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Access Bank bid to buy Bidvest Bank collapses

Access Bank bid to buy Bidvest Bank collapses

Chamwe Kaira Bidvest Group Limited has terminated its proposed sale of Bidvest Bank Holdings Limited to Access Bank plc after conditions precedent were not met by the agreed long stop date. Access Bank is seeking a banking licence in Namibia. In a voluntary announcement, Bidvest said the sale and purchase agreement included customary regulatory approval conditions.  While both parties worked to secure the required approvals, these conditions were not fulfilled within the contractual timeframe, leading to the termination of the transaction. Bidvest said the strategic rationale behind the restructuring of its Financial Services division and the decision to dispose of…
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FNB warns CashPlus agents against extra charges

FNB warns CashPlus agents against extra charges

Staff Writer FNB Namibia says it is concerned about reports that some CashPlus agents are charging extra fees or setting conditions before allowing customers to withdraw or deposit cash. The bank said these practices are not allowed. The bank said CashPlus was introduced to promote financial inclusion by bringing basic banking services closer to communities across Namibia, especially in areas with limited access to bank branches.  Through the service, customers can withdraw and deposit cash safely and conveniently within their communities. FNB said the CashPlus model is designed to benefit both customers and agents. Agents receive a commission directly from…
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Standard Bank launches Sustainability Academy

Standard Bank launches Sustainability Academy

Staff Writer Standard Bank Namibia has launched the Sustainability Academy, a free online learning platform aimed at helping Namibian businesses build resilience and adopt climate-smart practices. The bank said the academy is designed to close sustainability knowledge gaps by offering practical guidance that businesses can apply in day-to-day operations.  As environmental, social and governance performance increasingly shapes investment decisions and trade relations, the platform seeks to help companies transition sustainably while remaining competitive. Speaking at the launch, Gerhard Mukuahima, head of agribusiness at Standard Bank Namibia, said sustainability has become an economic requirement rather than a voluntary choice.  He said…
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Africa Bitcoin’s subsidiary raises N$100 million

Africa Bitcoin’s subsidiary raises N$100 million

Chamwe Kaira Africa Bitcoin Corporation Limited, which is listed on the Namibian Securities Exchange (NSX), has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Altvest Credit Opportunities Fund Limited (ACOF), has concluded definitive agreements to issue new notes valued at N$100 million. The private placement was executed under ACOF’s N$5 billion domestic medium-term note programme.  The transaction represents a further drawdown under the programme and forms part of the group’s funding and capital management strategy. The company said the new notes will be listed on the Cape Town Stock Exchange on 16 February 2026. Subject to the terms and conditions, the notes…
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Nedbank Group expands bond programme to R75 billion

Nedbank Group expands bond programme to R75 billion

Staff Writer Nedbank Group Limited has expanded its Domestic Medium-Term Note programme to R75 billion, up from R40 billion, following amendments aimed at meeting updated regulatory and disclosure requirements. The bank said the changes are set out in the amended and updated DMTN Programme Memorandum dated February 4, 2026, which replaces the previous memorandum issued on 8 February 2019. Nedbank originally established the R40 billion programme to issue secured or unsecured notes, as well as subordinated or unsubordinated instruments, from time to time. The revised memorandum reflects both the increase in programme size and a broader update of the document.…
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Dutch Roman law in Namibia: A legal heritage that must serve Namibian realities

Dutch Roman law in Namibia: A legal heritage that must serve Namibian realities

Sakaria Johannes Namibia’s legal system, rooted in Roman-Dutch law, remains one of the most enduring legacies of colonialism. While political independence was achieved in 1990, the law that governs land ownership, labour relations, and family definitions largely predates independence and was never designed to address African social realities. This raises an unavoidable question: does Roman-Dutch law still serve Namibia’s developmental and social needs, or does it quietly preserve historical injustice under the guise of legal continuity? Roman-Dutch law offers undeniable strengths. It provides legal certainty, institutional stability, and a judiciary that commands respect both locally and internationally. These features have…
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Beifang denies labour dispute at Husab Mine

Beifang denies labour dispute at Husab Mine

Renthia Kaimbi Beifang Mining Technical Services says there is no labour dispute at the Husab Mine and that operations have returned to normality.  Beifang said employees have returned to work after complying with a revised shift roster and that operations are proceeding normally.  This comes amid reports from employees at the mine who spoke on conditions of anonymity that workers are being suspended due to a new roster put in place.  “Employees have returned to work and operations are proceeding normally. There is no ongoing labour dispute,” the company said. However, the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) says the suspensions…
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ECB close to finalising electricity pricing rules

ECB close to finalising electricity pricing rules

Justicia Shipena The Electricity Control Board (ECB) has moved closer to finalising changes to the rules that govern the electricity sector after years of consultations with stakeholders. Speaking at a validation workshop in Windhoek on Monday, ECB chief executive officer Robert Kahimise said the review focuses on the tariff methodology, economic rules and net metering rules that underpin the electricity supply industry. “Today, we gather for a comprehensive review of the foundational pillars for our sector’s future: the Economic Rules, the Net Metering Rules, and the Tariff Methodology for generation, transmission and distribution," he said.  The process began in 2023…
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Shalli salutes Nghimtina’s liberation legacy

Shalli salutes Nghimtina’s liberation legacy

Renthia Kaimbi Retired lieutenant general Martin Shalli says the late former cabinet minister and veteran Erkki Nghimtina was a great fighter and leader.  Nghimtina died on Sunday at the age of 78. Shalli said his path was closely linked with Nghimtina’s for more than five decades.  He recalled that they both left Namibia in 1974 to join the liberation struggle and later received military training in the former Soviet Union.  “We joined the front at almost the same time,” Shalli said, recalling their early operations from Zambia. He said Nghimtina distinguished himself in several battles before moving into communications, where…
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Beyond candles and speeches: To truly honour our founders

Beyond candles and speeches: To truly honour our founders

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) February has emerged as a month of reckoning for Namibia, a time heavy with memory, loss, and moral reflection. Within its short span, the nation finds itself repeatedly called to pause, to mourn, and to ask difficult questions about legacy, fidelity, and the meaning of service. One year after the passing of His Excellency Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, the Founding Father of the Namibian Nation, Namibia gathered once again at Heroes’ Acre. Candles were lit. Speeches were delivered. Tributes were read. The nation paused, as it should, to remember the…
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