Observer Money

Transport permit corruption irks operators
06 Feb

Transport permit corruption irks operators

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Maria Hamutenya Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) has accused the Ministry of Works and Transport of allowing the festering of rampant corruption in the issuance of transport permits. The taxi body has alleged the demand of kickbacks by officials issuing transport permits with 58 996 new applications having been approved since November 2004. About 2 500 permits have been issued all over Namibia between 1 January, 2020 and 31 January, 2021. “The corruption there is unquestionable, it’s not even a delay as people are trying to portray. You are just expected to pay somebody a bribe for your application…
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Deal still on – Sisa
05 Feb

Deal still on – Sisa

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Andrew Kathindi Lawyer Sisa Namandje maintains the contentious last minute deal struck between his client, Challenge Air and Air Namibia remains valid despite government distancing itself from the arrangement and the carrier’s board resigning en masse. “They must just pay as ordered by court. If they don’t pay, we will sell the planes and other things. The court order says that once they have not paid, we will execute immediately,” Namandje told Windhoek Observer. According to terms of the deal which was agreed upon by the Air Namibia board, the airline will move ahead to settle its N$182 million debt,…
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No plans for ivermectin COVID-19 treatment
04 Feb

No plans for ivermectin COVID-19 treatment

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Staff Reporter The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) has no plans to use the ivermectin drug, stating that there is not enough evidence to its effectiveness. The drug was approved for limited use by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, and by the Zimbabwean government. “In Namibia it is not registered for human use. There is always excitement when any drug is believed to be beneficial in treating COVID-19. We are familiar with the history of hydroxychloroquine. There was hype about it and many others and Ivermectin is just joining the long list of those types of…
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Air Namibia board resigns …accuses shareholder of governance violations
04 Feb

Air Namibia board resigns …accuses shareholder of governance violations

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Staff Writer The Air Namibia board resigned en masse on Wednesday after writing a scathing letter, accusing government of corporate governance violations in its dealing with the airline. First to hand in his resignation was Willy Mertens, who is reported to have resigned on Monday, after the airline on Friday had entered into a settlement agreement with Belgian company, Challenge Air whom it owed for a 1998 airplane lease agreement. Air Namibia board Chairperson, Escher Luanda, and Heritha Muyoba are reported to have tendered their resignations on Wednesday, a position confirmed by Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, with the status…
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President denies systematic corruption in Namibia
03 Feb

President denies systematic corruption in Namibia

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Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob insists corruption in Namibia is not a systemic problem, but rather a result of some corrupt officials. The President remarked at the official opening of Cabinet this year. “I believe that corruption is not systemic in Namibia, but perceptions have been created that Namibia is a corrupt society. Although corruption is not systemic in Namibia, we recognise that some corrupt officials have tainted the name of our country. It is therefore important for all citizens to emphasise that corruption in any form, e.g. kickbacks, or percentage commission for the amount of a contract, is unacceptable,”…
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Theft tops Namibia’s crime offences…as murder and rape remain a concern
03 Feb

Theft tops Namibia’s crime offences…as murder and rape remain a concern

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Andrew Kathindi Theft and traffic fines top criminal offenses committed countrywide since last March, the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) has revealed. Altogether 524 theft offences were committed by inmates admitted into correctional facilities from March 2020- January 2021, while 345 traffic offenses were committed during the period under review. “It is interesting to note that theft (which is classified as an economic offence) was the most common offence with 524 offenders incarcerated for that offence,” Commissioner Meunajo Tjiroze, Directorate Reintegration in the NCS told Windhoek Observer. She added, “The second most occurring offence is stock theft (which is classified as…
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CoW moves against colonial statues, street names
02 Feb

CoW moves against colonial statues, street names

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Maria Hamutenya City of Windhoek (CoW) is next week set to deliberate on the removal of the Kurt von Francois statue and the changing of colonial street names in the capital. The move comes amid calls for statue removal and name change in some of the city roads, with current CoW Mayor, Job Amupanda having led the charge, calling for the Kurt von Francois statue to be replaced by human rights activist Anna Kakurukaze Mungunda. “The changing of street names still has to go to council for a decision. It was elaborated on at a management committee meeting and yes…
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Govt seeks legal opinion over Air Namibia deal
02 Feb

Govt seeks legal opinion over Air Namibia deal

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Staff Writer Ministry of Public Enterprises has requested a legal opinion regarding Air Namibia’s last minute settlement agreement reached with Belgian company, Challenge Air, which is alleged to have been concluded without its approval. The government is considering the consequences of the agreement, which might require treasury to fund the multimillion dollar deal or provide guarantees. “I have requested a legal opinion and we are looking into what transpired last week. We will only be able to pronounce ourselves once this is concluded,” Public Enterprises minister, Leon Jooste told the Windhoek Observer. This is amid concern that the airline, which…
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PAAB investigates PwC
02 Feb

PAAB investigates PwC

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Andrew Kathindi The Public Accounts and Auditor’s Board (PAAB) has confirmed that it has instituted an investigation into allegations raised against auditing firm PwC by Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader and Windhoek mayor, Job Amupanda. Amupanda accused August 26, a holding company owned by the Ministry of Defense, of transferring N$200 million from the Defence Ministry account, an action which he alleges to be unlawful but was not flagged by PwC which conducted its audit. “Where such an investigation is complete and finds the registered auditor guilty, the PAAB may take disciplinary action against the guilty auditor. The disciplinary actions range…
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PDM Parliament hopefuls to approach court…as Parliament is set to open
29 Jan

PDM Parliament hopefuls to approach court…as Parliament is set to open

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Andrew Kathindi With Parliament set to open in just over a week’s time, Lawyer Norman Tjombe has threatened to approach the courts to have his clients’ gazetted as Members of Parliament. This comes after a High Court ruling, delivered in July last year, ordered that Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) members Charmaine Tjirare, Reggie Diergaardt, Frans Bertolini, Yvette Araes, Mike Venaani and Tjekupe Maximilliant Katjimune be added to the opposition party parliamentary list, an order which is yet to be implemented. The High Court ruling had further ordered that a public gazette be published in that regard. “As a result of…
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