Blog – Page 19 – Windhoek Observer

20 Jan

Land is not a commodity for the few: Sankwasa’s stand must mark a turning point

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has drawn a firm line in the sand. By banning the auctioning of land by local authorities and warning councillors that land belongs to the state, not to councils or private interests, he has confronted one of Namibia’s most enduring and destructive governance failures. His declaration that abuse of land allocation will no longer be tolerated is both timely and necessary. For too long, land has been treated as a commodity for speculation rather than a public resource meant to secure shelter, dignity, and opportunity for ordinary citizens. The price of land sits…

20 Jan

Construction recovery remains uneven

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s construction sector remains on a cautious but uneven path, shaped by improving financial conditions and ongoing structural constraints, according to Simonis Storm’s Namibia Building Statistics for December. Lower inflation and a gradually easing interest-rate environment are providing some relief. However, weak investment pipelines, policy uncertainty and capacity constraints continue to limit a broad-based recovery. Municipal building plan data shows a mixed regional picture. In Windhoek, approved building plans rose by 13% year-on-year in December 2025 to 169 approvals. Month-on-month approvals fell by 4%. On a quarterly basis, Windhoek recorded 543 approved plans in the fourth quarter of…

20 Jan

Agrimark parent company records higher earnings

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira KAL Group, the holding company of Agrimark, has reported strong growth for the 2025 financial year, driven by expansion initiatives and improved operating efficiencies across its businesses. The KAL Group operates 89 stores across South Africa and Namibia, including 25 Agrimark outlets in Namibia. Since 2011, the group has delivered a compound annual growth rate of 12.7% in recurring headline earnings per share. For the year under review, the group generated N$20.3 billion in revenue. This was achieved despite an 11% decline in fuel prices, which make up 53% of total sales. Agri-inputs grew by 8.2%, while fuel…

20 Jan

Shaping the future of corporate governance

Observer Money

Hellmut von Ludwiger Not long ago, I found myself in a boardroom conversation that had nothing to do with numbers, forecasts, or compliance checklists. Instead, the question on the table was a simple one: are we making decisions today that we would still be proud of tomorrow? It was a reminder that, at its heart, governance is not just about rules but about judgement, accountability, and the responsibility we carry toward those who place their trust in us. It is against this backdrop that the launch of the King V Code marks an important milestone in the evolution of corporate…

20 Jan

Petra unearths 42ct, blue diamond from Cullinan Mine

Observer Money

Petra Diamonds has recovered a blue diamond weighing 41.82 carats from its Cullinan mine in South Africa. The stone, a type IIb of “exceptional quality”, is the first of its colour and magnitude the deposit has yielded in the past five years, Petra said Tuesday. The previous one was a 39.34-carat diamond it found at the site in April 2021. The company sold that gem for US$40.2 million. The miner is in the process of analysing the stone and deciding the best method of sale. The Cullinan mine is known for the recovery of rare, high-value blue diamonds. The stone…

19 Jan

Itula, Nashinge allegedly clash over ‘opposition leader’ title

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Tensions have reportedly emerged within the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) over the use of the title “leader of the official opposition”. The disagreement is between party president Panduleni Itula and IPC’s parliamentary leader Immanuel Nashinge. Sources told the Windhoek Observer that Itula allegedly warned Nashinge in December 2025 against responding to the title outside parliament. Itula is also said to have insisted that all state invitations meant for the opposition leader be forwarded directly to him. Nashinge dismissed the allegations as a “boring joke” and said the IPC’s leadership structure is clear. “(The) leader of the official…

19 Jan

Public offices still lack sign language services

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Sign language interpretation services in Namibia remain inadequate despite recent progress, the National Association of Deaf Adults (NNAD) has said. Responding to questions on the status of sign language integration last week, NNAD said initiatives such as the Namibian Sign Language App (NAMSLAP) have improved access, especially in schools. It said many deaf Namibians still face barriers when accessing public services. “The landscape of sign language interpretation in Namibia presents both progress and persistent challenges,” the association said, noting that NAMSLAP was rolled out with support from the UN Democracy Fund and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS). NNAD…

19 Jan

Admission to university does not guarantee funding – Steenkamp

National News

Staff Writer The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture says admission into a tertiary institution does not automatically guarantee government funding. Education minister Sanet Steenkamp on Friday clarified how the subsidised tertiary funding model will apply for the 2026 academic year. Steenkamp said funding decisions under the subsidised tertiary funding model will continue to follow the existing eligibility rules used by the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), despite the expansion of subsidised education. “Being admitted into a tertiary institution does not automatically guarantee funding, but funding decisions will be guided by the existing, transparent requirements,” Steenkamp…

19 Jan

Gazza eyes job creation through local business ventures

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Kwaito artist Lazarus "Gazza" Shiimi has ended a brief venture related to the international defence sector and is now refocusing on music and local business projects in Namibia. Shiimi said the separation from a UAE-based manufacturer of armoured vehicles and security equipment was amicable and followed limited support from local stakeholders. He said the decision allows him to focus on areas where he can have a direct impact on youth development and economic growth at home. “When an opportunity arises that could potentially build skills and industry for our people, I believe in exploring it fully. The aim…

19 Jan

TURNING POINT | Which Namibia are we? A nation at war with its own imagination

Featured

“The younger cousin declared that one day he will own his own airline with five planes. The older cousin laughed uncontrollably and said, ‘Look at you and where you are. Just an hour ago you were asking for taxi money, and now you’re making embarrassing exclamations about your life.’ Clearly deflated, the younger cousin fell silent. I then asked the elder cousin, still living in his parents’ house in the village, holding a tertiary qualification, but moving from one drinking hole to another, what his plans were. Without hesitation he said, ‘Well, I tell you, cousin, one day when I…