Page 714 – News Stand

10 May

Namibia places well on the FDI map

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché Namibia scooped the first runner-up award in the ‘Best FDI Project’ category of the Investment Awards, hosted at the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) 2023 currently underway in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The award was presented to the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), the investment promotion agency for Namibia for its work with the Kelp Blue investment project. The AIM bestows awards for the best FDI projects in each region of the world to recognize the accomplishment of the country in attracting sizable and beneficial investment projects and thus contributing to the economic growth and development…

10 May

Energy Ministry launches electronic fleet management system

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Mines and Energy yesterday launched its new Fleet Management System in Windhoek. “This occasion undoubtedly represents a significant milestone in the management of the Ministry, and in the Government transport system, as it will enable us to improve and deliver basic services to all our people, especially those residing in widespread areas where our services are needed,” Deputy Minister Kornelia Shilunga said. Shilunga stated that the Ministry is committed to delivering services at the doorstep of communities, to ensure that they access basic services such as electricity, that can make a significant difference in their…

10 May

FIMA technical committee inauguration on Monday

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Financial Institutions and Markets Act of 2021 (FIMA) Technical Committee will be officially inaugurated by Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi next week. Wilson Shikoto, the Finance Ministry’s Spokesperson announced that Shiimi referred the Act, which has been experiencing issues with the preservation of retirement benefits, to a technical committee last year. “The Minister will inaugurate the technical committee for consultation. The committee is going to consult on the standard and regulations of FIMA. When people were concerned with the FIMA regulations last year, it was then suspended to allow enough time for consultations,” Shikoto said. The committee will…

10 May

Nampower’s defaulters to face load shedding from June…Debt exceeds N$1 Billion

info_e12wt4csMainNampower’s defaulters to face load shedding from June…Debt exceeds N$1 Billion

Niël Terblanché About three-quarters of Namibia’s population is staring into the dark abyss of chronic electricity supply interruption because of bad debt. Outstanding debt to the National Power Corporation, NamPower has escalated to more than N$1 billion.In an announcement issued by NamPower’s Managing Director, Simson Haulofu, the utility company said that it set to introduce a gradual disconnection schedule to two regional electricity distributors, one regional council and 19 local authorities across the country.This gradual interruption schedule will leave the four most densely populated regions of the country, residents of Windhoek and large swathes of the south without power for…

09 May

Advocate’s bribery charge thrown out due to lack of evidence

info_e12wt4csFeaturedAdvocate’s bribery charge thrown out due to lack of evidence

Hertta-Maria Amiutenja The state has withdrawn its bribery charge against Advcocate Eliaser Nekwaya, who was arrested last weekend after he allegedly attempted to bribe police officers with N$ 10 000, after his associate, Lawyer Henry Shimutwikeni was arrested on allegations of driving under the influence of alcohol. Sources revealed that the lawyers were coming from a popular night club in Windhoek before they were intercepted by police officers. Shimutwikeni now faces a charge of bribery, driving under the influence of alcohol and refusing to take a breathalyzer. Sisa Namandje who represented Nekwaya said they have been informed by the state…

09 May

Chinese Lithium miners labeledfrauds as Minister revokes license

info_e12wt4csNational NewsChinese Lithium miners labeledfrauds as Minister revokes license

Niël Terblanché The process of awarding a lithium mining license to Xinfeng Investment (Pty) Ltd was flawed from the start while allegations of corruption and other fraudulent dealings eventually led to the complete revocation of the company’s right to mine and export lithium from Namibia’s shores. The Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, in a letter to lithium miner, Zhou Hao informed of his decision to revoke Mining License 243 situated in the Exclusive Prospecting License (EPL) 7228 area near the small desert settlement of Uis. Alweendo said that during the application for ML 243, Xinfeng deliberately included misleading,…

09 May

WHO declares COVID-19 emergency as something of the past

info_e12wt4csNational NewsWHO declares COVID-19 emergency as something of the past

Niël Terblanché Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring that Covid-19 no longer represents a global health emergency, Namibians might still get infected with the latest evolution of the SARS-CoV2 virus. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula, has warned Namibians that although the danger of the illness brought on by the virus has waned, infection is still possible and that immune-compromised individuals might still experience adverse effects from it. “Because of all the steps we took in concert with the international community, Namibia moved out of the health emergency status in July 2022 already. Other countries in…

09 May

Police hunting for armed robbers

info_e12wt4csNational NewsPolice hunting for armed robbers

Niël Terblanché Officers from both the Namibian Police and the Windhoek City Police have requested members of the public to assist them in apprehending a gang of armed robbers who yesterday morning held up and robbed the owner of the Gammams Shell Service Station in Khomasdal. According to reports, the robbers were watching the movements of the service station owner. They punctured his car’s tyre with a knife and when he left the service station with a laptop computer bag, they swarmed him and threatened to kill him with a knife before grabbing the bag and fleeing in a silver…

09 May

Windhoek informal settlement residents fed up

info_e12wt4csNational NewsWindhoek informal settlement residents fed up

Stefanus Nashama Residents of informal settlements in Windhoek are appealing to the Government for what they say is a mess they find themselves in. They have cited unhygienic environments, a lack of sufficient water and electricity as the main concern for communities. A number of community leaders who spoke to the Windhoek Observer expressed that people walk long distances to fetch water, risking their lives. They also expressed concern over the rising cases of shack fires, leaving many families homeless. Silas Shipindo, a community leader in Goreangab said it is not a secret that people in the informal settlements are…

09 May

Trade Ministry launches micro-business simulation training

info_e12wt4csNational NewsTrade Ministry launches micro-business simulation training

Stefanus Nashama The Ministry of Industrialization and Trade in partnership with the German Sparkassenstiftung for International Cooperation yesterday kicked off its micro business simulation trainings. Trade Minister, Lucia Iipumbu in her speech said that the training is aimed at helping entrepreneurs to manage their businesses successfully. “The training will focus mainly on financial management aspects such as business planning, forecasting, record keeping, budgeting, and financial statements to enable entrepreneurs to get the know-how of business financial,”Iipumbu said. She added that the partnership further aims to enhance entrepreneurship development and deliver entrepreneurial training interventions. The participants to be trained through this…