Blog – Page 746 – Windhoek Observer

16 Oct

No plans to close Fishcor

ObserverObserver MoneyFinance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, Fishcor, Public Enterprise Minister Leon Jooste

Andrew Kathindi Public Enterprise Minister Leon Jooste has no plans to close the doors on Fishcor after the Fisheries and Finance Ministers vowed to forge ahead with auctioning off quotas it previously allocated to Fishcor. Earlier this month, Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi announced that government only managed to get a paltry $8.4 million from an initial N$627.9 million worth of bids for its fishing quotas. This however has not deterred the Fisheries and Finance Ministry as they will forge ahead with a new round of auctions. “I believe that there are various options available to continue with the operations of…

16 Oct

Govt approves 100% passport fee hike

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs Executive Director Etienne Maritz

Clifton Movirongo The Ministry of Home Affairs has received government approval to increase passport application fees by 100 percent. The cabinet approval will see fees increase from the current N$200 to N$400. Ministry of Home Affairs Executive Director Etienne Maritz told the Windhoek Observer the planned price hike comes as the validity period for the passports has increased from five to ten years, with more pages included in the booklet. “Inflation and the cost for the passports are the major reasons for the increase. So, we are still in the process as our legal people are busy drafting the proclamation…

15 Oct

Bullying is normal in Namibia

ObserverNational NewsBullying, Child, ICT, Namibia

A 14-year-old boy just killed a 15-year-old boy who, reports claim, was bullying him. Murder and violence can never be excused, but it must be understood with an eye towards curbing similar actions in the future. When anyone gets pushed to their breaking point, a reaction will result. And yet, most people push that truth away. Most Namibians do not correctly label bullying. They make excuses for brutality and ill-treatment. The battle against the bullies must start at home. As of now, in Namibia, bullying is normal. According to www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org, bullying is defined as when someone is being hurt either…

15 Oct

In times of trouble, manage your money better

ObserverUncategorisedBank of Namibia, Bank Windhoek, Covid-19, Economic Outlook

Samuel Linyondi The Bank of Namibia's latest Economic Outlook expects the Namibian economy to fall into a deeper contraction during 2020, mainly due to the devastating impact of COVID-19 across all sectors. This means that as we conclude the year, we will be faced with a few challenges. For some, it means having taken a drop in their salary, while for others, a total loss of income. Few are fortunate enough to still have a job and have their income unaffected. What these times of uncertainty have taught us is that having savings for emergency situations is critical. As we…

15 Oct

Unpacking the impact of Covid-19 on the Namibian economy

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, FirstRand Namibia, World Health Organisation

Ruusa Nandago After the first outbreak was reported in December 2019, the World Health Organisation officially characterised Covid-19 as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. This pandemic is a crisis like no other, and there was a substantial degree of uncertainty around its impacts on lives and livelihoods. Governments across the world essentially had to navigate the crisis with a blindfold on, implementing lockdowns and containment measures of varying degrees without any indication of their effectiveness. The economic and market data that has since been released shows that these measures have had devastating and far reaching effects and have pushed…

15 Oct

Namibia opens more borders

ObserverObserver MoneyFrans Kapofi, Home Affairs minister, Hosea Kutako International Airport

Clifton Movirongo Namibia has opened four more entry/exit points in the country as it moves to relax its COVID-19 border restrictions in a bid to revive the tourism industry and ease cross-border trade conditions. The move by the Home Affairs ministry comes as Hosea Kutako International Airport was designated as the sole entry/exit point in the country under the tourism revival initiative. “Tourists and travellers can now enter and depart the country by land and sea through the reopened borders, subject to applicable health regulations. The provisions have only been made for Ariamsvlei, Katima Mulilo, and the Noordoewer border posts…

15 Oct

DNA test confirms Shannon’s remains

ObserverObserver MoneyDNA, Shannon Wasserfall

Andrew Kathindi Police have confirmed that the remains that were discovered in a shallow grave in Walvis Bay on Tuesday 6 October are those of Shannon Wasserfall. “On Friday, October 9, 2020, a breakthrough was made on the basis of fingerprint comparison which resulted that a print (not completely decomposed) from the human remain is identical to the fingerprints on the application form of identity of a certain Shannon Ndatega Wasserfall,” Head of the Namibian Police Criminal Investigations, Commissioner Moritz !Naruseb said. This comes after 28-year old Azaan Madisia was detained before being officially charged with murder and obstruction of…

15 Oct

GBV protestors demand govt meeting …as questions swell around PM’s promises

ObserverObserver Money#ShutItAllDownNamibia, Gender Based Violence (GBV), Justice Minister, Yvonne Dausab

Andrew Kathindi Organizers of the protest against gender-based violence (GBV), which has been ongoing since last week, have threatened to continue with “disruptions” should government fail to meet them for an official engagement. This comes after government was forced to implement several new measures in the fight against gender-based violence in a response to a petition handed over to government through the Justice Minister, Yvonne Dausab, on Thursday last week. The organizers have requested to meet government in order to strengthen the measures that were announced by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa in parliament on Tuesday 13 October. “To facilitate such…

14 Oct

Dealing with asylum seekers in the new normal

ObserverNational NewsNGOs, UN High Commissioner on Refugees

The recent arrival of more than 50 refugees from the DRC and Burundi to Katima Mulilo raises questions during a pandemic. What is our adjusted policy to deal with untested, non-quarantined asylum seekers that rock up? As much as Namibia is noble for welcoming Africans running for their lives from violence in their home countries, the government’s first obligation is the safety and security of its own people. The influx of untested people that lack the capacity to follow national protective measures (no masks, no social spacing, and no handwashing) carries a risk for Namibians. Can we be our brother…

14 Oct

COVID-19: WHO urges MPs to unite and build strong health systems

ObserverObserver MoneyDr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Members of Parliament, SADC Parliamentary Forum

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA – The Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has implored SADC Members of Parliament to unite and build resilient health systems, saying they are “the best defence against any health emergency”. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the plea on Sunday in a pre-recorded video message to MPs virtually attending the 47th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum. He stressed that unity among the region’s lawmakers regardless of political affiliation as well as collaboration of member states would galvanise national and regional responses to the pandemic. COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more…