Blog – Page 1015 – News Stand

04 Sep

Education, NANTU in compromise deal …as private schools stick to initial dates

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Khomas, Ministry of Education, Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU)

Andrew Kathindi In last ditch effort to avoid a stalemate, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) have struck a compromised deal. The final agreement between the Ministry and Union contains terms they previously found undesirable. Education minister Anna Nghipondoka, following negotiations over two days between her office, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and NANTU, announced that grades 7-9 will return to school in all regions on the 7th of September. The Khomas region is not included in this opening date. Grades 4-6 will reopen…

03 Sep

Oarsmen fight while the ship sinks

info_e12wt4csNational NewsMinister of Defence Peter Hafeni Vilho, Namibia

In case anyone is mistaken, Namibia is in serious trouble right now. The ship’s engines are dead and we are taking on water fast. All the oarsmen in the boat must bail water and row to get us to the closest patch of dry land. Instead, the bickering has begun. Each side will be righteous in their points of view and all of us (including them) will drown. Minister of Defence Peter Hafeni Vilho has again placed himself in the spotlight. Defence Ministers with the mandate to represent the elected government in administering and guiding the military should be less…

03 Sep

StartUp Namibia launches round 2 funding

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19, German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Startup Grant, StartUp Namibia

Staff Writer StartUp Namibia and its partners have announced Round 2 of the COVID-19 Startup Grant, where grants of N$15,000 each will be provided on a competitive basis to 500 start-ups. The COVID-19 Startup Survival Grant is aimed at helping start-ups and small businesses to supplement wages, fixed costs, and offset declining revenue. “Looking on the massive impact of COVID-19 on the private sector, we are very happy to extend the targeted support for start-ups and young SMEs during this challenging time. Additional funding for this project is provided by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. We…

03 Sep

Hosea Kutako prepared for tourist arrivals

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedHosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA), Namibia Airports Company

Staff Writer The Namibia Airports Company says its prepared to start receiving international travellers at Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) as part of the country’s Target International Tourism Revival Initiative. “NAC has set in motion, its restart plan under the heading “Resumption of Activities” to ensure the airport readiness upon the resumption of international flights as borders are to gradually open under the provisions of the State of the Emergency Regulations on COVID-19.The NAC has not received any airlines scheduled ahead of the reopening, but they have expressed their willingness to resume flights and we are anticipating mid-September 2020. Alternatively,…

03 Sep

Healthcare workers with COVID-19 on the rise

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19

Staff Writer The Ministry of Health has raised concern over increasing cases of healthcare workers contracting COVID-19. According to Ministry of Health data, 333 health care workers are currently infected with COVID-19. This comes as a healthcare worker from Swakopmund succumbed to the virus on Monday. Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula revealed Wednesday that healthcare workers now constitute 4.2 percent of the total COVID-19 confirmed cases recorded in the country since the outbreak. “Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have recorded a total number of 333 health workers infected with COVID-19, which represents 4.2 percent of the total confirmed cases recorded…

03 Sep

CoW stalls decongestion plan

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, president Hage Geingob, Windhoek Mayor Fransina Kahungu

Andrew Kathindi The City of Windhoek has yet to take action on decongesting the informal areas of Windhoek amidst rising COVID-19 cases, nearly a month after President Hage Geingob gave the directive. Urban and Rural Development Ministry Executive Director (ED), Nghidinwa Daniel confirmed to Windhoek Observer last month that the ministry had given directives to the Windhoek local authority to implement the decongestion plan. Chairperson of the City management committee Moses Shiikwa had previously stated that implementation would likely take place at the end of August, as it would need to go through the channels, passing through the Committee before…

02 Sep

Unacceptable: animal cages for Namibians

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamibians, Walvis Bay

Reports that Walvis Bay officials intend to use state funds to build cheap houses with no toilets, are concerning. Further statements fail to identify the materials that will be used to make these structures. This situation is alarming. Such a building project must be reconsidered. Our people are not animals in a zoo and government funded houses must not resemble cages. The goal should not be to build something fast, but to efficiently build homes for families. It is de-humanizing for government to build a place for human beings to live which, by design, has no toilet. Claims that the…

02 Sep

Appointments and changes at Bank Windhoek

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedZenaune Kamberipa

Staff Writer Bank Windhoek has announced new executive changes which have seen Zenaune Kamberipa appointed as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective 1 September 2020. Kamberipa will be taking over the role from James Chapman who has been appointed the bank’s Executive Officer: Retail Banking Services. An auditor by profession, Kamberipa started his career as at Deloitte SA in 2010 and moved back to Deloitte Namibia in 2013 and was previously the Group Financial Manager at FirstRand Group for four years. “In my new role at Bank Windhoek, I look forward to implementing and driving the financial strategy of the…

02 Sep

Rössing Uranium, Swakop Uranium support road safety

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedArandis, CNNC Rössing Uranium, Swakop Uranium, Swakopmund

Staff Writer CNNC Rössing Uranium and Swakop Uranium has announced that it has installed Stimsonite road studs on the B2 road between Swakopmund and Arandis as part of the mines’ continued efforts in supporting communities in which they operate. According to the miners, the project is geared to improve road safety on the 40 kilometres stretch of road from the road block outside Swakopmund to the turn-off at Arandis, a distance of just over 40 kilometres. The project which cost N$200,000, was handed over to the Roads Authority Namibia on Monday. Stimsonite studs are embedded type of reflective road studs…

02 Sep

Health Ministry dismisses Remdesivir concerns …orders second batch

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyHealth Minister Kalumbi Shangula, Remdesivir

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has placed a second order for a batch of Remdesivir, the antiviral medicine being used worldwide to treat COVID-19 patients despite growing debate over the safety and efficiency of the medication. This comes after the ministry has spent N$1 million for 1,000 vials for the first batch that came into the country last week. Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula confirmed that the medicine is already being prescribed to patients as it has been shown to shorten the recovery time in patients. “The medicine is part of our essential medicines and will…