Windhoek Observer – Windhoek Observer

12 Jan

AR wants GIPF housing scheme expanded to low-income communities

National News

Justicia Shipena The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement has called on the government to use the new Pension-Backed Home Loan Scheme (PBHLS) as a starting point for wider housing reform that also includes landless and low-income communities. The call follows the announcement by the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) on Friday that the PBHLS begins today. The scheme allows government employees to use part of their pension savings to buy, build or renovate homes. While welcoming the move, AR said the scheme mainly benefits formally employed public servants and does not address the housing needs of most Namibians living in informal…

12 Jan

TURNING POINT | A renewed vision for Namibian education: The urgent case for schools of excellence

Featured, Opinions

For many Namibians who passed through the school system in the 1980s, the mention of Concordia Secondary School still evokes a particular sense of pride. It was not simply a school; it was a destination for academic promise. In an era defined by segregation and profound injustice, Concordia became a place where academically gifted Black students from across the country were gathered, challenged, and nurtured. Ironically, while the system that created it was unjust, the principle behind it was sound: exceptional academic ability requires intentional cultivation. Today, more than three decades after independence, Namibia no longer has a national institution…

12 Jan

Clarity is the currency of trust in public policy

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Namibia’s announcement that the state will begin covering tuition and registration fees at public tertiary institutions from the 2026 academic year is, without question, one of the most ambitious and potentially transformative policy decisions in recent years. It is a policy rooted in the noble objective of expanding access to higher education and vocational training, particularly for students from low-income households. Yet, as President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s clarification during the 2025 state of the nation address demonstrated, the public conversation around this initiative has been muddied by confusion over what “free education” means. This confusion underscores a deeper and recurring challenge:…

12 Jan

A transformative agenda for Namibia’s invisible workforce: from informal to formal

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The silent backbone of the nation Over half of Namibia’s workforce is engaged in the informal economy. These workers wake up early, toil hard, and provide for their families, fuelling the nation’s economy, yet they largely remain invisible in official statistics, social protection schemes, and public policy. Yet, this is not a peripheral sector but the quiet backbone of the country’s survival. Considering that more than half of Namibia’s workforce is informal and excluded from tax and social protection systems, how much potential revenue does the government lose each year…

12 Jan

Emerging miners push for access to modern equipment

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Emerging and small-scale miners have called for better access to modern mining equipment, processing facilities and geological support to strengthen their participation in Namibia’s mineral value chain. The concerns were raised during a consultative meeting held last Wednesday between the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy and the Emerging Mining Association of Namibia (EMAN). During the meeting, stakeholders discussed the implementation of natural resource beneficiation strategies. EMAN president Thekla Mutero said limits on the use of modern equipment in areas designated as mining claims continue to affect productivity among small-scale miners. She said these restrictions reduce efficiency and…

12 Jan

Big Brother Mzansi returns with 24/7 pop-up channel

Observer Money

Staff Writer Big Brother Mzansi has returned for its sixth season with a dedicated 24/7 pop-up channel, offering viewers uninterrupted access to life inside the house. Season 6 premiered on Sunday, 11 January 2026, at 18h00 on Mzansi Magic, with the live pop-up channel available on DStv Channel 198. The new season launches under the theme of "BAZOZWA," which centres on heightened awareness, pressure, and social dynamics as housemates compete while under constant observation. The theme aims to test personalities, strain alliances and reveal strategies as contestants fight to stay in the game. To expand the viewing experience, DStv has…

12 Jan

Six emerging artists named in Apple Music’s Africa Rising Class of 2026

Featured, Latest, Uncategorised

Staff Writer Apple Music has announced the Africa Rising: Class of 2026, featuring six emerging artists from across the continent who are shaping the next chapter of African music. Africa Rising is Apple Music’s artist development programme that supports up-and-coming African musicians with clear creative visions and global reach. The Class of 2026 highlights artists gaining recognition in their home countries while taking African music to wider international audiences. The new cohort includes South African artist Ciza, Kenyan singer tg.blk, Ghanaian musician Gonaboy, Nigerian DJ and producer Damie, Nigerian pop artist Khid Ceejay, and Abuja-based Afro-pop artist ru. Ciza said…

12 Jan

Lower inflation gives central bank room to cut rates

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Inflation in Namibia eased steadily through 2025, creating room for a more accommodative monetary policy stance in the year ahead, according to an analysis by Simonis Storm. Headline inflation slowed during the second half of the year and closed December at 3.2% year-on-year, down from 3.7% in June. Inflation remained within the Bank of Namibia’s (BoN) 3–6% target range throughout the period. Monthly price movements were mostly muted, apart from occasional utility and tariff increases, pointing to a stable inflation environment. Beneath the headline figure, the inflation picture shifted. Price pressures became more concentrated in services, especially housing,…

12 Jan

Deep Yellow makes progress on uranium projects

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Deep Yellow Limited has reported progress across its exploration projects in Namibia and Australia during the December 2025 quarter. In Namibia, Deep Yellow Limited completed a drilling programme at Tumas, west of ML237, targeting a previously unexplored 7 km section. The programme ran from mid-October to mid-November and included 39 holes covering just over 1 800 metres. Drilling confirmed the presence of the channel and identified sedimentary deposits. The company said the area showed limited potential for uranium and plans to shift exploration in 2026 to areas with stronger prospects. The company continues to advance the Tumas uranium…

12 Jan

African airlines lead global air cargo growth

Observer Money

Staff Writer Global air cargo demand rose by 5.5% in November 2025 compared with the same month in 2024, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Demand, measured in cargo tonne kilometres, increased as shipping activity picked up ahead of the year-end holiday season. Shippers continued to favour air transport for speed and reliability. International air cargo demand grew faster, rising by 6.9% year-on-year. Cargo capacity also expanded during the month. Available cargo tonne kilometres increased by 4.7% compared with November 2024, while international capacity rose by 6.5%. IATA director general Willie Walsh said the air…