Observer Money – Page 148 – Windhoek Observer

18 Feb

NUNW guns for Jooste

ObserverObserver MoneyLeon Jooste, National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa Amadhila, Public Enterprises minister

Maria Hamutenya and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) is demanding the immediate dismissal of Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste. According to a petition handed over to Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, and SWAPO Secretary-General, Sophia Shaningwa, yesterday, on Wednesday, NUNW Secretary-General Job Muniaro, among others, is accusing the minister of violating his oath of office. In the petition, Muniaro alleged that Jooste had carried himself “in a dishonest manner, by under representing and deliberately misdirecting the Cabinet to take a decision that is tantamount to violation of Article 95 of the Namibian Constitution on state policy. Maintaining…

17 Feb

LPM digs into CoW over land

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Landless People’s Movement (LPM), LPM Councillor, Sade Shireen Gawanas

Staff Writer The Landless People's Movement (LPM) is accusing the City of Windhoek councillors of not prioritising land delivery in the city despite a high demand and limited supply of houses in the capital. LPM Councillor, Sade Shireen Gawanas, said although the City was currently sitting on thousands of square kilometres of land, which could be used to address the capital’s ballooning housing waiting list, nothing was being done. “Sitting in this council for the past two months, we have noticed that some issues and agendas are being pushed while there is no proper studies, investigations done. The total town…

17 Feb

NamRa secrecy irks NAPWU

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), NamRA

Andrew Kathindi The Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) has accused the Ministry of Finance of being secretive and failing to consult in the establishment of the Namibia Revenue Agency’s (NamRA) HR structures, amid concern the agency could become a gravy train for top management. According to the union, the agency is trying to create a management structure where a select few will benefit from bloated benefits, not in line with existing government pay structures, defeating its intended purpose. In a letter to the Finance Ministry Executive Director, Erica Shafudah, which is in the possession of Windhoek Observer, the public workers…

17 Feb

High Court demand answers from Geingob

ObserverObserver MoneyAffirmative Repositioning (AR), Justice Orben Sibeya, president Hage Geingob

Maria Hamutenya Justice Orben Sibeya on today (Tuesday) ordered that President Hage Geingob answers to a lawsuit in which the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) is demanding that he meets his end of an agreement to service 200 000 plots countrywide signed in 2015. The order came after he ruled in favour of the AR. “The lawyers acting on behalf of the President thought that it was not necessary for the President to answer to the case at all, because in their view the manner in which the case is drafted is deficient, meaning the agreement made between the AR movement and…

16 Feb

Wecke & Voigts closes stores

ObserverObserver MoneyCOVID, Covid-19, Wecke & Voigts Group

Kandjemuni Kamuirii The Wecke & Voigts Group has announced the closure of the Wecke & Voigts in Independence Avenue and Grove Mall of Namibia. The Independence Avenue shop closes its doors after operating for 129 years since it’s foundation in 1892. “An emotional decision to shut one Windhoek’s first departmental stores was taking last year and it will be discontinued as off the end of June 2021”, said Wecke & Voigts Group Managing Director, Adrieane Jandrell. “Both shops have not been doing well for the pass years, due to various influences other than Covid-19 .Although the impact of covid-19 has…

16 Feb

ECN concedes to pay for election re-run

ObserverObserver MoneyECN, Theo Mujoro

Maria Hamutenya The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has conceded that it will pay political parties’ cost for their participation in the election re-runs in Koës, Aroab, Stampriet Local authorities and Mariental Rural Constituency now scheduled for Friday, 26 February. The ECN had previous hinted that it might appeal the ruling handed by Judge Shafimana Ueitele in the Electoral Court’s judgement in December, depending on the reasons given that the commission should carry the cost for political parties to participate in the rerun of the polls as it was not within its mandate. “The court order will be complied with…

16 Feb

Swapo divisions re-emerge over Air Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyFinance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, Henning Melber, Leon Jooste, Ndumba Kamwanyah, Onurair, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Divisions in ruling Swapo’s party have once again resurfaced in light of the Air Namibia matter after a Swapo’s parliamentary caucus has demanded the reversal of a decision made by a Swapo-led Cabinet on the liquidation of Air Namibia. This comes as Swapo affiliated National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) along with several other unions have planned a mass public demonstration against government’s decision to liquidate the airline this week. “This just is a sign of the party internal disarray. A significant number of higher-ranking party officials are in government and Cabinet positions. Hence it could have been…

12 Feb

NAC plans N$1.3bn investments

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Airports Company (NAC)

Staff Writer The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) says it plans to invest over N$1.3 billion in infrastructure development across all eight airports within the next five years. Some of the projects lined up include the N$70 million Apron Expansion of Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA); N$16 million for a CUTE System for Hosea Kutako; N$16 million Ondangwa Apron Rehabilitation; N$32 million Katima Mulilo Runway Holding Action; N$10 million Walvis Bay Airside Boundary Wall; N$4 million Walvis Bay Electronic Equipment and a N$4 million Hosea Kutako road upgrade. The plans, according to the operator of the country’s airports, is aimed at…

12 Feb

Grade 11 Unam admission prospects crushed

ObserverObserver MoneyFrednard Gideon, National Senior Secondary Ordinary (NSSCO), NSSCAS, Professor Kenneth Matengu, Unam Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Unam Vice Chancellor

Maria Hamutenya University admission prospects for grade 11 students who applied to the University of Namibia (Unam) were finally crushed on Thursday. Unam Vice Chancellor, Professor Kenneth Matengu, questioned the quality of curriculum and their ability to handle tertiary education. “The curriculum is not deep enough for students to be ready for admission into university. The understanding was and still is that the basic education curriculum would be revised and improved to the level of advanced subsidiary to allow those who wish to pursue university education to progress from grade 11 level 3 to National Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary…

12 Feb

Jooste calls Sisa’s bluff

ObserverObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Challenge Air, Public Enterprises minister Leon Jooste, Sisa Namandje, TransNamib

Andrew Kathindi Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, has dismissed threats by Challenge Air representative, Lawyer Sisa Namandje, to seize assets of state-owned TransNamib, if government proceeds with the voluntary liquidation of Air Namibia. According to Namandje the Arbitration Awards made on 6 August, 2008 and 4 August, 2011 in Europe, were jointly against Air Namibia and TransNamib. Air Namibia was incorporated into TransNamib up until the late 1990s, which was around the time when the airline entered into the lease agreement with Challenge Air. “I saw the letter that was circulated today. We discussed this with TransNamib some time ago…