Blog – Page 10 – Windhoek Observer

16 Mar

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila: Oversight without results is just observation

Editorial, Featured

When the speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, addressed the parliamentary women’s caucus in Swakopmund this weekend, she articulated a concern that resonates far beyond the walls of Parliament. Her call for stronger oversight mechanisms, ones that produce measurable results rather than simply reports, captures the growing sentiment among many Namibians who follow the work of the legislature with interest, hope, and, at times, frustration. At its core, Parliament performs two critical functions in a democratic society: it creates laws and it holds the executive accountable for implementing them. These responsibilities are not abstract constitutional ideals; they are the…

16 Mar

Namibia and Russia discuss expanding trade and investment

National News

Justicia Shipena The minister of international relations and trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, says Namibia wants to attract investment from Russia to support industrial development, technology transfer and job creation. She said this during the Namibia–Russia Business Forum in Windhoek on Friday. The forum provides a platform for engagement between governments, businesses, financial institutions and research organisations from both countries. “These engagements are designed to promote technology transfer, strengthen value chain development and facilitate strategic investment matchmaking between companies and institutions from both countries,” she said. The forum was held alongside the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic…

16 Mar

Namibia intervenes in ICJ Gaza genocide case

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Namibia has formally intervened in the genocide case brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague. The court confirmed that Namibia submitted a declaration of intervention last week under Article 63 of the ICJ Statute. The article allows states that are party to a treaty being interpreted in a case to take part in the proceedings. The case concerns the interpretation of the Genocide Convention. The United States, Hungary and Fiji also filed declarations of intervention on the same day. The ICJ said states that are party to a convention…

16 Mar

Presidential consultations with Okandjoze Chiefs Assembly was expectedly a façade

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Lately various instances have been running in and out of State House for what the Presidency has been billing as the conventional, but in the parlance of the first lap of the 8th administration, perhaps it is the business unusual of Her Excellency’s democratic credentials of openness, punctuated, among others, by consultations with certain entities. So far for most of them, if not all of them, in their various and respective hues and sizes, as well as differing outlooks, political parties and/or formations; traditional authorities and/or leaders of traditional communities; chiefs; paramount chiefs; kings – call them what…

16 Mar

Stopping the ‘Disneyfication’ of Namibia

Opinions

Prof Uchendu Eugene Chigbu One humid morning, on a flight from Kampala to Windhoek via Johannesburg, I had a conversation with someone that later made me think twice about tourism in Namibia. A lady had just boarded the plane and moved to sit next to me. She buckled her seat belt and took out a tablet, keen to put her time to use. “I’m Elke. Are you also stopping in South Africa?” she asked, looking sternly at me. “I’m flying to Namibia,” I replied. Surprised by my response, she kicked off a long story of her escapades travelling through Namibia…

16 Mar

Anirep adds battery storage to Otjiwarongo solar plant

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Alpha Namibia Industries Renewable Power Limited (Anirep) has commissioned its first utility-scale battery energy storage system at its solar plant in Otjiwarongo. The system is a 3-megawatt and 10-megawatt-hour battery facility integrated with the expanded 13.42-megawatt peak solar photovoltaic plant. Anirep managing director Iyaloo ya Nangolo said the development marks a step toward improving the reliability of Namibia’s electricity supply. The battery system stores excess solar power generated during the day and releases it later when demand increases. This allows electricity produced during peak sunlight hours to be used in the evening when solar generation is not available.…

16 Mar

SBN Holdings’ profit rises to N$1.19 billion

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira SBN Holdings Limited, the parent company of Standard Bank Namibia, reported a 12.8% increase in profit for the year ended 31 December 2025. Profit after tax rose to N$1.187 billion compared to N$1.053 billion recorded in 2024, according to the group’s audited consolidated financial results. The group said the increase was supported by revenue growth, expansion of the loan book, cost control and lower credit impairments. Net income before tax for the period stood at N$1.649 billion. The bank said stable net interest income and improved credit conditions supported its performance during the year. Basic earnings per share…

16 Mar

Stimulus urges caution in trading preference shares

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Stimulus Investments Limited has issued a cautionary announcement advising shareholders that ongoing negotiations could affect the price of its preference shares. The company said discussions are still underway and could have a material impact on the value of its listed securities if concluded. Stimulus urged shareholders to exercise caution when trading in its preference shares until more information is released. The latest notice follows earlier cautionary announcements issued on 14 August 2025, 25 September 2025, 6 November 2025 and 12 January 2026. Stimulus, which is listed on the Namibia Securities Exchange under the share code SILP, did not…

16 Mar

AfDB funding in Namibia reaches N$16.4 billion

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The African Development Bank (AfDB) has maintained an active investment portfolio in Namibia valued at about N$16.4 billion as of July 2025. The portfolio includes 10 operations made up of eight sovereign projects and two non-sovereign operations structured as lines of credit. It also includes four investment projects and four technical assistance initiatives. Most of the funding comes from AfDB loans, which account for about 99.2% of the portfolio. Additional support comes from four middle-income country technical assistance fund grants, one African water facility grant and one rural water and sanitation initiative grant. The finance sector holds the…

16 Mar

NSX overall index dips as local index rises

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Namibian Securities Exchange recorded mixed performance during the trading week from 9 to 13 March, with the overall index declining while the local index increased slightly. The NSX Overall Index closed at 2 148.65 points, down 9.11 points, or 0.42%, from the previous week’s level of 2 157.76 points. Despite the weekly decline, the index remains slightly above its December 2025 level of 2,141.33 points. This represents a 0.34% increase since the start of the year. During 2026 the index reached a high of 2 408.59 points and a low of 2 141.86. The NSX Local Index…