Covid-19 – Page 23 – Windhoek Observer

05 Jun

Trustco secures N$345m loan

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, German, Trustco, Trustco Finance, Trustco Group Holdings Limited

Staff Writer Trustco Finance, a subsidiary of Trustco Group Holdings Limited has secured a US$20 million (approximately N$345 million) loan from Deutsche Investitions Und Entwicklungsgesellschaft, a German development finance institution. The loan approval is, however, subject to a final agreement currently being drafted. The bulk of the facility will be used to provide student financing, offered by Trustco Finance, as well as enhancing the educational facilities offered by the Institute for Open Learning (Pty) Ltd (“IOL”), while funding will also be made available to existing students to restructure and refinance their existing obligations as part of the group’s COVID-19 relief…

05 Jun

Germany continues support for COVID-19 testing in Namibia

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Germany, MoHSS, 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…

03 Jun

Indemnity forms won’t save schools – AG

ObserverObserver MoneyAttorney General, Covid-19, Executive Director Sanet Steenkamp, Festus Mbandeka

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…

03 Jun

Lockdown results in road accident decline

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Motor Vehicle Accident Fund of Namibia (MVAF), MVA Fund

Staff Writer The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund of Namibia (MVAF) says the government-imposed lock down to curb the spread of COVID-19 had a positive contribution to the drastic decline in road accidents and fatalities on the country’s roads. Fewer cars on the nation’s roads meant fewer accidents. Findings by the MVA Fund show that the number of crashes declined by 71 percent, injuries 72 percent and fatalities 62 percent for the period 27 March to 4 May 2020,compared to the same period last year. The fund which is mandated to design, promote and implement crash and injury prevention measures, notes…

02 Jun

Business leadership during a crisis

ObserverUncategorisedBusiness, Covid-19, leadership

Mbo Mena Luvindao Merriam-Webster defines a crisis as "an unstable or difficult time or state of affairs". It is unplanned or uncontrolled change. During times of crisis, leadership is critical. While the existing economic crisis caused by COVID-19 is unprecedented, small businesses have historically proved themselves to be flexible and resilient. The crisis has led to paradigm shifts in the way we view and conduct our business - don’t bury your head in the sand, but consider new ways of doing things as an entrepreneur. COVID-19 has changed the way we work, and in some industries, it has forced companies…

02 Jun

WHK informal settlements to get electricity

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Electricity Control Board (ECB), NamPower

Staff Writer NamPower and the City of Windhoek have signed a “Project Development and Transfer Agreement on the Electrification of Peri-urban Areas in the Municipality of Windhoek.” The project will be funded by NamPower to the tune of N$15.5 million as part of its Corporate Social Investment (CSI), aims to electrify 1,000 households in peri-urban areas of Windhoek. “According to this agreement, NamPower is committing to contribute to the improvement of the lives of communities living in peri-urban areas, in and around Windhoek, by providing electricity to one thousand (1,000) households, as part of NamPower’s corporate social investment,” NamPower Managing…

02 Jun

Are we prepared for COVID round two?

ObserverNational NewsCovid-19, Namibia, president Hage Geingob

For the past 2-3 months, the shape of Namibia has been re-moulded, stretched, and remade to fit the government’s efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic. Through it all, the leadership credibility of President Hage Geingob is on the line. But has the foundation to get ahead of this disease actually been laid to battle the spread of the virus? Or are we assuming progress on the basis of hopeful reports and general briefings? During round one of the president’s proclamations have people been cutting corners? Have allocated funds been chopped? Are people scamming on project implementation? If the…

02 Jun

De Beers donates to the Ministry of Education

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, De Beers Group

Staff Writer De Beers Group has donated a consignment of hand sanitizers and facemasks to the Office of the Prime Minister, for onward distribution to the Ministry of Basic Education, Arts and Culture. The donation is part of De Beers Group’s N$15 million in-kind donation that it pledged to the Government’s Disaster Relief Fund to fight COVID19. The donation to the Ministry consists of 7,500 facemasks and 5,000 300ml containers of hand sanitizers. The facemasks were made by a community business initiative in Keetmanshoop, while the hand sanitizers were produced by UNAM. “We are delighted to play our part in…

31 May

Using COVID for a marketing gimmick?

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I went to Woolworths and Donna Claire in Maerua Mall the other day and was shocked to be harassed at the door by security guards demanding that I ‘sign-in’ before entering the store. What sort of nonsense is that? Why is my name, date of birth, ID number and telephone number needed to enter a store? What has that information to do with blocking the spread of COVID-19? I must receive the numbered tag that ensures the store is not overcrowded, but why is my birthdate a prerequisite for getting that number? And it is selective. I…

31 May

PAY lends helping hand during Covid-19 crises

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, FirstRand Namibia Foundation CSI, Physically Active Youth (PAY)

Staff Writer Physically Active Youth (PAY) has reach a total of 353 people in 55 households with food and toiletry packages as part of their outreach program carried out during the Covid-19 lockdown. “The support and resources to power this project are drawn from both corporate and individual support as well as local and international support. We are grateful for the support we received towards our community outreach programme that has ensured the continued engagement and reach of our beneficiaries and their families,” Thuba from PAY said. Revonia Kahivere, FirstRand Namibia Foundation CSI Manager expressed her gratitude that PAY has…