Windhoek Observer – Page 3 – Windhoek Observer

08 Dec

New digital tool to fight GBV

National News

Renthia Kaimbi A newly developed national gender-based violence (GBV) digital application will soon allow the public to report abuse, access support services and obtain verified information securely. The minister of gender equality and child welfare, Emma Kantema, recently announced the tool as part of the country’s response to rising physical and digital violence. The app, created in partnership with the European Union (EU) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), forms part of a broader push to strengthen digital safety. Kantema said the platform is being finalised alongside the Cybercrime Bill, which is under review by the Ministry of Information…

08 Dec

Sisa warns public about scam using Nujoma’s name

National News

Staff Writer The estate of the late founding president, Sam Nujoma, is still being finalised. Nujoma’s executor revealed this on Sunday in response to an online article, calling it false and fraudulent. In a statement issued on 7 December 2025, lawyer Sisa Namandje said he was alerted by the Nujoma family to an online publication titled “The Hidden Legacy of Sam Nujoma”. The article falsely claimed that Nujoma had endorsed an investment scheme called “Nujoma Capital”. The article alleges that Nujoma gave an interview before his death promoting a platform promising users earnings of up to N$15,000 per day and…

08 Dec

MTC’s profit after tax soars to N$1.02 billion

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Mobile Telecommunications Company's (MTC) profit after tax for the year ended 30 September 2025 rose to N$1.02 billion, up from N$772.9 million in 2024. MTC said the increase reflects strong execution across mobile, fixed broadband, enterprise, and digital services. Earnings per share grew to 136.37 cents, with headline earnings per share showing the same rise. Total income increased by 14.24% to N$3.71 billion, driven by higher demand for high-speed data and value-added mobile services. Prepaid subscribers grew by 4.3% after successful SIM registration campaigns, and prepaid ARPU increased by 14.6%. Improved postpaid products helped protect core revenue, while…

08 Dec

AfDB to give Namibia N$33.4 billion to grow its economy

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The board of directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a Country Strategy Paper for Namibia, committing US$1.78 billion (about N$33.4 billion) to support economic transformation and inclusive growth from 2025 to 2030. The funding aims to drive job creation and economic diversification at a time when Namibia faces a high youth unemployment rate of more than 40% and a drop in per capita income from US$5 942 (about N$111 500) in 2012 to US$4 240 (about N$79 500) in 2024. The group’s deputy director general for Southern Africa and country manager for Namibia, Moono Mupotola,…

08 Dec

Fuel price hike expected to push inflation up

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Fuel prices are expected to put upward pressure on inflation after the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy increased pump prices by 21% per litre in December. The rise follows higher global crude oil prices and refinery constraints. Almandro Jansen of Simonis Storm said housing inflation is also expected to remain firm due to long-standing supply shortages and municipal tariff adjustments. Economists project inflation to average between 3.7% and 3.9% in 2025, rising toward 4% in 2026 as fuel and utility prices settle at higher levels. They warn that currency volatility, logistics costs and global supply conditions could…

08 Dec

Paratus battles inflation while growing its network

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira As Paratus Namibia marks its 20th anniversary, managing director Andrew Hall reflected on how the company began with a small team aiming to change the country’s digital future. What started as Internet Technologies Namibia (Pty) Ltd has grown into a major connectivity provider now preparing to enter the mobile network market. After a successful rights issue in May 2024, Paratus began one of its largest network expansions. The nationwide roll-out of its Radio Access Network and the growth of its retail footprint to 18 outlets led to strong customer uptake across its services. Fibre connections grew by 34%,…

08 Dec

NYC boss fights to clear her name as contract ends

Main

Renthia Kaimbi National Youth Council director Calista Schwartz-Gowases is demanding that her name be cleared and her legal fees repaid as her term ends this month. She says unproven misconduct allegations have damaged her reputation and wants an independent mediator to resolve the dispute. Schwartz-Gowases made the request through her lawyers, Shipindo & Associates, in a letter to interim board chairperson Kennedy Kariseb on Monday last week. “Our client essentially wants her name cleared from all such allegations before the parties part ways. We request for the Board Resolution and minutes of the meeting that gave effect to such action,”…

08 Dec

Standard Bank wraps up MSME blue growth programme

Observer Money

Staff Writer Standard Bank Namibia has concluded the blue growth series, a four-month micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) capacity-building pilot that supported 40 Namibian micro, small and medium enterprises across various sectors. The programme ended with a closing event at the bank’s headquarters, highlighting the progress made by participants as they moved from early-stage potential to investment-ready businesses. Launched in August 2025, the programme attracted 695 applicants. It was designed to equip MSMEs with structured training, mentorship, and internationally recognised certifications from institutions such as Harvard Manage Mentor and Bloomberg Finance Lab. Of the 297 MSMEs that qualified, 45%…

07 Dec

The limits of courtesy: What modern diplomacy requires and classical diplomacy provides

Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The analysis of minister Selma Ashipala-Musayi’s response to the United Kingdom’s concerns offers a lens through which to examine how diplomacy itself has evolved and what this evolution means for states navigating an increasingly complex global environment. While the minister’s position reflects honourable and historically significant diplomatic virtues, the global system in which these virtues operate has transformed. This episode illustrates a broader lesson for contemporary foreign policy: classical diplomatic principles remain necessary, but they are no longer sufficient. Diplomacy has shifted from a state-centric model to a networked system…

07 Dec

Afrikaans adaptation of The Office to premiere in January

Uncategorised

Staff Writer Showmax is producing a South African adaptation of the global comedy hit The Office, licensed by BBC Studios. The new series, titled Die Kantoor, is filmed mainly in Afrikaans. kykNET will air a preview of the first episode at 20:00 on Sunday, 18 January, ahead of the Showmax double-episode premiere on Tuesday, 20 January. It has been more than 20 years since the world was introduced to the mockumentary style of The Office, created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Metacritic lists the original British version as the best-reviewed comedy series of all time. The American version won…