president Hage Geingob – Page 10

07 Aug

‘Quarantine’ details for tourists emerge

ObserverObserver MoneyHealth Minister Kalumbi Shangula, Namibia, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi It has emerged that tourists coming to Namibia as part of government’s initiative to rescue the country’s tourism sector will still be subjected to a seven days quarantine period, despite government’s reluctance to phrase it as such, Windhoek Observer has learned. This comes after President Hage Geingob had said that tourists coming to Namibia will be exempted to a mandatory quarantine period but will need to remain at their first destination in the country for seven days. However, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula told this reporter on Thursday that tourists in the first seven days’ period, will not be…

04 Aug

Tourism sector initiative could risk lives

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibians, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi Thousands of workers in the tourism sector could be at risk of contracting COVID-19 as new measures announced by government to revive the sector do not require quarantine for incoming tourists. President Hage Geingob announced that the International Tourism revival initiative, which was initially supposed to kick off on 15 July but was delayed over disagreements on measures during the consultation process, has now been approved. According to new measures announced by the President which tourists will not be subjected to a mandatory quarantine, “They will however be required to remain at their first initial destination in the…

31 Jul

Unions happy with Hage’s school decision

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia National Teachers Union (NANTU), president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) said it is satisfied with President Hage Geingob’s decision to suspend face-to-face teaching for grades 0-9 countrywide. This comes after the union has been in meetings for the last two days over a possible call for the closure of schools out of concern for the rising number of cases around the country. “What directed our focus is the health and safety of everyone involved. The over-populated phase is grade 0-3. Schools that are in the rural and urban areas are not the same. Most of the schools in the northern regions are accommodating…

21 Jul

Geingob rules out Erongo trip

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Erongo region, president Hage Geingob

….as deaths toll rises Staff Writer President Hage Geingob has ruled out any planned trip for himself and members of his executive, including Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula to the Erongo region, but will instead dispatch four deputy ministers to access the impact of COVID-19 on the community. The four, Deputy minister of Health, Esther Muinjangue, Deputy minister of Labour, Hafeni Ndemula, Deputy minister of Urban and Rural Development, Derek Klazen and Deputy minister of Safety and Security, Daniel Kashikola, will be the first high level government delegation to visit the region which has become the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak…

17 Jul

Geingob hits back at opposition parties

ObserverObserver MoneyMembers of Parliament, president Hage Geingob

…as ruling party divisions continue Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob has hit back at opposition parties in Parliament who threatened to take Swapo to court over the selection of Parliamentary Committee members, calling their claims weak. This comes after opposition parties and Swapo reached an impasse over parliamentary committees. Thye could not agree on members to nominate. “The case of the Opposition, regarding the constitution of the committees, is weak. The rules are clear that proportional representation applies to the entire National Assembly and not just the committees,” said Geingob. Standing Committees are smaller groups of Members of Parliament elected…

07 Jul

Tourists to quarantine – Geingob

ObserverUncategorisedpresident Hage Geingob

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob has confirmed that tourists who plan to come into the country under the proposed International Tourism revival initiative, will be expected to undergo mandatory 14 day quarantine when they arrive in the country. Speaking during a COVID-19 Response Erongo region press conference on Monday, the President said quarantine will be a requirement for all tourists entering the country and those not willing to comply should not come. The proposal is intended to run from the 15th of July to the 15th of August 2020. “If you are not willing to quarantine for 14 days when…

03 Jul

Namibia’s Long Road to National Reconciliation – Part 2

ObserverUncategorisedpresident Hage Geingob, SWAPO

Oiva Angula All Namibians know it was war, but wars are less chaotic than they appear. Pain, suffering and death are inflicted on someone’s orders. And wars have laws – some are supposed to protect even ‘enemy spies’ by treating them humanely in all circumstances. Protecting such ‘spies’ against murder, torture, humiliating or degrading treatment, and providing such ‘spies’ a fair trial was and is in line with international law. In dealing with the spy hysteria “Swapo perfidiously defied all established international protocols regarding armed conflicts,” says Pauline Dempers, the BWS national coordinator. The Swapo Party has through the years,…

03 Jul

Katjavivi must not ‘escort’, he must retire

ObserverNational NewsHonourable Speaker of the Parliament, Peter Katjavivi, president Hage Geingob

A reliable source repeated a conversation he had earlier this year with the Honourable Speaker of the Parliament, Peter Katjavivi. When asked why he would not retire rather than attempt a second term as Speaker at this age, the Speaker said, “I want to escort my friend to his final term.” The ‘friend’ he refers to is President Hage Geingob. The two near octogenarians, indeed share a long history of friendship and comradery. But, the comment made as related, is quite telling. The Speaker’s decision to stay in office may not have been to first serve the people of Namibia,…

26 Jun

Govt tourism plans unlikely

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, president Hage Geingob, tourism

...as Health ministry insist on 14 day quarantine Andrew Kathindi Government’s touted plan to revive the tourism industry could be dead in the water before it has gotten off the ground after it has emerged that its requirements may be too strict. This comes after President Hage Geingob announced that part of Namibia’s stage 4 regulations, government will conduct a targeted International Tourism revival initiative between 15 July to 15 August 2020, in collaboration with the tourism sector. Parts of the proposed measures include keeping tourists in a quarantine facility for two weeks at their own risk and cost, after…

25 Jun

NCCI welcomes easing of restrictions

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), NCCI, NCCI President Sven Thieme, president Hage Geingob

Staff Writer The Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) says the easing of lock down measures as the country moves to stage 4 as announced by President Hage Geingob on Monday will allow the local economy and businesses to begin to recover. “It is with great relief that we can welcome the start of our society’s reopening, in the wake of this unprecedented economic lockdown. As we take our first steps along the road to economic recovery, we should be immensely grateful for the efforts by Government and particularly of all those who continue to work so hard to…