Uncategorised – Page 82 – Windhoek Observer

21 Jul

Credit Guarantee Scheme gazetted

UncategorisedCredit Guarantee Scheme (CGS), Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association (NASRIA)

Staff Writer The long awaited Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS), which aims provide collateral cover to qualifying SMEs, was gazzetted last month. The CGS which will be rolled-out in collaboration with the Namibia Special Risks Insurance Association (NASRIA) under the Namibia Financial Sector Strategy, with a N$100 million allocation, for which N$2 million will be dedicated to the establishment of a database for SMEs. The facility size will be scaled up over the medium-term through greater public and private sector support. Although SMEs and entrepreneurs will still continue to apply for credit at commercial banks, it is the financial institutions which…

21 Jul

FNB branches revert to rotational operations model

UncategorisedCovid-19, FNB Namibia

Staff Writer FNB Namibia has announced that their branches will revert to the rotational operations model for the foreseeable future. “This means that every branch will operate on a 50 percent staff capability only, in order to curb branch activities, thereby assisting government in containing the spread of the virus,” said Rodney Forbes, FNB Executive Officer: Points of Presence. “The spread of COVID-19 is still ongoing and even increasing in some parts of the country. As a responsible corporate citizen, we wish to play our part in limiting the exposure of both our clients and staff to the possibility of…

21 Jul

Civil Rights Icon, advocate for Namibian Independence, dead at age 80

UncategorisedNamibia, Namibians, SWAPO

… Representative John Lewis passes on Jackie Wilson Asheeke So many Namibians today have never heard of John Lewis. And yet, he and many other members of the US Congressional Black Caucus in the pre-independence days had heard of Namibia. Representative Lewis and many US legislators made speeches regularly denouncing US political and economic support for white supremacy in Africa. Now, John Lewis’ time is passed and he has gone home to a well-earned rest. In the several times I met him during the height of my group’s anti-apartheid work in Washington, DC back in the day, I found him…

17 Jul

Couch kitten: Behind closed doors

UncategorisedCouch Kitten

Wetumwene Shikage Everyone has identity besides the obvious: your name, last name, hair type, culture, race, skin colour or even family. Well that's not the identity that sticks. One's true identity is found within the mind, soul, personality and way of life. Who are you when you are with yourself? How are you behind closed doors? Recently I read a post on Instagram which said “check on your strongest friends. Are they happy when you are not there?” I realized that this essential. Our friends are not just who we see when we go out. There is more to them…

17 Jul

Has anti-colonial revolution merely replaced the colonial bureaucracy?

Uncategorisedanti-colonial, bureaucracy

Yours Truly Ideologically-Fourth Instalment: Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro It is a big question today in an independent Namibia whether the country, with the attainment of political freedom about 30 years ago on March 21, 1990, she at the same time may also have embarked upon what the late African ideologue from Botswana, Dr. Goabamang Kennetn Koma, would describe as the Second Phase of the African Revolution. This question naturally comes up partly because of the generally imposed and accepted narrative of national resistance as being purely nationalist or patriotic in nature and character. There was little reference during war for independence in…

17 Jul

Abortion

UncategorisedAbortion, Hugh Ellis

The Time Traveler: Hugh Ellis I have some confessions to make. For a brief while I attended a Catholic school. At this school one of the teachers was, if not fired, let’s say ‘asked to leave’, after sharing pictures of dead fetuses, which were apparently ‘victims of abortions’, with us learners. You don’t forget seeing pictures like those. Later in my life, as a university student, I was briefly a member of an evangelical church on campus. We raised money for a ‘Pregnancy Crisis Center’, whose stated mission was to help young women who had unwanted pregnancies and difficult life…

17 Jul

I still support Air Namibia

UncategorisedAir Namibia

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I won’t apologize for my years of support for Air Namibia. My long background in the tourism industry has always made me see the national airline’s true value. This national debate about the airline’s future needs to hear from different points of view. I have said for many years to those screaming for the closure of the airline, that there is no money savings in the short and medium term in precipitously closing down Air Namibia. The leases and outstanding bills for the airline are government guaranteed. They have to be paid by the Namibian tax payer…

17 Jul

FNB donates equipment to Monte Christo Primary

Uncategorised

Staff Writer FNB, through the FirstRand Namibia Foundation has donated a photocopier valued at N$17 300 to Monte Christo Primary school. “It is our hope that the donation will serve to improve the teaching and learning environment at the school and ensure that the leaners have all they need to excel. Education is one of the important sectors for the socio-economic development of this country and the Foundation has been assisting this sector through various initiatives and sponsorships. We are delighted to partner with Monte Christo Primary School because it allows us, as a corporate to bring resources that enhance…

17 Jul

BoN calls for structural interventions

UncategorisedBank of Namibia (BoN), Governor of the Bank of Namibia (BoN), Johannes Gawaxab

Staff Writer The Governor of the Bank of Namibia (BoN), Johannes !Gawaxab says although the central bank has continuously ensured a favorable macroeconomic environment for the country’s economic growth over the past 30 years, structural interventions are required to increase Namibia’s growth potential. “This Bank is ready to work with the Government, not in a subservient role, but rather in a complementary fashion to set the framework for accelerated economic development. The Namibian economy needs structural interventions to achieve a sustained increase in our growth potential,”! Gawaxab said during commemorations of BoN’s 30th anniversary. “We need to dedicate our time…

15 Jul

Finance ministry integrates systems

UncategorisedMinistry of Finance, Ministry of Finance Chief Public Relations Officer, Tonateni Shidhudhu

Staff Writer The Ministry of Finance has announced the integration of its tax and customs payment systems. “Ministry of Finance wishes to inform taxpayers that the Integrated Tax Administration System (ITAS) and the Automated Systems for Customs Data (Asycuda) are now linked,” Ministry of Finance Chief Public Relations Officer, Tonateni Shidhudhu said. He said, “the integration of the two systems will now make it possible for information in respect of an import declaration made in Asycuda for deferred payment of Value Added Tax on imports (VIA) to be send to ITAS and automatically processed to the VIA account of the…