info_e12wt4cs – Page 704

12 Jul

SOEs restrict private players in economy

info_e12wt4csNational NewsSOEs restrict private players in economy, World Bank Country Private Sector Diagnostic Report

Tujoromajo Kasuto The World Bank Country Private Sector Diagnostic Report launched on Friday reveals that Namibia’s largely monopolistic market structure and dominant public sector create an uneven playing field for the private sector. According to the report, public enterprise or SOE sector dominance in a small economy like Namibia creates anti-competitive effects, particularly when SOEs operate in monopolistic and privileged positions in key sectors of the economy, as they do even in sectors where private participation could be more efficient and transformative. Given the small market size, the bank emphasizes that overall efficiency and productivity gains could be realized by…

12 Jul

Litany of corruption charges against Grootfontein CEO

info_e12wt4csNational NewsKisco Sinvula, Litany of corruption charges against Grootfontein CEO, racketeering and the misuse of public funds.

Obrein Simasiku A dark cloud of alleged circumvention of tendering processes, insults and alleged disregard of policies and procedures, are some of the underlying issues forming the basis for charges against the suspended Grootfontein Chief Executive Officer, Kisco Sinvula, whose journey at the municipality has been turbulent since taking over in March 2020. Sinvula has been officially charged on Friday with an avalanche of 30 charges. He is charged for insubordination, abuse of power, violations of the Local Authorities Act of 1992, violations of the Procurement Act, corruption, forgery, misleading and misrepresentation of facts, negligent trading, utterances and violations of…

12 Jul

Government allows for import of older cars

info_e12wt4csNational NewsApproval is extended for two years to include import age restrictions for non-commercial vehicles of up to 12 years, Government allows for import of older cars, Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade (MIT)

Tujoromajo Kasuto The Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade (MIT) has increased the import age restrictions for non-commercial second hand vehicles from the current eight to 12 years for the next two years. Under the current economic conditions, ‘’the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade (MIT) has officially announced interim relief measures for the used vehicle industry on age restrictions. The Approval is extended for two years to include import age restrictions for non-commercial vehicles of up to 12 years, up from the current capping age limit of 8 years,’’ a statement from the ministry reads. The ministry states that, ‘’The Decision…

12 Jul

FIMA enactment put on hold

info_e12wt4csNational News55 years can only claim 25 percent of their pension, FIMA enactment put on hold, Financial Institutions and Markets Act, Victory Muranda

Martin Endjala Feedback on the concerns of the public and stakeholders regarding the Financial Institutions and Markets Act will be shared by the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) during the last quarter of this year. This was announced by Namfisaá corporate communication and consumer education manager, Victory Muranda in a media statement on Friday. Muranda also said that the controversial regulations regarding retirement benefits claims will also not be introduced on 1 October as initially planned. The public was particularly opposed to the draft regulation that persons younger than 55 years can only claim 25 percent of their pension…

12 Jul

13 arrests on wildlife crime charges

info_e12wt4csNational News11 black rhino, 13 arrests on wildlife crime charges, and Tourism (MEFT)

Staff Writer Earlier this month, 13 people were arrested on wildlife crime charges. According to Romeo Muyunda, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT), 11 of the arrested suspects were related to the recent discovery of poached rhino carcasses in the Etosha National Park, and the other two suspects were found in possession of a live pangolin. “All the arrests and confiscated items are suspected to be linked to the recent rhino poaching incidents in Etosha National Park. The joint operation confiscated items such as two vehicles, five rifles, ammunition, axes, knifes as well as cash close…

09 Jul

Auditor General not taken seriously

info_e12wt4csOpinionsAuditor General not taken seriously, Immigration, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, Safety and Security as well as State House

Accounting officers at government ministries, including State House are failing to implement recommendations and advice by the Auditor General in his audit reports. This is becoming a cause for concern as the same recommendation and observations are made by the Auditor General over some years. While the Auditor General is doing commendable work in thoroughly auditing the finances of government, it goes to waste if his recommendations are simply ignored. In three financial reports tabled by the Auditor General in the National Assembly recently, the AG repeatedly express concern over recommendation that were made in previous reports not implemented. The…

09 Jul

MPs question effectiveness of unemployment interventions

info_e12wt4csNational NewsDeputy Minister of Works and Transpor, MPs question effectiveness of unemployment interventions, PDM MP Vipuakuje Muharukua

Martin Endjala A comment by the Deputy Minister of Works and Transport that he does not agree with the sentiments that government is not doing enough to address the high unemployment in the country got opposition MPs hot under the collar. Veikko Nekundi’s comment was not well received by PDM MP Vipuakuje Muharukua, but the Swapo deputy minister said the motion, that was tabled by PDM’s Inna Hengari, is aimed at downplaying good things done by the ruling party. The motion, Nekundi said, is very important, but is coated in an amateurish content that seems to be geared for campaigning…

09 Jul

Alweendo calls for positive attitude

info_e12wt4csNational NewsAlweendo calls for positive attitude, Minister of Mines and Energy has called for a positive attitude among Namibians, Tom Alweendo

Martin Endjala The Minister of Mines and Energy has called for a positive attitude among Namibians during his information sharing sessions in the two Kavango regions. Tom Alweendo explained that the country is in a very good position to become one of the biggest producers of green hydrogen energy in the world, given its geographical location. The green Hydrogen project has received worldwide publicity with three European countries such as Germany, Netherlands and Belgium already at the forefront of transitioning to renewable energy to counter fossil fuels, which are regarded as the main contributors to global warming. About 40 million…

09 Jul

SADC PF wants right to health enforceable

info_e12wt4csNational NewsDr Saleem Muhammad (UNAIDS) and Ms. Lilian Mworeko, Ms Boemo Mmandu-Sekgoma, SADC Parliamentary Forum, SADC PF wants right to health enforceable

Moses Magadza THE Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Ms Boemo Mmandu-Sekgoma has made the case for the right to health to be recognised as a justiciable one that can be enforced in the courts of law, which is not the case in most African countries. Mmandu-Sekgoma made the call when she addressed the opening session of the second continental conference on the impact of Covid-19 on HIV responses in Africa that was held in Windhoek, Namibia on 30 June, 2022. The conference was organised by the reconstituted Committee on the Protection of PLHIV under the aegis of the…

Exhibition gives voice to voiceless<br>descendants of victims of genocide

09 Jul

Exhibition gives voice to voiceless
descendants of victims of genocide

info_e12wt4csNational NewsExhibition gives voice to voiceless descendants of victims of genocide, ONDJEMBO YO NULL VIER, Ovambanderu and Nama, “Ondjembo” meaning gun in Otjiherero and “Null Vier”

Staff Writer “ONDJEMBO YO NULL VIER” is the title of the exhibition by a German national, which opened on Thursday at the National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN). It is not accidental that the exhibition has been titled as such with “Ondjembo” meaning gun in Otjiherero and “Null Vier” being reference in German to 1904. Thus the exhibition is about the wars of the indigenous Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama people during which they fought intense battles fought. The 1904 to 1908, years are ordinarily but erroneously came to the associated with the battles of the indigenous against German colonialism, and…