Observer Money – Page 182

01 Apr

BoN declares N$278m dividend

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyBank of Namibia, Covid-19

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The Bank of Namibia on Wednesday declared a N$278.2 million dividend for the 2020 financial year to the State Revenue Fund, lower than the N$399 million declared prior year. This comes as the apex bank declared a N$532 million surplus for the period under review. “The financial performance of the Bank in 2020 was negatively impacted by low interest rates in the global markets as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic; nonetheless the Bank still recorded a notable surplus albeit lower in comparison with 2019. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 was characterised by…

01 Apr

COVID-19 restrictions extended …as Namibia passes COVID-19 death estimates

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob on Wednesday extended the current COVID-19 regulations, with minor changes to the measures. Under the current dispensation, which will last until 30 April, restriction on movement will remain in place from 22h00 until 04h00, daily. Restaurants, bars and shebeens will be permitted to extend the trading hours for liquor up to 22h00, Mondays to Saturdays. The sale of alcohol on Sundays will remain prohibited, while attendance at public gatherings have been increased from the current number of 50 to 100 persons per event, whether the event is held indoor and outdoor. Minister of Health and…

31 Mar

Windhoek budgets N$350m for cycle lanes … Electric cars not a priority

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, City Spokesperson, Harold Akwenye, Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, Ministry of Works and Transport (MWT)

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The City of Windhoek plans to implement bicycle lanes within the City at an estimated cost of N$350 million for Phase 1. The Windhoek Observer can reveal the development will now make bicycle lanes compulsory for all newly constructed roads moving forward. “Since the City developed the non-motorised transport (NMT) strategy, there is a condition that says ensure that NMT requirements are incorporated in all new developments; private sector and public sector projects alike. Each road within the City should include cycling lanes, going forward,” City Spokesperson, Harold Akwenye, said. The plan, which falls in line with plans…

31 Mar

New 213 applicants awarded fishing quota

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAlbert Kawana, Erongo, Kavango East, Kavango West, Khomas, Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources

Andrew Kathindi The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Albert Kawana, has announced that 213 new applications for fishing quotas were approved by the Government. This number represents 71 percent of all the successful applicants. According to the ministry, 298 applications were successful out of the initial 5, 176 submitted in 2018. The main beneficiaries for the quotas are applicants in the Khomas region with 11 percent with Erongo with 9,9 percent. Kavango East and Kavango West regions were the lowest with 0,6 percent and 0,4 percent applications approved respectively. "It will also be shown that, unfortunately, some regions did…

30 Mar

Covid-19: Judge calls for parliamentary oversight & democratic accountability

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Professor Justice Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake, SADC

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK - A widely-acclaimed judge, Professor Justice Oagile Bethuel Key Dingake, has implored legislative functionaries in the SADC region to “ensure the observance of parliamentary oversight and scrutiny, democratic accountability, transparency, legitimacy” at all stages in the legislative process as the world grapples with Covid-19. Dingake is a former Judge of the High Court of Botswana. He is now a Justice of the Residual Special Court of Sierra Leone, the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea and the Court of Appeal of Seychelles. He made the call when he virtually addressed Clerks of national Parliaments affiliated to the…

30 Mar

Vaccine arrival delayed again

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCOVAX Facility, Covid-19, Kalumbi Shangula, MoHSS Minister

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has bemoaned the delay in the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccines which it purchased through the COVAX Facility. This comes as the latest communication from the Facility coordinators, which came last week, stated that the vaccines will only arrive in the country in the next three weeks. This is the third time that the vaccine arrival date has been announced, after an email in January from the COVAX Facility, had informed MoHSS Minister, Kalumbi Shangula, that the vaccine would arrive in mid or end of February, and later shifted to…

30 Mar

Taxi fare increase set for Wednesday

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNamibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU), NTTU, Werner Januarie

Maria Hamutenya Taxi fares will increase from N$12 to N$ 13.20 as of 31 March, Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) leader, Werner Januarie, announced on Monday. According to Januarie, the increment is in line with the law, section 12 of the Road Transportation Act of 1977, which states that when there is any fuel increment, unions are allowed to give notice for taxi fare increment. “It is only in subsequent section where board’s approval is sought and only in instances where the increase requested is above the threshold of ten percent, thus the NTTU pricelist is now finalised and…

26 Mar

Low turnout marks COVID vaccination

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Khomas, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS), Sinopharm

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has expressed concern at the low turnout of people being vaccinated for COVID-19. Only 218 people have so far been vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine under the first phase of the of the ministry roll out plan which ends on the 16th of April. “There is still low uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines, we encourage the target population groups, especially health care workers to get vaccinated,” said Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula. He argued, “Studies continue to show that COVID-19 vaccines work very well at keeping you from getting COVID-19 and…

26 Mar

Namibia’s unemployed graduates’ crisis

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyInternational University of Management (IUM), Ministry of Higher Education, Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Technology and Innovation (MHETI), University of Namibia (UNAM)

Rose-Mary Haufiku Amid rising numbers of unemployed graduates in the country, questions have begun to be raised on whether the country’s top universities are offering relevant courses to the country’s existing socio and economic conditions. The latest university survey shows that approximately 7 383 students graduated from the country’s top three universities, namely University of Namibia (Unam), Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) and International University of Management (IUM) in 2020, with majority eyeing to be absorbed into the job market. According to the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation (MHETI) there are over 67 000 unemployed graduates…

25 Mar

96 succumb to COVID in one month …As Namibia surpasses the 500 mark in deaths

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Rose-Mary Haufiku and Maria Hamutenya Namibia’s COVID-19 death toll continues to grow at an exponential rate, with the country recording over 96 deaths in one month. Since the outbreak of the virus, the country’s COVID-19 deaths have now surpassed the 500 mark according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), with a total of 502 deaths recorded. This comes after four deaths were announced from Omuthiya, Tsumeb, Gobabis and Mariental districts. Namibia began its first roll-out of the Chinese manufactured Sinopharm vaccine last Friday after receiving 100 000 doses from China, and an additional…