Page 953 – News Stand

24 Feb

No request for de Klerk’s extradition . . . as trial looms

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyMarén de Klerk, Martha Imalwa, Paulus Noa

Andrew Kathindi With less than two months before the Fishrot pre-trial in the High Court, Government is yet to begin the extradition process of lawyer Maren De Klerk, dubbed “paymaster” of millions of state funds from Fishcor. De Klerk, who has been indicted by the Prosecutor-General (PG), Martha Imalwa, has been in South Africa for over a year. Director of the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC), Paulus Noa, said the extradition process is initiated by the Ministry of Justice. But the Justice ministry Head of Legal Services responsible for extraditions, Simataa Lennon Limbo, denied this. “No request for Meren De Klerk lies…

23 Feb

Time to decolonise, redefine global health

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCovid-19

Fifa Rahman, Felicita Hikuam, Nyasha Chingore-Munazvo, and Gisa Dang* The COVID-19 pandemic is a bleak reminder of the enduring inequity in global public health. Despite early warnings, the global response does not take into account the racial inequality underpinning health outcomes (think lack of healthy food options, green spaces, safety, housing density), nor that diagnostic tools such as pulse oximeters are not accurate on non-white skin. Glaringly, Global North responses to COVID-19 have not been the most efficacious nor the most effective. For example, the United Kingdom, the United States and Sweden have failed to adequately protect their populations, while…

23 Feb

Nine shortlisted for Fishcor CEO post

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNational Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor)

Staff Writer National Fishing Corporation of Namibia (Fishcor) has announced it has shortlisted nine candidates for the vacant Chief Executive Officer (CEO) position and plans to appoint a candidate next month. The company has been operating without a substantive CEO since December 2019, following the suspension and subsequent arrest of Mike Nghipunya last February after being implicated in the Fishrot scandal, resulting in his employment termination last November. “The position was advertised in November and closed on the 27 November 2020. The Board is conscious that the CEO search process is not hastened nor slowed, taking into account the December…

23 Feb

Namibia records 100 Covid-19 deaths in a month

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCOVAX, Covid-19

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri Namibia’s COVID-19 death toll continues to grow at an exponential rate, with the country recording over 100 deaths in one month. Since the outbreak of the virus up to January 21, Namibia had recorded a total of 300 deaths. The country’s COVID-19 deaths have now surpassed the 400 mark according to the latest figures from the Health ministry, with a total of 406 deaths recorded. Over the last three days, the Health Ministry has announced seven COVID-19 related deaths. Minister of Health and Social Services, Kalumbi Shangula, said the four new deaths were recorded in Windhoek, Onamdjokwe Mariental…

23 Feb

No new national airline on the horizon

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Leon Jooste, National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), Public Enterprises minister

Andrew Kathindi Public Enterprises Minister, Leon Jooste, has ruled out the establishment of another airline after the liquidation of Air Namibia. The pronouncement by the minister comes after a mass demonstration led by National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), which called for the reversal of Cabinet’s decision on the airline, and for the immediate removal of the State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) minister ended in failure after government reiterated its stance on the closure of Air Namibia. Jooste told Windhoek Observer, “At the moment, the answer is no. So of course, strategically in our normal planning, that's where the Director of…

20 Feb

Trade unions relevant as long as workers’ exploitation continues

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedEvalistus Kaaronda, NUNW, Shoprite workers, trade unions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Increasingly aspersions have been cast by different sectors of society including social, political and economic analysts and commentators, as well as the media, on the efficacy and efficiency of local trade unions and unionists. Some commentators and analysts even doubting and questioning the relevance of trade unions, unionists anymore. Any ideologues worth the salt cannot but seriously ponder such postulations if not dismiss the all together. Because the essence of trade unions and unionists is the old age struggle of the workers in any society against the exploitative system. In the true principle of dialectical materialism workers, and…

20 Feb

The Time Traveler: Air Namibia, and building things that last

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedAir Namibia, building things that last

Hugh Ellis Everyone who came back from exile has different memories of the trip home. One that stands out for me is my first sight of the Air Namibia (then still Namib Air) airplane, with its distinctive logo, through the window of Frankfurt Airport. I was only 12 years old then, but it was the first time I remember feeling a sense of national pride. Air Namibia’s forthcoming liquidation hurts. It hurts hard. For 600 employees who will now lose their jobs, this hurt is doubtless far, far worse. I am truly sad that Air Namibia, at least for a…

20 Feb

Abortion debate huddles in Parliament

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedAbortion debate, Ester Muinjangue

Kandjemuni Kamuiiri The much anticipated Parliamentary debate on legalizing abortion in Namibia could fail to materialize this year, with the National Assembly confirming that the motion, which lapsed last year, had not been re-tabled and thus not scheduled to be debated by the house. This comes after Deputy Minister of Health, Ester Muinjangue who tabled the legalization of abortion last year, had maintained that the discussion will happen at the beginning of the year when the Parliament reopens for 2021. “As far as I am concerned the matter was still up for discussion, the motion has not lapsed, it is…

20 Feb

Challenge Air lawyers start hunt for Air Namibia’s assets

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedAir Namibia’s assets, Anicent Baun, Challenge Air lawyers, EURO 5

Andrew Kathindi Lawyers representing Anicent Baun, liquidators representing Challenge Air on Friday served Air Namibia with a writ of execution after the airline breached a settlement agreement, where it was supposed to have paid N$ 103 million by end of day Thursday. According to the writ of execution, in possession of Windhoek Observer, a public auction of the airliner’s assets is to be held in order to raise EURO 5,800,000.00, or its equivalence in Namibian dollars at the rate of 20 per cent. This amount is to be deemed tempore morae, a legal term meaning the interest on a claim…

19 Feb

RMB wins global finance magazine award

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedGlobal Finance magazine, RMB Namibia

Staff Writer RMB Namibia has been recognised by Global Finance magazine as the 2021 Best Treasury and Cash Management Bank. “We are extremely proud of Global Finance’s recognition of the long-term value we orchestrate for our clients. With the advent of Covid-19, the importance of innovative and self-service electronic banking channels that enable multijurisdictional optimisation of liquidity and cash management have become even more vital for corporates.” RMB Namibia CEO Philip Chapman said. RMB’s launch of multiple country online balance viewing and local and cross-border online payments, including the ability to invest through online channels, has enabled global treasurers to…