Uncategorised – Page 69 – Windhoek Observer

16 Oct

FNB, DBN partner on Credit Guarantee Scheme

UncategorisedDevelopment Bank of Namibia (DBN), FNB Namibia

Staff Writer FNB Namibia has partnered with the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) on the risk sharing initiative, which was announced by the Minister of Finance, Hon. Iipumbu Shiimi on the 19 August 2020. “Our government and FNB as one of the leading banks in the country, value this sector because of its great potential for the socio-economic development in terms of economic growth, employment creation and poverty alleviation,” Sam Ikela, Segment Head, Small Medium Enterprises at FNB said. “The intention of the guarantee scheme is to alleviate the collateral constraints entrepreneurs are facing and it will cover loans up…

15 Oct

In times of trouble, manage your money better

UncategorisedBank of Namibia, Bank Windhoek, Covid-19, Economic Outlook

Samuel Linyondi The Bank of Namibia's latest Economic Outlook expects the Namibian economy to fall into a deeper contraction during 2020, mainly due to the devastating impact of COVID-19 across all sectors. This means that as we conclude the year, we will be faced with a few challenges. For some, it means having taken a drop in their salary, while for others, a total loss of income. Few are fortunate enough to still have a job and have their income unaffected. What these times of uncertainty have taught us is that having savings for emergency situations is critical. As we…

15 Oct

Unpacking the impact of Covid-19 on the Namibian economy

UncategorisedCovid-19, FirstRand Namibia, World Health Organisation

Ruusa Nandago After the first outbreak was reported in December 2019, the World Health Organisation officially characterised Covid-19 as a pandemic on 11 March 2020. This pandemic is a crisis like no other, and there was a substantial degree of uncertainty around its impacts on lives and livelihoods. Governments across the world essentially had to navigate the crisis with a blindfold on, implementing lockdowns and containment measures of varying degrees without any indication of their effectiveness. The economic and market data that has since been released shows that these measures have had devastating and far reaching effects and have pushed…

13 Oct

NWR, NTA partner in apprenticeship programme

Uncategorised

Staff Writer Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) says it’s making progress in giving effect to an apprenticeship funding agreement it entered into with the Namibia Training Authority (NTA), earlier this year. The agreement makes provision for the NTA to fund the apprenticeship training of 80 young Namibians, recruited from all fourteen regions, towards acquiring the National Vocational Certificate in Hospitality and Tourism qualification in the areas of ‘Core Commercial Cookery Skills’, ‘Food and Beverage Operations’, ‘Front Office Operations ’and ‘Housekeeping Operations’. Underlining the need for continuous investment in training to enhance the competitiveness of the Hospitality and Tourism sector, NWR Managing…

10 Oct

The new normal surely begets ideological policies

UncategorisedMarxist-Leninist ideology

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Given the ideological backlog of 30 years plus, during which the ideological content of many of the government’s programmes have been in the backburner, it is time that Namibia’s ideologues and adherents and believers in the Marxist-Leninist ideology, come to the party and subject every government policy, programme and framework to an ideological test and standard. To see to what extent any of them are a true departure from the status quo of capitalism, or intended to usher in a new era of ideology, accompanied by socialist oriented policies and programmes meant to meaningfully address the many legacies…

10 Oct

Tests to decide employment are biased

Uncategorisedemployment

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I remain highly sceptical of psychometric testing to decide the personality of those applying for jobs. How can a panel of white mostly male psychologists and HR practitioners make a test that is in any way fair and applicable to people of another colour, culture or class? These tests are geared for white people’s ideas of what is an ‘acceptable’ professional personality trait are. Why do we continue with allowing these South African companies to pump us for money to engage in job selection practices that are discriminatory? Psychometric testing is a short-cut effort to measure intelligence.…

10 Oct

Hair today, gone tomorrow

UncategorisedNamibian, The Time Traveler

The Time Traveler: Hugh Ellis The Namibian media last week reported that about sixty pupils who were sent home from Outjo Secondary School for transgressing the school's rules on hair had returned to school. Said one of the boys: ‘We shaved our hair. Some of us did not want to return to the school but we didn't have a choice so we shaved it.’ It was rumoured that one white pupil with long hair had not been sent home like black pupils were. The school principal, however, said, ‘that was not brought to my attention.’ The situation reminded me of…

10 Oct

Couch Cat – Yellow mongoose have moved in

UncategorisedCouch Cat

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I have colonies of ‘little animals’ all over my garden in Eros. They started popping up about 5-6 years ago. Now, they have burrows under my wall and bolt holes everywhere. These guys were cute a natural at first, but now, they own my entire garden. Honestly, I am not lying. I heard them having a braai and swimming in the water tub I put out for them. Where I live in the USA, we have squirrels, pigeons (rats with wings) and sometimes a chipmunk or two if you live near the woods. But, here in Windhoek,…

10 Oct

Warriors earns a draw against SA

UncategorisedBrave Warriors

Absalom Iimbondi scored in the second half to earn the Brave Warriors a much deserved one-all draw against South Africa in an international friendly match played at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Complex in Rustenburg on Thursday night. Namibia came into the match as clear underdogs following months of football absence in the country, and it was the more fancied host South Africa that took the lead on 19 minutes trough Luther Singh. It was the lead they took to halftime and after the break the Brave Warriors took 10 minutes to get the equalizer through veteran midfielder Absalom Iimbondi, assisted…

10 Oct

Functions of Nutrients in Crop Production

UncategorisedAgribank

Hanks Saisai The successful production of any given crop or vegetable is dependent on certain factors. In most cases, crops have unique climatic and soil requirements that influence their growth and development. A key factor that influences crop growth and development is soil fertility, which is defined as the soil’s ability to make plant nutrients available to crops. Crops require about sixteen (16) essential elements (Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Boron, Molybdenum & Chlorine). They all perform specific functions that promote growth and development of specific parts of a given crop or…