Page 1220 – Windhoek Observer

17 Mar

No Sinopharm vaccine for Shangula, top govt officials

Observer MoneyMinister of Health and Social Services, Sinopharm

Andrew Kathindi, Kandjemuni Kamuiiri, Rose-Mary Haufiku It has emerged that most high-ranking government officials, including Minister of Health and Social Services (MoHss), Kalumbi Shangula, will not receive the Sinopharm vaccine, because of its age restrictions. The vaccine, the first vaccine against COVID-19 to come into Namibia since the pandemic broke out in March 2020, is only recommended for use on people between the ages of 18 to 59 years. “If I fall in the eligible criteria I will take it. I am waiting for another one because this vaccine is only for people between 18 and 59 and I don’t…

16 Mar

CRAN powerless against Facebook’s data snooping

Observer MoneyCommunications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), WhatsApp

Andrew Kathindi The Namibian government is unable to stop Facebook from sharing the data it collects from Namibian WhatsApp users due to the lack of a data protection law. According to the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), the Authority does not regulate over-the-top services that are delivered over the Internet, including WhatsApp and similar applications as Namibia also does not have a data protection law, in terms of which information on social media may be managed. As a result, Facebook, will be able to share the information it collects from WhatsApp users, including contact numbers and location when a…

16 Mar

Venaani to cost tax payers more

Observer MoneyMcHenry Venaani, National Assembly, Political commentator Henning Melber, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader

Andrew Kathindi and Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Taxpayers are set to start incurring additional costs for the upkeep of Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader, McHenry Venaani, after he accepted President Hage Geingob’s offer for further benefits. Venaani's additional perks will include a state office at the premises of the National Assembly, a personal administrative assistant of his choice, a motor vehicle, a security aid and a driver. Political commentator Henning Melber said the official opposition leader’s acceptance of the perks was a classical case of hypocrisy and double standards, arguing the move could have an impact on voters’ perception of him in…

13 Mar

Team Namibia, free market system shall never liberate the workers

Uncategorisedcapitalism, National Equitable Economic Empowerment Bill (NEEEB), Team Namibia

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro The National Equitable Economic Empowerment Bill (NEEEB), which is to see the implementation of the National Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework(NEEEF) seems to have reveal the true characters of some of the organisations in our society. One of them is none other than Team Namibia, which all along has been making the country believe it is there in the best interest of the country, Namibia, hence its name Team Namibia. However it is becoming clear that Team Namibia is more than meets the eye in terms of its broader interests in Namibia, particularly those of Namibian workers. From Team…

13 Mar

The Time Traveler: Queen for a day

UncategorisedBritish Royal Family, Queen for a day, Time Traveler

Hugh Ellis By the time you read this, the Duchess of Sussex’s allegations of racism and victimization in the British Royal Family - more correctly in the bureaucracy that surrounds them - will have been headline news around the world for a week. As a Namibian with some - increasingly tenuous - links to the United Kingdom, I’m saddened but not surprised. Firstly, it lays bare the kind of subtle racism which Europe (as opposed to Southern Africa or the United States) specializes in. You’ll commonly find white Bits or Germans or Frenchmen as cleaners or gardeners, and it’s extremely…

13 Mar

AstraZeneca faces mounting bans

UncategorisedAstraZeneca, Kalumbi Shangula

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri and Rose-Mary Haufiku Controversy continues to dog the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine as several European countries suspending the use of AstraZeneca vaccine. Despite Namibian Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula, remaining adamant that Government will go ahead with the procurement of the controversial vaccine through the COVAX facility. European media have been carrying reports that the AstraZeneca vaccine caused thromboembolic events or blood clots among some individuals who received the jab. Three of 17 European countries that have received the AstraZeneca vaccine (Denmark, Norway and Iceland) have, as a precautionary measure, stopped administering the vaccine while Italy,…

13 Mar

Former SME Bank employees demand N$67m from Government

UncategorisedFormer SME Bank employees, Iipumbu Shiimi, Leon Jooste, N$67m

Andrew Kathindi Former employees of the now defunct SME Bank are demanding over N$67 million from Government in payment at the value of 12 months’ salary. According to the 208 former employees of the bank, the claim is supported by the recent decision by Finance Minister, Iipumbu Shiimi, to pay out Air Namibia employees’ salaries for one year. The SME Bank employees received their termination of service letters on 25 July 2017, with some only receiving accrued annual leave days, pro-rata bonuses, severance pay and five years long service award for those eligible. “There was no retrenchment package. Nothing at…

13 Mar

Govt plans Addis murder accused repatriation

UncategorisedBertha Amakali, Ethiopian Police, Govt plans Addis murder accused repatriation, MIRCO

Maria Hamutenya Namibia is planning to evoke diplomatic immunity for murder accused, Kristofina Amutenya, who allegedly strangled her three children, killing two of them. According to the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (MIRCO) spokesperson, Bertha Amakali, MIRCO was informed by the Namibian Embassy in Addis Ababa that the Ethiopian Police has finalised investigations and submitted a report to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The relevant stakeholders, the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s Office are finalising the case, at which point the Namibian authorities will be requested to accompany the suspect in question home,” said Amakali.…

12 Mar

Bank Windhoek fires manager for racist remarks

Observer MoneyBank Windhoek, Capricorn Group, Riaan Van Rooyen

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Bank Windhoek has dismissed its suspended Sales Manager, Riaan Van Rooyen, for sharing a racially offensive post on his social media last year, which equated black people to monkeys. Van Rooyen had been suspended by the bank, pending an investigation into his conduct. “We wish to confirm that the individual in question has been dismissed. Bank Windhoek and Capricorn Group would like to reiterate its policy of zero tolerance towards any form of behaviour that does not conform to internal policies, and does not speak to our values that underpin ethical business conduct from any employee at any…

12 Mar

Recalled councillors snub LPM meeting

Observer MoneyDaniel Gariseb, Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Rogetta Haak

Maria Hamutenya Former Mariental town councillors, Daniel Gariseb and Rogetta Haak, have snubbed a request from the Landless People's Movement (LPM) to meet and discuss, demanding only the withdrawal of the party decision. The two were recalled by the opposition party from the Mariental town council for allegedly colluding with the ruling Swapo party. The LPM, through their lawyers, Dr Weder, Kauta & Hoveka Inc, wrote to the former councillor’s lawyer, Richard Metcalfe, requesting their availability and willingness to meet on Wednesday. In response, the request was turned down by the recalled councillors, stating in their letter that they will…