Observer Money – Page 160 – Windhoek Observer

27 Oct

Thousands retrenched since April…Ministry of Labour warns against illegal retrenchments

ObserverObserver MoneyHenri Kassen, Labour Commissioner at the Ministry

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Labour has revealed that 9,000 people have been retrenched since April this year, which is more than double the figure for the whole of last year. Labour Commissioner at the Ministry, Henri Kassen told Windhoek Observer that from April to June there were 5,379 notices of retrenchment to the Ministry from 287 companies and almost all of them stemming from the state of emergency that was imposed to check the spread of COVID-19. There were 3,484 retrenchments in the three months after that, from July to September from 320 companies. Kassen said that he has…

23 Oct

GBV protestors to review govt pronouncement …still demand a state of emergency

ObserverObserver MoneyCabinet, Gender Based Violence (GBV)

Andrew Kathindi Gender Based Violence (GBV) protestors said that they are still demanding that a state of emergency be declared over GBV in the country, but will study what the “threat to humanity” government pronouncement entails. This comes as the Cabinet on 23 October, approved that government pronounces GBV as a threat to humanity and that Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa should issue a Parliamentary Statement to that effect. This declaration would be instead of the proposed declaration of the State of Emergency. As part of the list of demands in a protest petition to government earlier this month, which included…

23 Oct

Grade 9 national examination cancelled

ObserverObserver MoneyExecutive Director in the ministry of Education Art and Culture Sanet Steenkamp, National Examinations Assessment and Certification Board (NEACB)

Helena Johannes Executive Director in the ministry of Education Art and Culture Sanet Steenkamp has confirmed that the Grade 9 external examination will not be administered in this academic year. “The Ministry recommended the rationalization of the curriculum to 70 percent of the original school syllabus content for Pre-primary and Grade 1-9. Due to this adjustment, the Grade 9 semi-external examination will not be administered in this academic year,” she said. This comes after the new school curriculum for junior and senior secondary schools introduced in 2019 had pupils who passed Grade 8 in 2018 enter Grade 9 in 2019,…

23 Oct

Govt lacks will for rent controls – Job

ObserverObserver MoneyAffirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) leader Job Amupanda, Government

Clifton Movirongo Affirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) leader Job Amupanda, who advocates for the establishment of rent control in the country amid concerns about high home rental costs, says government has no plans to implement the proposal, five years after officials agreed to it. Amupanda told the Windhoek Observer that he is still pushing for the implementation of a viable Rent Control Board with the authority to reduce rental rates. The youthful leader complained that no action has yet been taken by government. “Of course, they never wanted to implement rent control regulations in the first place and that is not…

23 Oct

Kahimise open to staying at CoW …as his departure day looms

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek (CoW), Robert Kahimise, Windhoek Mayor Fransina Kahungu

Andrew Kathindi The outgoing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the City of Windhoek (CoW), Robert Kahimise says he may consider staying on as head of the municipality should council engage him, subject to certain conditions. This follows media reports that stated that the Swapo Khomas regional executive committee was trying to get CoW councilors to convince Kahimise to stay on. Quizzed on whether he would consider the opportunity to stay on should he be approached by Windhoek municipality councilors, the CEO left the door open. “That depends. I’ve handed in my notice, I’m serving my notice up to end of…

22 Oct

BoN maintains Repo rate unchanged

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN), BoN Governor Johannes !Gawaxab, Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Private Sector Credit Extension (PSCE)

Staff Writer The Bank of Namibia (BoN) on Wednesday announced that its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had resolved to keep the Repo rate unchanged at 3.75 percent. “The MPC is of the view that the rate remains appropriate to continue supporting domestic economic activity, while at the same time safeguarding the one-to-one link between the Namibia Dollar and the South African Rand,” BoN Governor Johannes !Gawaxab said. He said domestic economic activity had slowed during the first eight months of 2020, compared to the same period of 2019. The bank forecasts the domestic economy to contract by 7.8 percent in…

22 Oct

Taxis threaten double charge . . . as fares return to N$12

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU), Werner Januarie

Andrew Kathindi Controversial Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) boss Werner Januarie has warned that should the government insist returning the fares charged by taxis back to N$12, steps will be taken to force passengers to pay double, arguing that the law makes provision for this. “Under the regulations of the Roads Authority Act 17 of 1999, taxis are allowed to charge double when they drop a passenger where there is no taxi rank. There is a difference between a taxi rank and a taxi stop. It’s two completely different things.” It is generally understood that due to the lack…

22 Oct

COVID-19 regulations relaxed

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia, president Hage Geingob, Public and Environmental Health Act

Andrew Kathindi Amidst warnings of a second COVID-19 wave, President Hage Geingob has announced a relaxation of regulations compared to those initially put in place under the provisions of the Public and Environmental Health Act on 23 September until 21 October. These new measures will come into effect from 22 October until midnight 30 November and will apply to all regions. Under the new regulations, the number of people allowed at public gatherings will be increased from 50 to a maximum of 200 people. Restrictions on public and private transport operators have also been lifted, meaning that the number of…

21 Oct

Govt targets new deadline for National oil storage facility

ObserverObserver MoneyNAMCOR, Namibia Energy Fund (NEF), National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor)

Clifton Movirongo Government’s construction and operationalisation of the N$5.5 billion National Oil and Petroleum Storage Facility at Walvis Bay is set to be completed before the 30 November 2020. Although the Namibia Energy Fund (NEF) financed project is not operational and finalised yet, mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo, said that government decided that National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) will be at the helm of running the facility which includes a fire station. “Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are only going to commission the operationalisation next month, and by then everything must be finished. The whole project is…

21 Oct

Economy to contract by 7.9 percent …as Gvt offers tax filing incentives

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN), Finance minister, Iipumbu Shiimi, Integrated Tax Administrative System (ITAS)

Andrew Kathindi Namibian economic activity is predicted to contract by 7.9 percent, about 0.1 percent more than the 7.8 percent the Bank of Namibia (BoN) had forecasted for 2020, in August this year. Finance Minister, Iipumbu Shiimi in his delivery of the mid-term budget review, said the contraction was, “ a historic high whose contours cut across all economic sectors.” “The pandemic induced deepest historic recession this year exacerbated this situation, with a fallout on businesses, jobs, per capita income and public revenue.” Shiimi further said, “While the worst impact of the pandemic appears to have abated, its impact on…