Day: December 21, 2023

WINDHOEK: The police in the Hardap Region are investigating separate murder cases following the death of two men on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

According to Namibian Police Force spokesperson Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, a 25-year-old man was stabbed in Rehoboth by an unknown suspect. The incident reportedly happened on Thursday around 03h10, in Block E. The deceased has been identified as Sensenzo Witbeen.

‘The deceased was stabbed on the left side of the face by an unknown suspect. The victim died while on the way to hospital. No arrest has been made yet. His relatives are informed and police investigation continues,’ Shikwambi said.

In Maltahöhe, a 36-year-old man was fatally stabbed in the chest with a knife. The incident occurred on Wednesday, around 21h40, at a shebeen in Blikkiesdorp.

‘It is alleged that an argument broke out between the suspect and the deceased. The victim died on the scene and the suspect was arrested. His next of kin are not informed yet. Police investigation
s continue,’ Shikwambi said.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OSHAKATI: The Oshakati Town Council on Thursday officially inaugurated two taxi ranks which will serve the Oshakati-Ondangwa and Oshakati-Endola routes.

The taxi ranks were constructed at a cost of N.dollars 1.5 million, with N.dollars 520 000 allocated to the Oshakati-Endola taxi rank and over N.dollars 1 million allocated to the Oshakati-Ondangwa taxi rank. Construction was completed within a three-month period.

Oshakati Mayor Leonard Hango said the council had set aside funds in its 2022/23 financial budget for the construction of the taxi ranks to enhance the safety of both transport users and drivers.

He said accidents were frequently reported at the two taxi ranks.

‘The Oshakati-Ondangwa taxi rank has recorded two serious incidents, including one fatality. Many of the accidents involved vehicles being hit from behind or being side-swiped,’ he said, adding that the revamping will create a safer and more organised environment for residents.

Additionally, Hango announced that the Oshakati Town Council
is currently working on the development of a transportation bylaw to regulate transportation in the town.

The mayor also revealed that the council has strategically decided to establish a traffic division under the council, which is expected to be effective in the next financial year, 2024/25.

The Oshakati-Ondangwa taxi rank is located at the yellow complex, while the Oshakati-Onhuno taxi rank is situated at the Dr Frans Aupa Indongo open market.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Five people accused in an alleged cryptocurrency scheme were each granted bail of N.dollars 20 000 in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

Tango Muulyau, Shi Zi Jun, Lin Shu Lin, Chen You Yi, and Carlos Alejandro are implicated in an alleged cryptocurrency scam involving the recruitment of young Namibians.

The suspects face charges alongside Fan Jia, Guo Linzie, Haifeng Zheng, Li Zirian, Chen Wuyu, Neng Jun Wu, Wu Weiyang, and Toivo Herman, whose bail applications were dismissed.

The group was arrested on 03 October 2023 in Windhoek. Initially, over 80 Namibians were arrested, accused of targeting foreign investors from various countries under the pretext of legitimate investments.

The suspects collectively face 203 charges, including 98 counts of trafficking, utilising the services of their trafficked victims for fraud amounting to N.dollars 9 million, money laundering, and failure to pay taxes. Young Namibians were deceived with false promises of marketing jobs and subsequently fell vic
tim to trafficking. They were trained by foreign nationals to create fictitious profiles on social media platforms to establish relationships with unsuspecting citizens of the United States of America, urging them to invest in cryptocurrency.

In his ruling, Magistrate Mutafela Likando said he was not convinced that the suspects whose bail was denied, are worthy candidates for bail.

‘Investigations are at a preliminary stage of a complex case. It is not in the public interest and administration of justice that the accused persons be released on bail,’ Likando stated.

He ruled that the individuals granted bail report to the Windhoek Police Station every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. They are also required to surrender their travel documents and seek written permission before leaving Windhoek.

The bail conditions further stipulate that the suspects must not interfere with investigations and must attend all court dates until the matter is finalised.

