Observer – Page 796 – Windhoek Observer

23 Oct

We must live with COVID …but we must not pretend it is gone

ObserverNational NewsCOVID, WHO

The president’s recently announced steps to further re-open Namibia as a country, society and economy are welcome. The year 2020 has been an unprecedented financial disaster for Namibia as a whole. We all have taken a major hit. Governments had to respond in the way that science and their best guesses dictated; they are doing their best. The danger with reported deaths and recorded new infections decreasing is that people think COVID is ‘over.’ People think that life can go back to the way it was before the outbreak. We must never lie to ourselves. Whatever was happening ‘before’ is…

23 Oct

Hints to get your mortgage approval

ObserverUncategorisedBank Windhoek, Loide David, Market Research Analyst

Loide David Attempting to purchase a house without a plan in place can be a challenging situation. As a first-time homebuyer, you will need to prepare in advance. The steps below can help you buy a home more conveniently and reach the best outcome possible. Preparation: Before you start with the application process, you need to understand how banks assess the application; the required documents, and, most importantly, the costs involved in the entire process. For instance, besides the property's actual price, there are other costs, such as transfer duties and conveyancing fees, which you will need to keep in…

23 Oct

Asset managers roped into GIPF initiative

ObserverUncategorisedGovernment Institutions Pension Fund’s (GIPF)

Staff Writer Six Namibian asset managers are currently taking part in the Government Institutions Pension Fund’s (GIPF) incubation assets management programme, which commenced in 2019. The six are Catalyst Investment Managers (Pty) Ltd, Euboea Investment Group (Pty) Ltd , Arysteq Asset Management (Pty) Ltd ,Mumi Investment Managers (Pty) Ltd ,Mopane Asset Manager (Pty) Ltd (previously ZAQ Asset Management) and Artis Investment Management (Pty) Ltd. Under the initiative, each of the six managers were allocated N$700 million, with N$4.2 billion committed for entire programme. The programme according to the fund, aims to address the need for active beneficial participation of Namibian…

23 Oct

Govt lacks will for rent controls – Job

ObserverObserver MoneyAffirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) leader Job Amupanda, Government

Clifton Movirongo Affirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) leader Job Amupanda, who advocates for the establishment of rent control in the country amid concerns about high home rental costs, says government has no plans to implement the proposal, five years after officials agreed to it. Amupanda told the Windhoek Observer that he is still pushing for the implementation of a viable Rent Control Board with the authority to reduce rental rates. The youthful leader complained that no action has yet been taken by government. “Of course, they never wanted to implement rent control regulations in the first place and that is not…

23 Oct

Kahimise open to staying at CoW …as his departure day looms

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek (CoW), Robert Kahimise, Windhoek Mayor Fransina Kahungu

Andrew Kathindi The outgoing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the City of Windhoek (CoW), Robert Kahimise says he may consider staying on as head of the municipality should council engage him, subject to certain conditions. This follows media reports that stated that the Swapo Khomas regional executive committee was trying to get CoW councilors to convince Kahimise to stay on. Quizzed on whether he would consider the opportunity to stay on should he be approached by Windhoek municipality councilors, the CEO left the door open. “That depends. I’ve handed in my notice, I’m serving my notice up to end of…

22 Oct

The 800 pound gorilla in the room

ObserverNational NewsFinance minister, Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR)

There is no doubt that Minister of Finance Iipumbu Shiimi has to drink from the dual poisoned chalices of taking on the Finance portfolio in the middle of a severe economic recession and then COVID-19. The 800-pound gorilla in the room is that after the smoke clears, there remains a budget deficit of N$17 billion. How will we fill that gap? The mid-year budget review announced yesterday is, at the end of the day, only a plan; it is not money in the bank. It declares what the government should earn and what it will spend in a particular period…

22 Oct

Jyda King launches new album

ObserverUncategorisedGeoffrey "Jyda King" Amalenga, Massive Music Records and D-Core Records

Staff writer Producer, song writer and artist Geoffrey "Jyda King" Amalenga announced his debut album due to be released on the 23rd October 2020 under the record labels Massive Music Records and D-Core Records. Imagine is an album in a variety of genres ranging from afro pop, trapsoul, RnB and hip hop. Check this brotha’ out. Buy this album. King’s passion for music started at an early age. The support from his mother encouraged him to write his own music at the age of 16 and by the age of 22, he was producing his own Beats. The artist released…

22 Oct

Air Namibia restarts Joburg, Cape Town flights

ObserverUncategorisedAir Namibia

Staff Writer Air Namibia has announced the launch of weekly flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town from 28 October 2020. The Windhoek – Johannesburg direct route will be operated on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, whereas two flights between Windhoek – Cape Town (direct & via Walvis Bay) will be operated on weekends, Fridays and Sundays. The times of operation from Windhoek, Namibia are as follows: Windhoek – Johannesburg SW723 Depart: 09:30 – Arrive: 11:15 Windhoek – Cape Town SW703 Depart: 07:25 – Arrive: 09:25 Windhoek – Cape Town (via WVB) SW715 Depart: 13:55 – Arrive: 17:15 Air Namibia’s Interim CEO,…

22 Oct

BoN maintains Repo rate unchanged

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN), BoN Governor Johannes !Gawaxab, Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Private Sector Credit Extension (PSCE)

Staff Writer The Bank of Namibia (BoN) on Wednesday announced that its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had resolved to keep the Repo rate unchanged at 3.75 percent. “The MPC is of the view that the rate remains appropriate to continue supporting domestic economic activity, while at the same time safeguarding the one-to-one link between the Namibia Dollar and the South African Rand,” BoN Governor Johannes !Gawaxab said. He said domestic economic activity had slowed during the first eight months of 2020, compared to the same period of 2019. The bank forecasts the domestic economy to contract by 7.8 percent in…

22 Oct

Taxis threaten double charge . . . as fares return to N$12

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU), Werner Januarie

Andrew Kathindi Controversial Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) boss Werner Januarie has warned that should the government insist returning the fares charged by taxis back to N$12, steps will be taken to force passengers to pay double, arguing that the law makes provision for this. “Under the regulations of the Roads Authority Act 17 of 1999, taxis are allowed to charge double when they drop a passenger where there is no taxi rank. There is a difference between a taxi rank and a taxi stop. It’s two completely different things.” It is generally understood that due to the lack…