Observer Money

Farmers get 12 month holiday
20 May

Farmers get 12 month holiday

ObserverObserver Money,
Staff Writer Agribank has announced that it will offer farmers a 12 month installment holiday as part of the bank’s measures to cushion them against the negative impact of COVID-19. “Qualifying clients of Agribank are not mandated to pay the installment for a period of 12 months from the effective date of the Bank’s COVID-19 Relief and Stimulus package. The installment and the interest applicable to that installment will be capitalized,” Agribank CEO Sakaria Nghikembua said. “Existing arrears will not be capitalized; penalty interest of 1.5 percent will apply on arrears for relief period (down from 2 percent) and installments…
Read More
Niikondo appointed NUST acting VC
19 May

Niikondo appointed NUST acting VC

ObserverObserver Money, ,
Staff writer The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) Council has appointed Dr Andrew Niikondo as the university’s new Acting Vice-Chancellor, effective 19 May 2020. Niikondo’s appointment follows the expiry of the acting term of Morné Du Toit, who now reverts to his substantive position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Finance and Administration. Dr Niikondo is expected to serve for a period of six (6) months, or until the position is substantially filled, which ever date is earlier. “It is envisaged that the recruitment of the Vice-Chancellor will be concluded in the second half of the year. The Council is confident…
Read More
Trustco plans to retrench 300
19 May

Trustco plans to retrench 300

ObserverObserver Money, ,
Staff Writer Trust Holdings (Trustco), a company majority owned by its billionaire Managing Director, Quinton van Rooyen is planning to retrench over 300 employees. Information gleaned by the Windhoek Observer shows the company has already started the process at its Morse Investment and Northern Namibia Development Company units , and has now also written to all its employees informing them of the management decision, which is being implemented as part of cost cutting measures. “Given the current circumstances, market conditions and probability that the global economy would deteriorate even further, the decision to retrench employees in several of the operating…
Read More
Full tuition fees unfair – NANSO
19 May

Full tuition fees unfair – NANSO

ObserverObserver Money, , ,
Andrew Kathindi The Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO) says students should not have to pay full tuition fees while not receiving full tuition services. NANSO Secretary-General, Patience Masua speaking to Windhoek Observer, said it doesn’t make sense for education institutions to charge full school fees in the midst of the world wide pandemic and national state of emergency, given that all students have been at home. “No institution can demand full costs if they don’t deliver services at full capacity. If you’re not paying for electricity, water, full salaries etc, there’s no way that you can demand full fees. Even…
Read More
Northern learners face e-learning exclusion
16 May

Northern learners face e-learning exclusion

ObserverObserver Money, , , , ,
Andrew Kathindi Over ‭240,000‬ learners in the Oshikoto, Oshana, Otjozondjupa and Ohangwena region will not be reached by e-learning as teachers scramble for alternative teaching methods, education ministry officials have noted.‬‬‬ The state of emergency that was put in place last month to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 has decimated the school calendar. It has ended face-to-face learning for learners and teachers until August. Since then, teachers have been mandated to reach students electronically through online and social media platforms like WhatsApp. Last week, education executive director, Sanet Steenkamp said after teachers returned to schools on 6 May, they would…
Read More
COVID-19 testing target only achievable in 5 years
16 May

COVID-19 testing target only achievable in 5 years

ObserverObserver Money, , ,
Andrew Kathindi It could take Namibia five years to reach the target of 200,000 tests for COVID-19 if the Ministry of Health’s target of 100 tests per day is the comparative standard. Deputy minister of health, Esther Muinjangue last week said the ministry is planning to execute 100 tests per day in an effort to reach the overall national target of 200,000 COVID-19 tests as announced by health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula in April. At that pace, it will take Namibia just over five years to reach this intended target. This comes as the ministry is still to consider mobile…
Read More
SSC payouts expected next week
14 May

SSC payouts expected next week

ObserverObserver Money, ,
Andrew Kathindi The Social Security Commission (SSC) expects to start making payouts of N$1,000 under its stimulus package to employees from sectors hard-hit by the impact of COVID-19 starting next week. The payouts which will total N$3,000 will be spread over a three month period to sectors such as construction, farming, transport, manufacturing, retail, domestic workers and entertainment among others. SSC Executive Officer, Milka Mungunda told the Windhoek Observer although the commission was still accepting applications from employers of employees affected, it was targeting a rollout date of next week. “We hope by next week because we are still busy…
Read More
Geingob cancels new state cars
14 May

Geingob cancels new state cars

ObserverObserver Money, ,
. . . as fuel usage is capped Staff Writer Members of the executive and public office bearers will not be receiving new cars for the next five years and their monthly fuel consumption will now be capped, on the orders of President Hage Geingob, the Presidency announced on Thursday. The decision according to the Presidency is expected to save government over N$200 million. “As part of deepening Effective Governance, the Government reform agenda and reducing expenditure, President Geingob has directed that the vehicle fleet of the Namibian Government will not be renewed for the period 2020-2025. No new vehicles…
Read More
PDM members back down from Parly challenge
14 May

PDM members back down from Parly challenge

ObserverObserver Money
….as two continue with court case Staff Writer It has emerged that the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has smoked the peace pipe with two of its disgruntled members who had contested the party’s decision to exclude them from its National Assembly list. Information gathered by the Windhoek Observer has revealed that Yvette Araes and Maximilliant Katjimune resolved to tow the party line with regards to its decision which saw 16 other members making it to parliament after a good performance by the opposition party in last year’s elections. The two are reported to have met the party leadership over their…
Read More
High Court postpones Namandje’s case
14 May

High Court postpones Namandje’s case

ObserverObserver Money
Andrew Kathindi Judge Herman Oosthuizen on Wednesday postponed the case brought by the Law Society of Namibia (LSN) where it wants access to Sisa Namandje’s firm’s books to Thursday. Namandje was represented by Advocate Raymond Heathcote while Uno Katjipuka-Sibolile represented the Law Society of Namibia. “I will definitely not give a ruling tomorrow. The legality of the issue will take time,” said Judge Oosthuizen. Uno Katjipuka-Sibolile argued that the Law Society must regulate lawyers in the public’s interest and that the only way that the Law Society could determine if Namandje's trust account could have been used to launder money…
Read More
Like Us
Follow Us
Subscribe Us
Follow Us
LinkedIn