Blog – Page 763 – Windhoek Observer

03 Sep

CoW stalls decongestion plan

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, president Hage Geingob, Windhoek Mayor Fransina Kahungu

Andrew Kathindi The City of Windhoek has yet to take action on decongesting the informal areas of Windhoek amidst rising COVID-19 cases, nearly a month after President Hage Geingob gave the directive. Urban and Rural Development Ministry Executive Director (ED), Nghidinwa Daniel confirmed to Windhoek Observer last month that the ministry had given directives to the Windhoek local authority to implement the decongestion plan. Chairperson of the City management committee Moses Shiikwa had previously stated that implementation would likely take place at the end of August, as it would need to go through the channels, passing through the Committee before…

02 Sep

Unacceptable: animal cages for Namibians

ObserverNational NewsNamibians, Walvis Bay

Reports that Walvis Bay officials intend to use state funds to build cheap houses with no toilets, are concerning. Further statements fail to identify the materials that will be used to make these structures. This situation is alarming. Such a building project must be reconsidered. Our people are not animals in a zoo and government funded houses must not resemble cages. The goal should not be to build something fast, but to efficiently build homes for families. It is de-humanizing for government to build a place for human beings to live which, by design, has no toilet. Claims that the…

02 Sep

Appointments and changes at Bank Windhoek

ObserverUncategorisedZenaune Kamberipa

Staff Writer Bank Windhoek has announced new executive changes which have seen Zenaune Kamberipa appointed as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective 1 September 2020. Kamberipa will be taking over the role from James Chapman who has been appointed the bank’s Executive Officer: Retail Banking Services. An auditor by profession, Kamberipa started his career as at Deloitte SA in 2010 and moved back to Deloitte Namibia in 2013 and was previously the Group Financial Manager at FirstRand Group for four years. “In my new role at Bank Windhoek, I look forward to implementing and driving the financial strategy of the…

02 Sep

Rössing Uranium, Swakop Uranium support road safety

ObserverUncategorisedArandis, CNNC Rössing Uranium, Swakop Uranium, Swakopmund

Staff Writer CNNC Rössing Uranium and Swakop Uranium has announced that it has installed Stimsonite road studs on the B2 road between Swakopmund and Arandis as part of the mines’ continued efforts in supporting communities in which they operate. According to the miners, the project is geared to improve road safety on the 40 kilometres stretch of road from the road block outside Swakopmund to the turn-off at Arandis, a distance of just over 40 kilometres. The project which cost N$200,000, was handed over to the Roads Authority Namibia on Monday. Stimsonite studs are embedded type of reflective road studs…

02 Sep

Health Ministry dismisses Remdesivir concerns …orders second batch

ObserverObserver MoneyHealth Minister Kalumbi Shangula, Remdesivir

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has placed a second order for a batch of Remdesivir, the antiviral medicine being used worldwide to treat COVID-19 patients despite growing debate over the safety and efficiency of the medication. This comes after the ministry has spent N$1 million for 1,000 vials for the first batch that came into the country last week. Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula confirmed that the medicine is already being prescribed to patients as it has been shown to shorten the recovery time in patients. “The medicine is part of our essential medicines and will…

02 Sep

Shiimi pushes for Shivute at NamRA …as board remains in the dark

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN), Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, NamRA, Sam Shivute

Staff Writer Bank of Namibia (BoN) Director of Banking Services, Sam Shivute is front runner to land the Commissioner position at the newly established Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) amid allegations that Finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi has deliberately pushed through the candidature of his former colleague in a questionable recruitment process. This comes as insiders revealed that Shiimi had forwarded three names for cabinet’s consideration, with Shivute scoring 20 points more than other candidates despite his lack of an accounting or tax background, a key requisite for the post. The scoring of the Shivute is said to have raised concern among…

01 Sep

Baking Masterclass empowers 16 women

ObserverUncategorisedBaking Masterclass, Executive Officer Ingah Ekandjo, Kilimandjaro, Metropolitan Namibia, Oshitenda

Staff Writer Sixteen unemployed women from various informal settlements in Windhoek were recently empowered with the skill of baking. The women participated in a special Women Empowerment Baking Masterclass hosted by Shiwomeho Kalla, the founder of Shiwa The Baker and Metropolitan Namibia. The Introduction to Baking Masterclass is an initiative by Shiwa The Baker that aims to empower aspiring bakers with the baking and business skills they need to thrive and gives them confidence to pursue their dreams of owning their own businesses. While women are key drivers to prosperity, they face a myriad of barriers in terms of entering…

01 Sep

We have met the enemy and face defeat

ObserverNational NewsCovid-19

Namibia is waging the best fight it can against COVID-19. This is as good as it gets. But, death and infection rates are not going down. Perhaps, it is time to greatly reduce containment efforts and shift to prioritizing care for those who are symptomatic. The long-time substandard state of the public healthcare system has been exposed by this pandemic. Attempts to force citizens to set aside cultural norms and practice social distancing will not work. We are on the brink of economic collapse and cannot withstand any more restrictions. The spectre of hopelessness, mass unemployment, undernourishment, poor government service…

01 Sep

Telecom receives 72 CEO applications

ObserverObserver MoneyJerry Muadinohamba, Namibia Post & Telecom Holdings (NPTH), Telecom Board Chairperson, Telecom Namibia

Staff Writer Telecom Namibia says it has received 72 applications for its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position which has been vacant following the exit of Theo Klein. According to the government-owned telecoms operator, 13 of the applicants are female and 59 are male. “The board intends to have the recruitment and selection process concluded by end of September 2020, at which stage we hope to have identified a suitable qualified candidate to assume the role,” Telecom Board Chairperson, Jerry Muadinohamba said. The Muadinohamba-led board was appointed for a three-month period, effective 08 July 2020 to 08 October 2020. Government through…

01 Sep

Govt rules out SOE bailout … as Air Namibia remains grounded

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Public Enterprises minister Leon Jooste

Staff Writer Public Enterprises minister Leon Jooste maintains that the government has no immediate plans to bailout any State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) despite a number that have been hard hit by the negative impacts of COVID-19. This comes as SOEs such as Air Namibia have already raised alarm bells. The national carrier already had an existing precarious financial position which was made worse by the pandemic. Jooste, however, said the government going forward maybe be forced to come to the aid of some SOEs if the negative effects of COVID-19 become prolonged. “We are monitoring the situation continuously and assessing…