Observer Money – Page 189

03 Feb

President denies systematic corruption in Namibia

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNamibia, president Hage Geingob

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,”…

03 Feb

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

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Namibian Correctional Service

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…

02 Feb

CoW moves against colonial statues, street names

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCity of Windhoek, CoW Mayor Job Amupanda

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…

02 Feb

Govt seeks legal opinion over Air Namibia deal

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Challenge Air, Covid-19

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…

02 Feb

PAAB investigates PwC

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAffirmative Repositioning (AR), Public Accounts and Auditor’s Board (PAAB), PwC

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…

29 Jan

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

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMembers of Parliament, Parliament, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

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…

29 Jan

I am tired – Jooste

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyLeon Jooste, Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Public Enterprises minister

Maria Hamutenya Public Enterprises minister, Leon Jooste says he is tired of seeing public enterprises being dragged to court due to governance failures that can easily be prevented. The minister’s frustrations come as the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) joined the growing list of public enterprises that have been taken to court over various transgressions. “I will always be concerned when there's an aggrieved party due to any process that should be conducted in a fair and transparent manner. I'm really tired of seeing Public Enterprises constantly being dragged to court, in particular when it's due to governance…

27 Jan

Schools get N$70m for sanitisers

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Executive Director, Sanet Steenkamp

Maria Hamutenya Public and private schools have benefited from N$70 million availed by the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture for the acquisition of sanitisers ahead of school opening this week, Executive Director, Sanet Steenkamp has revealed. N$14 million was availed to private schools last December as a once-off grant, with N$56 million dispersed to the ministry’s regional offices this year to assist public schools in implementing COVID-19 measures. “Almost N$ 70 million was allocated by the Ministry of Education to different schools to help fight the spread of Covid-19,” Steenkamp said. The ministry will, however, no longer avail masks…

27 Jan

Healthcare workers threaten strike

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyHealth Minister, Kalumbi Shangula, PSUN Secretary General, Ujama Kaahangoro

Andrew Kathindi The Public Service Union of Namibia (PSUN) has threatened to rally healthcare workers this Thursday (28 January) to leave their work until the matter of risk allowance is resolved. Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula, earlier this month revealed that over 1300 healthcare workers have been infected by COVID-19, with six deaths from the sector. “Healthcare workers were also forced to perform duties without the necessary personal protective equipment (PPEs). If the government is not recognising them, why should they have to avail themselves and to risk their lives any further? And that is what we are going to do.…

26 Jan

A year required for Windhoek land resolution

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyPopular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Maria Hamutenya The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) says the newly installed City of Windhoek Council councillors required between six months to a year for them to deliver on promises made to the voting populace regarding land and service delivery in the capital. PDM Secretary-General Manuel Ngaringombe said the coalition partners just won the opportunity to rule the City of Windhoek two months ago. As such they should be given more time to discuss the way forward and find viable solutions and the resources to finance them. “Give these people a chance to deliver, at least six to 12 months, if…