Windhoek Observer – Page 721 – Windhoek Observer

28 Jul

Chinese company seek relief for N$ 33 million worth of income tax

National NewsChinese company seek relief for N$ 33 million worth of income tax

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A Chinese construction company is seeking interim relief in the High Court of Namibia while alleging that N$33 031 543.04 was transferred from its bank account to the Bank of Namibia. The money is allegedly the total and combined tax payable in respect of income tax that was owed to the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRa) by the Zhong Mei Engineering Group. The company claims it was only informed in an audit exit meeting, which they claim they were not aware of, on 7 July 2023 that it owed that amount and it was due or payable prior on…

28 Jul

SORED establishment on track

National NewsSORED establishment on track

Martin Endjala The establishment plans of a Southern Regional Electricity Distributor (SoRED) which emerged in 2014, have received the blessings of the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development. The development follows a recent circular from the ministry’s Executive Director, Daniel Ngidinua which stated that shareholding and asset transfer agreements have been approved. The circular stated that the granted approval by the Ministry as advised by the Attorney General’s Office is set with conditions. The circular stated that the proposals, comments and changes made by the AG’s office must be inserted before the agreements are signed and copies sent copies of…

28 Jul

Trillions are lost to cybercrime

National NewsCybersecurity Ventures, Trillions are lost to cybercrime

Martin Endjala With Cybercrime and cybersecurity constantly evolving and new threats emerging every year in different forms, there is a high risk of trillions of dollars getting lost to thieves. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the cost of cybercrime in 2023 is predicted to hit a staggering N$141 trillion and is expected to further grow to N$176 trillion by 2025,. “This is trillion, not billion, more than Apple and Amazon are worth combined, and that’s just in one year, and every day we go online, our devices are Internet-enabled, and we rarely think about the security risks we take and how…

28 Jul

NBL and Nafau sign wage increase deal

National NewsNamibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU), NBL and Nafau sign wage increase deal

Martin Endjala Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU) recently agreed to sign a substantive wage increase agreement for the 2024 financial year. As part of the new agreement, the two parties have agreed on an overall increase of 7.5 percent in basic salaries for NBL employees. The agreement is for all bargaining unit employees and applicable for the period 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 and 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2024 respectively. The company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Surihe Gaomas-Guchu said that it will continue with the current incentive scheme that…

28 Jul

Lucrative Health Tender alive again

MainLucrative Health Tender alive again

Niël Terblanché The High Court of Namibia has finalised the matter between Taliindje Investment CC’s and 92 respondents with regard to the tender to supply N$141 million worth of clinical gloves to the Ministry of Health and Social Services. The court condoned the closed corporation’s application for non-compliance with the forms and services as provided by the rules of the court and at the same time ordered that the Central Procurement Board (CPB) fully comply with an order to review the closed corporation’s removal as a supplier of clinical products. Taliindje Investments is owned by Helena Figura. She is listed…

27 Jul

EIF assists communities threatened by climate change

Observer MoneyEIF assists communities threatened by climate change, Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia

Martin Endjala The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia has disbursed grants to the tune of N$88 300 000 under the ‘Building Resilience of Communities across Targeted eight landscapes threatened by climate change through an ecosystems-based adaptation approach’ initiative. The project is funded by the Green Climate Fund and geared towards addressing communities threatened by climate change through an Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Approach in Namibia, particularly in the Kunene and Erongo regions. The community projects are aimed at addressing climate change through ecosystem-based adaptation by recognising the inherent strength and resilience of the natural systems in adapting to changing climatic conditions. The…

27 Jul

Menzies Aviation suffers another defeat

Main12 July 2023, HKIA to Paragon, Menzies Aviation suffers another defeat, Menzies filed

Niël Terblanché After the High Court’s decision of 23 May 2023 which dismissed Menzies’ application to interdict NAC from implementing NAC’s award of the tender to provide ground handling services at HKIA to Paragon until finalization of a review application that Menzies has filed in the High Court in respect of the tender referred to above, Menzies has since filed an appeal to the Supreme Court against the said High Court decision. On 12 July 2023, Menzies filed an application in the Supreme Court requesting that court to expedite the determination of its appeal. The Supreme Court in its order…

27 Jul

Kneejerk reaction unleashes a chain reaction

National NewsKneejerk reaction unleashes a chain reaction

Niël Terblanché The opportunistic misinterpretation of the ruling of Namibia’s Supreme Court with regard to the immigration rights of people in same-sex marriages consummated outside the borders of the country by many influential personalities might have far-reaching funding consequences for the country. The initial kneejerk reaction to the Supreme Court’s ruling and the subsequent tabling and approval of a private member’s bill in the National Assembly to change the definition of the word spouse as described in the Namibian Constitution has had a chain reaction amongst donor countries and organisations that politicians and legislators should have anticipated.Ambassador John Nkengasong, the…

27 Jul

Venaani blames GRN for abandoning crucial projects

National NewsMcHenry Venaani, Venaani blames GRN for abandoning crucial projects

Stefanus Nashama The leader of the official opposition in the Namibian Parliament, McHenry Venaani, blamed the government for failing to complete more than 43 capital projects. He said for the government to abandon such huge and crucial capital projects, represents gross mismanagement which is a severe blow to the Namibian Nation’s progress and ability to address the pressing needs of the people. According to him, the backlog of incomplete projects in the health, housing, education, and agriculture sectors is a sign of the government’s failure to prioritize the well-being of citizens. This follows a recent media report by the Ministry…

27 Jul

Retirement investment is a must for the construction industry

National NewsEstablishment of the Namibian Building Workers Pension Fund (NBWPF), Retirement investment is a must for the construction industry

Martin Endjala The construction industry is among some of the most neglected industries when it comes to retirement investment given the model of its work and as a result, many self-employed businesses find it hard to join retirement pension funds. It is against this background that the Establishment of the Namibian Building Workers Pension Fund (NBWPF) was created on 1 March 1990 to minimize this gap that has been excluding the construction sector for some years. After applying for the rule amendment which was approved in October last year, by the registrar of pension funds under the auspices of the…