Page 772 – News Stand

16 Aug

National Council passes three bills

info_e12wt4csNational NewsGerhard Shiimi, Information Bill, National Council passes three bills, y MP John Likando

Martin Endjala The National Council today passed three bills referred to it by the National Assembly, that will now see the bills being adopted in the lower house when it resumes. The bills passed were the Access to Information Bill, Combating Rape Amendment Bill and Metrology Bill. Some National Council MPs have advised that additional elements be added onto the bills to better serve their full implementation. One of these recommendations was narrated by MP John Likando said that Access to Information is no longer a necessity but a fundamental need in today’s livelihood with the emerging 4IR driving the…

15 Aug

Schlettwein in breach of contract claim

info_e12wt4csNational NewsMinister of Agriculture, Schlettwein in breach of contract claim, water and land reform

Staff Writer Greenteam Consultants (GC) has instituted legal proceedings against the Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein for allegedly breaching an agreement they entered into in 2017. Greenteam is claiming N$3 423 750 at a rate of 20 percent per year, including cost of suits for breaching an agreement to have the consultancy firm create an Integrated Regional Land Use Plan for Omusati Region at a cost ofN$4 150 000. The consultancy wants Schlettwein to pay GCCC the total amount of funds as per the agreement and that he would invite and organise the logistics of stakeholder…

15 Aug

NamWater owed N$1.5 billion

info_e12wt4csNational NewsChief Executive Officer Abraham Nehemia a, Langer Heinrich, Namwater, NamWater owed N$1.5 billion

Tujoromajo Kasuto NamWater is owed a combined N$1,4 billion by customers, who continue defaulting on their water payments. This was revealed by the Chief Executive Officer Abraham Nehemia at the signing ceremony of a letter of commitment between NamWater and Langer Heinrich Uranium Mine that will see the mine being reconnected to NamWater’s supply system. Nehemia says that local authorities have been relaxed in terms of collecting debt and their new massive strategy of installing prepaid water meters in residential areas will mitigate this. The CEO noted that they have started and debunked fears that since the commencement of the…

15 Aug

MPs call on real men to stand up

info_e12wt4csNational NewsCombating of Domestic Violence Amendment Bill in the National Council, MPs call on real men to stand up, Ngunaihe Ueutjerevi

Martin Endjala During the resumption of the debate on the Combating of Domestic Violence Amendment Bill in the National Council today MPs called on real men to stand up and move the country out of the morass of gender-based violence into a positive direction. “It is sad how violence is becoming our daily news, children beating their parents and husbands abusing their wives. We need the real men to stop this mess,” says Ngunaihe Ueutjerevi. The MP said that some men have lost the sense of sympathy and cultural norms, where men ought to be protectors and bread winners of…

15 Aug

Kavita sports scoops N$50 0000 at OM SEED pitch

info_e12wt4csNational NewsEconomic & Empowerment Drive, Kavita sports scoops N$50 0000 at OM SEED pitch, Old Mutual Sustainable, OM SEED

Martin Endjala Kavita Sports Performance scooped N$50 000 at the Old Mutual Sustainable, Economic & Empowerment Drive pitch night held in Keetmanshoop over the weekend. Unomasa Kavita could not hold back his excitement after winning the inaugural OM SEED pitch, saying that he feels truly humbled by the whole experience. “I am so grateful to Old Mutual that provided us with this opportunity to learnand grow”. He narrated saying that he saw a gap in the market in the south, where athletes have no facilities or coach to help them elevate their performance, saying that through the Kavita Sports Performance,…

12 Aug

Amukwiyu wants 3rd term

info_e12wt4csNational News2017 decision, Amukwiyu wants 3rd term, Armas Amukwiyu

Obrein Simasiku Swapo’s Oshikoto regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu has backtracked on his 2017 decision to not contest again for regional coordinator at the seventh elective conference for the renewal of mandates. The incumbent coordinator has however indicated that he will stand to serve for third term, saying “I am back by popular demand, the masses have requested for my service again”. He added that, “as a bona fide and Swapo political soldier, you can never deny or reject a responsibility when entrusted by your own people and above all the Swapo Party.” The Oshikoto regional conference is slated for tomorrow,…

12 Aug

Power infrastructure of new CoW areas still belongs to Nampower

info_e12wt4csNational News54 009, Municipal Council of Windhoek, Power infrastructure of new CoW areas still belongs to Nampower

Tujoromajo Kasuto The City of Windhoek currently has 54 009 installed pre-paid electricity meters with an annual revenue of over N$533 000 00000. According to the highlights from the Municipal Council of Windhoek ordinary council meeting held on 10 August pre-paid meter customers require tokens from the CoW’s prepayment system server, which is run on Syntell software. The council yesterday resolved that older meters need replacement with Standard Transfer Specifications (STS) compliant meters in order to manage the token identifier roll-over process in order to prevent meters from running out of range, preventing them from accepting new tokens. To overcome…

12 Aug

We played with the numbers-Nantu

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNANTU and Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU), Thomas Niilonga, We played with the numbers-Nantu

Obrein Simasiku The vice president of the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) says the increase of the civil servants’ basic salaries and improvement in the housing and transport benefits do not translate into an across the board hike, but a staggered one which the lowest paid such as cleaners benefitted more. Thomas Niilonga described the salary negotiations as very difficult, especially when it comes to the greater benefit of the lowest paid civil servants, saying the government was steadfast on its zero increase on the basic salary and when it increased its offer to N$924 million, the amount could only…

12 Aug

Industrial Hemp cultivation remains in limbo

info_e12wt4csNational NewsIndustrial Hemp cultivation remains in limbo, South Africa cashing in on the ‘green rush’

Tujoromajo Kasuto With neighbouring countries such as South Africa cashing in on the ‘green rush’ and the potential profits of granting hemp cultivation licences, Namibian government may not be so easily swayed as the cultivation of Industrial Hemp farming remains on the backburner, as the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform is awaiting the Ministry of Health and Social Services to lead the way in cannabis sativa specifically in terms of commercial or medicinal use. According to Agriculture Minister Carl Schlettwein, the ministry has observed the viability of industrial hemp farming, but from a business standpoint. ‘’From a business…

12 Aug

Small holder farmers can reduce food import bill

info_e12wt4csNational News

Tujoromajo Kasuto Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Anna Shiweda says that there is a large food deficit and a wide food import gap of about 47 percent that Namibia, as a nation, needs to address. The minister believes that this import gap presents ample opportunities for all Namibians to participate in agriculture production and agri-business in the Ohangwena region and beyond. She shared these remarks at the occasion of International Agri-Food Confex at Eenhana in the region. Agricultural sector is one of the most important pillars of the economy, with 70% of the population relying on agriculture…