Blog – Page 739 – Windhoek Observer

05 Nov

Eos Capital partners in large-scale Kelp farm

ObserverUncategorisedClimate Fund Managers, Climate Fund Managers (CFM), Eos Capital, Kelp Blue

Staff Writer Climate Fund Managers (CFM) and Eos Capital have announced a partnership between Climate Investor Two (managed by Climate Fund Managers), Kelp Blue and the Namibia Infrastructure Development and Investment Fund (NIDIF), managed by Eos Capital, for the commercial development of the world’s first large-scale kelp farm. Investment of approximately N$990 million (USD 60 million) will be required over a five-year period. This will be funded by both international and local Namibian sources through CI2 and NIDIF, pending investment approvals. Kelp Blue will seek the necessary Namibian regulatory approvals and will liaise closely with local authorities. Kelp Blue will…

05 Nov

Northern referral hospital still in planning phase…as Govt moots new Windhoek hospital

ObserverObserver MoneyKalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services

Andrew Kathindi There is still no movement on the construction of the northern referral hospital, three years on after government mooted the idea, Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula has revealed. The hospital which was set to be built in the Oshana region, was meant to cater to six other nearby northern regions, including Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kunene and part of Kavango West. Plans for the Northern Academic Referral Hospital were announced by former Health Minister Bernard Haufiku in 2017. “It has not been abandoned. It is still in the planning stage. It remains part of the overall…

05 Nov

Govt considers ending fishing quota auctions

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Fisheries and Marine Resources

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has hinted that it may do away with the auctioning of its governmental fishing quotas after it managed to only raise a paltry N$8.4 million in August. Fisheries Executive Director, Annely Haiphene said that the ministry was unsure if and when there will be a next round of auction for the government’s fishing quotas, which was expected to commence this month. “For now, we have not decided whether we are still going to go on with auction or not. It was experimental, for the first time and now we are thinking…

04 Nov

The Auditor-General needs teeth

ObserverNational NewsAuditor General, Auditor-General of Namibia (AGN)

The Auditor-General of Namibia (AGN) needs more than just a bark; the holder of that office needs the ability to take a deep, nasty bite. To do that, he needs legislative and regulatory teeth. The Act governing this office must be strengthened. We need our AGN to be able to subpoena records. The AGN must be able to lay charges with the Prosecutor General. The Auditor-General should have the ability (with a judge’s warrant) to have people locked up until they comply with the law for reporting, providing accurate records, and allowing access to registered AGN personnel. This is a…

04 Nov

Post-Covid-19 business success is not about navigating the new normal, it’s about defining it

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, FNB

Sam Ikela Apart from the obvious impact of months of lockdown regulations on business turnover and profitability, one of the biggest challenges that faced organisations during the first few months of Covid-19 was a complete lack of data. The world had never faced a situation quite like this, and given the significant dependence of businesses on data for strategy development and decision making, most companies found themselves having to ‘shoot from the hip’ given that there was now a structural break in their data flows, and they had no access to any particularly relevant customer, industry or economic data to…

04 Nov

PDM expelled candidate digs into party…As ECN decides on candidature withdrawal

ObserverObserver MoneyPopular Democratic Movement (PDM), SWAPO

Helena Johannes The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) former regional council candidate Hafeni Mafita has refused to apologize over racial remarks he made on his Facebook page and accused the opposition party of throwing him under the bus. This comes as PDM expelled Mafita as a member of the party on Tuesday morning, with immediate effect. The opposition party has also withdrawn him as a candidate for the John Pandeni constituency in the upcoming elections for which he was set to contest. “I have not done anything wrong. This is revenge. I am not going to apologize before the man from…

04 Nov

CoW appoints Acting CEO

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek (CoW), George Mayumbelo

Andrew Kathindi The City of Windhoek (CoW) management committee has appointed its Human Capital and Corporate Services Executive, George Mayumbelo as the interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the city. "Yes, they appointed Mayumbelo as acting (CEO)," Windhoek spokesperson Harold Akwenye told Windhoek Observer. This comes as former CEO Robert Kahimise has left the city’s employ after a rocky four years in charge. Robert Kahimise handed in his resignation earlier this year following a contentious relationship with councilors at the municipality. He also was engaged in many clashes with City Police Chief Abraham Kanime. The conflict between the two often…

04 Nov

Walvis Bay CEO blames banking error for ‘missing millions’

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Walvis Bay Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Muronga Haingura

Andrew Kathindi The Walvis Bay municipality has blamed an error by banks as the reason why millions were allegedly flagged as ‘missing’ from a June 2018 financial report. This comes as Walvis Bay Constituency Councilor Knowledge Iipinge in September threatened to take legal action if around N$24 million, which was part of the massive urban land servicing initiative, never reached the municipality account and is not accounted for. Walvis Bay Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Muronga Haingura told the Windhoek Observer an amount of around N$18 million for 68 houses was paid to the municipality account by banks for clients who…

04 Nov

Profile appoints Deputy MD

ObserverUncategorisedElia Erastus, Profile Investment Holdings (PIH), Vaino Nghipondoka

Staff Writer Profile Investment Holdings (PIH) has announced the appointment of former Air Namibia Chief Human Resources Officer and acting CEO, Elia Erastus as its Deputy Managing Director. Erastus has over two decades of experience in various industries such as mining, energy, finance, agriculture, aviation, and construction at management and executive level. His appointment will be effective from the 1st of December 2020. PIH Executive Chairperson, Vaino Nghipondoka said the appointment is aimed at strengthening the group’s leadership ahead of new planned investments. “With other exciting business in the pipeline, there is need to strengthen the strategic input to ensure…

03 Nov

State funds must build Namibia first

ObserverNational NewsECN, Namibia, SADC, South Africa

The contract for printing Namibian ballots is now farmed out to South Africa. This is a mistake during this unique, crisis situation in Namibia. How can this country hope to revive if state funds, i.e., taxpayer money, are going to secure South African jobs? The government must invest at home, even if it seems to cost more (on the surface) to kick start the economy and save local jobs, businesses and families. In this terrible economic crisis, the government must ensure that Namibia revives. The bottom line is that we need different avenues to invest at home to inject money…