Observer Money – Page 208

24 Jul

Namibia investigates 5G rollout

info_e12wt4csObserver Money5G, City of Windhoek, Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), Namibia

Staff Writer Namibia has started the process of investigating the possibility of rolling out 5G technology in the country, with cabinet recently directing the environment ministry to conduct a thorough environmental assessment. “Cabinet directed the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to ensure that a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is undertaken and that proper assessment is made, prior to the possible introduction of 5G technology in Namibia,” information minister Peya Mushelenga said. A strategic environmental assessment is a systematic decision support process, aiming to ensure that environmental and possibly other sustainability aspects are considered effectively in policy, plan and program…

21 Jul

SADC-PF lawmakers fret over elusive Electoral Justice

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneySADC Model Law, SADC MPs, SADC-PF

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK – A call has been made for Members of Parliament to support efforts to bring about fair and credible elections that deliver electoral justice. The call comes in the wake of increasingly tightly-contested elections and electoral disputes in the SADC Region. Victor Shale, the Principal Consultant at Shalestone Elections & Governance Consultants made the call when he addressed parliamentarians. The MPs represented their countries on the SADC Parliamentary Forum’s Standing Committee on Democratisation Governance and Human Rights, last week. He said electoral contests in the SADC region and Africa had become “highly competitive and often followed by…

21 Jul

Be mindful of your mental health

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyFirstRand Namibia’s Employee Wellbeing Specialist, Marjolize Scholtz, mental health

Marjolize Scholtz Our world has been turned upside-down – and this is affecting your wellbeing more than you might realize. FirstRand Employee Wellbeing Specialist, Marjolize Scholtz shares advice for managing anxiety and practicing self-care. There’s a lot to be stressed out about these days. If it’s not the pandemic, it’s the alarming state of the economy, the uncertainty around lockdown regulations, or the grind of being stuck at home and trying to balance work and life (and, in many cases, home schooling as well). It’s normal to experience anxiety, fear, depression, loneliness, hopelessness and mental fatigue. ‘In a way, we…

21 Jul

SADC MPs want value from region’s vast resources

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAfrica, Members of Parliament, SADC Parliamentary Forum

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK – Africa is the richest continent on earth in terms of extractive resources, but until Members of Parliament up their game and demand meaningfully beneficial deals, their citizens will continue to wallow in abject poverty. Parliamentarians who represent their countries on the SADC Parliamentary Forum’s Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources, came to this conclusion when they held a virtual meeting last week. South African lawmaker Tshitereke Baldwin Matibe chaired the meeting. The continent is awash with massive deposits of extractive resources that include iron ore, petroleum and natural gas, crude oil, diamonds, gold, uranium,…

17 Jul

Local companies lose N$6.5 billion on NSX

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCapricorn Group, FirstRand Namibia, Namibia, Namibian Breweries

Staff Writer Capricorn Group, FirstRand Namibia, Namibian Breweries lost a combined N$6.5 billion in value after the counters recorded massive loses on Thursday’s trade on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX). The biggest loser was FirstRand Namibia which shed a massive N$2.9 billion in value, closing Thursday trade with a market capitalization of N$5.3 billion, down 35.37 percent. Diversified financial services group, Capricorn Group, the owners of Bank Windhoek shed N$1.8 billion in value, closing Thursday trade with a market capitalization of N$5.3 billion, down 25 percent. Ohlthaver & List Group controlled Namibian Breweries’ market capitalization plummeted 25,35 percent, down N$1.8…

17 Jul

SPYL weighs into NCAA suspensions

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyEmployees, Namibian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL)

Andrew Kathindi Employees’ suspensions and occurrences at the Namibian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) turned into a political storm on Friday 17 July after the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) weighed in, raising concerns about developments at the state owned enterprise. This comes after videos on social media went viral showing a legal officer at the NCAA, Natalia Isak, being suspended, seemingly after raising concerns about irregularities at the government body tasked with regulating air traffic services in the country. The alleged concerns raised by Isak include unfair and inconsistent salary grades, illegal recruitment processes, modern day slavery and exploitation of…

17 Jul

Walvis Bay, Swakop classes to resume

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyArts and Culture, Covid-19, Ministry of Education, Sanet Steenkamp, Swakopmund and Arandis, Walvis Bay

Staff Writer Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has announced that face-to-face classes for grade 11 and 12 in Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Arandis will resume on Monday, the 20th of July despite rising cases of COVID-19 in some of the towns. Walvis Bay is currently the epicenter of COVID-19 cases in the country with 40 out of the 46 cases recorded on Friday being from the costal town. On Wednesday, of the 72 new cases recorded, two were from Swakopmund and 68 were from Walvis Bay. Executive Director in the Education ministry, Sanet Steenkamp said although the return of…

17 Jul

We didn’t make a mistake – ECN

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), High Cour, PDM

Andrew Kathindi The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) maintains it did not make a mistake regarding the amendment of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentary list, seemingly hinting at its intention to appeal the High Court ruling. On Monday the High Court ruled in favour of PDM members Charmaine Tjirare and Hidipo Hamata in their case in which they challenged their removal from their party’s parliamentary list which was gazetted just before last year’s general election. The ruling requires that PDM members Charmaine Tjirare, Reggie Diergaardt, Frans Bertolini, Yvette Araes, Mike Venaani and Tjekupe Maximilliant Katjimune be sworn in as…

17 Jul

CoW does not hold 5G licence – Kahimise

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek (CoW), Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), Huawei

Staff Writer The City of Windhoek (CoW) says it does not hold a 5G licence and has never applied for one with Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN). The announcement by the municipality comes after CoW has been accused of having engaged Chinese telecommunication giant Huawei to partner in the role out of the fifth generation technology standard under its ambitious smart city initiative. “Council has never applied for a 5G Spectrum License with CRAN. You need a specific Spectrum License to operate a 5G network. There exist no 5G project approved by Council at the City of Windhoek and…

17 Jul

Geingob hits back at opposition parties

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMembers of Parliament, president Hage Geingob

…as ruling party divisions continue Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob has hit back at opposition parties in Parliament who threatened to take Swapo to court over the selection of Parliamentary Committee members, calling their claims weak. This comes after opposition parties and Swapo reached an impasse over parliamentary committees. Thye could not agree on members to nominate. “The case of the Opposition, regarding the constitution of the committees, is weak. The rules are clear that proportional representation applies to the entire National Assembly and not just the committees,” said Geingob. Standing Committees are smaller groups of Members of Parliament elected…