Observer Money – Page 159 – Windhoek Observer

06 Nov

NSFAF faces fresh allegations …as minister distances herself

ObserverObserver MoneyHigher Education minister, Itah Kandji-Murangi, NSFAF

Helena Johannes Higher Education minister, Itah Kandji-Murangi has distanced her office from renewed problems at the trouble-prone, Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) amid discrimination and favoritism allegations against Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Kennedy Kandume. “I am quite confident that the Board shall deal with whatever grievances are alleged against the CEO to the satisfaction of both parties without the involvement of my office,” said Murangi. She said that a competent Board of Directors has been appointed to drive the strategic focus of the institution and to deal with such concerns. The Minister’s comments come less than three months…

06 Nov

NUNW attacks ‘foreign’ companies

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, National Union of Namibia (NUNW), president Hage Geingob, SWAPO

Helena Johannes The National Union of Namibia (NUNW) has accused foreign companies operating in Namibia for deliberately firing workers under the guise of negative impacts from COVID-19 and poor economic conditions. They allege that this has been done to sabotage the ruling Swapo party. This comes as Swapo president Hage Geingob last month accused white Namibians of voting against the ruling party when Swapo is the author of the reconciliation policy that kept them wealthy and safe at independence. The NUNW statement was made on Wednesday when it announced its backing of the ruling party ahead of the upcoming regional…

05 Nov

Northern referral hospital still in planning phase…as Govt moots new Windhoek hospital

ObserverObserver MoneyKalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services

Andrew Kathindi There is still no movement on the construction of the northern referral hospital, three years on after government mooted the idea, Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula has revealed. The hospital which was set to be built in the Oshana region, was meant to cater to six other nearby northern regions, including Omusati, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kunene and part of Kavango West. Plans for the Northern Academic Referral Hospital were announced by former Health Minister Bernard Haufiku in 2017. “It has not been abandoned. It is still in the planning stage. It remains part of the overall…

05 Nov

Govt considers ending fishing quota auctions

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Fisheries and Marine Resources

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has hinted that it may do away with the auctioning of its governmental fishing quotas after it managed to only raise a paltry N$8.4 million in August. Fisheries Executive Director, Annely Haiphene said that the ministry was unsure if and when there will be a next round of auction for the government’s fishing quotas, which was expected to commence this month. “For now, we have not decided whether we are still going to go on with auction or not. It was experimental, for the first time and now we are thinking…

04 Nov

PDM expelled candidate digs into party…As ECN decides on candidature withdrawal

ObserverObserver MoneyPopular Democratic Movement (PDM), SWAPO

Helena Johannes The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) former regional council candidate Hafeni Mafita has refused to apologize over racial remarks he made on his Facebook page and accused the opposition party of throwing him under the bus. This comes as PDM expelled Mafita as a member of the party on Tuesday morning, with immediate effect. The opposition party has also withdrawn him as a candidate for the John Pandeni constituency in the upcoming elections for which he was set to contest. “I have not done anything wrong. This is revenge. I am not going to apologize before the man from…

04 Nov

CoW appoints Acting CEO

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek (CoW), George Mayumbelo

Andrew Kathindi The City of Windhoek (CoW) management committee has appointed its Human Capital and Corporate Services Executive, George Mayumbelo as the interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the city. "Yes, they appointed Mayumbelo as acting (CEO)," Windhoek spokesperson Harold Akwenye told Windhoek Observer. This comes as former CEO Robert Kahimise has left the city’s employ after a rocky four years in charge. Robert Kahimise handed in his resignation earlier this year following a contentious relationship with councilors at the municipality. He also was engaged in many clashes with City Police Chief Abraham Kanime. The conflict between the two often…

04 Nov

Walvis Bay CEO blames banking error for ‘missing millions’

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Walvis Bay Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Muronga Haingura

Andrew Kathindi The Walvis Bay municipality has blamed an error by banks as the reason why millions were allegedly flagged as ‘missing’ from a June 2018 financial report. This comes as Walvis Bay Constituency Councilor Knowledge Iipinge in September threatened to take legal action if around N$24 million, which was part of the massive urban land servicing initiative, never reached the municipality account and is not accounted for. Walvis Bay Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Muronga Haingura told the Windhoek Observer an amount of around N$18 million for 68 houses was paid to the municipality account by banks for clients who…

03 Nov

PDM urges ECN to play fair in the upcoming election…as political parties are upbeat

ObserverObserver MoneyPopular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Helena Johannes The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has urged the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to ensure fair play in the upcoming election. This comes as the country is set to hold Regional Council and Local Authority Elections on the 25th of November and use ballot papers, a process which was phased out in 2014 following the introduction of Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs). Due to the outcome of a court challenge about the legality of EVMs without a verifiable paper trail for each vote cast, the machines will not be used in the upcoming elections. “I never trusted EVMs without…

03 Nov

Business demands Govt pays up…as only N$2.5 billion is paid

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI)

Clifton Movirongo The Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) says seven months on, some of its members are yet to be paid by government since the Minister of Finance, Iipumbu Shiimi, announced on April 1, 2020, a N$3.8 billion accelerated value-added tax (VAT) refunds and payments for goods and services supplied to Government. The funds were part of an Economic Stimulus and Relief Package to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in Namibia. Government in collaboration with Social Security Commission (SSC) and other development partners adopted a Stimulus and Relief Package amounting to N$8.1 billion in total in April. It…

30 Oct

Breast cancer cases are on the rise

ObserverObserver MoneyBreast cancer, Namibia

Clifton Movirongo The cases of breast cancer in Namibia are increasing at an alarming rate with over 500 new cases reported annually. At an interview on Friday, Head of the Department (HoD) of Medical Oncology at the Windhoek Central Hospital Dr Annelle Zietsman has warned of the burgeoning rate of breast cancer cases over the last three of years. “Breast cancer is the number one cancer in the country. There are more than 500 new cases of breast cancer recorded every year. The main cause of breast cancer in less than 10 percent of the cases is hereditary. They have…