Tourism continue to show resilience

Tourism continue to show resilience

CHAMWE KAIRA Namibia's tourism sector continued to demonstrate resilience in September, with a diverse mix of regional and international visitors contributing to the positive outlook, a study has shown. European tourists remained the largest group, increasing their share to 71.8% from 67.3% in September 2023. This growth highlights Namibia’s ongoing appeal as a premier destination for European travellers, reinforcing the need for tailored marketing strategies and services to cater to this key demographic, as Simonis Storm said in a report. Leisure travel continued to dominate the sector, presenting opportunities for further infrastructure development to enhance the visitor experience and sustain…
Read More
African CEOs confident about growth

African CEOs confident about growth

While CEOs remain confident in the future of the global economy, there is a significant consideration for escalating uncertainty and rising global crises. This is according to KPMG’s 2024 CEO Outlook Survey – Africa, the inaugural edition focusing on the African continent. According to Ignatius Sehoole, Chairman and CEO, KPMG in Africa: “It is an exciting time in the history of the African continent to release these results that collectively look at how we, as African colleagues, can together address the key impacts of the global and local economies to gear our businesses for growth. The whole is very much…
Read More
Saving strategies after the Income Tax amendment

Saving strategies after the Income Tax amendment

MIGNON DU PREEZ The most important change introduced by the gazetting of the Income Tax Amendment Act (No. 8442) on 16 September 2024 was that the tax threshold for individual taxpayers increased from N$50 000 to N$100 000, with effect from 1 March 2024. With this, many Namibians will now have some more money at their disposal to manage wisely. But how? First and foremost is to focus on the building of an emergency fund. Having money saved for emergencies such as a medical emergency or home repairs, saves one from further financial stress. If possible, try to build up…
Read More
CoW puts Windhoek district hospital land on sale

CoW puts Windhoek district hospital land on sale

Ester Mbathera The City of Windhoek (CoW) has put the land on which the Ministry of Health and Social Services plans to build the Windhoek district hospital on sale for N$18.9 million by way of a private treaty. This is the same piece of land where vice president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, announced the construction of the new hospital during a groundbreaking ceremony in May. At the time, the event occurred on unpurchased land, raising concerns about the project's timeline and process. The land measuring 151 432 square metres on Farm 508 Havana was approved for sale by the CoW in 2017…
Read More
Audit exposes N$10 million discrepancy in Okahao financial statements

Audit exposes N$10 million discrepancy in Okahao financial statements

Allexer Namundjembo The chairperson of the National Council Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Economy, Peter Kazongominja, revealed that the Okahao Town Council lacked financial accounting procedures, guidelines, and manuals. He made this statement during the town council's public hearing on Wednesday regarding the adverse audit opinion on their financial statements for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Kazongominja said the committee observed that the council did not adopt an appropriate financial reporting framework as per the circular from the Minister of Urban and Rural Development in preparing its financial statements. “The auditors noted a difference amounting to N$9…
Read More
Ren-Form denies relations with Zimbabwean businessman Chivhayo

Ren-Form denies relations with Zimbabwean businessman Chivhayo

Ester Mbathera Ren-Form CC, a South African company that won a contract to print over 3.8 million ballot papers for the National Assembly and Presidential elections, has broken off ties with Wicknell Chivhayo, a Zimbabwean businessman. Zimbabwean media and the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) highlighted the connection to Chivhayo. They alleged corruption and maladministration in the awarding of the tender by the Electoral Commission of Namibia. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the company's lawyers, Mathopo Attorneys, said Ren-Form has, on numerous occasions, placed on record in the public domain that the allegations of corruption and price inflation levelled against…
Read More
Shangula wants every penny accounted for

Shangula wants every penny accounted for

Niël Terblanché The minister of health Kalumbi Shangula has reiterated that every cent allocated to the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) must be accounted for. He made the call during the annual ministerial planning and financial management meeting held in Swakopmund on Tuesday. “Not spending the available funds, denies service to the intended beneficiaries and is a form of financial mismanagement that must be avoided,” he said. Shangula stressed the importance of financial sustainability and sound management as cornerstones for advancing Namibia’s health system. He also stressed the need to address the social determinants of health, such as…
Read More
CPBN executed contract projects valued at N$6.7 billion

CPBN executed contract projects valued at N$6.7 billion

Martin Endjala From 1 April to 30 September, the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) executed contract projects worth N$6.7 billion countrywide. The contracts are still ongoing in all regions, with 164 projects. This was revealed by CPBN monitoring and evaluation manager Toini Hamata during a media briefing in Windhoek for both the first and second quarters (Q1 and Q2). The largest category in terms of project value is work projects, with over 60% of the total value of N$4.1 billion, with non-consultancy services leading in the number of projects. Public entities and service providers were the most actively involved…
Read More
Youth called upon to find sustainable climate solutions

Youth called upon to find sustainable climate solutions

Niël Terblanché Hopes are high that the collective effort of Namibia’s youth will lead to tangible solutions for the nation’s climate-related challenges, ensuring that future generations inherit a more sustainable and resilient environment. In this regard the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Namibia 2024 kicked off in Windhoek this week, bringing together 50 youth delegates from all 14 regions of Namibia to find sustainable solutions for the country’s climate challenges. Presented under the theme “Youth at the Forefront: Driving National Climate Solutions,” the conference is focused on key climate issues such as adaptation, mitigation, and a just transition to renewable…
Read More
BoN sounds alarm on fraudulent schemes

BoN sounds alarm on fraudulent schemes

Martin Endjala The Bank of Namibia (BoN) issued an alert in which it warned the public about rising fraudulent investment schemes falsely promising financial backing for Namibia’s development initiatives. BoN cautioned that these schemes are targeting high-ranking government officials, ministries, traditional leaders, and prominent public figures, exploiting their reputations to lend credibility to deceptive offers. “Of late, the bank has observed that prominent religious and traditional leaders, as well as church elders, are also approached to advance these investment schemes to their church communities by using their influence,” said Johannes !Gawaxab, the central bank's governor. He explained that the people…
Read More