Observer – Page 168 – Windhoek Observer

27 Oct

Erongo Business and Tourism Expo energizes economic prospects

ObserverNational News

Niël Terblanché The 15th edition of the Erongo Business and Tourism Expo, hosted by the Walvis Bay municipal council, is in full swing, promising to invigorate the local and national economies. Neville Andre, the Governor of the Erongo Region, during his opening address stressed the event’s significance in bringing together Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to showcase their offerings, thereby reinforcing socio-economic development and creating employment opportunities. Positioned as one of Namibia’s economic epicentres, Walvis Bay recognizes the evolving landscape of business and the need for transformative changes in both the tourism and business sectors. This annual event also fosters…

27 Oct

The working space is becoming too small for new graduates: Iipumbu

ObserverNational News

Martin Endjala The Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, Lucia Iipumbu, has expressed concern that the job market is becoming increasingly saturated for new graduates. She pointed to the need for graduates to shift away from traditional employment aspirations and consider entrepreneurship as a viable alternative. Iipumbu made these remarks during the launch of Harambean Entrepreneurship, a collaborative initiative with FirstRand Namibia and First National Bank, aimed at promoting entrepreneurship. Highlighting the high rate of unemployment in the country, Iipumbu encouraged young people to explore entrepreneurship and foster partnerships as a means to improve their lives and contribute to the economy.…

27 Oct

TAC gathers input for the preservation of retirement savings regulations

ObserverNational NewsTAC gathers input for the preservation of retirement savings regulations

Niël Terblanché In a significant move towards promoting transparency, accountability, and inclusivity, the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises has initiated a series of public consultations on proposed standards and regulations, including Regulation RF.R.5.10, known as the “Preservation of Retirement Savings Regulation.”According to Dr Manfred Zamuee, the Chairperson of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), these regulations are intended to be issued under Chapter 5 of the Financial Institutions and Markets Act, Act No. 2 of 2021. The first round of public consultations is slated to commence on November 13, 2023, and will kick off in the Kunene and Hardap Regions.…

27 Oct

Govt questioned over Cabinet decision to spend N$25m on new vehicles

ObserverMainGovt questioned over Cabinet decision to spend N$25m on new vehicles

Stefanus Nashama Lawmakers from various opposition parties in Parliament have raised concerns about the Cabinet’s decision to authorize the Ministry of Works and Transport to purchase 32 government vehicles at a cost of N$25 million for the 2023/24 financial year. This decision contradicts a moratorium put in place by the Head of State, President Hage Geingob, in 2020 to reduce unnecessary spending on government vehicles. Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters Leader Epafras Mukwiilongo submitted a notice of questions to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, this week, indicating his intention to question the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises,…

26 Oct

Real poverty plagues the two Kavango regions says Kauandenge

ObserverNational NewsReal poverty plagues the two Kavango regions says Kauandenge

Stefanus Nashama Joseph Kauandenge, the Secretary-General of the National Unity Democratic Organisation, lambasted the government in Parliament last week for neglecting the two Kavango regions and allowing their inhabitants to suffer in abject poverty, which, he contended, was palpable. Kauandenge stated that the poverty in the two regions is so evident that one can already smell it upon entering a town like Rundu. He accused the Swapo-led government of doing nothing to address the issue and instead turning the residents of these regions into mere “voting cows.” However, a heated debate erupted when Faustina Caley, the Deputy Minister of Education,…

26 Oct

Credit uptake remains low despite unchanged repo rate

ObserverObserver Money

Martin Endjala Despite the repo rate holding steady at 7.75 percent, corporate credit uptake remains weak due to the private sector's reluctance to borrow under the current unfavourable economic conditions, where both economic activity and interest rates fail to stimulate credit demand for businesses. Economist and Independent Bank Researcher, Josef Sheehama provided this insight in response to the Bank of Namibia's announcement yesterday regarding the maintained repo rate at 7.75 percent. "Due to market volatility, private sectors are adopting a watch-and-see attitude instead of applying for facilities to invest in businesses. They are postponing business expansion and opting to restructure…

26 Oct

Meet Bakpro Oshana Millennial Queens

ObserverSportsMeet Bakpro Oshana Millennial Queens

Bakpro Oshana Millennial Queens is a women football team which hails from Ondangwa and plays in Oshana Women regional league which just kicked off on saturday last week.This team is proudly sponsored by Bakpro as well as Ondangwa SME Youth Expo. Bakpro players spend time working at GD EVENTS & PROMOTIONS CC a company which specializes in Corporate marketing, Activations and Events management on their off days inorder for the players to be able to earn something to sustain the players and the team in general.

26 Oct

Namibia Sports Commission host Sport Conference and Expo and NASA 2023

ObserverSports

Swakopmund , Namibia : The Namibia Sports Commission is hosting the Namibia Sports Award 2023 on October 28th at the MTC Dome in Swakopmund. This exciting event will feature several activities leading up to the awards ceremony. The event kicked off with a sports conference and expo. This includes a 1.5-day conference from October 25th to 26th, featuring workshops and panel discussions. The conference likely focuses on various aspects of sports, including sports diplomacy, player agency, and the journey of Namibian Olympic athletes. The highlight of the event will be the annual Namibia Sports Awards ceremony taking place on Saturday,…

26 Oct

CAF’s Jacqueline Shipanga Commends Progress in Women’s Football Development

ObserverSports

In a recent development, Jacqueline Shipanga, a prominent technical expert associated with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), expressed her admiration for the strides made in the development of women’s football on the continent. Shipanga, who played a pivotal role in conducting the Elite Women Instructors course, shared her thoughts on the ongoing journey towards empowering women in football. The CAF New Women Instructors course was initiated with the goal of identifying potential Women Instructors within Member Associations (MAs) who could further evolve into local, zonal, and CAF Instructors. Speaking in reference to the CAF Convention, Shipanga highlighted the extensive…

26 Oct

Critical raw minerals are key components of industrialisation

ObserverNational NewsCritical raw minerals are key components of industrialisation

Martin Endjala Critical raw minerals, vital components of Namibia’s industrialization drive, must be developed in a way that aligns with the country’s industrialization goals and enhances its capacity to add value where feasible. This assertion was made by Sikongo Haihambo, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, during the European Union-Namibia business forum in Brussels, Belgium, held yesterday. “In the Namibian context, all minerals are crucial, and in 2021, we collaborated with the Ministry of Mines and Energy to establish a National Mineral Beneficiation Strategy. The guiding principles of our strategy revolve around value addition and fostering…