Observer – Page 638 – Windhoek Observer

31 May

MTC voted Most Admired Brand in Namibia

ObserverUncategorisedBrand Africa, Most Admired Brand in Namibia, Mshasho, MTC, Namibia Breweries Limited

Staff Writer MTC has been voted the Most Admired Brand in Namibia in a survey to determine which companies are held in high regard by the public. The announcement, which included Namibia for the first time, was made by Brand Africa. MTC leads the local listing that included Mshasho at #2 and Top Score at #3. Namibia Breweries Limited was recognised as the most admired brand listed on the Namibian Stock Exchange. Mshasho was recognized as the #1 African brand in Namibia ahead of South Africa’s MTN and DSTV, with local stalwart brands Windhoek Lager and MTC rounding off the…

31 May

PAY lends helping hand during Covid-19 crises

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, FirstRand Namibia Foundation CSI, Physically Active Youth (PAY)

Staff Writer Physically Active Youth (PAY) has reach a total of 353 people in 55 households with food and toiletry packages as part of their outreach program carried out during the Covid-19 lockdown. “The support and resources to power this project are drawn from both corporate and individual support as well as local and international support. We are grateful for the support we received towards our community outreach programme that has ensured the continued engagement and reach of our beneficiaries and their families,” Thuba from PAY said. Revonia Kahivere, FirstRand Namibia Foundation CSI Manager expressed her gratitude that PAY has…

31 May

Vessel crew to be repatriated

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Government

Staff Writer Government says foreign nationals from the passenger cruise liner which docked at the port of Walvis Bay on Friday will all be repatriated to their countries and not allowed uncontrolled entry into Namibia. They will not pose any threat to on-going government efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The Carnival Fascination passenger cruise liner was finally allowed to dock at the port of Walvis Bay on Friday after days of being refused permission to do so. The development saw over 189 crew members made up of Zimbabwean and Namibian nationals being allowed to disembark…

31 May

Govt in jobs for quotas deal

ObserverObserver MoneyAlbert Kawana, Fisheries Minister, Walvis Bay

Andrew Kathindi The government has entered into a job for fishing quotas agreement with six companies on condition they absorb over 1,300 unemployed fishermen. The unnamed companies are set to benefit from 19850 metric tons of horse mackerel and 5816 metric tons of hake broken into weight and freezer as part of the agreement struck. Although additional details remain sketchy, the agreement is aimed at creating additional capacity for the six companies, allowing them to absorb employees who lost their jobs as a result of the Fishrot scandal. “The 1,300 jobs are ready for absorption. This consists of six companies…

29 May

A budget of hopes and wishes

ObserverNational Newsfinance minister Ipumbu Shiimi, State of Emergency

At the end of the day, a budget is only words on paper. One cannot spend a budget. Government has once again laid out what it wishes to spend in a fiscal year vs what it hopes will be income in that same year. In saying this, we do not in any way denigrate the hard work of Finance Minister Ipumbu Shiimi’s team. That man should be nominated for the war medal given to soldiers who take wounds in service of their country. He stood calmly before the august house and laid out the largest deficit budget a free Namibia…

29 May

GIPF adequately funded for any eventualities

ObserverObserver MoneyFinance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF)

Staff Writer The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) says it’s in a position to pay all pension benefits due to its members in the public service in the event government considers retrenchment as a means to save on its ballooning wage bill. This comes as Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi in his maiden budget statement on Wednesday raised concern about the unsustainable government wage bill in light of declining revenues. “In the event that government decides to retrench members of the public service we are in a position to honour any accumulated liabilities due to members. The Fund has adequate assets…

29 May

Shangula confirms Haufiku’s role

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Dr Bernard Haufiku, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula

Andrew Kathindi Dr Bernard Haufiku, former Minister of Health in the first Geingob Administration has had his appointment as the National Coordinator for the response to COVID-19 confirmed after current Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula stated that Haufiku was a part of the team making decisions about the country’s response. Earlier this month, Windhoek Observer reported that Haufiku, without a written letter of appointment, was in limbo over his appointment following his decreased visibility at press conferences regarding COVID-19 updates. On the matter of Haufiku, Shangula said, “Bernard Haufiku was appointed as a Special Health Advisor by President Hage Geingob. He…

29 May

Govt imposes lockdown on Walvis Bay

ObserverObserver Moneypresident Hage Geingob, Walvis Bay

...as the country moves to Stage 3 Andrew Kathindi Visitors and residents of Walvis Bay are now stuck in the coastal town for the next seven days after government in a surprise move placed the coastal town under Stage 1 of the lockdown effective Thursday. The developments follows a 63-year-old Walvis Bay fisherman and a 47-year-old male truck driver becoming recent national COVID-19 cases and means only essential workers with permits will be allowed to leave the town during the imposed lockdown. Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula said that implemented measures were aimed at preventing the further…

28 May

Bank Windhoek donates 500 Reagent Testing Kits

ObserverUncategorisedBank Windhoek, Covid-19

Staff writer Bank Windhoek has donated 500 Reagent Testing Kits and Nasopharyngeal Swab Collection Kits to the Namibian Government in support of its fight against COVID-19. The Bank’s Executive Officer of Marketing and Corporate Communication Services, Jacquiline Pack, handed over the donation to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shalunga, at the Namibia Institute of Pathology’s (NIP) head office in Windhoek. Through the Analytical Technology and Chemical Supply, the Bank, in collaboration with NIP, was able to procure the material despite logistical challenges posed by the pandemic. “Since COVID-19 reached our borders, we realised that there was…

28 May

Jealousy clouds the point

ObserverNational NewsNamibians

We have regularly commented on the current flawed process of Members of Parliament (MPs) disclosing a part of their assets to the public. The point of this disclosure is to identify conflicts of interest in matters before the legislature. A public listing of assets of lawmakers is irrelevant if not used specifically and only for that purpose. The point is to stop decision-makers, like the accused Esau or Shanghala, from voting on laws with outcomes that pad their pockets. We must keep our eyes on the prize and stop getting lost in how many cars or houses are owned by…