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Govt decision on James’ funeral sparks debate

Govt decision on James’ funeral sparks debate

Allexer Namundjebo  Mixed reactions have emerged over the government’s decision not to grant a state funeral to former member of parliament and former Otjozondjupa governor James Uerikua. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the issue is sensitive and complex.  He said state and official funerals follow set rules and are not based only on positions held. “While the late James Uerikua served in important roles, including as governor and in a key parliamentary position, the final decision depends on set criteria and the discretion of the President,” he told the Windhoek Observer.  Kamwanyah said public opinion is likely to differ. “Some…
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Zambezi governor urges quick upgrade of Mpacha airport

Zambezi governor urges quick upgrade of Mpacha airport

Allexer Namundjembo  Zambezi governor Dorothy Kabula has called on the Ministry of Works and Transport to prioritise the development of Mpacha Airport. Kabula stated that the budget had allocated funds for the airport, but work had yet to commence.  She said its location makes it suitable to be upgraded to an international airport. “This airport was budgeted, but up to now nothing has happened. This airport was supposed to cut the distance. Instead of one going to Windhoek to access the international airport, that can cut the distance,” she said during a debriefing on the government’s response to flooding in…
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Namibia-China bilateral trade increases by 36.5%

Namibia-China bilateral trade increases by 36.5%

Renthia Kaimbi The minister of international relations and trade, Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, has concluded a weeklong working visit to China. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen economic ties and promote Namibia as an investment destination. Ashipala-Musavyi held talks and business forums in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Beijing. She met Chinese government officials, including ministers of commerce and foreign affairs, and engaged with potential investors. At roundtable events in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, Ashipala-Musavyi outlined trade and investment opportunities in Namibia. Chinese enterprises showed interest during the engagements. “Bilateral trade reached approximately 132.68 billion Chinese yuan (about N$342.3 billion) in 2025,” she…
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Paladin lifts Langer Heinrich output forecast 

Paladin lifts Langer Heinrich output forecast 

Chamwe Kaira  Paladin Energy Ltd has raised its production forecast for the Langer Heinrich Mine after reporting improved performance in the first nine months of the 2026 financial year. The company now expects full-year uranium oxide (U3O8) output to reach between 4.5 million and 4.8 million pounds, up from the previous forecast of 4 million to 4.4 million pounds. The updated outlook comes ahead of its March 2026 quarterly report due on 22 April. Paladin said production at the mine has increased as operations continue to ramp up.  The improvement follows the mobilisation of mining equipment, better ore grades and…
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Welwitschia fund grows to N$478m

Welwitschia fund grows to N$478m

Chamwe Kaira  The Welwitschia Sovereign Wealth Fund has grown to about N$478.72 million by the end of February 2026.  Since its establishment, the fund increased from USD 17.94 million (about N$323 million) to USD 30.09 million (about N$542 million).  The growth is driven by investment performance over time. This development comes as the Bank of Namibia (BoN) took part in the 2026 Cirrus Investor Conference this week.  The event, hosted by Cirrus Capital, brought together investors, policymakers and market participants to discuss economic trends and investment opportunities. Speaking at the conference, BoN deputy governor Leonie Dunn said the global economy…
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Push towards oil production as Orange Basin activity accelerates

Push towards oil production as Orange Basin activity accelerates

The 2026 Namibia International Energy Conference in Windhoek highlighted Namibia’s growing urgency to convert major offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin into production, as government and industry leaders called for faster legal and institutional reforms to match rising upstream activity. Policymakers and energy executives stressed that regulatory readiness must keep pace with increased exploration, appraisal and development planning across deepwater assets. The reform agenda is focused on improving coordination, streamlining approvals and aligning the hydrocarbons sector with Namibia’s long-term development goals under Vision 2030. Speaking at the conference, Ndapwilapo Selma Shimutwikeni, CEO of RichAfrica Consultancy, said Namibia’s anticipated first oil…
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Over 80% of livestock now processed locally

Over 80% of livestock now processed locally

Staff Writer  The Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) says the meat industry is retaining more value within the country as more livestock moves through formal processing systems. The union said about 84% of the livestock weight leaving farms in 2025 was slaughtered at local or export abattoirs. This is up from 52% in 2015.  The NAU said the increase shows a shift toward local value addition. It said the industry is building and keeping value at scale through an export-focused value chain that draws livestock into formal processing. The NAU says the value chain covers processing, packaging and distribution. It supports…
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Nedbank advance sustainable finance framework 

Nedbank advance sustainable finance framework 

Chamwe Kaira  Nedbank Namibia managing director Martha Murorua says the collaboration with the Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) reflects a shared commitment to responsible capital mobilisation. NamPower, together with co-lead arrangers Cirrus Securities and Nedbank Namibia, has listed its N$5 billion domestic medium-term note programme on the Namibian Securities Exchange (NSX).  The programme provides a platform to issue different debt instruments, including green and sustainable notes.  It allows NamPower to raise funding on competitive terms for infrastructure projects under the programme. “Namibia’s energy future requires more than funding alone – it requires strong partnerships, clear governance and long-term thinking. Nedbank is…
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NSX records N$135m in weekly trades 

NSX records N$135m in weekly trades 

Chamwe Kaira  The Namibian Securities Exchange (NSX) recorded about N$135 million in trading activity during the week of 13 to 17 April 2026, with financial stocks leading the market. Weekly statistics show turnover reached about N$135.0 million from 86 deals. This is an increase of about N$124.1 million from the previous week. The financial sector accounted for most of the activity, with over N$108.9 million from 54 deals. Real estate followed with about N$13.8 million, while consumer staples recorded around N$7 million. Consumer discretionary stocks traded about N$3.3 million. Basic materials contributed about N$1.9 million. Telecommunications recorded just over N$55…
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Standard Bank data breach fallout deepens

Standard Bank data breach fallout deepens

Standard Bank has acknowledged that client data stolen in a cyber incident first disclosed on 23 March, “now appears to have been published” online, marking a significant escalation in what appears to be one of South Africa’s most serious financial services data breaches. The data involved includes client names; ID and company registration numbers; contact details; and account numbers, the bank said in an updated statement. A limited set of client credit card details, including card numbers and expiry dates, was previously confirmed as affected. CVV numbers were not compromised. The bank said affected cards were being proactively replaced and…
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