Windhoek Observer – Page 21 – Windhoek Observer

12 Jan

Gold and silver enter 2026 on strong footing

Observer Money

The precious metals market enters 2026 with unprecedented strength, underpinned not only by the remarkable price gains of 2025 but also by fundamental structural shifts in demand and ownership. Gold and silver experienced historically rare rallies last year, signalling a new phase for the metals beyond cyclical movements. Gold rose roughly 70% in 2025, climbing from around US$2700 per ounce at the start of the year to over US$4500 by December. Silver outpaced gold with a 128% gain, briefly surpassing US$80 per ounce before consolidating. Momentum carried into 2026, with silver adding an additional 13% in the first week alone,…

10 Jan

YOUNG OBSERVER | Planning with purpose: May Nghipondoka on faith, vision, and building a life that thrives

Featured

Young Observer sat down with May Nghipondoka a chartered accountant turned purpose-driven planner creator to unpack the journey behind Thrive — a Christian-based life-navigation tool designed to help young people move from inspiration to execution. In the conversation, she reflects on how her background in finance shaped her discipline, how faith guides her ambition, and why intentional planning is key to living a meaningful and grounded life in a fast-paced world. YO: You are a Chartered Accountant by profession. How did your journey in finance and structure shape the way you think about purpose, discipline, and personal growth? MN: My…

10 Jan

YOUNG OBSERVER | The January question at the school gate

Featured, Latest

January has a way of arriving with promise but also stress. On the one hand you have new exercise books, freshly ironed uniforms, and careful plans made at the end of the previous year. On the other hand, you have uncertainty regarding placement in a decent school for children. For many families, the start of the school year is meant to signal continuity and the reassuring return of routine; however, every January, that reassurance fractures. Across towns and cities, the same quiet uncertainty resurfaces. Parents move from school to school asking about space. Phones stay close, waiting for calls that…

10 Jan

YOUNG OBSERVER | Surviving Janu-worry

Featured, Latest

There is an almost scientific anomaly that occurs every twelve months. While every other month on the Gregorian calendar certainly consists of 30 or 31 days, January somehow manages to stretch into a grueling, 744-hour marathon of fiscal anxiety.For many young people, January has become a reckoning; similar to the cold shower after the neon-lit fever dream of December. If you find yourself checking your bank balance with the same caution one might use to approach a sleeping lion, you are not alone. This is the Young Observer’s guide to surviving the longest month of the year without losing your mind…

10 Jan

YOUNG OBSERVER | #Unmuted

Featured, Latest

Dearest gentle readers, would this greeting count as plagiarism on my part? I have determined to be warmer with you this year. Welcome to the year 2026 from the desk of Young Observer’s editorial team. The start of this year has been quite eventful for us as a nation and beyond our borders. Gen Z and Alpha are living through their first capture of a sitting Head of State by the United States in a much more theatrical manner. With learners set to resume and begin classes next week, the Minister of Education is cautioning against bribes in exchange for…

10 Jan

NYC ‘headless’ after interim board chair resigns

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi The National Youth Council (NYC) is without leadership after interim board chairperson Kennedy Kariseb resigned, just a week after the contract of its director, Calista Schwartz-Gowases, ended. The Windhoek Observer understands that the council currently has no interim chairperson or director in place. Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp confirmed that she received Kariseb’s resignation letter in December 2025. “I do confirm that, indeed, I did receive the resignation letter from Dr Kennedy and we will always remain indebted and grateful for the time that he worked with us,” Steenkamp said. She confirmed…

10 Jan

Interpack denies claims of unpaid salaries and overtime

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Interpack chief executive officer Jacques Coetzer has denied claims that the company failed to pay employees their full basic salaries and overtime. He said all workers were paid in full and that there were no outstanding payment issues. Coetzer said the company employs more than 440 workers and only received queries from two employees about their specific hours worked. He said the concerns were reported to the Human Resources department and were resolved. “All employees were paid in full without any problems or challenges. The two minor issues that were reported to HR were resolved, and we are…

10 Jan

Electricity generation rises 19.4% in Q3 2025

National News

Chamwe Kaira Local electricity generation in Namibia increased on a year-on-year basis during the third quarter of 2025, supported by improved water availability at the Ruacana hydropower plant, according to the latest economic data. Local electricity generation rose by 19.4% compared with the same period last year. Higher domestic output helped reduce reliance on imports, with electricity imports declining by 2.2% year-on-year over the quarter. Despite higher generation, electricity consumption fell. Units of electricity consumed declined by 3.2% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025. The drop was linked to lower activity in several commercial subsectors, including mining, reflecting slower…

10 Jan

Govt says Namibia still a safe tourist destination

National News

Justicia Shipena Namibia remains a safe and welcoming destination for tourists, the government has said. In a media statement issued on Thursday, the government said Namibia continues to offer a secure environment for residents and visitors and remains one of the most peaceful and politically stable countries in the world. The statement follows travel advisories issued by Canada and Germany, which were reported by international media as flagging Namibia for higher fraud and crime risks. However, Namibia said the advisories do not reflect the overall safety situation in the country. Sikongo Haihambo, executive director of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry,…

10 Jan

Selective warnings, serious consequences: Why Namibia deserves fair treatment

Editorial

Namibia’s firm and measured response to recent travel advisories issued by Canada and Germany is both necessary and justified. In an era where perception often travels faster than facts, the Namibian government is right to defend the country’s reputation as a safe, stable and welcoming destination. What is troubling, however, is not the government’s reassurance but the persistent and often irresponsible manner in which mostly Western governments issue blanket warnings that inflict real economic damage on countries like Namibia without sufficient balance, context or accountability. Namibia is, by any objective measure, one of Africa’s most peaceful and politically stable nations.…