Observer – Page 700 – Windhoek Observer

05 Mar

Taxis want fare hike

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU)

Maria Hamutenya Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) says it has resolved to hike taxi fares to no more than N$ 13.50, subject to approval by the Ministry of Works and Transport. According to the NTTU request sent to the Transport ministry, the taxi operators are seeking to effect the hike as from the 15th of March. “This taxi fare increment is in line with the law, section 12 of the Road Transportation Act, Act 74 of 1977, states that when there is any fuel increment, we are allowed to give notice for taxi fare increment,” NTTU leader, Werner Januarie,…

05 Mar

Fishcor accounts unfrozen

ObserverObserver MoneyFishcor, National Fishing Corporation of Namibia

Andrew Kathindi Fishcor’s bank accounts have been unfrozen by the Bank of Namibia (BON), temporary Board chairperson Heinrich Mihe Gaomab II has revealed. “The Board informs the public on the positive developments of the unfreezing of the account of Fishcor to attend to its urgent and pressing financial and operational matters,” stated Gaomab II. The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) through BoN had frozen the corruption tainted state-owned enterprise’s accounts for breaking banking exchange regulations, according to reports. An investigation was launched in this matter. “Fishcor express it’s full confidence to the integrity of the investigations and express its continued cooperation…

05 Mar

N$6 million CoW vehicles attached

ObserverObserver MoneyBro-Mathew Shingwandja, Labour Executive Director

Andrew Kathindi and Maria Hamutenya The City of Windhoek (CoW) vehicles valued at more than N$6 million face the possibility of being auctioned off, after the Deputy Sheriff’s office attached the property in a labour dispute. According to a source at the labour court, the attached items include vehicles, buses and firefighting trucks. The dispute arose in 2019 when Superintendents, Peter Tuna Kandjumbwa, Kakonda Ghd, Tjivekumba Kandji, Jacqueline Amutenya, Maria Muyoba, Willem Karuuombe, Charl Morkel, Eliaser Liyambo, Pieter Boois, Oscar Simataa, Drusella Awases, Hilma Mpuka, Harold Winkler, Belinda Naomi Griqua and Reiter Nambinga took the City to the Labour Court…

04 Mar

Sustainable finance, a catalyst for Namibia’s recovery

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Standard Bank

Marco Triebner The Covid-19 pandemic has heightened the focus on climate change and financial instruments that promote sustainable economic development. The pandemic has impeded Namibia’s growth and demanded new approaches to economic development. It has also highlighted the importance of sustainability and environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues. It is noted that pressure is building on financial institutions and non-banking financial institutions, asset managers and corporates to give more attention to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in their day-to-day operations. We believe that Namibia is primed for a sustainable finance boom, given its potential in the renewable energy…

04 Mar

FNB Klein Windhoek to close, other great opportunities for customers

ObserverUncategorisedFNB Namibia

FNB Namibia has announced it would close the Klein Windhoek branch, effective 13 March 2021. “After examining branch profitability through our strategic planning review, we decided it was prudent to close a number of our branches throughout 2021. This approach is based on branches becoming less profitable, while the offer of additional electronic services has enhanced operating efficiencies. Our customers have adapted to all our electronic options and we are optimistic that we will retain our customer relationships because of these online and mobile banking services,” said Rodney Forbes, FNB Executive Officer: Points of Presence. Forbes added that there was…

04 Mar

11 convicted for violating COVID -19 regulations

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Namibian Correctional Services (NCS)

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri According to Namibian Correctional Services (NCS), only eleven people have been convicted for violating the COVID -19 state of emergency regulations since their enactment. Commissioner of NCS, Meunajo Tjiroze, said the eleven are individuals that were sentenced by the courts, with the Namibia Police Force having arrested 795 suspects for the period March 2020 until January 2021. “Many people are not adhering to the Covid-19 regulations, this comes in as Shikongo announced that a significant number of people are paying the N$2000 fine through admission of being guilty for breaking the Covid-19 regulations,” said Namibia Police Force Commissioner,…

04 Mar

Govt to strip CPBN chairperson of powers

ObserverObserver MoneyCentral Procurement Board of Namibia, Patrick Swartz

Andrew Kathindi Government is proposing changes in the structure of the Central Procurement Board of Namibia’s (CPBN) Board, a development which will strip current Chairperson, Patrick Swartz, and his deputy’s powers when amendments into the Public Procurement Act, Act No. 15 come into effect. The amendments, which according to the Ministry of Finance are to strengthen governance issues around the CPBN, will see Swartz and his deputy, Lischen Ramakhutla, no longer with administrative powers if they opt to retain their current positions after the amendments. Swartz was embroiled in a recruitment scandal in May last year involving 14 employees, most…

03 Mar

Energy ministry lifts licence moratorium

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Mines and Energy

Staff Writer The Ministry of Mines and Energy on Tuesday announced the lifting of its temporary suspension on the issuing of fuel retail site and wholesale licenses. The Ministry last July effected the suspension, citing an oversupply of service stations in the country. The move was aimed at reviewing existing procedures and requirements for securing a fuel retail site and wholesale license. “The Ministry has reviewed the licencing procedures and requirements for granting fuel retail and wholesale licences, as provided for in the Petroleum Products and Energy Regulations, of 2000. This includes new application forms and conditions for the granting…

03 Mar

NamWater seeks its N$1.5 billion

ObserverObserver MoneyKatima Mulilo, NamWater Chief Executive Officer, Zambezi

Andrew Kathindi NamWater has revealed that it’s owed N$1.5 billion nationally, with local authorities being the largest debtors. NamWater Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Abraham Nehemia, told Windhoek Observer that some of the debts owed to them are backdated by nearly ten years.“I have written all of them letters. It's a demand letter waking up the other party to honour their obligations,” he said. The NamWater CEO further refuted claims that the lack of water in Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi region was a result of NamWater disconnecting the local authority. “There was a misrepresentation of facts in Katima. We have a…

03 Mar

Residents owe CoW N$1 billion

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Covid-19, Job Amupanda

Andrew Kathindi The City of Windhoek’s (CoW) debts currently stand at around N$ 1 billion, Mayor, Job Amupanda, has revealed on Tuesday. The debt, according to the Mayor, was around N$800 to N$900 million in early 2020, and moved to slightly above N$1 billion when COVID-19 hit to slightly below a billion when restrictions eased. “The City has not been spared by the negative impact of COVID-19, and our debts has drastically increased by N$150 million since the state of emergency was first announced in March 2020. At that point and time, we could not disconnect services for our residents…