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namib times
SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6880 FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER 2020 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net
Coastal economy yearns for opening of Khomas Region All eyes and ears focused on President Hage Geingob today President Hage Geingob is expected to address Namibia this afternoon (Friday 11 September at 15:00) on the country’s Covid-19 restrictions. Hopes are focused the President would not extend the lockdown of Windhoek, Okahanjda and Rehoboth, in order to normalise transport activities. “Windhoek is the most important business hub to the coast. If access to Windhoek is possible again, you will see an immediate improvement in coast’s business environment”, several businesspeople said this week. For the tourism- and hospitality industry, the opening of Windhoek will also mean locals visiting the coast for business and for leisure. The fact that international flights resume to Windhoek, will also mean local flights can normalise and could
lead to the speedy opening of the Walvis Bay International Airport. “Our country’s lockdown and restrictions must end unconditionally. It is of critical importance to start to build our national and local economies again. We can simply not allow Covid-19 to dictate to us any more. As Namibians we must exercise care, discipline and common sense to keep ourselves safe, as any form of restrictions cannot be entertained any more”, says a tourism businessman.
Namport has new CEO
One of FirstRand Namibia’s Executives, Mr Andrew Kanime, has been appointed as the CEO of the Namibia Ports Authority (Namport). The previous CEO of Namport, Mr Bisey Uirab left Namport to take up the reins as CEO of the Namibia Airports Company some months ago. In a staff circular of FirstRand, Mr Kanime is described as a dynamic and highly able individual and that he is the suitable candidate to take up the post of CEO at Namport.
Voters have their inside RDP supsay over slow ECN registration porters urged to process Sources close to the Electoral Commission of Namibia's supplementary voter registration process is bending under the sheer number of people streaming to registration stations to register for the upcoming Regional Council and Local Authority Elections. Namib Times was told reliably that thousands of people are registering to vote in November, and that more than 2 500 people have registered in the first three days since the supplementary registration process started on Monday. “We have never experienced these numbers in any of the previous regional- or local authority elections”, an official who will not be named says. Various registration officials at registration points in Walvis Bay complain the ECN's technology is failing, causing some people to wait for as long as six and seven hours to be registered. There are also known discrepancies with voter cards that were issued, and the matter has been communicated to two opposition parties, as these voters are opposition voters. Namib Times has also made widespread inquiries to members of the public of how they experience the supplementary registration process: Many are deeply concerned about the long waiting periods to get registered. “The ECN is in essence turning people away. The ECN cannot expect of people to wait that long. Where is the respect for our country's people?” Others say they are puzzled by the fact that in three decades the ECN could not come up with systems to make the registration- and voting processes faster. “The ECN is part of the Namibian Government. My opinion is the ECN is deliberately kept inefficient and backward to control the political status quo”, explained one member of the public in Walvis Bay at one of the registration processes. He added it does not matter how long the process takes, he will register as he wants to vote for change. Including change to the ECN's efficiency. He also called on people to take the trouble and register. Don't let the ECN's inefficient ways influence your right to vote. One member in one of the Walvis Bay Urban registration points praised the ECN's temporary staff's friendliness and their helpfulness.
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register with the ECN
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Twaloloka fire victims’ dignity restored
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T-Shirts to Blue Waters girls cricket team Page 12