Windhoek Observer – Page 37 – Windhoek Observer

02 Feb

NYDF opens purse with N$8.6m for youth businesses

National News

Staff Writer The National Youth Development Fund (NYDF) has approved N$8.6 million in funding for youth-owned businesses. The latest funding round, which took place from 1 November 2025 to 30 January 2026 and has been channeled to 30 businesses. This followed an earlier approval of N$5.3 million for 16 businesses announced at the official launch of the NYDF. The funded enterprises operate in sectors that include auto mechanics, construction, tourism, catering, car wash services, mobile food trading, legal services, fashion and cosmetics, transport and shuttle services, media, health, education, ICT, welding and metal fabrication, accounting, event management, restaurants, guesthouses, funeral…

02 Feb

Rundu councillor plans expansion of learner support initiative

National News

Allexer Namundjebo Rundu councillor Patrick Kufuna has plans to expand the Kavango Kickstart Tour. This is an initiative he launched to support learners with life-skills education and motivation beyond the classroom and has called on sponsors to support the programme. Kufuna said he started the tour in 2023 after noticing that many learners need guidance on issues not covered in textbooks. The programme brings together nurses, social workers, police officers and youth activists to speak to learners about crime prevention, mental health, road safety and hygiene. Kufuna said the tour uses music and performance to deliver these messages in a…

02 Feb

Masake urges citizens to spend holidays farming

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The deputy minister of agriculture, Ruthy Masake, encouraged Namibians to use holidays and free time to work in agricultural fields instead of staying in towns. She said practical farming work is important to help secure the country’s food supply. Working the land, according to Masake, is a national responsibility that not only supports households but also strengthens food production. “Fellow Namibians, instead of spending our holidays in towns, we should enjoy our time in the field. Let’s get dirty for some time. In the process, we’re going to become one of the producers of food,” she said over…

02 Feb

Bold promise, a delicate test: welcoming the national pension and medical funds with caution

Editorial, Featured

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s directive to the Social Security Commission (SSC) to implement a National Pension Fund (NPF) and a National Medical Benefit Fund (NMBF) by 1 April marks one of the most ambitious social policy announcements in recent years. On paper, the move is progressive, humane and long overdue. It speaks directly to the anxieties of ordinary Namibians who worry about life after retirement and the ever-rising cost of healthcare. For that alone, the initiative deserves to be welcomed. Yet, ambition without execution has been the undoing of many well-intentioned reforms in Namibia. As the country cautiously applauds this announcement,…

02 Feb

Winner takes all, the state loses: How political purges are hollowing out Namibia

Opinions

Last week, after laying my mother to rest, a retired Executive Director, what we used to call a Permanent Secretary, came to pay his respects. After the cultural formalities, we sat and spoke, as Namibians often do, about life. I asked him a simple question: what are you doing with yourself after retirement? He shrugged, almost apologetically. “I’m just busy with a few things, here and there,” he said. There was no bitterness in his voice, only resignation. That moment stayed with me long after he left. Not because of the words themselves, but because of what they symbolised. Here…

02 Feb

New Year full of empowerment and recommitment as mine workers

Featured, Opinions

Shavuka Mbidhi The growth in Namibia's domestic economy is anchored by upbeat activities in the natural resources sector, namely mining. A look back at the economic stories of 2025 began with a radical policy shift geared towards addressing long-standing social constraints, including high levels of poverty and unemployment. Undeniably, Namibia has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the world, and youth unemployment stood at 37.3% in 2024. Part of its Vision 2030, and under the current sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), the government focus is on promoting industrialisation, economic diversification, health and education, job creation, and social…

02 Feb

Cattle sales fall to lowest level in nearly two decades

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Cattle marketing in Namibia fell to 192 300 head in 2025, the lowest level recorded since 2006, according to the Namibia Agriculture Union (NAU). The union said the decline does not signal weakness in the livestock sector but reflects decisions taken by producers in response to prolonged drought. “This decline should not be interpreted as a deterioration in the livestock sector; rather, it reflects a rational production response to prolonged drought conditions. Producers deliberately reduced offtake in order to prioritise herd rebuilding and restore productive capacity,” the union said. Cattle marketing had generally increased since 2006 and peaked…

02 Feb

Treasury bills auction draws N$2.2 billion in bids

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Bank of Namibia (BoN), acting as agent for government debt issuance and management, conducted its first treasury bills auction for 2026 last Thursday, with demand remaining firm across all maturities. The auction, held on 29 January 2026, attracted total bids of about N$2.2 billion, with N$1.512 billion allocated across four treasury bill tenors. The bills covered 90-day, 182-day, 273-day and 364-day maturities and all settled on 30 January. Bid-to-cover ratios ranged between 1.10 and 1.97, showing continued investor interest in short-term government paper. For the 90-day treasury bill maturing on 30 April 2026, the government allocated N$352…

02 Feb

International reserves rise to N$51.6 billion in December

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s stock of international reserves rose at the end of December 2025, supported mainly by net inflows of the South African rand and revaluation gains, the Bank of Namibia (BoN) has reported. Official reserves increased by 4.9% month-on-month to N$51.6 billion. The rise was driven by strong net rand inflows linked to portfolio investment, as well as favourable price movements in some fixed-income securities held by the central bank. At this level, the international reserves were sufficient to cover an estimated 3.3 months of imports. When oil and gas exploration and appraisal-related imports are excluded, import cover improves…

02 Feb

Global air cargo volumes reach new high

Observer Money

Staff Writer Global air cargo demand reached a record level in 2025, according to full-year and December data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Full-year demand in 2025, measured in cargo tonne-kilometres, rose by 3.4% compared to 2024. International operations recorded higher growth of 4.2%. Cargo capacity increased by 3.7% over the same period, with international capacity up by 5.1%. December 2025 closed the year on a strong note. Global demand was 4.3% higher than in December 2024, while international demand rose by 5.5%. Global capacity increased by 4.5%, with international capacity up by 6.4%. IATA reported that…