Observer Money – Page 174 – Windhoek Observer

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…

20 Oct

SGBV protestors still want Sioka’s resignation … as group questions Geingob’s closed door meeting

ObserverObserver MoneyDoreen Sioka, president Hage Geingob, sexual and gender based violence, SGBV

Helena Johannes The sexual and gender based violence ( SGBV) protest leaders say they still stand by their demand for Gender minister, Doreen Sioka to resign despite their meeting with President Hage Geingob on Friday. “Our demands remain unchanged, we are still calling for a state of emergency and for the resignation of Doreen Sioka. We will from hereon, transparently engage government. Should this fail, we will be back in the streets, using our voices to assert our right to safety,” one of the protest leaders, Bertha Tobias said via her social media platform. She said that although it had…

20 Oct

Swapo rules out Geingob apology…as PDM files complaint with Ombudsman against President

ObserverObserver Moneypresident Hage Geingob, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Swapo party said there is no reason why President Hage Geingob should apologize or withdraw statements he made over the weekend about white voters, which has sparked heated political debate ahead of next month elections. This comes as the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) have filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman against President Geingob, calling for the President to withdraw his statements. However, Swapo Spokesperson, Hilma Nicanor, maintains there is no need for Geingob to withdraw his words, arguing that he had a democratic right to speak his mind. “We know those who were not there…

17 Oct

Robert Koch Institute delegation heads to Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Robert Koch Institute

Staff Writer A 15 member Robert Koch Institute delegation is expected to visit Namibia next week at the invitation of Health Minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula. The visit comes after the partnership of the Robert Koch Institute with Namibia and Rwanda was announced by the Director for Sub-Saharan Africa of the German Federal Foreign office, Ambassador Robert Doelger during a recent video conference with the Berlin African Ambassadors’ Group. Robert Koch Institute is a German federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention which has provided to Namibia four batches of Corona testing equipment to fight COVID-19.…

17 Oct

Alweendo speaks on phosphate mining

ObserverObserver MoneyMines and Energy minister Tom Alweendo, Namibia Marine Phosphate (NMP)

Clifton Movirongo The Ministry of Mines and Energy maintains that it will not approve phosphate mining in the country without scientific data that can prove that no harm will be done to marine life. The Mines and Energy minister Tom Alweendo told the Windhoek Observer that that allowing phosphate mining might not be ideal if it damages the fisheries industry. This is because of the disturbance it might cause to the breeding area for the fish. “The argument is still on-going, but we need to have good scientific data that can assure us and show us that they cannot co-exist.…

17 Oct

Keetmanshoop CEO faces new scandal

ObserverObserver MoneyDesmond Basson, Keetmanshoop Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Keetmanshoop Municipality

Andrew Kathindi Keetmanshoop Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Desmond Basson once again stands accused of wrongdoing. Allegedly, he entered into an agreement with a property developer without council approval, a decision which may have implications of over N$2 million. According to information made available to the Windhoek Observer, Basson is accused of signing a cession refund agreement with Duma Tau Property Developers without the authority of the town’s council as per set down procedures. Documents in possession of Windhoek Observer, shows that an agreement was signed between the Keetmashoop CEO and Duma Tau Property Developers to refund the developers N$2,149,131, “in…

16 Oct

PDM announces Windhoek candidates

ObserverObserver MoneyPDM, PDM Secretary General Manuel Ngaringombe, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Helena Johannes The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has announced a list of 16 Windhoek candidates who will officially stand for the upcoming Regional and Local Authority elections slated for 25 November. The party SG announced that the party had selected sixteen contestants to run for the upcoming election in Windhoek and among the selected candidates, will be 21-year-old Roberto Dirkse, who is a Political Science student and youth activist at the University of Namibia, who will contest the Regional Council elections in Windhoek Rural. “We are indeed pleased to inform the nation that after completing this process, the movement has…