Observer Money – Page 200 – Windhoek Observer

07 Jul

Fishcor board appointed

ObserverObserver MoneyLeon Jooste, Minister of Public Enterprises

Staff Writer Minister of Public Enterprises, Leon Jooste, has announced the appointment of a temporary Fishcor board, two months after the previous board term expired. The Fishcor board, which will serve for six months until January 2021, will be chaired by former Executive Director at the African Development Bank Group, and Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia board chairperson, Heinrich Mihe Gaomab II. Other board members include Kalahari Holdings Director and Social Security Commission's Executive Officer, Milka Mungunda. Former Magistrate, Ruth Herunga, and University of Namibia Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Head, Dr. Penny Hiwilepo van Hal, are two members…

07 Jul

Embassy “hijacks” Cuba students’ plane

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Andrew Kathindi Namibian medical students in Cuba are accusing the Namibian Embassy in that country of “hijacking” a plane meant to deliver parcels to the students for its own benefits. This comes after a South African Airways plane on Friday 3 July left from Johannesburg to Havana following the request of Namibian students in Cuba for parcels from their relatives in an a believed difficult situation in Cuba. The items were, however, returned to the Ministry of Health and Social Services’ (MoHSS) storage facility “due to limited space”. A Namibian student in Cuba told the Windhoek Observer that, “Students here…

03 Jul

Namibia hit by service station oversupply

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Mines and Energy

Staff Writer The Ministry of Mines and Energy has temporarily suspended the issuing of fuel retail site and wholesale licenses citing an oversupply of service stations in the country. According to the ministry, the six month moratorium has been placed on new applications as it reviews existing procedures and requirements. “There has been a proliferation of licenses, especially retail, being issued without proper economic viability being carried out. We thus need time to institute more effective licensing procedures,” Mines minister Tom Alweendo told the Windhoek Observer. Namibian Oil Industry Association Secretariat Chief Executive Officer, Harald Schmidt said the ministry’s decision…

03 Jul

Khomas faces local transmissions risk

ObserverObserver MoneyHealth Ministry, Khomas

…as region records two cases Andrew Kathindi There is a growing concern in the Ministry of Health and Social Services that those travelers who leave the Erongo region untested could pose a risk of virus transmission for the Khomas region. Acting Director of Khomas Region in the Health Ministry, Patemoshela Hamunyela, told the Windhoek Observer that she was worried about people leaving Erongo region without being tested. They could infect people in other regions. “We are very worried that there is quite a number of travelers that are coming out of Erongo region. We don't know whether they are given…

03 Jul

Govt rules out Air Namibia plan

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Finance

Staff Writer The Ministry of Finance has ruled out availing funds for Air Namibia’s touted new business plan, saying it’s not viable and not sustainable. This comes as the business plan will require N$7 billion to be implemented, including management of the national carrier’s existing N$5 billion debt. “This means for the new business plan to be implemented taking the outstanding debt into account, an amount of N$7 billion will have to be spent in the current financial year, which makes it unaffordable as resources are needed for other priorities such as health, education, housing and sanitation,” the Ministry of…

03 Jul

Schools to reopen Monday

ObserverObserver MoneyErongo, Ministry of Education, Swakop, Walvis Bay

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Education has reiterated its decision to re-open schools on Monday 6 July, following a 2-week delay in its initial phase in plan after a learner in Mariental tested positive for COVID-19 last month. The basic education minister, Anna Nghipondoka told Parliament on Thursday that aside from one region, schools countrywide were ready to resume face-to-face teaching on Monday. “The main concern we have is grade 11 and 12, especially in Erongo because now we are only having 6 schools, 4 in Erongo and 2 in Omusati that cannot open. In Erongo, Swakop and Walvis are…

03 Jul

Nujoma caught in crossfire – KK

ObserverObserver MoneyDoreen Sioka, Kazenambo Kazenambo, Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Nahas Angula, Sam Nujoma, SWAPO

Staff Writer Former Youth minister, Kazenambo Kazenambo says the public anger directed at Landless People's Movement (LPM) leader, Bernadus Swartbooi is misdirected, as he is not causing division but his actions are simply a symptom of the greater disunity in the country. This comes after Swartbooi was heavily criticized by former Prime Minister Nahas Angula, who accused the firebrand leader LPM leader of dividing the nation. This berating follows the LPM MP’s his incendiary comments about Founding President Sam Nujoma. In response to arguments made by Swapo MP, Doreen Sioka, he disparaged the Founding President’s book and called the author…

01 Jul

UN advisor forecast 14,000 cases for Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyAlladji Osseni, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula, UNAIDS Senior Strategic Information Adviser

...as 80 cases are recorded in one day Andrew Kathindi A United Nations official has warned that rising Covid-19 cases could reach 700 for the Erongo region alone and 14,000 countrywide if things continue as they are. This comes as Namibia recorded its highest number of positive COVID-19 cases in a single day with 80 new cases announced on Wednesday by Health minister Kalumbi Shangula. Currently, Walvis Bay has seen the highest number of cases, however, in recent days; cases have begun to pop up in Oshana, Zambezi, Hardap and //Karas, some without an identified contact case. “Data shows with…

01 Jul

Govt strikes deal with NovaNam

ObserverObserver MoneyAlbert Kawana, Fisheries Minister

Staff Writer Government on Tuesday evening struck a deal with NovaNam Fishing Company, where it agreed to allocate additional quota to the Luderitz based company, allowing 1,800 of its permanent workers who had been sent on forced leave to return to work. Fisheries minister, Albert Kawana confirmed the development but was tightlipped on the details of the agreement. “We have allocated them an additional quota and the workers should be able to return to work,” he told the Windhoek Observer. NovaNam Managing Director, Edwin Kamatoto could not be reached by the newspaper for comment and calls made to his mobile…

01 Jul

MTC unveils N$101,7m sponsorships

ObserverObserver MoneyMTC, MTC Windhoek Fashion Week, Netball

Staff Writer MTC on Tuesday unveiled sponsorships totalling N$101,700,000 to 14 different beneficiaries, across 7 different sports codes which includes Soccer, Horse Racing, Boxing, Rugby, Hockey, Netball and the Youth Games over a 3 year period. In boxing, MTC chose to maintain its relationship with the MTC Nestor Sunshine and Salute Boxing Academies by giving them an N$1 million dollar per annum, an increase from N$1,750,000 to N$2,750,000. MTC Kilimanjaro Boxing received an increase of N$100,000 per annum from N$400,000 to N$500,000. In football, MTC will continue its relationship with the annual Dr Hage Geingob Cup, giving the event an…