Page 975 – News Stand

28 Nov

The Time Traveler: The job interview ‘date’

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedjob interviews

Hugh Ellis I’m lucky enough to have had to submit to less than 10 job interviews in my entire life. Lucky to have been in the right place at the right time - a graduate coming into a growing economy, among many other things. I say lucky because job interviews are largely nonsense, and I pity the poor people who have had to sit through 50 or more before they find a single job. There has to be a way to select a limited number of employees from a vast pool of candidates, but I’m not sure interviews are the…

28 Nov

When Africa was a German laboratory

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedepidemics of trypanosomiasi, When Africa was a German laboratory

Edna Bonhomme Western scientists transformed Africa into a living laboratory during the sleeping sickness epidemics of the early 20th century. They should not be allowed to do the same now [while seeking the definitive pandemic vaccine.] At the turn of the 20th century, epidemics of trypanosomiasis, or “sleeping sickness” as it is more commonly known, started to appear across Africa. A vector-borne parasitic disease causing apathy, slow movement, speech disorders, physical weakness and death, sleeping sickness raised alarm among European colonisers on the continent who feared that its spread could slow down the African workforce, and subsequently their colonial projects.…

28 Nov

A day late and a dollar short

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedA day late and a dollar short, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, PDM Leader McHenry Venaani

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I read the recent comments from PDM Leader McHenry Venaani in reaction to preliminary results from this week’s local and regional elections. To read his statements about making opposition coalitions (as if it is a new concept) with some of the other parties so that they could unite to unseat Swapo made me shake my head completely. Many have been calling for the wannabe kings of each of the smaller opposition parties to unite. And yet, they misread the entire political landscape and remained as kings of their tiny territories rather than influencers of the national political…

28 Nov

Time and tide wait for no man

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedSwapo’s loss of votes

Swapo’s loss of votes in the presidential and parliamentary elections last year failed to energize the party fast enough to address concerns. This may have affected the electorate in the 2020 regional vote. While all votes are not counted and confirmed and the strong Swapo base of the North is not yet reported, assumptions about a significant loss of support for the ruling party are premature. Pundits and opposition parties should take care not to overreact. If the trend continues in the non-Swapo traditional base areas, to show a voting tally that has reduced the ruling party’s sway, then it…

28 Nov

Govt undecided on COVID-19 measures as new cases spike

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCOVID-19 measures, Dr Kalumbi Shangula

Helena Johannes Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula says that he is not sure if the government plans to tighten existing COVID-19 protective measures amid a recent spike in new cases. Shangula as minister of health, is empowered under Section 29 of the Public and Environmental Act to implement regulations. This authority has been operational since 18 September 2020. Despite the onus on amending the existing regulations being vested in his office, Shangula maintains, “it is the job of the President to announce that.” This comes as President Hage Geingob recently called off a briefing on the…

28 Nov

Voter apathy strikes elections again

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Director Graham Hopwood, Voter apathy

Andrew Kathindi Voter apathy continues to mire the local authority and regional elections after it has emerged that less than half of registered voters showed up for the past elections. This comes after the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) earlier this month announced that over 1.4 million Namibians had registered to vote. In Windhoek, the local authority with the highest number of registered voters was especially hard hit. Out of 150,172 eligible voters, only 60,339 cast their votes. And from this number, 561 votes were rejected. In Rundu, the local authority with the second highest number of registered voters, 25,962…

28 Nov

The battle for Windhoek Mayor begins … as Swapo loses control of council

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedAffirmative Repositioning (AR), Battle for Windhoek Mayor, Independents Patriots for Change (IPC), Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Swapo Party

Andrew Kathindi The Swapo party has lost control of the City of Windhoek in the local elections. A battle has emerged on who will be the next mayor of the nation’s capital, after new councilors are sworn in. This comes as ruling party Swapo garnered five seats on the Council, having previously held 12, while new player Independents Patriots for Change (IPC) collected four, Affirmative Repositioning (AR) and Landless People's Movement (LPM) picked up two each while Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and National Unity Democratic Organization (NUDO) both got one seat. AR leader, Job Amupanda, who heads to the Council,…

27 Nov

The need for housing cannot wait

info_e12wt4csNational NewsWalvis Bay

As we wait for the confirmed election results, there are consistent nightmare problems in Namibia that must not be eclipsed. The need for affordable and decent housing cannot wait. In Walvis Bay, a consortium of fishing companies began constructing accommodation for 300 of their employees. Over N$65 million is in the pot for costs. This is an example of what must happen all over the country. Government and business must push everything to the back of the line – housing must be the #1 focus in 2021. This consortium of fishing companies gets a nod of approval for their housing…

27 Nov

NAC secures interim airports’ licences

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedNamibia Airports Company (NAC), Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)

Staff Writer Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has received interim airport operating licenses for all eight airports after submitting its applications with the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Hosea Kutako International Airport and Walvis International Airport according to the airports operator , were issued with interim aerodrome certificates valid for a period of eighteen months (18) until 05 May 2022, while the Andima Toivo ya Toivo Airport at Ondangwa was issued with an interim aerodrome license valid for a period of eighteen months (18) until 05 May 2022. The previously unlicensed aerodromes Eros, and the four regional airports of Rundu, Katima…

27 Nov

Nghipondoka in the dark over DHPS racism allegations

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyDeutsche Höhere Privatschule School (DHPS), German Embassy

Helena Johannes Minister of Education Arts and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka says she is unware of ongoing racism allegations at the Deutsche Höhere Privatschule School (DHPS) and thus the government department has not taken any measures to investigate the issue. “I have never heard about it and I did not receive a written complaint from anybody either,” she told the Windhoek Observer. This comes after allegations of racism and prejudice continued to surface at the school, after a 2016 incident where white mother barred a black Grade 1 boy from attending her daughter’s birthday. Affirmative Reposition leader, Job Amupanda’s efforts to…