Observer Money – Page 153 – Windhoek Observer

16 Apr

ReconAfrica makes onshore oil and gas find in the Kavango

ObserverObserver MoneyReconnaissance Energy Africa

Staff Writer Listed Canadian oil and gas company, Reconnaissance Energy Africa announced on Thursday that it has found oil and gas indicators and shows over three intervals at its first well onshore the Kavango. The well according to the company, found more than 200 metres of indicators and shows. “The components and processes for a working petroleum system are all present, “ReconAfrica’s board member Dan Jarvie. Jarvie said shows indicated “migrated, thermogenic petroleum” had been found over three intervals in the Kavango Basin well. “Mud gas results indicate a high BTU gas with the presence of light oil in numerous…

16 Apr

Uutoni, Jooste in the dark over NHE suspensions

ObserverObserver MoneyNational Housing Enterprise (NHE)

Rose-Mary Haufiku The two line ministers under which the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) falls under, Erastus Uutoni and Leone Jooste are not aware that the company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gisbertus Mukulu, had suspend four of the enterprise’s senior managers. Mukulu’s action, which has been seen as retaliation, comes after the managers had formally written a letter to company’s board chaired by recently appointed NamRa boss, Sam Shivute, questioning the CEO’s competence. Public Enterprises Minister, Leone Jooste whose ministry is charged with ensuring corporate governance is followed in government institutions, said he had not been consulted on the decision. “I…

16 Apr

AstraZeneca finally arrives …as ministry misses vaccination target

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, Covid-19, Health Ministry Deputy Executive Director, Petronella Masabane

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Namibia is set to get more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, with the much-awaited AstraZeneca expected to arrive in the country Friday morning. According to Health Ministry Deputy Executive Director, Petronella Masabane, the consignment will be the first of three tranches of doses the country will be expecting. “First tranche of 24 000 doses will be landing. Next week expecting more and the rest of the allocation in May from COVAX, also exploring other pipelines," Masabane said. The arrival of the vaccine, which is being sourced under COVAX facility, comes more than three months after it was initially…

16 Apr

Chaos reigns in Parliament again …as Geingob delivers his state of the nation

ObserverObserver MoneyBernardus Swatbooi, Henny Seibeb, Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader, Parliament, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob’s State of the Nation address (Sona) was brought to an unceremonious end when chaos broke out in Parliament on Thursday. Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader, Bernardus Swatbooi, and the party’s second in charge, Henny Seibeb, where thrown out of Parliament during a question-and-answer session after the President had delivered his Sona. Seibeb appeared to have been removed by the President’s guards from the chambers after flinging documents in the direction of Geingob. According to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, he foresaw this coming. "This has been coming for a while. I really…

15 Apr

BoN Governor defends high bank charges

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN) Governor, Covid-19, Johannes Gawaxab

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Bank of Namibia (BoN) Governor, Johannes !Gawaxab, has come out in defence of existing high banking fees and charges,stating that it was not the role of the central bank to detect what should be charged. This comes amid concern that high bank charges and fees in the country are contributing to financial exclusion, as members of the public shy away from the formal banking system. “We need to be careful that we don’t go tell the banks ‘thou shall charge the following fees’ because if that happens then we have got issues with financial stability in the country…

15 Apr

Swartbooi threatens to report PM to ACC

ObserverObserver MoneyAgriculture Minister, Bernardus Swartbooi, Calle Schlettwein, Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader

Andrew Kathindi Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader, Bernardus Swartbooi, is threatening to report Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegations that she illegally occupied a farm which she sold to Government. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform approved the purchase of two farms belonging to the Prime Minister to the tune of N$14 million. Swartbooi alleged that the Prime Minister illegally occupied the farms that were originally placed under her portfolio, but meant to be rehabilitated for resettlement of generational workers from the San Community. “Once we have acquired each and every part of…

14 Apr

Ombudsman blames Jooste for SOE, August 26 mess

ObserverObserver MoneyJohn Walters, Leon Jooste, Ombudsman, Public Enterprises minister

Maria Hamutenya Ombudsman, John Walters, is partly blaming Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, for the current problems the country’s State Owned Enterprises are facing, in particular August 26. The Minister allegedly has not cooperated during an investigation by the Ombudsman into August 26, while also covering compliance of all public enterprises (PEs) with regards to submitting annual financial statements. The long serving Ombudsman said the Minister even ignored his recommendations, including those which called for August 26 to be audited. “He failed to do more, that’s the reason he did not implement my recommendations. In fact he did not even…

14 Apr

I have failed – Sam Shivute . . . as employees demand NHE CEO exit

ObserverObserver MoneyNamRA Commissioner, National Housing Enterprise (NHE), Sam Shivute

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri and Rose-Mary Haufiku National Housing Enterprise (NHE) Board Chairperson, Sam Shivute, has admitted failure in providing low cost housing. The admittance by the recently appointed NamRA Commissioner comes as the NHE is in crisis over the Board’s decision to renew Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Gisbertus Mukulu’s term for another five years amid allegations of incompetence. The former Okahao Town council CEO was appointed in 2016 without Cabinet’s approval, amidst assertion that former Omusati Governor, former Local Government minister, and current Swapo Secretary General, Sophia Shaningwa, had a hand in the appointment. “Yes, we did not build the 1250 houses…

13 Apr

NHE board calls for crisis meeting

ObserverObserver MoneyGisbertus Mukulu, National Housing Enterprise (NHE), Sam Shivute

Maria Hamutenya and Andrew Kathindi The National Housing Enterprise (NHE) Board has scheduled a crisis meeting with the organisation’s managers following the surfacing of a damning letter where they accused Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gisbertus Mukulu, of incompetence. In the letter, company management stated that the employment contract of the CEO must not be renewed when it ends on 30 June, pointing out that since the appointment of Makulu as CEO, the NHE failed to achieve two critical objectives of its strategic plan, growing the loan book and building 1250 houses annually. According to the approved NHE strategic plan 2017-2022…

13 Apr

Hatuikulipi, Shanghala plead privacy over smuggled cell phones

ObserverObserver MoneyJames Hatuikulipi, Sacky Shanghala

Andrew Kathindi The Fishrot accused James Hatuikulipi and former Justice Minister, Sacky Shanghala who were caught with smuggled phones two weeks ago at Windhoek Central, are stating that the gadgets were required to avoid their conversations being recorded by the correctional services’ recording system. Although it is unknown for how long the two have had the mobile phones, they were found in possession of two devices following a search of their cells after a report had been lodged by prison officers of suspicious activity by the two. “During the interviews with them, what they indicated is that they were using…