Observer Money – Page 221 – Windhoek Observer

17 Feb

High Court demand answers from Geingob

Observer MoneyAffirmative Repositioning (AR), Justice Orben Sibeya, president Hage Geingob

Maria Hamutenya Justice Orben Sibeya on today (Tuesday) ordered that President Hage Geingob answers to a lawsuit in which the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) is demanding that he meets his end of an agreement to service 200 000 plots countrywide signed in 2015. The order came after he ruled in favour of the AR. “The lawyers acting on behalf of the President thought that it was not necessary for the President to answer to the case at all, because in their view the manner in which the case is drafted is deficient, meaning the agreement made between the AR movement and…

16 Feb

Wecke & Voigts closes stores

Observer MoneyCOVID, Covid-19, Wecke & Voigts Group

Kandjemuni Kamuirii The Wecke & Voigts Group has announced the closure of the Wecke & Voigts in Independence Avenue and Grove Mall of Namibia. The Independence Avenue shop closes its doors after operating for 129 years since it’s foundation in 1892. “An emotional decision to shut one Windhoek’s first departmental stores was taking last year and it will be discontinued as off the end of June 2021”, said Wecke & Voigts Group Managing Director, Adrieane Jandrell. “Both shops have not been doing well for the pass years, due to various influences other than Covid-19 .Although the impact of covid-19 has…

16 Feb

ECN concedes to pay for election re-run

Observer MoneyECN, Theo Mujoro

Maria Hamutenya The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has conceded that it will pay political parties’ cost for their participation in the election re-runs in Koës, Aroab, Stampriet Local authorities and Mariental Rural Constituency now scheduled for Friday, 26 February. The ECN had previous hinted that it might appeal the ruling handed by Judge Shafimana Ueitele in the Electoral Court’s judgement in December, depending on the reasons given that the commission should carry the cost for political parties to participate in the rerun of the polls as it was not within its mandate. “The court order will be complied with…

16 Feb

Swapo divisions re-emerge over Air Namibia

Observer MoneyFinance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, Henning Melber, Leon Jooste, Ndumba Kamwanyah, Onurair, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Divisions in ruling Swapo’s party have once again resurfaced in light of the Air Namibia matter after a Swapo’s parliamentary caucus has demanded the reversal of a decision made by a Swapo-led Cabinet on the liquidation of Air Namibia. This comes as Swapo affiliated National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) along with several other unions have planned a mass public demonstration against government’s decision to liquidate the airline this week. “This just is a sign of the party internal disarray. A significant number of higher-ranking party officials are in government and Cabinet positions. Hence it could have been…

12 Feb

NAC plans N$1.3bn investments

Observer MoneyNamibia Airports Company (NAC)

Staff Writer The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) says it plans to invest over N$1.3 billion in infrastructure development across all eight airports within the next five years. Some of the projects lined up include the N$70 million Apron Expansion of Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA); N$16 million for a CUTE System for Hosea Kutako; N$16 million Ondangwa Apron Rehabilitation; N$32 million Katima Mulilo Runway Holding Action; N$10 million Walvis Bay Airside Boundary Wall; N$4 million Walvis Bay Electronic Equipment and a N$4 million Hosea Kutako road upgrade. The plans, according to the operator of the country’s airports, is aimed at…

12 Feb

Grade 11 Unam admission prospects crushed

Observer MoneyFrednard Gideon, National Senior Secondary Ordinary (NSSCO), NSSCAS, Professor Kenneth Matengu, Unam Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs), Unam Vice Chancellor

Maria Hamutenya University admission prospects for grade 11 students who applied to the University of Namibia (Unam) were finally crushed on Thursday. Unam Vice Chancellor, Professor Kenneth Matengu, questioned the quality of curriculum and their ability to handle tertiary education. “The curriculum is not deep enough for students to be ready for admission into university. The understanding was and still is that the basic education curriculum would be revised and improved to the level of advanced subsidiary to allow those who wish to pursue university education to progress from grade 11 level 3 to National Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary…

12 Feb

Jooste calls Sisa’s bluff

Observer MoneyAir Namibia, Challenge Air, Public Enterprises minister Leon Jooste, Sisa Namandje, TransNamib

Andrew Kathindi Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, has dismissed threats by Challenge Air representative, Lawyer Sisa Namandje, to seize assets of state-owned TransNamib, if government proceeds with the voluntary liquidation of Air Namibia. According to Namandje the Arbitration Awards made on 6 August, 2008 and 4 August, 2011 in Europe, were jointly against Air Namibia and TransNamib. Air Namibia was incorporated into TransNamib up until the late 1990s, which was around the time when the airline entered into the lease agreement with Challenge Air. “I saw the letter that was circulated today. We discussed this with TransNamib some time ago…

11 Feb

Unam’s admission stance condemned

Observer MoneyNamibia National Students Organisation (NANSO), UNAM, Unam Vice-Chancellor Professor Kenneth Matengu

Maria Hamutenya Student representative organisations say they are dismayed by the University of Namibia (Unam)’s decision not to accept grade 11 learners under the new curriculum. Unam Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kenneth Matengu, was recorded being adamant that the institution will never admit grade 11 students. This is despite the government’s announcement that such student are now eligible for university admittance. “It is common cause that the curriculum was designed and implemented in such a way that a learner may choose to exit school in grade 11 or 12 (subject to set criteria). Moreover, it is common cause that the new grade…

11 Feb

Health Ministry tight lipped on AstraZeneca vaccine

Observer MoneyAstraZeneca, Ben Nangombe, Covid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) remains tightlipped on whether Namibia is still going ahead to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine later this month. Or if it will opt out of the deal after it was found to be highly ineffective against a new variant of the virus, known as 501.V2, discovered in South Africa late last year. The lack of an official position by the ministry, comes after a technical team in the government department met this Monday to discuss the AstraZeneca vaccine following findings on its ineffectiveness by South African health officials. “If at…

10 Feb

Opposition MPs fume over virtual address

Observer MoneyMcHenry Venaani, president Hage Geingob

Maria Hamutenya Drama ensued in Parliament on Tuesday after President Hage Geingob officially opened Parliament remotely, a position which did not go down well with members of the opposition. The development resulted in opposition party members walking out of the National Assembly Chamber arguing that they have not been consulted about the President addressing them virtually. Popular Democratic Movement leader, McHenry Venaani, said COVID-19 cannot be viewed as an unforeseen circumstance, because arrangements were made and how many people should be in the house to accommodate the President. “Why did the President not come? That it is threatening [to] our…