Observer Money – Page 197

14 Aug

NUST still hunting for VC

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNamibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Vice-Chancellor

Andrew Kathindi The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) is yet to appoint a substantive Vice-Chancellor over a year after long-serving Vice-Chancellor, Tjama Tjivikua stepped down. The University Council, which is chaired by Florette Nakusera and appointed by Higher Education Minister Itah Kandji-Murangi in November last year to serve until 2022, is yet to find a suitable candidate. In May this year, Dr Andrew Niikondo was appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a period of six months or until a substantial Vice Chancellor is appointed by council. He replaced Morné du Toit, after his term lapsed. Du Toit serves on…

14 Aug

Travel ban hits Air Namibia

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Covid-19

Andrew Kathindi The grounding of Air Namibia flights amid the recently imposed national travel ban is set to hit the national carrier’s falling revenues, thus impact its turnaround strategy. Domestic travel was reintroduced in the country on 4 May following the initial State of Emergency proclamation by President Hage Geingob. Earlier this week however, following fears of rising cases of COVID-19, the President declared domestic travel restrictions. “As Air Namibia is involved in the business of transporting passengers and cargo, the temporary suspension of all domestic flights has a detrimental effect on the airline’s already difficult cash flow position, considering…

14 Aug

Law Society loses Sisa Namandje case

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyJudge Herman Oosthuizen, Law Society of Namibia’s (LSN), Sisa Namandje

Andrew Kathindi Judge Herman Oosthuizen on Friday dismissed the Law Society of Namibia’s (LSN) application to probe the financial records of lawyer Sisa Namandje’s law firm as part of its investigation into his connections to the Fishrot saga. Judge Oosthuizen, however, found that the application was not properly and lawfully authorized. In his judgment delivered via Zoom, Judge Oosthuizen ordered the LSN to pay the costs, which include the costs of one instructing and two instructed counsel. “I am seriously concerned by the modus operandi followed by the LSN as the regulating body of all enrolled legal practitioners in Namibia…

14 Aug

NAMDIA joins MTC in the fight against homelessness

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Knockout Project 2020, MTC, NAMDIA

Staff Writer NAMDIA, through The NAMDIA Foundation has pledged to stand together with the nation in the fight against COVID 19. As part of the company’s continuing commitment and efforts, it partnered up with MTC in the Knockout Project 2020. The project’s goal is to raise N$ 1.5 million aimed at addressing and tackling one of our country’s growing social ills, homelessness. “The outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic has exposed the weaknesses and imbalances of our society, with the vulnerable being most at risk and most adversely effected.We are thrilled to be endorsing one of Namibia’s most prominent media…

14 Aug

CoW executive suspended

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyChinese, City of Windhoek, Huawei, Reckliff Kandjiriomuini

Staff Writer City of Windhoek Executive in charge of Information & Communication Technology, Reckliff Kandjiriomuini has been placed on suspension by the municipality following allegations of corruption leveled against him. Kandjiriomuini according to media reports, is alleged to have offered Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) Secretary general and City of Windhoek councilor, Brunhilde Cornelius a N$5-6 million bribe through a fellow party member, Nicanor Ndjoze for her to stop opposing the city’s plan to sign an MoU with Chinese tech giant Huawei to implement its 5G network. City of Windhoek Chief Executive Officer, Robert Kahimise confirmed the suspension. “He…

14 Aug

Pick n Pay retrenches 229 employees

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyPick n Pay Namibia

Staff Writer Pick n Pay Namibia; a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group has announced that it retrenched 229 employees on Wednesday, 12 August 2020. The retailer said it resolved to the action after reaching a deadlock with the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau) regarding the planned retrenchments. “On 03 August 2020, we started conciliation proceedings with the Union at the Office of the Labour Commissioner before the Conciliator, following the referral of a dispute which was lodged by the Union at the Office of the Labour Commissioner on 10 July 2020. The dispute was not…

14 Aug

Taxis reject curfew

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyArandis, curfew, Okahandja, Rehoboth, Taxis, Windhoek

Andrew Kathindi Taxis drivers have stated they will not comply with the curfew regulations if government moves ahead to include them, as Windhoek and 5 towns begin lockdown curfew. This comes after government on Wednesday hinted at extending the curfew laws to taxi drivers as it might encourage people to move around, beyond the permissible hours. Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) leader Werner Januarie told Windhoek Observer that government has not yet consulted them on this matter and he would not agree to a curfew on taxi drivers from 8pm. He further said that taxi drivers would not survive…

14 Aug

Swartbooi calls for parallel genocide negotiations

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyBernard Swartbooi, Landless People Movement (LPM)

Andrew Kathindi Landless People Movement (LPM) leader Bernard Swartbooi has urged communities affected by the 1904-1908 Nama and Ovaherero genocide committed by Germans to form their own technical negotiating team, independent of the Namibian government. This comes after government earlier this week announced that while the €10 million offer made by Germany’s negotiating team was not enough, the reparation funds will eventually be used for costed projects from seven identified regions in the country. The regions are //Kharas, Hardap, Khomas, Kunene, Omaheke, Otjozondjupa and Erongo. “The affected communities must now wake up and stop just demanding to want to be…

13 Aug

Debmarine and Unam launch Covid-19 testing lab

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Debmarine, Government, UNAM

Staff Writer In the wake of increasing transmission of COVID-19 across Namibia, Debmarine Namibia and the University of Namibia have teamed up and established a laboratory that is licensed to conduct COVID-19 tests as from 3 August 2020. Debmarine Namibia acquired a COVID-19 PCR testing laboratory and signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the University of Namibia (UNAM), School of Medicine to conduct tests. “The sponsorship will support Government efforts in the national fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, this sponsorship supports the Company’s internal focus on protecting and testing its employees as well.” ”UNAM’s rich profile of science…

13 Aug

Prime Minister, Deputy PM in Corona scare

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Deputy Prime minister, George Simataa, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Secretary to Cabinet

Staff Writer Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula has revealed that Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Deputy Prime minister and Minister of International Relations, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah are currently self-isolating at their homes as part of COVID-19 precautionary measures. According the Health minister, the Prime Minister took the measures after coming into contact with a positive case, while Nandi-Ndaitwah self-isolated after a staff member at her ministry tested positive for COVID-19. “The Deputy Prime minister is also at home isolating. She did not test positive, but it’s because of the case of one of the staff members. The Prime Minister is also isolating…