Page 990 – News Stand

14 Aug

Clash of the Doctors

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedDr Bernard Haufiku

The Time Traveler: Hugh Ellis The President’s Special Adviser on Health Matters, Dr Bernard Haufiku, was given his marching orders by Hage Geingob recently. This was reportedly after Minister of Health Dr Kalumbi Shangula complained to Geingob that Haufiku was ‘causing discord among team members’ in the fight against Covid-19, and ‘disclosing sensitive information’ without prior clearance. Personally, I’ve no idea if Dr Haufiku was indeed being a difficult git - or whether, as many of the public suspect, he had a knack for telling the unvarnished truth, which rubbed career bureaucrats obsessed with protocol the wrong way. Having worked…

14 Aug

Poor and black does not equal criminal and bad

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedneighbourhoods, Operation Kalahari

Jackie Wilson Asheeke I read an interesting opinion piece in the Namibian from Elifas Nghtomoka about the criminalization of poverty. It is a fact of life in Namibia that if you are poor and black in Namibia you are guilty until you are proven innocent. This must stop. The police are extra vigilant against the poor and black particularly in the tin shack suburbs as if that is the only place where crimes happen. People would be shocked about the high levels of criminality that takes place behind the high walls of lovely homes in affluent areas. Indeed as the…

14 Aug

How can capitalism be expected to deliver?

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedcapitalism

Yours Truly Ideologically-Eighth Instalment: Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Yours Truly Ideologically, inaugurated with a broadside at local analysts for their hollow, empty and ideologically void verbiage on the management of state and/or governmental affairs, socio-economically, and also politically. Observing that for most the analytical verbiage has never posited the system in its proper ideological context, either way be it socialist-oriented , capitalist or a mixture of the two, as Namibia’s is proffered to be. For these analysts, the bottom line has been seemingly the non-delivery of the system. Ignoring the fundamental question: Deliver what, and who from what? Deliver the workers from…

14 Aug

Affected communities reject government efforts

info_e12wt4csNational NewsGermans, Namibia, president Hage Geingob

The most emotive and sensitive issues in Namibia are the genocide of 1904-1908 and reparations. This week, President Hage Geingob rejected a monetary offer by Germany as ‘reparations’ for genocide. Colonial Germany specifically targeted and killed tens of thousands of people. They stole everything these people owned. They engaged in a vicious military action that permanently drove thousands out of the country of their birth. Deutsche Welle (DW) announced the proposed amount was 10 million euros. Geingob declared the amount, “insulting.” But inside Namibia this issue runs deep. Communities of people directly affected by the genocide are not a part…

14 Aug

NUST still hunting for VC

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyNamibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Vice-Chancellor

Andrew Kathindi The Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) is yet to appoint a substantive Vice-Chancellor over a year after long-serving Vice-Chancellor, Tjama Tjivikua stepped down. The University Council, which is chaired by Florette Nakusera and appointed by Higher Education Minister Itah Kandji-Murangi in November last year to serve until 2022, is yet to find a suitable candidate. In May this year, Dr Andrew Niikondo was appointed as Acting Vice-Chancellor for a period of six months or until a substantial Vice Chancellor is appointed by council. He replaced Morné du Toit, after his term lapsed. Du Toit serves on…

14 Aug

Travel ban hits Air Namibia

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyAir Namibia, Covid-19

Andrew Kathindi The grounding of Air Namibia flights amid the recently imposed national travel ban is set to hit the national carrier’s falling revenues, thus impact its turnaround strategy. Domestic travel was reintroduced in the country on 4 May following the initial State of Emergency proclamation by President Hage Geingob. Earlier this week however, following fears of rising cases of COVID-19, the President declared domestic travel restrictions. “As Air Namibia is involved in the business of transporting passengers and cargo, the temporary suspension of all domestic flights has a detrimental effect on the airline’s already difficult cash flow position, considering…

14 Aug

Law Society loses Sisa Namandje case

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyJudge Herman Oosthuizen, Law Society of Namibia’s (LSN), Sisa Namandje

Andrew Kathindi Judge Herman Oosthuizen on Friday dismissed the Law Society of Namibia’s (LSN) application to probe the financial records of lawyer Sisa Namandje’s law firm as part of its investigation into his connections to the Fishrot saga. Judge Oosthuizen, however, found that the application was not properly and lawfully authorized. In his judgment delivered via Zoom, Judge Oosthuizen ordered the LSN to pay the costs, which include the costs of one instructing and two instructed counsel. “I am seriously concerned by the modus operandi followed by the LSN as the regulating body of all enrolled legal practitioners in Namibia…

14 Aug

Government must declare independence from Struggle Kids

info_e12wt4csNational NewsChildren of the Liberation Struggle, Covid-19, Namibia

It is time for the government to free itself from the emotional stranglehold exerted by the group calling themselves Children of the Liberation Struggle. The country is being strangled by COVID-19. It is also facing drought recovery challenges and overall economic disaster. There is alarming unemployment levels (and rising), a horrific housing crisis, and the soon-to-arrive IMF. The government must forgive its original poor handling of this crisis years ago, add up what has been done well, declare victory, and move on. This is a country of 2.5 million people. The needs of 300 citizens calling themselves children of the…

14 Aug

Mungunda to exit Standard Bank

info_e12wt4csUncategorisedSBN Holdings, Standard Bank Namibia, Vetumbuavi Mungunda

Staff Writer SBN Holdings and Standard Bank Namibia have announced that Vetumbuavi Mungunda has given notice of his intention to step down as Chief Executive with effect from 1 May 2021. The listed banking group said the advance notice will allow for a well-planned, smooth transition process and sufficient time for a suitable candidate to be found “This will help to ensure that our valued clients and our operations are not impacted by the change in leadership. The Board will commence a process to appoint a successor to Mr. Mungunda and a further announcement will be made in due course,”…

14 Aug

NAMDIA joins MTC in the fight against homelessness

info_e12wt4csObserver MoneyCovid-19, Knockout Project 2020, MTC, NAMDIA

Staff Writer NAMDIA, through The NAMDIA Foundation has pledged to stand together with the nation in the fight against COVID 19. As part of the company’s continuing commitment and efforts, it partnered up with MTC in the Knockout Project 2020. The project’s goal is to raise N$ 1.5 million aimed at addressing and tackling one of our country’s growing social ills, homelessness. “The outbreak of the COVID 19 pandemic has exposed the weaknesses and imbalances of our society, with the vulnerable being most at risk and most adversely effected.We are thrilled to be endorsing one of Namibia’s most prominent media…