Windhoek Observer – Page 2 – Windhoek Observer

16 Feb

Osino appoints new CEO for Twin Hills project

Observer Money

Staff Writer Osino Gold Exploration and Mining has appointed Junxin Wang as its new chief executive officer as the company moves the Twin Hills Gold Project into its next phase. Tianhang (Tony) Zhang has stepped down as CEO following a personal career decision. He led the company during a key stage of development at Twin Hills and completed a formal handover to Wang. Wang previously served as general manager of Qinghai Dachaidan Mining Co., Ltd, a gold mining operation within the Shanjin International group, for six years. He said his experience will support the project as it moves through construction…

16 Feb

Scammers use fake WiFi calls to steal money

Observer Money

Staff Writer Standard Bank has warned the public about a new scam circulating in Namibia in which fraudsters pose as representatives of WiFi or internet service providers. The callers claim they need to “upgrade your WiFi connection” or “improve your internet speed”. They then instruct victims to carry out banking transactions on their phones. According to the bank, the scammers tell people to dial the PayPulse code under the pretext of assisting with a WiFi upgrade. Once the victim follows the steps, unauthorised digital transactions are processed without their knowledge. Colanè Esterhuizen-Andreas, fraud risk manager at Standard Bank, said customers…

16 Feb

Inflation to average around 3.6% to 3.8% in 2026

Observer Money

Staff Writer Simonis Storm expects inflation to average between 3.6% and 3.8% in 2026. The firm says this reflects a mild normalisation rather than a renewed rise in price pressures. The outlook follows a year of easing inflation in 2025. Headline inflation slowed through the second half of the year and closed December at 3.2% year-on-year, down from 3.7% in June. Inflation remained within the Bank of Namibia’s 3–6% target range. Monthly price movements were mostly stable outside of utility and tariff adjustments. For 2026, Simonis Storm expects housing and utility inflation to remain firm. This will be supported by…

16 Feb

NNF to host ocean symposium in Swakopmund

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Namibia Nature Foundation will host the Ocean in Focus Symposium in Swakopmund on 18–19 February. The event will take place at the Plaza Hotel and will bring together scientists, policymakers, industry leaders, artisanal fishers and young people to discuss Namibia’s relationship with the ocean. In a press release issued last week, the foundation said the country's marine environment plays a central role in food security, the economy and cultural identity. “Namibia’s coast is more than a long stretch of shoreline,” said Disney Andreas, senior communications officer at NNF. “It underpins food security, economic opportunity, cultural heritage, social…

16 Feb

UN maps out path to 26 000 new jobs

Observer Money

Allexer Namundjembo A United Nations (UN) report launched in Windhoek has identified more than US$900 million in diversification opportunities and the potential to create over 26 000 jobs through value addition and industrial expansion. The report was unveiled by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development secretary general Rebeca Grynspan during her official visit to Namibia. The event took place at the Mövenpick–Mercure Hotel and was organised with the National Planning Commission (NPC). It was attended by government officials, private sector representatives, academia, civil society and UN agencies. According to a statement issued at the launch, the Rapid Assessment for…

16 Feb

EY report haunts TransNamib executives

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi TransNamib Limited Holdings has suspended two senior executives with immediate effect following a forensic investigation into alleged property mismanagement, disposal irregularities and statutory breaches. Executive for human capital Webster Gonzo and executive for properties Alynsia Platt were placed on precautionary suspension on Friday by the TransNamib board. Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi confirmed that he approved the decision. The suspensions follow a forensic probe commissioned into the conduct of the executives. The board has resolved that disciplinary proceedings will now follow. Two days before the suspensions, the company acknowledged that an internal investigation was under way.…

13 Feb

Venaani accuses government of ‘killing’ Mwilima

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani says the government must take blame for the death of former Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) member of parliament and Caprivi high treason convict Geoffrey Mwilima. Mwilima died in Windhoek on Thursday at the age of 70. He was receiving treatment at Lady Pohamba Private Hospital. He had been battling diabetes while in prison. Mwilima was released on 24 December on remission after serving part of a 15-year sentence that began in December 2015. Remission is the reduction or cancellation of the remainder of a prison sentence after a person has served…

13 Feb

Namibia’s maritime legislation stuck in another century

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Namibia’s maritime laws are outdated and could undermine the country’s offshore oil and gas ambitions, industry bodies and legal experts say. This week, minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi tabled notice in Parliament for Namibia to adopt the amended protocols of the Inter-Governmental Standing Committee on Shipping. The 2006 instrument seeks to transform the regional body into a maritime organisation aligned with African Union frameworks. If ratified, Namibia will gain voting rights in the organisation’s Assembly. Namibian ports and logistics firms will also access associate membership, allowing them to take part in regional freight negotiations and strategy…

13 Feb

Muteka pushes for safer parks in Windhoek West

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Windhoek West Constituency councillor Emma Muteka wants public parks in her constituency to be safe, clean and accessible. She met Windhoek mayor Sakarias Uunona on Wednesday to discuss park safety, student transport, informal trading and proposed changes to municipal by-laws. Muteka said conditions in some parks have declined and called for better maintenance and oversight. Both sides agreed to improve cooperation between the city and the constituency office to address the issue. Student transport was also discussed. Muteka said university students who rely on public buses face daily challenges, especially those attending the University of Namibia (Unam) and…

13 Feb

Karibib Town Council denies claims of marble waste dumping

National News

Justicia Shipena Karibib Town Council has rejected claims that marble dust and related by-products distributed in the town contain asbestos fibres. This follows a report circulating this week alleging that marble mining and processing waste has been illegally dumped across Karibib and that some of the dust contains asbestos fibres that pose long-term health risks to residents. On Thursday, Karibib Town Council Chief Executive Officer Tangeni Enkono said independent laboratory testing was carried out in June 2025 on marble dust and related by-products referred to as marble waste. Enkono said the testing was conducted by National Environmental Health Consultants CC,…