Observer Money – Page 254 – Windhoek Observer

25 Jun

Abortion debate enters Parliament

Observer MoneyAbortion, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Esther Muinjangue, Parliament

Andrew Kathindi As the debate on the issue of abortion continues to gain momentum, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, Esther Muinjangue, has said while she is personally not for abortion, she intends to raise the matter for discussion and debate in the house tomorrow (Thursday). “For me, I have my own personal values that may not be my professional values. I would not go for abortion, but we are also in an era where human rights are being highlighted. Because this is also a woman’s body, let the women have a voice and take a decision as to…

24 Jun

Govt, NTTU clash over taxi fares

Observer MoneyJohn Mutorwa, Minister of Works and Transport, Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU)

Andrew Kathindi Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) has rejected government’s dismissal of its call to have the 15 percent taxi fare hike made permanent. Taxi fares were increased to the current N$14 from N$12 as part of government efforts to cushion the taxi sector during the state of emergency as they are no longer allowed to carry their full load. In agreeing to the increase, Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, informed the NTTU that government was not going to indulge in discussions over the increment becoming permanent because the 15 percent increment had been approved as a…

24 Jun

Floodgate for job loses opens

Observer MoneyHigh Court, president Hage Geingob

Staff Writer The Tuesday High Court ruling in favour of employers, which declared parts of two proclamations issued by President Hage Geingob relating to the suspension of the Labour Act and also parts of the Covid-19 state of emergency regulations as unconstitutional, could spell trouble for workers. According to the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), the development will not auger well for workers who had found some form of job and remuneration protection under the government regulations. “The concern is that their aim is to pay workers less, cut salaries and take away leaves days but we won’t tolerate…

22 Jun

German Embassy contributes to Covid-19 fight

Observer MoneyCovid-19, German Embassy, Gobabis, Okahandja, Witvlei

Staff Writer As part of its projects to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the German Embassy will support families in need in the areas of Gobabis, Witvlei and Okahandja and a total of approximately N$ 99,600 (EUR 5,000.00) from the Embassy’s micro project fund will be made available as an immediate measure to purchase food packages. The packages include staple foods and will be distributed to the community members by the German Evangelical Lutheran Association of Okahandja-Gobabis (ELCIN - GELC) in cooperation with the Okahandja Community Forum. The Okahandja Community Forum is a civil organization in Okahandja that…

22 Jun

Uutoni summons council over Kanime

Observer MoneyCity of Windhoek (CoW), City Police Chief Abraham Kanime, Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni

Staff Writer The entire City of Windhoek (CoW) council was on Monday summoned to an urgent meeting with Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni to discuss developments at the local authority. Among issues discussed was the contentious reappointment of City Police Chief Abraham Kanime. In his letter requesting the urgent meeting, the minister said, “This communique serves to inform your good office that I would like to have an urgent meeting with the entire Council of the City of Windhoek to consult on the developments at the City of Windhoek. I request that you provide me as soon as…

22 Jun

Govt plans tourism initiative

Observer MoneyGitta Paetzold, Hospitality Association of Namibia's (HAN), Tourism and Hospitality

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob on Monday that government in collaboration with the Tourism and Hospitality sector will conduct a targeted International Tourism revival initiative from 15 July to 15 August 2020. “This initiative will look to accommodate a limited number of tourists, who will be determined in consultation with the private sector, from a carefully selected low risk market that has potential to contribute towards our tourism sector that employs over 100,000 Namibians. Modalities for this initiative will be announced in coming weeks and this trial will inform and strengthen public sector preparations for the imminent reopening of Points…

22 Jun

President bows to union pressure

Observer MoneyCovid-19, Namibia National Students Organisation (NANSO), Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU), Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN), tudents Union of Namibia (SUN)

Andrew Kathindi President Hage Geingob on Monday bowed to the demands of teacher and student unions when he announced the resumption of face-to-face classes for Pre-Primary students will be postponed for 14 days in all regions. The President’s decision comes after some unions called on the government to suspend the resumption of face-to-face teaching following confirmation of the first COVID-19 positive learner. The 20-year old Mariental secondary school learner, who is a resident of Walvis Bay, became Namibia’s 37th case and gave rise to the decision to suspend face-to-face teaching at the school. The 14 day suspension of in-school learning…

19 Jun

Shiimi applauds private sector COVID-19 efforts

Observer MoneyBank Windhoek, Baronice Hans, Finance minister, Iipumbu Shiimi

Staff Writer Finance Minister, Iipumbu Shiimi, said that he is content with the response he has seen from all Namibians from both the private and public sector who continue to embark on fighting COVID-19 as a united front. He said this during the Capricorn Group/EY 2020 Budget Review Discussion, an online live social media broadcast focused on discussing and reviewing Namibia’s 2020/2021 Budget recently tabled in the National Assembly. “The pandemic's impact is something we have never seen before, and as a result, it requires a united front,” said Shiimi. Bank Windhoek's Managing Director (MD), Baronice Hans, echoed Shiimi’s sentiments.…

19 Jun

NAC HQ placed under lockdown

Observer MoneyCovid-19, NAC, Namibia Airports Company (NAC)

Staff Writer The negative effects of Case 33 who was arrested by police for entering the country illegally are being felt by various organisations in Windhoek, with the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) becoming the third organisation this week to lockdown its building as part of precautionary measures against Covid-19. According the airports operator, one of its employees resides in the same building, 77 on Independence, where the Covid-19 positive suspect was arrested. “This decision comes after careful consideration of the possible risk of exposure,” NAC Chief Executive Officer, Bisey Uirab said. On Thursday, the Ministry of Agriculture was also forced…

19 Jun

12% of Namibian adults HIV positive

Observer MoneyHIV, US Centre of Disease Control (CDC)

Andrew Kathindi The Country Director for the US Centre of Disease Control (CDC) in Namibian, Eric Dziuban says over 200,000 people in Namibia are living with HIV. “There are 200,000 people living with HIV in this country and that is around 12 percent of all adults in this country being HIV positive. The numbers are lower in young children, because we have such a successful programme in preventing mother to child transmission,” said the CDC Country director. “The latest data shows that people who are on treatment, taking their medicine every day virally suppressed, their life expectancy is basically exactly…