Uncategorised – Page 77 – Windhoek Observer

21 Aug

Shiimi launches Credit Guarantee Scheme for SMEs

UncategorisedCredit Guarantee Scheme, Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi, SMEs

Staff Writer Finance Minister Iipumbu Shiimi has announced the commencement of the Credit Guarantee Scheme for SMEs. The scheme will provide collateral cover of 60 percent for qualifying SMEs applying for finance from participating commercial finance institutions. “The rationale behind the Credit Guarantee Scheme is that there are SMEs with excellent prospects for success and viable business plans, but lacking the necessary collateral to obtain loans. Commercial finance institutions require the security of collateral to ensure that their capital is preserved in the event of an SME being unable to repay their loans. By insuring credit granted to qualifying SMEs,…

19 Aug

The Hair and Beauty Charity sees 78% increase in support requests during Covid-19

UncategorisedCovid-19, Hair and Beauty Charity

Amanda Pauley The Hair and Beauty Charity has experienced a 78% increase in requests for financial support from beauty and hair professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic – the largest surge since the charity was established in 1853. Despite suffering a “major loss of income” due to the cancellation of several fundraising activities, the charity has been able to support beneficiaries through a relief fund that has currently raised £30,000 during the crisis. In the first month of lockdown, the charity saw its monthly expenditure rise by 105%. The charity had distributed more than £60,000 to beneficiaries between April and June;…

19 Aug

Book Reviews – Jackie’s recent reading list

UncategorisedBook Reviews

Staying at home more these days has allowed me the time to do what I have been doing since I was four years old. That is: Reading books. I love leaving my reality and entering a world created by authors. I love a good story. Amazon.com and Audible.com have massive sales these days. I got into the .99 cent and 2-for-1 sale and came away with great reads. Here are three that I just finished. Lila by Naima Coster – This is supposed to be an intimate true story about the complexities of female friendship and the way two girls…

19 Aug

How to protect yourself against cybercrime

UncategorisedCovid-19, cybercrime, Johnny Truter

Johnny Truter Worldwide studies indicate that approximately five billion people were active internet users in July 2020. This comprises 59 percent of the global population. These numbers, accompanied by COVID-19’s preventative measures such as social distancing, has led to an increase in cyber-crime attacks. The responsibility is on us as individuals and businesses to strengthen our defences, and mitigate the risks by taking the essential precautions. Here are a variety of ways on how to protect yourself against cyber-crime - wrongdoing that involves a computer and a network: Use unique and robust passwords: You should use long, unique, and cryptic…

18 Aug

O&L acquires majority stake in German company

UncategorisedCRONIMET Mining Power Solutions GmbH, O&L Nexentury, Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group

Staff Writer The Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group has acquired a majority stake in CRONIMET Mining Power Solutions GmbH from the exiting shareholder CRONIMET Mining AG in Switzerland and the deal is effective, 1 August 2020. Engineering-Procurement-Construction (EPC), is a German-based renewable energy project development, investment and asset management company. “The merger comes after half a decade of successfully partnering with CRONIMET in Namibia through a joint venture. In cementing the corporate merger, the O&L Energy business and CRONIMET will henceforth adopt its new trade name and brand, “O&L Nexentury” As of August 2020, “CRONIMET Mining Power Solutions” and “O&L…

14 Aug

Netflix – The Old Guard – check it out!

UncategorisedNetflix, The Old Guard

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Ok, Martha, my youngest daughter and movie-watching BFF, and I saw The Old Guard on Netflix. OMG (as she would say) – that movie was lit! Ironically, my other daughter, Neni in France also watched it. We agreed that the next movie we watch, we will do it via Netflix Party so we can text each other while the movie is going on. I must give context that we are a super-hero-movie-loving household. Therefore, a movie about a hidden team of immortal mercenaries that have been running around the planet fighting in wars and conflicts for centuries…

14 Aug

COUCH CAT: Send for take-out, please

UncategorisedCOVID, State of Emergency

Jackie Wilson Asheeke With the setback in our advancement towards a full end of the State of Emergency, restaurants and cafes are getting kicked in the butt again. We can’t go to our usual places and meet friends, socialize (from a distance), or get a hot meal or cappuccino anymore. We can only get take away. To keep the declining restaurants alive for a bit longer, those who can, must get take-aways as often as possible. If you are like me and working remote and suffering on half salary indefinitely, money is super tight (even though you are actually putting…

14 Aug

Clash of the Doctors

UncategorisedDr Bernard Haufiku

The Time Traveler: Hugh Ellis The President’s Special Adviser on Health Matters, Dr Bernard Haufiku, was given his marching orders by Hage Geingob recently. This was reportedly after Minister of Health Dr Kalumbi Shangula complained to Geingob that Haufiku was ‘causing discord among team members’ in the fight against Covid-19, and ‘disclosing sensitive information’ without prior clearance. Personally, I’ve no idea if Dr Haufiku was indeed being a difficult git - or whether, as many of the public suspect, he had a knack for telling the unvarnished truth, which rubbed career bureaucrats obsessed with protocol the wrong way. Having worked…

14 Aug

Poor and black does not equal criminal and bad

Uncategorisedneighbourhoods, Operation Kalahari

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I read an interesting opinion piece in the Namibian from Elifas Nghtomoka about the criminalization of poverty. It is a fact of life in Namibia that if you are poor and black in Namibia you are guilty until you are proven innocent. This must stop. The police are extra vigilant against the poor and black particularly in the tin shack suburbs as if that is the only place where crimes happen. People would be shocked about the high levels of criminality that takes place behind the high walls of lovely homes in affluent areas. Indeed as the…

14 Aug

How can capitalism be expected to deliver?

Uncategorisedcapitalism

Yours Truly Ideologically-Eighth Instalment: Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Yours Truly Ideologically, inaugurated with a broadside at local analysts for their hollow, empty and ideologically void verbiage on the management of state and/or governmental affairs, socio-economically, and also politically. Observing that for most the analytical verbiage has never posited the system in its proper ideological context, either way be it socialist-oriented , capitalist or a mixture of the two, as Namibia’s is proffered to be. For these analysts, the bottom line has been seemingly the non-delivery of the system. Ignoring the fundamental question: Deliver what, and who from what? Deliver the workers from…