February 21, 2023

APP calls for Rundu Cash and Carry closure after food safety complaints

All People’s Party secretary general Vincent Kanyetu has called for the Cash and Carry supermarket at Rundu to be closed since it allegedly habitually repackages and sells expired food items.

Kanyetu was reacting to a video of Cash and Carry employees allegedly repackaging rotten potatoes, which went viral on social media.

The video was made by labour consultant Linus Neumbo, who was informed by employees that they were busy repackaging potatoes that were spoiled.

Upon arrival, he reportedly came across employees with plastic covers on their hands, busy repackaging more than 200 bags of potatoes.

Neumbo, who confirmed filming the employees, said he immediately ordered the employees to stop what they were doing as he has the right to do so in terms of the Labour Act.

He stated that according to information received from the employees, expired food items such as maize meal is also repackaged.

“There are a lot of health hazards in this shop, clearly they don’t care about the health of the Namibian people,” Neumbo said.

He noted that he reported the matter to the Rundu Town Council as well as the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment Creation.

Kanyetu meanwhile said he has previously received complaints from employees of the same shop that they were made to repackage spoiled chicken.

The divisional head of public and environmental health at the Rundu Town Council, Tuwilika Hamukoto said they visited Rundu Cash and Carry on Monday and confiscated many food items that were not fit for human consumption.

These included bags of maize meal that were allegedly being sifted and repackaged. The potatoes were also confiscated on Saturday.

Hamukoto said the supermarket however cannot be closed as it was the first complaint to be laid against them, adding that closing it will only be an option if there is a second complaint of this nature.

One of the owners of Cash and Carry, who did not want to disclose his identity, confirmed that the Town Council’s health inspectors had visited the shop.

He however insisted that they were just repackaging potatoes that were not spoiled.

The shop falls under the Rani group of companies, which made headlines in December when employees petitioned their management over low wages and poor working conditions.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

February 21, 2023

President to open the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders

President Cyril Ramaphosa will, in terms of section 33 (1) (b) of Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership, 2019 (Act 3 of 2019), deliver the annual address to the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders (the House).

The annual address will mark the official opening of the House which facilitates the important task of promoting nation building and social cohesion.

The House plays and integral role in streamlining the interested of our communities which are championed by Traditional Leaders as custodians of our heritage and diverse culture.

The event will take place as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 22 February 2023

Time: 10h00

Venue: National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Chamber, Parliament, Cape Town

Invited guests include Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Premiers, MECs responsible for Traditional Affairs, Kings, EXCO Members of Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders, CONTRALESA, Business Sector, Religious Sector, NGOs and representatives from amongst others, SADC countries, National Khoi-San Council as well Chapter 9 institutions.

Source: The Presidency Republic of South Africa

February 21, 2023

Ethiopian Airlines Playing Crucial Role in Accelerating African Integration: Group CEO

Ethiopian Airlines has been instrumental in accelerating Africa’s ambitious regional economic and trade integration, Group Chief Executive Officer Mesfin Tassew told ENA.

Recall that leaders of Africa have recently passed concrete decisions on investing in sustainable infrastructural development such as railway, road and air transport.

Realizing this requires huge infrastructure, the CEO noted, adding that “air transport is (of course) crucial to accelerate trade and economic ties.

Sustainable and fast air transport service is crucial since the African Union has decided to use air transport as one of major economic growth vehicles, he stated.

To meet this endeavor, Ethiopian Airlines has been playing a leading role for physical integration of the African continent by transporting many passengers from one country to another.

“Ethiopian Airlines has been investing a lot in making Bole Airport as the most convenient transit point to transfer passengers between African destinations and also cargo service among the African continent countries.”

Mesfin said the airline will continue to promote the continental free trade initiative by further expanding its infrastructure in terms of airport facilities, aircrafts and opening up new destinations to support the African Union efforts.

Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority Director-General Captain Gilbert M. Kibe said Ethiopian Airlines is doing a marvelous job to integrate Africa by promoting trade and tourism.

“Ethiopian Airlines is the biggest airline in Africa. This airline is doing its best. Its flight is to every African country. But you need to go through one stop or two stops by the time we get to some of the countries. Ethiopian Airlines is doing extremely well in promoting trade among us and tourism.”

Captain Kibe further stated that Ethiopian is a model in making partnerships with other airlines around Africa, including Togo in Malawi and other places.

Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest Pan-African airline was ranked first by passenger and cargo traffic in 2020.

According to the Kenyan Director-General, air transport is vital for the Pan-African dream of trade and tourism to be realized.

“The African Continental Free Trade Area agreement is the blueprint for success, which is already given to us by the African Union. We also have the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) that has already been ratified and launched. So what we need to do is to implement this transport market.”

He further urged the effective implementation of the Single African Air Transport market (SAATM), a flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063 to advance the liberalization of civil aviation in Africa and act as an impetus to the continent’s economic integration agenda.

Source: Ethiopia News Agency

February 21, 2023

Tinubu reiterates commitment to entrepreneurship, human capital devt

A serial Entrepreneur, Seyi Tinubu, has reiterated his commitments to driving entrepreneurship and human capital development across the country.

