Month: August 2023

A matter in which the Deputy Minister of Finance, Maureen Hinda-Mbuende is suing the former Mayor of Windhoek, Job Amupanda to the tune of N.dollars 1 million on Monday commenced in the Windhoek High Court, with the deputy minister taking the stand.

Hinda-Mbuende is suing Amupanda for alleged defamatory remarks he made against her in a social media post in July 2021. Amupanda posted a photo of an unknown woman on his social media platforms, and captioned it: “It looks like deputy minister of finance Maureen Hinda during the liberation struggle. Maureen was soo WizWiz. It’s like she won’t think twice about taking a knife out.”(sic)

Hinda-Mbuende claims the post was meant to be understood by the public that the woman in the picture was her in her youthful days; that she was a street girl ready to fight at a moment’s notice. She told Judge Collins Parker on Monday that by September 2021, the Facebook post had 511 comments, 2 800 reactions and it was shared 39 times.

Hinda-Mbuende in her opening statement said the liberation struggle is not a joking matter, and that both she and Amupanda are political leaders who influence important decisions in the country. She indicated that she will prove that Amupanda’s posts were intended to defame her and that he showed no remorse afterwards.

It is further her testimony that Amupanda continued to perpetuate gendered insults against her. A mother of six, Hinda-Mbuende said she is a role model to many and that Amupanda’s posts were hurtful.

“My integrity is what has gotten me this far,” she testified.

Amupanda will also take the stand.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Former Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Bernhardt Esau, said on Monday that the government should cover his legal fees in the Fishrot trial, citing he was charged in his capacity as a minister.

Esau made a brief court appearance alongside his co-accused, son-in-law Tamson Hatuikulipi; former Minister of Justice Sakeus Shanghala; former Investec Asset Management Managing Director, James Hatuikulipi; former Fishcor Chief Executive Officer, Mike Nghipunya; Otneel Shuudifonya; Pius Mwatelula; Phillipus Mwapopi and Nigel van Wyk.

Esau, whose lawyer Richard Metcalfe withdrew because of a lack of funding, told a fully packed courtroom that he is no longer able to cover his legal costs, as his assets and bank accounts are frozen. He indicated that he wants the State to allocate funds for his preferred lawyer.

Meanwhile, the court was also informed that another suspect, Ricardo Gustavo, is hospitalised.

State prosecutor Ed Marondedze said the State is ready to proceed with the trial on 02 October 2023.

Defence lawyer Mbanga Siyomundji said the lawyers only received the full disclosure in June and that the documents require ample time to read. Another lawyer, Kasper Gilroy, said consultation with his clients at the Windhoek Correctional Facility’s trial-awaiting section is frustrating as they are not allowed to enter the premises with their vehicles. He has also confirmed that they received the voluminous disclosure.

The matter has been postponed to September for a status hearing, before the trial commences in October. The suspects were arrested in November 2019 on charges ranging from fraud and money laundering to racketeering.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

High Court Judges Naomi Shivute and Philanda Christiaan on Monday dismissed the bail appeal of Michael Amushelelo, 31, who was arrested in March on charges relating to contempt of court.

Amushelelo reportedly organised an unemployment protest on Namibia’s Independence Day, 21 March 2023, despite a High Court ruling stating otherwise.

The two judges did not deliver the full judgment and only read the order. Amushelelo’s lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo, has in the meantime indicated that they would appeal the High Court’s ruling in the Supreme Court.

Katutura Magistrate Sally Salionga in April denied Amushelelo bail on the grounds that there are no conditions that could be attached to his bail, that would deter him from committing similar offences. It was further her ruling that Amushelelo was granted bail with conditions attached in two previous cases, but no change was seen in his conduct while he was free on bail.

Amushelelo was arrested alongside Dimbulukweni Nauyoma and Popular Democratic Movement parliamentarian Inna Hengari. They face charges of incitement of public violence and malicious damage to property. Hengari and Nauyoma were both released on bail in the amount of N.dollars 5 000.

The trio contends that they were not intending to protest when they arrived at the protest meet-up point, and that they were merely instructing protestors about the High Court ruling that disallowed them to protest.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

A five-day workshop for the parliamentary standing committee members on rules, orders and businesses as well as the committee for privileges and immunity of the National Council (NC), commenced at Otjiwarongo on Monday.

Chairperson of the National Council, Lukas Sinimbo Muha officially opened the training Monday morning.

Muha in his official remarks said the purpose of the workshop is to build capacity and create an in-depth understanding of the mandates of the two standing committees.

Thirteen NC members who serve on these standing committees of rules, orders and businesses as well as on privileges and immunity are attending the training.

“As members of the two committees, part of our task is to interpret and apply the law in a fair and reasonable manner at all times, therefore, these laws should be understood and approached by balancing the provision of rights, morality and corresponding obligations,” said Muha.

The chairperson further stated that regulating the conduct and behaviour of people will always bring about the law versus morality debate, therefore, it is of paramount importance that the parliamentary standing committee members note and understand that the law and morality are interdependent.

Secretary to the National Council, Advocate Tousy Namiseb, with a legal team from the National Council will facilitate the workshop.

The National Council has a total of 42 regional constituency councillors – three from each of the 14 regions across the country, said Namiseb.

Vice-Chairperson of the National Council, Victoria Kauma, and the Chief Whip of the National Council, Gerhard Shiimi are also attending the workshop which comes to an end on Friday.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Hostel learners at Omuhonga Combined School and Otjikoto Primary School in the Epupa circuit in the Kunene Region will benefit from a N.dollars 94 000 donation from MTC.

This came after a request for support from the two schools reached MTC in March as the pupils slept on the floor.

In a media statement availed to Nampa, MTC stated that the donation is to be used to purchase 120 mattresses and pillows for each of the schools.

“While some hostels have beds, some who do not have mattresses simply use boxes to sleep on; this is not right. We then had internal discussions to raise funds from our salaries to see how we could assist these learners with the little we have,” MTC Corporate communications practitioner, Fikameni Mathias said.

Mathias stated that it cannot be right that “we as a country have accepted that deplorable hostel states should be normal in rural areas” but expect competitive academic results nationally.

The Ojikoto school principal, Kavendji van der Merwe stated that his school mostly takes in children from marginalised communities and it is already difficult to keep these learners in school.

“When conditions in the hostel are not conductive, learners can use it as an excuse to stay away from school,” Van der Merwe stated.

MTC Cares, which is an employee-led initiative aimed at assisting communities with funds voluntarily contributed by MTC employees on a monthly basis, has done similar humanitarian donations with assisting leprosy patients in Omashare, sanitary pads for learners in Koës, and providing food for the Men on the Side of the Road ptoject in Windhoek, the statement read.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency