Observer Money – Page 258 – Windhoek Observer

05 Jun

Drama in Parliament as Geingob delivers SONA

Observer MoneyHarambee Prosperity Plan, Ministers, Parliament, president Hage Geingob, State of the Nation Address (SONA)

Staff Writer It was an eventful day in Parliament when President Hage Geingob delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday. The address unlike his previous addresses during his first administration did not go as smoothly, as opposition parties in Parliament interrupted him. At one stage, the President took his seat while the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi brought the house to order. In his address, the President said he was aware of the challenges currently faced by Namibians due to the negative impact of COVID-19. “Fellow Namibians, I share in your anxieties. I understand…

05 Jun

Geingob rubbishes Chinese loan claims for Swapo HQ

Observer MoneyKalahari Holdings, president Hage Geingob, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Swapo President, Hage Geingob on Thursday refuted claims that the ruling party used loans to pay for the N$730 million Swapo party headquarters being built in Windhoek by Chinese company, Unik Construction Engineering. Unik Construction Engineering, which has undertaken several projects in the country, including the N$1 billion construction of the road between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, was awarded the tender to construct the ruling party’s headquarters last year. Quizzed in Parliament on whether the awarding of the tender to the company was done so that it could receive more tenders in the future, the President denied the…

05 Jun

Namibia declined N$192m reparations offer

Observer MoneyGerman, president Hage Geingob

Staff Writer President Hage Geingob made a startling revelation on Thursday when answering questions after delivering his state of the nation address that his government turned down a N$192 million dollar settlement offer from the German government as part of reparations. “They offered Euro 10 million and we said that is an insult,” he said. The revelations by the President means the country could be gunning for more in compensation and comes after German minister for economic cooperation and development Gerd Müller in September last year said the reparation negotiations between the two countries could soon be finalised. Geingob also…

04 Jun

Nampol speed cameras idle

Observer MoneyNamibian Police Force (Nampol), NAMPOL

Staff Writer Twelve speed cameras, commonly referred to as the “Yellow Pole Camera”, installed by the Namibian Police Force (Nampol) more than two years ago on the country’s highways at a cost of N$4 million are still to be operationalized. According to insiders although the cameras are functional, Nampol cannot use any of the speed violation information collected as their functionality still needs to be gazetted into law. The failure to operationalize the technology has been attributed to continued delays by the Ministry of Safety and Security, under whom Nampol falls, to promulgate the law. The development, however, comes as…

03 Jun

Indemnity forms won’t save schools – AG

Observer MoneyAttorney General, Covid-19, Executive Director Sanet Steenkamp, Festus Mbandeka

Andrew Kathindi Indemnity forms that some private schools have been forcing parents to sign before readmitting their children will not save them should a child contract COVID-19 as a result of their negligence, Attorney General, Festus Mbandeka, has informed Windhoek Observer. This comes as certain schools have been forcing parents to sign indemnity forms in order for them not to be held liable should a learner contract COVID-19 while in their care. “Generally, indemnity forms or clauses are not illegal per se, however if someone suffers a loss as a result of failure or negligence caused by a person seeking…

03 Jun

Thousands of learners to show-up for classes

Observer MoneyMinistry of Education

Andrew Kathindi Ministry of Education expects over 49,000 learners to return to schools around the country on Wednesday when they re-open under the country’s Stage 3 lifting of the State of Emergency. This comes as the ministry has so far spent N$58 million in sanitation and cleaning costs, in preparation for the day the classroom doors open again. The initial group of returning students comprise of grades 11 and 12. They will attend face-to-face classes, with students split into smaller groups, making use of the empty classrooms. This will ensure ample social spacing for each lesson. “If there are 40…

02 Jun

WHK informal settlements to get electricity

Observer MoneyCovid-19, Electricity Control Board (ECB), NamPower

Staff Writer NamPower and the City of Windhoek have signed a “Project Development and Transfer Agreement on the Electrification of Peri-urban Areas in the Municipality of Windhoek.” The project will be funded by NamPower to the tune of N$15.5 million as part of its Corporate Social Investment (CSI), aims to electrify 1,000 households in peri-urban areas of Windhoek. “According to this agreement, NamPower is committing to contribute to the improvement of the lives of communities living in peri-urban areas, in and around Windhoek, by providing electricity to one thousand (1,000) households, as part of NamPower’s corporate social investment,” NamPower Managing…

02 Jun

De Beers donates to the Ministry of Education

Observer MoneyCovid-19, De Beers Group

Staff Writer De Beers Group has donated a consignment of hand sanitizers and facemasks to the Office of the Prime Minister, for onward distribution to the Ministry of Basic Education, Arts and Culture. The donation is part of De Beers Group’s N$15 million in-kind donation that it pledged to the Government’s Disaster Relief Fund to fight COVID19. The donation to the Ministry consists of 7,500 facemasks and 5,000 300ml containers of hand sanitizers. The facemasks were made by a community business initiative in Keetmanshoop, while the hand sanitizers were produced by UNAM. “We are delighted to play our part in…

02 Jun

Agribusdev boss suspended

Observer MoneyAgricultural Business Development Agency (Agribusdev), Namibia Farm Workers Union (NAFWU)

Staff Writer Agricultural Business Development Agency (Agribusdev) board has placed the company’s Managing Director, Petrus Uugwanga on suspension pending the completion of an investigation into various allegations leveled against the company. “Yes, we have suspended him and this was done today (Monday),” Board Chairperson, Sophie Kasheeta told the Windhoek Observer. The suspension, which will still see Uugwanga retaining his salary and benefits, is aimed at allowing the board to institute a thorough investigation into the government agency. Agribusdev has struggled to meet its role of improving the country’s food security. “We are carrying out an investigation to get the facts…

02 Jun

No blame game for Fishrot – Speaker

Observer MoneyPeter Katjavivi, Speaker of the National Assembly, SWAPO

Andrew Kathindi Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, has refused to apportion blame on himself and members of parliament (MPs) for allowing fishy amendments to the Marine Resources Act to pass through parliament under their watch. Amendments to the Act gave former Fisheries Minister, Bernard Esau, exclusive power to issue fishing quotas, which later gave way to what became nationally known as Fishrot, after several individuals, including Esau and former Justice Minister, Sacky Shanghala were implicated in a money laundering scheme worth over N$150 million. Katjavivi told the Windhoek Observer that any law brought before parliament is brought in…