Observer Money

SWAPO mum on youth election participation

SWAPO mum on youth election participation

Helena Johannes The ruling Swapo party remains mum on its position regarding youth participation for the upcoming regional council and local authority elections slated for the 25th of November 2020. This comes as the ruling party has been heavily criticized over its policy of fielding older candidates in previous elections at the expense of the youth. Currently the party has been attacked over its decision to field 62 year old Aram Martin, a former Councilor and Member of Parliament as its preferred candidate to run as councilor of Oshakati West in the Oshana region. The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job…
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Air Namibia employees call for Mberirua’s axing

Air Namibia employees call for Mberirua’s axing

Andrew Kathindi and Helena Johannes Air Namibia employees are calling for the immediate removal of interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Theo Mberirua after their salaries were officially cut last week. This comes after the national airliner previously announced that it will cut, by 50 percent, salaries of all employees who have been unable to report for work due to a grounded fleet, incompliance with state of emergency regulations. Despite Air Namibia’s flight schedule resumption after the state of emergency lapsed, Ndapewa Amupanda, Chairperson of the Shop Stewards’ Committee at Air Namibia confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that a company memo…
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FirstRand Namibia HOPE Fund hands over 25 ICU patient monitors

FirstRand Namibia HOPE Fund hands over 25 ICU patient monitors

Staff Writer The First Rand Namibia HOPE fund handed over 25 ICU patient monitors worth N$2.4 million to the Ministry of Health and Social Services last week as part of efforts to assist medical staff to respond better and quicker to the medical needs and treatment of their patients. Minister of Health and Social Services Kalumbi Shangula expressed his sincere appreciation towards FNB who made the generous contribution through the FirstRand H.O.P.E. fund. “I appreciate FNB’s commitment to meet government halfway to ensure the speedy recovery of COVID-19 patients.” Bronwen Chase, FirstRand H.O.P.E. Fund Team Leader said that the Group…
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DRC, Malawi to chair regional Model Laws Committee

DRC, Malawi to chair regional Model Laws Committee

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA – The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Malawi were last week elected chair and vice chair, respectively, of the recently-constituted Regional Parliamentary Model Laws Oversight Committee (RPMLOC) of the SADC Parliamentary Forum. This happened as the regional inter-parliamentary body acted towards ensuring that the region’s citizens benefit meaningfully from development of regional soft laws, which are arguably immensely persuasive. Model laws are typically developed in line with international human rights law and international best practice. The RPMLOC held its virtual meeting on Friday and unanimously elected DRC lawmaker Andre Leon Tumba as its chair for…
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PSEMAS audit still on-going

PSEMAS audit still on-going

Staff Writer The Ministry of Finance says the audit process of the Public Service Employee Medical Aid Scheme (PSEMAS) launched last year is still on-going, with 75 percent of the main members and 95 percent of dependents having been verified as part of measures to reduce fraud and abuse of the government employee’s medical fund. The member audit comes as media reports attributed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) revealed the medical aid fund has been losing close to a billion dollars annually to fraud, abuse, waste and collusion. “During the first phase of the verification 95 percent of dependents…
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ACC chief investigator loses Prime Minister appeal

ACC chief investigator loses Prime Minister appeal

Staff Writer The High Court, on Monday 28 September, dismissed a case by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)’s Chief of Investigation Phelem Masule who had sought to overturn Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila’s decision to remove him from his position. The Prime Minister, earlier last month, removed Masule from his role as the Chief of Investigation a mere week after he received the promotion, citing “irregularities” in his appointment. Masule, who replaced Nelius Becker who is now with the Namibian Police, last month approached the High Court to hear his case against the Prime Minister. When contacted for comment, ACC boss Paulus…
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Traditional authorities vow to take case to US Supreme Court

Traditional authorities vow to take case to US Supreme Court

Andrew Kathindi Genocide descendants have vowed to continue the fight “in and out of court” after the US Court of Appeals, last week, dismissed their case brought after they unsuccessfully sued the German government for reparations for the atrocities committed from 1904-1908 in US Federal Court. Paramount Chief Advocate of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority, Vekuii Rukoro and Gaob Johannes Isaack of the Nama Traditional Leaders Association, have instructed their lawyers in New York to file a Petition for Rehearing and for "En Banc" Proceedings, following a USA Court of Appeals’ decision, which they say had “fundamental legal error at its…
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GIPF appoints UK consultants…as RisCura loses contract

GIPF appoints UK consultants…as RisCura loses contract

Staff Writer The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has announced the appointment of two new United Kingdom based investment consultants. According the fund, Lane Clark & Peacock LLP will consult on investments, while BFinance UK Limited, will consult on the selection/search of asset managers. “Lane Clark & Peacock LLP will consult on investments, while BFinance UK Limited, will consult on the selection/search of Asset Managers. Both entities are domiciled in the United Kingdom and both bring a wealth of financial and investment expertise to the Fund. The selection process, which was advertised late last year, was guided by, and in…
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ECN won’t investigate illegal voter registration

ECN won’t investigate illegal voter registration

Andrew Kathindi The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has ruled out investigating allegations that Angolan nationals are being illegally registered as voters, a move which opposition political parties have said will impact on the credibility and outcome of elections. The decision by the ECN flies in the face of a confirmation by Swapo Omusati regional coordinator Sackey Kayone that he had received a report detailing how Angolan nationals are being registered in his area. According to Kayone, the report from the Okalongo councilor has fingered church leaders and ECN officials for assisting Angolan nationals to get voting cards. When quizzed…
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State assets valued at N$11.9 billion…as Shiimi admits non-compliance

State assets valued at N$11.9 billion…as Shiimi admits non-compliance

Andrew Kathindi The Namibian government has assets worth N$11.9 billion as of 16 September, Finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi has revealed. Of this, the state has movable assets amounting to N$3.9 billion, which include stock, equipment, furniture and vehicles while immovable assets, including land, plants (factories) and buildings stand at N$7.9 billion. The combined total value of movable and immovable assets is N$11.9 billion. The government’s value of immovable asset consists of 692 farming units and 744 housing units. “With regards to resettlement farms, to date Government has spent about N$2.3 billion to acquire about 558 farming units measuring about 3,376,965…
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