Observer Money – Page 166 – Windhoek Observer

19 Feb

Government stands firm on Air Namibia liquidation

ObserverObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Finance minister, Government, Iipumbi Shiimi

Andrew Kathindi The Government is not backing down from its decision to voluntarily liquidate Air Namibia, after Finance Minister, Iipumbi Shiimi, yesterday (Thursday) defended government’s stance on the matter. “At this stage, the country’s economy can no longer afford to perpetually provide financial support to Air Namibia at the expense of supporting economic growth and critical social services. It is, therefore, with that consideration that government took a decision to file for the voluntary liquidation of Air Namibia,” said the Finance minister. This comes as Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa was also quoted by the local media saying government will not…

18 Feb

BoN maintains Repo rate unchanged

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN), Governor Johannes !Gawaxab

Staff Writer The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Namibia (BoN) resolved to keep the repo rate unchanged at 3.75 percent, Governor Johannes !Gawaxab, announced yesterday, on Wednesday. “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. This decision was taken following a review of global, regional and domestic economic and financial developments.” Namibia’s stock of international reserves as on the 31st January, 2021, according to BoN, stood at N$34.4 billion compared…

18 Feb

Learners COVID-19 cases spike

ObserverObserver MoneyHealth and Social Services Ministry (MOHSS)

Kandjemuni Kariimui COVID-19 is starting to increase in schools with the Health and Social Services Ministry (MOHSS) announcing 288 leaners and eight teachers have been infected with the virus since Monday. This is despite assurances by the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture in January that 90 percent of schools in the country were ready to re-open and receive students. Among the new confirmed cases, the Ekule Senior Secondary School in the Omuthiya District has recorded the highest Covid-19 cases with up to 101 learners testing positive. The Oshikoto Region as a whole has a total of 112 positive learners,…

18 Feb

NUNW guns for Jooste

ObserverObserver MoneyLeon Jooste, National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa Amadhila, Public Enterprises minister

Maria Hamutenya and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) is demanding the immediate dismissal of Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste. According to a petition handed over to Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, and SWAPO Secretary-General, Sophia Shaningwa, yesterday, on Wednesday, NUNW Secretary-General Job Muniaro, among others, is accusing the minister of violating his oath of office. In the petition, Muniaro alleged that Jooste had carried himself “in a dishonest manner, by under representing and deliberately misdirecting the Cabinet to take a decision that is tantamount to violation of Article 95 of the Namibian Constitution on state policy. Maintaining…

17 Feb

LPM digs into CoW over land

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Landless People’s Movement (LPM), LPM Councillor, Sade Shireen Gawanas

Staff Writer The Landless People's Movement (LPM) is accusing the City of Windhoek councillors of not prioritising land delivery in the city despite a high demand and limited supply of houses in the capital. LPM Councillor, Sade Shireen Gawanas, said although the City was currently sitting on thousands of square kilometres of land, which could be used to address the capital’s ballooning housing waiting list, nothing was being done. “Sitting in this council for the past two months, we have noticed that some issues and agendas are being pushed while there is no proper studies, investigations done. The total town…

17 Feb

NamRa secrecy irks NAPWU

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibia Public Workers Union (Napwu), NamRA

Andrew Kathindi The Namibia Public Workers Union (NAPWU) has accused the Ministry of Finance of being secretive and failing to consult in the establishment of the Namibia Revenue Agency’s (NamRA) HR structures, amid concern the agency could become a gravy train for top management. According to the union, the agency is trying to create a management structure where a select few will benefit from bloated benefits, not in line with existing government pay structures, defeating its intended purpose. In a letter to the Finance Ministry Executive Director, Erica Shafudah, which is in the possession of Windhoek Observer, the public workers…

17 Feb

High Court demand answers from Geingob

ObserverObserver MoneyAffirmative Repositioning (AR), Justice Orben Sibeya, president Hage Geingob

Maria Hamutenya Justice Orben Sibeya on today (Tuesday) ordered that President Hage Geingob answers to a lawsuit in which the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) is demanding that he meets his end of an agreement to service 200 000 plots countrywide signed in 2015. The order came after he ruled in favour of the AR. “The lawyers acting on behalf of the President thought that it was not necessary for the President to answer to the case at all, because in their view the manner in which the case is drafted is deficient, meaning the agreement made between the AR movement and…

16 Feb

Wecke & Voigts closes stores

ObserverObserver MoneyCOVID, Covid-19, Wecke & Voigts Group

Kandjemuni Kamuirii The Wecke & Voigts Group has announced the closure of the Wecke & Voigts in Independence Avenue and Grove Mall of Namibia. The Independence Avenue shop closes its doors after operating for 129 years since it’s foundation in 1892. “An emotional decision to shut one Windhoek’s first departmental stores was taking last year and it will be discontinued as off the end of June 2021”, said Wecke & Voigts Group Managing Director, Adrieane Jandrell. “Both shops have not been doing well for the pass years, due to various influences other than Covid-19 .Although the impact of covid-19 has…

16 Feb

ECN concedes to pay for election re-run

ObserverObserver MoneyECN, Theo Mujoro

Maria Hamutenya The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has conceded that it will pay political parties’ cost for their participation in the election re-runs in Koës, Aroab, Stampriet Local authorities and Mariental Rural Constituency now scheduled for Friday, 26 February. The ECN had previous hinted that it might appeal the ruling handed by Judge Shafimana Ueitele in the Electoral Court’s judgement in December, depending on the reasons given that the commission should carry the cost for political parties to participate in the rerun of the polls as it was not within its mandate. “The court order will be complied with…

16 Feb

Swapo divisions re-emerge over Air Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyFinance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, Henning Melber, Leon Jooste, Ndumba Kamwanyah, Onurair, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Divisions in ruling Swapo’s party have once again resurfaced in light of the Air Namibia matter after a Swapo’s parliamentary caucus has demanded the reversal of a decision made by a Swapo-led Cabinet on the liquidation of Air Namibia. This comes as Swapo affiliated National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) along with several other unions have planned a mass public demonstration against government’s decision to liquidate the airline this week. “This just is a sign of the party internal disarray. A significant number of higher-ranking party officials are in government and Cabinet positions. Hence it could have been…