Blog – Page 719 – Windhoek Observer

22 Jan

Board fees are not the issue

ObserverNational NewsMinistry of Public Enterprise, Secretary to Cabinet George Simataa, SME Bank

It is long overdue that boards of directors be held accountable when they do not meet expectations. But penalties cannot be extracted without a regulatory framework and definitions. The Ministry of Public Enterprise must demand that potential board members agree to listed performance requirements. Those requirements must be given in advance and in writing. They should state upfront that board fees are payable only with approved performance ratings each quarter. Until this is done in Namibia, no one can arrive after the fact and declare that (undefined) ‘poor performance’ means that board fees must be returned. This is not a…

22 Jan

MTC to finally list

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC), MTC Chief Executive Officer Dr Licky Erastus, Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX)

Staff Writer Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) on Wednesday announced that it will finally list on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) before the 5th of September 2021 after its initial plans were derailed by the outbreak of COVID-19. This comes as government approved the process in November 2017. According to its initially announced timelines, MTC was expected to be listed on the bourse by July last year, after having submitted its listing application to the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) in February 2020. The opening date for its public offer was set for March 2020 and closing in June 2020. “We are…

22 Jan

Labour Commission powerless on Shoprite non-compliance

ObserverObserver MoneyLabour Commissioner Henri Kassen, Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau), Shoprite, Shoprite Group

Andrew Kathindi Labour Commissioner Henri Kassen said his office’s hands are tied when it comes to enforcing a Labour Court ruling which unions and Shoprite group employees have accused the retail giant of contravening, as it is outside his jurisdiction. According to the court order delivered on 8 January, Shoprite is not permitted to employ seasonal workers or let other employees do the work of those that are on strike. However, Shoprite has hired seasonal employees, according to a spokesperson from the employee’s group. “The Labour Commissioner's office is not an enforcer for compliance of the law or the court…

21 Jan

COVID deaths surpass 300

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Kalumbi Shangula

Staff Writer Namibia has now surpassed the 300 mark for COVID-19 related deaths after five more people succumbed to the virus. Health and Social Services (MOHSS) minister, Kalumbi Shangula, announced the latest figures on Wednesday. The five fatalities were recorded in Windhoek, Oshakati, Otjiwarongo and Walvis Bay, becoming the second highest number of deaths ever recorded in the country in a single day since the outbreak of COVID-19 last year. The increase in fatalities, comes as positive cases continue to spike, with 258 new COVID-19 confirmed cases from 1 793 results received from the laboratories in the last 24 hours.…

21 Jan

Pressure mounts on Shoprite

ObserverObserver MoneyCheckers, Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau), Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), Shoprite, USave

Maria Hamutenya Pressure continues to mount on the Shoprite group over the ongoing wage saga with its workers after the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), the country’s largest union, called on its members to boycott buying from the retail giant. NUNW calls came after Labour Minister, Uutoni Nujoma, was recently reported in the media urging members of the public to stop buying from Shoprite stores until the company resolves the dispute with its employees. NUNW Secretary-General, Job Muniaro, called for “a genuine negotiation between Shoprite and its workers.” “We call for international support even from countries that have Shoprite…

21 Jan

ACC not investigating Defence Ministry

ObserverObserver MoneyACC’s Director General Paulus Noa, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Minister of Defence Peter Vilho

Maria Hamutenya and Andrew Kathindi The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has said its not investigating any allegations of corruption at the Defence Ministry, including allegations of a shady N$10 million hand sanitizer deal, as no one has come forth with information. Windhoek Mayor Job Amupanda has raised various corruption allegations against Minister of Defence, Peter Vilho, including his alleged approval of a tender to supply the ministry with hand sanitiser worth N$10 million. ACC’s Director General, Paulus Noa, told Windhoek Observer that his office has not looked into the case. “We are not aware of any allegations made towards the Minister…

20 Jan

Stay cautious when using free public Wi-Fi

ObserverUncategorisedDesery van Wyk, Head of Digital banking at FNB, Wi-Fi

Staff Writer As people look for diversity in working spaces from their normal ‘work from home’ routine, such as coffee shops, the use of free public Wi-Fi networks and hotspots in these public places calls for caution when accessing your banking or managing finances on laptops or mobile devices. Desery van Wyk, Head of Digital banking at FNB says “Consumers accessing free public Wi-Fi networks can potentially fall victim to cybercrime as fraudsters can get access to their passwords, personal and banking information. Connecting to any open or public Wi-Fi can expose you to security and privacy risks including ‘person…

20 Jan

Political parties shy away from Shoprite saga

ObserverObserver MoneyImms Nashinge, Independent Patriot for Change Spokesperson, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), Shoprite

Maria Hamutenya Namibian political parties continue to shy away from the on-going labour dispute pitting South African retail giant, Shoprite, against its Namibian workers. The labour dispute has been dragging for years, and the current strike which started last December last year, have now spilled over into the High Court. The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), the country’s official opposition party was diplomatic in its position on the matter, calling on the parties to sit down and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. “PDM wants to put it on record that any loss of jobs resulting from a continued stalemate between NAFAU…

20 Jan

No guarantee on Pfizer drug: Shangula

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS), Pfizer

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) said there is no guarantee that no one will die after receiving the Pfizer vaccine. Shangula said this after 33 people in Norway died after receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine last week. “Each body reacts in its own way according to its makeup, it’s not something which you can predict,” Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula told Windhoek Observer. “You can have a completely healthy person without anything, get injected and immediately a reaction starts. It’s just like an allergic reaction to Penicillin or any other drug.” The Pfizer vaccine, which is…

19 Jan

Pig Farming: An Untapped Industry in Namibia

ObserverUncategorisedNamibia Statistics Agency (NSA), National Agriculture Census

Hanks Saisai According to the 2014 National Agriculture Census conducted by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), there are approximately 87 206 pigs countrywide and more than 50 percent are found in the communal areas of Northern Namibia. Indigenous or local breeds make up more than 50 percent of the pig population in the country. Pigs are reared for various meat products such as pork meat, bacon and as an ingredient in other products such as sausages and polony. In a country that has been affected by recurring droughts, livestock farming (cattle, sheep & goats) has been drastically affected making it…