Observer Money – Page 177

10 Mar

Three years later Mental Health Bill still not finalised

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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…

05 Mar

Taxis want fare hike

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNamibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU)

Maria Hamutenya Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) says it has resolved to hike taxi fares to no more than N$ 13.50, subject to approval by the Ministry of Works and Transport. According to the NTTU request sent to the Transport ministry, the taxi operators are seeking to effect the hike as from the 15th of March. “This taxi fare increment is in line with the law, section 12 of the Road Transportation Act, Act 74 of 1977, states that when there is any fuel increment, we are allowed to give notice for taxi fare increment,” NTTU leader, Werner Januarie,…

05 Mar

Fishcor accounts unfrozen

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyFishcor, National Fishing Corporation of Namibia

Andrew Kathindi Fishcor’s bank accounts have been unfrozen by the Bank of Namibia (BON), temporary Board chairperson Heinrich Mihe Gaomab II has revealed. “The Board informs the public on the positive developments of the unfreezing of the account of Fishcor to attend to its urgent and pressing financial and operational matters,” stated Gaomab II. The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) through BoN had frozen the corruption tainted state-owned enterprise’s accounts for breaking banking exchange regulations, according to reports. An investigation was launched in this matter. “Fishcor express it’s full confidence to the integrity of the investigations and express its continued cooperation…

05 Mar

N$6 million CoW vehicles attached

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyBro-Mathew Shingwandja, Labour Executive Director

Andrew Kathindi and Maria Hamutenya The City of Windhoek (CoW) vehicles valued at more than N$6 million face the possibility of being auctioned off, after the Deputy Sheriff’s office attached the property in a labour dispute. According to a source at the labour court, the attached items include vehicles, buses and firefighting trucks. The dispute arose in 2019 when Superintendents, Peter Tuna Kandjumbwa, Kakonda Ghd, Tjivekumba Kandji, Jacqueline Amutenya, Maria Muyoba, Willem Karuuombe, Charl Morkel, Eliaser Liyambo, Pieter Boois, Oscar Simataa, Drusella Awases, Hilma Mpuka, Harold Winkler, Belinda Naomi Griqua and Reiter Nambinga took the City to the Labour Court…