Observer – Page 759 – Windhoek Observer

15 Apr

Swartbooi threatens to report PM to ACC

ObserverObserver MoneyAgriculture Minister, Bernardus Swartbooi, Calle Schlettwein, Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader

Andrew Kathindi Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader, Bernardus Swartbooi, is threatening to report Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegations that she illegally occupied a farm which she sold to Government. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform approved the purchase of two farms belonging to the Prime Minister to the tune of N$14 million. Swartbooi alleged that the Prime Minister illegally occupied the farms that were originally placed under her portfolio, but meant to be rehabilitated for resettlement of generational workers from the San Community. “Once we have acquired each and every part of…

14 Apr

Digital Transformation and the Future: F = D + P = V

ObserverUncategorisedFNB Head; Digital Transformation, Sergio de Sousa

Sergio de Sousa The phrase ‘Digital transformation’ has various definitions and perspectives. Regardless of the definition, it’s the intent behind the transformation that counts. The objective of any digital transformation initiative should be to use technology optimally, enabling a business to succeed in the future. To understand how to optimally use technology now, you must predict what you will need to do to win in the future. How can we future proof our companies in these uncertain and unpredictable times? In order to demystify the future (F), here is a practical formula; F = D + P = V. Let’s…

14 Apr

Ombudsman blames Jooste for SOE, August 26 mess

ObserverObserver MoneyJohn Walters, Leon Jooste, Ombudsman, Public Enterprises minister

Maria Hamutenya Ombudsman, John Walters, is partly blaming Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, for the current problems the country’s State Owned Enterprises are facing, in particular August 26. The Minister allegedly has not cooperated during an investigation by the Ombudsman into August 26, while also covering compliance of all public enterprises (PEs) with regards to submitting annual financial statements. The long serving Ombudsman said the Minister even ignored his recommendations, including those which called for August 26 to be audited. “He failed to do more, that’s the reason he did not implement my recommendations. In fact he did not even…

14 Apr

I have failed – Sam Shivute . . . as employees demand NHE CEO exit

ObserverObserver MoneyNamRA Commissioner, National Housing Enterprise (NHE), Sam Shivute

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri and Rose-Mary Haufiku National Housing Enterprise (NHE) Board Chairperson, Sam Shivute, has admitted failure in providing low cost housing. The admittance by the recently appointed NamRA Commissioner comes as the NHE is in crisis over the Board’s decision to renew Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Gisbertus Mukulu’s term for another five years amid allegations of incompetence. The former Okahao Town council CEO was appointed in 2016 without Cabinet’s approval, amidst assertion that former Omusati Governor, former Local Government minister, and current Swapo Secretary General, Sophia Shaningwa, had a hand in the appointment. “Yes, we did not build the 1250 houses…

13 Apr

Stanford Seed programme, a growth catalyst for entrepreneurs

ObserverUncategorisedDe Beers Group, Southern Africa Seed Transformation Program (STP), Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford Seed Transformation initiative

Staff Writer The Stanford Seed Transformation initiative, is a programme which partners with entrepreneurs in emerging markets to build successful enterprises that transform lives. It has returned at a timely opportunity for Namibian entrepreneurs to expand their capacity to succeed. The programme, a collaboration between the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the De Beers Group, allows leaders to gain critical skills to grow their companies and create jobs which in turn will lead their regions to greater prosperity. With applications for the 2021/22 Southern Africa Seed Transformation Program (STP) now open, entrepreneurs with a mind-set to grow their businesses…

13 Apr

NHE board calls for crisis meeting

ObserverObserver MoneyGisbertus Mukulu, National Housing Enterprise (NHE), Sam Shivute

Maria Hamutenya and Andrew Kathindi The National Housing Enterprise (NHE) Board has scheduled a crisis meeting with the organisation’s managers following the surfacing of a damning letter where they accused Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gisbertus Mukulu, of incompetence. In the letter, company management stated that the employment contract of the CEO must not be renewed when it ends on 30 June, pointing out that since the appointment of Makulu as CEO, the NHE failed to achieve two critical objectives of its strategic plan, growing the loan book and building 1250 houses annually. According to the approved NHE strategic plan 2017-2022…

13 Apr

Hatuikulipi, Shanghala plead privacy over smuggled cell phones

ObserverObserver MoneyJames Hatuikulipi, Sacky Shanghala

Andrew Kathindi The Fishrot accused James Hatuikulipi and former Justice Minister, Sacky Shanghala who were caught with smuggled phones two weeks ago at Windhoek Central, are stating that the gadgets were required to avoid their conversations being recorded by the correctional services’ recording system. Although it is unknown for how long the two have had the mobile phones, they were found in possession of two devices following a search of their cells after a report had been lodged by prison officers of suspicious activity by the two. “During the interviews with them, what they indicated is that they were using…

10 Apr

Indigenous Intelligentsia must push and drive the genocide narrative

ObserverUncategorisedIndigenous Intelligentsia must push and drive the genocide narrative

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Like Yours Truly Ideologically postulated in initial instalments, that there’s no question that the genocide committed against the indigenous people of Namibia during the colonial penetration of Namibia, then German South West Africa, being colonial in form, was also Capitalist in content. First and foremost it was initiated and driven by German and European traders, supported by their imperial allies like missionaries (religions), intelligentsia (researchers, scholars and academicians, notably anthropologist and ethnic geneticists, and ultimately and eventually German politicians and the German imperial government and State, which reluctantly joined the scramble for colonies to provide for liebensraum (living…

10 Apr

The Time Traveler: Let’s do the SlutWalk again!

ObserverUncategorisedLet’s do the SlutWalk again!, protest march, Toronto

Hugh Ellis If you told me 20 years ago that I would be attending a protest march of, among others, scantily-clad women, and some men, I’d have laughed it off. But that’s exactly what I’ll be doing on Saturday morning, when I join the second annual SlutShameWalk. Back then, I would perhaps have been called a ‘Christian conservative’, whatever that may have meant. I was all about human rights and all, but I would have looked down on a raucous protest, much less one where some young women were showing quite a bit of thigh, or even a very low…

10 Apr

Swapo suspensions late – former PM, analysts

ObserverUncategorisedBernard Esau, Nahas Angula, Political Bureau (politburo)., Sacky Shanghala, Swapo suspensions late

Andrew Kathindi, Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Former Prime Minister of Namibia, Nahas Angula, is questioning why it has taken the Swapo Party of Namibia so long to suspend Fishrot accused, Sacky Shanghala and Bernard Esau, from the ruling party's central committee and Political Bureau (politburo). Swapo announced that the party had resolved at a Political Bureau (PB) meeting held on 31 March chaired by President Hage Geingob, to remove Esau from the politburo and to suspend both Esau and Shanghala from the party's central committee. "It's better now than never. But for sure it took such a long a time. There is…