Euro-African Life in Namibia

FNB Namibia has issued an urgent warning to customers to be extremely vigilant with any messages asking them to click on a link to view a payment or something along those lines. Kathleen Nell , Manager Online Banking at FNB Namibia has said that the recent revamp of the FNB website has triggered fraudsters to once again try their luck by sending bogus e-mails to customers and requesting them to click on a link to view a payment. We received the following, for example: “ Dear valued customer • FNB :-) An amount of N$22,630.05 @ Cashbuild paid to your cheq a/c..41201 using card..1072. Date: 20 Sept, 2013. Kindly view the source of payment.  Please do NOT reply to this message as it is sent from an unattended mailbox .” Nell advised that everything looks genuine although the e-mail address is never the FNB one.  (Photograph: Kathleen Nell , Manager: Online Banking, First National Bank of Namibia) “We can only continue to make our customers aware of possible ...

The Recycle Namibia Forum (RNF) has issued a media statement about the recycling of hazardous material in Namibia, with particular emphasis on oil and batteries. John Pallett of the RNF: “The 275 000 vehicles in Namibia, as well as the many ships plying our coastline and anchoring in Walvis Bay, generate literally millions of litres of waste in oil. Additionally, our country accumulates over 1 000 tonnes of dead batteries every year." RNF stressed that unfortunately many people do not know how to dispose of old oil and batteries responsibly. Pallett said there are solutions for responsible disposal of these waste items, as significant developments have take place in Namibia to reduce pollution and ensure growth of the recycling industry.  (Photograph: John Pallett of Recycle Forum Namibia at an oil collector) He added: "Car batteries last 3 years on average, which amounts to just over 90 000 dead batteries produced in Namibia every year. PowerBat , the Namibian a...

An initiative that can only be described as a major vote of confidence in the domestic retail sector, has seen banking industry giant, Nedbank Namibia , partner with Model Pick n Pay (part of the Ohlthaver & List Group of companies), to bring banking to the very edge of convenience, with its groundbreaking, first-for-Namibia, CashBack initiative. CashBack enables Nedbank Namibia customers to withdraw up to N$ 1 500.00 in cash, using a Nedbank debit card and a valid PIN (personal identification number) entry, even after the daily ATM withdrawal limit is exceeded, with the same affordability as a transaction from an ATM, at Pick n Pay cash registers (tills) throughout Namibia. At the launch of the initiative in August 2013 , Nedbank Namibia deputy managing director, Lionel Matthews , emphasised at the core a drive to take banking services to customers, with a focus on accessibility and convenience, via innovative products like the CashBack facility, now available at P...

'In southern Africa, the Khoikhoi-San have infused themselves with all sectors of society, most notably the people known under Apartheid as "Coloureds ", who also have genealogical roots from Africa, Europe and Asia.' Thus wrote Nate May in 2009, giving an accurate summation of the ingredients in a vibrant pool of multiculturalism, confluence of divergent ideas and a splintered social dialogue characteristic of multicultural groups living in modern southern Africa, and which led to the formation of Khoi Khonnexion . "These are the songs of our awakening..." Khoi Khonnexion was established by Garth Erasmus, Jethro Louw and Glen Arendse as a means to seek 'healing' , celebrate diversity and to express the 'awakening' of the dormant, silenced voice and restless spirit embodied by the Khoi (Khoe-khoe or Amakhoekhoe), a distinct group of people who roamed southern Africa for more than 20 000 years, before European colonialsm. The Khoi is ...

Few women in Namibia are as feared, respected and admired as our Minister of Finance of Namibia, Honourable Saara Kuugongelwa Amadhila . Saara Kuugongelwa was born on the 12th of October 1967 , under the sign of LIBRA , in the village of Okahao, Omusati Region, northern Namibia. A person of strong convictions from an early age, she went into exile in 1980, during the Namibian-Angolan Border War (1966 - 1989), at the tender age of 13. In 1982, aged 15, she left for West African country, Sierra Leone, and attended the famous Koidu Girls Secondary School (founded in 1952) , 1982 to 1984, and Saint Joseph's Secondary High School thereafter from 1984 to 1987. Saara Kuugongelwa obtained her Bachelors Degree in Economics from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, United States of America, in 1994, and returned to a democratic, peaceful and free Namibia, not long thereafter. Her first position was as desk officer in the Office of the President, during the term of First President of Namibi...

Samsung Africa launched its first Solar Powered Internet School (SPIS) in Botswana a year ago. It was  a world first, designed for use in remote rural areas with limited or no access to electricity. On average, less than 25% of rural areas on the African continent benefit from electricity. Isolated and remote communities are left with limited access to education and connectivity, both of which are key to fast-tracking education. Samsung has combined its ‘Built for Africa’ products to offer a workable solution.   On Wednesday, 25 September 2013, Samsung Namibia country manager, Theo Senekal , donated the first Solar Powered Internet School (SPIS) and solar power generator (SPG) to the Ministry of Education of Namibia. The event was attended by Permanent Secretary of Education, Mr. Alfred Ilukena, the Director of Technology of Education, Mr. Johan van Wyk, heads of the Ministry of Education directorates from the various regions in Namibia, Samsung Namibia senior represen...

The SAFLAND Property Group has announced its renewed sponsorship of UNIBIS, the business society and platform for commercial students, at the University of Namibia (UNAM).  SAFLAND again will sponsor the cash prizes and trophies for the winners of the UNAM Cultural Festival entrepreneurial exhibition, and be involved in judging the exhibitions.   Said Jerry Rossouw , Director of Operations: “SAFLAND has supported UNIBIS in the past and will continue to do so, as it has always been our passion to develop young entrepreneurs and future business leaders.”    Photograph:  Kuume Uutaapama (President UNIBIS), Kallie van der Merwe (SAFLAND CEO), seated ,  Desmond van Jaarsveld (Managing Director, SAFLAND); Ndemuweda Nghixulifwa (Vice-President UNIBIS), and Jerry Rossouw (SAFLAND Operations Director), standing . SAFLAND is the largest commercial property developer in Namibia, in partnership with Atterbury and Demushuwa for the co...

