Observer Money – Page 215

07 Aug

‘Quarantine’ details for tourists emerge

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyHealth Minister Kalumbi Shangula, Namibia, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi It has emerged that tourists coming to Namibia as part of government’s initiative to rescue the country’s tourism sector will still be subjected to a seven days quarantine period, despite government’s reluctance to phrase it as such, Windhoek Observer has learned. This comes after President Hage Geingob had said that tourists coming to Namibia will be exempted to a mandatory quarantine period but will need to remain at their first destination in the country for seven days. However, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula told this reporter on Thursday that tourists in the first seven days’ period, will not be…

05 Aug

FNB donates Personal Protection Equipment

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, FirstRand HOPE Fund, FNB Namibia, Namibia, Personal Protection Equipment, PPE

Staff Writer FNB Namibia, through its FirstRand HOPE Fund, donated 2500 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) kits, valued at N$810 000 to the Ministry of Health and Social Services. Erwin Tjipuka, CEO of FNB Namibia during the handover ceremony said that the banking Group was concerned about the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in Namibia and the negative impact the pandemic has on the Namibian economy and society at large. He expressed the hope that the donation of PPE kits would assist in the further prevention of the spread of Covid-19 while protecting frontline staff, while ultimately contributing towards…

05 Aug

‘Complicated’ COVID-19 guidelines boots recoveries

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services

Andrew Kathindi The recently introduced new de-isolation policy by the Ministry of Health and Social Services policy has boosted the country’s recovery figures, with a record 345 new COVID-19 recoveries having been recorded in one day as announced on Wednesday. According to the new de-isolation guidelines, which are in line with international recommendations from World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control (CDC), state once a patient has been infected with COVID-19 for ten days and their symptoms have resolved, there is no risk that the virus can still be spread to other people. As a result, people who…

05 Aug

Kahimise offered CENORED top job

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCentral Northern Electricity Distributor (CENORED), City of Windhoek, Robert Kahimise

Staff Writer City of Windhoek Chief Executive Offer, Robert Kahimise has been offered the Central Northern Electricity Distributor (CENORED) top job, a move which could find the municipality without a head if he takes up the offer. The development comes as Kahimise has had a turbulent time as CEO of the municipality, a position which could play a key part in his decision on whether to take up the CENORED offer. “I did receive an offer but I have not resigned,” he told the Windhoek Observer. When quizzed if he planned to take up the offer, Kahimise was tightlipped. “I…

04 Aug

NAC in urgent runway fix for Eros

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNAC, Namibia Airports Company (NAC)

Staff Writer The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) is set to embark on urgent rehabilitation works for its ‘expired’ runway at Eros Airport, with the airstrip having exceeded its design life of 25 years. This comes as the airports operator has resorted to daily inspections of the runway which has now developed potholes and has become bumpy for aircraft when landing and taking off. Although the runway is still safe, the repairs are a part of safety measures. The project which is set to commence this month at a cost of N$25 million, when completed, will add an additional lifeline of…

04 Aug

Tourism sector initiative could risk lives

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNamibians, president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi Thousands of workers in the tourism sector could be at risk of contracting COVID-19 as new measures announced by government to revive the sector do not require quarantine for incoming tourists. President Hage Geingob announced that the International Tourism revival initiative, which was initially supposed to kick off on 15 July but was delayed over disagreements on measures during the consultation process, has now been approved. According to new measures announced by the President which tourists will not be subjected to a mandatory quarantine, “They will however be required to remain at their first initial destination in the…

04 Aug

Shiimi in tribalism storm . . . as opposition parties push back

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyIipumbu Shiimi, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Opposition party leaders have hit back at Finance Minister, Iipumbu Shiimi for claims that new political parties were being founded by tribalists. On his social media page, Shiimi stated, “Tribalism will destroy Namibia as it has done in some countries. I am concerned about new political parties/associations that are being formed by tribalists. True Namibians should reject these tribal projects.” Shiimi’s comments were met with a barrage of criticism. It is believed that his comments may have been aimed at parties such as Landless People’s Movement (LPM), which was formed in 2018. Its leader, Bernadus Swartbooi has been…

04 Aug

I regret nothing – Haufiku

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Dr Bernard Haufiku, Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula

Andrew Kathindi Dr Bernard Haufiku maintains that he regrets nothing, after being fired as Special Advisor on Health Matters in the Office of the Vice President by President Hage Geingob. This as it emerged Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula had written to the President requesting for Haufiku’s removal from the national COVID-19 response team on the grounds that his presence had become untenable and that he was too self-righteous and not a team player and as a result has become impossible to work with. According to Haufiku in one of his dismissal letter attachments delivered to him by Vice President Nangolo…

31 Jul

Unions happy with Hage’s school decision

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNamibia National Teachers Union (NANTU), president Hage Geingob

Andrew Kathindi Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) said it is satisfied with President Hage Geingob’s decision to suspend face-to-face teaching for grades 0-9 countrywide. This comes after the union has been in meetings for the last two days over a possible call for the closure of schools out of concern for the rising number of cases around the country. “What directed our focus is the health and safety of everyone involved. The over-populated phase is grade 0-3. Schools that are in the rural and urban areas are not the same. Most of the schools in the northern regions are accommodating…

31 Jul

Fishcor hunts for CEO

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyFishcor, National Fishing Corporation, Public Enterprise Governance Act No. 1 of 2019.

Staff Writer The National Fishing Corporation (Fishcor) which has been operating for more than five months without a substantive head following the arrest of Mike Nghipunya in February has begun the hunt for an interim Chief Executive Officer. The company’s new board is serving for six months until January 2021 and is led by Mihe Goamab II. The successful CEO candidate can either come from internal or external applicants and will receive a 12-month contract, with a possibility of renewal, “upon satisfactory performance.” “We are two weeks into the duration of the Temporary Board mandate and we are appraising the…