Observer Money – Page 206 – Windhoek Observer

09 Jun

Creditor fears ground Air Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyAir Namibia, president Hage Geingob

Staff Writer Air Namibia has ceased all its international repatriation missions amid fears its aircrafts could be attached by creditors following President Hage Geingob’s announcement that he wants to liquidate the airline. According to insiders, the airline’s board is said to have met over the weekend where it was agreed that it would avoid international flights amid concerns that its creditors could attempt to attach its aircrafts as part of efforts to recover funds owed, following the President’s announcement on Thursday during his State of the Nation Address. "Air Namibia must be liquidated; we have a serious problem with Air…

06 Jun

Don’t worry about my age – Kanime

ObserverObserver MoneyAbraham Kanime, City Police Chief

Andrew Kathindi City Police chief, Abraham Kanime, who, this week, started his duties under a new three-year contract, informed Windhoek Observer that his age should not be an issue as he is not the only public servant above the retirement threshold. Kanime, who already turned 60, last month, resumed his duties following a much-publicized conflict between himself and City of Windhoek Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Robert Kahimise, over the renewal of his contract. The age of retirement for public servants in Namibia is 60. “You want to say I'm the only person who is in a government service, or in…

06 Jun

Churches eye govt bailout

ObserverObserver MoneyAssociation of Charismatic and Pentecostal Churches of Namibia, Covid-19, Social Security Commission (SSC)

… lament cap on church attendance numbers Andrew Kathindi Churches are crying for their share of the N$700 million COVID-19 related stimulus package announced by the Social Security Commission (SSC) and the Ministry of Finance in April. Secretary-General of the Council of Churches of Namibia (CCN), Ludwig Beukes, said he is disappointed that no provisions were made for the church despite the fact that the church employs around 5,000-10,000 people countrywide that depend on the income that has been lost in the last few months since churches closed their doors on 17 March. “It’s a whole thing about how state…

05 Jun

Germany continues support for COVID-19 testing in Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Germany, MoHSS, Namibia

Staff Writer Rapidly identifying infections with the novel corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial to enable immediate outbreak management and to initiate public health interventions. Germany therefore supports the development of testing capacities for COVID-19 in Namibia. After a first diagnostic laboratory training in Windhoek in the beginning of March the German partners continue to provide critical testing materials like swabs and reagents. This has enabled the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) to conduct more than 2,000 tests in Namibia so far. This support is based on a recently established working relationship as part of a twinning project between the Robert…

05 Jun

I have done nothing wrong – Shiyuka

ObserverObserver MoneyAmos Shiyuka, Community Security Solutions Namibia (CSS), Namibian Police Force, NAMPOL

Staff Writer The Windhoek Observer (WO) recently caught up with businessman and Community Security Solutions Namibia (CSS) Managing Director, Amos Shiyuka (AS) regarding fraud charged laid against him by the Namibian Police Force (Nampol), amid allegations of price inflating. Below is an excerpt of the interview. WO: Have you been formally charged or questioned by the police regarding accusations of fraud that have been lodged against you and your company? AS: No, at this point there have been no formal charges laid nor have I been formally questioned. WO: Could you give reasons for the discrepancy between the contract price…

05 Jun

Drama in Parliament as Geingob delivers SONA

ObserverObserver MoneyHarambee Prosperity Plan, Ministers, Parliament, president Hage Geingob, State of the Nation Address (SONA)

Staff Writer It was an eventful day in Parliament when President Hage Geingob delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday. The address unlike his previous addresses during his first administration did not go as smoothly, as opposition parties in Parliament interrupted him. At one stage, the President took his seat while the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi brought the house to order. In his address, the President said he was aware of the challenges currently faced by Namibians due to the negative impact of COVID-19. “Fellow Namibians, I share in your anxieties. I understand…

05 Jun

Geingob rubbishes Chinese loan claims for Swapo HQ

ObserverObserver MoneyKalahari Holdings, president Hage Geingob, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Swapo President, Hage Geingob on Thursday refuted claims that the ruling party used loans to pay for the N$730 million Swapo party headquarters being built in Windhoek by Chinese company, Unik Construction Engineering. Unik Construction Engineering, which has undertaken several projects in the country, including the N$1 billion construction of the road between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, was awarded the tender to construct the ruling party’s headquarters last year. Quizzed in Parliament on whether the awarding of the tender to the company was done so that it could receive more tenders in the future, the President denied the…

05 Jun

Namibia declined N$192m reparations offer

ObserverObserver MoneyGerman, president Hage Geingob

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob made a startling revelation on Thursday when answering questions after delivering his state of the nation address that his government turned down a N$192 million dollar settlement offer from the German government as part of reparations. “They offered Euro 10 million and we said that is an insult,” he said. The revelations by the President means the country could be gunning for more in compensation and comes after German minister for economic cooperation and development Gerd Müller in September last year said the reparation negotiations between the two countries could soon be finalised. Geingob also…

04 Jun

Nampol speed cameras idle

ObserverObserver MoneyNamibian Police Force (Nampol), NAMPOL

Staff Writer Twelve speed cameras, commonly referred to as the “Yellow Pole Camera”, installed by the Namibian Police Force (Nampol) more than two years ago on the country’s highways at a cost of N$4 million are still to be operationalized. According to insiders although the cameras are functional, Nampol cannot use any of the speed violation information collected as their functionality still needs to be gazetted into law. The failure to operationalize the technology has been attributed to continued delays by the Ministry of Safety and Security, under whom Nampol falls, to promulgate the law. The development, however, comes as…

03 Jun

Indemnity forms won’t save schools – AG

ObserverObserver MoneyAttorney General, Covid-19, Executive Director Sanet Steenkamp, Festus Mbandeka

Andrew Kathindi Indemnity forms that some private schools have been forcing parents to sign before readmitting their children will not save them should a child contract COVID-19 as a result of their negligence, Attorney General, Festus Mbandeka, has informed Windhoek Observer. This comes as certain schools have been forcing parents to sign indemnity forms in order for them not to be held liable should a learner contract COVID-19 while in their care. “Generally, indemnity forms or clauses are not illegal per se, however if someone suffers a loss as a result of failure or negligence caused by a person seeking…