Blog – Page 638 – Windhoek Observer

26 May

Lettin’ folks out of lock-up – is it a good thing?

ObserverUncategorisedNamibia

Jackie Wilson Asheeke When the president decided to pardon petty criminals, I thought, “ok…that’s nice…now what?” ‘Ripping-the-band-aid-off’ abrupt actions can cause more harm than good. These former inmates will be thrown out onto the streets and expected to ‘be ok.’ Reality check: They won’t be ok. What is the plan beyond unlocking the doors and saying, ‘get out?’ Proven criminals with no money will be stealing within hours just to get a bus ticket to get home or find food that day. It is colder these days…shall they steal blankets and coats to sleep outside at night? There are no…

26 May

Is the cure worse than the disease?

ObserverNational NewsCovid-19, Namibia

We remain committed to following government rules regarding the multi-stage lockdown. However, we feel obliged to ask the question for debate: Are our cures/prevention remedies for the pandemic worse than the disease itself? The latest articles and commentary seem to agree that this virus will never ‘go away’. It will be in our world always until there is a vaccine or cure. Shall we stay in a state of emergency forever? With rich countries ready to pay for the vaccine or cure, big pharma (global drug companies) is moving like Usain Bolt with research and testing. A treatment/cure/vaccine will now…

26 May

Meatco, NAFAU sign revised recognition agreement

ObserverUncategorisedMeat Corporation of Namibia, Meatco, Namibian Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU)

Staff Writer The Meat Corporation of Namibia (MEATCO) and the Namibian Food and Allied Workers Union (NAFAU) have signed the revised Recognition and Procedural Agreement. The main highlight of the revised agreement is the change to the employees who fall under the Bargaining Unit as A1-B2 which is now extended from A1-B5. “This means that all employees that fall within the Bargaining Unit currently will be represented by the Union during salary increment negotiations and other pertinent matters.” Under the newly signed agreement, the parties had a task to review the provisions of the agreement and to update outdated provisions…

26 May

Sanlam donates Protective and Screening equipment

ObserverObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Covid-19, Sanlam Group

Staff Writer Sanlam has donated protective and screening equipment to the City of Windhoek. The items were handed over in support of the City of Windhoek’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic within the city. Speaking at the handover, Sanlam Group CEO Tertius Stears said Sanlam was committed to fight the pandemic in the city in particular and the whole country in general. Stears said, “The world as we know it has changed and we are still to find and adjust to the “new normal,but in getting there we all have to work together and pull our efforts in the…

26 May

Secrecy shrouds fate of suspended Fishcor CEO

ObserverObserver MoneyFishcor, Mike Nghipunya

… As cabinet deliberates on new Fishcor board Staff Writer The continued role of Mike Nghipunya as Chief Executive Officer of the National Fishing Corporation (Fishcor) continues to be shrouded in amid a deafening silence from key stakeholders of the company. This comes more than five months after he was suspended from the company and subsequently arrested for his role in the Fishrot saga on allegations that he used his position as CEO of the state-owned fishing company to allocate fishing rights in exchange for money. Nghipunya is facing three charges, including fraud, contravening the Anti-Corruption Act and corruptly using…

26 May

Education Ministry absolves liability for student contractions

ObserverObserver MoneyArts and Culture, Covid-19, Ministry of Education

…as it remains adamant on schools re-opening Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture is adamant on re-opening schools amidst the announcement of three new positive cases of COVID-19 and but maintains it will not be held responsible should students contract the virus at school. Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shangula on Wednesday announced the country had recorded three new cases, the latest being a 39-year old man who traveled from South Africa and this comes on the backdrop of the Ministry of Education announcing its plans to re-open schools in four stages beginning on…

21 May

Dempsey takes over as FirstRand Namibia Group CEO

ObserverUncategorisedConrad Dempsey, FirstRand Namibia, RMB Namibia

Staff Writer RMB Namibia Chief Executive Officer, Conrad Dempsey has been appointed FirstRand Namibia Group CEO Designate effective 1 July 2020 and will officially takeover reigns from Sarel van Zyl who retires on 30 September 2020. “He brings a wealth of work experience from around the world as well as Africa and successfully has led and developed RMB into the most successful Corporate and Investment Bank in Namibia. He has an incredibly deep understanding of the group’s businesses and our culture and I know he will take FirstRand to even greater heights”, said Van Zyl. “We have developed a strong…

21 May

City of Windhoek or Huawei City?

ObserverNational News5G, City of Windhoek, CoW, Huawei

The decision about 5G technology in Windhoek in order to allow the city council to create what will be effectively, another an SOE is alarming. A quasi-SOE jointly owned by the City of Windhoek (CoW) and Huawei will supposedly run a fast, state-of-the-art internet ‘system’ conceived, financed, installed and operated by the Chinese. This is supposed to be a good thing for Windhoek. We disagree. First off, Huawei has been blocked from installing its high-tech internet infrastructure in the United States because there are concerns of Chinese control and access to national concerns. Also, THEY will have the on/off switch…

21 May

BoN declares WhatsApp Stokvel illegal

ObserverObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN), WhatsApp Stokvel

Staff Writer The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has finally declared WhatsApp Stokvel illegal following an investigation into their operations. The announcement by the central bank comes amid growing popularity of WhatsApp Stokvel as a means of making additional income. According to the central bank, the operations of the WhatsApp Stokvel are similar to that of a pyramid scheme and thus violating the country’s banking laws. “The outcome of the investigation carried out has revealed that the business activities of the N$200 WhatsApp Stokvel constitute a pyramid scheme, and therefore, N$200 WhatsApp Stokvel is in contravention of section 55 (A) of…

21 May

Ministry aware of school re-opening risks

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Education, Sanet Steenkamp

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Education says it is aware of the risks in reopening schools sooner than initially announced but feels it’s necessary as there is a “global move towards reopening schools.” The Education ministry this week announced that learners will be returning to schools in four stages, beginning with 3 June for grade 11 and 12 learners, followed by pre-primary to grade 3 on 22 June, then grades 7 to 9 and then lastly the remaining grades on 6 July and 20 July respectively. However, just this week a number of schools in France had to shut down…