Euro-African Life in Namibia

Samsung Africa once again demonstrated the company’s innovation not only in the healthcare industry, but in understanding the African market, when they launched the Samsung Tele-Medical App,  a world’s first, in conjunction with the Samsung Tele-Medicine Centre . “The Samsung Tele-Medicine Centres, driven by solar power technolog y, can provide patients in rural areas with access to doctors and medical specialists anywhere in the world,” said Thierry Boulanger , director of IT and B2B Solutions at Samsung Electronics Africa. “The Tele-Medical App is an extension of the centre, allowing patient details to be captured accurately, medical equipment to be set up correctly and a standard of medical tests to be undertaken, for a complete medical solution.” (Photograph: Thierry Boulanger, Director: IT & B2B Solutions, Samsung Electronics Africa) In the Samsung Tele-Medicine Centre qualified nurses will be equipped with Samsung GALAXY Tabs containing the built-in app ...

On Thursday, 24 August 2013, MultiChoice Namibia donated technical equipment to the value of N$30 000.00 to assist with the activities of the Namibia Oral History Project . The Namibia Oral History Project is necessitated by  a historiographical gap which exists in the liberation history of Namibia. Most of what is written is academic history, which does not cover all aspects of personal histories and biographies, therefore the project is aimed at collecting information from critical role players in the liberation struggle to further supplement existing accounts and bring about other angles of the history of the liberation struggle in Namibia, says Project Leader Dr. Audrin Mathe . (Photograph: MultiChoice Namibia GM, Roger Gertze - left, and Dr. Audrin Mathe , Namibia Oral History Project) Handing over the technical equipment, the General Manager of MultiChoice Namibia, Mr. Roger Gertze noted, “MultiChoice Namibia prides itself in contributing toward various...

A t an event held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Samsung Electronics Africa showcased the company’s first ever Digital Village ; solutions which use a renewable and environmentally-friendly resource ( solar power ) to improve the lives of Africa’s inhabitants. (Photograph: Pan-African ambassadors and High Commissioners to South Africa inside the Samsung Solar-Powered Internet School) “Everyone speaks of the need to bridge the digital divide but we can only really achieve this if we focus on the core objective of changing lives for the better,” said Ntutule Tshenye, Head of Public Affairs and Shared Value Creation at Samsung Electronics Africa. “Like many businesses, our challenge was to look at what was needed versus what is available and devise a plan that connected the two. The critical need for alternatives to the current electricity shortage problem has prompted us to develop products, under our Built For Africa umbrella, that capitalise ...

You know those days? I have them all the time. Days when you're at your wits' end what to have for breakfast, brunch or lunch. Your conscience (and the small tube of blubber secretly inflating around your waistline) constantly nags at you in the hot Namibian sun to avoid greasy foods, summer is almost here - a week away in fact (that's what you say every week), Swakopmund-Walvis Bay-Henties' beaches have to be conquered in a bikini (can you say 'bikini' without flinching?), white jeans shouldn't bulge and crease in curious places, upper underarm has a lot more jiggle than last summer (aha!), and remember that skirt with the slippery last button? Couldn't close properly now, could it? It was on just such a day, I stumbled into Flaunt The Deli in Maerua Lifestyle Centre, almost fell to my knees and wept with relief. (Photograph: Freshly baked pies   and bread at Flaunt The Deli) There, before my sunburnt, starving visage and effectively soothin...

The Institute of Bankers (IoB)  in Namibia held its first ever graduation ceremony on the 4th of October 2013 and altogether 10 proud staff members received an Advanced Diploma in banking, finance and credit. Ndanyengua Amutenya, Renato Goagoseb, Pierce Gouws, Moses Kauejao, Saraphia Ntemwa, Ferr ah Esingue, Ivana Hoaes, Shikondjeleni Mundilo, Loraine Nel and Maria Strauss received their diplomas at the graduation event. (Photograph: Institute of Bankers, first graduates, 2013) Anastasia Williams , Head of Human Resources at First National Bank (FNB) of Namibia: “We would like to congratulate our employees for completing their courses. We know it is not easy to work full-time and study at the same time. We are proud of you and your achievements. Rest assured that people like you have great careers ahead of them in our bank as you have persisted with perseverance and stamina while at the same time taking responsibility for your own career. For us you are choice employ...

Namibia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah  is a uniquely, fascinating person. She was born in the village of Onamutai in the Oshana Region, northern Namibia, on the 29th of October 1952 , under the constellation of Scorpio . Netumbo Nandi joined Swapo (South West African Peoples Organisation) in 1966, while a student at the Odibo Mission School and from 1969 to 1974 she was the Chairperson of the Swapo Youth League (SPYL) in northern Namibia. Amid growing persecution of the SPYL leadership by the Apartheid regime, she left Namibia in 1974, to join Swapo in exile. She went on to represent the movement in central and eastern Africa and undertook studies in the United Kingdom (Diplomacy & International Relations) before returning to Namibia in 1989.  In 2002 she guided the Combating of Domestic Violence Act through the National Assembly (NA), amid much criticism and joking from some of her male colleagues. At one point she even warned her fellow S...

