Featured – Page 8 – Windhoek Observer

01 Sep

Menzies Aviation loses bid to stay on at HKIA

ObserverFeaturedMenzies Aviation loses bid to stay on at HKIA

Niel Terblanche HIGH Court Judge, Hannelie Prinsloo this morning dismissed an application of Menzies Aviation Namibia where the British-owned company appealed against being evicted from the Hosea Kutako International Airport on 19 August 2023 with costs and removed the matter from the roll. The judge found that Menzies had no legal right to insist on continuing to provide ground handling services at the airport and that the company had no legal right to further occupy any premises of the Namibia Airports Company at the airport. The judge also found that the Namibia Airports Company was fully entitled to enforce the…

28 Aug

Samantha Majiedt´s Dance Diplomacy…Embracing one´s cultural heritage while fostering global connections through the universal language of dance and education

ObserverFeaturedKurt Hahn, Samantha Majiedt

For two years, Samantha Majiedt immersed herself in a diverse world of dance during a scholarship at the United World College in Singapore 2021 - 2023. This unique educational institution is part of a network of 18 United World Colleges spanning four continents. The first UWC was founded in Wales in 1962 by German educator Kurt Hahn, who believed in the power of education to foster peace, a vision that emerged during the tumultuous Second World War. Hahn’s dream was to bring together 16-19-year-olds from various social, economic, and cultural backgrounds, uniting them through education to promote intercultural understanding and…

28 Aug

Debunking E-commerce…An exclusive interview with rising star Emilia Eino

ObserverFeaturedDebunking E-commerce...An exclusive interview with rising star Emilia Eino, Emilia Eino

Emilia Eino has served in the ICT sector for 12 years. She first served as a Development Planner responsible for ICT infrastructure development . As the founding manager and expert in the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia she introduced the first development of the first ever Regulatory Framework for the postal sector in Namibia. She is currently serving as a Council Member on the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU). Where does Emilia Eino come from? I was born and raised in Windhoek, Namibia. Can you tell us about your family? I belong to a nuclear family of 3 biological brothers,…

23 Aug

Circular Economy: A Sustainability Promise

ObserverFeatured, OpinionsCircular Economy, Circular Economy: A Sustainability Promise

Vivian !Nou-/Gawaseb and McClay Thikusho The need of adopting the circular economy’s principles becomes evident when we try to reimagine a sustainable future for Namibia. The circular economy is an economic model that emphasises the recycling and repurposing of materials and goods, particularly as a strategy to maintain ecologically responsible or sustainable production.It offers a paradigmshifting strategy that not only encourages economic development but also ensures social advancement and preservation of the environment. Prioritising and allocating resources to theprogress of circularity is becoming more and more important, especially in the context of Namibia. This specifically applies to important industries including…

22 Aug

Rising Against Giants: The Essential Disruption in Namibia’s Business Landscape

ObserverFeatured, OpinionsHosea Kutako International Airport, Menzies, Paragon Aviation, Rising Against Giants: The Essential Disruption in Namibia's Business Landscape

Nrupesh Soni, Facilit8 Namibia The unfolding saga at Hosea Kutako International Airport is more than a mere corporate dispute—it encapsulates a broader issue that reverberates throughout Namibia and indeed, the wider African continent. The tension between Paragon Aviation, a local entity, and Menzies, an international behemoth, over the airport's ground handling tender , goes beyond a mere contractual disagreement. Instead, it sheds light on the uphill battle local businesses face when striving to navigate the labyrinth of corporate colonialism. A persistent, if paradoxical, sentiment exists in parts of Africa, including Namibia: the belief that local firms, by virtue of their…

21 Aug

Inside the Mind of a Black Child

ObserverFeaturedInside the Mind of a Black Child, Johanna Swartbooi

Johanna Swartbooi, a creative entrepreneur was born and raised in the ||Karas, region and attended public schools in Windhoek. She received three years of training in Social Work before changing fields and acquiring a Higher Certificate in Business and Marketing Management in 2021. She is currently in her final year of studies in Business Administration majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management. Johanna’s professional career in fashion began with modelling in 2016. Since then she received various awards including Miss Namibia 2019 2nd Runner Up and Female Model of the Year in 2020 from the Simply You Magazine Lifestyle and Fashion…

21 Aug

Trustco Bank’s license temporarily suspended

ObserverFeatured, National NewsBank of Namibia (BoN), Johannes !Gawaxab

Martin Endjala The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has temporarily suspended Trustco Bank Namibia’s license for a period of six months to rectify certain stipulated and communicated instances of non-compliance. This comes after BoN issued a statement last week Friday stating that the suspension is in accordance with Section 15(5) of the banking institutions Act no 13 of 2023, and it was done after consultations with the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprise, which resolved to halt the authorisation of the Trustco Bank Namibia to operate as a banking institution with immediate effect. According to Johannes !Gawaxab, the BoN’s Governor, the…

18 Aug

Inflation hits alcohol, tobacco

ObserverFeatured, Observer MoneyInflation hits alcohol, tobacco

The inflation rate for alcoholic beverages and tobacco stood at 6.9% in July 2023 compared to 5.4% registered in July of the preceding year The increase in the annual inflation rate for this category resulted from an increase witnessed in the subcategory of alcoholic beverages which increased by 7.7% in July 2023 compared to 5.4% recorded in July 2022, figures by the Namibia Statistics Agency revealed. The main products which pushed up the inflation rate for this subcomponent in July 2023 were sparkling wines/champagnes (from 1.2% to 10.6%); Wines (from 0.9% to 8.6%) and liqueurs (from -3.0% to 1.1%). Annual…

18 Aug

Government, Peugeot Opel to decide plant future

ObserverFeatured, Observer MoneyGovernment

Chamwe Kaira With the future of the Peugeot Opel Assembly plant hanging in the balance, the government and PSA Automobiles, the two shareholders on the plant are expected to hold crucial talks that will determine the future of the plant. “The two shareholders have to meet and agree on the way forward. That is all, I am allowed to say at the moment,” Michael Humavindu, deputy executive director of industrialisation and enterprise development at the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade said this week. Humavindu is also a board member of the company. It is not clear when the shareholders will…

17 Aug

Oil and gas exploration should be done in harmony withthe environment: PM

ObserverEnergy, FeaturedOil and gas exploration should be done in harmony withthe environment: PM

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Namibia is a land of unspoiled beauty and rich resources, and the discovery of oil and gas reserves within our borders brings both opportunities and responsibilities. “We must ensure that the development of this sector not only brings equitable economic development but that it is also done in harmony with our environment.” These were the words of Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa- Amadhila, yesterday while speaking at the Oil and Gas Conference in the capital. She said that Namibia’s journey into the major leagues of oil and gas-producing countries should be a carefully considered one. “Because Government is still…