Observer Money – Page 205 – Windhoek Observer

19 May

Trustco plans to retrench 300

ObserverObserver MoneyNeville Basson, Quinton van Rooyen, Trustco

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…

19 May

Full tuition fees unfair – NANSO

ObserverObserver MoneyNANSO, NSFAF, NUST, UNAM

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…

16 May

Northern learners face e-learning exclusion

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Education, Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

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…

16 May

COVID-19 testing target only achievable in 5 years

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP), PathCare Namibia, Zimbabwe

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…

14 May

SSC payouts expected next week

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Milka Mungunda, Social Security Commission (SSC)

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…

14 May

Geingob cancels new state cars

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Presidency, president Hage Geingob

. . . 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…

14 May

PDM members back down from Parly challenge

ObserverObserver MoneyPopular Democratic Movement (PDM)

….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…

14 May

High Court postpones Namandje’s case

ObserverObserver MoneySisa Namandje

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…

14 May

Only 800 qualify for quotas

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Fisheries, quotas

Staff Writer Only 800 out of more than 5,000 applications received by the Ministry of Fisheries meet the set requirements to be considered for allocation of fishing quotas, the Windhoek Observer can reveal. As part of their application, applicants were to be judged on a scorecard system to determine their contribution to the socio-economic development of Namibia and its people, including a broad participation at shareholder level to include youth, women, people with disabilities, and persons from economically disadvantaged regions, liberation war veterans and worker trusts, among other requirements. The revelations come as the University of Namibia which had been…

13 May

CRAN licensing brews a storm

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, CRAN, MTC, Paratus, Paratus Telecommunications, Tim Ekandjo

. . . as telcos object to CoW licence Staff Writer The awarding of telecoms licence to the City of Windhoek (CoW) by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) is brewing up a storm in the telecoms sector, with players accusing the regulator of violating its own rules in the awarding process. This comes as the CoW licence was upgraded by CRAN from the initial application of a Network Facilities Service License, allowing it to lease its fiber optics to other licensed operators to a Class Comprehensive Telecommunications Service License, allowing the municipality to offer integrated telecommunications services, directly…