Observer Money – Page 193 – Windhoek Observer

07 May

Ministry cuts funding to private schools

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Education, private schools, Sanet Steenkamp

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Education has discontinued funding private schools after discovering it was not uniformly done. Education ministry executive director Sanet Steenkamp said the ministry put a stop to funding after discovering that certain conditions for funding, such as providing scholarships for 10 percent of its enrollment to vulnerable children, was not being met. Some private schools were also heavily reliant on the subsidy and could not prove that they were self-reliant. N$87 million per annum was dispersed to private schools in the past. Steenkamp said that while the economic downturn of the last three years has also…

07 May

Nampol welcomes alcohol ban

ObserverObserver Moneyalcohol, Deputy-Commissioner, Kauna Shikwambi, NAMPOL, NAMPOL Spokesperson

Staff Writer The Namibian Police Force (NAMPOL) has welcomed the newly amended government regulations which have imposed a total ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages during the on-going lockdown, reversing earlier regulations which had allowed alcohol with a content below 3 percent to be sold. Under the new gazetted regulations, liquor is now defined as any spirits, wine, beer, cider or other beverage containing alcohol intended for human consumption, excluding alcohol intended to be used for medicinal purposes. “The amended regulations make it easier for us to enforce the lockdown and we are glad the leaders heeded to our…

07 May

We were ill-prepared – Steenkamp

ObserverObserver MoneyArts and Culture Executive Director, Covid-19, Ministry of Education, Sanet Steenkamp

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Education has admitted that it was ill prepared to implement the online education demands brought about by the coronavirus outbreak. This comes as student learning was brought to a grinding halt countrywide due to the government’s decision to close schools to combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The ministry has been battling to restart classes through e-learning. “I must admit, we were so caught on addressing text book needs, but COVID-19 gave us the opportunity to modernize and to find alternative teaching and learning modalities. We are entering into deep discussions with the Commonwealth…

06 May

Tourism sector forecasts N$20 billion loss

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment, tourism

. . . as government continues to delay N$400m subsidy Andrew Kathindi Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta has said that the tourism sector could lose at least N$20 billion in anticipated revenues and fixed assets by the end of 2020 due to the global lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Namibia has received no inbound tourists since international borders of all countries were virtually closed to combat the spread of COVID-19. The Minister has told the Windhoek Observer that he believes that it is most likely that the tourism sector in Namibia will pick up only after…

06 May

Conservation sustainability gets N$16 million boost

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19

Andrew Kathindi A total of N$16 million has been raised for the Conservation Relief, Recovery and Resilient Facility which aims to address the long-term impacts associated with COVID-19 on the sustainability of the Community Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) Program in Namibia. Of this amount, the Namibia Association for CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) will receive N$7.5 million. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) pledged an amount of N$1.5 million, while Nedbank Namibia has pledged an amount of N$1 million to the project. This amount is about a quarter of the conservancy income from tourism operations…

04 May

Informal sector sidelined

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, lockdown, Namibia Informal Sector Organisation

Andrew Kathindi Informal sector traders have accused government and the City of Windhoek of sidelining them when it came to polices regarding their operations during and post-lockdown. According to Namibia Informal Sector Organisation’s Secretary General, Veripi Kandenge, the 7,000-member strong organization was never consulted by government and the city council regarding its members’ concerns and operating conditions. “We have not been consulted about the way forward regarding the opening of markets despite certain informal markets set to reopen by Monday,” he said, “We call on policy-makers to include the informal sector representatives when developing policies concerning them. Our sector provides…

04 May

Founding father donates to COVID-19

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Founding President Sam Nujoma

Staff Writer Founding President Sam Nujoma handed over a donation of basic necessities and food parcels valued at a total of N$40,500 to the Office of the Prime Minister to be used in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. “Indeed, following the declared state of emergency by the Head of State and the subsequent lockdown of the whole country on account of the COVID-19 pandemic and now the gradual ease on the lockdown, we are aware that our government has established a multi-sectoral national coordination mechanism. The government has asked all stakeholders such as private health sector, the business community…

04 May

Namibia eases lockdown measures

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, president Hage Geingob, State of Emergency

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob on Wednesday announced that the country will be easing its lock down measures on the 4th of May at midnight but the country’s State of Emergency declared on 17 March 2020 will remain place for six months. “The countrywide lockdown will lapse at midnight on Monday the 4th May 2020. Based on our experience, available data and gauging our level of national preparedness, there is merit to relax some of the restrictions,” he said. The President announced that the country in conformity with global guidelines on the national response to COVID-19. The country will follow…

04 May

Kahimise, Council showdown looms

ObserverObserver MoneyAbraham Kanime, City of Windhoek, City Police Chief, Robert Kahimise

Staff Writer A legal showdown is looming between the City of Windhoek and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Robert Kahimise as the latter has threatened to take legal action over Wednesday’s council decision to reappoint City Police Chief, Abraham Kanime to a three year contract without following set procedures. This comes as the council took the unprecedented decision to appoint an acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to preside over the Kahimise appointment, despite the substantive CEO being in office. This is a move which has caused even more fractions between the CEO and the 15-member council dominated by the ruling…

30 Apr

City Council receives legal opinion about Kanime

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek Council, City Police Chief Abraham Kanime

…extension of his expired contract could be illegal Andrew Kathindi The City of Windhoek Council's decision to reappoint City Police Chief Abraham Kanime is illegal. This is the non-binding legal opinion obtained from Kwala & Company, a legal firm hired to consult on the matter. According to legal documents seen by the Windhoek Observer, Kwala & Company warned the City council that the 'reappointment' of the long-serving police head would be unlawful. They claim it has legal ramifications if implemented, as the courts could overturn the appointment if challenged. “Council is under a constitutional and legal obligation to act under…