Blog – Page 881 – News Stand

02 Sep

Health Ministry dismisses Remdesivir concerns …orders second batch

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedBaking 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

info_e12wt4csNational 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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…

01 Sep

Parents support schools reopening – Ministry … as union approaches Prime Minister again

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyEducation Executive Director, Erongo, Karas, Khomas, Otjozondjupa, Sanet Steenkamp

Andrew Kathindi The Education Ministry maintains that 64 percent of participants in its survey on the best way to proceed with learning amidst the pandemic indicated a desire to return to face-to-face teaching. This comes as Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) is set to meet the Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa on Tuesday to voice its displeasure at President Hage Geingob’s announcement that grades 0-9 should reopen for face-to-face teaching on 7 September. According to the Ministry, it received feedback from 18,000 respondents. Of these 8,712 were parents; 4, 778 teachers and 2,820 learners while 1,565 were community members, drawn mostly…

29 Aug

Couch Cat: SQUISH is not bad

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCouch Cat, SQUISH

Jackie Wilson Asheeke My daughter Martha turned me on to these baby food squeeze pureed fruit packets called, “SQUISH”. OK, before you write me off as weird, let me make my case. I am trying to deal with the fact I am more sedentary in my remote work these days of lockdown and staying away from people as much as possible. As a result, I snack and nibble too much. Being brave, I have cast chocolate out of my life (boo-hoo) and I am munching on fruit as often as I can. (The mineolas these days are great!) I am…

29 Aug

Most political parties are chips from same old capitalist block

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedcapitalist, Yours Truly Ideologically

YOURS TRULY IDEOLOGICALLY: Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro “All the natural resources and the means of production must ultimately be owned publicly,” reads an article from what had come to be known as the “yellow book”, a booklet outlining Swanu of Namibia’s objectives for the liberation and reconstruction of Namibia. It does not end there but further enumerates this party’s revolutionary intents post-colonial. Its blueprint for the radical socio-economic transformation of the country. “Free enterprise activity in certain sectors of the economy may be allowed for a certain period of time, provided it is considered beneficial to the national economy and the people’s…

29 Aug

Not retiring to the penthouse…

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedThe Time Traveler

The Time Traveler: Hugh Ellis As pictures go, you wouldn’t expect a graph I was sent by a retirement fund to be dramatic enough to warrant a column in a newspaper, but here we are. On the x-axis was time, specifically my future age if the ‘Rona or other misfortune does not get me before 55 or so. On the y-axis was the amount of money my pension fund would have to pay me monthly, should I retire at any of the said ages. A horizontal grey line represented, in real terms, 75 per cent of my current salary –…