Day: June 11, 2023

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal made by Menzies Aviation against the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) last year, over the termination of a written agreement to provide ground services.

The appeal comes after Menzies disputed the lawfulness of the notice and in a letter dated 22 April 2022, which the NAC later withdrew and informed Menzies that they stood by the termination date of 30 June 2022 as provided for in the extension of the original agreement.

In a statement issued by NAC Chief Executive Officer Bisey Uirab on Friday, the agreement to provide ground services at the Hosea Kutako International Airport was for an initial five-year period that commenced on 01 January 2014, lapsed on 31 December 2021 and was subject to the right of renewal for three years.

According to NAC, new bids were then invited prior to the termination date of the said agreement and a six months extension was agreed to between the NAC and Menzies from January 2022 to 30 June 2022, subject to a month’s written notice of termination, should the procurement process that was pending at the time be finalised prior to the termination date.

“The NAC then asked for an undertaking by Menzies that it would vacate the NAC premises when the agreement between NAC and Menzies expires on the said date, however that was not the case. On 27 May 2022, NAC launched an urgent application seeking a declaratory order that the agreement would terminate on 30 June 2022 and that Menzies would be obliged to, on that day, cease to provide services and give vacant occupation of the premises to the successful bidder, which was Paragon,” Uirab noted.

Menzies then launched another appeal against this, which was however dismissed, with costs, during a hearing which took place in the Supreme Court on 19 April 2023, where the court demanded that Menzies’ unlawful hold over the premises and forcing NAC to make use of its services should be put to an end.

The judgment also emphasised that as Paragon was awarded the bid and that award had not been set aside, Paragon should be allowed to act in accordance with the bid as it is willing to do.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Police in the Erongo Region have expressed concern over the increasing number of suicides committed in the region particularly by men, saying it has become worrisome.

According to Erongo Community Policing Commander Inspector Ileni Shapumba in a statement on a police-media platform, the numbers of mostly male victims taking their own lives in reported incidents, call for concerted action from everyone within the community.

“While we are responsible for crime prevention and maintenance of law and order, as officers responding first and investigating these incidents of suicides, it has really become alarming. As we call upon people to seek alternative solutions to problems that are affecting them, it’s probably also worth mentioning that, we that are surrounding victims look into our actions and give support to help others giving up in life,” Shapumba noted.

He added that suicide is a social issue and in most cases investigations reveal social circumstances could be among the driving factors.

The inspector made this statement after another case of suicide was reported in Walvis Bay on Friday.

According to Shapumba, the 26-year-old Lukas Nghediimwe who was employed by the National Youth Service, reportedly hung himself in an empty house where he was posted as a guard from 15h00 that day.

It is alleged that around 23h00 when two colleagues came to relieve him at the end of his shift, his body was discovered hanging from the ceiling.

The colleagues reported the incident to their supervisor who then notified the Namibian Police.

No suicide note was left and no foul play is suspected.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The self-proclaimed prophet Andrew Mberema Hausiku, 45, accused of the deaths of two women after allegedly giving them a concoction at Kandjara village in the Kavango East Region, made his first court appearance on Friday.

The concoction was allegedly meant to “rid the women of evil spirits and remove bad luck”.

Two other women who also consumed the drink are currently admitted at the Nyangana District Hospital receiving medical attention.

Hausiku appeared at the Rundu Magistrate’s Court before Magistrate Sonia Sampofu, who denied him bail due to the seriousness of the case and public interest.

His charges were changed from culpable homicide by other means to two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Hausiku is also facing one count of contravention of the Witchcraft Suppression Proclamation.

The case was postponed to 25 August 2023 for further investigation.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Vice President Nangolo Mbumba on Sunday said he was disturbed by the many graves of Namibian heroes that remain unmarked to this day.

Speaking at Okahandja during the commemoration of the 127th anniversary of the battle of Otjunda and the subsequent execution of Chief Kahimemua Nguvauva, Mbumba said he is disheartened that their graves remained unmarked.

During the battle of Otjunda, many of Kahimemua’s soldiers also died. However, their graves are not marked.

Mbumba called on the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture to ensure that a befitting shrine is laid at Otjunda and other historical places such as Okatumba, Vaalgras and Ozombuzovindimba, among others, where communities fought forces of occupation and apartheid colonial forces.

“It is only in this manner that we will truly honour the sacrifices of our forefathers who stood firm against colonial occupation,” Mbumba said.

As Namibians commemorate the history of Chief Kahimemua, Mbumba took time to call on current and future generations to remember that freedom and independence was not attained on a silver platter.

“It came because of the sacrifices of the heroes and heroines, whose blood waters our freedom,” he explained.

He urged the youth to be united under the banner of One Namibia, One Nation to defend the freedom and independence.

“Chief Kahimemua on 06 May 1896 at Otjunda in the Omaheke Region, declared ‘enough was enough’ to the aggressive and expansionist policy of land robbery by the German colonial authorities. He therefore became the first Namibian chief to pay the highest sacrifice by the German colonial forces,” Mbumba said.

Cabinet ministers, traditional leaders, members of the diplomatic corps and members of the public attended the event at Commando in Okahandja.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency