Page 965 – News Stand

28 May

Bank Windhoek donates 500 Reagent Testing Kits

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedBank Windhoek, Covid-19

Staff writer Bank Windhoek has donated 500 Reagent Testing Kits and Nasopharyngeal Swab Collection Kits to the Namibian Government in support of its fight against COVID-19. The Bank’s Executive Officer of Marketing and Corporate Communication Services, Jacquiline Pack, handed over the donation to the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Kalumbi Shalunga, at the Namibia Institute of Pathology’s (NIP) head office in Windhoek. Through the Analytical Technology and Chemical Supply, the Bank, in collaboration with NIP, was able to procure the material despite logistical challenges posed by the pandemic. “Since COVID-19 reached our borders, we realised that there was…

28 May

Jealousy clouds the point

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamibians

We have regularly commented on the current flawed process of Members of Parliament (MPs) disclosing a part of their assets to the public. The point of this disclosure is to identify conflicts of interest in matters before the legislature. A public listing of assets of lawmakers is irrelevant if not used specifically and only for that purpose. The point is to stop decision-makers, like the accused Esau or Shanghala, from voting on laws with outcomes that pad their pockets. We must keep our eyes on the prize and stop getting lost in how many cars or houses are owned by…

27 May

A voice against re-opening schools

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedchildren, Namibians, schools, Teachers

Yes, we find ourselves between a rock and a hard place with regard to the school re-opening conundrum. I think restarting schools will prove to be more dangerous than keeping them closed for this academic year. As many have correctly pointed out, if anything went wrong, children can be super-spreaders of the pandemic as many (particularly the younger ones) may not have the self-conscious capacity to police themselves [utilize the mandatory methods to slow pandemic spread like self-spacing, washing hands with soap for 20 seconds and other actions], unlike adults who do not police themselves by choice. Besides, order and…

27 May

It is not your N$750

info_e12wt4csNational NewsEmergency Income Grant (EIG), Eurobond

When the emergency income grant (EIG) of N$750 was announced, we applauded the idea. At the same time, we raised concerns about how the program would be packaged and rolled-out to the public. The current wave of public gripes about the grant seems to reflect that indeed, there is major misunderstanding about what the EIG was meant to be. Expectations were raised that cannot be met. Promises of ‘free money for all’ to momentarily deflate rising fear and anger amongst low-income citizens, could backfire. When loftily-announced pledges (like fishing jobs for all who were retrenched due to Fishrot) fall flat,…

27 May

Mushokobanji shares his 100 days in office

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedMeatco, Mwilima Mushokobanji

Staff Writer Having now served his 100 days in office since his appointment on the 1st of February 2020, the Windhoek Observer (WO) caught up with youthfull Meatco Chief Executive Officer, Mwilima Mushokobanji (MM) to share his experiences and plans for the meat processor and below is an extract of the interview: WO) It's been more than 100 days since your appointment, kindly share with us what you had set-out to do and if you achieved it? MM) It’s been busy, I have been doing familiarization tours around the various departments, realigned EXCO for better efficiency and some business units…

27 May

COVID-19 effects bleed businesses – survey

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA)

Staff Writer A Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) survey has found that 96.5 percent of businesses have been adversely affected by the coronavirus and will continue to be affected in the coming months. “The majority of operating businesses have indicated reduction in local customer demand as the most common current and future effect experienced by 68.8 percent and 65.1 percent of the businesses, respectively. Furthermore, 63.7 percent of businesses reported revenue loss of over 50 percent with the Manufacturing sector (20.1 percent), Hotels and Restaurants (15.2 percent) and Construction sector (11.3 percent) bearing most of the blunt.” The survey found that…

26 May

Couch Cat: Power is too expensive, embrace the dark!

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedCouch Cat

Jackie Wilson Asheeke My electricity bill has long been climbing for unknown reasons and it is putting me into the poor house fast. In a few more months, we will be using candles for light at night, grilling our food and heating water outside on the braai. With earning prospects dimmed, looking hard at every expenditure is no longer an option. For years now, I have reduced power drains severely. There is no more swimming pool pump, no more dishwasher, the geyser is off during the day and most of the night, and no more dryer. And yet, my bill…

26 May

Materialist conception of history context of the National Resistance

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedNamibian

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro One may agree or disagree that the National Resistance which eventually on March 21, 1990, heralded Namibian independence, freedom, liberty and sovereignty, was not an end and could not have been an end in itself. But imperative as a first step towards the end, this end being the Second Phase of the African (Namibian) Revolution. But the question that must have been bugging and begging is, if indeed Namibia, with the attainment of her freedom and independence on March 21, 1990, is whether actually Namibia has embarked on the Second Phase of her National Revolution? And if, what…

26 May

Stop gambling with the lives of students

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedstudents

Thandizo Kawerama Nobody signed up for all the unexpected changes in 2020, and students most definitely did not register for them. It’s not fair to put blame on anyone as not many could have planned ahead for a pandemic. However the reality is that students forced into distance and e-learning are not receiving the level of courses and study that they agreed to when they registered at the beginning of the year. And yet, they are being asked to perform at high levels in the face of uncertainty. It’s unfair to assume that students will be able to produce the…

26 May

Lettin’ folks out of lock-up – is it a good thing?

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedNamibia

Jackie Wilson Asheeke When the president decided to pardon petty criminals, I thought, “ok…that’s nice…now what?” ‘Ripping-the-band-aid-off’ abrupt actions can cause more harm than good. These former inmates will be thrown out onto the streets and expected to ‘be ok.’ Reality check: They won’t be ok. What is the plan beyond unlocking the doors and saying, ‘get out?’ Proven criminals with no money will be stealing within hours just to get a bus ticket to get home or find food that day. It is colder these days…shall they steal blankets and coats to sleep outside at night? There are no…