Observer Money – Page 209

16 Jul

Germany grants N$250m to MEFT

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Forestry and Tourism, German Federal Government, Ministry of Environment, Namibian government

…to mitigate pandemic effects on environment and conservation Staff Writer The German Federal Government has availed approximately N$250 million to support the Namibian Government, through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the conservation and tourism sector. This comes as the conservation and tourism sector has been significantly affected by the loss of income from tourism, caused by worldwide lockdown measures and international travel restrictions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Countrywide employment and vital conservation activities are in jeopardy, risking the survival of local communities, wildlife and protected areas. The funds…

15 Jul

Namdeb commences COVID-19 testing

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Namdeb

Staff Writer Given the risk of the spread of COVID-19, Namdeb has now introduced its own COVID-19 testing capacity in Oranjemund. The company said the development is part of a comprehensive response plan to safeguard the health and safety of its employees and to support the local community. “As a responsible corporate citizen, and a long-term partner of the Namibian government, Namdeb is committed to support the efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Namdeb has also been instrumental in availing and setting up isolation units in Oranjemund and Lüderitz, as well as procuring essential medical equipment such as…

15 Jul

Second COVID-19 death recorded

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Kalumbi Shangula, Minister of Health and Social Services

Staff Writer Namibia has recorded a second COVID-19 related death. Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula announced on Tuesday that a 44-year old man who passed away on 11 July at home in Walvis Bay had tested positive for COVID-19 posthumously. This comes less than a week after Namibia recorded record its first death on Wednesday 8 July. “He was a known diabetic. He visited the hospital on the 7th of July 2020 at the state hospital where his blood sugar was found to be high and got stabilized. On the 10th of July 2020, he visited the…

10 Jul

NPTH appoints subsidiary boards

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMobile Telecommunications Ltd, MTC, Namibia Post Limited, NamPost, Telecom Namibia Limited (Telecom)

. . . as Festus Hangula is re-appointed at NamPost Staff Writer The Namibia Post & Telecom Holdings (NPTH) has appointed temporary subsidiary Boards for a period of three months, effective 08 July 2020 until 08 October 2020. NPTH is the 100 percent shareholder of Telecom Namibia Limited (Telecom), Namibia Post Limited (NamPost) and Mobile Telecommunications Ltd (MTC). “The temporary appointments were based on the required skills blend, individual qualifications, industry expertise and technical knowledge, which factors informed the composition of the said Boards. The skills and experience of these individuals complements the current Boards, which are set for companies…

07 Jul

Veterans call for expulsion of LPM leaders from Parliament

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyFounding President Sam Nujoma, Namibia National Veterans Association (NNLVA)

Andrew Kathindi The Namibia National Veterans Association (NNLVA) has called for the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader, Bernadus Swatbooi , to be removed from Parliament. This follows his remarks regarding Founding President Sam Nujoma. Swartbooi called the Founding President “thug” and a “liar” in a heated debate in parliament, statements which drew condemnation from the Office of the Founding Father. “We therefore request the honorable Speaker of the National Assembly and his duty to apply the Chamber’s code of conduct and lay charges against the two LPM leaders, namely Bernadus Swartbooi, and Henny Seibeb in particular, for their possible immediate…

07 Jul

Govt turns to mass houses for quarantine

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay

Staff Writer Unallocated mass houses in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund could be turned into quarantine facilities amid rising COVID-19 cases and insufficient isolation centers. “I have requested the Governor to investigate the feasibility of using the unallocated mass houses in Swakopumd and Walvis Bay to place people there. The Governor has reported that 60 mass houses are available at Walvis Bay and 100 at Swakopmund we will determine how to utilize those,” President Hage Geingob said. “Isolation of positive Covid-19 cases in terms of locations must be done in ways that do not introduce or increase harm to the community.…

07 Jul

Fishcor board appointed

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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

info_e12wt4csObserver 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…