Observer

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Witbooi not pleased with unorthodox campaigns

Witbooi not pleased with unorthodox campaigns

Martin Endjala Gerrit Witbooi, formerly from the Landless People’s Movement, who is now running as an Independent Candidate has expressed concerns about his counterparts campaigning for the Keetmanshoop Rural Constituency By-elections slated for the 15th of May 2023 for allegedly instigating the people not to vote for him. “They are using my name, telling people not to vote for me. I am not happy about this at all. However, it is okay, let them do as they please because politics is just like that. I have already made peace with my people and I have told them what happened between…
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Outrage halts planned law training

Outrage halts planned law training

Niël Terblanché The outrage created by the Office of the Prosecutor-General’s planned combined training of magistrates and public prosecutors on matters relating to the Prevention of Organised Crime Act and money laundering came to a head when the Office of the Judiciary halted the action until further notice. Bernhardt Kukuri, the Executive Director of the Office of the Judiciary said in a statement yesterday that an urgent meeting between his office, the Magistrates Commission, the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Law Society of Namibia resulted in the parties agreeing to reschedule the training for further engagement with stakeholders…
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Man cuts his own throat

Stefanus Nashama The 43-year-old Ndafelai Nghilifilwa committed suicide by stabbing himself in the stomach and cutting his own throat with a traditional knife. The incident occurred in full view of his wife, who is seven months pregnant, at Ononge Village in the Constituency of Nehale LyaMpingana of the Oshikoto Region. Nghilifilwa killed himself in his bedroom. It is alleged that the deceased told his 37-year-old wife that he was going to visit his mother in the morning. Upon his return in the afternoon, he allegedly came back with a container of traditional brew, commonly known as Otombo and gave it…
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Youth eyes presidential positions in Namibia and South Africa

Youth eyes presidential positions in Namibia and South Africa

Stefanus Nashama The current leadership of both Namibia and South Africa is finding itself in the hot seat with youth leaders announcing their intention to run for President in the next election cycle. Former SWAPO Party Youth League Spokesperson, Job Amupanda, last month announced his intention to run for the Namibian Presidency. In South Africa, the 40-year-old son of South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma, Duduzane Zuma, surprised the South African political landscape when he announced on Monday that he will be running as an independent candidate in that country’s next general election next year. In an interview with Daily…
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We have not sold the family silver-Sven Thieme

We have not sold the family silver-Sven Thieme

Chamwe Kaira Businessman and chairman of the O&L Group, Sven Thieme has said the much published N$1 billion dividend received from shares in Namibia Breweries Limited will be used in a responsible manner.Namibia Breweries Limited last week made a dividend payout N$26,35 per share dividend to its shareholders.He was responding to a question by the Windhoek Observer if he had become a billionaire or the richest Namibian perhaps.“I deem this to be private information, however, O&L receives the dividend. What is important now is how we will apply the money in a responsible manner.”On how the dividend will be used,…
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Thieme confirms zero job loses as NBL changes ownership

Thieme confirms zero job loses as NBL changes ownership

Stefanus Nashama Chairperson of the Board of Namibia Breweries, Sven Thieme who resigned last Friday after the company was sold to Heineken N.V. said in an interview with the Windhoek Observer that it is normal to pocket over N$ 1 billion. He, last week Friday received over N$1 billion after Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) paid out a massive amount of money to its shareholders. Thieme said the whole Board resigned because of the change of ownership of the company. Thieme indicated that there will be no further job losses because the company is running well and efficiently. “No one will…
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Willy Mertens, son of farm workers who became CEO

Willy Mertens, son of farm workers who became CEO

In this exclusive interview, Debmarine CEO, Willy Mertens talks about assuming the role of Chief Executive Officer, taking over from long-serving former CEO, Otto Shikongo. Mertens talks about growing up on a farm and his love for Manchester United. Observer Money (OM): You were appointed the new CEO of Debmarine Namibia, recently. How has it been filling the shoes of long-serving former CEO, Otto Shikongo? Willy Mertens (WM): I will never be able to fill the shoes of Mr Otto Shikongo, I am finding my own path with what he has taught me and prepared me for. I will forever…
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Choppies eyes 50 stores expansion

Choppies eyes 50 stores expansion

Chamwe Kaira The Botswana-headquartered supermarket chain, Choppies Group is planning to have up to 50 stores in Namibia in the next five years, the Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Ramachandran Ottapathu revealed. “Our long-term objective for the next five years is to have 45 to 50 stores in Namibia. We are looking at smaller format stores and believe this will enable us to penetrate smaller areas with better financial results due to lower expense base,” Ottapathu told Observer Money. Choppies currently own 12 stores in Namibia. The company employs 650 workers in Namibia. Choppies in Namibia mostly operates in the Northern…
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Guarantee for bank deposits remain intact- Florette Nakusera

Guarantee for bank deposits remain intact- Florette Nakusera

This week, Observer Money asked Florette Nakusera, Head of the Namibia Deposit Guarantee Authority about the operations of the Authority. Nakusera says the SME Bank failure provides valuable lessons as far as the need to ensure that an effective deposit insurance is in place. Observer Money (OM): The Namibia Deposit Guarantee Authority’s 2022 Annual Report said deposit schemes have been implemented in many countries to protect bank depositors either fully or in part from losses caused by a bank’s failure. In view of this, how protected are Namibian bank depositors in case of a bank failure? Florette Nakusera (FN): The…
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Letshego CEO humbled by international award

Letshego CEO humbled by international award

Chamwe Kaira Letshego Holdings Namibia Ltd and Letshego Bank Namibia Ltd, CEO, Ester Kali, says it is truly a humbling experience to be recognised for a prestigious award by the United Nations and hopes this recognition award has inspired others more than it has inspired herself. Kali was recently awarded ‘A woman of Distinction’ Award by the United Nations Global Women Foundation. “The responses and feedback from my friends and colleagues have been overwhelming to say the least, but what I have realised through receiving this award, is that one does not necessarily realise the impact one makes in the…
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