Observer – Page 763 – Windhoek Observer

11 Jun

Pupkewitz to retrench

ObserverObserver MoneyPupkewitz Group, Pupkewitz Holdings

Staff Writer Pupkewitz Group plans to retrench part of its workforce as part of an on-going restructuring of the company. Although details remain sketchy as to how many employees will be affected by the group’s decision, a voluntary retrenchment offer has been put on the table for all employees of the diversified group to take up. “All employees of the Pupkewitz Group have been offered a voluntary separation package with a redundancy process to follow by the end of June. We believe that this decision will allow us to serve the greater good by securing the jobs of the vast…

11 Jun

City Police splashes millions on bakkies

ObserverObserver MoneyCity Police, Road Fund Administration (RFA)

Andrew Kathindi The Windhoek City Police has splashed N$13 million on the acquisition of new vehicles at time when government has advocated for spending cuts, while residents have complained of poor service delivery by the municipality. City Police Chief, Abraham Kanime confirmed the acquisition of the vehicles which were purchased from funds availed by the Road Fund Administration (RFA). “Even as we’re talking, we are still trying to see whether we can get money to buy more. We need mobility for us to deal with high road accidents. The vehicles that we are talking about are just for road safety.…

10 Jun

Red beans and rice – good food for po’ folks

ObserverUncategorisedbeans, food, rice

Jackie Wilson Asheeke If you are like me, you are scrambling around for inexpensive meals that can feed larger numbers of people because you’re broke. But, you still need to think about nutrition and full bellies. It is not as easy. Reaching back to my black American roots and hard times from the slave and segregation days, there are foods that my people put on the table that didn’t break the bank. Red beans and rice is one of those meals. You can feed six or seven people with about N$80-$100. I like it because I can make it when…

10 Jun

Take it seriously and let’s finish

ObserverNational NewsErongo, Namibia, State of Emergency, Walvis Bay

The expansion of the Stage One regulations for the current State of Emergency to the Erongo region is a nightmare. But, it has been bought on by the people of that area not taking the government’s declaration on June 1st for Walvis Bay seriously. If you were warned that a huge pride of lions is in the area, why hold an outside braai and then cry foul when they come running towards the smell of your meat? Let the rest of us in Namibia get tough with ourselves, our friends, family members and those in our communities regarding this pandemic.…

10 Jun

Role of an HR Business Partner during COVID-19

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, HR Business Partner

Agnes Yeboah As a people and change champion, the role of the human resource business partner (HRBP) is critical in these unprecedented times. COVID-19 has disrupted how we do things; from how we conduct business, to how we play with our children, how we shop and stay connected with one another. The effect of this global pandemic has been felt by all and the ramifications will continue for a long time. HRBPs are strategic partners to business and act as the primary contact for the human capital department. This strategic role necessitates that they share, advocate and facilitate the implementation…

10 Jun

Full fees unfair – Kandjii-Murangi

ObserverObserver MoneyDr Itah Kandjii-Murangi, Minister of Higher Education, Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Training and Innovation, University of Namibia (UNAM)

Andrew Kathindi Minister of Higher Education, Training and Innovation, Dr Itah Kandjii-Murangi has said although educational institutions may be within their rights to charge full fees, from a moral point of view, it is unfair. “It's quite a very tricky situation for them and very difficult as well. If you speak from the moral side of things, it’s not fair to ask someone who has not been on your campus, who has not received any teaching, for full fees for the whole term. The best that these institutions could do is to work out the amount of teaching that was…

10 Jun

Police threaten lockdown extension because of alcohol

ObserverObserver MoneyJoseph Shikongo, Khomas Regional Commander of the Namibian Police

Andrew Kathindi Khomas Regional Commander of the Namibian Police, Joseph Shikongo has warned that reckless behavior as a result of irresponsible alcohol consumption could cause of the rest of the country to revert Stage 1 lockdown regulations. At midnight 01 June, Walvis Bay was forced to revert to stage 1 lockdown regulations while the rest of the country progressed to stage 3. The president’s announcement attributed this action to increased COVID-19 cases in the harbor town. On Monday, June 8th, President Hage Geingob placed the entire Erongo region under lockdown. He took this action after official concluded that residents of…

10 Jun

First quarter house prices tumble

ObserverUncategorisedFNB, FNB House Price Index, Frans Uusiku

Staff Writer The FNB House Price Index has posted a contraction of 5.9 percent year on year ( y/y) at the end of March 2020 compared to a contraction of 1.5 percent recorded over the same period of 2019. “This brought the average national house price to a 5-year record low of N$1 038 577 as at March 2020” Although overall house prices in the central and coastal regions have remained buoyant, registering growth of 8.2m percent y/y and 7.2 percent y/y over the first quarter respectively, this was overshadowed by steep contractions of 18.7 percent y/y and 13.6 percent…

09 Jun

Dundee invests N$5 million in COVID-19 fight

ObserverObserver MoneyDundee Precious Metals Tsumeb

Staff Writer Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb has reaffirmed its support to the Tsumeb community by making a N$5 million investment to the Tsumeb District hospital to improve COVID-19 preparedness . The donation follows the declaration of a State of Emergency over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Tuesday, 17 March 2020 by His Excellency Dr. Hage G Geingob President of the Republic of Namibia in support of the Mining Industry’s efforts to partner with the government’s initiative to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The upgrades will improve the preparedness levels of the hospital should the COVID-19 virus be detected in Tsumeb…

09 Jun

A hangman’s noose ≠ ‘do not litter’

ObserverNational NewsHenties Bay

…public brands of Namibia, must reflect who we are now Forget about what was really meant by two men enjoying white privilege during apartheid in Namibia, by their construction of a hangman’s noose in Henties Bay in 1978. The convoluted context offered as the supposed reason which the gallows was erected 42 years ago is irrelevant to the 2020 perception of it. A small gallows on a public beach in Namibia is no longer perceived as an ‘innocent joke’ or a ‘harmless gesture.’ Only those who never face the possibility of extrajudicial torture or murder at the hands of angry…