Blog – Page 851 – News Stand

04 Aug

Haufiku firing wastes scarce resources

info_e12wt4csNational NewsCovid-19, Walvis Bay

The firing of former health minister, Dr Bernard Haufiku from his post on the pandemic Task Team is a waste of limited resources. At a time when there are insufficient healthcare workers to assist where needed in Namibia, a top medical expert has been kicked to the curb. Was that the only option or just the easiest one? The final clash between the current minister of health Kalumbi Shangula and his predecessor was predictable. The strain between the two parties was evident from previous conflicting comments. Haufiku’s demonstrated method is to tackle issues straight on. He seems to speak his…

04 Aug

NAC in urgent runway fix for Eros

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNAC, Namibia Airports Company (NAC)

Staff Writer The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) is set to embark on urgent rehabilitation works for its ‘expired’ runway at Eros Airport, with the airstrip having exceeded its design life of 25 years. This comes as the airports operator has resorted to daily inspections of the runway which has now developed potholes and has become bumpy for aircraft when landing and taking off. Although the runway is still safe, the repairs are a part of safety measures. The project which is set to commence this month at a cost of N$25 million, when completed, will add an additional lifeline of…

04 Aug

Tourism sector initiative could risk lives

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNamibians, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi Thousands of workers in the tourism sector could be at risk of contracting COVID-19 as new measures announced by government to revive the sector do not require quarantine for incoming tourists. President Hage Geingob announced that the International Tourism revival initiative, which was initially supposed to kick off on 15 July but was delayed over disagreements on measures during the consultation process, has now been approved. According to new measures announced by the President which tourists will not be subjected to a mandatory quarantine, “They will however be required to remain at their first initial destination in the…

04 Aug

New party or same story

info_e12wt4csNational NewsIndependent Patriots for Change (IPC), Panduleni Itula

The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), helmed by former Independent Political candidate Panduleni Itula has been launched. The formulation of another anti-Swapo party can signal a mature change in the Namibian political scene. Or, it can be yet another party formed on the basis of what they are against, rather than what they are for. There is no doubt that Itula is a force to be reckoned with in Namibian politics, at least for now. Having a party to allow his constituency to have a base from which to grow is an important step. We note that the overwhelming majority…

04 Aug

Choppies plans to exit 4 countries

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedChoppies, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania

Staff Writer Choppies is exiting South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique having suffered running shortfalls, worsened by fraudulent activities, that contributed to the P139 million loss unveiled last week for the half-year ended December 31, 2019. Choppies has 88 stores in South Africa and first entered the country in 2008 The regional grocer will focus its attention on its cash cow, Botswana, as well as Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia, but rather than its previous aggression in expanding its footprint, Choppies now plans a “careful, phased” approach. “We are exiting from a few markets where the growth has been coming at…

04 Aug

Shiimi in tribalism storm . . . as opposition parties push back

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyIipumbu Shiimi, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Opposition party leaders have hit back at Finance Minister, Iipumbu Shiimi for claims that new political parties were being founded by tribalists. On his social media page, Shiimi stated, “Tribalism will destroy Namibia as it has done in some countries. I am concerned about new political parties/associations that are being formed by tribalists. True Namibians should reject these tribal projects.” Shiimi’s comments were met with a barrage of criticism. It is believed that his comments may have been aimed at parties such as Landless People’s Movement (LPM), which was formed in 2018. Its leader, Bernadus Swartbooi has been…

04 Aug

I regret nothing – Haufiku

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Dr Bernard Haufiku, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula

Andrew Kathindi Dr Bernard Haufiku maintains that he regrets nothing, after being fired as Special Advisor on Health Matters in the Office of the Vice President by President Hage Geingob. This as it emerged Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula had written to the President requesting for Haufiku’s removal from the national COVID-19 response team on the grounds that his presence had become untenable and that he was too self-righteous and not a team player and as a result has become impossible to work with. According to Haufiku in one of his dismissal letter attachments delivered to him by Vice President Nangolo…

04 Aug

COVID-19 drives rentals down . . . as Ondangwa rentals contract -27.4 % y/y

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedFNB Index, Katima Mulilo, Ongwediva, Rundu, Swakopmud

Staff Writer This economic weakness is reflected in FNB’s latest FNB Rental Index, which shows a 12-month average growth of 0.3 percent year on year (y/y) at the end of June 2020, following the short-lived growth momentum of 0.9 percent and 0.8 percent y/y seen in April and May 2020 respectively. The development has brought the national weighted average rent price to N$7022 at the end of June 2020 from N$7404 in June 2019. “Namibia has seen an unprecedented spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases over the last three months, signaling that the worst economic effects of the…

31 Jul

Couch Kitten: All good things come in time

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCouch Kitten

Wetumwene Shikage There are many things we wish to accomplish or at least to tick off from our “to do" lists. We are impatient for success or for our desires and we forget that there is a time for everything. Everything cannot be done at once. It is important to take your time to understand that sometimes, some things come before other things. Some things don’t even come at all. While you take your time working to get what you want, learn along the way. Sometimes all you want to be is your best self. You must not be what…

31 Jul

A method in his madness

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedKanye West

The Time Traveler: Hugh Ellis The rapper Kanye West’s decision to run for US President, announced via tweet on the fourth of July, set sections of the Internet on fire. As did a strange rally a couple of weeks ago. Kanye showed up on stage in a bullet-proof vest, explained he’d wanted his wife Kim Kardashian to have an abortion until God told him personally to get with the program, said that family planning clinics have been placed inside cities by white supremacists to ‘do the Devil’s work’, made out presidential hopeful Joe Biden to be a boring loser, and…