedly Fail us

info_e12wt4csFeatured, OpinionsWhy the City of Windhoek Councillors Repeatedly Fail us

Isaack Kambwa Municipalities in Namibia are mandated to deliver services that meet basic communal needs such as housing, water and sanitation, land, electricity and infrastructur. The municipality as an institution is considered an engine for local development and central to service delivery. The government has implemented an elaborate statutory framework which operationalise the Municipalities. The powers of Municipal councils are regulated within this statutory framework, despite the powers conferred upon the councilors, they tend to fail in running their Municipalities. In case study research on the performance of councillors in the South Africa by Stellen press highlighted a number of…

04 Jul

Synthetic diamonds negatively affect the market

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Martin Endjala The Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo stressed yesterday that laboratory-produced diamonds, commonly known as synthetic diamonds, pose a danger to the natural diamond market and that robust interventions are needed to safeguard prices. “Like with other minerals, we need to continue to ask ourselves the question of whether our diamonds can contribute more to our economy. What more can we get from our diamonds? How can the diamond sector contribute more to our local economic activities?” he asked. The Minister made the remarks during the announcement of the appointment of 12 new Diamond Board Members in…

04 Jul

The ghost of Twaloloka still haunts residents

info_e12wt4csMainThe ghost of Twaloloka still haunts residents

Niël Terblanché The allocation of houses to families who fell victim to the devastating Twaloloka fire disaster almost three years ago will now be investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission. The investigation by the corruption watchdog follows after a group of 21 beneficiaries of Twaloloka-Otweya houses were served with eviction notices by the Erongo Regional Governor, Neville Andre. The group is claiming that lists of beneficiaries that were compiled in the wake of the disaster have been tampered with repeatedly by the various authorities that were involved with the rehousing of the victims. The group in a letter signed by the…

04 Jul

‘Urgent’ Bills now in the hands of the National Council

info_e12wt4csNational News‘Urgent’ Bills now in the hands of the National Council

Martin Endjala The ball is now in the hands of the National Council to debate and consider the urgent bills referred to it by the National Assembly after the latter deliberated and passed the legislation in accordance with Article 75(1) of the Namibian Constitution.This was necessitated to ensure that Namibia is not greylisted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). So far, eight urgent bills and one ordinary bill were referred last week to the National Council which resumed its 6th session yesterday and is expected to conclude on 20 July. The Chairperson of the National Council, Lukas Sinimbo yesterday…

04 Jul

Agriculture ministry will revise livestock databases

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAgriculture ministry will revise livestock databases

Niël Terblanché A large number of stock brands and other livestock-related information that has fallen into disuse has prompted the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reforms to revisit and revise its database. The Executive Director of the agriculture ministry, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata in a statement said that an awareness campaign will be launched among all farmers in Namibia to update the Namibia Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NamLITS). “The campaign will be undertaken by officials from the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) in collaboration with the Meat Board of Namibia from the 17th of July 2023 to the 31st of…

04 Jul

AR applies to register a political party

info_e12wt4csNational News

Stefanus Nashama The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement has submitted its application to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to register the movement as a political party to contest in the 2024 presidential and national assembly elections, an insider revealed. According to the source, who opted to remain anonymous, the application was submitted last week and was received by the ECN. He however did not specify what the party structure will be when the AR is registered as a political party, or whether the movement’s Leader Job Amupanda will run for president on the movement’s ticket or as an independent candidate…