Windhoek Observer – Page 28 – Windhoek Observer

29 Sep

Etosha is burning and we are failing it

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Etosha National Park, the crown jewel of Namibia’s conservation and tourism legacy, is burning. It is not merely grass and trees that are turning to ash; it is our national pride, our environmental responsibility, and the livelihoods of thousands. As flames devour hectares of this irreplaceable ecosystem, what is perhaps more disturbing than the fire itself is the collective silence and stunning lack of urgency from those who ought to be leading the response. Where is the outrage? Where is the accountability? Etosha is not a small, peripheral reserve; it spans over 22 000 km², making it one of the…

29 Sep

Toivo ya Toivo honoured with statue at Robben Island

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The late liberation hero, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, was honoured with a statue at Robben Island during the second reunion of political ex-prisoners on Saturday. The event brought together former political prisoners from Namibia and South Africa and marked the unveiling of six statues, including Toivo ya Toivo's, as well as the awarding of commemorative medals to ex-Robben Island prisoners. Namibia’s delegation included speaker of the National Assembly Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture Sanet Steenkamp, and veteran politician Jerry Ekandjo. Delivering a message on behalf of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Steenkamp described the…

29 Sep

Namibia demands transparency in nuclear energy use

National News

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for the responsible use of nuclear energy. She urged that safeguards be implemented to ensure transparency and safety in the development of nuclear technology. Speaking on Friday in the United States at the United Nations high-level meeting to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Namibia supports the peaceful use of atomic energy while strongly opposing nuclear weapons. “Namibia calls for the accountable use of nuclear energy and ensures that comprehensive safeguards are in place to remove any limitations and restrictions on the use of nuclear material,…

29 Sep

Namfisa’s income up 11.7% to N$312m

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority's (Namfisa) income for the financial year ending 31 March 2025 rose by 11.7% to N$312.3 million from N$279.5 million in 2024. Expenditure increased by 5.4% to N$268.3 million, while other comprehensive income amounted to N$2.5 million. This resulted in a total comprehensive surplus of N$46.5 million compared to N$37.7 million the previous year. The surplus exceeded the budgeted surplus of N$81,202, supported by expenditure control and sustained revenue growth, the authority said. Levy income, which makes up most of Namfisa's non-exchange revenue, grew by N$36.2 million (14.2%) to N$291.7 million from N$255.5…

29 Sep

Momentum opens revamped Walvis Bay branch

Observer Money

Staff Writer Momentum Metropolitan Namibia has opened its revamped branch in Walvis Bay. The occasion also marked the company’s 10th anniversary in Walvis Bay. The opening was attended by Walvis Bay mayor Trevino Forbes and Walvis Bay Chamber of Business and Entrepreneurship president Johnny Dauseb. “Today is more than just a branch opening; it is a celebration of 10 years of partnership with the people of Walvis Bay,” said Denille Roostee, marketing executive at Momentum Metropolitan Namibia. “We are proud to reaffirm our purpose: to protect and grow our clients’ financial dreams. With our brands, Metropolitan (Together We Can) and…

29 Sep

Deep Yellow warns of widening uranium supply gap

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The demand-supply gap for uranium continues to widen, Deep Yellow has said in its 2025 annual report. Deep Yellow chairman Chris Salisbury noted that 2025 saw a further increase in global demand for uranium and rapid growth in the nuclear ambitions of many countries. “There were also a number of production shortfalls on the mining supply side, indicating the challenges in creating a robust uranium supply regime. Higher prices will be needed to incentivise exploration, mine development, and maintaining mined supply,” Salisbury said. He added that Deep Yellow is well positioned to respond once uranium prices rise. Deep…

29 Sep

Namibia’s rising role in the global uranium market

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia is emerging as one of the most important players in the global uranium market as demand for nuclear energy rises, a report by Simonis Storm Securities has found. Expanded uranium production could add between N$5 billion and N$8 billion annually to government revenue by the early 2030s, supporting debt sustainability and funding infrastructure and development. Namibia currently supplies between 10% and 11% of uranium mined globally. Husab, majority-owned by China General Nuclear, produces more than 5 000 tonnes a year, making it one of the largest single uranium mines in the world. Rössing, operating since the 1970s…

29 Sep

Zimbabwe to host headquarters of IATF’s new independent entity

Observer Money

Staff Writer Africa’s premier trade and investment event, the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), will now operate as an independent, permanent African institution with its headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe. The new entity, the Intra-African Trade Fair Company (IATFCO), was unveiled during IATF2025 in Algiers to make the fair sustainable, scalable and aligned to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The decision followed a rigorous selection process and approval by the IATF Advisory Council. IATF is held every two years and is co-convened by Afreximbank, the African Union Commission and the AfCFTA Secretariat. Zimbabwe was selected as the host country from…

29 Sep

Govt injects N$10m to rescue premiership league

Sports

Allexer Namundjembo The government has announced a N$10 million injection into the Namibian Premiership Football League (NPFL) after Debmarine Namibia confirmed it would not renew its sponsorship. The announcement was made in parliament on Thursday by the deputy minister of sports, Dino Balloti, delivering a ministerial statement on behalf of Minister Sanet Steenkamp. Debmarine has invested N$49 million in the premiership over the past three years, according to Balloti. He added that the company has put more than N$112 million into sport over the last seven years but is no longer in a financial position to continue its support. “This…

26 Sep

‘We don’t need ICC’

Main

Allexer Namundjembo Namibia does not need the International Criminal Court (ICC), political analyst Sackaria Johannes has said in support of a motion for the country to withdraw from the court. Johannes’ comments came after Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader and member of parliament Job Amupanda tabled a motion in the National Assembly on Tuesday calling for Namibia’s withdrawal from the ICC. “Bearing in mind that, for me, the ICC is a biased institution. If you look at history, most of the people who were prosecuted there and found guilty are Africans. But we have some world leaders who have committed war…