Observer Money – Page 163 – Windhoek Observer

12 Mar

Air Namibia workers to get lump sum payment

ObserverObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Finance minister, Iipumpu Shiimi

Andrew Kathindi Air Namibia employees are set to receive a lump sum payment for their promised one year salary which government had committed to pay after the airline was placed under liquidation, Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, has confirmed. Air Namibia employees were informed by Bruni & Mclaren, the appointed liquidators of Air Namibia, that their last salaries will be paid at the end of March, and that any other amounts which they feel they may be entitled to should be submitted as claims to the liquidators. “The Air Namibia employees will receive their full severance packages from the liquidators.…

11 Mar

Government to push ahead with AstraZeneca …despite confirming presence of resistant variant

ObserverObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, COVAX, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Andrew Kathindi and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is forging ahead with the procurement of AstraZeneca through the COVAX Facility, despite confirming that the South African variant of COVID-19 known as 501.V2, is in Namibia. Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula confirmed to Windhoek Observer that the Namibia will still receive AstraZeneca through the COVAX Facility, but, however downplayed its ineffectiveness against the variant. On why Namibia is going ahead with procuring a vaccine that studies deemed ineffective, Shangula said, “No, no, don't say so. You have no evidence or grounds to say it is useless. Those…

11 Mar

Defence Ministry dragged to court over N$8m sanitisers

ObserverObserver MoneyJob Amupanda, Ministry of Defence, Phoenix Capital Investment, Windhoek Mayor

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Amid swelling allegations by Windhoek Mayor, Job Amupanda, of irregular procurement at Ministry of Defence, it has emerged Phoenix Capital Investment, the company at the centre of the sanitiser supply tender, has dragged the Ministry to court over non-payment for sanitisers delivered more than five months ago. According to Phoenix Capital Investment Director, William Angula, the company which has enlisted Sisa Namandje as its lawyer, is seeking to recover N$ N$8 311 625 owed for the sanitisers delivered. “We have written them a letter of demand through our lawyer, Sisa Namandje, about two weeks ago, informing them of…

10 Mar

Three years later Mental Health Bill still not finalised

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri and Rose-Mary Haufiku More than three years after Cabinet approved a Mental Health Bill, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is yet to finalise and submit it to Parliament. Health Minister, Kalumbi Shangula, confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that the reforming and implementation of the new Bill is still in the process and the current Bill will be repelled. “We have been in consultation with various stake holders and we are now finalising the Bill, then it will go through to the Parliament.” He was however mum on when this would be done and how much…

10 Mar

Education ministry faces 5124 classroom backlog

ObserverObserver MoneyArts and Culture, Ministry of Education, Sanet Steenkamp

Maria Hamutenya The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture Executive Director (ED), Sanet Steenkamp, says the continued growth in the student population has resulted in a classroom backlog of 5 124 classrooms nationally. According to the ministry’s figures, as of 2019, the 14 regions had a total of 26, 090 classrooms, of which 22, 461 are permanent classrooms, 1 426 prefabricated classrooms from non-conventional material, and 2003 traditional structures constructed by the parents or by the school and 200 higher classrooms all together. “The backlog is also considering the growth in the learner population of at least three percent per…

09 Mar

NamPower guns for debtors

ObserverObserver MoneyKaras Regional Council, NamPower

Maria Hamutenya NamPower has threatened to cut power supplies to local authorities, government ministries and agencies that owe it close to a billion Namibia Dollars. The move comes as the water utility, NamWater last week also announced that it’s owed more than a billion Namibia Dollars, with its biggest debtors also being local authorities , government departments and agencies. In its breakdown , NamPower listed 11 village councils especially in the South, namely Maltahohe, Bethanie, Gibeon and Koës to mention a few. While the Karas Regional Council was also listed among its debtors. Five municipalities, namely Rehoboth, Okahandja, Karasburg, Gobabis…

09 Mar

Govt backtracks on RCC liquidation

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Post and Telecommunications Holdings, Roads Contractor Company (RCC)

Andrew Kathindi The government will no longer be going ahead with its initial plan for the possible liquidation or placement under judicial management of beleaguered state roads contractor, Roads Contractor Company (RCC). With RCC financial woes again coming to the fore, the latest being its failure to pay N$6.1 million in rent for its former building, which it now rents from the Namibia Post and Telecommunications Holdings, Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, told the Windhoek Observer on Monday that government will no longer be taking the liquidation route. “The Ministry of Public Enterprises is not pursuing the liquidation or judicial…

06 Mar

Forward-looking Females in Finance

ObserverObserver MoneyFirstRand Namibia, Michelle van Wyk - Erlank, Selma Kapeng

Michelle van Wyk - Erlank recently handed over the reigns as Treasurer of the FirstRand Namibia group to Selma Kapeng. Michelle decided to scale down after 22 years, of which the last 10 years were in this role. She will be focussing on strategic initiatives going forward. Selma, who has been Head of Global Markets at RMB Namibia for the past six years, takes over this exciting role in an exciting time. Both women are passionate about markets and economic development. Herewith their thoughts on the role of Treasury in a bank and sustainable solutions for the greater good. When…

06 Mar

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP TO ACHIEVE AN EQUAL FUTURE

ObserverObserver MoneyCELEBRATING WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

Aligning with the 2021 UN Women theme for International Women’s Day – “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”, MultiChoice Namibia (MCN) continuously amplifies the voices of women who drive a positive change within the business. “Inclusivity and equality are important to us as this contributes to innovation and economic development,” said MCN Managing Director Roger Gertze. “This is demonstrated through our gender representation, throughout the company, where women remain at the forefront of critical areas. Their brilliant contributions to MCN have further elevated our status as an anchor in ICT, despite the current unusual way…

06 Mar

Celebrating Women

ObserverObserver MoneyInternational Women’s Day, Yvonne Dausab

Complied by: Rose-Mary Haufiku and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri In commemoration of International Women’s Day, which will be celebrated on Monday, 8 March, various personalities shared with the Windhoek Observer, their views on this important day. Minister of Justice, Yvonne Dausab “International women's day is an acknowledgement that progress on issues of gender equality and women's empowerment remain in some respect’s lofty ideals. The revolution has stalled. We need more urgency to elevate the struggle for more tangible and meaningful changes in the socio-economic and political space for women.” Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga “The International women's day has a very extraordinary importance…