Blog – Page 820 – Windhoek Observer

05 Sep

Youth leaders are fighting the wrong fight

ObserverNational NewsNamibia National Students Organisation (NANSO), Students Union of Namibia (SUN)

The NSFAF announced some time ago that it plans to spend N$180 million to buy laptops needed by many students to access e-learning platforms. Student unions and youth political bodies claiming to speak for ‘the students’, object to this expenditure. These young leaders are fighting the wrong fight. The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso), the Students Union of Namibia (SUN), the National Africa Students Association, the Landless People's Movement Student Command and the Popular Democratic Movement Youth League have all condemned NSFAF's laptop purchase plan as unreasonable. We fail to see what is so unreasonable? E-learning is going to happen;…

05 Sep

Meatco to revamp NCA operations

ObserverUncategorisedMeatco, Northern Communal Area Subsidiary (Pty) Ltd

Staff Writer Recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of Meatco’s Northern Communal Area Subsidiary (Pty) Ltd, Kingsley Kwenani, has announced that the company, has come up with a short-term turnaround strategy to ensure the viability of the business based in the northern communal areas. The development comes as the Meatco subsidiary, has been a loss-making operation attributed to its business environment, factors which needed to be addressed for the long term survival of the unit. "I needed to find out what exactly we can do to turn the situation around. I did this by developing the Meatco NCA strategic policy. One…

05 Sep

CDC dismisses clinical trial claims

ObserverObserver MoneyCenter for Disease Control (CDC), Covid-19, Remdesivir

Andrew Kathindi As the debate rages on, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has dismissed claims that Remdesivir, a drug being used to treat COVID-19 patients, is being used in Namibia on a clinical trial basis. This comes as the drug, which has been approved only on an emergency basis by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has divided opinions over its safety and the intentions of its circulation in the country, with some doctors claiming that the drug is under clinical trial to see if it can officially be registered for the treatment of COVID-19. “The FDA approval…

05 Sep

Judge rips into Seaflower Pelagic Processing relationship

ObserverObserver MoneyDeputy Judge President Hosea Angula, Fishcor, Seaflower

Staff Writer Deputy Judge President Hosea Angula has issued a scathing judgment in which he described the case brought by Seaflower Pelagic Processing against the fisheries ministry, as being part of desperate bid to retain its beneficial relationship with Fishcor. The Deputy Judge President last month ruled against the company’s bid to stop Government from auctioning more than 24,000 metric tonnes of horse mackerel, which was being done as part of efforts to raise additional funding for COVID-19 related activities. “Against that background it seems to me that the present application is a desperate attempt by the applicant to save…

05 Sep

Govt dithers on health workers risk allowance

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula, Medical Association of Namibia (MAN)

Helena Johannes There has been no movement on the implementation of the risk allowance for healthcare workers at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19, Chief Executive at the Medical Association of Namibia (MAN) Dr Armid Azadel has revealed. This comes after health minister Kalumbi Shangula revealed this week that there is an increase in the number of health workers infected with Covid-19. “Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have recorded a total number of 333 Health Workers infected with COVID-19. We noticed that the number of health workers infected is high in areas with high burden of confirmed cases…

04 Sep

Complaints fly between Hengari and the media

ObserverNational Newspresident Hage Geingob, Press Secretary Alfredo Hengari

This week, a consortium of Namibian journalists wrote an extensive letter of complaint addressed to President Hage Geingob. They are asking for sanctions against Press Secretary Alfredo Hengari. It seems that a breaking point has been reached by those who sent the letter. They feel that they can no longer tolerate Hengari’s perceived snubs, prevarications, oversights, and high-handedness. We look at this issue from another angle. We see the legitimate irritation of our media colleagues with the Press Secretary as a part of the usual tug-of-war between the media and the president’s media coordinator. We support the journalists’ right to…

04 Sep

Equity funding – a savior in uncertain times

ObserverUncategorised

Emmarentia Irion The Corona virus came and caused havoc around the world resulting in economies having to balance social and economic impact. Businesses have been forced to close, people have lost jobs, negatively impacting their livelihoods and economic activity around the world suffered a major downturn. The effects of the pandemic are expected to continue for the near future. Many businesses that are still managing to keep their doors open are finding it challenging to manage business liquidity such as operational expenses and working capital because of the pandemic, with limited options for financial relief. Private equity offers a solution…

04 Sep

Old Mutual launches new customised insurance proposition

ObserverUncategorisedKosmas Egumbo, Old Mutual

Staff Writer Old Mutual Namibia has launched a new personal cover solution, which allows each customer to build their cover to suit their lifestyle and their budget. The development of the product according to insurance giant had been brought about by the need to provide targeted solutions where the needs, aspirations and behavior of customers take centre stage. Kosmas Egumbo, Group CEO at Old Mutual, who spoke on the launch of Old Mutual’s new proposition, which offers a range of personal and business cover solutions in respect of Life cover, disability, funeral , will also be complimented by the launch…

04 Sep

NBC chief has contract renewed

ObserverObserver Money

Staff Writer The recently appointed Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) board has opted to renew the contract of current Director-General Stanley Similo for another five years. The reappointment is effective 1 October 2020. "We are looking forward to a continued fruitful and productive working relationship as we endeavor to usher the national broadcaster into a technology savvy company which broadcasts with its stated mission of educating, informing and entertaining the Namibian nation," Chairperson Lazarus Jacobs said. Similo’s appointment comes as the national broadcaster is faced with a cash squeeze, a development which saw it moving from being a 24 hour broadcaster…

04 Sep

Windhoek COVID cases surpass Walvis Bay

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Walvis Bay, Windhoek

Andrew Kathindi Windhoek has officially overtaken Walvis Bay to become the local authority with the numerically highest confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. This comes as Health Minister, Kalumbi Shangula on Thursday 3 September, announced 238 new cases, of which 145 are from Windhoek. “Today, a total number of 1,630 results were received from the laboratories. Of these, 238 samples tested positive for COVID-19. One hundred and twenty-six (126) are males and hundred and twelve (112) are females. The youngest is two months old and the oldest is sixty-five years old,” said Shangula. As of Wednesday 2 September, Windhoek…