Uncategorised – Page 65 – Windhoek Observer

02 Dec

The Namibian debt capital market: a rough diamond that’s ready to sparkle

Uncategorised

Ray Auala Jr The benefits of deep capital markets in emerging economies is well known, and a fundamental pillar of this is the bond market. Although researchers may debate the specific impact the debt capital markets have on economic growth in developing nations, they cannot dispute that a positive link does exist. A welcomed reality when one considers the strides the Namibian bond market has made in recent years in achieving the long-term objective of becoming a world-class capital market. Here are a few notable achievements: 1. The local debt market has 29 Corporate and SOE bonds, including one green…

01 Dec

Understanding regional and local elections

UncategorisedNamibia, National Assembly, President, Regional and local elections

Willem N Namboga Regional and local elections are important, but many people do not understand how they are constituted. The President and the members of the National Assembly represent all the people of Namibia. But individual communities need other government bodies which are closer to them to focus on the issues and problems of the community. Local government focuses on the needs of the people who live in that local authority. Regional and local councilors are important contacts for lobbying on regional and local issues. Some regions are very well developed, with many schools and clinics and a good supply…

01 Dec

DBN plans N$500m relief facility

UncategorisedDBN CEO Martin Inkumbi, Development Bank of Namibia (DBN)

Staff Writer The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) is planning a N$500 million Covid-19 relief facility in the first quarter of 2021. According to DBN CEO Martin Inkumbi, this is in addition to the N$500 million made available by the Ministry of Finance to be offered by commercial banks. “The Bank, is committed to financing Namibian economic activity, and will take all feasible measures to ensure its health,” Inkumbi said. This comes as preliminary figures of the bank for the first two quarters to September of 2020/21 show the expected adverse impact of Covid-19 and risk-aversion on demand for SME…

28 Nov

Book Review: The Icabog – JK Rowling

UncategorisedThe Icabog – JK Rowling

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Having more time inside these days, I have been a readin’ fool. One of the books I jumped on was The Icabog, by JK Rowling. This soon to be classic for generations to come was originally published on November 10, 2020. For the billionaire author of the Harry Potter series of books, the writing skills of the great Ms Rowling are never better in this new book. It was released online in parts over the past year, but the complete text just came out. I couldn’t stand the piecemeal thing, so I waited patiently for the real…

28 Nov

Standard Bank appoints new CE

UncategorisedMercia Geises, new Chief Executive., Vetumbuavi Mungunda

Staff Writer SBN Holdings Limited, the Namibia Stock Exchange-listed holdings company of local bank, Standard Bank Namibia Limited, has appointed its Head of Personal and Business Banking, Mercia Geises, as its new Chief Executive. Mercia Geises will take over from current Chief Executive Vetumbuavi Mungunda with effect from 1 May 2021. “The Board is excited at the appointment of Mercia to lead us into an exciting new future following a well-planned and well-executed leadership management and succession programme, which, inter alia, is a demonstration of Standard Bank’s relentless commitment to growing our people and creating Namibian leaders. The success of…

28 Nov

The more things change the more they remain the same

UncategorisedArticle 15, Education Act, Namibian Constitution

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro The more things change, the more they remain the same. Nothing speaks more to this dictum than our country’s educational system. Specifically the government’s language policy pertaining to home language or mother tongue. In terms of the Namibian Constitution, Article 15, children shall from birth have a right to a name, the right to acquire nationality ….and right to be cared for by their parents. Something is missing here, what about the right of the child to be taught in her/or his home language or mother tongue? Perhaps it is taken care of in the Education Act. Indeed…

28 Nov

The Time Traveler: The job interview ‘date’

Uncategorisedjob interviews

Hugh Ellis I’m lucky enough to have had to submit to less than 10 job interviews in my entire life. Lucky to have been in the right place at the right time - a graduate coming into a growing economy, among many other things. I say lucky because job interviews are largely nonsense, and I pity the poor people who have had to sit through 50 or more before they find a single job. There has to be a way to select a limited number of employees from a vast pool of candidates, but I’m not sure interviews are the…

28 Nov

When Africa was a German laboratory

Uncategorisedepidemics of trypanosomiasi, When Africa was a German laboratory

Edna Bonhomme Western scientists transformed Africa into a living laboratory during the sleeping sickness epidemics of the early 20th century. They should not be allowed to do the same now [while seeking the definitive pandemic vaccine.] At the turn of the 20th century, epidemics of trypanosomiasis, or “sleeping sickness” as it is more commonly known, started to appear across Africa. A vector-borne parasitic disease causing apathy, slow movement, speech disorders, physical weakness and death, sleeping sickness raised alarm among European colonisers on the continent who feared that its spread could slow down the African workforce, and subsequently their colonial projects.…

28 Nov

A day late and a dollar short

UncategorisedA day late and a dollar short, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, PDM Leader McHenry Venaani

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I read the recent comments from PDM Leader McHenry Venaani in reaction to preliminary results from this week’s local and regional elections. To read his statements about making opposition coalitions (as if it is a new concept) with some of the other parties so that they could unite to unseat Swapo made me shake my head completely. Many have been calling for the wannabe kings of each of the smaller opposition parties to unite. And yet, they misread the entire political landscape and remained as kings of their tiny territories rather than influencers of the national political…

28 Nov

Time and tide wait for no man

UncategorisedSwapo’s loss of votes

Swapo’s loss of votes in the presidential and parliamentary elections last year failed to energize the party fast enough to address concerns. This may have affected the electorate in the 2020 regional vote. While all votes are not counted and confirmed and the strong Swapo base of the North is not yet reported, assumptions about a significant loss of support for the ruling party are premature. Pundits and opposition parties should take care not to overreact. If the trend continues in the non-Swapo traditional base areas, to show a voting tally that has reduced the ruling party’s sway, then it…