Windhoek Observer – Windhoek Observer

18 Feb

Bleeding Meatco patches up financial wounds …analysts say Meatco must prove how profit was made

Main, National News

Justicia Shipena Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) must demonstrate that its reported profit was made in a transparent and accountable manner. His comments come after the meat processor announced that it had recorded a profit following years of losses, bailouts and boardroom battles. For the financial year ended 31 January 2025, Meatco’s revenue increased by N$662 million, rising to N$1.865 billion from N$1.203 billion the previous year. The state entity revealed the figures on Monday ahead of its annual general meeting scheduled for Friday. Preliminary performance indicators show the group recorded an operating profit…

18 Feb

Information commissioner’s N$1.4m salary sparks debate

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Policy analyst Lazarus Kwedhi has questioned whether the proposed N$1.43 million salary package for the information commissioner is justified. He said the role does not generate revenue. In a telephonic interview with the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday, Kwedhi said the advertised remuneration package is excessive. “The position is not a monetary performance-based one. We should look at how much will be generated through the position. It must be measured. It is a waste of resources. In terms of revenue, what will it contribute? We already have the Minister of Information and the executive director in the ministry. It…

18 Feb

Nasan battles for control of 52 fuel stations

National News

Staff Writer Nasan Energies is in the final stages of acquiring the 52 divestiture businesses operated by Vivo Energy and Engen Namibia. The announcement follows a stakeholder engagement hosted by the Namibia Competition Commission (NaCC) in Windhoek on Monday. The public meeting formed part of the NaCC's review of the proposed transaction, where members of the public were invited to engage with the deal. In September 2025, Nasan Energies and Vivo Energy Namibia underwent an evaluation process assessing technical expertise and financial proposals. Nasan was selected as the preferred bidder. The chief executive officer of NaCC, Vitalis Ndalikokule, said the…

18 Feb

Botswana Oil denies receiving substandard fuel from Namcor

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Botswana Oil Limited (BOL) denies that it received substandard fuel imported through the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor). This follows reports which stated that BOL had raised concerns about the quality of ULP95 purchased from Namibia. Emails seen by The Namibian indicated that Botswana Oil notified Namcor on 11 January that seven trucks loaded at the Namcor terminal in Walvis Bay on 5 and 7 January “do not meet product specification". Routine tests reportedly showed the fuel fell outside acceptable limits for octane rating (RON). In a statement circulated on social media on Thursday, Botswana Oil said…

18 Feb

Youth told take TVET seriously

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Student advocate Gabriel Mandume has urged young people to take technical and vocational education and Training (TVET) seriously, saying it should be seen as “a path to jobs and not a backup plan”. Mandume said many learners still treat TVET as a second option and “only something to consider if university places do not materialise”. He said this mindset weakens efforts to tackle youth unemployment. Mandume referred to the latest labour force figures from the Namibia Statistics Agency, which show that the unemployment rate rose to 36.9% in 2023 from 33.4% in 2018. “This means that more than…

18 Feb

Nujoma Foundation calls US embargo on Cuba ‘genocidal’

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Sam Nujoma Foundation says United States sanctions on Cuba are pushing the island toward a humanitarian crisis and has called on the international community to act. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Foundation described the decades-long embargo as a “silent and genocidal” campaign that is driving Cuba toward collapse. It said recent measures by Washington have worsened an already fragile situation. The Foundation, led by chairperson Nahas Angula, said the latest actions have intensified what it called a suffocating oil blockade, adding pressure to the embargo first imposed in 1962. “This cannot and should not be…

18 Feb

Meatco must prove its turnaround is real, not cosmetic

Editorial, Featured

For an institution that has spent the better part of five years in financial distress, the announcement by the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) that it has recorded an operating profit of N$106 million is, on the face of it, welcome news. After consecutive annual losses between 2020 and 2024, repeated government bailouts and boardroom instability, any sign of recovery in a strategic national enterprise should be applauded. But applause must never replace accountability. We caution Meatco against becoming “trigger happy” in posting positive financial results, particularly if those results are framed in a manner designed to impress the government…

18 Feb

Car dealers see best January in 10 years

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s vehicle market started 2026 on a strong note, with January sales reaching their highest level in ten years. A total of 1 005 vehicles were sold in January 2026. This is the strongest January performance since 2016. It marks a 4% increase from the 966 units sold in January 2025. “While this represents a constructive start to the year, sales moderated relative to the final months of 2025, dipping below the three-month moving average. On a month-on-month basis, volumes declined by 11.7%, a pattern that is not uncommon for January, given seasonal adjustments following the typically elevated…

18 Feb

Construction begins at Kombat Mine

Observer Money

Staff Writer Construction has started at the Kombat Mine following a ceremonial groundbreaking on 6 February. The event marks a new phase in the restart of one of Namibia’s historic copper mines. New Horizon Copper hosted the ceremony at the mine site. Senior company executives, government representatives, investors and members of the local community attended. The company outlined progress made so far and shared its development plans. Operations are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. The project will follow a phased approach. Once steady operations are reached, the mine plans to double historical throughput to 60 000…

18 Feb

MTC boss earned N$9.9 million in 2025

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) has disclosed that total executive remuneration rose to N$52.7 million in 2025, up from N$33.3 million in 2024. The increase was largely driven by performance bonuses and retention payments. According to the company’s notice of annual general meeting for 2026, executive directors earned N$25.6 million in salaries, N$7 million in allowances, N$6.95 million in performance bonuses and N$11.8 million in retention payments for the financial year ended 30 September 2025. MTC managing director Licky Richard Erastus received total remuneration of N$9.9 million in 2025, compared to N$7.3 million the previous year. Finance director Marthinus…