Blog – Page 20 – News Stand

03 Apr

‘Notion of flag carriers is dead’

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Presidency announced this week that President Nandi-Ndaitwah has committed to reviving the national airline, Air Namibia through well-intentioned strategic measures aimed at avoiding past mistakes. The Government intends to pursue this initiative using a sustainable business model with a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach to provide a sound business case. A market study is expected to be completed by June, the expression of interest for a Public-Private Partnership is to be finalised by August, negotiations should be concluded by December 2025 and the launch and official operations of the new airline are anticipated between June and December 2026. In light of…

03 Apr

NBL to pay ordinary dividend of 157 cents per share

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Namibia Breweries Limited will pay an ordinary dividend of 157 cents per share. The company said this decision underscores NBL’s financial health, commitment to delivering shareholder value, and confidence in the group’s strategic direction for sustained growth, the company said in the annual financial results for the year ended December 2024. The company explained that following the transaction between NBL, Distell Namibia and Heineken on 17 April 2023, NBL became a subsidiary of Heineken Beverages Holdings. As paAs part of this transition, NBL shifted its financial year-end to December to conform to the Heineken reporting cycle. The company…

03 Apr

Nictus’s profit increase to N$31m

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

CHAMWE KAIRA The profit of Nictus Holdings Limited after tax increased to N$31 million in the six months ending 31 December 2024, compared to N$25 million in 2023. Operating profit for the six months ended 31 December 2024 decreased to N$37 million, compared to N$39 million in the same period in 2023. Ordinary dividends of 35 cents per share (N$18.7 million) were declared on 19 September 2024 and paid by the company on 4 November 2024. No interim dividend has been proposed by the board of directors. “During the first six months of the year, the Group achieved a 21%…

03 Apr

Repo rate expected at 6.75% in 2025

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

CHAMWE KAIRA FNB Namibia is of the view that the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of Namibia will maintain the repo rate at 6.75% in 2025. Any unforeseen strain on reserves may lead the BoN to adjust the interest rate differential in the second half of 2025, especially if global currency and trade risks materialise, FNB Namibia economists Cheryl Emvula and Helena Mboti have said. The two economists said like other central banks managing similar uncertainties, the central bank will remain data dependent in 2025, closely monitoring global, regional, and domestic macro trends as they materialise. The economists stated…

03 Apr

Season looks promising for South African agriculture

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Wandile Sihlobo South African farmers typically till their land from mid-October in the eastern regions and mid-November in the western regions. The crops that South African farmers plant in each of these regions differ. The eastern areas are primarily yellow maize and soybeans, while the western regions are predominantly white maize and sunflower seeds. But this year, the plantings have been slightly slower than usual as we haven’t received meaningful rains yet. If you talk to farmers in rural regions of Limpopo or outside eKomani in the Eastern Cape, they will tell you that the impact of the mid-summer drought…

02 Apr

Ministry merger to eliminate inefficiencies, boost impact – Steenkamp

info_e12wt4csMain

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts, and culture, Sanet Steenkamp, says the recent merger of two ministries aims to eliminate inefficiencies and improve service delivery by creating a more cohesive and agile institution. Speaking during a meet-and-greet session with staff in Windhoek on Tuesday, Steenkamp said the merger provides a chance to align various sectors under one unified vision while reducing wastage. “The merging of the two ministries has created a synergetic framework with an opportunity to eliminate inefficiencies and wastages,” she said. Steenkamp stressed that successful integration requires deliberate coordination and cooperation across departments and…

02 Apr

Mbumba to receive full presidential benefits despite brief term

info_e12wt4csNational News

Allexer Namundjembo Former President Nangolo Mbumba will receive full presidential benefits despite serving for only one year in office after the death of former President Hage Geingob in February last year. Presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari confirmed that Mbumba is entitled to benefits in line with the Presidential Remuneration and Other Benefits Act 5 of 2016. “President Mbumba will be provided with a small number of staff members and an office, consistent with the entitlements of a former president,” Hengari said. The Act provides former presidents with an office, administrative support, security and medical aid for themselves, their spouses, and legally…

02 Apr

Youth bodies demand urgent fix to hostel food crisis

info_e12wt4csNational News

Allexer Namundjembo Youth and student organisations are demanding urgent intervention from the education ministry over the ongoing food crisis in government hostels, following procurement delays that have left many learners without meals. The Landless People’s Movement (LPM), Affirmative Repositioning Students Command (ARSC), and Students Union of Namibia (SUN) have criticised the ministry for failing to ensure food supply in hostels and warned of the impact on learners’ health and academic performance. LPM Youth Command spokesperson William Minnie blamed the crisis on bureaucratic inefficiency and political interference. “It’s a failure of governance when children go hungry because of governmental ineptitude,” he…

02 Apr

Namibia seeks closer energy and trade ties with Russia

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché Namibia is seeking to strengthen its energy and trade ties with Russia, with a focus on cooperation in natural resource beneficiation and infrastructure development. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Trutnev at State House on Tuesday to discuss areas of mutual interest, particularly energy and value addition to Namibia’s raw materials. According to Presidential Press Secretary, Alfredo Hengari, the meeting centred on increasing collaboration between the two countries to add value to Namibia’s natural resources. “The President reiterated the need for stronger cooperation with the Russian Federation in the area of energy, which has…

02 Apr

Swakopmund launches projects worth N$8 million to uplift communities

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The Swakopmund Municipality has launched a series of development projects aimed at upgrading public infrastructure, expanding services to informal settlements, and restoring a long-neglected shelter for vulnerable residents. The projects, valued in the millions of Namibian dollars, were announced this week by the mayor, Blasius Goraseb, during the latest council meeting. Among the undertakings is the Mole Cubicles Upgrade Project, which the Council handed over to contractors this week. He added that with a price tag of N$4.8 million, the project is set for completion by October 2025 and will introduce enclosed cubicles to provide secure spaces for…