info_e12wt4cs – Page 949

18 Jun

President Geingob’s Philosophy is paying off

info_e12wt4csUncategorised

…the case of Namibia’s COVID-19 response Lameck Odada Like any other country in the world, Namibia is also dealing with the outbreak of COVID-19 and trying to alleviate what has become a pandemic. With confirmation of the first two cases of COVID-19 in the country on March 14, 2020, President Hage Geingob declared a State of Emergency on March 17, 2020 and directed an immediate lockdown that lasted for 38 days. Among many other crucial decisions was the cancellation of the 30th Independence Day public celebration. Infections flattened at 16 cases with no new cases reported for 45 days, until…

18 Jun

Who decides the meaning of free education?

info_e12wt4csNational NewsEducation

Education ministry executive director (ED), Sanet Steenkamp made a remarkable statement (if she was quoted correctly). She said that free education does not necessarily mean that all the needs of learners will be catered for by the government. While we admire the education executive director for managing a very tough job, we must take issue with her here. The ED does not have the remit to tell Namibians what the constitution means. That question is one for the courts. Article 20 (2) of the Constitution says that the State shall provide reasonable facilities to render effective the right to education…

18 Jun

BoN cuts Repo rate to 4%

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedDeputy Governor, e Bank of Namibia (BoN), Ebson Uanguta

Staff Writer The Bank of Namibia (BoN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has cut the Repo rate from 4.25 percent to 4 percent, a move which translates to a cumulative 2.50 percentage point reduction since the beginning of the year. “This decision was taken following a review of global, regional and domestic economic and financial developments. The MPC is of the view that at this level the rate is appropriate to continue supporting domestic economic activity while at the same time safeguarding the one-to-one link between the Namibia Dollar and the South African Rand,” Deputy Governor of the Bank of Namibia,…

18 Jun

Namibia records two new Covid cases

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Minister of Health and Social Services

Staff Writer The Minister of Health and Social Services Kalumbi Shangula on Wednesday evening announced that Namibia had recorded two additional positive cases of Covid-19 ,bringing the total number of cases to 36. According to the minister, Case 35 is a 26-years old Namibian male, resident of Walvis Bay, who went to the Walvis Bay hospital on 15th June 2020 complaining of cough, difficulty in breathing, headache and fever since the 14 June 2020. “He was picked up by the ambulance on the same day and taken to the hospital. He was screened, swabbed and then admitted in isolation ward.…

17 Jun

Nekundi’s taint affects Geingob

info_e12wt4csNational NewsFishcor, Veikko Nekundi

In 2017, Deputy Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi received N$20,000 from a law firm being investigated for receiving and transferring money connected with the Fishrot scandal. And yet, in 2020 he is sworn in as a Member of Parliament and appointed to a deputy minister’s portfolio. We wonder what vetting procedures are undertaken when people are selected for high office. An appointment to serve the country as a Member of Parliament, minister or deputy minister must only be extended to those who hold the highest level of integrity, honesty and love of nation. But, that is not enough.…

17 Jun

Your small business can adapt to COVID-19 hindrance

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedBank Windhoek, Covid-19

Loide David The International Monetary Fund’s latest Global Financial Stability Report indicates that financial systems have already felt a dramatic impact during the COVID-19 crisis. In the United States, one of the hardest-hit countries with over two million COVID-19 cases, the effect of the pandemic on businesses has caused it to register close to 40 million job losses. Most of these job losses are from small businesses. Small businesses are privately owned establishments, enterprises, sole proprietorships with fewer employees, and less annual revenue than a regular-sized business or corporation. In a Namibian context, the commercial bank’s regulator, Bank of Namibia,…

17 Jun

Ngwangwama appointed NWR Managing Director

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedDr Matthias Mpareke Ngwangwama, Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR)

Staff Writer Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) Board of Directors has appointed Dr Matthias Mpareke Ngwangwama as the substantive Managing Director effective 1 April 2020 for a period of five years. Ngwangwama has been acting Managing Director of NWR since 23 April 2019 following the exit of Zelna Hengari. Ngwangwama is no stranger to NWR, having been the longest-serving Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the hospitality company, before taking over as the Chief Officer: Strategy and Projects within the organisation two years ago. "As a board we know we have made the right choice. Being a PhD holder in Business Management…

17 Jun

A dream, hard work and perseverance

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedDebmarine Namibia, Wilbard Mwetulundila

A journey for Wilbard Mwetulundila Wilbard Mwetulundila grew up in Onamutayi Village east of Ongwediva with his seven siblings. As a child, he was fascinated by battery-operated toys and his persisted of engineering curiosity birthed a Marine Electrician at Debmarine Namibia. He has an unwavering love for engineering and on the quest to follow it though to make sure that his childhood dream of becoming an engineer is realised. “I always had a picture of myself working in an engineering space. Given that burning passion, it was just a matter of putting in the effort to fulfill my dream”. After…

16 Jun

Beware of cyber scams

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19, cyber, Iyaloo N Waiganjo, Moses Waiganjo

Moses Waiganjo and Iyaloo N Waiganjo COVID-19 has forced most citizens around the world to stay home and to make use of information technology infrastructure such as smart phones, computers and tablets to carry out their daily online activities. The precipitous rise in internet usage at this specific and unique time has also given a green light to more cyber conmen and criminals to attempt to steal money and personal information. During this pandemic, many services are offered online to comply with social distancing as directed by the government. Academic classes are offered online from primary to tertiary levels. Employees…

16 Jun

NSFAF funded foreign study is unaffordable

info_e12wt4csNational NewsCuba, NSFAF, students

NSFAF can no longer support Namibians attending foreign universities. The little money that remains in state coffers, cannot be stretched that far. All students that have completed half of their requirements (for example) could be funded to finish. But, all others must return and the program shut down. NSFAF funds are loans. Those receiving them should be allowed to spend them on the education of their choosing. Unpredictable foreign exchange fluctuations; the high cost of sending money; and the lack of funds to assist students in emergency situations, makes the program untenable. There are good reasons to support foreign study…