Blog – Page 894 – News Stand

21 Jul

Be mindful of your mental health

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyFirstRand Namibia’s Employee Wellbeing Specialist, Marjolize Scholtz, mental health

Marjolize Scholtz Our world has been turned upside-down – and this is affecting your wellbeing more than you might realize. FirstRand Employee Wellbeing Specialist, Marjolize Scholtz shares advice for managing anxiety and practicing self-care. There’s a lot to be stressed out about these days. If it’s not the pandemic, it’s the alarming state of the economy, the uncertainty around lockdown regulations, or the grind of being stuck at home and trying to balance work and life (and, in many cases, home schooling as well). It’s normal to experience anxiety, fear, depression, loneliness, hopelessness and mental fatigue. ‘In a way, we…

21 Jul

Make minimalist habits the new normal

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedlockdown

...declutter and be minimalist to keep it that way Jackie Wilson Asheeke Last year, I wrote about my decision to de-clutter my life. After a year, I can report that I have reached most of my goals. I have taken up minimalism to keep from sliding back into the bad ‘ol days of consumerism and directionless living. I have saved lots of money; I feel free of ‘stuff’; and I feel that everything near me is what I choose to have in my life. You can achieve that too. My previously jam-packed storage rooms are neatly organized and nearly empty,…

21 Jul

Credit Guarantee Scheme gazetted

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCredit Guarantee Scheme (CGS), Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association (NASRIA)

Staff Writer The long awaited Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS), which aims provide collateral cover to qualifying SMEs, was gazzetted last month. The CGS which will be rolled-out in collaboration with the Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association (NASRIA) under the Namibia Financial Sector Strategy, with a N$100 million allocation, for which N$2 million will be dedicated to the establishment of a database for SMEs. The facility size will be scaled up over the medium-term through greater public and private sector support. Although SMEs and entrepreneurs will still continue to apply for credit at commercial banks, it is the financial institutions which…

21 Jul

FNB branches revert to rotational operations model

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19, FNB Namibia

Staff Writer FNB Namibia has announced that their branches will revert to the rotational operations model for the foreseeable future. “This means that every branch will operate on a 50 percent staff capability only, in order to curb branch activities, thereby assisting government in containing the spread of the virus,” said Rodney Forbes, FNB Executive Officer: Points of Presence. “The spread of COVID-19 is still ongoing and even increasing in some parts of the country. As a responsible corporate citizen, we wish to play our part in limiting the exposure of both our clients and staff to the possibility of…

21 Jul

SADC MPs want value from region’s vast resources

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAfrica, Members of Parliament, SADC Parliamentary Forum

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK – Africa is the richest continent on earth in terms of extractive resources, but until Members of Parliament up their game and demand meaningfully beneficial deals, their citizens will continue to wallow in abject poverty. Parliamentarians who represent their countries on the SADC Parliamentary Forum’s Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, came to this conclusion when they held a virtual meeting last week. South African lawmaker Tshitereke Baldwin Matibe chaired the meeting. The continent is awash with massive deposits of extractive resources that include iron ore, petroleum and natural gas, crude oil, diamonds, gold, uranium,…

21 Jul

Civil Rights Icon, advocate for Namibian Independence, dead at age 80

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedNamibia, Namibians, SWAPO

… Representative John Lewis passes on Jackie Wilson Asheeke So many Namibians today have never heard of John Lewis. And yet, he and many other members of the US Congressional Black Caucus in the pre-independence days had heard of Namibia. Representative Lewis and many US legislators made speeches regularly denouncing US political and economic support for white supremacy in Africa. Now, John Lewis’ time is passed and he has gone home to a well-earned rest. In the several times I met him during the height of my group’s anti-apartheid work in Washington, DC back in the day, I found him…

21 Jul

Remote jobs can make work visas redundant

info_e12wt4csNational NewsMinister of Works and Transport, Namibia

The Minister of Works and Transport has opposed a decision by the board of the Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) about extending contracts of its foreign management staff. There were comments made regarding remote work by the air regulator, which raises eyebrows. The NCAA Chairman of the Board said that one of the South Africans working at the regulator was “advised to work remotely to provide his services. He is currently remunerated accordingly.” This statement tolls the bell of #newnormal. It will soon become ordinary to employ workers who are not in Namibia or are more cheaply employed than locals. The…

21 Jul

Alcohol a burden to police

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Police, Sebastian Ndeitunga

. . . as COVID-19 cases spike Andreas Kathindi The resumption of the alcohol sale in stage 3 and 4 of the state of emergency has been a burden on law enforcement according to head of police, Sebastian Ndeitunga. This comes as South Africa re-banned the selling of alcohol in that country following a spike in COVID-19 cases that has seen it become one of the countries with the highest COVID-19 cases in the world. “It’s a burden to the police. People are just supposed to introspect themselves and ensure self-discipline, and abide to the rules passed to protect their…

21 Jul

COVID death headaches

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Walvis Bay

Andrew Kathindi Government has again been caught ill prepared when it comes to the COVID-19 issue, as it emerged that no contingency plans were made in case the country recorded deaths. This comes as the country as of today (Monday) had now recorded four deaths according to the Ministry of Health, with thirteen cases extremely critical and in need of oxygen support. This comes as the Walvis Bay community has been up in arms with the local authority over its decision to bury the first COVID-19 death in the town. The Ministry leading the COVID-19 task force maintained its role…

17 Jul

Couch kitten: Behind closed doors

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCouch Kitten

Wetumwene Shikage Everyone has identity besides the obvious: your name, last name, hair type, culture, race, skin colour or even family. Well that's not the identity that sticks. One's true identity is found within the mind, soul, personality and way of life. Who are you when you are with yourself? How are you behind closed doors? Recently I read a post on Instagram which said “check on your strongest friends. Are they happy when you are not there?” I realized that this essential. Our friends are not just who we see when we go out. There is more to them…