Observer – Page 321 – Windhoek Observer

20 Apr

Willy Mertens, son of farm workers who became CEO

ObserverObserver MoneyWilly Mertens

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…

20 Apr

Choppies eyes 50 stores expansion

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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…

20 Apr

Guarantee for bank deposits remain intact- Florette Nakusera

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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…

20 Apr

Letshego CEO humbled by international award

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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…

20 Apr

New Qatar MoU to boost Namibia’s fledgling oil industry

ObserverNational NewsNew Qatar MoU to boost Namibia’s fledgling oil industry

Niël Terblanché Creating synergies between Namibia and the State of Qatar is pivotal to the development of Namibia’s promising petroleum industry. To strengthen the cooperation between the two countries, Namibia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Qatari Minister of Energy, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi who is also the Chief Executive Officer of QatarEnergy, the state-owned corporation which operates all oil and gas activities in that country. At the signing ceremony, Alweendo said that the new MoU is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations, initiated by the business relations already…

20 Apr

EIF intensifies green recovery and resilience

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Martin Endjala Namibia is stepping up its readiness to ensure that the country develops strong alternative energy projects which will enable a smooth-sailing green economy that will be a global driver for green energy. This comes after the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia under the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism as the National Designated Authority (NDA) successfully secured funds from the Green Climate Change (GCF) to the value of USD300 000 for a Readiness Funding project titled Green, Resilient Recovery Rapid Readiness Support in Namibia. This was confirmed yesterday by EIF Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager, Lot Ndamanomhata, who…

20 Apr

ACC Investigator financially drained bylegal battle with PM

ObserverNational NewsACC Investigator financially drained bylegal battle with PM

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Phelem Masule, a disgruntled Chief Investigator for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), says a legal dispute with Namibia’s Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has changed his personal and financial circumstances, in a matter in which he is fighting to have his promotion solidified, after Kuugongelwa-Amadhila reversed it. The case has been in court since 2020. The former Executive Director of the ACC, Hannu Shipena notified Masule on 16 July 2020 that he had been appointed as the anti-graft body’s Chief of Investigations and Prosecutions after he had applied for the post in 2019 and had been interviewed and shortlisted. Masule…

20 Apr

‘Slowtown Coffee will be on the market for 100 years’

ObserverObserver Money

Chamwe Kaira The Covid -19 pandemic had a negative effect on the Namibian economy but the Slowtown Coffee, as the homegrown Namibian company emerged stronger from the crisis. “We have been very fortunate to have always been supported by our locals. The Lord has blessed us with His favor. Therefore, even during the pandemic, we had great support and once all restrictions were lifted, we could see the joy of people just being able to get back to their favorite neighborhood coffee shops. Now that the tourism sector is going at full blast, we are also very fortunate to be…

20 Apr

Kantema-Gaomas wants wellness programs for govt employees

ObserverNational NewsKantema-Gaomas wants wellness programs for govt employees

Stefanus Nashama Parliamentarian and Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and National Service, Emma Kantema-Gaomas, says creating a dynamic wellness program for employees at Offices, Ministries and Agencies could increase positivity and performance in the working environment. She said this in support of a motion tabled in Parliament by the Health and Social Services Deputy Minister, Ester Munjangue on wellness programs for government employees. Kantema-Gaomas said wellness programs for employees that are responsive to their needs, encourage positive behaviour and outcomes, which she said is the best strategy to ensure long time success. “A wellness program can provide targeted health education,…

20 Apr

SWAPO Party celebrates 63 years of revolution

ObserverNational NewsSWAPO Party celebrates 63 years of revolution

Niël Terblanché Dr Hage Geingob in his capacity as the President of the SWAPO Party congratulated all members and supporters of the movement on the day that the organisation celebrates 63 years of existence. Geingob called the SWAPO Party a glorious movement that was formed with the mission of liberating Namibians from Apartheid oppression. “SWAPO succeeded in that historic mission. Over the past 33 years, SWAPO has been hard at work to unite and to ensure the economic development of Namibia,” he said He said that the party will continue to work hard to complete the mission of socio-economic well-being…