Observer Money – Page 251 – Windhoek Observer

15 Jul

Namdeb commences COVID-19 testing

Observer MoneyCovid-19, Namdeb

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…

15 Jul

Second COVID-19 death recorded

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

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…

10 Jul

NPTH appoints subsidiary boards

Observer MoneyMobile Telecommunications Ltd, MTC, Namibia Post Limited, NamPost, Telecom Namibia Limited (Telecom)

. . . as Festus Hangula is re-appointed at NamPost Staff Writer The Namibia Post & Telecom Holdings (NPTH) has appointed temporary subsidiary Boards for a period of three months, effective 08 July 2020 until 08 October 2020. NPTH is the 100 percent shareholder of Telecom Namibia Limited (Telecom), Namibia Post Limited (NamPost) and Mobile Telecommunications Ltd (MTC). “The temporary appointments were based on the required skills blend, individual qualifications, industry expertise and technical knowledge, which factors informed the composition of the said Boards. The skills and experience of these individuals complements the current Boards, which are set for companies…

07 Jul

Veterans call for expulsion of LPM leaders from Parliament

Observer MoneyFounding President Sam Nujoma, Namibia National Veterans Association (NNLVA)

Andrew Kathindi The Namibia National Veterans Association (NNLVA) has called for the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader, Bernadus Swatbooi , to be removed from Parliament. This follows his remarks regarding Founding President Sam Nujoma. Swartbooi called the Founding President “thug” and a “liar” in a heated debate in parliament, statements which drew condemnation from the Office of the Founding Father. “We therefore request the honorable Speaker of the National Assembly and his duty to apply the Chamber’s code of conduct and lay charges against the two LPM leaders, namely Bernadus Swartbooi, and Henny Seibeb in particular, for their possible immediate…

07 Jul

Fishcor board appointed

Observer MoneyLeon Jooste, Minister of Public Enterprises

Staff Writer Minister of Public Enterprises, Leon Jooste, has announced the appointment of a temporary Fishcor board, two months after the previous board term expired. The Fishcor board, which will serve for six months until January 2021, will be chaired by former Executive Director at the African Development Bank Group, and Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia board chairperson, Heinrich Mihe Gaomab II. Other board members include Kalahari Holdings Director and Social Security Commission's Executive Officer, Milka Mungunda. Former Magistrate, Ruth Herunga, and University of Namibia Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Head, Dr. Penny Hiwilepo van Hal, are two members…

07 Jul

Embassy “hijacks” Cuba students’ plane

Observer MoneyMinistry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Andrew Kathindi Namibian medical students in Cuba are accusing the Namibian Embassy in that country of “hijacking” a plane meant to deliver parcels to the students for its own benefits. This comes after a South African Airways plane on Friday 3 July left from Johannesburg to Havana following the request of Namibian students in Cuba for parcels from their relatives in an a believed difficult situation in Cuba. The items were, however, returned to the Ministry of Health and Social Services’ (MoHSS) storage facility “due to limited space”. A Namibian student in Cuba told the Windhoek Observer that, “Students here…

03 Jul

Namibia hit by service station oversupply

Observer MoneyMinistry of Mines and Energy

Staff Writer The Ministry of Mines and Energy has temporarily suspended the issuing of fuel retail site and wholesale licenses citing an oversupply of service stations in the country. According to the ministry, the six month moratorium has been placed on new applications as it reviews existing procedures and requirements. “There has been a proliferation of licenses, especially retail, being issued without proper economic viability being carried out. We thus need time to institute more effective licensing procedures,” Mines minister Tom Alweendo told the Windhoek Observer. Namibian Oil Industry Association Secretariat Chief Executive Officer, Harald Schmidt said the ministry’s decision…

03 Jul

Khomas faces local transmissions risk

Observer MoneyHealth Ministry, Khomas

…as region records two cases Andrew Kathindi There is a growing concern in the Ministry of Health and Social Services that those travelers who leave the Erongo region untested could pose a risk of virus transmission for the Khomas region. Acting Director of Khomas Region in the Health Ministry, Patemoshela Hamunyela, told the Windhoek Observer that she was worried about people leaving Erongo region without being tested. They could infect people in other regions. “We are very worried that there is quite a number of travelers that are coming out of Erongo region. We don't know whether they are given…

03 Jul

Govt rules out Air Namibia plan

Observer MoneyMinistry of Finance

Staff Writer The Ministry of Finance has ruled out availing funds for Air Namibia’s touted new business plan, saying it’s not viable and not sustainable. This comes as the business plan will require N$7 billion to be implemented, including management of the national carrier’s existing N$5 billion debt. “This means for the new business plan to be implemented taking the outstanding debt into account, an amount of N$7 billion will have to be spent in the current financial year, which makes it unaffordable as resources are needed for other priorities such as health, education, housing and sanitation,” the Ministry of…

03 Jul

Schools to reopen Monday

Observer MoneyErongo, Ministry of Education, Swakop, Walvis Bay

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Education has reiterated its decision to re-open schools on Monday 6 July, following a 2-week delay in its initial phase in plan after a learner in Mariental tested positive for COVID-19 last month. The basic education minister, Anna Nghipondoka told Parliament on Thursday that aside from one region, schools countrywide were ready to resume face-to-face teaching on Monday. “The main concern we have is grade 11 and 12, especially in Erongo because now we are only having 6 schools, 4 in Erongo and 2 in Omusati that cannot open. In Erongo, Swakop and Walvis are…