‘In case of failure to appear in court, a warrant of arres
t may be issued against you, and your bail will be provisionally cancelled, with the bail money being provisionally forfeited to the State,’ he said.

The matter has been adjourned until 15 February 2024 for further police investigations.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OMUTHIYA: Namibian Police Force (NamPol) commander for the Oshikoto Region, Commissioner Theopoline Kalompo-Nashikaku, has called on private companies to donate food to the police during the festive season.

Kalompo-Nashikaku was speaking at Omuthiya on Wednesday after receiving a donation of food items from the owner of Okaale Complex, Helena Nekomba. She urged other companies to emulate the example.

‘We have 11 teams camping in the bush, trying to stop theft and the smuggling of illicit items in or through Oshikoto. The officers have taken their own food in order to meet the government halfway’ the commander said.

She expressed her gratitude to the companies that have supported the police in similar ways so far.

‘We are grateful to Dundee for giving us food in the amount of N.dollars 37 000, as well as the Rani Group of Companies in Omuthiya that also brought us food,’ she stated.

Several private individuals have also provided water to the Namibian Police Force.

Kalompo-Nashikaku said their aim is to d
eliver on the force’s promises of zero fatalities on the roads, zero stock theft, and zero serious incidents.

‘We have been on the ground since 17 November 2023 and will remain on the ground until the situation normalises,’ Kalompo-Nashikaku said.

Nekomba, meanwhile, said she donated the food items because of the positive work of the police.

‘They do not know us but they are fighting for us while they are starving, so let us help them,’ she said.

Nekomba donated an ox, 10 kilogrammes of fish, 100 loaves of bread, and 240 cans of cooldrink.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OMUTHIYA: Namibian Police Force (NamPol) commander for the Oshikoto Region, Commissioner Theopoline Kalompo-Nashikaku, has called on private companies to donate food to the police during the festive season.

Kalompo-Nashikaku was speaking at Omuthiya on Wednesday after receiving a donation of food items from the owner of Okaale Complex, Helena Nekomba. She urged other companies to emulate the example.

‘We have 11 teams camping in the bush, trying to stop theft and the smuggling of illicit items in or through Oshikoto. The officers have taken their own food in order to meet the government halfway’ the commander said.

She expressed her gratitude to the companies that have supported the police in similar ways so far.

‘We are grateful to Dundee for giving us food in the amount of N.dollars 37 000, as well as the Rani Group of Companies in Omuthiya that also brought us food,’ she stated.

Several private individuals have also provided water to the Namibian Police Force.

Kalompo-Nashikaku said their aim is to d
eliver on the force’s promises of zero fatalities on the roads, zero stock theft, and zero serious incidents.

‘We have been on the ground since 17 November 2023 and will remain on the ground until the situation normalises,’ Kalompo-Nashikaku said.

Nekomba, meanwhile, said she donated the food items because of the positive work of the police.

‘They do not know us but they are fighting for us while they are starving, so let us help them,’ she said.

Nekomba donated an ox, 10 kilogrammes of fish, 100 loaves of bread, and 240 cans of cooldrink.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Office of the Labour Commissioner has raised concern about limited annual returns by registered trade unions, saying out of 47 registered unions, only 12 have submitted their annual returns.

Similarly, only three out of 17 employers’ organisations have submitted their returns, the Office of the Labour Commissioner said in a statement on Thursday.

It said some of the trade unions and employers’ organisations that submitted returns provided written representations, while others requested one-on-one representations.

‘The minimal number of submissions of annual returns so far raises significant concerns as some of these entities may lack transparency and accountability to their members, while others may be dormant,’ the statement read.

It further said the submitted annual returns are yet to be analysed to assess their compliance status. The findings will guide subsequent actions by the Labour Commissioner.

According to the Labour Act, the Labour Commissioner has the authority to issue complianc
e orders to non-compliant entities. This may involve steps to rectify non-compliance. Failure to adhere to the order could lead to deregistration or intervention from the Labour Court. The court may issue orders, including suspending registrations pending compliance.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency