The Namibian

Telecom Namibia has over the past seven years lost more than N$100 million (US$12.4 m) through their investment in Mundo Startel (MST) in Angola, of which it holds 44 per cent shares.

The company has now decided to exit the joint venture, which has been described by those close to the deal as a “difficult” partnership. An urgent meeting between the two companies is expected to take place to finalise Telecom’s exit in this joint venture which is no longer viable.

The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) has launched an online marketing campaign called 'Conservation Destination' to showcase remarkable conservation stories about Namibia, and inspire locals to make contributions.

NTB spokesperson Maggy Mbako said in a media statement issued on Tuesday that the campaign will run until June 1 this year.

The 'Conservation Destination' campaign was launched last Sunday to coincide with World Earth Day.

Mobile operator Leo will be granted its service licence in the coming days after it was cleared as having met all regulatory requirements. Leo could not get a licence because it was entirely foreign owned, which is contrary to the Communications Act provision that all telecommunications operators in the country should be majority Namibian owned.

This provision prevented the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) to issue a licence to Leo.

The Ministry of Health recently advertised a tender for the supply of computer equipment for hospitals in Oshakati, Rundu, Keetmanshoop and Windhoek as part of the implementation of the E-Health system.

According to information in the Tender Bulletin, the value of the submissions ranges between N$4,2 million and N$10,1 million.

Health Ministry Permanent Secretary (PS) Kahijoro Kahuure has confirmed that the equipment is intended for the implementation and use of the ministry's Integrated Health Care Information Management System (IHCIMS), also known as the E-Health System.

MTC has released a mixed bag of annual financial results for 2011 with revenue growing 3,2 per cent to N$1,4 billion, but profit dipping 14,2 per cent to N$319 million.

THE delayed launch of MTC's 4G network hit another speed bump on Wednesday evening as the Windhoek City Council deferred a relevant item on the agenda of its monthly meeting. MTC has blamed both the municipality and the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) for the delay in the launch of its 4G network.

Speaking at the launch of the new purchasing method for pre-paid electricity in Windhoek on Tuesday, the deputy mayor of Windhoek, Gerson Kamatuka, said the municipality will not repeat the mistake it made in July 2011 when pre-paid electricity consumers were thrown into disarray after the sale of electricity through third parties was abruptly stopped.

New information has surfaced about the manner in which the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) awarded the N$63,8 million electronic voter registration contract to a South African IT firm, Face Technologies.

It has emerged that Face Technologies initially tendered for N$83 million while another shortlisted South African company, Lithotech Exports, tendered for N$63 million. Lithotech, a subsidiary of South African Bidvest Paper Plus, is now preparing to take the matter to court.