Observer Money – Page 181

17 Mar

Call to track, measure women’s progress

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyBoemo Sekgoma, International Women’s Day, SADC Parliamentary Forum

Moses Magadza As the world marked International Women’s Day last week, the Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, Ms Boemo Sekgoma, called for an advanced framework for tracking and measuring key indicators to ensure progress of women in political participation. Sekgoma made the call when she delivered keynote remarks during a virtual international engagement meant to discuss ways of enhancing women’s political participation. She noted that although “women's political participation is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality, democracy and for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” more remains to be done to ensure their meaningful political…

17 Mar

LPM’s Mariental appointments illegal – Lawyer

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyLandless People’s Movement (LPM), Richard Metcalfe

Maria Hamutenya Legal representative of recalled Landless Peoples Movement (LPM)’s councillors, Richard Metcalfe, says the appointment of new Mariental councillors is illegal. Thus he will proceed to file for review from the High Court next week Monday.Metcalfe maintained the two LPM members had been denied a proper disciplinary hearing by the party before it recalled them from their position on the Mariental town council. “It is time that politicians start to remember that Namibia is a democracy with a Constitution as its Supreme law.” “They can't continue to run the country like the colonials did. We sink lower by the…

17 Mar

No Sinopharm vaccine for Shangula, top govt officials

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMinister of Health and Social Services, Sinopharm

Andrew Kathindi, Kandjemuni Kamuiiri, Rose-Mary Haufiku It has emerged that most high-ranking government officials, including Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHss), Kalumbi Shangula, will not receive the Sinopharm vaccine, because of its age restrictions. The vaccine, the first vaccine against COVID-19 to come into Namibia since the pandemic broke out in March 2020, is only recommended for use on people between the ages of 18 to 59 years. “If I fall in the eligible criteria I will take it. I am waiting for another one because this vaccine is only for people between 18 and 59 and I don’t…

16 Mar

CRAN powerless against Facebook’s data snooping

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCommunications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), WhatsApp

Andrew Kathindi The Namibian government is unable to stop Facebook from sharing the data it collects from Namibian WhatsApp users due to the lack of a data protection law. According to the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), the Authority does not regulate over-the-top services that are delivered over the Internet, including WhatsApp and similar applications as Namibia also does not have a data protection law, in terms of which information on social media may be managed. As a result, Facebook, will be able to share the information it collects from WhatsApp users, including contact numbers and location when a…

16 Mar

Venaani to cost tax payers more

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMcHenry Venaani, National Assembly, Political commentator Henning Melber, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader

Andrew Kathindi and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Taxpayers are set to start incurring additional costs for the upkeep of Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani, after he accepted President Hage Geingob’s offer for further benefits. Venaani's additional perks will include a state office at the premises of the National Assembly, a personal administrative assistant of his choice, a motor vehicle, a security aid and a driver. Political commentator Henning Melber said the official opposition leader’s acceptance of the perks was a classical case of hypocrisy and double standards, arguing the move could have an impact on voters’ perception of him in…

12 Mar

Bank Windhoek fires manager for racist remarks

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyBank Windhoek, Capricorn Group, Riaan Van Rooyen

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Bank Windhoek has dismissed its suspended Sales Manager, Riaan Van Rooyen, for sharing a racially offensive post on his social media last year, which equated black people to monkeys. Van Rooyen had been suspended by the bank, pending an investigation into his conduct. “We wish to confirm that the individual in question has been dismissed. Bank Windhoek and Capricorn Group would like to reiterate its policy of zero tolerance towards any form of behaviour that does not conform to internal policies, and does not speak to our values that underpin ethical business conduct from any employee at any…

12 Mar

Recalled councillors snub LPM meeting

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyDaniel Gariseb, Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Rogetta Haak

Maria Hamutenya Former Mariental town councillors, Daniel Gariseb and Rogetta Haak, have snubbed a request from the Landless People's Movement (LPM) to meet and discuss, demanding only the withdrawal of the party decision. The two were recalled by the opposition party from the Mariental town council for allegedly colluding with the ruling Swapo party. The LPM, through their lawyers, Dr Weder, Kauta & Hoveka Inc, wrote to the former councillor’s lawyer, Richard Metcalfe, requesting their availability and willingness to meet on Wednesday. In response, the request was turned down by the recalled councillors, stating in their letter that they will…

12 Mar

Air Namibia workers to get lump sum payment

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Finance minister, Iipumpu Shiimi

Andrew Kathindi Air Namibia employees are set to receive a lump sum payment for their promised one year salary which government had committed to pay after the airline was placed under liquidation, Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, has confirmed. Air Namibia employees were informed by Bruni & Mclaren, the appointed liquidators of Air Namibia, that their last salaries will be paid at the end of March, and that any other amounts which they feel they may be entitled to should be submitted as claims to the liquidators. “The Air Namibia employees will receive their full severance packages from the liquidators.…

11 Mar

Government to push ahead with AstraZeneca …despite confirming presence of resistant variant

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAstraZeneca, COVAX, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Andrew Kathindi and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) is forging ahead with the procurement of AstraZeneca through the COVAX Facility, despite confirming that the South African variant of COVID-19 known as 501.V2, is in Namibia. Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula confirmed to Windhoek Observer that the Namibia will still receive AstraZeneca through the COVAX Facility, but, however downplayed its ineffectiveness against the variant. On why Namibia is going ahead with procuring a vaccine that studies deemed ineffective, Shangula said, “No, no, don't say so. You have no evidence or grounds to say it is useless. Those…

11 Mar

Defence Ministry dragged to court over N$8m sanitisers

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyJob Amupanda, Ministry of Defence, Phoenix Capital Investment, Windhoek Mayor

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Amid swelling allegations by Windhoek Mayor, Job Amupanda, of irregular procurement at Ministry of Defence, it has emerged Phoenix Capital Investment, the company at the centre of the sanitiser supply tender, has dragged the Ministry to court over non-payment for sanitisers delivered more than five months ago. According to Phoenix Capital Investment Director, William Angula, the company which has enlisted Sisa Namandje as its lawyer, is seeking to recover N$ N$8 311 625 owed for the sanitisers delivered. “We have written them a letter of demand through our lawyer, Sisa Namandje, about two weeks ago, informing them of…