Observer Money

PAY lends helping hand during Covid-19 crises

PAY lends helping hand during Covid-19 crises

Staff Writer Physically Active Youth (PAY) has reach a total of 353 people in 55 households with food and toiletry packages as part of their outreach program carried out during the Covid-19 lockdown. “The support and resources to power this project are drawn from both corporate and individual support as well as local and international support. We are grateful for the support we received towards our community outreach programme that has ensured the continued engagement and reach of our beneficiaries and their families,” Thuba from PAY said. Revonia Kahivere, FirstRand Namibia Foundation CSI Manager expressed her gratitude that PAY has…
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COVID-19 effects bleed businesses – survey

COVID-19 effects bleed businesses – survey

Staff Writer A Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) survey has found that 96.5 percent of businesses have been adversely affected by the coronavirus and will continue to be affected in the coming months. “The majority of operating businesses have indicated reduction in local customer demand as the most common current and future effect experienced by 68.8 percent and 65.1 percent of the businesses, respectively. Furthermore, 63.7 percent of businesses reported revenue loss of over 50 percent with the Manufacturing sector (20.1 percent), Hotels and Restaurants (15.2 percent) and Construction sector (11.3 percent) bearing most of the blunt.” The survey found that…
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Sanlam donates Protective and Screening equipment

Sanlam donates Protective and Screening equipment

Staff Writer Sanlam has donated protective and screening equipment to the City of Windhoek. The items were handed over in support of the City of Windhoek’s efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic within the city. Speaking at the handover, Sanlam Group CEO Tertius Stears said Sanlam was committed to fight the pandemic in the city in particular and the whole country in general. Stears said, “The world as we know it has changed and we are still to find and adjust to the “new normal,but in getting there we all have to work together and pull our efforts in the…
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Niikondo appointed NUST acting VC

Niikondo appointed NUST acting VC

Staff writer The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) Council has appointed Dr Andrew Niikondo as the university’s new Acting Vice-Chancellor, effective 19 May 2020. Niikondo’s appointment follows the expiry of the acting term of Morné Du Toit, who now reverts to his substantive position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Finance and Administration. Dr Niikondo is expected to serve for a period of six (6) months, or until the position is substantially filled, which ever date is earlier. “It is envisaged that the recruitment of the Vice-Chancellor will be concluded in the second half of the year. The Council is confident…
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Trustco plans to retrench 300

Trustco plans to retrench 300

Staff Writer Trust Holdings (Trustco), a company majority owned by its billionaire Managing Director, Quinton van Rooyen is planning to retrench over 300 employees. Information gleaned by the Windhoek Observer shows the company has already started the process at its Morse Investment and Northern Namibia Development Company units , and has now also written to all its employees informing them of the management decision, which is being implemented as part of cost cutting measures. “Given the current circumstances, market conditions and probability that the global economy would deteriorate even further, the decision to retrench employees in several of the operating…
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Full tuition fees unfair – NANSO

Full tuition fees unfair – NANSO

Andrew Kathindi The Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO) says students should not have to pay full tuition fees while not receiving full tuition services. NANSO Secretary-General, Patience Masua speaking to Windhoek Observer, said it doesn’t make sense for education institutions to charge full school fees in the midst of the world wide pandemic and national state of emergency, given that all students have been at home. “No institution can demand full costs if they don’t deliver services at full capacity. If you’re not paying for electricity, water, full salaries etc, there’s no way that you can demand full fees. Even…
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Northern learners face e-learning exclusion

Northern learners face e-learning exclusion

Andrew Kathindi Over ‭240,000‬ learners in the Oshikoto, Oshana, Otjozondjupa and Ohangwena region will not be reached by e-learning as teachers scramble for alternative teaching methods, education ministry officials have noted.‬‬‬ The state of emergency that was put in place last month to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 has decimated the school calendar. It has ended face-to-face learning for learners and teachers until August. Since then, teachers have been mandated to reach students electronically through online and social media platforms like WhatsApp. Last week, education executive director, Sanet Steenkamp said after teachers returned to schools on 6 May, they would…
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COVID-19 testing target only achievable in 5 years

COVID-19 testing target only achievable in 5 years

Andrew Kathindi It could take Namibia five years to reach the target of 200,000 tests for COVID-19 if the Ministry of Health’s target of 100 tests per day is the comparative standard. Deputy minister of health, Esther Muinjangue last week said the ministry is planning to execute 100 tests per day in an effort to reach the overall national target of 200,000 COVID-19 tests as announced by health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula in April. At that pace, it will take Namibia just over five years to reach this intended target. This comes as the ministry is still to consider mobile…
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SSC payouts expected next week

SSC payouts expected next week

Andrew Kathindi The Social Security Commission (SSC) expects to start making payouts of N$1,000 under its stimulus package to employees from sectors hard-hit by the impact of COVID-19 starting next week. The payouts which will total N$3,000 will be spread over a three month period to sectors such as construction, farming, transport, manufacturing, retail, domestic workers and entertainment among others. SSC Executive Officer, Milka Mungunda told the Windhoek Observer although the commission was still accepting applications from employers of employees affected, it was targeting a rollout date of next week. “We hope by next week because we are still busy…
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Geingob cancels new state cars

Geingob cancels new state cars

. . . as fuel usage is capped Staff Writer Members of the executive and public office bearers will not be receiving new cars for the next five years and their monthly fuel consumption will now be capped, on the orders of President Hage Geingob, the Presidency announced on Thursday. The decision according to the Presidency is expected to save government over N$200 million. “As part of deepening Effective Governance, the Government reform agenda and reducing expenditure, President Geingob has directed that the vehicle fleet of the Namibian Government will not be renewed for the period 2020-2025. No new vehicles…
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