Namibia – Page 13 – Windhoek Observer

06 Apr

Old Mutual Namibia commits N$5 million to fight COVID-19

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Kosmas Egumbo, Namibia, Old Mutual Namibia

Staff Writer Old Mutual Namibia has pledged to donate N$5 million towards the nation-wide efforts to help address some of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “As a caring and responsible business and pursuant to an appeal to the private sector by the President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Hage G. Geingob, Old Mutual Namibia recognises that the COVID-19 pandemic requires a concerted and committed response by all stakeholders, including the private sector,” Old Mutual Group CEO, Kosmas Egumbo said this week. “There is no doubt that Namibia faces an uncertain future as the threat of COVID-19…

06 Apr

Observatory: Where’s the consistency?

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Namibia, Namibians

Thandizo Kawerama When the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Namibia was announced, the government did an amazing job implementing measures to protect the health of Namibians. Social distancing quickly became a recurring theme, and many Namibians started to take preventative measures in case of a full blown outbreak. This was evident by the empty shelves in pharmacies and grocery stores all over the country. In the midst of the growing public concern over COVID-19, President Geingob’s inauguration ceremony last month hosted over 400 guests at the State House, breaking the ‘no more than 50 people in a gathering’ rule…

31 Mar

Tourism is too big to fail . . . banks must step up in this time of crisis

ObserverNational NewsBanks, Covid-19, Namibia, tourism

The financial crisis that the country has experienced over the last three years is heightened for the tourism sector due to COVID-19. The sector is drowning right now with a lockdown and closed borders. There will be major business contractions in 2020; this is unavoidable. But, some industries are “too big to fail”. Tourism (including restaurants/cafes, professional hunting and communal conservancies) is one of them. The banks must take the lead, along with government and the private sector, to make tangible, well-considered bailout plans to save the stronger parts of the industry before it is too late. We note that…

30 Mar

Namibian government’s sneaky trick to tap local retirement funds

ObserverUncategorisedAllan Gray Namibia, Namibia, Pension Fund Act

Staff Writer Namibia’s budget speech to its parliament is nearing, and the question is how the new finance minister is going to fund the mineral-rich country’s state spending after pension funds were indirectly used last year. The nation of less than 3m people relies heavily on developmental aid from South Africa – in the form of customs revenue sharing – to fund its public outlays. Namibia, however, has a large pool of investment money relative to its economic output. It was this segment that the country’s finance ministry targeted last year and the year before. In a similar vein to…

25 Mar

Celebrity desert trek place Namibia on map

ObserverUncategorisedNamibia

A mixture of well-known celebrities among them radio DJ's, television broadcasters, a singer and a TV judge, last month embarked on a 100-mile trek across the Namib desert to raise vital funds to transform the lives of vulnerable people and communities throughout the UK and internationally. The challenge was filmed for a BBC One documentary, The Heat is On: Sport Relief, which aired on Wednesday last week. Every year a bunch of determined celebrities take on a gruelling challenge or Comic Relief or Sport Relief and this year, it was not different. Celebrities, including Nick Grimshaw and Frankie Bridge trekked…

24 Mar

Philander’s satirical drama confronts corruption

ObserverUncategorisedcorruption, Frederick Philander, Namibia

Clementine Tjameya Frederick Philander is an iconic, talented playwright, social historian, actor and director. He uses his gift to express his love of Namibia and its people. Last month, we published an article announcing that Philander had finished his latest satirical political courtroom drama, I am NOT corrupt. He is now preparing it for a full stage presentation. Without giving spoilers, this play is based on a true Namibian court case that recently captured national headlines. Rehearsals for the play started last week and are continuing throughout the months of March and April. The Windhoek Observer had the privilege to…

24 Mar

Preserve and get what you deserve in your golden years

ObserverUncategorisedFinancial, Namibia, Preservation Fund or Retirement Annuity Fund

Patricia Olivier Chief Executive Officer Old Mutual Corporate Segment Did you know that retirement planning and its benefits is all up to you? There is no legislation for example, compelling you as a member of a retirement fund, to preserve your benefits when exiting the fund upon changing an employer. In fact, currently members of retirement funds may take 100% of their retirement savings in cash and most do. Doing so however will probably add to a series of obstacles standing between you and your retirement goals which may be to retire with financial independence. Perhaps you haven’t even given…

24 Mar

One country: three nations

ObserverUncategorisedindependent, Namibia

Dr. Ngarikutuke Tjiriange Now that we are celebrating 30 years of independence of our country it may be important to just briefly reflect on some issues of those years, particularly what still persistently and disturbingly still haunts us. Our colonial history left Namibia economically split into three countries depending on their colour. The independence constitution was intended to build a bridge between the past divided society characterized by immeasurable misery and unequal distribution of wealth among different groups. The preamble of the constitution provides for the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human…

24 Mar

Shout Out: This is the moment to turn to each other

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Namibia

Jackie Wilson Asheeke In my high school typing class, we used to memorize the keyboard by typing, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” Apparently, there is something about the keystrokes in this phrase that made it a perfect exercise. I would adapt that stanza by saying, “In Namibia, now is the time for all good people to come to each other’s aid.” It is time for us to turn TO each other in charity and not ON each other in panic. This state of emergency is disturbing. Many of us…

24 Mar

There is a time for everything

ObserverUncategorisedIndependence Day, Namibia, president Hage Geingob, Swapo Party

March 21, 2020 is the 30th year of Namibia’s independence and the inauguration of Namibia’s third president Hage Geingob for his second and final term in office. These dual celebrations are not about one individual, but about what Namibia as an entire nation of 2.6 million people, stands for. It is a freedom day that many thought would never come. Some, who are heroes in the struggle, sometimes thought liberation and self-determination would not come and yet they fought on anyway. There were dark days like Cassinga or the loss of great heroes like Tobias Hainyeko or Mandume Ya Ndemufayo.…