Observer Money

HPP II targets N$28 billion projects
19 Mar

HPP II targets N$28 billion projects

ObserverObserver Money,
Maria Hamutenya The Harambee Prosperity Plan II (HPP II) launched by President Hage Geingob on Thursday, has set an ambitious target to unlock projects with a commercial value in excess of N$ 27.7 billion over a 5 year period, while creating 42 000 jobs Among some of the projects targeted, include a plan to build a Green Hydrogen plant and deliver 20 000 housing units countrywide by the end of HPP2 through public and private stakeholders. This aims to reduce the national housing backlog, which currently stands 300 000 houses. “In the social progression pillar the Government, local authorities, GIPF,…
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It was not Emma Theofelus – Shiimi
19 Mar

It was not Emma Theofelus – Shiimi

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Rose-Mary Haufiku and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Finance Minister, Ipumbu Shiimi, said the decision to remove value added tax (VAT) on sanitary pads has nothing to do with the motion tabled by Deputy Information Minister, Emma Theofelus, two weeks ago. He said a decision had already been taken by the Finance ministry in January. “The removal of VAT on sanitary pads is not in any way linked to Emma Theofelus. It has got nothing to do with her. She brought her issue, but it was already in the budget,” Shiimi told the Windhoek observer . The revelation by Shiimi comes as Theofelus…
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Shangula rules out relaxing Covid-19 regulations
18 Mar

Shangula rules out relaxing Covid-19 regulations

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Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Health and Social Services Minister, Kalumbi Shangula, says Namibia will not be relaxing its COVID-19 regulations despite the arrival of the country’s first batch of vaccines and the beginning of its inoculation role out schedule for Friday. “No, it will not be relaxed. We will still continue to have public health measures because we have not yet vaccinated anybody, we need to vaccinate about 80 percent of the population and then we will see whether they are fully protected, it will be a combination, just like we have the mask, social distance and you get vaccination,” he said.…
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Shiimi tables declining budget … as sin tax is upped
18 Mar

Shiimi tables declining budget … as sin tax is upped

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Andrew Kathindi The national budget for the 2021/2022 financial year amounts to N$59.4 billion, Finance Minister, Iipumbu Shiimi, has announced. This is a 6.1 percent decline from the N$63.4 budget tabled last year. “Budget revenue is projected to decline by 6.1 percent to N$52.1 billion, from the estimated N$55.5 billion in 2020/21. This is largely due to the expected contraction in SACU receipts. Over the remainder of the MTEF, revenue is forecast to gather pace at an average rate of 4.8 percent as domestic economic activity and regional trade pick up,” said Shiimi. Of the tabled figure, N$53.9 billion is…
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Call to track, measure women’s progress
17 Mar

Call to track, measure women’s progress

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Moses Magadza As the world marked International Women’s Day last week, the Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Ms Boemo Sekgoma, called for an advanced framework for tracking and measuring key indicators to ensure progress of women in political participation. Sekgoma made the call when she delivered keynote remarks during a virtual international engagement meant to discuss ways of enhancing women’s political participation. She noted that although “women's political participation is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality, democracy and for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” more remains to be done to ensure their meaningful political…
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LPM’s Mariental appointments illegal – Lawyer
17 Mar

LPM’s Mariental appointments illegal – Lawyer

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Maria Hamutenya Legal representative of recalled Landless Peoples Movement (LPM)’s councillors, Richard Metcalfe, says the appointment of new Mariental councillors is illegal. Thus he will proceed to file for review from the High Court next week Monday.Metcalfe maintained the two LPM members had been denied a proper disciplinary hearing by the party before it recalled them from their position on the Mariental town council. “It is time that politicians start to remember that Namibia is a democracy with a Constitution as its Supreme law.” “They can't continue to run the country like the colonials did. We sink lower by the…
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No Sinopharm vaccine for Shangula, top govt officials
17 Mar

No Sinopharm vaccine for Shangula, top govt officials

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Andrew Kathindi, Kandjemuni Kamuiiri, Rose-Mary Haufiku It has emerged that most high-ranking government officials, including Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHss), Kalumbi Shangula, will not receive the Sinopharm vaccine, because of its age restrictions. The vaccine, the first vaccine against COVID-19 to come into Namibia since the pandemic broke out in March 2020, is only recommended for use on people between the ages of 18 to 59 years. “If I fall in the eligible criteria I will take it. I am waiting for another one because this vaccine is only for people between 18 and 59 and I don’t…
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CRAN powerless against Facebook’s data snooping
16 Mar

CRAN powerless against Facebook’s data snooping

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Andrew Kathindi The Namibian government is unable to stop Facebook from sharing the data it collects from Namibian WhatsApp users due to the lack of a data protection law. According to the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), the Authority does not regulate over-the-top services that are delivered over the Internet, including WhatsApp and similar applications as Namibia also does not have a data protection law, in terms of which information on social media may be managed. As a result, Facebook, will be able to share the information it collects from WhatsApp users, including contact numbers and location when a…
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Venaani to cost tax payers more
16 Mar

Venaani to cost tax payers more

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Andrew Kathindi and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Taxpayers are set to start incurring additional costs for the upkeep of Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani, after he accepted President Hage Geingob’s offer for further benefits. Venaani's additional perks will include a state office at the premises of the National Assembly, a personal administrative assistant of his choice, a motor vehicle, a security aid and a driver. Political commentator Henning Melber said the official opposition leader’s acceptance of the perks was a classical case of hypocrisy and double standards, arguing the move could have an impact on voters’ perception of him in…
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Bank Windhoek fires manager for racist remarks
12 Mar

Bank Windhoek fires manager for racist remarks

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Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Bank Windhoek has dismissed its suspended Sales Manager, Riaan Van Rooyen, for sharing a racially offensive post on his social media last year, which equated black people to monkeys. Van Rooyen had been suspended by the bank, pending an investigation into his conduct. “We wish to confirm that the individual in question has been dismissed. Bank Windhoek and Capricorn Group would like to reiterate its policy of zero tolerance towards any form of behaviour that does not conform to internal policies, and does not speak to our values that underpin ethical business conduct from any employee at any…
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