Observer – Page 719 – Windhoek Observer

09 Dec

Govt faces borrowing headache

ObserverObserver MoneyNico Smit, PDM Treasurer General, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Staff Writer The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has warned that the country’s indebtedness is reaching precarious levels, a position which could one day hamper its ability to pay the interest on what is owed. This comes as ratings agency, Moody’s downgraded Namibia’s government debt on Friday from the previous Ba2 rating to Ba3. “The government has become so completely dependent on borrowing, that just one more small external shock will put it in a position where it cannot pay the interest on its debt. This will lead to an automatic downgrade to the ‘C’ category according to Moody’s system, which…

09 Dec

Kapere to get official funeral

ObserverObserver MoneyMandela Kapere

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob has conferred an Official Funeral on the late Mandela Kapere, Chief Public Relations Officer in the Office of the President, Dennis Shikwambi, confirmed to Windhoek Observer. Kapere, a former Executive Chairperson National Youth Council, served as SWAPO Member of Parliament and Chairperson of Human Resources committee. “Our nation and the Swapo Party lost a talented and dynamic Parliamentarian who played a vital role in shaping the trajectory of youth leadership and the development of young people,” President Geingob said. Kapere died yesterday 7 December, aged 38 of COVID-19.

09 Dec

COVID vaccine to cost Namibia N$200 million …only 20% of population to access drug

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services Executive Director Ben Nangombe

Andrew Kathindi It has emerged that Namibia must spend around N$200 million on the COVID-19 vaccine that will only be made available to 20 percent of the population. This comes as Ministry of Health and Social Services Executive Director Ben Nangombe revealed that the government, last week, already processed payment for the initial 15 percent of the fee, which came up to N$29 million following Treasury approval. Nangombe told Windhoek Observer that he is unsure when the vaccine is likely to reach Namibia but that it was unlikely to be this year. Given that the vaccine has only been rolled…

08 Dec

Mistreatment in prisons cannot be Namibia’s legacy

ObserverNational NewsNamibia

Reports from prisoners about ill-treatment while in jail or guards who ‘beat up’ the inmates are very disturbing. Namibia, a country whose most esteemed heroes suffered torture in prison cannot possibly bathe in the hypocrisy of the mistreatment of its prisoners. Officials responsible for inspecting prisons and those providing services to prisoners must be questioned and the truth uncovered. Mistreatment in prisons cannot be Namibia’s legacy. Our leaders that have passed on and those who are still with us know by personal experience what it means to be locked up, vulnerable to a jailor, and treated as if they were…

08 Dec

OBITUARY: Gone too soon – Mandela Kapere

ObserverUncategorisedformer Executive Chairperson of the National Youth Council (NYC), Mandela Kapere, Member of Parliament

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Mandela Kapere, a Member of Parliament, former Executive Chairperson of the National Youth Council (NYC), husband and father, son of loving parents, friend to many, and a talented younger leader in Namibia, died on the morning of Monday, December 7, 2020. This young man is gone to soon. The late Mandela Kapere wrote articles for the Observer Connect Magazine, a product of the Windhoek Observer. He was always a willing and insightful commentator on national issues. His overall vision, keen intellect, bold vision and self-confidence made him a good columnist and political analyst. This son of the…

08 Dec

Growing relevance of the informal market – how can financial institutions remain relevant?

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Market Research Manager at FirstRand Namibia

Frans Uusiku The economic landscape has evolved in recent times and is becoming increasingly characterised by changing consumer tastes and preferences around the consumption of goods and services, combined with heightened level of entrepreneurial spirit, especially amongst women and youth in agriculture. These changing dynamics around value chain development across industries have an implication on the role of the banking sector as an important enabler and catalyst for economic growth. The reality is that the proliferation of informal side-line businesses in the form of hawkers, vendors, etc. has increased now more than ever as households seek alternative income sources due…

08 Dec

DRC backs SADC Parliament bid

ObserverObserver MoneySADC Parliamentary Forum, SADC Regional Parliament

Moses Magadza The Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Professor Sylvestre Ilunga Ilunkamba , has pronounced his country’s support to efforts to transform the SADC Parliamentary Forum into a SADC Regional Parliament as his country assumed the presidency of the SADC PF. Ilunkamba spoke about the need for a SADC Parliament when he officially opened the 48th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum on Friday. The DRC virtually hosted the Plenary which brought together over 120 members of Parliament and other delegates from 14 of the SADC PF Member States over two days. He recalled that…

08 Dec

SADC MPs want end to armed insurgency in Mozambique

ObserverObserver Money48th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Mozambique

Moses Magadza Windhoek – The 48th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum has unanimously adopted a strongly-worded motion calling for urgent regional action to stop armed insurgents that are destabilising northern Mozambique. The Plenary is the highest decision-making body of the SADC PF which brings together 15 national parliaments of the SADC Region. It met virtually on Friday and Saturday with 14 of the Member Parliaments represented. The Speaker of the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Advocate Jacob Francis Mudenda moved a motion exhorting the Plenary to condemn “the terrorist attacks in the Republic of Mozambique which are threatening the…

08 Dec

Tjombonde appointed NIP CEO

ObserverObserver MoneyKapenaurue Tjombonde, Namibia Institute of Pathology Limited (NIP)

Staff Writer The board of Namibia Institute of Pathology Limited (NIP) has announced the appointment of Kapenaurue Tjombonde as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer for a five yearfive-year term, effective from 1 February 2021. Dr. David Uirab was currently acting in the position after having been seconded by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) to act in the position since September 2019. The appointment of Tjombonde comes as the company has been without a substantive CEO since the suspension and exit of its former CEO, Augustinus Katiti, in September 2018. Tjombonde is currently the Executive: Business Registration…

08 Dec

Founding President hospitalized with COVID-19

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, HE Dr Sam Shafishuna Nujoma

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob has announced that founding President Sam Nujoma has been hospitalized with COVID-19. “I hereby wish to inform the Namibian people that HE Dr Sam Shafishuna Nujoma, the Founding President of the Republic of Namibia was admitted to hospital on 6 December 2020, after testing positive for COVID-19,” said Geingob. “The Founding President is receiving treatment in hospital, is in a stable condition and is showing encouraging signs of improvement.” This comes as Nujoma's sister Sofia Asino died of COVID-19 in Windhoek in August this year. Asino was cremated shortly after her death. Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba…