Windhoek Observer

13485 Posts
NamRA registers over 1 million taxpayers

NamRA registers over 1 million taxpayers

Staff Writer  The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) has registered more than one million taxpayers for the 2024/25 financial year. By 31 March 2025, NamRA had registered 1 009 926 taxpayers.  Of these, 575 136 were active e-filers on the ITAS platform. The total number of active tax accounts stood at 1 048 918 during the period. Revenue collection also increased. By the end of March 2025, NamRA recorded net revenue collections of N$88.6 billion, exceeding its target of N$85.3 billion.  After tax refunds of N$10.4 billion, total net revenue reached about N$98.9 billion. This reflects a 15% increase compared to…
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Drugs worth N$27m seized at borders

Drugs worth N$27m seized at borders

Chamwe Kaira  The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) intercepted illicit drugs worth about N$26.9 million during the 2024/25 financial year. Cannabis made up the largest share of seizures. Authorities confiscated 345 015 kg of pure cannabis valued at about N$17.25 million.  They also seized 20 965 kg of cannabis (skunk) worth N$1.05 million and 10 910 kg of cannabis, known as “Majat”, valued at N$109 100. Authorities also recovered 8 830 kg of cocaine valued at about N$4.42 million. Methamphetamine seizures totalled 2 635 kg, with an estimated value of over N$1.32 million. Tablet-based drugs were also seized. Authorities confiscated 2…
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Namibia strengthens continental aviation role

Namibia strengthens continental aviation role

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia is hosting Aviation Week Africa 2026 this week. The conference is expected to strengthen its role in the continent’s aviation sector. The chief executive officer and founder of Aviation Week Africa Network, Hellen Ngwira Mwamba, said hosting the event places Namibia at an important point in advancing Africa’s air connectivity. She said the event gives Namibia a platform to showcase its aviation infrastructure, policies and the wider aviation system. “This integrated approach reflects the reality that aviation development is not driven by one segment alone, but by coordinated collaboration across the full value chain,” she said. The…
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NamRA spends N$382m on procurement

NamRA spends N$382m on procurement

Chamwe Kaira  The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) spent N$382.6 million on goods and services during the 2024/25 financial year. Procurement data shows that multinational companies received the largest share by value.  Over N$178.2 million was awarded through four contracts. Local large companies secured N$82.1 million across 374 contracts. Small and medium-sized enterprises received N$49.7 million through 312 awards.  Public entities were allocated N$2.83 million from 61 transactions. In total, NamRA issued 750 procurement awards during the year. Central Namibia received the largest share. It accounted for N$122 million across 588 awards, the highest in both value and number of contracts.…
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Nedbank Namibia receives 6th Commerzbank STP award

Nedbank Namibia receives 6th Commerzbank STP award

Staff Writer Nedbank Namibia has received the 2025 Straight Through Processing (STP) award from Commerzbank AG. The award recognises the bank’s performance in handling cross-border payments. The Commerzbank STP award is granted each year to a small number of correspondent banking partners that meet global standards in processing payments and financial transfers. The assessment focuses on the accuracy, completeness and formatting of payment data. These factors allow transactions to be processed automatically without manual intervention. Straight-through processing is a key measure of efficiency in international banking.  Despite improvements in payment systems, global STP rates for cross-border payments remain low, at…
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Nedbank Africa boss salary drops to R23.2 million

Nedbank Africa boss salary drops to R23.2 million

Chamwe Kaira  Managing Executive for Nedbank Africa Regions (NAR) Terence Sibiya saw his total awarded remuneration fall to R23.2 million in 2025, down from R25.4 million in 2024. The decline reflects lower incentive payouts, despite a rise in guaranteed pay.  His guaranteed package increased by 4.7% to R5.17 million. Short-term incentives declined by 23.8% to R8 million, with both cash and deferred incentives lower. Long-term incentives remained at R10 million. Total earned remuneration also fell by 6.7% to R23.5 million. This was driven by a drop in vested long-term incentives and lower dividends. The changes come as performance across the…
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Emirates completes travel rehearsals for youth with autism 

Emirates completes travel rehearsals for youth with autism 

Emirates has continued its commitment to making travel more accessible for all by successfully arranging bespoke Emirates Travel Rehearsals across more than 40 cities globally over the past year. With more than 250 families positively impacted, Emirates Travel  Rehearsals are designed to support children and young adults with autism, allowing them to practise the journey through the airport to prepare for real flights, easing travel anxiety and empowering them to fly with more confidence. After the initial Emirates Travel Rehearsals in Dubai resulted in positive feedback from families, schools and autism organisations, the Emirates Office of Accessibility & Inclusion formulated…
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Coexistence of Namibia’s energy sector with the environment

Coexistence of Namibia’s energy sector with the environment

Prof Uchendu Eugene Chigbu The 'Energy Sector in Namibia’ 2025 report identified 17 main actors in the energy sector. One of the biggest challenges these companies face is minimising disruption to the natural environment as they conduct their activities.  The report highlights several oil and gas challenges that must be addressed to ensure the coexistence of Namibia’s energy sector with the environment. It found that fuel wholesalers increasingly rely on trucks to transport fuel due to the declining performance of TransNamib. Some oil wells are located hundreds of kilometres from shore, in water depths of up to 3 000 metres.…
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Where are the voices of the people of Gam?

Where are the voices of the people of Gam?

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro When the dust settles over the opportunistic, if not crocodile, tears over the sad and indeed untimely bowing out of this world of the prodigal son of Gam, James Unomasa Uerikua, none shall miss him dearly and direly, and for long so, more than the Otjiserandu villagers and indeed the broader inhabitants of the Gam Bantustan. An inopportune and untimely passing, surely, as if there were ever any death that were timely and opportune. The road to Gam, the days leading to the burial of Uerikua, was out of the world of Gam. Perhaps a pointer to his…
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Time for Namibia’s second republic: A new state 

Time for Namibia’s second republic: A new state 

Malcolm Kambanzera  Recently, the legal fraternity gathered at Sisa Namandje & Co. Inc. to attend the public lecture by Dr Muzi Sikhakhane, a South African senior counsel and a practising advocate.  The lecture was about "A Decolonial Legal Culture and the Role of an African Lawyer in our Society". During this lecture he asked the audience, "What is the purpose of a constitution praised for being one of the best in the world, but it cannot deal with our people’s historical challenges? We are still landless and still socially and economically disadvantaged." It got me thinking, is it perhaps time…
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