For most people, your home is the biggest asset you will own in your lifetime and one with the most potential to create long-term wealth, if handled correctly. Not fulfilling your bond repayments will not only jeopardise this important asset, but can also have an adverse effect on your entire financial life including your credit record. “Purchasing and owning a home is a good way to build wealth, however home-owners need to make every provision possible to repay their bonds, even when faced with financial difficulties”, said  Thomas Slabbert Head of FNB Home loans. There are a number of serious consequences to defaulting on your home loan. “Missing even one bond repayment becomes a problem as there are penalties incurred and the inconvenience of catching-up, if you are already experiencing financial difficulties, becomes a difficult task,” said Slabbert. (Photograph: Thomas Slabbert , Head: FNB Home Loans) Defaulting on your home loan negatively impacts your cre...

Daniela Magg is a ‘born and raised’ native of Windhoek, Namibia. After completing high school, she furthered her studies in the field of ‘biokinetics’ , a scientifically designed set of physical activity programmes tailored to individual needs, in Pretoria, South Africa, for a period of five (5) years. Upon her return to Namibia she opened a biokinetics practice in the suburb of Katutura, in partnership with her brother. Her interest in art emerged at a very young age when she started drawing cartoons while appraising life and her surroundings with an open mind, augmented by a wonderful, internal world of fantasy . As her levels of maturity, confidence and skill in her craft developed, she increasingly longed to express her interpretation of the world beyond the usual boundaries and limitations. This is apparent from the unusual material she selects to function as painting surfaces such as a good piece of wood she found at a scrap yard or on the side of the road, instead of ...

FNB Namibia  issued a warning that fraudsters are keeping up with the latest trends and have devised a new skimming device which fits onto the card-insertion slot of ATM’s (automatic teller machines). Brandon Brock , Manager: FNB ATM has advised that this new scam is thus far only happening in South Africa, but that FNB Namibia wished to pro-actively warn all customers of this new happening. “Many of our customers also travel to our neighboring country and thus need to be vigilant. Further, unfortunately we are also targets for fraudsters and one can never be too attentive.” "Skimmers" are devices installed by thieves to surreptitiously swipe credit and debit-card information and look as though they are part of the actual ATM. These devices are used to scan mag-strip details directly from customers' ATM cards. Simultaneously, while the mag-strip is read, a camera located in the side of the “skimmer” is viewing every key the customer pushes on the ...

The annual cultural day by the Social Security Commission (SSC)  was held on Friday, 11 October 2013, for the second year in a row and this year also involved Social Security Offices countrywide. James Williams, Chairman of the Tenacity Social Club of the SSC, said that the main objective of this cultural day was to celebrate cultural diversity as represented in the Commission’s workforce and to enhance harmony and familiarization among staff members. (Photograph: Social Security Commission staff in traditional attire, Katima Mulilo, Zambezi Region )  Williams added: “The cultural day was very entertaining. There were 5 groups (Zambezi, Baster, Herero, Damara and Oshiwambo) who participated in the different sport events as well as food displays. Competitions were run for the best food display and preparation and the Zambezians were the overall winners in all the sports and food competitions. I urge all our employees to continue with their hard work to ensure...

Typical of developing countries in Africa, Namibia has more gravel than tarred roads , making it an off-roader's dream driving experience. Out of an estimated 70 000 kms of road, only 8 000 kms are currently tarred, linking the major centres of our country from Noordoewer in the far south to Oshikango in the north. The tarred and gravel roads are well-maintained increasing the attraction for and investment in quality brands of vehicles. Due to the nature of Namibia's geography, urban settlements are often found several hundreds of kilometres apart. In southern Namibia for example, the typical distance between towns is not less than 200 kms; it therefore makes sense for Namibian drivers to invest in vehicles capable of tackling the open (on and off) road enthusiastically, with a heavy load and carrying passengers. (Photograph: Driving conditions between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay , through the Namib Desert; every year this road claims commuter lives but to date remains a s...

Samsung has once again climbed the ranks of Interbrand’s Best Global Brands Report * for 2013, ranked 8 th on the global brand index with a total brand value of $39.6 billion. This is testament to the brand’s strong global and African presence, coupled with its innovative products and solutions that are changing the consumer electronics industry.    Says George Ferreira , VP and COO for Samsung Electronics Africa; “We have seen one of the highest single growth rates with 20.4% and at the core of this growth is our ability to constantly reinvent our product offerings and our ability to innovate and adapt to the changing needs of the global and African market.” (Photograph: George Ferreira , VP, Samsung  Electronics Africa) Samsung continues to focus on connectivity across its portfolio including home appliances, digital cameras, and TVs in a bid to differentiate its brand in an age when consumers are demanding sharing and accessibility. Samsung have stead...

“It all started with a lump I felt in my breast. I went for mammograms and scans. I felt positive that it was nothing but after my results were sent to my doctor, he told me I had Stage 2 breast cancer. It felt so unreal in the beginning. I immediately started with chemotherapy. My mother also had cancer at the time, stage 4. I needed to be strong. I decided then and there that no one and nothing will get to me and for the sake of my daughter I kept on fighting,” Rasheeda Patterson gave testimony of her battle against breast cancer at the Cancer Awareness Brunch at the Oceans Restaurant, in Walvis Bay recently.   She encouraged the women, “Never say you can't. Stand up and fight. If you won't fight, no one else will do it for you. Be the person you really are. Be stronger.” (Photograph: Charmaine Garcia, Natasha Lombard and Hildegard Boetcher of Cancer Association of Namibia, Walvis Bay ) “It's been three years since I'm cancer free. I had a mastectomy and...