Observer Money – Page 160 – Windhoek Observer

09 Apr

Geingob removes Vilho as MP

ObserverObserver MoneyFormer Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister, Parliament, Peter Vilho, president Hage Geingob

Rose-Mary Haufiku Former Defence and Veteran Affairs Minister, Peter Vilho, has been withdrawn as a Member of Parliament (MP) by President Hage Geingob as a presidential nominee. The withdrawal of Vilho comes after Geingob on Thursday wrote a letter to Parliament informing it of his decision. The development comes after Vilho resigned his position as Defence Minister on Tuesday after an afternoon-long meeting with the President, after having been summoned. National Assembly Spokesperson, David Nahogandja, confirmed the development, stating that Parliament had received the letter informing it of the President’s decision. The withdrawal of Vilho creates room for the President…

08 Apr

SSC board discarded succession plan

ObserverObserver MoneyMilka Mungunda, Social Security Commisison (SSC)

Andrew Kathindi and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Social Security Commisison (SSC) Board has revealed that it discarded its own succession plan and never considered any other potential candidates. This was before renewing the contract of Executive Officer, Milka Mungunda, for another five years. The appointment is despite Mungunda having turned 61 in February this year. According to SSC Board Chairperson, Dr Dawid /Uirab, it received and reviewed formally a draft Succession Plans for the role of the EO, but opted to stick with Mungunda instead, who will be 66 at the end of her contract, which expires in 2026. "The Commission…

08 Apr

NamRA launches officially …as 20 Finance Ministry staff refuse to join

ObserverObserver MoneyDepartment of Inland Revenue and Customs Excise Directorate, Namibia Revenue Agency, NamRA

Andrew Kathindi Twenty employees from the Department of Inland Revenue and Customs Excise Directorate have indicated that they do not want to move to the newly formed tax collection agency, the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA). This was revealed by Finance Ministry Spokesperson Tonateni Shidhushu. The 20 employees who have not given their consent to be transferred to NamRA are part of 1400 other staff members from the department in the Ministry of Finance. All the employees were handed letters of intent to sign on whether they agree to or not to transfer to the newly formed government enterprise. "We will…

08 Apr

Amutenya freed with state withdrawing charges

ObserverObserver MoneyKristofina Amutenya, Windhoek Magistrate's Court

Maria Hamutenya Addis Ababa murder accused, Kristofina Amutenya, was on Wednesday freed after the state provisionally withdrew charges against the former spouse of a diplomat. The charges were withdrawn in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court after Magistrate Alweendo Venatius was informed in a letter from the Office of the Government Attorney that the withdrawal had been agreed with Amutenya's lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo. Amoomo challenged the Namibian authorities’ decision to arrest and charge Amutenya with two counts of murder, and one of attempted murder upon her arrival from Addis Ababa. Amoomo claimed that she (Amutenya) was not presented with any documents or…

07 Apr

Addis murder suspect appears in court

ObserverObserver MoneyKristofina Amutenya, Windhoek Magistrate's Court

Maria Hamutenya Kristofina Amutenya (33) made her first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Tuesday. H owever, Magistrate Venatius Alweendo postponed the matter to Wednesday pending an urgent High Court application filed by her lawyers. Lawyer Kadhila Amoomo, who is representing the murder accused, has challenged the decision of the Namibian authorities to arrest and charge Amutenya with two counts of murder, and one count of attempted murder upon her arrival from Addis Ababa on Monday. Amoomo has filed for an urgent application in the High Court to ask for her arrest and detention in Namibia to be declared…

07 Apr

Defence Minister resigns . . . as ACC maintains it won’t investigate

ObserverObserver MoneyMinister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Peter Vilho

Andrew Kathindi and Rose-Mary Haufiku Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, Peter Vilho, has resigned, following his afternoon-long meeting with President Hage Geingob on Tuesday, the Presidency has announced. Geingob summoned Vilho to State House to explain himself following allegations of illicit proceeds in an undeclared Hong Kong bank account. Vilho served as minister for a year and a month, after he was appointed by Geingob in March 2020. His tenure at the ministry was, however, riddled with corruption allegations. According to the Presidency, Vilho informed the President that his continued membership of the Executive was “untenable” and the “ongoing…

01 Apr

BoN declares N$278m dividend

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia, Covid-19

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Bank of Namibia on Wednesday declared a N$278.2 million dividend for the 2020 financial year to the State Revenue Fund, lower than the N$399 million declared prior year. This comes as the apex bank declared a N$532 million surplus for the period under review. “The financial performance of the Bank in 2020 was negatively impacted by low interest rates in the global markets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; nonetheless the Bank still recorded a notable surplus albeit lower in comparison with 2019. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 was characterised by…

01 Apr

COVID-19 restrictions extended …as Namibia passes COVID-19 death estimates

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob on Wednesday extended the current COVID-19 regulations, with minor changes to the measures. Under the current dispensation, which will last until 30 April, restriction on movement will remain in place from 22h00 until 04h00, daily. Restaurants, bars and shebeens will be permitted to extend the trading hours for liquor up to 22h00, Mondays to Saturdays. The sale of alcohol on Sundays will remain prohibited, while attendance at public gatherings have been increased from the current number of 50 to 100 persons per event, whether the event is held indoor and outdoor. Minister of Health and…

31 Mar

Windhoek budgets N$350m for cycle lanes … Electric cars not a priority

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, City Spokesperson, Harold Akwenye, Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, Ministry of Works and Transport (MWT)

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The City of Windhoek plans to implement bicycle lanes within the City at an estimated cost of N$350 million for Phase 1. The Windhoek Observer can reveal the development will now make bicycle lanes compulsory for all newly constructed roads moving forward. “Since the City developed the non-motorised transport (NMT) strategy, there is a condition that says ensure that NMT requirements are incorporated in all new developments; private sector and public sector projects alike. Each road within the City should include cycling lanes, going forward,” City Spokesperson, Harold Akwenye, said. The plan, which falls in line with plans…

31 Mar

New 213 applicants awarded fishing quota

ObserverObserver MoneyAlbert Kawana, Erongo, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources

Andrew Kathindi The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Albert Kawana, has announced that 213 new applications for fishing quotas were approved by the Government. This number represents 71 percent of all the successful applicants. According to the ministry, 298 applications were successful out of the initial 5, 176 submitted in 2018. The main beneficiaries for the quotas are applicants in the Khomas region with 11 percent with Erongo with 9,9 percent. Kavango East and Kavango West regions were the lowest with 0,6 percent and 0,4 percent applications approved respectively. "It will also be shown that, unfortunately, some regions did…