Business

After much speculation about the upcoming tabling of the national budget, newly appointed finance minister Ipumbu Shiimi has confirmed the 2020/21 Appropriation Bill will be delayed until further notice. 

Preparations have kicked off for Namibia’s biggest biomass event of the year, with Standard Bank committing to be the main sponsor. 

The Skorpion Zinc mine and refinery in southern Namibia has confirmed it will be placed in care and maintenance in April 2020, which will affect about 1 500 employees.

The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) has encouraged the public to adhere to all public notices issued by government in relation to Covid-19 and to contact their medical aid funds for clarity on their benefit option limits. 

Petrol prices will come down by a whopping N$1.70 per litre and diesel will decrease N$1.20 per litre on 1 April 2020 as global demand for the oil wanes in the face of the crippling impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. 
The massive drop in local oil prices was announced even as the local currency depreciated against the United States greenback. 

Ethiopian Airlines, the Pan-African carrier, has delivered medical supplies donated by Jack Ma, the founder of China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba, to 39 African countries within five days. 

Air Namibia recently confirmed the temporary suspension of all flights, inclusive of domestic and regional flights effective today, 27 March, until 20 April. Long haul flights (international) remain suspended since 14 March and further updates will be communicated.  

When Namibia recorded its first case of corona on 14 March 2020, President Hage Geingob put measures in place to safeguard the lives of the Namibian citizens. However, on 24 March 2020, Namibia had seven confirmed cases of Covid-19.

OMUTHIYA – The Omuthiya Town Council has banned street vendors and informal traders at open markets in anticipation of the lockdown instituted by President Hage Geingob with effect on Friday.

MTC has embarked on an aggressive response strategy to help fight Coronavirus, setting in motion a plan to be funded with N$1 million. The funds will be distributed to different critical areas as per the strategy, including information sharing, education sharing, prevention, facility investment, as well as service delivery.