Observer – Page 792 – Windhoek Observer

04 Nov

Profile appoints Deputy MD

ObserverUncategorisedElia Erastus, Profile Investment Holdings (PIH), Vaino Nghipondoka

Staff Writer Profile Investment Holdings (PIH) has announced the appointment of former Air Namibia Chief Human Resources Officer and acting CEO, Elia Erastus as its Deputy Managing Director. Erastus has over two decades of experience in various industries such as mining, energy, finance, agriculture, aviation, and construction at management and executive level. His appointment will be effective from the 1st of December 2020. PIH Executive Chairperson, Vaino Nghipondoka said the appointment is aimed at strengthening the group’s leadership ahead of new planned investments. “With other exciting business in the pipeline, there is need to strengthen the strategic input to ensure…

03 Nov

State funds must build Namibia first

ObserverNational NewsECN, Namibia, SADC, South Africa

The contract for printing Namibian ballots is now farmed out to South Africa. This is a mistake during this unique, crisis situation in Namibia. How can this country hope to revive if state funds, i.e., taxpayer money, are going to secure South African jobs? The government must invest at home, even if it seems to cost more (on the surface) to kick start the economy and save local jobs, businesses and families. In this terrible economic crisis, the government must ensure that Namibia revives. The bottom line is that we need different avenues to invest at home to inject money…

03 Nov

The name is Bond; James Bond

ObserverUncategorised

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Sir Sean Connery, the original (and arguably the BEST) James Bond died over the weekend at the age of 90. He is best known for his portrayal of James Bond, 007 in a series of seven of the films. He first hit the silver screen in Dr No (1962). Author Ian Flemming’s books and main character are forever alive and captured the imagination of the world then and now- Connery was a large part of that success. My siblings and I went back and forth on Messenger this weekend when we heard about Sean Connery’s death. We…

03 Nov

The Benefits of Mulching

ObserverUncategorisedMulching

Hanks Saisai In Arid and semi-arid countries such as Namibia where water is a scarce resource it is always advisable for farmers to engage in water conserving practices. The tillage or cultivation of land for the purpose of crop or vegetable production often exposes the soil to scorching sunlight which speeds up evaporation and depletes moisture. A common method that has been used to ensure water retention in fields or gardens is mulching. Simply defined, mulching is the practice of covering the surface of the soil (seedbed) between growing crops or vegetables with a layer of material. Mulching has several…

03 Nov

PDM urges ECN to play fair in the upcoming election…as political parties are upbeat

ObserverObserver MoneyPopular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Helena Johannes The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has urged the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to ensure fair play in the upcoming election. This comes as the country is set to hold Regional Council and Local Authority Elections on the 25th of November and use ballot papers, a process which was phased out in 2014 following the introduction of Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs). Due to the outcome of a court challenge about the legality of EVMs without a verifiable paper trail for each vote cast, the machines will not be used in the upcoming elections. “I never trusted EVMs without…

03 Nov

Business demands Govt pays up…as only N$2.5 billion is paid

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI)

Clifton Movirongo The Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) says seven months on, some of its members are yet to be paid by government since the Minister of Finance, Iipumbu Shiimi, announced on April 1, 2020, a N$3.8 billion accelerated value-added tax (VAT) refunds and payments for goods and services supplied to Government. The funds were part of an Economic Stimulus and Relief Package to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in Namibia. Government in collaboration with Social Security Commission (SSC) and other development partners adopted a Stimulus and Relief Package amounting to N$8.1 billion in total in April. It…

30 Oct

SME bank – yet another money-loss debacle . . .when will we learn?

ObserverNational NewsBank of Namibia, Enoch Kamushinda, SME Bank, Zimbabwe

When will Namibia learn to guard its wallet better? We allow ourselves to be pick-pocketed far too often. This time, the named culprit is Enoch Kamushinda, a director of the now-defunct SME Bank. But, the real culprits are all who ignored a Bank of Namibia (BoN) warning and still allowed a man with shaky business histories in several countries to have the keys to a bank full of Namibian taxpayer dollars. These people must be named, shamed, held accountable. They should be in the dock alongside their criminal buddy. All who took quiet ‘loans’ from Kamushinda or smoothed the way…

30 Oct

Fanfares, colourful regalia the order

ObserverUncategorisedKae Matundu-Tjiparuro, November, regalia

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Less than a month before the Regional and Local Authority elections on November 25, the only visible thing about what voters should expect from those to be voted are fanciful colourful party regalia, singing and dancing jamborees and razzamatazz and empty rhetoric. But little if any ideological content from most with the exception of one which seem to be ideological clear about its vision in the radical transformation of the City of Windhoek. Not to mention the fact that many of the candidates at this eleventh hour, and at most of the belated rallies, only been shadows of…

30 Oct

Advice to men: question ‘protector, provider and priest’

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, The Time Traveler

The Time Traveler: Hugh Ellis What I’m going to say here might upset some people - I say it nevertheless. One of the requirements for ending gender-based violence is for men and women to being to see things through each other’s eyes. Another is that we men begin to embrace traits that were once seen as feminine, such as gentleness and nurturing. To do this, we will have to break down the very concept of gender itself. Often, we grow up believing that men are one thing and women are something completely different. Indeed, I grew up thinking the same…

30 Oct

The protests are a cry for help, not a threat

ObserverUncategorised#ShutItAllDownNamibia, Doreen Sioka, Minister of Gender Equality and Welfare

Thandi Kawerama October 31st is the deadline #ShutItAllDownNamibia protesters gave Doreen Sioka to resign from her position as Minister of Gender Equality and Welfare. As I type this, protesters of all ages are most likely prepping their cooler boxes for the farewell ‘bring and braai’ scheduled to be held outside the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare on 30 October. The event demonstrates the youth’s commitment to knocking on the doors of the various avenues that were given the mandate to protect those vulnerable, in a society that values male comfort over women, children and non-gender conforming…