Windhoek Observer – Page 2 – Windhoek Observer

20 Nov

Nandi-Ndaitwah signs Appropriation Bill into law …State House gets N$5 million more

National News

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has approved the national budget for 2025/2026 by signing the Appropriation Amendment Act of 2025 into law. The act updates the amounts allocated to government institutions to meet the state’s financial requirements for the year ending 31 March 2026. The office of the President receives an extra N$5 million, raising its allocation from N$1.458 billion to N$1.463 billion, according to the government gazette published on 19 November. For the current financial year, the office was allocated more than N$1.4 billion. When the budget was motivated in Parliament in April, prime minister Elijah Ngurare said it…

20 Nov

NaCC fine shadows !Gawaxab’s exit

Main

Renthia Kaimbi The ghosts of the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC) fine may have been among the pressures that pushed Bank of Namibia (BoN) governor Johannes !Gawaxab to take an early resignation, one year before his term ends. In May last year, the NaCC issued a N$1 million fine against !Gawaxab, Ismael Gei-Khoibeb and Gamma Investments for carrying out a merger without the commission’s approval. The penalty followed reports that !Gawaxab was facing allegations of selling businesses and shareholdings in a major insurance company to family and friends, despite publicly claiming he had disposed of those interests to “unrelated parties". That…

20 Nov

SADC stakeholders demand coordinated effort to end child marriage

Uncategorised

Moses Magadza A panel discussion following the inaugural public lecture honouring the late chief Theresa Kachindamoto of Malawi stirred reflection, debate and renewed urgency for coordinated regional action to eradicate child marriage. The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), with funding from Sweden and in collaboration with the National Assembly of Zambia, the University of Zambia’s School of Law, CARE International, and other partners, convened the public lecture on Monday last week. Moderated by gender advocate Lynn Chinene of CARE Zambia, the panel discussion brought together traditional leaders, legal experts, lawmakers, youth representatives and students as efforts intensified…

20 Nov

Can one heal a wound they have never felt? The pain of living in a shack

Opinions

Sem Billy David I It's time to face one of the biggest myths of our time: the idea that people who live in luxury can empathise with those who live in poverty. Each election season, well-dressed voices emerge from air-conditioned offices promising to "transform the informal settlements". Their feet have never touched the muddy floors of a leaking shack, but they wear the faces of saviours. How can someone who has never experienced a wound heal it? How can the misery of the valleys of poverty be alleviated by someone from the hills of privilege? The pretenders of the struggle …

20 Nov

OBSERVER DAILY | Why the departure of the governor of the Bank of Namibia is a serious concern

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

The early departure of Johannes !Gawaxab from his position as Governor of the Bank of Namibia (BoN) has sent shockwaves throughout the financial services sector, shockwaves that cannot and should not be ignored. In a country where the stability of the financial system relies heavily on regulatory credibility and consistent leadership, the sudden resignation of the central bank governor, especially with less than a year left in his contract, raises far more questions than answers. To be clear, the governor of the central bank is not just another executive. He is the custodian of monetary policy, the watchdog of financial…

20 Nov

Lower Namibia claims boost Momentum Africa earnings

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Momentum Africa recorded normalised headline earnings (NHE) of N$192 million for the quarter ending 30 September. The company said the result was driven by the release of the contractual service margin in the life business, premium growth, and lower claims ratios in the Namibia and Ghana health portfolios. Positive market variances of N$35 million from Namibia and Botswana also supported earnings. Investment income strengthened the result through bond returns and capital gains on bond assets after a reduction in Namibia’s yield curve. “This result was partially dampened by increased new business strain in Lesotho and Botswana, driven by…

20 Nov

Langer Heinrich contracts 24.5 million pounds of production

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) in the Erongo region, owned by Australia-based Paladin Energy, has maintained strong operational performance and reinforced its role in the company’s global uranium portfolio. Latest updates show that Langer Heinrich delivered 3 million pounds of uranium oxide (U₃O₈) during the 2025 financial year. This marks its full return to large-scale production after years under care and maintenance. The mine recorded a cost of production of US$40.2 per pound, reflecting improved efficiency as its processing systems stabilised. The momentum continued into the first quarter of the 2026 financial year. The mine produced 1.06 million…

20 Nov

New USF tower brings 4G to Ohangwena community

Observer Money

Staff Writer Phase one of the Universal Service Fund (USF) rollout has begun, with MTC handing over the first completed network tower under the programme. The tower was officially commissioned this week by minister of information and communications technology Emma Theofelus at Epinga village in the Ohangwena region. MTC managing director Licky Erastus said Epinga is one of four USF sites completed so far. “In addition to Epinga, we have completed sites in Hedimbi, Ehomba, and Ongongo. While pending completions are Naimanya, Kudumbu/Mupapama, Owiwi in the Kavango West and Gwatjinga and Shinyashi in the Kavango East Region. Civil works have…

20 Nov

Property market faces rapid changes

Observer Money

Ian Coffee Namibia’s property market is undergoing a structural transformation that few anticipated. The past year has revealed stark contrasts between luxury real estate, affordable housing, and rental dynamics. These shifts are not merely cyclical; they reflect deeper economic and social forces that will shape investment strategies for years to come. The luxury segment has entered a pronounced downturn. Only six transactions were recorded in the second quarter of 2025, and prices have fallen by 32.5% year-on-year. This decline signals more than temporary weakness; it underscores a collapse in speculative demand and a sharp reduction in mortgage uptake. For investors…

20 Nov

Moody’s review shows Pepkor still on strong financial ground

Observer Money

Staff Writer Pepkor Holdings has received a boost from Moody’s Investors Service after the agency completed its latest review of the retail group. The review resulted in no changes to Pepkor’s credit ratings, confirming the company’s solid financial position in a difficult economic climate. Moody’s kept Pepkor’s Corporate Family Rating at Ba2 and its National Scale Long-Term Rating at Aa1.za. Both ratings carry a stable outlook. The agency said the ratings reflect Pepkor’s strong position in South Africa’s retail sector, supported by conservative financial management, good liquidity, and strong credit metrics. Moody’s noted that the group continues to deliver growth…