Observer – Page 814 – Windhoek Observer

12 Sep

Shivute lands NamRA top job

ObserverObserver Moneyamibia Revenue Agency (NamRA), Bank of Namibia (BoN), NamRA, president Hage Geingob

Staff Writer Bank of Namibia (BoN) Director of Banking Services, Sam Shivute is set to be appointed the inaugural head of the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) after cabinet chaired by President Hage Geingob approved his appointment. The last hurdle in the unveiling of Shivute now lies with the Public Service Commission, which is widely expected to approve his appointment as Commissioner of NamRA following cabinet’s nod. Shivute will ascend to head the revenue body amid allegations that recruitment procedures were violated to ensure that he emerges as the preferred candidate, with the finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi as the key driver…

12 Sep

Stage 3 lockdown extended for 5 days

ObserverObserver Money//Kharas Region, Hardap Region, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob has once again extended the current stage three state of emergency lockdown to all 14 regions of the country. The extension is set to last for an additional five days. The existing state of emergency was supposed to lapse at midnight on Thursday 17 September, coinciding with the end of the six-month state of emergency period. “Regions which previously recorded lower cases, are now recording rising rates of infection. This is a matter of concern. New cases increased in the Kavango East Region by 138 percent, 78 percent in Otjozonjupa Region, 69 percent in //Kharas…

11 Sep

The Sports Minister misses the point

ObserverUncategorisedHon Agnes Tjongarero, Minister of Sports, Youth and National Service

Jefta Mcgregor Gaoab The Minister of Sports, Youth and National Service (MSYNS), [Hon. Agnes Tjongarero] hijacked and postponed the initially planned media press conference by Namibia Sports Commission (NSC), which was slated for Monday, 31 August 2020. This was done because the Minister was not receptive nor in favour of the interventions by the very NSC that is entrusted with the administrative task of National Sports Federation and national sports umbrella bodies. The issue of the application of NPL’s federation status was not resolved as the Minister intervened and halted it. Mind you the reader, irrespective of which body you…

11 Sep

Land/home ownership dreams are equally valid

ObserverNational NewsLand

Land and home ownership is a dream of people who have it and those who don’t. This is a reality rarely reflected in conversations, articles and social media. The tragic stories about families being evicted paint the legal land/home owner as the perpetual bad guy. In fact, the anger over evictions of poor families is misdirected. The ‘bad guy’ in this reality is successive governments that have failed to provide enough quality, low cost housing. We have masses of people who can never buy a home and will never earn enough to consistently pay rent. They need free or subsidized…

11 Sep

Marginal growth recorded in 2019 – NSA …as GDP contracted by 1.6 percent

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Statistics Agency (NSA)

Staff Writer The size of the Namibian economy is estimated to have grown by N$225 million, from N$181.0 billion in 2018 to N$ 181.2 billion in 2019, the latest Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) annual national accounts estimates show. This comes as Namibia’s gross domestic product (GDP) contracted by 1.6 percent in 2019 compared to a growth of 1.1 percent recorded in 2018. “The contractionary performance of the economy in 2019 was mainly due to the Primary industries that declined by 8.9 percent. The contraction in the Primary industries was observed across all sectors namely ‘Mining and quarrying’ (-11.1 percent) and…

11 Sep

Namibia records spike in suicide cases

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services

Helena Johannes According to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, suicide cases in Namibia have spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Although the current statistic of people who have committed suicide this year is unknown, the ministry says suicide cases reported this far during the pandemic is worrisome significant numbers of people are choosing to end their lives due to different unbearable situations. According to Ministry of Health Social Worker Jenifer Lifasi, cases of minors committing suicide in the country are on the rise, with Namibia ranked 11th in the world for these tragic cases according to an international…

11 Sep

COVID crisis rocks Windhoek Central Prison

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Health Ministry, Namibian Correctional Service (NCS), NCS Commissioner General Raphael Hamunyela

Andrew Kathindi A COVID-19 crisis has hit the Windhoek Central Prison, amidst allegations of shortage of medicine, isolation facilities and proper care of infected inmates. This dire situation according to an insider is alleged to have contributed to the death of one inmate, a death confirmed by the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS). Information made available to the Windhoek Observer alleges that many of the inmates that have contracted COVID-19 are not are left without being tested or provided with medical attention. “Some inmates are lucky get medication from their families from outside, but others, just have to wait. They are…

10 Sep

Going broke makes you look closer

ObserverNational NewsNamibia

There is a silver lining to the country’s current economic state of near collapse. The tenderpreneurs, 10-percenters, inside traders, embezzlers, tax evaders, and loophole exploiters have reduced income streams. There is not enough left in state coffers to feed waste and corruption. The public demand to fulfil existing state obligations and handle the pandemic trumps all. Going broke has made the officials that should have been watching the bottom line, wake up and watch the money better. Now that the Treasury’s accounts have cobwebs instead of cash, questions are finally being asked about where it all went. Closer looks are…

10 Sep

NAMDIA declares N$80 million dividend

ObserverUncategorisedNAMDIA, Namib Desert Diamonds (Pty) Ltd

Clifton Movirongo Namib Desert Diamonds (Pty) Ltd (NAMDIA) has declared a N$80 million dividend payable to the Government of Namibia for the financial period 2019/2020. The company’s full year profit after tax amounted to N$95.2 million, down 41 percent from prior year’s N$161.9 million, with N$63 million paid in taxes to the Ministry of Finance. NAMDIA also paid export levy amounting to N$19 million for the period under review. “NAMDIA performed relatively well during 2019/2020, despite an extremely challenging year for the diamond industry. This positive financial performance is attributed to a well-executed strategy that focuses on revenue maximization for…

10 Sep

No voting day extension – ECN

ObserverObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN)

Andrew Kathindi The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has ruled out the possibility of the upcoming regional council and local authority elections taking place over more than one day. This comes amid concerns that COVID-19 could impact on voting due to health and safety restrictions, with Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani has urged the ECN to consider a new strategy which will allow more time for people to vote. “There are people calling us from the regions saying I'm afraid to even go and stand in the queue to register because I do not know if I am…