Windhoek Observer – Page 3 – Windhoek Observer

17 Mar

Independence Day must remain a sacred day of national unity

Editorial

Every year on 21 March, Namibia pauses to commemorate the moment when the nation emerged from decades of colonial rule and finally took its place among the sovereign states of the world. Independence Day is therefore not merely another public holiday. It is the symbolic birthday of the Republic, a day that belongs to every Namibian, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, language, region, or economic standing. For that reason, Independence Day should be treated as a sacred day of national unity. Recent criticism directed at the government over the nature of the Independence Day celebrations should therefore be taken seriously.…

17 Mar

MSMEs struggle to expand

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) continue to face structural challenges despite their role in creating jobs and supporting incomes. A study by the African Development Bank (AfDB) says the sector is affected by limited skills, weak market penetration, high financing costs, restricted access to land and low levels of technology use. The report says MSMEs also face infrastructure gaps, limited business support services and relatively low levels of entrepreneurship. These factors continue to slow the sector’s growth. More than 70 000 MSMEs operate in Namibia. The sector contributes about 12% to the country’s gross domestic product and…

17 Mar

Langer Heinrich ramps up production amid strong uranium demand

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Paladin Energy is increasing production at the Langer Heinrich Mine as the company moves through the final stage of its ramp-up plan. The company said 2.3 million pounds of uranium oxide (U₃O₈) were produced during the first half of the 2026 financial year. Production for the full financial year is expected to reach the upper end of the guidance range of 4 million to 4.4 million pounds. Paladin stated that the rising global demand for nuclear energy supports the ramp-up. The company said demand is being driven by the existing nuclear reactor fleet, reactors under construction and the…

17 Mar

US tariffs narrow Namibia’s trade surplus

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The imposition of a 15% tariff on Namibian exports by the United States reduced Namibia’s trade surplus with the US during the first half of 2025. This was revealed in the Namibia country strategy paper for 2025–2030 released by the African Development Bank in Windhoek last week. The report states that Namibia’s trade surplus with the United States declined to about N$331 million in the first half of 2025, down from about N$416 million during the same period in 2024. The tariff affected key export sectors such as diamonds, marble and salt. Diamonds were previously exported duty-free under…

17 Mar

Tromp appointed to lead Nedbank consumer banking

Observer Money

Staff Writer Nedbank Namibia has appointed John James Tromp as head of consumer banking, effective 1 March 2026. The consumer banking portfolio includes private banking, private wealth, retail banking and lending. The bank said Tromp previously served as head of business banking. In that role, he worked with business clients across the country and gained experience in how financial services affect both households and businesses. Nedbank said this experience gives him insight into the link between household financial stability and wider economic activity. The bank said the appointment comes at a time when financial inclusion, responsible lending and access to…

17 Mar

Cybercrime bill heads to parliament

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The drafting of the Cybercrime Bill has been completed and the legislation is expected to be submitted to Parliament this month. The bill was prepared after consultations with key stakeholders and will undergo a validation workshop before submission. This information was revealed in the estimates of revenue, income and expenditure released by the Ministry of Finance as part of the 2026/27 national budget. The document also states that the Data Protection Bill has already been approved by the cabinet committee on legislation. The bill has been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations for further review.…

17 Mar

SA new bank has 2 500 branches before launching

Observer Money

Pepkor is seeking a banking chief as Africa’s biggest seller of clothing and mobile phones plans to open branches using its store network in South Africa to reach millions of lower-income customers. The senior leader will be responsible for driving the shift to a “fully integrated transactional-banking model” across more than 2 500 outlets in South Africa, the Cape Town-based company said in a job posting dated 11 March. “This is a critical role that demands an entrepreneurial spirit, a deep understanding of retail banking, and the ability to execute large-scale strategic initiatives,” the company said. Pepkor got approval last…

17 Mar

2026-2027 budget review: Balancing economic stability with development investment

Opinions

Josef Kefas Sheehama The 2026–2027 national budget is a critical instrument for shaping Namibia’s economic path. It seeks to address structural weaknesses, stabilise macroeconomic conditions, and support development priorities. In an environment of moderate growth, fiscal constraints, and high unemployment, the budget reflects the challenge of balancing financial discipline with the need for investment in infrastructure, human capital, and industrial capacity. Achieving this balance requires careful policy coordination. Governments must manage public debt and inflation while creating conditions that promote long-term growth. Strategic allocation of resources toward sectors that enhance productivity, combined with institutional reforms and private-sector engagement, can improve…

16 Mar

CoW to demolish Havana house built without building plans

Main, National News

Allexer Namundjembo The City of Windhoek has ordered the demolition of a house built in Havana location in Windhoek after it found that construction took place without municipal approval. City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya stated that the construction of the structure did not adhere to municipal building regulations, which mandate the submission and approval of building plans. “City officials discovered that a brick structure was being erected on the erf and instructed the individual to stop construction because the area is still under incremental development and no approval had been granted,” Amutenya said in response to questions by the Windhoek Observer…

16 Mar

Venaani calls for irrigation and agro-processing investment

National News

Justicia Shipena Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader and member of parliament McHenry Venaani says Namibia must invest in irrigation infrastructure, agro-processing industries and modern agricultural value chains if it wants to promote rural development and economic diversification. He made the remarks in the National Assembly while contributing to the budget debate last week. “If we are serious about rural development and economic diversification, we must invest aggressively in irrigation infrastructure, agro-processing industries and modern agricultural value chains,” Venaani said. Venaani said Namibia must move beyond gradual policy changes. “Our economy remains too small, unemployment remains too high, and inequality continues…