Woman killed in train collision

Woman killed in train collision

Niël Terblanché A collision between a train and a pick-up truck claimed the life of the 33-year-old Magreta Kaunivi who along with 11 other people, were on their way to attend a church event for Easter in Omatjete. According to an accident report provided by the Namibian Police in the Erongo Region, the fatal collision occurred in the early hours of Friday morning at a railway crossing close to Wilhelmstal. “The collision occurred at about 03:00 on the gravel road between Wilhelmstal and Omaruru when the driver of Mazda bakkie, who was transporting 12 people to Omatjete for a church…
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Visitors to the North warned to obey the law

Visitors to the North warned to obey the law

Martin Endjala The Oshana Regional Police Commander, Commissioner Naftal Sakaria has issued a stern warning to people travelling to the North for the Easter Holiday, saying that anyone found contravening the law will be locked up and charged only at the end of the weekend. He said that the warning is in line with the operation planned by the Namibian Police during the holiday weekend. Sakaria added that operations will be carried out throughout, to ensure that the public adheres to the rules. “If you are caught on the other side of the law, we will lock you and only…
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“I am sick and tired of being called corrupt”- Imalwa

“I am sick and tired of being called corrupt”- Imalwa

Hertta-Maria Amutenja and Stefanus Nashama The Prosecutor General, Martha Imalwa is challenging those accusing her of being corrupt to provide evidence, saying that she is “sick and tired of being called corrupt”, with no evidence to back up the claims. Imalwa did not mince her words in questioning those “dirtifying” her name. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer yesterday, Imalwa explained that there are laws and procedures in place to hold corrupt office bearers accountable. “I always tell the Namibian people if they think the PG is corrupt, they should come out with their evidence and prove to the…
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Itula deems Namibia’s reliance’on foreign expertise risky

Itula deems Namibia’s reliance’on foreign expertise risky

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Independent Patriots for Change Leader, Panduleni Itula yesterday said it is risky for Namibia to depend on foreign expertise. He said this during the daily Windhoek Observer live broadcast, in which he further added that the country’s dependence on foreigners and their skills is an indication of a failing government. “Our reliance on foreign skills is extremely dangerous. It is not only denying young people employment, but it is also denying us the necessary revenue that we need to put in our coffers for which we can extract revenue for our essential services. It is absolutely embarrassing,” he…
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Only five percent of Namibians can afford legal costs

Only five percent of Namibians can afford legal costs

Martin Endjala Staggering statistics by Minister of Agriculture Water and Land Reform, Calle Schleittwein suggest that only five percent of Namibians can afford legal costs.The Minister said that these statistics do not paint a good picture of the government, particularly when it continues to regulate, fine and criminalise people that contravene the laws of the land. “We continue making more regulations and we criminalise them and when punished these people are left to pay for extremely expensive legal costs,” the minister said. The Minister shared these sentiments yesterday during the parliament session where he argued that these legal costs have…
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Nangolo ropes in Namandje to save her job

Nangolo ropes in Namandje to save her job

Niël Terblanché Yvonne Dausab, Namibia’s Minister of Justice will have her decision to withdraw Eva Nangolo’s appointment as Legal Aid Counsel challenged by prominent Lawyer Sisa Namandje Nangolo, who finds herself in the midst of a tribal slur fiasco has roped in the high-powered lawyer’s help to challenge the justice Minister’s decision about her future at the Directorate of Legal Aid. In a letter addressed to the justice minister, Namandje states that his office received urgent instructions from their client to advise on the validity of the decision she took on the 4 April 2023 without giving his client an…
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More Fishermen facing retrenchments

More Fishermen facing retrenchments

Niël Terblanché The moratorium that has been placed on the harvesting of pilchards in Namibian waters has again left hundreds of fishermen from Walvis Bay with the bleak prospect of unemployment. The Managing Director of Etosha Fishing, Volker Paulsmeier, in a short statement, acknowledged that the company has given the Labour Commissioner a formal notice about the company’s intent to lay off 30 permanent and 420 seasonal workers. “The company has given notice to the Labour Commissioner on the 31st March 2023 of its intention to terminate contracts due to operational requirements as is required by the Labour Act (Act…
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Learner’s woes discussed at Ministerial level

Learner’s woes discussed at Ministerial level

Stefanus Nashama Moses Nghitotelwa, a learner at the Oshikunde Combined School, who complained about walking long distances to attend classes on an empty stomach, will possibly be allowed to stay in the hostel facility, after education authorities took up the matter. The Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka said Nghitotelwa should approach the Regional Education Director to help him find accommodation in the hostel, rather than walking 14 kilometres per day to attend classes. Nghitotelwa(19) however says he was left with no choice but to walk seven kilometres from his home in the Omhito village to the school…
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Namcor board suspends Mulunga with benefits

Namcor board suspends Mulunga with benefits

Niël Terblanché Immanuel Mulunga, the Managing Director of the National Petroleum Corporation, has been suspended by the state-owned company’s board of directors. In a statement released yesterday, the board said that the suspension is effective 4 April 2023. “We wish to inform our stakeholders that the board has resolved to place our Managing Director, Immanuel Mulunga, on suspension with immediate effect pending an investigation,” the board said. Following Mulunga’s suspension, the board has elected and appointed Lionel Matthews as Acting Managing Director for an initial period of six months. He is the current Financial Manager in the Ministry of Finance.…
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Modern day slavery in Namibia

Modern day slavery in Namibia

Niël Terblanché An investigation by various international bodies launched into the use of slavery or trafficked humans to serve as fishermen in Namibian waters will eventually result in criminal charges against the Namibian registered owners of two fishing vessels. The 60 fishermen were rescued in September 2022 after officers of the Fisheries Observer Agency, the Namibian Police and immigration officers got involved. Although the incident caused huge embarrassment for Namibian authorities because the country is a signatory to various programs to end human trafficking, the government has promised to assist international bodies in their investigation into the allegation of modern…
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