Windhoek Observer – Page 21 – Windhoek Observer

27 Aug

ADVERTORIAL | Budget inflexibility and import reliance hinder green scheme potential

National News

The country's green scheme irrigation projects are being held back by rigid budgeting systems and heavy reliance on imported agricultural inputs, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Land Reform (MAFWLR) has said. The ministry’s clarification follows recent reports questioning procurement expenditures, which it dismissed as false and misleading. Officials said the main challenge lies in a clash between the unpredictable nature of farming and the strict rules of government finance. According to the Ministry, the public procurement framework and the way budgets are allocated are “not well-suited to the dynamic and seasonal nature of agriculture.” Funds often become available…

27 Aug

KAZA secures €5m EU support

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) has secured €5 million (approximately N$101.75 million) in funding from the European Union (EU) to support conservation and sustainable development. The announcement was made at the recent 15th KAZA ministerial committee meeting held in Livingstone, Zambia. Namibia’s environment, forestry and tourism minister, Indileni Daniel, led the country’s delegation. At the meeting, ministers from the five partner states approved unqualified financial statements for the 2023 and 2024 financial years. They also endorsed the establishment of a Finance Experts Working Group to support future planning and reaffirmed their financial contributions to the…

27 Aug

A song that speaks to the soul of a nation

Opinions

Hidipo Hamata There are moments in our national life when an ordinary act inside a classroom transforms into something extraordinary for the whole country. One teacher, a woman, a mother, stood before her pupils not with a textbook in hand, but with a song that has since captured our collective imagination. Her initiative — teaching children a song to protect themselves from inappropriate touching and harassment — is more than just a creative method of education. It is a national call to conscience, a mother’s cry for protection, and a teacher’s oath to safeguard the innocence of every child entrusted…

27 Aug

Why parliament must close Namibia’s loopholes on private employment agencies?

Opinions

Julius Natangwe Across Namibia, a quiet injustice has become routine: workers supplied by private employment agencies often called labour-hire firms are doing the same work as permanent staff while taking home a fraction of the invoice paid by the client enterprise. In some cases, workers report receiving as little as 30% of the invoiced amount, with the remainder disappearing in the pockets of private employment agencies as mark-ups. Their complaints aren’t isolated; One of the aims and objectives of The Revolutionary Union (RU), a trade union that I represent reads “6.5 to promote or oppose as the case may be,…

27 Aug

Unbalanced growth: the misalignment of infrastructure and urban priorities

Opinions

Ester Shafashike In too many corners of our country, the foundations of progress are crumbling. Schools lack proper buildings, and classrooms made of zinc sheets or tents have become the norm. Learners struggle with inadequate materials and science labs that exist only on paper. These conditions not only undermine the quality of education but also rob young minds of the opportunity to thrive. Beyond education, basic services remain out of reach for countless communities. Residents walk long distances to access medical facilities, often navigating deteriorated roads that suffer from poor workmanship. Even when road projects begin, the results are substandard…

27 Aug

Cash remains king in rural areas

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Nedbank Group CEO Jason Quinn says Namibia’s dual economy means digital payments are becoming common in cities, while cash remains dominant in rural areas. He said this is not because people resist change but because available tools have not always met the realities on the ground. “Limited connectivity, the cost of devices, and a lack of locally relevant solutions have been real barriers. We didn’t simply copy and paste a global solution,” Quinn said. According to the Bank of Namibia’s 2024 Annual Report, e-money transactions increased to N$43.7 billion in 2024 from N$37.7 billion in 2023. Transaction volumes…

27 Aug

Real estate pushes Namibian markets up

Observer Money

The markets closed last week (18 August to 22 August) on a positive note, with several sectors posting strong gains. The JSE All Share Index climbed to 102,724 points, up 774 points from last week, marking a 0.76% increase. Since the start of the year, the index has risen an impressive 22.15%, reaching its highest level yet in 2025. On the Namibian Stock Exchange, Namibia’s Overall Index gained 1.29% to settle at 1,835.39 points, while the Local Index inched up slightly by 0.04% to 754.19 points, continuing its steady growth of 9.09% since December 2024. Among the major sectors, real…

27 Aug

MTC launches 5G at Ongwediva Trade Fair

Observer Money

Staff Writer Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) has announced the deployment of 5G services in Namibia. The announcement was made this week at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair. With the soft launch, MTC becomes the first operator in the country to introduce the technology. The service is currently available in Ongwediva, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, and Windhoek. The company said more areas will be covered in the coming months as part of an aggressive rollout plan. MTC chief technical and information officer, Monica Nehemia, said the technology will be a key driver of Namibia’s digital economy. “We are proud to make 5G…

27 Aug

Money talks, but who is listening?

Observer Money, Opinions

Sanja van den Berg Money is something we think about every day, whether we’re swiping for groceries, figuring out how to make it to payday, or silently stressing about that one unexpected bill that could throw everything off. It shapes our choices, affects our sleep, and influences our relationships. It’s the loudest conversation in the room, but for many of us, it’s one we try not to have. The truth is that most people are figuring it out as they go along. We copy what our parents did, we try not to spend too much, and sometimes we take loans…

27 Aug

Tough start for Beauties in CAF league

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe FNB Women’s Super League champions, Beauties Football Club, suffer their second defeat at the CAF Women’s Champions League in South Africa on Sunday. South African league winners Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies defeated the Namibian champions 7–0. This came after their opening 3–0 defeat to Zambia’s Zesco Ndola Girls Football Club. Beauties, however, managed a 3–0 victory against Malawi’s Ntopwa Football Club over the past weekend. The Okahandja side is making its debut at the regional tournament, which serves as a qualifier for the CAF Women’s Champions League finals. The team is banking on a mix of youth and experienced…