Blog – Page 15 – Windhoek Observer

10 Nov

CeSHHAR urges lawmakers to link climate and health in new bill

National News

Moses Magadza A community liaison officer in the climate, environment and health department with CeSHHAR Zimbabwe has urged Zimbabwean lawmakers to ensure that the proposed Climate Change Management Bill explicitly addresses the intersection between climate change and health. Lloyd Pisa described this link as “the most critical and visible dimension of the climate crisis, because nearly every climate impact ultimately manifests as a health impact – whether through heat stress, food insecurity, malnutrition, or disease.” The call builds on pioneering work being led by Dr. Fortunate Machingura, the principal investigator of the climate, environment and health demonstration laboratories in Mount…

10 Nov

The jobpocalypse is not coming – It’s already here

Opinions

Celeste Nangolo We used to talk about the future of work like it was something far away. Something our children would have to worry about. But let’s be honest: it’s already here. The jobpocalypse isn’t a distant storm on the horizon. It’s happening right now, quietly reshaping the way we live, work, and survive. Jobs are disappearing. Not because people aren’t trying hard enough, but because the world is changing faster than we ever imagined. Machines are doing things we thought only humans could do. Algorithms are making decisions, writing reports, and even handling customer service. And while that sounds…

10 Nov

The importance of community and solidarity in the mining industry

Opinions

Rebekka Bengela Mining is an important sector in Namibia, but it is also an industry that may have a damaging impact if not carefully safeguarded. Economically, mining's contribution to the Namibian GDP has been phenomenal. Despite the mining sector contracting by 1.2% in 2024, over the past five years (2019-2023), diamonds and uranium were the most significant mineral commodities contributing to Namibia’s economy. In 2023, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (“KPCS”) revealed that Namibia (having the richest known marine diamond deposits in the world, estimated to total more than 80 million carats) is among the top five African diamond exporters,…

10 Nov

TURNING POINT | Guided democracy

Featured, Opinions

Every election season, Namibians get a chance to ask themselves a question that goes deeper than politics: are we really ready to govern? It’s been 35 years since independence, a lifetime for a country that promised democracy, accountability, and development. And yet, our towns, villages, and regional councils are in distress. Roads crumble. Water taps run dry. Councils are broke, divided, and sometimes downright dysfunctional. The signs of regression are too clear to ignore. We often talk about democracy as if the act of voting alone guarantees good governance. But democracy, as political philosopher Claude Ake reminded us, is not…

10 Nov

OBSERVER DAILY | Are we ready for the floods?

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

There’s a running joke that Namibians are surprised by only two things every year: winter and floods. When the temperatures drop, we huddle around heaters, wrap ourselves in blankets, and say to one another, “My goodness, it’s cold.” And when the rains finally arrive, we stare at the rising water levels and say, “The floods are here!” But beneath the humour lies a serious truth, we are rarely ready. Every year, the same cycle repeats itself: warnings go out, rains come, rivers swell, people are displaced, roads are washed away, and after a few months, we move on. Until the…

10 Nov

NCAA cuts losses to N$1 million

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reduced its losses to N$1 million for the financial year ending March 2025, down from N$8 million recorded in the previous year. The authority presented its 2024/2025 integrated annual report to the minister of works and transport, Veikko Nekundi, on 6 November. It described the report as a reflection of strong financial recovery and improved operational performance. NCAA board chairperson Bethuel Mujetenga said the Authority achieved an unqualified audit opinion, showing solid governance and financial discipline. “For the financial year ending March 2025, the NCAA reduced its operational loss to just…

10 Nov

Eurobond redemption to pressure foreign reserves

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira FNB Namibia economist Cheryl Emvula says Namibia’s import coverage ratio could fall below the three-month target following the US$750 million eurobond redemption in October. According to the Bank of Namibia (BoN), international reserves stood at N$54.7 billion in September, down from N$57 billion in August. The 4.1% monthly decline was driven by higher government external obligations and foreign payments. “Despite the reduction, reserves remain sufficient for the Bank of Namibia to fulfil its mandate of maintaining macroeconomic stability. At the current level, reserves cover 3.6 months of imports and four months excluding oil exploration and appraisal activities. Looking…

10 Nov

Andrada cuts waste by 64%

Observer Money

Staff Writer Andrada Mining Limited has improved its energy efficiency by 8%. The company also reduced hazardous waste generation by 64%. Overall, total waste dropped to 57 tonnes from 158 tonnes the previous year. The company said these results reflect its focus on climate action and responsible resource management. Andrada, a producer of critical minerals including tin, tantalum, lithium, tungsten, and copper, released its 2025 sustainability report last week. The report outlines progress in environmental performance, health and safety, community impact and governance for the year ended 29 February 2025. The company also introduced the Andrada Nature Roadmap, a framework…

10 Nov

Namibia’s cyber crisis demands skilled professionals

Observer Money

Staff writer Legislation alone will not solve Namibia’s growing cyber crisis, according to Mach 10, part of the O&L Group. The company says the country faces a serious shortage of ICT professionals, especially in cybersecurity, network engineering, cloud computing and systems administration. The warning comes as the Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response team, housed at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran), recorded over 1.1 million cyber threats and over 1.09 million vulnerabilities in the first half of 2025. This is the highest number since the national cybersecurity body was created. “These alarming figures underscore a reality that can no…

09 Nov

Lawmakers want NamRA to strip its branding from borders

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The National Council standing committee on home affairs, security, constitutional and legal affairs has called for the removal of corporate branding by the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) from border facilities. It said the branding violates national and international display standards. This comes after a recent parliamentary assessment exposed severe problems at the country's border posts, including weak security systems, housing shortages, and poor infrastructure. The committee’s report follows oversight visits to ten border posts between August and September 2025. Committee chairperson Ndjambula Philemon said the team was alarmed by the inconsistent branding at border facilities. “The border posts…