Windhoek Observer – Page 11 – Windhoek Observer

15 Dec

Only unsafe and unregistered vehicles restricted at Sossusvlei

National News

Allexer Namundjebo The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism says the Sossusvlei shuttle concession only restricts access for certain vehicles and unregistered operators and does not block self-drive visitors or Namibia Tourism Board (NTB)-registered tour operators and lodges from entering Sossusvlei at no cost. The ministry issued the clarification on Saturday following growing concern from tourism operators and the public about how the concession works and whether it limits access to the iconic site. According to the ministry, the restrictions apply only to unregistered operators, environmentally risky vehicles such as buses and trucks, and unsuitable 2×4 vehicles, especially on the…

15 Dec

The village has died. Long live the village

Featured, Opinions

Not long ago, a friend and I found ourselves locked in a heated debate about our traditional villages, what many of us still affectionately call “back home". What began as a casual conversation quickly turned into a fundamental disagreement about the future of these places. His position was blunt: our villages are dying and not worth investing in. Mine was equally firm: if villages are dying, then it is precisely our generation, the one with education, mobility, and relative means, that must step in to ensure they do not disappear. That debate forced me to confront a broader national question:…

15 Dec

A milestone worth noting, not a moment for complacency

Editorial, Featured, Observer Money

Namibia’s ranking as the fifth safest country in Africa for money laundering and financial crime risk is, by any reasonable measure, good news. According to the 2025 Basel Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Financial Crime Risk Index, the country continues on a positive trajectory, recording steady improvements over the past three years. With a score declining from 5.09 in 2023 to 4.78 in 2025 on a scale where lower scores indicate lower risk, Namibia now stands among the continent’s stronger performers in safeguarding its financial system. This achievement deserves recognition. At a time when illicit financial flows, corruption, and transnational crime…

15 Dec

When unity becomes a performance, the centre no longer holds and the nation falls apart: The selective accountability dilemma

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara) Namibia is widely praised for its stability, democratic institutions, and robust legal frameworks. Yet beneath this reputation, a troubling pattern has emerged: accountability is increasingly inconsistent, seemingly influenced more by political proximity than principle. From diplomatic postings to internal reshuffles, some officials face swift public censure, while others with comparable controversies are quietly elevated. This uneven application of rules raises concerns that Namibia may be drifting toward selective governance, a phenomenon observable in other African democracies under political strain. Let us unpack these contradictions, trace their origins, and examine what they…

15 Dec

Oceana plans talks with regulators on horse mackerel industry

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Oceana Group, which harvests horse mackerel in Namibian waters, says it plans to engage Namibian regulators to establish a sustainable industry framework. The group says concerns persist about the sustainability of the horse mackerel industry framework in Namibia. Oceana noted that the South African industry recorded good landings in the first half of the year against an interim total allowable catch (TAC) allocation of 35 000 tonnes. The final TAC increased to 44 000 tonnes in November. In Namibia, the government issued a TAC of 10 000 tonnes as part of its policy objectives. This marked the…

15 Dec

Pepkor deepens presence in Namibia after choice clothing buy

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia remains strategic to Pepkor Holdings Limited, which has expanded its footprint in the country through recent acquisitions, including Choice Clothing. Pepkor’s annual financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2025 show that the group views Namibia as an important market within its Southern African operations, with further expansion expected beyond the 2025 financial year. The report states that Pepkor operates retail stores in Namibia across several business units. These include clothing, general merchandise, furniture, appliances and electronics. Namibia is listed among the group’s key foreign markets outside South Africa, alongside Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini, and contributes…

15 Dec

Namibia ranks among Africa’s best on money-laundering controls

Observer Money

Staff Writer Namibia has recorded continued progress in strengthening its defences against money laundering and financial crime, according to the 2025 Basel Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Financial Crime Risk Index, Finance Intelligence Centre (FIC) director Bryan Eiseb has said. The country’s overall Basel AML Index score improved to 4.78 in 2025, from 4.89 in 2024 and 5.09 in 2023. The index uses a scale from 0 to 10, where lower scores indicate lower risk. Namibia is ranked as the fifth best-performing country in Africa. This places it among countries with the lowest exposure to money laundering and financial crime risks…

15 Dec

Bannerman sets Etango sustainability targets for 2026

Observer Money

Staff Writer Bannerman Energy has reported progress across its sustainability objectives for the 2025 reporting period and outlined new targets for 2026, focusing on safety, community investment, environmental management and governance at the Etango Project in Namibia. According to the company’s 2025 Sustainability Scorecard, Bannerman achieved 16 consecutive years without a lost-time injury. The company said this reflects its focus on safety leadership, the management of construction-related hazards and the timely closure of incident investigations. During the period, Bannerman expanded its social and community initiatives. The Early Learner Assistance Programme grew to support 400 early learners in the Omaheke region.…

15 Dec

Koryx Copper reports strong drill results at Haib

Observer Money

Staff Writer Koryx Copper Inc has reported encouraging assay results from nine drill holes totalling 4 007 metres at the Haib Copper Project in the south of the country. The drilling forms part of the company’s 2025 Phase 2 and 3 exploration programmes at the wholly owned project. Haib is an advanced open-pit porphyry copper-molybdenum-gold project. It is expected to produce copper concentrate through conventional crushing, milling and flotation, with potential additional output from heap leaching. Koryx Copper president and chief executive officer Heye Daun said, “The latest drill results reinforce the strong fundamentals of the Haib Copper Project. We…

15 Dec

Transnet posts improved interim performance as volumes rise

Observer Money

Staff Writer South Africa's state-owned logistics company, Transnet, has reported improved financial and operational performance for the six months ended September 30, 2025, supported by higher volumes across its rail, port, and pipeline operations. Revenue for the interim period rose by 8.8% to N$45.2 billion, from N$41.5 billion in the same period last year. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation increased by 15.4% to N$15.7 billion. The loss for the period narrowed to N$1.8 billion from N$2.2 billion in 2024, a 17.7% year-on-year improvement. Transnet said the improved results were driven by higher volumes across the business. Rail volumes…