Page 1096 – Windhoek Observer

15 May

Manganese boosts TransNamib’s volumes

UncategorisedChina, Manganese, TransNamib

Staff Writer The transportation of manganese has provided a boost for TransNamib, with the company now transporting 15,000 tons per month. Manganese is mainly used in the steel industry as an alloy, playing a significant role in making steel from iron, also used in dry cell batteries and as a black-brown pigment in paint, with its main export market being China. "The route travelled has become a major revenue source for TransNamib in terms of moving manganese for our customers and the executives needed to see first-hand the operations and challenges on the route," TransNamib Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Johny…

15 May

Cabinet conflict of interest under review

National News

We are encouraged to read that cabinet members with conflicts of interest regarding the fisheries issue on the agenda had to step out. What concerns us is that such an action is considered new. This should have been the case from the start. A conflict of interest is “a situation in which a person is in a position to derive personal benefit from actions or decisions made in their official capacity and where your separate duties to act in the best interests of two or more clients in the same or a related matter conflict.” Cabinet must always act ethically…

15 May

Commemorative banknote to start circulating

UncategorisedBank of Namibia, Independence Day, Kazembire Zemburuka

Staff Writer The N$30 commemorative banknote launched on Independence Day by the Bank of Namibia shall be available to the public as from Friday, 15 May 2020, the apex bank has announced. “ The public is also hereby informed that the N$30 commemorative banknote will only be issued at the tills, inside all commercial bank’s branches and not at the Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs),” BoN Deputy Director: Corporate Communications, Kazembire Zemburuka said. “To obtain the N$30 commemorative banknote from commercial banks, one will have to exchange an equivalent amount of the current family of banknotes or coins, for the banknote.”…

14 May

The selfish rich and middle classes

National Newsmiddle classes, rich

Those who eat regularly, have some income, and a safe, warm place to sleep need to stop shouting so loud. Your noise is drowning out the screams from those who have nothing. These are challenging times and all of us must come down a notch or two. The selfish rich and middle classes, need a wake-up call. Someone who never has bread does not worry about not having bread. But, the person used to eating bread everyday feels bereft they miss bread for only one day out of seven. We must be careful about shifting limited resources to appease the…

14 May

Only 800 qualify for quotas

Observer MoneyMinistry of Fisheries, quotas

Staff Writer Only 800 out of more than 5,000 applications received by the Ministry of Fisheries meet the set requirements to be considered for allocation of fishing quotas, the Windhoek Observer can reveal. As part of their application, applicants were to be judged on a scorecard system to determine their contribution to the socio-economic development of Namibia and its people, including a broad participation at shareholder level to include youth, women, people with disabilities, and persons from economically disadvantaged regions, liberation war veterans and worker trusts, among other requirements. The revelations come as the University of Namibia which had been…

13 May

CRAN licensing brews a storm

Observer MoneyCity of Windhoek, CRAN, MTC, Paratus, Paratus Telecommunications, Tim Ekandjo

. . . as telcos object to CoW licence Staff Writer The awarding of telecoms licence to the City of Windhoek (CoW) by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) is brewing up a storm in the telecoms sector, with players accusing the regulator of violating its own rules in the awarding process. This comes as the CoW licence was upgraded by CRAN from the initial application of a Network Facilities Service License, allowing it to lease its fiber optics to other licensed operators to a Class Comprehensive Telecommunications Service License, allowing the municipality to offer integrated telecommunications services, directly…

13 May

Haufiku in appointment limbo

Observer MoneyBernard Haufiku, Covid-19, Ministry of Health and Social Services

Andrew Kathindi The National Coordinator for the response to COVID-19, Dr Bernard Haufiku, has still not received his appointment letter, nearly two months after his assignment to the position. Haufiku, who is the former Minister of Health, was appointed prior to Stage 1 of the national lockdown as the National Coordinator for the Covid-19 task force and emerged as the face of the response team, giving frequent updates on national statistics with regard to COVID-19. However, it is believed that Haufiku’s candid approach to how government handles the response including admitting the slow testing pace, has increased his credibility among…

13 May

The COVID-19 #newnormal won’t be business as usual

UncategorisedCovid-19, Namibia, school

Jan Coetzee Namibia, went into lockdown several weeks ago, our Government’s firm and swift response has so far kept the number of infections very low. Thankfully no deaths have been recorded either and Namibia may come out of this quite well. Certainly not discounting the damage to the economy or the closure of the schools and social activities that these necessary steps have caused. Eventually the economy will recover, kids will go back to school, but COVID-19 has left an indelible mark on our society and how we life, work and play. How we work is what I would like…

13 May

‘Namibianize’ Namibia

National NewsNamibia, president Hage Geingob

Most Namibians love their country and do not divide their loyalty by ethnic, racial or tribal segments. They are proud Namibians. This is no less the case for us. But, when the members of boards, holders of high office and certain government job appointments, are only people from the Oshiwambo-speaking ethnic group, the playing field is uneven. This is a problem. Those responsible for this problem know that giving jobs or appointments based on tribal origin is unfair (and illegal). But, there is an unspoken arrogant response in the air, “We’ve done this and there is nothing you can do…

13 May

Handcrafted products: a revenue source for women

UncategorisedCovid-19, Handcrafted

Jackie Wilson Asheeke Can we get our crafts to the tourists, since the tourists cannot come to buy the crafts? Check out www.tenthousandvillages.com. According to the history on their website, the idea of bringing products made by women in developing communities to the USA for sale began with Edna Ruth Byler selling crafts from her car boot back in 1940. She worked with the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). I was surprised when I read that part as I worked closely with the MCC during my days on Capitol Hill. They were very active in the anti-apartheid movement and worked hard…