Observer – Page 815 – Windhoek Observer

10 Sep

FIC flags N$17 billion worth suspicious transactions

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia, Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Leonie Dunn

Staff Writer Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) during its financial year ending year ended 31 March 2020 says it flagged transactions worth N$17 billion which it suspects to be proceeds of crime and are now subject to investigation by law enforcement agents. During the period under review, the centre, according to its annual report contributed to 84 investigations conducted by various law enforcement authorities. “The top five underlying predicate offenses investigated include fraud, corruption, poaching, dealing in drugs, illegal deposit taking/pyramid schemes and money laundering. Furthermore, investigations by these law enforcement agencies with assistance of the Office of the Prosecutor General…

10 Sep

Kayone admits Angolan voter registration . . . as church, ECN officials are fingered

ObserverObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Swapo Omusati regional coordinator Sackey Kayone

Helena Johannes Swapo Omusati regional coordinator Sackey Kayone has confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that Angolan nationals are being registered to vote in Namibia. He said his office had received a report from Okalongo councilor’s office on Tuesday stating that church leaders together with individuals from the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) are assisting Angolan nationals to get voting cards. “The story of Venaani is misleading because it is not the councilors who are involved in this issue, but these Angolans are being assisted by church representatives together with some individuals from ECN to get voting cards,” he told the…

09 Sep

Local referees undergo FIFA online course

ObserverUncategorisedNamibia Football Association (NFA)

Namibia Football Association (NFA) match officials are being taken through the ropes through the FIFA Member Association (MA) Elite Referee Online Course this week. The course is designed to develop and train referees remotely in order to be as safe as possible. The course will involve video presentations, online polls and questions-and-answer sessions. The four-day FIFA MA Referees online course which has thirty-five participants is being conducted by Tracy Lovell (Physical Instructor) and Ali Ahmed (Technical Instructor). Due to the major impact of the Covid -19, FIFA has been searching for alternative ways to continue their mission of supporting and…

09 Sep

Cherry picking morality breeds hypocrites

ObserverNational NewsChristian hypocrisy, hypocrites

The negative moralistic voices on the topic of abortion are ‘Christian hypocrisy’ when it comes to their silence in the fight against rape. There are far more rapes and sexual assaults in Namibia than there are abortions (legal or back-alley). And yet, there is an overflow of letters to the editor, marches and articles claiming that the exercise of reproductive rights is murder. There is the silence of the tomb about the murder of the soul of a rape victim. You cannot cherry-pick moral outrage (however you define it). You cannot pray to condemn abortion and then pretend that rape…

09 Sep

FNB records Q2 house prices softening

ObserverUncategorisedFNB Market Research Manager Frans Uusiku

Staff Writer FNB Namibia says although market sentiments point to further declines in house prices due to expected distressed sales, it is of the opinion that price contractions have reached their peak. “House price gains were notable in the Coastal and Northern regions, registering growth of 8 percent and 6 percent y/y respectively. Meanwhile, double digit contractions in house prices of 10.8 percent and 13.8 percent y/y were recorded in the central and southern regions due to affordability issues. As a result, the elevated demand for land in the central region led to a 12-month average price growth of 14.2…

09 Sep

Venaani rules out support for lockdown extension

ObserverObserver MoneyMcHenry Venaani, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader, president Hage Geingob

Helena Johannes Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani has vowed that his party will not support any extension of the state of emergency, which President Hage Geingob instated earlier in the year. This comes as the President will require a two/third majority (66 members of the 95 voting members) to be able to extend the six month state of emergency which is set to lapse next week on 17 September. According to Venaani, his party will lobby other opposition parties against the extension of the state of emergency which will now require parliament approval. “The state of emergency and…

09 Sep

Tourism sector loses N$116m in cancellations . . . As Ministry announces amended arrival protocols

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia, Pohamba Shifeta, Tourism Ministry

Clifton Movirongo The Tourism Ministry has announced that the tourism industry has recorded net cancellations of N$115.7 million since the announcement of implementation protocols of the tourism revival initiative. This comes as Namibia recorded zero arrivals in the first week of its tourism initiative, which kicked off on 1 September. The Ministry has now announced amendments to its initial protocols in a bid to attract tourists to the country. According to Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta the revision, will allow some flexibilities to the implementation protocols, while balancing the necessary health and safety measures. “Upon arrival at the Hosea Kutako International…

09 Sep

Unions rip into Air Namibia over salary cuts

ObserverObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Embraer

Andrew Kathindi Unions representing Air Namibia employees have hit back at plans by the airline’s management to cut salaries by 50 percent for workers that have not performed work due to its planes being grounded. According to letter in possession of the Windhoek Observer, Air Namibia Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Theo Mberirua, said the salary cuts have been necessitated by the airlines pre-COVID-19 financial situation and worsened by COVID-19. This, Mberirua stated, has got to the point that the airline “cannot, at this stage, continue operations without cash flow with which to pay critical creditors.” “The financial losses incurred…

08 Sep

COVID 19: treatments, experiments and maybes

ObserverNational NewsCovid-19

The Ministry of Health must be meticulously transparent about trial drugs. The media also must be responsible as it prints headlines announcing the existence of ‘treatments’ for COVID-19. This is not the time to raise false hopes. This is a time for treatments, experiments and maybes. We all want a cure, vaccine or effective treatments for COVID-19. The pressure for this is huge. The drug company that develops a vaccine or cure first will win the billion-dollar lottery. We must always be aware of the huge profits on the table and the unethical steps that may be taken around the…

08 Sep

Fishcor looks to cut ties with Seaflower Pelagic Processing

ObserverObserver Money

Andrew Kathindi The National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) board led by Heinrich Mihe Gaomab II has threatened to terminate agreements entered into by the company, including its investment into Seaflower Pelagic Processing (SPP). The decision by the company comes after a damning judgment delivered by Deputy Judge President Hosea Angula in which it described SPP’s relationship with Fishcor as cozy and parasitic, while terms of their 15 year agreement was only going to be possible “under a corrupt environment.” “Having acknowledged judgment outcome and in full and unequivocal support of it, we wish to state that while the judgment…