Observer Money – Page 221

04 Sep

NBC chief has contract renewed

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Staff Writer The recently appointed Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) board has opted to renew the contract of current Director-General Stanley Similo for another five years. The reappointment is effective 1 October 2020. "We are looking forward to a continued fruitful and productive working relationship as we endeavor to usher the national broadcaster into a technology savvy company which broadcasts with its stated mission of educating, informing and entertaining the Namibian nation," Chairperson Lazarus Jacobs said. Similo’s appointment comes as the national broadcaster is faced with a cash squeeze, a development which saw it moving from being a 24 hour broadcaster…

04 Sep

Windhoek COVID cases surpass Walvis Bay

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Walvis Bay, Windhoek

Andrew Kathindi Windhoek has officially overtaken Walvis Bay to become the local authority with the numerically highest confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country. This comes as Health Minister, Kalumbi Shangula on Thursday 3 September, announced 238 new cases, of which 145 are from Windhoek. “Today, a total number of 1,630 results were received from the laboratories. Of these, 238 samples tested positive for COVID-19. One hundred and twenty-six (126) are males and hundred and twelve (112) are females. The youngest is two months old and the oldest is sixty-five years old,” said Shangula. As of Wednesday 2 September, Windhoek…

04 Sep

Education, NANTU in compromise deal …as private schools stick to initial dates

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Khomas, Ministry of Education, Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU)

Andrew Kathindi In last ditch effort to avoid a stalemate, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) have struck a compromised deal. The final agreement between the Ministry and Union contains terms they previously found undesirable. Education minister Anna Nghipondoka, following negotiations over two days between her office, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and NANTU, announced that grades 7-9 will return to school in all regions on the 7th of September. The Khomas region is not included in this opening date. Grades 4-6 will reopen…

03 Sep

Healthcare workers with COVID-19 on the rise

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19

Staff Writer The Ministry of Health has raised concern over increasing cases of healthcare workers contracting COVID-19. According to Ministry of Health data, 333 health care workers are currently infected with COVID-19. This comes as a healthcare worker from Swakopmund succumbed to the virus on Monday. Health minister, Kalumbi Shangula revealed Wednesday that healthcare workers now constitute 4.2 percent of the total COVID-19 confirmed cases recorded in the country since the outbreak. “Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we have recorded a total number of 333 health workers infected with COVID-19, which represents 4.2 percent of the total confirmed cases recorded…

03 Sep

CoW stalls decongestion plan

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, president Hage Geingob, Windhoek Mayor Fransina Kahungu

Andrew Kathindi The City of Windhoek has yet to take action on decongesting the informal areas of Windhoek amidst rising COVID-19 cases, nearly a month after President Hage Geingob gave the directive. Urban and Rural Development Ministry Executive Director (ED), Nghidinwa Daniel confirmed to Windhoek Observer last month that the ministry had given directives to the Windhoek local authority to implement the decongestion plan. Chairperson of the City management committee Moses Shiikwa had previously stated that implementation would likely take place at the end of August, as it would need to go through the channels, passing through the Committee before…

02 Sep

Health Ministry dismisses Remdesivir concerns …orders second batch

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyHealth Minister Kalumbi Shangula, Remdesivir

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has placed a second order for a batch of Remdesivir, the antiviral medicine being used worldwide to treat COVID-19 patients despite growing debate over the safety and efficiency of the medication. This comes after the ministry has spent N$1 million for 1,000 vials for the first batch that came into the country last week. Health Minister Kalumbi Shangula confirmed that the medicine is already being prescribed to patients as it has been shown to shorten the recovery time in patients. “The medicine is part of our essential medicines and will…

02 Sep

Shiimi pushes for Shivute at NamRA …as board remains in the dark

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyBank of Namibia (BoN), Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, NamRA, Sam Shivute

Staff Writer Bank of Namibia (BoN) Director of Banking Services, Sam Shivute is front runner to land the Commissioner position at the newly established Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) amid allegations that Finance minister Iipumbu Shiimi has deliberately pushed through the candidature of his former colleague in a questionable recruitment process. This comes as insiders revealed that Shiimi had forwarded three names for cabinet’s consideration, with Shivute scoring 20 points more than other candidates despite his lack of an accounting or tax background, a key requisite for the post. The scoring of the Shivute is said to have raised concern among…

01 Sep

Telecom receives 72 CEO applications

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyJerry Muadinohamba, Namibia Post & Telecom Holdings (NPTH), Telecom Board Chairperson, Telecom Namibia

Staff Writer Telecom Namibia says it has received 72 applications for its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position which has been vacant following the exit of Theo Klein. According to the government-owned telecoms operator, 13 of the applicants are female and 59 are male. “The board intends to have the recruitment and selection process concluded by end of September 2020, at which stage we hope to have identified a suitable qualified candidate to assume the role,” Telecom Board Chairperson, Jerry Muadinohamba said. The Muadinohamba-led board was appointed for a three-month period, effective 08 July 2020 to 08 October 2020. Government through…

01 Sep

Govt rules out SOE bailout … as Air Namibia remains grounded

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Public Enterprises minister Leon Jooste

Staff Writer Public Enterprises minister Leon Jooste maintains that the government has no immediate plans to bailout any State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) despite a number that have been hard hit by the negative impacts of COVID-19. This comes as SOEs such as Air Namibia have already raised alarm bells. The national carrier already had an existing precarious financial position which was made worse by the pandemic. Jooste, however, said the government going forward maybe be forced to come to the aid of some SOEs if the negative effects of COVID-19 become prolonged. “We are monitoring the situation continuously and assessing…

01 Sep

Parents support schools reopening – Ministry … as union approaches Prime Minister again

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyEducation Executive Director, Erongo, Karas, Khomas, Otjozondjupa, Sanet Steenkamp

Andrew Kathindi The Education Ministry maintains that 64 percent of participants in its survey on the best way to proceed with learning amidst the pandemic indicated a desire to return to face-to-face teaching. This comes as Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) is set to meet the Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa on Tuesday to voice its displeasure at President Hage Geingob’s announcement that grades 0-9 should reopen for face-to-face teaching on 7 September. According to the Ministry, it received feedback from 18,000 respondents. Of these 8,712 were parents; 4, 778 teachers and 2,820 learners while 1,565 were community members, drawn mostly…