Windhoek Observer – Windhoek Observer

10 Apr

Govt blows N$13m on study for commuter rail

Main, National News

Justicia Shipena The government has spent over N$13 million on early-stage commuter rail plans linking Windhoek to Katutura and Rehoboth. Works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi said feasibility studies for the two routes are underway. He said the study so far stands at 30%. “The consultancy services project for the feasibility study on commuter rail for two sections – Windhoek–Rehoboth and Windhoek–Katutura – within the Khomas and Hardap Regions is progressing well at 30%. A total of N$13 million has been spent so far,” Nekundi said. The commuter rail project was first presented to investors at the Invest in Namibia…

10 Apr

Swapo delays filling vacant NA seat

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Swapo says it is not in a hurry to fill the National Assembly seat left by its late member James Uerikua. The party said it is still in mourning. Swapo party spokesperson Hilma Nicanor told the Windhoek Observer this week that it would be inappropriate to prioritise succession discussions at this stage, adding that the focus remains on honouring Uerikua. “I feel this isn’t a matter of urgency, and as such it would be advisable that you give the Party that chance to mourn and give a befitting send-off to our departed comrade. Let’s wait for the appropriate…

10 Apr

Russian crew stuck on Namibian vessel

National News

Renthia Kaimbi At least 15 foreign crew members, mostly Russian nationals, say they have been stuck at sea for months on the Venus 1 fishing vessel. The crew shared a video on social media, asserting their inability to leave the vessel and the confiscation of their passports. In the video, they appealed to the Russian Embassy in Namibia for help. “We have been hostages of the current situation for five months: the ship-owner Hodago Fishing, which issued the employment contracts, actually lied to us,” read a loose translation of the video. The claims have raised concern about the welfare of…

10 Apr

Salt Oncology takes over Namibian Oncology Centre

National News

Staff Writer The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has approved the acquisition of the Namibian Oncology Centre by Salt Oncology Holdings without conditions. Salt Oncology Holdings will take over 100% of the shares in the Namibian Oncology Centre. The acquiring group includes Salt Equity, FISEA and Jan Bosch Investment Limited. Salt Equity is managed by Salt Capital GP Ltd and focuses on investing in businesses across the Southern African Development Community. FISEA is controlled by Agence Française de Développement and supports job creation and economic growth in Africa. Jan Bosch Investment Limited invests in mid-sized companies across the continent. In Namibia,…

10 Apr

The price of appearances: What are we becoming?

Editorial

There was a time in our society when life’s most important milestones were marked with dignity, simplicity, and community spirit. Weddings were celebrations of union, not exhibitions of wealth. Funerals were moments of mourning and remembrance, not stages for social competition. Graduation ceremonies were symbols of achievement, not financial burdens. Today, however, something has gone terribly wrong. We are becoming a society obsessed with appearances, one that increasingly measures worth through spectacle rather than substance. Nowhere is this more evident than in the rising and often absurd costs associated with weddings, funerals and, more recently, graduations. What should be deeply…

10 Apr

Trade balance balloons to N$5.2 billion deficit

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia recorded a trade deficit of N$5.2 billion in February 2026, reversing the N$198 million surplus recorded in January, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) statistician general and chief executive officer Alex Shimuafeni. The deficit also widened compared to February 2025, when the country recorded a shortfall of N$2.1 billion. South Africa remained Namibia’s largest trading partner for both exports and imports. Shimuafeni said exports were driven by mining products, including non-monetary gold, diamonds, petroleum oils and ores and concentrates of base metals. He said fish was the only non-mineral product among the top five exports. Re-exports…

10 Apr

Govt trains 98 youth for rail sector

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says work to upgrade and maintain railway infrastructure across Namibia is ongoing, alongside efforts to build skills in the transport sector. She told lawmakers on Wednesday that 98 young people have been trained in railway maintenance as part of efforts to improve the country’s rail system. Nandi-Ndaitwah said procurement is underway for key projects, including the Trans-Zambezi railway and the Ondangwa–Oshakati Northern railway extension phase three. The Trans-Kalahari Railway is at the feasibility study stage. The government has also added capacity in the sector. According to her, a total of 137 new recruits and 57…

10 Apr

Annual inflation drops to 2.1 % in March

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s annual inflation rate slowed to 2.1% in March 2026, down from 4.2% recorded in March 2025, according to the Namibian Statistics Agency (NSA). NSA statistician general and chief executive officer Alex Shimuafeni said monthly inflation rose slightly to 0.2%, compared to 0.0% in February. Core inflation stood at 2.9%, remaining higher than the headline rate. Regional data shows that zone 2, which includes the Khomas region, recorded the highest annual inflation at 3.2%. Zone 3, covering ||Karas, Erongo, Hardap and Omaheke regions recorded 2.0%, while zone 1, which includes northern regions, recorded the lowest rate at 1.0%.…

10 Apr

NSX market value rises to N$2.8 trillion in 2025

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX) recorded growth in 2025, with total market capitalisation rising to N$2.8 trillion by the end of the year, up from N$2.4 trillion in 2024. Data from the 2025 Bank of Namibia (BoN) annual report shows that the NSX overall index increased by 11% to close at 1 998.49 points, compared to 1 801.18 points in 2024. The increase followed gains seen in global equity markets during the same period. The local index recorded stronger growth. It rose by 16.8% to 807.75 points, up from 691.32 points a year earlier. Market capitalisation for locally…

10 Apr

Coca-Cola Africa deal approved in Namibia

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) has approved the proposed acquisition of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa by Coca-Cola HBC AG and its subsidiary Coca-Cola HBC Holdings B.V. The approval was granted without conditions. The transaction will result in Coca-Cola HBC AG and Coca-Cola HBC Holdings B.V. gaining full control of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa. Coca-Cola HBC AG is based in Switzerland and the Netherlands. It is an authorised bottler of The Coca-Cola Company and operates in 29 countries across Europe, Eurasia and Africa. The group produces and sells soft drinks, water, energy drinks, juices, coffee and tea. It also works with…