Observer Money

Kalahari Holdings donates school furniture

Kalahari Holdings donates school furniture

Staff Writer Kalahari Holdings has donated of 650 desks and 650 chairs to the Tobias Hainyeko Project School in Katima Mulilo as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative and efforts to assist Government. The school furniture was handed over to the school management by Kalahari Holdings Director, Ephraim Nekongo. Since the school was established in 2018, learners have had to carry chairs from their homes to school and the donation is set to have a positive impact on teaching and learning in the school.
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Dundee invests N$5 million in COVID-19 fight

Dundee invests N$5 million in COVID-19 fight

Staff Writer Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb has reaffirmed its support to the Tsumeb community by making a N$5 million investment to the Tsumeb District hospital to improve COVID-19 preparedness . The donation follows the declaration of a State of Emergency over the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Tuesday, 17 March 2020 by His Excellency Dr. Hage G Geingob President of the Republic of Namibia in support of the Mining Industry’s efforts to partner with the government’s initiative to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The upgrades will improve the preparedness levels of the hospital should the COVID-19 virus be detected in Tsumeb…
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NSFAF owed N$2.8 billion

NSFAF owed N$2.8 billion

Andrew Kathindi The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) said that it is still owed N$2.8 billion in loan repayments from past beneficiaries. This announcement comes as NSFAF has allocated a budget of N$244 million for the purchase of mobile devices and laptops. These devices are needed for vulnerable students to have access to e-learning. “There is a data integrity project we are running that is in entering its final stage. So far, the data indicated by the records is that N$2.8 billion is outstanding from former recipients. That tells you that there is a lot of funds that need…
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Germany continues support for COVID-19 testing in Namibia

Germany continues support for COVID-19 testing in 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…
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I have done nothing wrong – Shiyuka

I have done nothing wrong – Shiyuka

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…
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Drama in Parliament as Geingob delivers SONA

Drama in Parliament as Geingob delivers 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…
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Geingob rubbishes Chinese loan claims for Swapo HQ

Geingob rubbishes Chinese loan claims for Swapo HQ

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…
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Namibia declined N$192m reparations offer

Namibia declined N$192m reparations offer

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…
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Nampol speed cameras idle

Nampol speed cameras idle

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…
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Indemnity forms won’t save schools – AG

Indemnity forms won’t save schools – AG

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…
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