Windhoek Observer

Chamwe Kaira  Telecommunications company Paratus Namibia Holdings Limited says its earnings are expected to fall sharply as it absorbs the cost of its new mobile network. In a trading statement, the company said headline earnings per share and basic earnings per share are expected to decline by more than 30% for the six months ended 31 December 2025. The company linked the decline to costs from the rollout of its mobile business, which launched on 2 September 2025. Paratus said operating expenses increased due to the new network.  Finance costs also rose as the company took on additional borrowing to…

Chamwe Kaira  The Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) has raised concern over jet fuel availability in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region beyond May 2026. The association warned that a lack of clear contingency plans could disrupt airline schedules, increase fares and affect regional economies. AASA said airlines need at least six weeks’ visibility on fuel supply to plan operations and meet obligations to passengers and cargo customers. AASA chief executive Aaron Munetsi called on fuel suppliers, depot operators, airports and SADC governments to share fuel allocation and distribution plans. He said concerns are linked to disruptions in…

Chamwe Kaira  Agronomy producers expect a harvest of about 111 447 tonnes. Producers shared this outlook during a meeting of the Agronomy Producers’ Association, where they said crop conditions are strong following good rainfall across most regions. About 23 390 hectares of maize were planted under dryland and irrigation. If conditions hold, output could exceed last season’s harvest. Producers said rainfall was timely across most maize-growing areas and supported crop growth.  Some eastern regions received less rain, but overall conditions remain favourable. They reported minor challenges such as weeds and limited pests. These are not expected to affect yields. Groundnut…

Staff Writer Telecom Namibia Limited and Angola Telecom have signed an agreement that allows Angola Telecom to access international bandwidth through the Equiano subsea cable landing in Swakopmund. The agreement was formalised through a memorandum of understanding and a commercial terms agreement signed in Swakopmund. The signing was attended by Namibia's minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus, Angola's minister of telecommunications, information technology and social communication Mário Augusto da Silva Oliveira, the mayor of Swakopmund and executives from both companies. Theofelus said the agreement strengthens regional connectivity. “This agreement reflects our shared belief that connectivity is no longer…

Staff Writer Bank Windhoek has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to property ownership in Northern Namibia, citing promising growth in property finance through estate agents and calling for coordinated action to increase the supply of serviced land, accelerate infrastructure rollout, and improve affordability for first-time buyers. Speaking at the Bank Windhoek Northern Estate Agents’ Awards hosted in Oshakati, Leon Koch, the bank's executive officer of business banking and acting executive officer of retail banking services, said Northern Namibia remained the country’s most active property market in 2025.  He cautioned that shortages of especially serviced land are constraining delivery, urging…

Staff Writer Trustco Group Holdings Limited says its legal disputes with Helios Oryx Limited and the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) remain unresolved. In an update to shareholders, the company said both matters, first disclosed in its 2023 financial statements, are still before the courts or under review. Trustco said the Helios case is ongoing and subject to further legal processes. A British court earlier ordered Trustco to pay about N$371 million to Helios. The judgement was later allowed to be enforced in Namibia. Trustco has appealed the ruling. The company stated that legal channels are still handling related proceedings and…

Staff Writer MTC Namibia has launched four LTE network sites at Rössing Uranium Limited to improve connectivity at the mine. The sites were installed at the request of Rössing to address areas with weak or no network coverage. The project introduces four LTE sites across the mine to provide mobile voice and high-speed data services in key operational areas. The network is designed to support communication in an environment where reliable connectivity is needed for safety and daily operations. MTC managing director Licky Erastus said the project improves how teams work on site. “This project is about improving how people…