Covid-19 – Page 28

28 Apr

Meatco donates corned beef

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19, Meatco

Staff Writer Meatco has donated 25 000 tins of corned beef to be distributed amongst Namibians that have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Meatco CEO, Mushokabanji Mwilima the distribution of the corned beef will be left in the hands of the Regional Council who will oversee the distribution of the parcels to those who need them most. “Meatco will remain pragmatic during this time of need, I don’t want to go in too much detail for now. I just want to reiterate our willingness to assist however little; we are assisting our fellow Namibians/human beings with…

28 Apr

The climate of inconsistency

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19, Government

The state of emergency remains and the lockdown is not supposed to end until midnight May 4th. But, it is getting harder to tell that this is a time of world and national medical crisis from the increase in public movement on the streets. As usual in Namibia, the climate of inconsistency strikes again. With an infectious disease at stake, one wonders if people believe that stupidity is a contamination suit against germs. Everyone is passionate and burning with enthusiasm when programs begin, but as time passes, urgency is the first casualty. This is not only a Namibian 'thing'. It…

27 Apr

N$600m lost in the arts sector

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, National Arts Council of Namibia (NACN)

Andrew Kathindi The chairman of the National Arts Council of Namibia (NACN), Patrick Sam says around N$600 million in potential revenue has been lost in the Namibian arts and entertainment sector due to the COVID-19. He attributes this to a number of shows, events, arts sector based public gatherings that have been cancelled or postponed as well as advertising firms’ projects called off due to the lockdown. “We currently have 143 individual members and 22 organizations registered. There are no statistics available to gather the data of the wide-reaching impact of the pandemic because the sector has not been prioritized…

27 Apr

Observatory: Let’s not forget about mental well being

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19

Thandizo Kawerama The lockdown caused by COVID-19 is obviously going to have a lot of economic implications over a very long term. As stated by the minister of finance, our economy is estimated to be losing N$285 million per day. A stimulus package has been prepared and I think it’s great to see steps being taken toward providing a financial cushion. I do however believe we also need to put urgency on preparing for the social problems that will most certainly increase in light of our new reality. People don’t always react positively to change. In the face of a…

27 Apr

Hats off for a top media rating for Namibia

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19, Namibia

There is a time to crow about good things. During the bad financial and economic news about the COVID-19 financial backlash, we want to cheer about this country’s number one rating in Africa for media freedom from Reporters without Borders (Rsf). As we move on from COVID into a new reality of how the world now works, we can look to the Rsf assessment and feel proud. In their brief assessment note on their website (https://rsf.org/en/namibia) this country is given kudos mainly for the legal judgement against the national security agencies that wanted to silence a news report about their…

24 Apr

National silos empty

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAgriculture, Covid-19, water and land reform

Andrew Kathindi Agriculture, water and land reform executive director Percy Misika has revealed that the country’s food security has been compromised as national silos are empty. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed government’s preparedness for emergencies as there is currently insufficient food supply stored in the nation’s grain reserves. “The silos are empty but all is not lost because from our assessment from the current cropping season we are expecting 64,000 tons of white maize and 1,800 tons of pale millet. This would be over and above what is necessary for sustaining Namibian households for food security and which can be…

24 Apr

ECB declines power tariff hike

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Electricity Control Board (ECB), NamPower

Staff Writer Electricity Control Board (ECB) has declined NamPower’s tariff application for an effective bulk tariff (inclusive of generation and transmission) increase of 3.9 percent for the financial period 2020/2021. This would have seen an increase from an average N$ 1.65 per kilowatthour to N$ 1.71 per kilowatt-hour. “In determining the tariff, the ECB considered several factors, including the impact of the tariffs on the Electricity Supply Industry, consumers and the economy at large. In particular, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry and the consumers as well as the current economic climate,” ECB Chief Executive Officer, Foibe…

24 Apr

Bank Windhoek launches Hey Jude Rider Service

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedBank Windhoek, Covid-19, Hey Jude Rider Service

Staff Writer With the current COVID-19 pandemic, leaving home to get groceries and essentials has become a daunting task for many. However, Bank Windhoek customers can now comfortably stay in their homes while the new Hey Jude Rider Service shops on their behalf and delivers groceries and other essentials on their doorstep free of charge. The Rider Service was launched on Thursday, 16 April 2020 and is an add-on service to the Hey Jude for Bank Windhoek App, an exclusive mobile application for Bank Windhoek customers that connects them to their very own Personal Assistant available 24 hours a day,…

24 Apr

Government must not over-promise

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19, Government

…credibility is legal tender in an emergency Government must stop over-promising and under-delivering. People are taking the government at its word. They are cheering for the great pronouncements about support for the people in this new Covid-19 world. Then, the promises can’t stand the light of day in terms of implementation. It is glaringly apparent that announcements of bailout packages were intentions and not programs. A drowning person desperately grabs for anything that looks like a lifeline, even if it is not. Those offering possibilities, therefore, must be very careful that what they throw out there is the real deal.…

24 Apr

How socially responsible are corporates during COVID-19?

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19, World Health Organization (WHO)

Jefta Gaoab Corporate social responsibility (CSR) helps a company be socially accountable—to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. By practicing corporate social responsibility, also called corporate citizenship, companies can be conscious of the kind of impact they have on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental. Essentially, it is about listening and responding to the needs of a company’s stakeholders. COVID-19 has been declared as a global health pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO). It not only has caused massive economic knocks but greatly impacted the health and wellbeing of many citizens globally and Namibia is not…