Observer – Page 497 – Windhoek Observer

02 May

Recon Namibia to hear fate this month…as local organisation claims violation of rights

ObserverMainRecon Namibia to hear fate this month…as local organisation claims violation of rights

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Recon Energy Namibia will learn the outcome of its Environmental Clearance Certificate application later this month, the Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta reserved judgment following the hearing of arguments both in support of and against the Environmental Commissioner’s decision to revise an Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC).The Kavango East and West Regional Conservancy and Community Forest Association, Katope Community Forest Management Committee, Muduva Nyangana Communal Conservancy Management Committee, and Ncumcara Community Forest Management Committee filed an appeal last year, challenging Recon’s clearance certificate.Additionally, the decision of the Environmental Commissioner to grant the certificate to the Canadian…

28 Apr

The unaffordability of bank loans leads many into a debt trap

ObserverFeatured

Martin Endjala It is an open secret that with the continued upward inflation rate, many Namibians that live below the bread line, find themselves in a dilemma when it comes to sourcing loans because many do not qualify for bank loans and have to rely on cash loans. This is because cash loans are believed to be obtainable faster when compared to banks and such loans also have short repayment terms. Obtaining a cash loan also does not require the provision of any security by the lender. “Cash loan extend facility on an unsecured basis, don’t require collateral for you…

28 Apr

Lack of coordination caused the mass resignation of fishermen

ObserverNational NewsLack of coordination caused the mass resignation of fishermen

Stefanus Nashama Former Minister of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development, Tjekero Tweya said there was a general lack of coordination between the concerned ministries, fishing companies and the affected workers that resulted in the mass resignation of fishermen. Tweya presented the report to the Parliamentary Selection Committee of the National Assembly on the Mass resignation of fishermen employed under the Government Redressing Program in Walvis Bay from 1 to 5 November 2022. Tweya stated that lack of coordination could be perceived as the reason for the inability and inefficiency to address the challenges encountered in the implementation process of the…

28 Apr

NAB improves border control regime

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala The Namibia Agronomic Board (NAB) have intensified its border control regime by conducting regular compliance assessments for imports, exports and transit consignment to determine the status of compliance in the crop industry. According to NAB’s financial year 2022/23 report, the board announced the appointment of more border control inspectors at commercial ports of entry and exit in order to implement the strategic initiative. NAB has since then facilitated the clearance of consignments for importation, exportation and transit, in which satisfactory performance was recorded in relation to industry compliance with the regulatory framework. To date, the board has developed…

28 Apr

EIF procures four new automated weather stations

ObserverNational NewsEIF procures four new automated weather stations

Martin Endjala The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) in partnership with the Mobile Telecommunication Company (MTC) through the IREMA project, has procured four automated weather stations at a total cost of N$800 000. This was announced by EIF Chief Executive Officer Benedict Lubinda during the handover last week under the theme “Improving Rangeland and Ecosystem Management Practices of Smallholder Farmers under Conditions of Climate Change in Sesfontein, Fransfontein, and Warmquelle areas of the Republic of Namibia.” The CEO said that procurement of the four stations reinforces Namibia’s unwavering commitment to implementing early warning systems as a crucial means of…

28 Apr

Road safety agencies urged to work in harmony

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala Eliphas !Owos-Oab, the National Road Safety Council Chairman, has urged road safety agencies to work in harmony despite their local authority affiliation. “Arguments such as ‘No I am from the Walvis, Rehoboth or Windhoek Local Authority and do not report to you’ for example must become a thing of the past. We need to create cohesion and stop misunderstanding one another and fighting amongst each other,” he said. !Owos-Oab said this during the conclusion of the 8th Annual Conference of Road Safety that was held under the theme ‘Creating a conducive environment for Synergy, accountability, performance management and…

28 Apr

Alternative data key to unlocking financial conundrums

ObserverNational NewsAlternative data key to unlocking financial conundrums

Martin Endjala Access to alternative data is the key to unlocking a lot of problems facing the financial sector at the moment. The Head of Africa Regions, TransUnion Africa Thabo Molefe says that the bottom line is that data is the future. “But we must seize the opportunity now If we are able to access a bigger pool of consumer data,” he said. Molefe was of the opinion that access to better data will go a long way towards combating the plague of loan stacking, and even allow institutions to work together to fight the rising tide of digital fraud.…

28 Apr

Namibia observes International Girls in ICT Day

ObserverNational NewsNamibia observes International Girls in ICT Day

Stefanus Nashama Namibia joined the rest of the world in observing International Girls in Information Communication Technology Day. Shoki Kanjimi, the Senior Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology said the event in Namibia was presented under the theme ‘digital skills for life’. Kandjimi said the day aims to inspire and encourage girls from all walks of life to pursue a future in ICT and empower them with to necessary skills, confidence and support to achieve their goals and bridge the gender gap in digital Global Statistics have shown that girls and women particularly in the…

28 Apr

BoN records increase in the use of counterfeit money

ObserverNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has recorded 206 incidents where counterfeit banknotes were used in the span of a year. According to the central bank’s 2022 annual report, the number of incidents represents an increase of 32.9 percent during the year in review. “Two-hundred-and-six (206) counterfeit notes were recorded in 2022 and it is more than the 155 recorded in the previous year. However, the counterfeit notes remained of poor quality and below the Bank’s threshold of 10 pieces per million in circulation, as well as the industry standard of 70 pieces per million in circulation,” read the…

28 Apr

Revenue from the extractive industry must benefit all

ObserverMainRevenue from the extractiveindustry must benefit all

Niël Terblanché Namibia like many other African countries has to improve Domestic Resource Mobilisation (DRM) and take charge of own development agendas with funds garnered from improved fiscal policies and robust taxation systems.Delegates from across the continent gathered in Swakopmund to attend the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) Workshop on Value Added Tax (VAT) Administration and Compliance in the Extractive IndustryThe Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) is hosting the two-day event which is aimed at providing insights and updates on the best practices in VAT administration and compliance.At the official opening of the workshop, Mary Baine, the Deputy Executive Secretary and…