Blog – Windhoek Observer

03 Feb

ACC investigates Walvis Bay over N$3.4m pothole tender

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has opened an investigation into the Walvis Bay municipality over alleged irregularities linked to a N$3.4 million pothole repair tender. The probe also covers the recruitment process of a senior manager. ACC interim spokesperson Marina Matundu confirmed the investigation to the Windhoek Observer. “We confirm that a case has been registered with us, but the investigations are still at an early stage,” she said. The investigation centers the allegations around the municipality's chief executive officer, Victoria Kapenda. According to documents and sources, the ACC is examining a tender awarded for pothole repairs across the…

03 Feb

NNN opens Cabinet with warning on limited time

National News

Renthia Kaimbi President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah opened the 2026 Cabinet year with a call for decisive action, saying the current global climate demands a clear break from routine governance. Speaking to ministers and senior officials yesterday, she emphasised that reverting to the status quo was not a viable option. She urged Cabinet to adopt a “business unusual” mindset to respond to the country’s most urgent needs. She said the administration has limited time to deliver on its mandate, with only four years left to advance Namibia’s Vision 2030. “Time is therefore not on our side. Every day, every hour, and every…

03 Feb

Vision without specifics risks losing public confidence

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s address at the official opening of Cabinet for the 2026 calendar year was, by all accounts, polished, optimistic, and rhetorically disciplined. It emphasised commitment, unity, and the high expectations Namibians have for their leaders. It recognised achievements, highlighted ongoing initiatives, and called for renewed focus as the administration advances toward Vision 2030. Yet, for all its lofty language and moral gravitas, the speech reveals a recurring challenge in Namibian political communication: ambition that is often unaccompanied by concrete operational clarity. In short, while the words inspire, they leave many questions unanswered. The President began appropriately, welcoming cabinet…

03 Feb

Manual payroll system raises cost and control issues

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Senior accounting and financial adviser Mefflint de Waal said removing the digital aspect of the payroll deduction management system (PDMS) and replacing it with a manual helpdesk could cause problems with salary payments. He said the change may slow down payroll services and reduce proper financial checks for public servants. De Waal said the move from an automated digital platform to a manual system marks a step back in public sector service delivery. “For more than two decades, Namibia operated a fully automated PDMS that linked government payroll directly with banks and insurers in real time. That system…

03 Feb

National Council urged to strengthen law review

National News

Allexer Namundjembo National Council chairperson Lukas Sinimbo Muha has urged members of the seventh National Council to embrace continuous learning. He said capacity building is central to effective lawmaking and oversight. Muha made the call on Monday in Windhoek when he opened the first orientation seminar for members of the council. “Capacity building is not a one-time event but a continuous process of learning, adaptation, and professional development,” he said. He said regular training is needed, especially given the high turnover of members, to ensure that lawmakers can review bills properly and carry out oversight with care and integrity. Muha…

03 Feb

MTC and Rössing Foundation donate wheelchairs to disability council

National News

Staff Writer MTC Care and the Rössing Foundation on Friday donated assistive devices to the National Disability Council of Namibia (NDCN). MTC Care handed over ten wheelchairs valued at N$80 000. The beneficiaries come from different regions, widening the reach of the initiative. MTC Care is an employee-driven initiative where staff members contribute monthly to social causes. The donation forms part of the NDCN Community Assistive Device Drive, a national programme that collects and distributes assistive devices and protective equipment to persons with disabilities across Namibia. Lawreance Kaimu, chairperson of the NDCN research and development committee, praised MTC and the…

03 Feb

Namibia Berries plans N$1.5bn expansion over seven years

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board has identified the Namibia Berries Blueberry Project as a driver of agricultural diversification, rural development, and job creation in the Kavango East Region. The project is located in Divundu and is being developed by Loxworth Capital, with facilitation by NIPDB in partnership with government ministries, including the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development. It is the largest blueberry farming investment currently underway in Namibia. About N$400 million has been invested so far. Total planned capital expenditure is estimated at N$1.5 billion over seven years. The investment is expected to support long-term…

03 Feb

Chamber sees steady future for mining industry

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Chamber of Mines of Namibia says the outlook for the country’s mining sector in 2026 remains positive and optimistic, despite ongoing global economic uncertainty. The chamber said demand fundamentals for key commodities remain supportive. Gold prices are forecast by some analysts to exceed US$5 200 per troy ounce, which could strengthen revenues and boost investment in the gold sector. Uranium demand is expected to increase further as more nuclear reactors come online worldwide. Copper and tin are also set to benefit from steady demand linked to the global energy transition, supporting exploration and development activity in Namibia. …

03 Feb

Trustco provides quarterly update on JSE suspension

Observer Money

Staff Writer Trustco Group Holdings Limited has issued a quarterly update to shareholders on matters linked to the suspension of its shares, outlining progress on its audit process and engagements with regulators. The group referred shareholders to its announcement of 15 October 2025, in which it confirmed that the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) had indicated it had no objection to Trustco appointing two separate audit firms. Under this arrangement, a South African audit firm will work alongside the already appointed associated Namibian audit firm to audit the group’s annual financial statements. Trustco said this approach will result in two separate…

03 Feb

Two rate cuts expected in 2026

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Simonis Storm says credit and liquidity data for December 2025 show that monetary easing is continuing to filter through to the real economy, although at a measured and uneven pace as once-off liquidity effects linked to the Eurobond redemption fade. Private sector credit growth eased slightly to 4.4% year on year in December 2025, down from 4.5% in November. This points to a gradual loss of momentum as the year came to an end. Despite the slowdown, Simonis Storm said credit growth remains well above the weak levels seen in 2023 and early 2024. This suggests an improvement…