Bernd Wasiolka may have been born and raised in Bochum, Germany, but his heart beats for Africa . After finishing high school, followed by an apprenticeship as a technician in communications, Bernd Wasiolka became increasingly fascinated with exploring the world. He toured Asia, Australia and Central America with a camera on-hand. His travel experiences resulted in a love for wild animals, and brought about a change in career when he pursued further studies in biology, upon his return to Germany. It was while studying at university that his interests and focus turned to Africa, its wildlife and geography. Bernd travelled extensively to southern Africa to photograph and document wildlife in exotic locations. A three-year study of the impact of land use on animal diversity in the Kalahari , specifically the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park , for his doctoral thesis, brought about a new dimension to his photography as his emotional relationship with the Kalahari environment deepened....

Do you prefer dating at home? If you do, don't be concerned, you're not alone. It is after all, a traditional way of dating in Namibia ... just ask your mother and aunts. Most, if not all of our older generation of women dated at home. It is an accepted social practice , all over Namibia, and doesn't have to be 'unsafe' and 'scary' if done right...unless you're dating the wrong kind of men, have reasons to fear for your personal safety, or may be embarrassed by your date's behaviour. There are a variety of reasons for dating at home. If a woman is very young, under the age of 21, economically dependent and still at school, this may be a parental stipulation . Namibian parents and guardians often grant permission for certain times of the day and / or certain days (a Saturday afternoon), is fine for 'friends' (as they're politely called) to visit. The rules are clear though, romantic interests are only allowed to visit when parents / g...

Hendrik (Wessie) van der Westhuizen , the Managing Director of Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) , today said that NBL delivered a solid financial performance despite a number challenges which characterised the trading environment. Said van der Westhuizen: “Our overall sales continue to grow in both Namibia and South Africa with varying growth levels in our export markets”.  He further stated that despite many challenges in the industry, NBL had managed to grow operating profit by double digits. Van der Westhuizen added: “With recent investments in our brands, production facilities and the passion and commitment of our people to take this business to a new level, will ensure that NBL maintains its trajectory towards growth and prosperity. "We continued to conduct brand packaging innovations and renovations based on consumer feedback across our product offering. Within the portfolio of international and African brands, the Windhoek trademark continued to outperform with t...

In a magazine market known for its fly-by-nights and flash-in-the-pans, Insight Namibia cc marks its 100th monthly edition with the September 2013 issue . The first edition appeared in September 2004 and throughout the last nine years, Insight maintained its position as Namibia's premier current affairs magazine . Originally started and currently based in Windhoek, Namibia, the magazine's founders, Robin Sherbourne, David Lush and Tangeni Amupadhi,  journalists in their own right, at the time (2004) wrote that Insight was 'born out of a feeling that Namibians yearn for more than just hard news.' Readers were promised a publication that went beyond the daily headlines and covered 'the story behind the story' . The magazine was not started with a bank loan; the pioneers pooled their savings to get it off the ground and to this day, that same financial discipline, has ensured that Insight has never taken a loan to cover its operating, printing and overhead cos...

Purchasing prepaid electricity via FNB's (First National Bank) cellular telephone banking services is growing in popularity as customers begin to see the benefit of using the bank's self-service channels for their transactions. FNB Namibia has advised that 82% of all prepaid electricity purchases processed by the bank are made via cellular telephone . Long gone are the days of having to travel to a retail store to top-up your electricity meter when the lights go off," says Desery van Wyk, head of cellphone banking at FNB Namibia. "Instead customers can recharge instantly using their phones, " she says. Prepaid electricity purchases have seen year-on-year growth of about 174% in both transaction volume and value. “FNB Namibia launched this facility in February 2012 and since then it has gone from strength to stre ngth."   (Photograph: Desery van Wyk, Head: Cellphone Banking, First National Bank, Namibia) Over the years banks have introduced va...

“ Fraud and corruption , as well as unethical behaviour and unprofessionalism seem to be on the increase in Namibia and more often than not employees at parastatals or government institutions apparently are at the forefront of such behaviour.” So says Kephas Shatona, Manager: Internal Audit & Risk Management, Social Security Commission (SSC). Shatona added that the funds of a parastatal or government institution are partly the funds of the nation as taxpayers money and these are used to fund the likes of Air Namibia, TransNamib, NHE (National Housing Enterprise) to name but a few. “Because we are in a privileged position to receive funds from tax payers and members, vigilance, professionalism and ethics should one of the most important aspects of any business,” says Shatona. He continued to say that Africa remained a continent of great opportunity for investors , but unfortunately the majority of countries included in the  bottom half of Transparency International’s annua...

In Namibia, most of us have what is known in foreign, English literature, as a 'support network' . Traditionally and historically, Namibian families adapted in accordance with circumstances and adopted different roles throughout their lives as part of a larger support network, lending assistance to each other, in order to survive. During the Border War (1966 - 1989) , many Namibian families were fractured, broken, lost touch completely, disintegrated, some were accidentally reunited many years thereafter but regrettably, many young children and adults, were orphaned by the War. To remedy the situation, many Namibians 'absorbed' orphaned children into their families, raising them as their own (children of friends and acquaintances who had not returned from Exile or the War), informally adopting / incorporating both children and adults as family members, paying for their upkeep, education and medical expenses. Consequently, aunts, friends and uncles, grandmothers, girl...