Uncategorised – Page 95 – Windhoek Observer

24 Mar

Philander’s satirical drama confronts corruption

ObserverUncategorisedcorruption, Frederick Philander, Namibia

Clementine Tjameya Frederick Philander is an iconic, talented playwright, social historian, actor and director. He uses his gift to express his love of Namibia and its people. Last month, we published an article announcing that Philander had finished his latest satirical political courtroom drama, I am NOT corrupt. He is now preparing it for a full stage presentation. Without giving spoilers, this play is based on a true Namibian court case that recently captured national headlines. Rehearsals for the play started last week and are continuing throughout the months of March and April. The Windhoek Observer had the privilege to…

24 Mar

Preserve and get what you deserve in your golden years

ObserverUncategorisedFinancial, Namibia, Preservation Fund or Retirement Annuity Fund

Patricia Olivier Chief Executive Officer Old Mutual Corporate Segment Did you know that retirement planning and its benefits is all up to you? There is no legislation for example, compelling you as a member of a retirement fund, to preserve your benefits when exiting the fund upon changing an employer. In fact, currently members of retirement funds may take 100% of their retirement savings in cash and most do. Doing so however will probably add to a series of obstacles standing between you and your retirement goals which may be to retire with financial independence. Perhaps you haven’t even given…

24 Mar

Top 5 tips to achieve financial independence

ObserverUncategorisedElzita Beukes, Financial, FNB, FNB Namibia, independence

There are no short cuts to attaining financial freedom; it requires discipline and proper financial planning. Elzita Beukes, FNB Communication Manager, said: “Financial independence is the ability to live a financially independent life that neither relies solely on debt as a form of survival or living expenses. The main reason most people grapple with the concept of financial independence is because of a lack of discipline. “There’s no truth in the belief that you can only achieve financial independence when you are wealthy, it all depends on developing good money management skills.” In order to see the full worth of…

24 Mar

Observatory: Show him the real deal

ObserverUncategorisedKatutura Hospital, Katutura Intermediate Hospital, President Geingob

Clementine Tjameya President Geingob’s so-called ‘surprise’ visit to the Katutura Intermediate Hospital raised a number of frustrated and angry comments online and around town. People all over the country are wondering if it was really a surprise visit or just a staged visit. The public has been complaining about the hospital for as long as I can remember. Over the past few weeks the complaints got out of hand. There was even a petition going on social media which said, “Save Katutura Hospital”. People were, and are still, angry about the dilapidated state that of that hospital. However, after his…

24 Mar

One country: three nations

ObserverUncategorisedindependent, Namibia

Dr. Ngarikutuke Tjiriange Now that we are celebrating 30 years of independence of our country it may be important to just briefly reflect on some issues of those years, particularly what still persistently and disturbingly still haunts us. Our colonial history left Namibia economically split into three countries depending on their colour. The independence constitution was intended to build a bridge between the past divided society characterized by immeasurable misery and unequal distribution of wealth among different groups. The preamble of the constitution provides for the inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human…

24 Mar

Shout Out: This is the moment to turn to each other

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Namibia

Jackie Wilson Asheeke In my high school typing class, we used to memorize the keyboard by typing, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.” Apparently, there is something about the keystrokes in this phrase that made it a perfect exercise. I would adapt that stanza by saying, “In Namibia, now is the time for all good people to come to each other’s aid.” It is time for us to turn TO each other in charity and not ON each other in panic. This state of emergency is disturbing. Many of us…

24 Mar

The Time Traveler: The silver lining in the corona sky

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, Government, Namibian government, Namibians

Hugh Ellis I may have to ‘eat my words’ slightly this week. I had said that the global 2019 Corona Virus Disease (or Covid-19 for short) pandemic was not likely to be a big deal for Namibia. Obviously, with schools on semi-lockdown and international flights suspended, this is not the case. It is important we keep a sense of perspective, however. We may even find that in the long term, a lot of good may come out of the disruption and shock this crisis has caused. At the time of writing this column, no-one has died of Covid-19 in Namibia.…

24 Mar

What happens the day after?

ObserverUncategorisedCovid-19, David Nuyoma, GIPF, Government Insurance Pension Fund (GIPF)

The CEO of the Government Insurance Pension Fund (GIPF), David Nuyoma made a comment this week that needs to be repeated. He said, “The GIPF will not be making any rushed investment decisions [due to the virus].” This wisdom needs to be injected into our Covid-19 mitigation ideas and plans right now. Programs must not be entered in a rush of ‘doing something’ about Covid-19. When the virus emergency passes, as it eventually will, the after crisis recovery could be worse for the already-stressed Namibian economy. When the Titanic hit the iceberg, the crew, in its haste to ‘save as…

24 Mar

There is a time for everything

ObserverUncategorisedIndependence Day, Namibia, president Hage Geingob, Swapo Party

March 21, 2020 is the 30th year of Namibia’s independence and the inauguration of Namibia’s third president Hage Geingob for his second and final term in office. These dual celebrations are not about one individual, but about what Namibia as an entire nation of 2.6 million people, stands for. It is a freedom day that many thought would never come. Some, who are heroes in the struggle, sometimes thought liberation and self-determination would not come and yet they fought on anyway. There were dark days like Cassinga or the loss of great heroes like Tobias Hainyeko or Mandume Ya Ndemufayo.…

25 Dec

Why China isn’t celebrating the phase one trade deal

ObserverUncategorisedAdventure

Fun, as you might imagine, was not how I would describe this adventure. Awesome? Yes. Fun? No. N.O. No way. But would I do it again? If I could rewind to that moment when the alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. to throw on clothes, grab our packs and trek up that mountain, would I? You bet your buttons I would. Here’s lives at the intersection of fun and scary. One of my companions summed the whole experience up perfectly. He leaned back in his chair at dinner that night, shrimp taco in hand, “These are the kinds of experiences…