Observer Money – Page 183

04 Mar

11 convicted for violating COVID -19 regulations

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Namibian Correctional Services (NCS)

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri According to Namibian Correctional Services (NCS), only eleven people have been convicted for violating the COVID -19 state of emergency regulations since their enactment. Commissioner of NCS, Meunajo Tjiroze, said the eleven are individuals that were sentenced by the courts, with the Namibia Police Force having arrested 795 suspects for the period March 2020 until January 2021. “Many people are not adhering to the Covid-19 regulations, this comes in as Shikongo announced that a significant number of people are paying the N$2000 fine through admission of being guilty for breaking the Covid-19 regulations,” said Namibia Police Force Commissioner,…

04 Mar

Govt to strip CPBN chairperson of powers

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCentral Procurement Board of Namibia, Patrick Swartz

Andrew Kathindi Government is proposing changes in the structure of the Central Procurement Board of Namibia’s (CPBN) Board, a development which will strip current Chairperson, Patrick Swartz, and his deputy’s powers when amendments into the Public Procurement Act, Act No. 15 come into effect. The amendments, which according to the Ministry of Finance are to strengthen governance issues around the CPBN, will see Swartz and his deputy, Lischen Ramakhutla, no longer with administrative powers if they opt to retain their current positions after the amendments. Swartz was embroiled in a recruitment scandal in May last year involving 14 employees, most…

03 Mar

Energy ministry lifts licence moratorium

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMinistry of Mines and Energy

Staff Writer The Ministry of Mines and Energy on Tuesday announced the lifting of its temporary suspension on the issuing of fuel retail site and wholesale licenses. The Ministry last July effected the suspension, citing an oversupply of service stations in the country. The move was aimed at reviewing existing procedures and requirements for securing a fuel retail site and wholesale license. “The Ministry has reviewed the licencing procedures and requirements for granting fuel retail and wholesale licences, as provided for in the Petroleum Products and Energy Regulations, of 2000. This includes new application forms and conditions for the granting…

03 Mar

NamWater seeks its N$1.5 billion

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyKatima Mulilo, NamWater Chief Executive Officer, Zambezi

Andrew Kathindi NamWater has revealed that it’s owed N$1.5 billion nationally, with local authorities being the largest debtors. NamWater Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Abraham Nehemia, told Windhoek Observer that some of the debts owed to them are backdated by nearly ten years.“I have written all of them letters. It's a demand letter waking up the other party to honour their obligations,” he said. The NamWater CEO further refuted claims that the lack of water in Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi region was a result of NamWater disconnecting the local authority. “There was a misrepresentation of facts in Katima. We have a…

03 Mar

Residents owe CoW N$1 billion

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Covid-19, Job Amupanda

Andrew Kathindi The City of Windhoek’s (CoW) debts currently stand at around N$ 1 billion, Mayor, Job Amupanda, has revealed on Tuesday. The debt, according to the Mayor, was around N$800 to N$900 million in early 2020, and moved to slightly above N$1 billion when COVID-19 hit to slightly below a billion when restrictions eased. “The City has not been spared by the negative impact of COVID-19, and our debts has drastically increased by N$150 million since the state of emergency was first announced in March 2020. At that point and time, we could not disconnect services for our residents…

02 Mar

Shangula dismisses third wave concerns …as CDC cautions

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Health and Social Services (MoHS), Kalumbi Shangula

Andrew Kathindi Health and Social Services (MoHS) minister, Kalumbi Shangula, has downplayed the probability of a third wave of COVID-19 hitting Namibia anytime soon. This comes after South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, on Sunday warned that the, “threat of a third wave is constantly present, as is the threat of yet more new variants”. Shangula stated that he was not aware of Ramaphosa’s warning, but queried, “How can they talk about a third wave when they are relaxing all the control measures?” South Africa on Sunday relaxed some of its regulations in the control of the spread of COVID-19. The…

02 Mar

600 Seaflower workers set to lose jobs again

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyTunacor

Andrew Kathindi and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Altogether 597 factory workers under a government fishing quota for employment deal entered with Tunacor , are again set to lose their jobs when the existing agreement expires this month , it has emerged. Tunacor, awarded 4 000 tonnes worth of quota valued at over N$6 million by government in exchange for absorbing the Seaflower Pelagic Processing (SPP) retrenched workers, has revealed that it only has 50 openings in the company, which the employees were free to apply when the existing deal reached last December expires this month. The deal, struck between Fishcor’s board, the…

26 Feb

Masisi jets in for desalination plant talks

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyBotswana, Namibia, president Hage Geingob, President Mokgweetsi Masisi

Maria Hamutenya Namibia and Botswana are still moving ahead with plans to set up a joint desalination plant at the coast, with President Mokgweetsi Masisi having jetted into the country on Thursday for a one day working visit with President Hage Geingob. The visit is Masisi’s second visit to the country in two months. Although exact details of the meeting, held behind closed doors, were sketchy, Masisi is said to have been invited by Geingob to meet unnamed investors interested in funding the project, a development confirmed by the Botswana President through his social media. According to Masisi, Namibia has…

26 Feb

Dark days loom for Government ministries …as government owes City N$82 million bill

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, Government, Harold Akwenye

Andrew Kathindi The Windhoek Observer can reveal that government is in arrears of over N$82 million to the City of Windhoek (CoW), a position which saw electricity disconnected at more than eight government ministries and agencies on Thursday. Government’s woes are, however, expected to mount as CoW has vowed to continue with disconnection at other ministries next week. “The total debt owned by Government is N$ 82 million to date, although the suspension of electricity services was scheduled to start yesterday (Wednesday), it has only commenced today and will continue next week,” City spokesperson Harold Akwenye said. On the individual…

25 Feb

Ovaherero, Nama still to appeal

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNama, Ovaherero, Ovaherero Traditional Authority

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Five months later the Ovaherero and Nama people are still to appeal last September’s US Court’s ruling which refused to hear their case against the German government citing lack of jurisdiction over the matter. The two tribes had approached the US Courts in pursuit of genocide reparations against the German government. Nama Traditional Leaders Association Secretary General, Deodat Dikse, confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that no action has been taken since the ruling was handed down. “The appeal is still in process as we are appealing to the Supreme Court, it has not yet been finalised yet, and…