Tinubu, also a son of Sen. Bola Tinubu, Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the assertions at a popular reality TV show tagged: #TryMyJob with Olah on Tuesday in Lagos.

Tinubu said that his passion for entrepreneurship, human capital development and skills acquisition was his driving force to youths empowerment and employment generation.

He said that the show created by Olawunmi Akalusi had featured several celebrities, pointing out that by his appearance he has learnt the rudiments of tailoring and fashion business from Miss Chinedu Ahanonu.

Tinubu, also the Chief Executive Officer, LOATSAD Promomedia, said that entrepreneurship was key to growing the nation’s economy.

He urged Nigerian youths to appreciate the diversity of crafts, which according to him, contributes to solving the unemployment challenges in the country.

“I commend my teacher today, Miss Chinedu Ahanonu, who left her day job, to train other women in the tailoring business.

“Chinedu has trained over 500 women in the trade and her tenacity, patience and positive impact of her craft to the society deserves recommendation.

“Apart from my passion for entrepreneurship, human capital development and skill acquisitions, I also enjoy my journey as a philanthropist.

“Some of my projects and that of my organisation include the renovation of the seafood market in Victoria Island, Lagos, Noella Foundation project, which caters for the underprivileged in the society.

“It has provided various forms of supports for them over the years, impacting the lives of thousands of people across Nigeria.

“All these, by and large, impact the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) space, encourage entrepreneurship and improve the standard of living,” Tinubu said.

On “Try My Job” reality TV show, Akalusi said that the show aims to solve social justice issues, especially in the areas of unemployment in Nigeria and Africa through entertainment.

She added that the show provided entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their products and services.

“Influential people are made to swap jobs with blue-collar workers for a day and given the opportunity to share their experiences and give back to the society.

“The show was launched in 2012 and has since featured famous people across all works of life and currently airs on OlahTv on YouTube,” she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

February 21, 2023

Methodist University Ghana launches Endowment Fund

Accra, Feb. 21, GNA – The Methodist University Ghana (MUG) has launched an endowment fund to promote research and scholarship and position the University as a Centre of Excellence.

The Fund will be used to facilitate the establishment of a scholarship scheme for students, including disadvantaged students and for those from underserved areas and attracting and retaining high calibre academic and administrative staff.

In support of the Fund, the Methodist Church Ghana donated GH?1million in aid of the Fund with Dr. Joseph Siaw-Agyepong, the founder of the Jospong Group, also presented GH?1million to the Managers of the Fund.

Madam Eunice Ametor Williams, a former staff member of the University, also donated two plots of land to the university as part of her support.

Most Reverend Dr. Paul Kwabena Boafo, the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana, launching the Fund, said it was an opportunity to provide a ladder or a shoulder for majority of the students to access quality education.

He said the Methodist Church since it was established had never ceased to bring about quality education to the people, adding that the standard set by the Church over the years had always been admired by all.

The Presiding Bishop said, “we are prepared to continue to provide quality education to the people in the spirit of Excellence, Morality and Service.”

Professor Philip Ebow Bondzi-Simpson, the Vice-Chancellor, MUG said the Endowment Fund would establish specific Endowed Chairs for Scholars in Residence and Visiting Scholars and it would apply funds towards capital and infrastructural projects.

“Its mission, therefore, is to promote academic excellence, Morality and Service through teaching and research with a Christian worldview,” he said.

Prof. Bondzi-Simpson said it would create a lasting collaboration between the Methodist Church Ghana and the University in the areas of professional development and continuous education, as well as extension services to the Church and society.

It will provide the space for capacity development for both Ministerial and Lay Ministries, including programmes specifically tailored for church groups and organisations within and outside the Methodist Church.

The Vice-Chancellor said the Fund would provide integrated modern information and communication technology facilities and develop linkages with local and foreign institutions and forging partnerships with industry.

“It will create an organizational culture that enhances efficiency, discipline and commitment, improve management capacity and institutional governance structures and support the University’s strategic aspirations,” he added.

He said their training was to turn the heart and mind of students and staff to address all the challenges facing the country.

He said management wanted to build a World Class University that extended its services to all both members of the Methodist Church and non-members.

Dr Siaw-Aygepong commended the leadership of the University for the efforts of championing quality education in the country.

He called on all to endeavour to support the Endowment Fund to enable more students to benefit and access quality education.

During MUG’s 10th Anniversary celebration in 2010, a thanksgiving service was held and an appeal for funds was made to serve as a seed for an Endowment Fund for the then University College.

In the initial appeal, GH¢37,710.10 was realized and subsequently, led by the then Principal, Very Rev. Prof. Samuel K. Adjepong, staff agreed to make some contributions through monthly deductions from their salaries for six months.

This yielded an amount of GH¢43,970.00. Students also contributed an amount of GH¢10,774.00, bringing the total contributions to GH¢105,510.00, which was invested at Ecobank.

As of August 2018, the face value of the investment was GH¢ 172,347.00, from GH¢ 105,510.10.

As part of the then National Accreditation Board’s requirement for Colleges applying for autonomy status to have substantial investment to ensure their financial sustainability, the above investment (GH¢172,347.00) was transferred to the Prudential Bank in August 2018 to be added to other investments to meet the requirement of the National Accreditation Board and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission.

Source: Ghana News Agency