Blog – Page 803 – Windhoek Observer

22 Oct

Air Namibia restarts Joburg, Cape Town flights

ObserverUncategorisedAir Namibia

Staff Writer Air Namibia has announced the launch of weekly flights to Johannesburg and Cape Town from 28 October 2020. The Windhoek – Johannesburg direct route will be operated on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, whereas two flights between Windhoek – Cape Town (direct & via Walvis Bay) will be operated on weekends, Fridays and Sundays. The times of operation from Windhoek, Namibia are as follows: Windhoek – Johannesburg SW723 Depart: 09:30 – Arrive: 11:15 Windhoek – Cape Town SW703 Depart: 07:25 – Arrive: 09:25 Windhoek – Cape Town (via WVB) SW715 Depart: 13:55 – Arrive: 17:15 Air Namibia’s Interim CEO,…

22 Oct

BoN maintains Repo rate unchanged

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN), BoN Governor Johannes !Gawaxab, Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Private Sector Credit Extension (PSCE)

Staff Writer The Bank of Namibia (BoN) on Wednesday announced that its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had resolved to keep the Repo rate unchanged at 3.75 percent. “The MPC is of the view that the rate remains appropriate to continue supporting domestic economic activity, while at the same time safeguarding the one-to-one link between the Namibia Dollar and the South African Rand,” BoN Governor Johannes !Gawaxab said. He said domestic economic activity had slowed during the first eight months of 2020, compared to the same period of 2019. The bank forecasts the domestic economy to contract by 7.8 percent in…

22 Oct

Taxis threaten double charge . . . as fares return to N$12

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU), Werner Januarie

Andrew Kathindi Controversial Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) boss Werner Januarie has warned that should the government insist returning the fares charged by taxis back to N$12, steps will be taken to force passengers to pay double, arguing that the law makes provision for this. “Under the regulations of the Roads Authority Act 17 of 1999, taxis are allowed to charge double when they drop a passenger where there is no taxi rank. There is a difference between a taxi rank and a taxi stop. It’s two completely different things.” It is generally understood that due to the lack…

22 Oct

COVID-19 regulations relaxed

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia, president Hage Geingob, Public and Environmental Health Act

Andrew Kathindi Amidst warnings of a second COVID-19 wave, President Hage Geingob has announced a relaxation of regulations compared to those initially put in place under the provisions of the Public and Environmental Health Act on 23 September until 21 October. These new measures will come into effect from 22 October until midnight 30 November and will apply to all regions. Under the new regulations, the number of people allowed at public gatherings will be increased from 50 to a maximum of 200 people. Restrictions on public and private transport operators have also been lifted, meaning that the number of…

21 Oct

South African songstress, Lira to promote Namibia …as negative social media blowback from locals simmers

ObserverUncategorisedFederation of Namibian Tourism Associations (FENATA), Lira, Netumbo Nashandi, Travel Ambassador Initiative (TAI)

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Last week, online and print media exploded with public discontent over the selection by the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (Fenata) of Lira, a South African singer/celebrity, to be its first Travel Ambassador Initiative (TAI) personality. The songstress has been asked to remind South African and other markets that Namibia is great, nearby, easy, world-class tourism destination. The negative local reaction to her appointment shows that many have missed the point. Fenata is the private sector tourism industry umbrella organization. One of its roles is to represent the interests of its members and support increased tourism to…

21 Oct

Old Mutual donates N$1.3 million

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Old Mutual

Staff Writer Old Mutual has donated N$1.3 million to the National Disaster Fund geared towards the payment of allowances to temporary recruited medical professionals by the Government to assist on the frontlines against the COVID-19 pandemic as a final installment of its committed N$5 million. “We are deeply aware of the critical work being done by all health essential service workers across the country as they continue to serve, care and protect our nation during this challenging time. In fact, these healthcare workers not only form a critical part of the overall essential services in the community but they are…

21 Oct

Agribank launches women and youth scheme

ObserverUncategorisedAgribank, Namibia

Staff Writer Agribank launched the women and youth loan scheme in Windhoek on Monday, with relaxed conditions to encourage participation and enhanced financial inclusion. The bank said the product aims to enable the majority of women and youths who are unable to access affordable financing for farming purposes. “While current financing for the youth is not at an optimal level, thus the Agribank women and youth scheme is flexible in that it provides relaxed conditions for funding. The purpose of the scheme is to promote financial inclusion, economic empowerment, employment creation as well as to stimulate Namibia’s economic growth.” Eligible…

21 Oct

Who cares for the children?…we must change our culture and traditions

ObserverNational NewsNangula Haikali

The tragic story of baby Nangula Haikali, her parents, grandmother, aunt and neighbours that knew the child was having a ‘difficult time’, raises disturbing questions. According to reports, a vulnerable baby girl was mistreated, unloved, and murdered bit by bit. Those arrested for the horrific deed are the same people who should have been her first nurturers. But, society must not only point a finger at the two women accused and forget about this issue. The problem is deeper than that. It is a tradition here in Namibia to leave babies and young children with elderly relatives in villages or…

21 Oct

Govt targets new deadline for National oil storage facility

ObserverObserver MoneyNAMCOR, Namibia Energy Fund (NEF), National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor)

Clifton Movirongo Government’s construction and operationalisation of the N$5.5 billion National Oil and Petroleum Storage Facility at Walvis Bay is set to be completed before the 30 November 2020. Although the Namibia Energy Fund (NEF) financed project is not operational and finalised yet, mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo, said that government decided that National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) will be at the helm of running the facility which includes a fire station. “Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are only going to commission the operationalisation next month, and by then everything must be finished. The whole project is…

21 Oct

Economy to contract by 7.9 percent …as Gvt offers tax filing incentives

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN), Finance minister, Iipumbu Shiimi, Integrated Tax Administrative System (ITAS)

Andrew Kathindi Namibian economic activity is predicted to contract by 7.9 percent, about 0.1 percent more than the 7.8 percent the Bank of Namibia (BoN) had forecasted for 2020, in August this year. Finance Minister, Iipumbu Shiimi in his delivery of the mid-term budget review, said the contraction was, “ a historic high whose contours cut across all economic sectors.” “The pandemic induced deepest historic recession this year exacerbated this situation, with a fallout on businesses, jobs, per capita income and public revenue.” Shiimi further said, “While the worst impact of the pandemic appears to have abated, its impact on…