Blog – Page 16 – News Stand

13 Mar

Kasete, Kanime join Standard Bank board

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Standard Bank Namibia Holdings Limited has appointed Zebra Karirondua Kasete as independent non-executive director of SBN Holdings Limited and Standard Bank Namibia Limited. Kasete is currently the executive vice president for the Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter. He is a senior executive and metallurgist with an international MBA and 35+ years of global mining and metal experience across senior strategic, operational, and corporate roles including managing director, executive vice president and board roles in both Rio Tinto’s subsidiaries and Dundee Precious Metals (DPM). He is experienced in diverse commodities like uranium, borates, talc, diamond, copper and gold and strengths in transforming companies,…

13 Mar

Botswana urges African nations to bolster regional trade

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Despite its vast resources and production capacity, Africa remains heavily reliant on external markets. This state of affairs has prompted Botswana to raise the alarm about low levels of intra-African trade. “It's disheartening that Africa is still unable to realise trade among its countries,” said Dr Phenyo Butale, Botswana’s Minister of International Relations, delivering a lecture in honour of the late South African Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Aziz Pahad at the North-West University (NWU). Emphasising the need for stronger economic ties among African nations, Dr Butale questioned why countries continue to import goods readily available within the continent. “We…

13 Mar

Inflation expected to reach 3.9% in March

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Going forward, upside risks to inflation will persist, especially from food and imported goods prices, which could push up goods inflation which is more sensitive to supply-chain disruptions and raw material fluctuations, particularly amid geopolitical unrest, FNB Namibia economist Helena Mboti has said. Mboti said given the risk of heightened geopolitical tensions, upside risk to goods inflation remains eminent. She said Food prices are expected to remain elevated until improved harvest yields in May, while housing and utility costs face upward pressures from anticipated tariff hikes and demand-driven rental inflation. Global oil supply is expected to increase relative…

13 Mar

On the cabinet of the new dawn and a missed opportunity to self-correct and set the tone of a unifier and a democrat

info_e12wt4csOpinions

P T SHIPALE The Confidante newspaper of 03 March 2025, aptly described this moment as a dawns of a new era on the SWAPO Party, signalling a shift in leadership paradigm under the first female elected leader in the region, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and the end of an old era which coincides with the passing of Africa’s last liberation icon, Dr. Sam Nujoma. Similarly, the editorial of the Namibian Sun Newspaper of Tuesday, 11 March 2025, properly described the moment as President-elect Nandi-Ndaitwah’s defining test as she finalizes her Cabinet. This time, the stakes could not be higher. The editorial further…

12 Mar

Opposition protests parliamentary rule change

info_e12wt4csMain

Allexer Namundjembo With just over a week left before a new government takes office under President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the outgoing National Assembly is pushing to amend Rule 2 on committee procedures, a move drawing criticism for its timing. On Tuesday, Swapo lawmaker Philipus Katamero introduced the proposal, which seeks to change the composition of the Selection Committee to include ten members, comprising the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Government Chief Whip, Opposition Chief Whip, and six other members determined by proportional representation. Swapo's Natangwe Ithete seconded the proposal, suggesting a change to Rule 2 to make the selection committee consist of ten…

12 Mar

Otjimbingwe gets a mortuary

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The residents of Otjimbingwe will no longer have to travel long distances to access mortuary services following the inauguration of the first mortuary at the Otjimbingwe Clinic on Wednesday. The facility, made possible through a partnership between the Ministry of Health and Social Services and QKR Namibia Navachab Gold Mine, was officially opened by Health Minister Dr. Kalumbi Shangula. During the inauguration, Shangula acknowledged the challenges the community has faced due to the absence of local mortuary services. “The nearest mortuary services were only available at Usakos and Karibib, forcing families to travel long distances in times of…

12 Mar

Elderly tourist missing at Sesriem

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché A helicopter from the Namibian Police, along with tracker dogs, has been deployed to the Sesriem area to assist with an intensive search for an 82-year-old Swiss tourist. According to Deputy Commissioner John Mwatongwe, the Hardap regional crime investigations coordinator, the elderly man was last seen alive at the Desert Hills Lodge on Sunday. Despite ongoing search efforts since the start of the week, there has been no success in locating the missing tourist. Police investigations into the matter will continue.

12 Mar

FIMA Bill on the verge of being re-tabled

info_e12wt4csNational News

Allexer Namundjembo The Financial Institutions and Markets Act (FIMA), which faced criticism and was put on hold last year, is now on the verge of being re-tabled in Parliament following the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Budget and Finance. The committee urged the finance minister to implement the bill without further delay. The chairperson of the committee, Phillipus Katamelo, presented the recommendation in Parliament yesterday, emphasising the urgent need for swift action. Katamelo, in his address, stressed the importance of implementing the FIMA regulations within 90 days. "Allow me to also state the need for a speedy implementation…

12 Mar

Omusati on high alert for cholera

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Omusati health director, Alfons Amoomo, said the region has not been identified as a cholera hotspot but is prepared to respond should an outbreak occur. Speaking to Windhoek Observer, Amoomo said the Omusati region has strengthened its surveillance system and is monitoring the situation closely following an outbreak in Luanda, Angola. "Our surveillance health system is ready to investigate, detect, confirm, and institute timely intervention in any cholera outbreaks," Amoomo said. He said measures in place include intensified surveillance for early detection, sensitisation of health workers to be vigilant, and ongoing public health education on hygiene practices.…

12 Mar

Windhoek mayor promises action over rhetoric

info_e12wt4csNational News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The City of Windhoek’s (CoW) mayor, Ndeshihafela Larandja has declared that her leadership will focus on action-driven governance through structured execution rather than political rhetoric. Speaking during her mayoral inauguration on Wednesday, Larandja emphasised the need for transformative governance, economic acceleration, and civic engagement to address Windhoek’s challenges. She was elected mayor in January this year. Larandja stated that Windhoek cannot afford another decade of stagnation and called for a reinvigorated approach to governance. “I do not stand here today to announce an intention; I stand here to declare action. We will govern not through political rhetoric but…