Blog – Page 17 – Windhoek Observer

15 Oct

‘It’s time to wake up’ on hydrogen dream — Alweendo

National News

Justicia Shipena Former mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo says RWE’s withdrawal from a non-binding offtake memorandum of understanding (MoU) should serve as a wake-up call for Namibia to re-evaluate its green hydrogen strategy. He said the exit by the German energy company highlights the need for Namibia to rebuild its hydrogen programme on firmer ground, focusing on domestic use before pursuing large-scale exports. “The global market is soft, timelines are slipping, and only a few projects worldwide are reaching final investment decisions. That tells us this is not the time for bravado, it’s time for phasing and bankability,” Alweendo…

15 Oct

Namport defends Walvis Bay port’s poor global ranking

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has defended the performance of the Port of Walvis Bay after it ranked 376th out of 405 ports worldwide in the 2024 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI). The CPPI, published by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence, measures how efficiently ports handle container vessels. Namport acknowledged the findings but said the results were influenced by global and regional challenges beyond its control. “While Namport acknowledges the findings of the report, it is important to note that the 2024 CPPI results were guided by global and regional factors that had a direct…

15 Oct

Namcor Trading sued Dunaiski months after her exit

National News

Staff Writer Namcor Trading and Distribution (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), sued its former commercial manager, Olivia Dunaiski, six months after she resigned, over an unpaid education loan of N$152,460.27. Court documents seen by the Windhoek Observer show that Namcor approached the High Court of Namibia to cancel the education loan agreement for financial assistance and recover the outstanding amount, with interest at 10.25% per annum from 10 October 2023, plus legal costs. The matter has since been settled. Dunaiski admitted owing the amount and agreed to repay it in monthly instalments of…

15 Oct

A quarter century of UNSCR 1325

Featured, Opinions

Selma Ashipala-Musavyi I remember vividly the corridors of the United Nations in October 2000. During Namibia’s leadership of the Security Council in October, I carried with me the conviction that the world needed to view conflict differently. We had emerged from our own liberation struggle, a struggle during which women were not only victims but also fighting side by side with our male combatants, leaders and even mediators. It was inconceivable to my colleagues and I, that women should remain marginalised in the Council's deliberations on peace and security. When Namibia proposed that women must be recognised not just as…

15 Oct

Langer Heinrich sold uranium worth N$635m in Q3

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Paladin Energy’s Langer Heinrich Mine sold 533 789 pounds of uranium oxide during the quarter ending 30 September at an average price of US$67.4 per pound. The sales generated about US$35.98 million, equivalent to roughly N$635 million. The company reported that a shipping delay affected sales volumes, resulting in a customer delivery after the quarter's end. It added that sales and prices depend on contract terms, payment conditions, and the timing of deliveries, which vary from quarter to quarter based on customer requirements. Mining activities at Langer Heinrich continued to ramp up during the period, focusing on drilling,…

15 Oct

Canal+ completes takeover of MultiChoice

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira French media company Groupe Canal+ has completed its takeover of MultiChoice Group Limited, marking the largest deal in the company's history. The merger creates one of the world’s biggest media and entertainment groups, with over 40 million subscribers across nearly 70 countries. The offer by Canal+ to acquire all outstanding shares in MultiChoice closed on 10 October, with 92.54% of shareholders accepting the N$125 per share cash offer. Combined with shares already held by Canal+, the company now owns 94.39% of MultiChoice’s total issued ordinary shares. Following the strong shareholder response, Canal+ announced that it will use section…

15 Oct

UK pulls plug on Botswana’s visa-free entry

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The government of Botswana has announced that, starting 14 October 2025, citizens will need an entry visa to travel to the United Kingdom (UK). The UK has introduced the same requirement for Namibia. According to the Botswana government, the UK decision follows concerns over illegal and irregular migration involving Batswana, including a rise in asylum applications since 2022. As a result, the UK government has revoked Botswana’s visa-free status and introduced a visitor visa requirement for its nationals. Batswana transiting through the UK will also need a direct airside transit visa starting October 14, 2025. A six week…

15 Oct

DAILY OBSERVER | Losing ground at sea: Why Namibia must urgently reclaim Walvis Bay’s global standing

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

When the Port of Walvis Bay slipped in the latest global port efficiency rankings, the news landed with the weight of disappointment. For years, the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has stood as a model of national competence, a success story of what a well-run public enterprise can be. Walvis Bay, in particular, has symbolised Namibia’s gateway to global trade, a logistical hub linking southern Africa to the Atlantic and beyond. Namport attributes the decline in ranking to global shipping disruptions, and that explanation is not without merit. The world’s supply chains have been in disarray for years, buffeted by overlapping…

14 Oct

Henties council defies ministry over 100ha land sale

Main

Renthia Kaimbi A plan by the Henties Bay Municipal Council to sell 100 hectares of coastal land for a major new development has sparked public outcry. Residents filed a formal objection just a day before the deadline. The objection, submitted on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, by local property owners, claims the proposed sale to Aetheria Strategic Investments (Pty) Ltd violates ministry directives, lacks transparency and could overwhelm the town’s strained infrastructure. The Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (MURD) had earlier warned against such land allocations. In a letter dated 17 April 2025, executive director Wilhelmine Shivute expressed “great concern”…

14 Oct

Trail of missing cattle to grow longer at Meatco

National News

Justicia Shipena The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) says the number of missing cattle at one of its contracted feedlots is expected to rise as investigations continue. Meatco’s interim chief executive officer, Albertus Aochamub, said this in a statement on Monday. He also confirmed that Meatco has filed a criminal complaint with the Namibian Police after uncovering irregularities in livestock management. Reports first emerged in July about the disappearance of around 400 cattle worth N$7 million from a feedlot linked to a suspected drug dealer. According to The Namibian newspaper, the animals were allegedly stolen by businessman David van der…