NSFAF rejects 7 000 students

NSFAF rejects 7 000 students

Hertta-Maria Amutenja At least 7 946 students failed to acquire Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund(NSFAF) funding for the 2023 academic year. According to NSFAF Acting Chief Executive Officer, Kennedy Kandume, the fund received 30 124 applications however only 22 179 applications were eligible for funding. Compared to last year, the fund has increased the number of students it will be funding by 17 Percent. Kandume said the applications were rejected as some applicants did not adhere to the specifications and some applied despite not meeting the academic requirements of the fund. “Like any other application, some applications did not meet…
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Judge drops four charges against alleged serial rapist

Judge drops four charges against alleged serial rapist

Hertta-Maria Amutenja An alleged serial rapist won a partial victory after a Windhoek High court Judge, Dinah Usiku acquitted him on four out of the 23 charges he is facing. Gavin Gawanab is charged with three counts of rape, three counts of attempted rape, four charges of attempted murder and several counts of assault as well as assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, alternatively indecent assault, kidnapping, housebreaking with intent to rape and rape as well as crimen injuria. However, Gawanab has consistently denied the charges since the start of his trial. Gawanab was arrested in November 2018…
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Imalwa’s training for Magistrates receives criticism

Imalwa’s training for Magistrates receives criticism

Niël Terblanché A course on anti-money laundering, attended by Magistrates and Prosecutors from across the country did not sit well with legal experts, who questioned the authenticity of the Judiciary’s independence and separation of powers. The course, which kicked off on Monday was organized by the Office of the Prosecutor General. The decline in the separation of powers between officials who preside over Magistrate’s Courts and the Prosecuting authority as well as the lack of monitoring of norms and standards of justice meted out in the country’s lower courts was put in the spotlight when the Prosecutor General of Namibia…
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Nahas calls for solidarity in social justice

Nahas calls for solidarity in social justice

Stefanus Nashama Retired Politician and Former Prime Minister, Nahas Angula, says social justice ought to be in solidarity with the poor and those in need of necessities. Angula said this yesterday in an interview with this publication while commenting on the current politics of Namibia. He described social justice as the way to go, as it provides solutions to the basic needs of the people. “I am still standing on the ideal of social justice, and that puts me in solidarity with the people who do not have jobs, children who beg in the street and those that are suffering,”…
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Lack of regulatory body hampers construction industry

Lack of regulatory body hampers construction industry

Martin Endjala With the lack of a sector council or regulator, the construction industry will continue to be negatively impacted by economic factors which will result in the sector not yielding any growth. According to Simonis and Storm Economist, Theo Klein, the situation is likely to persist and it will weigh on the profitability of local operators in the construction industry. “Apart from calling on more investor-friendly policies, since 2006 the Construction Industry Federation has argued for a construction council that would serve in the interest of local capacitation and effective regulation of the sector. This has however not been…
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Soldier quits army to become a teacher

Soldier quits army to become a teacher

Stefanus Nashama A former member of the Namibian Defence Force, Maria James (46), who served as a soldier for 18 years quit her job to pursue her passion for teaching. James decided to resign from the NDF about four years ago to study for an education degree at the University of Namibia. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer yesterday, James said that she graduated last week Thursday as a professional teacher after completing a four-year program in Education at the University of Namibia. She specialised in pre and junior primary education. “I want to pass my knowledge at the…
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Namibia invited to attend Russia Africa summit

Namibia invited to attend Russia Africa summit

Niel Terblanche Namibia could be represented at the highest level at an upcoming Russia-Africa summit that is slated to take place in St. Petersburg in July this year. The Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Ipumbu Shiimi, on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group conference in Washington, told Russian media representatives that a high-level government delegation will in all probability attend this very important summit.The finance minister told Sputnik that he might not be part of the delegation that will represent Namibia. "I believe Namibia will have a delegation because Namibia and Russia are…
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Race for CoW CEO position enters final stages

Race for CoW CEO position enters final stages

Niël Terblanché The protracted process of finding a new Chief Executive Officer for the City of Windhoek is nearing the end after Conrad Lutombi, the current CEO of the Roads Authority, declined the position. Moses Matyayi who serves as the current Chief Executive Officer of the Otjiwarongo Municipality was the other top candidate for the position at the CoW. The top two candidates were shortlisted for the position alongside Deputy Executive Director at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Joyce Mukubi, Chief Business Unit Executive at NamWater, Eino Mvula, and Researcher Charmill Zamuee. The candidates publicly presented their proposals for…
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Itula against abortion

Itula against abortion

Martin Endjala The Independent Patriots for Change Leader, Panduleni Itula says that legalizing abortion could pose a danger to the nation as he opines that there hasn’t been adequate information to suggest why abortion should be legalized. Itula said that based on the numerous contributions he has heard so far, he has not obtained enough information as to why abortion should be legalized, adding that more information is needed on the subject matter in order to make an informed decision. Itula was speaking at a Public Hearing on Abortion held by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Gender Equality, Social Development…
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IPC to tackle public and political issues

IPC to tackle public and political issues

Stefanus Nashama The Independent Patriot for Change (IPC) says it is ready to tackle public issues and its internal political businesses as the party prepares for the 2024 national elections. The party’s National Spokesperson, Immanuel Nashinge on Monday, said this. IPC held a High-Level Consultative Planning meeting last week Saturday in Windhoek, under the theme “reorganisation for victory in 2024 and the role of a patriotic Namibia”. Nashinge said the consultative planning meeting looked at the issues of genocide and ancestral land with its concern on how the party can address the issues. He said the ongoing issue of high…
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