Observer Money – Page 192

16 Dec

Walvis Bay CEO and three others suspended

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAgosthino Victor, Jack Manale, Muronga Haigura, Walvis Bay

Andrew Kathindi The Walvis Bay municipal council through its management Committee has resolved to suspend its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Muronga Haigura along with three others over the alleged misappropriation of millions. The missing funds, estimated at N$24 million, were part of the massive urban land servicing initiative, but however never reached the municipality account and remain unaccounted for. “As a result of the investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) with regards to the alleged misappropriation of funds, CEO Muronga Haigura, General Manager of Community and Economic Development Agosthino Victor, Manager of Housing and Properties Jack Manale, and Properties Clerk…

16 Dec

Kanime hunts for Fishrot accused officer . . . as no action has been taken to extradite Meren de Klerk

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCity police boss Abraham Kanime, Phillipus Mwapopi

Andrew Kathindi City police boss Abraham Kanime has told Windhoek Observer that his office will investigate Officer Phillipus Mwapopi, who has been implicated in the Fishrot scandal, but he first needs to find him. This comes as Prosecutor General (PG), Martha Imalwa has decided to charge in the High Court the Fishrot accused, which includes former Fisheries Minister Bernard Esau, former Justice Minister, Sacky Shangala and Fishcor board chairperson James Haitukulipi, along with three new names including Shangala’s lawyer Meren de Klerk, officer Mwapopi and northern businessman, Otneel Shuudifonya, along with eight close corporations and trusts connected to the Fishrot…

15 Dec

Repatriation of Addis murdered children begins

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAmbassador of the Republic of Namibia to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union, Emilia Mkusa, Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation

Staff Writer The Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation has announced that it has begun the process of repatriating the bodies of two children allegedly murdered by their mother, who is the wife of a Namibian diplomat attached at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Namibia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “The latest is that the young children have been declared dead and the Mission has embarked on a process to facilitate the repatriation of the remains to Namibia and will advise accordingly, as soon as the process has been finalized,” Emilia Mkusa, Ambassador of the Republic of Namibia to…

15 Dec

Kawana hits back

info_e12wt4csObserver Moneyfisheries minister Albert Kawana

Staff Writer Fisheries minister Albert Kawana has hit back at allegations that he awarded fishing rights to his son under the on-going government fishing rights allocation to new applicants. According to social media allegations, the minister awarded his unnamed son, five of the best species as fishing rights, three Hake rights and two Monk rights. A furious Kawana said the allegations which have been circulating on social media were politically motivated. “That information you are asking about just came to my attention as I have been out of Khomas. I can tell you it’s coming from people with a political…

15 Dec

Three more face Fishrot prosecution

info_e12wt4csObserver Moneyfishrot, Martha Imalwa, Prosecutor General

Andrew Kathindi Three new names have been added to the “Fishrot” list after the office of the Prosecutor General (PG) said it will charge former Justice Minister, Sacky Shangala’s lawyer Meren De Klerk, along with Phillipus Mwapopi (Accused 8) and Otneel Shuudifonya (Accused 7) for their involvement in the scandal. De Klerk has been living in South Africa since earlier this year and is believed to have fled justice. This comes as the Prosecutor General, Martha Imalwa, has decided to arraign the Fishrot accused before the High Court, which is scheduled for pre-trial on 22 April 2021. This date is…

12 Dec

High Court dismisses Gideon’s application

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyDr Erold Naomab, High Court dismisses Gideon’s application, Professor Frednard Gideon

Staff Writer The High Court on Friday delivered its judgement dismissing Professor Frednard Gideon’s application with costs. Gideon had challenged the appointment of Dr Erold Naomab as the Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). In the ruling, Judge Miller refused to grant the interim interdict sought by Gideon through his lawyer, Sisa Namandje as “all requirements for granting of the interim interdict have not been met.” Professor Frednard Gideon was seeking to set aside the NUST Council decision made on the 12th of November 2020 to select Naomab as their preferred candidate to be appointed into…

09 Dec

MPs call for debt waiver

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, SADC Parliamentary Forum

Moses Magadza WINDHOEK – The 48th Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum has adopted a motion exhorting the regional body to support an initiative by Speakers and heads of African national parliaments to call for total cancellation of the continent’s foreign debt. Many African countries are heavily indebted to industrialised countries and financial bodies that include the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Consequently, some countries have been failing to meet the human needs of their citizens. Against this backdrop, the Speaker of the Parliament of South Africa, Honourable Thandi Modise, tabled the motion through South…

09 Dec

Govt faces borrowing headache

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNico Smit, PDM Treasurer General, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)

Staff Writer The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has warned that the country’s indebtedness is reaching precarious levels, a position which could one day hamper its ability to pay the interest on what is owed. This comes as ratings agency, Moody’s downgraded Namibia’s government debt on Friday from the previous Ba2 rating to Ba3. “The government has become so completely dependent on borrowing, that just one more small external shock will put it in a position where it cannot pay the interest on its debt. This will lead to an automatic downgrade to the ‘C’ category according to Moody’s system, which…

09 Dec

Kapere to get official funeral

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMandela Kapere

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob has conferred an Official Funeral on the late Mandela Kapere, Chief Public Relations Officer in the Office of the President, Dennis Shikwambi, confirmed to Windhoek Observer. Kapere, a former Executive Chairperson National Youth Council, served as SWAPO Member of Parliament and Chairperson of Human Resources committee. “Our nation and the Swapo Party lost a talented and dynamic Parliamentarian who played a vital role in shaping the trajectory of youth leadership and the development of young people,” President Geingob said. Kapere died yesterday 7 December, aged 38 of COVID-19.

09 Dec

COVID vaccine to cost Namibia N$200 million …only 20% of population to access drug

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services Executive Director Ben Nangombe

Andrew Kathindi It has emerged that Namibia must spend around N$200 million on the COVID-19 vaccine that will only be made available to 20 percent of the population. This comes as Ministry of Health and Social Services Executive Director Ben Nangombe revealed that the government, last week, already processed payment for the initial 15 percent of the fee, which came up to N$29 million following Treasury approval. Nangombe told Windhoek Observer that he is unsure when the vaccine is likely to reach Namibia but that it was unlikely to be this year. Given that the vaccine has only been rolled…