Outbreak cripple business operations

Nearly 50 business owners from Otjiwarongo held a meeting with Otjozondjupa governor James Uerikua where they discussed how their businesses have been affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.The owner of Theo Superspar, Theo Borstlap said his shop has been negatively affected, mostly by poor buying power and a reduction in the number of customers.Borstlap told the meeting during stage one national lockdown, his business which employs 320 people made a loss of more than N$3 million, while N$5 million was lost in stage two.“We pray to government not to allow another lockdown as this would definitely cripple our business operations,” he said.Public relations officer of the Central North Regional Electricity Distributor (Cenored) Charlie Matengu said Cenored has had to donate millions of dollars in electricity units to all government isolation centres and quarantine facilities in the region.Matengu said the company continues to be deprived of revenue since major customers like lodges, game farms, hotels and government offices are not fully operational due to Covid-19, which has also reduced the consumption of electricity and revenue for Cenored.He also called on the government not to allow another total lockdown as this will greatly affect Cenored’s business operations.Standard Bank’s Otjiwarongo branch, AgriBank and the Electoral Commission of Namibia also made presentations at the meeting on how they have been affected since the start of the state of emergency in March this year.Uerikua called on the private sector to continue teaming up with the government in the fight against Covid-19.“We are the gateway to many towns; therefore, we need to fight hard against any further spread of this pandemic,” he said.Otjozondjupa regional health director, Gebhardo Timotheus on his part at the meeting said the region has registered confirmed cases of Covid-19, which were all reported at Okahandja and the Gross Barmen quarantine facility.Timotheus said 412 people have been quarantined in the region so far, of which 370 have been discharged. The test results of 16 people were still pending on Thursday. - Nampa

Outbreak cripple business operations

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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Outbreak cripple business operations

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Namibian Sun 2025-09-18

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