Observer – Page 748 – Windhoek Observer

16 Jul

Walvis Bay allocates 60 state-built houses

ObserverObserver MoneyImmanuel Wilfred, Walvis Bay Mayor

…only those qualifying for bank loans are recipients Andrew Kathindi The Walvis Bay Municipality has finally allocated 60 houses that had remained unoccupied in the coastal town. The properties were earmarked only for those qualifying for bank loans who were already on the waiting list. Some of those receiving the properties were formerly backyard settlers. The allocation of the houses comes as President Hage Geingob had announced that government will decide on what to do with the vacant houses. “These houses are for people to stay because there is too much congestion in the informal settlement. There are too many…

16 Jul

Germany grants N$250m to MEFT

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Forestry and Tourism, German Federal Government, Ministry of Environment, Namibian government

…to mitigate pandemic effects on environment and conservation Staff Writer The German Federal Government has availed approximately N$250 million to support the Namibian Government, through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the conservation and tourism sector. This comes as the conservation and tourism sector has been significantly affected by the loss of income from tourism, caused by worldwide lockdown measures and international travel restrictions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Countrywide employment and vital conservation activities are in jeopardy, risking the survival of local communities, wildlife and protected areas. The funds…

16 Jul

Al Jazeera evidence inadmissible – Noa

ObserverObserver MoneyAnti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani

Staff Writer The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says information revealed in the much touted Al Jazeera documentary, which publicly exposed the Fishrot scandal is inadmissible and warned that the body will not succumb to political pressure on how it handles its investigations. The ACC’s statements, comes after Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani called out the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in a letter, accusing the corruption busting agency of selective investigations and prosecutions of high profile individuals who have alleged links to the Fishrot saga. “ACC cannot receive instructions from members of the public regarding the arrest of any suspect of…

15 Jul

Finance ministry integrates systems

ObserverUncategorisedMinistry of Finance, Ministry of Finance Chief Public Relations Officer, Tonateni Shidhudhu

Staff Writer The Ministry of Finance has announced the integration of its tax and customs payment systems. “Ministry of Finance wishes to inform taxpayers that the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) and the Automated Systems for Customs Data (Asycuda) are now linked,” Ministry of Finance Chief Public Relations Officer, Tonateni Shidhudhu said. He said, “the integration of the two systems will now make it possible for information in respect of an import declaration made in Asycuda for deferred payment of Value Added Tax on imports (VIA) to be send to ITAS and automatically processed to the VIA account of the…

15 Jul

Noble ideas unfulfilled

ObserverNational NewsBernadus Swartbooi, Government, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Mass Housing Program (MHP), President

When we admire someone personally and recognize their achievements, objective political analysis of what they say is a challenge. Such is the case as we ponder the nbc interview by the distinguished Former President of Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohamba that aired on Monday. The Former President defended the Founding President. His defense regarding the startling adjectives used by Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi was not unexpected. There have been condemnations from a line of Swapo wings, supporters, and leaders. He gave one more. Pohamba emerged from retirement to defend power, but not the pleas of the poor. This is…

15 Jul

Namdeb commences COVID-19 testing

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Namdeb

Staff Writer Given the risk of the spread of COVID-19, Namdeb has now introduced its own COVID-19 testing capacity in Oranjemund. The company said the development is part of a comprehensive response plan to safeguard the health and safety of its employees and to support the local community. “As a responsible corporate citizen, and a long-term partner of the Namibian government, Namdeb is committed to support the efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Namdeb has also been instrumental in availing and setting up isolation units in Oranjemund and Lüderitz, as well as procuring essential medical equipment such as…

15 Jul

Second COVID-19 death recorded

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services

Staff Writer Namibia has recorded a second COVID-19 related death. Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula announced on Tuesday that a 44-year old man who passed away on 11 July at home in Walvis Bay had tested positive for COVID-19 posthumously. This comes less than a week after Namibia recorded record its first death on Wednesday 8 July. “He was a known diabetic. He visited the hospital on the 7th of July 2020 at the state hospital where his blood sugar was found to be high and got stabilized. On the 10th of July 2020, he visited the…

15 Jul

Govt fails own tourism rescue deadline

ObserverObserver MoneyDigu //Naobeb, Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), NTB

Andrew Kathindi The government is yet to pronounce itself on the protocols for the tourism revival initiative, a day before the sector is supposed to open up. Last month, as part of measures to migrate to Stage 4 of the state of emergency and save the tourism sector, President Hage Geingob announced that Government in collaboration with the Tourism and Hospitality sector will conduct a targeted International Tourism revival initiative between 15 July to 15 August 2020. However, nearly a month on, and following detailed consultations with the industry, the government has yet to give the green light to open…

15 Jul

Venaani demands answers from Noa

ObserverObserver MoneyMcHenry Venaani, PDM, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Staff Writer Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani has written to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) demanding to know why no action has been taken against high profile individuals who are alleged to have also played a key role in the Fishrot saga. This comes as the Windhoek Observer in April revealed that no extradition request had been sent for lawyer, Marén de Klerk, who is currently moving around freely in South Africa. De Klerk is alleged to have played a key role in the syphoning of funds to the tune of N$50 million from the National Fishing Corporation of…

13 Jul

Geingob takes the low road

ObserverNational NewsSophia Shaningwa, SWAPO, Swapo Party

On Sunday, we were expecting a firm, unequivocal refutation of accusations of any and all links to Swapo from the Fishrot scandal. We didn’t get it. Geingob took the low road. He presented defensive bluster and selective phrasing in his qualified denial that Swapo fingers are in the fish pie. The president of Swapo held his media conference on Sunday where he says people “will not see any money [in Swapo accounts] coming from Fishrot.” The notoriously media-hostile and inarticulate Swapo Party Secretary-General, Sophia Shaningwa, spoke up. She invited “anyone” to contact the Swapo office to access party financial records.…