Observer Money

16 Jul

Reflections on Singapore: Lessons for Namibia

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Metusalem Nakale (DSocSci) Singapore’s economic transformation is the envy of many countries around the world. From 1967 to 1989, the real gross domestic product of Singapore increased six-fold, growing at 8.8 % a year. But how did Singapore do it? And what lessons can Namibia draw from Singapore’s experiences? Upon independence, in 1965, Singapore adopted a developmental state model of economic development. In this type of economic model, the state plays a significant role in directing economic activities. This model is contrasted with the free-market. The latter regards state intervention as detrimental to economic development. Supporters of the free-market ideology…
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Walvis Bay allocates 60 state-built houses
16 Jul

Walvis Bay allocates 60 state-built houses

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…only those qualifying for bank loans are recipients Andrew Kathindi The Walvis Bay Municipality has finally allocated 60 houses that had remained unoccupied in the coastal town. The properties were earmarked only for those qualifying for bank loans who were already on the waiting list. Some of those receiving the properties were formerly backyard settlers. The allocation of the houses comes as President Hage Geingob had announced that government will decide on what to do with the vacant houses. “These houses are for people to stay because there is too much congestion in the informal settlement. There are too many…
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Germany grants N$250m to MEFT
16 Jul

Germany grants N$250m to MEFT

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…to mitigate pandemic effects on environment and conservation Staff Writer The German Federal Government has availed approximately N$250 million to support the Namibian Government, through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the conservation and tourism sector. This comes as the conservation and tourism sector has been significantly affected by the loss of income from tourism, caused by worldwide lockdown measures and international travel restrictions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Countrywide employment and vital conservation activities are in jeopardy, risking the survival of local communities, wildlife and protected areas. The funds…
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Al Jazeera evidence inadmissible – Noa
16 Jul

Al Jazeera evidence inadmissible – Noa

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Staff Writer The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) says information revealed in the much touted Al Jazeera documentary, which publicly exposed the Fishrot scandal is inadmissible and warned that the body will not succumb to political pressure on how it handles its investigations. The ACC’s statements, comes after Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani called out the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in a letter, accusing the corruption busting agency of selective investigations and prosecutions of high profile individuals who have alleged links to the Fishrot saga. “ACC cannot receive instructions from members of the public regarding the arrest of any suspect of…
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Namdeb commences COVID-19 testing
15 Jul

Namdeb commences COVID-19 testing

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Staff Writer Given the risk of the spread of COVID-19, Namdeb has now introduced its own COVID-19 testing capacity in Oranjemund. The company said the development is part of a comprehensive response plan to safeguard the health and safety of its employees and to support the local community. “As a responsible corporate citizen, and a long-term partner of the Namibian government, Namdeb is committed to support the efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Namdeb has also been instrumental in availing and setting up isolation units in Oranjemund and Lüderitz, as well as procuring essential medical equipment such as…
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Second COVID-19 death recorded
15 Jul

Second COVID-19 death recorded

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Staff Writer Namibia has recorded a second COVID-19 related death. Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula announced on Tuesday that a 44-year old man who passed away on 11 July at home in Walvis Bay had tested positive for COVID-19 posthumously. This comes less than a week after Namibia recorded record its first death on Wednesday 8 July. “He was a known diabetic. He visited the hospital on the 7th of July 2020 at the state hospital where his blood sugar was found to be high and got stabilized. On the 10th of July 2020, he visited the…
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Govt fails own tourism rescue deadline
15 Jul

Govt fails own tourism rescue deadline

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Andrew Kathindi The government is yet to pronounce itself on the protocols for the tourism revival initiative, a day before the sector is supposed to open up. Last month, as part of measures to migrate to Stage 4 of the state of emergency and save the tourism sector, President Hage Geingob announced that Government in collaboration with the Tourism and Hospitality sector will conduct a targeted International Tourism revival initiative between 15 July to 15 August 2020. However, nearly a month on, and following detailed consultations with the industry, the government has yet to give the green light to open…
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Venaani demands answers from Noa
15 Jul

Venaani demands answers from Noa

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Staff Writer Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani has written to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) demanding to know why no action has been taken against high profile individuals who are alleged to have also played a key role in the Fishrot saga. This comes as the Windhoek Observer in April revealed that no extradition request had been sent for lawyer, Marén de Klerk, who is currently moving around freely in South Africa. De Klerk is alleged to have played a key role in the syphoning of funds to the tune of N$50 million from the National Fishing Corporation of…
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2016 decision haunts transparency calls
13 Jul

2016 decision haunts transparency calls

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...as Swapo cites lack of regulations Andrew Kathindi It appears that a decision taken by political parties in 2016 not to reveal the source of their donations has come back to haunt them, four years later. This comes amid increased calls for the Swapo party to be transparent with its source of funds. The ruling party has been implicated in the Fishrot saga. In 2016, following the amendment of the Electoral Act of 2014, political parties unanimously decided to leave out the disclosing of the source of their donations exceeding a prescribed amount as per the Act, after a workshop…
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DBN suspends three more over loans scandal
13 Jul

DBN suspends three more over loans scandal

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Staff Writer The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has announced that three more employees have been suspended, bringing the total to seven employees that have been fingered for their involvement in a loans scandal that has rocked the bank. This comes as the DBN Spokesperson Di-Anna Grobler revealed that the bank was close to concluding its investigations. “If there are alleged irregularities, the Bank will follow through with investigation on the matter and take appropriate steps to ensure that the integrity of the Bank is preserved,” she said. The development at the bank comes after media reports revealed senior officials…
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