Windhoek Observer – Windhoek Observer

23 Feb

Steenkamp probes former NYC director over N$125k debt

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp has intervened in a dispute involving former National Youth Council (NYC) director Calista Schwartz-Gowases over an alleged debt of more than N$125 000. The Windhoek Observer understands that the matter relates to transactions dating back to 2021 and forms part of a broader review of the office of the director. Schwartz-Gowases’ contract ended on 13 December 2025 after she was informed in July that it would not be renewed. Before her departure, concerns had already been raised about approved international trips and a planned trip that overlapped…

23 Feb

Court directs Sankwasa to revisit Outjo CEO appointment

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The High Court has set aside former minister of urban and rural development Erastus Uutoni’s refusal to approve Tiofilia Jentzsch’s appointment as chief executive officer of the municipality of Outjo. The court then ordered his [Uutoni’s] successor, James Sankwasa, to reconsider the matter within 60 days. On 18 February, High Court judge Andrew Corbett ruled that Uutoni’s decision made in March 2024 was not properly handled and did not follow the correct procedures. He said the decision was not reasonable, had no proper justification, and failed to meet the constitutional requirements for fair administrative action. Jentzsch, who served…

23 Feb

IG tells police officers to patrol on foot

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Inspector general Joseph Shikongo has ordered police officers in Katima Mulilo and across the Zambezi region to respond to community callouts on foot even when no vehicles are available. Shikongo said the shortage of vehicles must no longer be used as a reason for failing to attend to public complaints. “Seventy vehicles should be available to assist. The issue of telling the community that there are no cars must come to an end. I do not want to hear about it again,” Shikongo said while addressing police officers in Katima Mulilo last week. However, he acknowledged that 27…

23 Feb

Govt confident RCC can recover within five years

National News

Justicia Shipena Government says it remains confident that the Roads Contractor Company (RCC) can recover and become a strong national asset within the next three to five years. Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi said this in Parliament on Thursday while responding to questions from Independence Patriots for Change (IPC) member of parliament Nelson Kalangula on RCC’s operational mandate and financial health. Nekundi said the government has reviewed the company’s turnaround strategy and believes the plan can work. "The government is still confident that there is hope to turn around the company within the next three to five years. It…

23 Feb

ACC hunts three more suspects in NDF corruption scheme

National News

A corruption scheme within the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) resulted in a financial loss of approximately N$179 508.91. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) revealed this after it arrested Michael Nehemia and Fransiskus Ndatoolewe Sheehama, both members of the NDF who are currently on suspension. The arrests relate to alleged corrupt activities that took place between November 2019 and February 2020. According to the ACC’s interim spokesperson Marina Matundu on Friday, the scheme involved fraudulent payments to a civilian company, Lifeline Body Workshop and Car Sales, for vehicle repairs and services that were never carried out. The ACC also alleges that inflated…

23 Feb

IPC’s moral posturing meets the test of power.

Editorial, Featured

Namibians deserve consistency from those who seek to lead them. They deserve principle anchored in action, not rhetoric that evaporates at the first touch of reality. The unfolding controversy around the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) and its newly installed leader of the official opposition, Immanuel “Imms” Nashinge, is not merely about a vehicle. It is about credibility. It is about whether populist indignation survives contact with responsibility. For years, IPC leader Dr Panduleni Itula has built political capital on righteous outrage. He has lambasted presidential salaries as excessive. He has condemned parliamentary salary increases as unjustifiable in a country…

23 Feb

Tourism revenue expected to stay above N$3.5 billion

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Tourism revenue is expected to remain above N$3.5 billion in 2026 as Namibia strengthens its premium, experience-driven positioning in global travel markets, according to the Simonis Storm economic outlook for 2026. The report says the services sector continues to provide stability, with growth of around 4%, supported in part by the resilience of tourism. Namibia’s economy is entering 2026 in a different position from the immediate post-shock recovery years. The focus has shifted from rebound to consolidation, as policymakers and investors navigate a more stable but constrained growth environment. Headline projections from the Bank of Namibia, the IMF…

23 Feb

NSX overall index gains 2.35% for the week

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX) recorded gains across most indices for the week of 16–20 February 2026, with the Overall Index rising 2.35% to close at 2 360.07 points. The index gained 54.17 points from 2,305.90 the previous week. Since December 2025, it has increased 10.21% from 2 141.33. It is trading just below its 2026 high of 2 366.23. The year’s low stands at 2 154.64. The dividend yield is 3.38%. The Local Index edged up 0.07% to 814.96 points, gaining 0.55 points from 814.41 a week earlier. Since December 2025, the index has risen 0.89%. It…

23 Feb

FirstRand expects earnings to rise by between 13% and 18%

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira FirstRand Namibia Limited expects its earnings and headline earnings to increase by between 13% and 18% for the period ending 31 December 2025. In a trading statement issued under the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX) listing rules, the group signalled improved performance compared to the prior period. The bank said growth was driven by expansion in its advances book, reflecting stronger lending activity and higher transactional volumes across the business. It also recorded a lower impairment charge during the period. Interest expenses declined as the group relied less on institutional funding, supported by strong growth in customer deposits. The…

23 Feb

Businesses seek alternatives amidst electricity tariffs concerns

Observer Money

Staff Writer Businesses in Namibia are turning to alternative energy solutions as electricity tariffs rise and supply reliability remains a concern. Standard Bank Group market development lead and asset finance specialist for renewable energy and healthcare, Oliver Jugadasen, said the country’s energy environment is undergoing a structural shift. “The energy market is shifting toward decentralised generation, driven by rising utility costs, reliability concerns, and the global move toward cleaner electricity. For Namibia, this is not only an environmental conversation but an economic one,” he said. Jugadasen said falling solar panel prices and advances in technology have improved the financial case…