Observer Money – Page 201 – Windhoek Observer

01 Jul

Retrenchments could spell trouble for CoW

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Covid-19, Samuel Mutonga

Andrew Kathindi City of Windhoek (CoW) has warned that the city could be headed for trouble if retrenchments continue. The City’s Acting Strategic Executive for Finance and Customer Services, Samuel Mutonga said although CoW would be minimally affected by recent job loses as the majority of those losing jobs come from the informal settlements – a low contributor to the City’s revenues —but if the trend is extended to Windhoek’s middle and upper class, the development could spell trouble for the municipality. This comes after numerous companies around the country have been notifying their employees on their intentions to slash…

01 Jul

NovaNam sends 1,800 employees home

ObserverObserver MoneyLüderitz, NovaNam Fishing Company, Walvis Bay

Staff Writer NovaNam Fishing Company has sent home 1,800 permanent workers on forced leave attributing the move to government’s decision to halve its fishing quota. Although the Windhoek Observer could not confirm the fishing company’s previous allocation, sources said the company had notified workers on Monday that they should stop reporting for work until it concludes negotiations with government over the slashing of its allocation. “Nobody knows when we’re coming back; they said they need to talk to government. That is why when they told us to go home; they didn’t put up a due date when we can resume…

30 Jun

Old Mutual donates Covid19 equipment

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Old Mutual

Andrew Kathindi As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the country at an alarming rate, last week, Old Mutual handed over devices to the Ministry of Health and Social Services worth over N$900 000. In a bid to continue supporting the fight against COVID-19, Old Mutual donated 35 Dell laptops and 37 Samsung tablets procured at a total cost of N$ 998 030.46 to capacitate the Ministry’s surveillance system capability based on the identified and prioritised needs at national, regional and district level during and after COVID-19. “These laptops are each installed with Office Home software, Antivirus, a mouse and…

30 Jun

CNNC, workers clash at Rössing

ObserverObserver MoneyChina National Nuclear Corporation Rössing Uranium (CNNC), Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN), Rio Tinto

Staff Writer The Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN) has threatened to take legal action against China National Nuclear Corporation Rössing Uranium (CNNC), the owners of Rössing Uranium if it does not reverse or engage with the union on its decision to withdraw benefits previously afforded to the company employees over the past 32 years. CNNC through its subsidiary China National Uranium Corporation Limited acquired Rio Tinto's 69 percent majority stake in Rössing Uranium for about N$1,5 billion in July last year. In its letter, written by lawyers Metcalfe Beukes Attorneys on its behalf, the union accused the miner of…

30 Jun

First Lady weighs into abortion debate

ObserverObserver MoneyDaisry Mathias, Esther Muinjangue, First Lady, Monica Geingos

Andrew Kathindi First Lady, Monica Geingos has added her distinguished voice to the abortion debate as the topic prepares to re-enter Parliament on Thursday. Parliament is set to resume debate the contentious issue after the matter was tabled by Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Esther Muinjangue. Geingos, responding to a debate on social media said, “Sexual activity, whether by choice or coercion, without the use of effective contraceptives is the “root cause” of unintended pregnancy. The decision to remain pregnant, or not, is about reproductive autonomy. Saying that women seek abortion ‘for fun’ is gaslighting.” She said the…

26 Jun

Bag of Hope Initiative hands over donations

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, FirstRand Namibia, HOPE, RMB Namibia

Staff Writer RMB Namibia, through the HOPE initiative of FirstRand Namibia, recently handed over N$166 000 consisting of N$60 000 worth of maize, N$24 800 of pasta, N$26 400 of Weetbix, N$40 200 of cornflakes, N$4 300 of juice, and N$11 000 worth of soup packets to vulnerable families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. FirstRand Namibia established the ‘Bag of Hope’ initiative under their HOPE Fund in April 2020 and partnered with Bokomo Namibia and Co-Feed Namibia to feed the needy and the most vulnerable families in Namibia, whose impoverished situation has been exacerbated by COVID-19. Through the Bag of…

26 Jun

Theofilus shortlisted for global award

ObserverObserver MoneyEmma Theofilus, Information and Technology Deputy Minister, One Young World Ambassadors

Staff Writer Information and Technology Deputy Minister, Emma Theofilus, appointed in March this year, has been shortlisted with 15 other young politicians for the One Young World Politician of the Year. The One Young World Politician of the Year Award recognises five of the world's most outstanding politicians between the ages of 18 - 35, who are using their positions to have a positive impact on young people in their communities and countries. “Through their important work, these candidates highlight the benefit of including young people in politics. The shortlisted nominees are currently being reviewed by One Young World’s expert…

26 Jun

Calle in land ownership dilemma

ObserverObserver MoneyAffirmative Repositioning (AR), Calle Schlettwein, Minister of Agriculture, Namibia, water and land reform

...as AR petition is tabled in Parliament Andrew Kathindi Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein says foreign land ownership in Namibia should not be allowed, but can only be enforced with new regulations. Schlettwein said currently his ministry was being guided by the resolutions of the second land conference, held in 2018, where some of the pertinent topics discussed included resettlement policy and criteria, land allocation and administration and the expropriation of agriculture land. “But we must distinguish between different categories of land. Our reading is that the prohibition is primarily for agricultural land. Industrial development is…

26 Jun

We did our best – Kawana

ObserverObserver MoneyAlbert Kawana, Fisheries Minister, University of Namibia

Staff Writer Fisheries minister, Albert Kawana maintains his ministry did its utmost best to ensure that everyone was catered for when it allocated the new fishing rights. “We received 5,176 applications and it was impossible to give everyone quotas but we ensured that different groups were catered for, from the youth, regions, women and war veterans,” the minister said. “We had to consider broad-based allocation and we absolutely ensured that we catered for all the various groups.” As part of their submissions, applicants were to be judged on a scorecard system to determine their contribution to socio-economic development. The criteria…

26 Jun

FNB supports Van Rhyn Primary School

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust, FNB

Community Donation of N$10,000 from FNB Central Cluster Brian Kandanga through the FirstRand Namibia Foundation Trust. Items include: Face protector shields, gloves, hand sanitizers and masks. Due to the current situation (COVID-19) the school finds itself in a very difficult financial situation. As per WHO and Namibian Government regulations, schools need to purchase items which are very costly. The school can only guarantee quality education if the learners are healthy and if measures are in place that can protect them from the current pandemic. “From the school on the hill, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to FNB…