Observer – Page 808 – Windhoek Observer

26 Sep

ECN won’t investigate illegal voter registration

ObserverObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)

Andrew Kathindi The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has ruled out investigating allegations that Angolan nationals are being illegally registered as voters, a move which opposition political parties have said will impact on the credibility and outcome of elections. The decision by the ECN flies in the face of a confirmation by Swapo Omusati regional coordinator Sackey Kayone that he had received a report detailing how Angolan nationals are being registered in his area. According to Kayone, the report from the Okalongo councilor has fingered church leaders and ECN officials for assisting Angolan nationals to get voting cards. When quizzed…

26 Sep

State assets valued at N$11.9 billion…as Shiimi admits non-compliance

ObserverObserver MoneyFinance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, Government

Andrew Kathindi The Namibian government has assets worth N$11.9 billion as of 16 September, Finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi has revealed. Of this, the state has movable assets amounting to N$3.9 billion, which include stock, equipment, furniture and vehicles while immovable assets, including land, plants (factories) and buildings stand at N$7.9 billion. The combined total value of movable and immovable assets is N$11.9 billion. The government’s value of immovable asset consists of 692 farming units and 744 housing units. “With regards to resettlement farms, to date Government has spent about N$2.3 billion to acquire about 558 farming units measuring about 3,376,965…

25 Sep

It is time to say goodbye to Kurt

ObserverNational NewsKurt von Francois, Namibia, Windhoek

The offensive and non-representative statue of Kurt von Francois in Windhoek must fall. For some time, people in cities all over the world have been on fire about their statues and memorials. All through recorded history, statues of people who no longer resonate with those in power were removed, smashed or desecrated. Change and upheaval usually mean that things are no longer seen in the same light. People who are living in an era, have the right to decide what monuments and statues should continue standing. The people living during the time when these statues were erected had the right…

25 Sep

Take care of your hair!

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, ZZI Family Hair Studio, ZZI Hair Empower

Staff Writer ZZI Family Hair Studio will be hosting its first ZZI Hair Empower event on 1 October 2020.. It will be hosted online to adhere to COVID-19 regulations. The Hair Empower event forms part of the Studios’ educative and corporate social responsibility arm. Some of the proceeds from the tickets will go towards an initiative that promotes the well-being of the community in which, ZZI Family Studio operates in. The aim of the event is to create brand awareness of the ZZI Family Hair Studio, as a family Studio and to educate both males and females about hair health…

25 Sep

Sam Shivute vows zero tolerance for tax avoiders …as NamRA Act is still to be enacted

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), Sam Shivute

Andrew Kathindi Newly appointed Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) Commissioner, Sam Shivute has vowed zero tolerance for tax avoiders. He said he would not be intimidated in his pursuit of tax collection. This comes six years after it was alleged that Shivute’s tenure as the Commissioner for Inland Revenue in the Finance ministry came to an end when he pursued certain non-tax-compliant business people. It is alleged that he received personal threats as a result. “In NamRA, integrity and good ethics will be non-negotiable and there will be zero tolerance to corruption. We will endeavour to have the right staff, with…

25 Sep

Twaloloka residents to receive houses by October

ObserverObserver MoneyMinister of Urban and Rural Development, Ministry of Finance, Office of the Prime Minister, Twaloloka

Helena Johannes Information minister, Peya Mushelenga has announced that Cabinet has given the municipality of Walvis Bay until the last week of October to ensure the occupation of housing units which were allocated to Twaloloka beneficiaries. Mushelenga said Cabinet has mandated the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to oversee the implementation of the relocation of programme, supported by the Walvis Bay municipality and the office of the Governor of the Erongo Region. “The Cabinet is in line with sourcing of service providers on an emergency basis to implement the project, while the beneficiaries would contribute to the construction of…

25 Sep

Govt gazettes new regulations

ObserverObserver MoneyHealth Minister Kalumbi Shangula

Andrew Kathindi New regulations that will guide how Namibians will live under the new normal have finally been gazetted, following the lapse of the state of emergency, last week. Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula will now be empowered under Section 29 of the Public and Environmental Act to implement regulations which were initially set to come into effect on the 18th of September. “The drafting of the Regulations took longer than anticipated due to the nature and number of legal issues that requires thorough consideration,” Attorney General, Festus Bandeka told Windhoek Observer. The new regulations came into operation at midnight on…

24 Sep

Unaffordable, decongested tool sheds

ObserverNational NewsGovernment

The government has launched an ill-advised decongestion plan. This plan is supposed to curb COVID-19 infections by moving some people out of the overpopulated tin shack suburbs. Human beings are supposed to be shoved into these quickly built, un-serviced structures that are little more than large tool sheds. Now, we learn that there is no money to continue building them – the ‘emergency’ decongestion plan is without funds. The minister of rural and urban housing has sent a letter to local authorities. He is asking them to find money to take up the decongestion project on top of finding land…

24 Sep

MultiChoice Namibia partners DPO

ObserverUncategorisedDPO Group, DStv WhatsApp, MultiChoice, MultiChoice Namibia, MyDStv, MyGOtv

Staff Writer MultiChoice Namibia has announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with DPO Group, to enable payments for DStv and GOtv customers in Namibia via their integrated solutions. DPO has developed an integrated payments technology which supports payments securely and swiftly with all currencies and payment methods including via mobile money. “The integration will improve the accessibility and convenience for MultiChoice’s customers throughout Namibia, allowing them to pay for subscriptions quickly, easily and securely using DPO technology via the MultiChoice website, the MyDStv and MyGOtv self-service apps, as well as through the DStv WhatsApp service.” “Partnering with…

24 Sep

DBN settles first bond

ObserverUncategorised

Staff Writer The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has announced that it has settled DBN20, the first bond that it issued under its N$2.5 billion Medium-Term Note Programme listed on the Namibian Stock Exchange. The bond according to the DBN matured on 4 September 2020. “Settlement of the bond went smoothly and successfully. At maturity it had 38 bondholders (37 Namibian entities and 1 foreign entity).” The issuance of DBN20 in September 2017 marked the first time that the Bank formally approached Namibian capital markets to raise funding and deepen the capital market. Since issuing DBN20, the Bank has issued…