Observer Money – Page 210

03 Jul

Govt rules out Air Namibia plan

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMinistry of Finance

Staff Writer The Ministry of Finance has ruled out availing funds for Air Namibia’s touted new business plan, saying it’s not viable and not sustainable. This comes as the business plan will require N$7 billion to be implemented, including management of the national carrier’s existing N$5 billion debt. “This means for the new business plan to be implemented taking the outstanding debt into account, an amount of N$7 billion will have to be spent in the current financial year, which makes it unaffordable as resources are needed for other priorities such as health, education, housing and sanitation,” the Ministry of…

03 Jul

Schools to reopen Monday

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyErongo, Ministry of Education, Swakop, Walvis Bay

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Education has reiterated its decision to re-open schools on Monday 6 July, following a 2-week delay in its initial phase in plan after a learner in Mariental tested positive for COVID-19 last month. The basic education minister, Anna Nghipondoka told Parliament on Thursday that aside from one region, schools countrywide were ready to resume face-to-face teaching on Monday. “The main concern we have is grade 11 and 12, especially in Erongo because now we are only having 6 schools, 4 in Erongo and 2 in Omusati that cannot open. In Erongo, Swakop and Walvis are…

03 Jul

Nujoma caught in crossfire – KK

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyDoreen Sioka, Kazenambo Kazenambo, Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Nahas Angula, Sam Nujoma, SWAPO

Staff Writer Former Youth minister, Kazenambo Kazenambo says the public anger directed at Landless People's Movement (LPM) leader, Bernadus Swartbooi is misdirected, as he is not causing division but his actions are simply a symptom of the greater disunity in the country. This comes after Swartbooi was heavily criticized by former Prime Minister Nahas Angula, who accused the firebrand leader LPM leader of dividing the nation. This berating follows the LPM MP’s his incendiary comments about Founding President Sam Nujoma. In response to arguments made by Swapo MP, Doreen Sioka, he disparaged the Founding President’s book and called the author…

01 Jul

UN advisor forecast 14,000 cases for Namibia

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAlladji Osseni, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula, UNAIDS Senior Strategic Information Adviser

...as 80 cases are recorded in one day Andrew Kathindi A United Nations official has warned that rising Covid-19 cases could reach 700 for the Erongo region alone and 14,000 countrywide if things continue as they are. This comes as Namibia recorded its highest number of positive COVID-19 cases in a single day with 80 new cases announced on Wednesday by Health minister Kalumbi Shangula. Currently, Walvis Bay has seen the highest number of cases, however, in recent days; cases have begun to pop up in Oshana, Zambezi, Hardap and //Karas, some without an identified contact case. “Data shows with…

01 Jul

Govt strikes deal with NovaNam

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAlbert Kawana, Fisheries Minister

Staff Writer Government on Tuesday evening struck a deal with NovaNam Fishing Company, where it agreed to allocate additional quota to the Luderitz based company, allowing 1,800 of its permanent workers who had been sent on forced leave to return to work. Fisheries minister, Albert Kawana confirmed the development but was tightlipped on the details of the agreement. “We have allocated them an additional quota and the workers should be able to return to work,” he told the Windhoek Observer. NovaNam Managing Director, Edwin Kamatoto could not be reached by the newspaper for comment and calls made to his mobile…

01 Jul

MTC unveils N$101,7m sponsorships

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMTC, MTC Windhoek Fashion Week, Netball

Staff Writer MTC on Tuesday unveiled sponsorships totalling N$101,700,000 to 14 different beneficiaries, across 7 different sports codes which includes Soccer, Horse Racing, Boxing, Rugby, Hockey, Netball and the Youth Games over a 3 year period. In boxing, MTC chose to maintain its relationship with the MTC Nestor Sunshine and Salute Boxing Academies by giving them an N$1 million dollar per annum, an increase from N$1,750,000 to N$2,750,000. MTC Kilimanjaro Boxing received an increase of N$100,000 per annum from N$400,000 to N$500,000. In football, MTC will continue its relationship with the annual Dr Hage Geingob Cup, giving the event an…

01 Jul

Retrenchments could spell trouble for CoW

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Covid-19, Samuel Mutonga

Andrew Kathindi City of Windhoek (CoW) has warned that the city could be headed for trouble if retrenchments continue. The City’s Acting Strategic Executive for Finance and Customer Services, Samuel Mutonga said although CoW would be minimally affected by recent job loses as the majority of those losing jobs come from the informal settlements – a low contributor to the City’s revenues —but if the trend is extended to Windhoek’s middle and upper class, the development could spell trouble for the municipality. This comes after numerous companies around the country have been notifying their employees on their intentions to slash…

01 Jul

NovaNam sends 1,800 employees home

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyLüderitz, NovaNam Fishing Company, Walvis Bay

Staff Writer NovaNam Fishing Company has sent home 1,800 permanent workers on forced leave attributing the move to government’s decision to halve its fishing quota. Although the Windhoek Observer could not confirm the fishing company’s previous allocation, sources said the company had notified workers on Monday that they should stop reporting for work until it concludes negotiations with government over the slashing of its allocation. “Nobody knows when we’re coming back; they said they need to talk to government. That is why when they told us to go home; they didn’t put up a due date when we can resume…

30 Jun

Old Mutual donates Covid19 equipment

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services, Old Mutual

Andrew Kathindi As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the country at an alarming rate, last week, Old Mutual handed over devices to the Ministry of Health and Social Services worth over N$900 000. In a bid to continue supporting the fight against COVID-19, Old Mutual donated 35 Dell laptops and 37 Samsung tablets procured at a total cost of N$ 998 030.46 to capacitate the Ministry’s surveillance system capability based on the identified and prioritised needs at national, regional and district level during and after COVID-19. “These laptops are each installed with Office Home software, Antivirus, a mouse and…

30 Jun

CNNC, workers clash at Rössing

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyChina National Nuclear Corporation Rössing Uranium (CNNC), Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN), Rio Tinto

Staff Writer The Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN) has threatened to take legal action against China National Nuclear Corporation Rössing Uranium (CNNC), the owners of Rössing Uranium if it does not reverse or engage with the union on its decision to withdraw benefits previously afforded to the company employees over the past 32 years. CNNC through its subsidiary China National Uranium Corporation Limited acquired Rio Tinto's 69 percent majority stake in Rössing Uranium for about N$1,5 billion in July last year. In its letter, written by lawyers Metcalfe Beukes Attorneys on its behalf, the union accused the miner of…