Observer Money – Page 203

14 Jan

COVID regulations extended . . .as virus variant suspicions surge

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Minister of Health and Social Services Kalumbi Shangula

Andrew Kathindi The government has extended the date for enactment of measures currently in place to control the spread of COVID-19 to 3 February. Minister of Health and Social Services Kalumbi Shangula admitted that the situation has worsened since his last address to the nation on 23 December 2020. In the Tuesday address, restrictions such as the daily curfew from 9pm to 4am, public gatherings being limited to a maximum of 50 were retained. Public gatherings are now, however, are not allowed to go beyond two hours and shall not continue beyond 8pm. The minister also revealed that there is…

14 Jan

Thousands of learners become pregnant during lockdown

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Education Minister Anna Nghipondoka, Ministry of Education

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Education has revealed that 3,629 school learners became pregnant since March last year when schools were forced to close due to COVID-19 lockdown regulations. Education Minister Anna Nghipondoka argued that this reality was partly the cause for the Ministry’s stance on the re-opening of schools. The figure is over two thousand more school learners than the entire 2019, which recorded 1,542 pregnancies of school going girls. “The number of learners who get pregnant within the time frame of closure and re-opening doubled the normal numbers. I'm just trying to re-emphaize the importance of reopening schools.…

13 Jan

Shangula to address spike in COVID-19 cases

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Dr Kalumbi Shangula, Health Minister, president Hage Geingob

Staff Writer On Wednesday 13 January Health Minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula will provide a COVID-19 public briefing on new or extended measures to contain the virus. The briefing comes as the country continues to record rising rates of infection, with 573 new cases recorded on Tuesday, bringing the country cumulative total to 27,255. President Hage Geingob has previously warned that he could reinstitute another State of Emergence if the current measures are not followed and COVID-19 cases continue to rise. According to the Ministry of Health figures, Windhoek (Khomas region) remains the epicentre of the second wave of the pandemic…

13 Jan

Nafau accuses Shoprite of ignoring judgement …as Thursday AR demonstrations loom

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAffirmative Repositioning (AR), Checkers, Shoprite

Andrew Kathindi Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau) Secretary General Jacob Penda has accused the Shoprite group of not complying with terms of a High Court judgement issued last week. In the case of Nafau vs Shoprite, Justice Shafimana Ueitele on 8 January ordered that the retail chain “not to hire so-called seasonal staff or "fixed term" employees for the purpose of performing, in whole or in part, the work of the employees who embarked on a strike as from 23 December 2020 onwards for the duration of the strike.” However, the company has allegedly continued to disobey the…

18 Dec

CPBN Board Chairperson fingered in recruitment irregularities

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCentral Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN)

Andrew Kathindi The Office of the Ombudsman has fingered Board Chairperson of the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) Patrick Swartz in the “irregular, unfair and prejudicial” recruitment of 14 employees. The majority of those employed irregularly are Oshiwambo speakers. According to the Ombudsman, John Walter’s report, Leonard Tsheehama, Aune K Ndeutapo, Zambwe Manyando, Twenty-One-March Kangonga and Daphney Meutudhana did not meet the advertised requirements, while Kristof Shiwalo failed the interview pass rate of 65 percent and obtained only a rate of 62.5 percent. According to Walters, Swartz contradicted the Office of the Ombudsman’s finding that Ms Ndeutepo does not…

18 Dec

Namibia’s economy takes N$1.1 billion knock

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAlex Shimuafeni, Covid-19, Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), NSA Statistician - General and CEO

Staff Writer N$1.1 billion has been wiped out of the Namibian economy, largely attributed to the effects of COVID-19, third quarter figures from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) show. “In nominal terms, the size of the Namibian economy as measured by GDP at current prices was estimated at N$ 44.7 billion in the quarter under review relative to N$ 45.8 billion posted in the same quarter of 2019. This shows that GDP size shrunk by N$ 1.1 billion,” NSA Statistician - General and CEO, Alex Shimuafeni announced on Thursday. “The third quarter of 2020 (July – September) is characterized by…

17 Dec

Electoral Court delays ECN election re-run plans

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Electoral Court

Andrew Kathindi The re-run of polls in the Aroab, Koës, Stampriet local authorities and Mariental Rural constituency is likely to be delayed with the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) still to receive reasons for the Electoral Court’s judgement given last week. According to the body, the judgement will determine whether or not it will appeal the ruling or comply with the court’s decision. This comes as Electoral Court Judge Shafimana Ueitele ruled that the results in the local authorities and constituency be declared null and void and that a re-run of the poll be conducted. Judge Ueitele gave the order…

17 Dec

Geingob threatens COVID-19 State of Emergency …as breathalyzer reissue is set aside amidst infection concerns

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCenter of Disease Control (CDC), Covid-19, State of Emergency, Windhoek

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob has threatened to reinstitute another State of Emergency as soon as next week if the public does not adhere to the current measures and COVID-19 cases continue to rise. This comes as Geingob on Wednesday introduced new measures to curb the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases. The president and the Center of Disease Control (CDC) earlier this month confirmed that Namibia is currently facing a second wave of the pandemic. “If you misbehave, I may even next week come back and declare a State of Emergency. That power I have. I am warning you. So,…

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…