Observer Money – Page 179 – Windhoek Observer

28 Oct

Exam hopefuls in the cold …as Ministry rules out deadline extension

ObserverObserver MoneyAnna Nghipondoka, Education Minister

Andrew Kathindi A number of learners and exam hopefuls that missed the application deadline could be left out in the cold this year after the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has ruled out further extensions for registration for grades 11 and 12 exams. Education Minister, Anna Nghipondoka declared that those who did not manage to register for exams this year will have to register in 2021. “Some candidates forgot or neglected to register for exams and want to register now (mostly part-time). Unfortunately, we need to advise these candidates to consider registration in 2021 as an alternative avenue to…

28 Oct

Iitula dares PDM in clash of colours…as ECN distances self from fight

ObserverObserver MoneyIndependent Patriot for Change (IPC), Panduleni Iitula, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Helena Johannes Independent Patriot for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Iitula has dared the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) to lay charges of colour plagiarism with the Namibia Police. “Stealing is a criminal offence. My advice, to your Inquirer's conscience, as I would advise any other citizen or legal entity, is that they should approach the Namibian police immediately and lay charges against the culprit with concrete objective evidence for a remedy,” Iitula said. The IPC leader said stealing or theft is defined roughly as acquisition of a property belonging to another without the permission of another with the intention to permanently…

27 Oct

Khomas leads in TB cases

ObserverObserver MoneyKhomas Region, Namibia, Tuberculosis (TB)

Helena Johannes Khomas region has the highest number of Tuberculosis (TB) cases in Namibia, the Acting Regional Health Director of Khomas Region Patema Amunyela has revealed. “Windhoek being the most populated town in Namibia. It is where most cases of Tuberculosis have been recorded. However the country has shown a high decline in TB cases,” she said. Dr Nunurai Ruswa, a Clinical Mentor of the TB and Leprosy Program in the Ministry of Health said, “We have successfully contained TB by 60 percent so far, and this shows that we are doing very well compared to our neighboring countries.” According…

27 Oct

Thousands retrenched since April…Ministry of Labour warns against illegal retrenchments

ObserverObserver MoneyHenri Kassen, Labour Commissioner at the Ministry

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Labour has revealed that 9,000 people have been retrenched since April this year, which is more than double the figure for the whole of last year. Labour Commissioner at the Ministry, Henri Kassen told Windhoek Observer that from April to June there were 5,379 notices of retrenchment to the Ministry from 287 companies and almost all of them stemming from the state of emergency that was imposed to check the spread of COVID-19. There were 3,484 retrenchments in the three months after that, from July to September from 320 companies. Kassen said that he has…

23 Oct

GBV protestors to review govt pronouncement …still demand a state of emergency

ObserverObserver MoneyCabinet, Gender Based Violence (GBV)

Andrew Kathindi Gender Based Violence (GBV) protestors said that they are still demanding that a state of emergency be declared over GBV in the country, but will study what the “threat to humanity” government pronouncement entails. This comes as the Cabinet on 23 October, approved that government pronounces GBV as a threat to humanity and that Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa should issue a Parliamentary Statement to that effect. This declaration would be instead of the proposed declaration of the State of Emergency. As part of the list of demands in a protest petition to government earlier this month, which included…

23 Oct

Grade 9 national examination cancelled

ObserverObserver MoneyExecutive Director in the ministry of Education Art and Culture Sanet Steenkamp, National Examinations Assessment and Certification Board (NEACB)

Helena Johannes Executive Director in the ministry of Education Art and Culture Sanet Steenkamp has confirmed that the Grade 9 external examination will not be administered in this academic year. “The Ministry recommended the rationalization of the curriculum to 70 percent of the original school syllabus content for Pre-primary and Grade 1-9. Due to this adjustment, the Grade 9 semi-external examination will not be administered in this academic year,” she said. This comes after the new school curriculum for junior and senior secondary schools introduced in 2019 had pupils who passed Grade 8 in 2018 enter Grade 9 in 2019,…

23 Oct

Govt lacks will for rent controls – Job

ObserverObserver MoneyAffirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) leader Job Amupanda, Government

Clifton Movirongo Affirmative Repositioning Movement (AR) leader Job Amupanda, who advocates for the establishment of rent control in the country amid concerns about high home rental costs, says government has no plans to implement the proposal, five years after officials agreed to it. Amupanda told the Windhoek Observer that he is still pushing for the implementation of a viable Rent Control Board with the authority to reduce rental rates. The youthful leader complained that no action has yet been taken by government. “Of course, they never wanted to implement rent control regulations in the first place and that is not…

23 Oct

Kahimise open to staying at CoW …as his departure day looms

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek (CoW), Robert Kahimise, Windhoek Mayor Fransina Kahungu

Andrew Kathindi The outgoing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the City of Windhoek (CoW), Robert Kahimise says he may consider staying on as head of the municipality should council engage him, subject to certain conditions. This follows media reports that stated that the Swapo Khomas regional executive committee was trying to get CoW councilors to convince Kahimise to stay on. Quizzed on whether he would consider the opportunity to stay on should he be approached by Windhoek municipality councilors, the CEO left the door open. “That depends. I’ve handed in my notice, I’m serving my notice up to end of…

22 Oct

BoN maintains Repo rate unchanged

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN), BoN Governor Johannes !Gawaxab, Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Private Sector Credit Extension (PSCE)

Staff Writer The Bank of Namibia (BoN) on Wednesday announced that its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) had resolved to keep the Repo rate unchanged at 3.75 percent. “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,” BoN Governor Johannes !Gawaxab said. He said domestic economic activity had slowed during the first eight months of 2020, compared to the same period of 2019. The bank forecasts the domestic economy to contract by 7.8 percent in…

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…