Blog – Page 20 – Windhoek Observer

30 Oct

Bank Windhoek retains top spot in vehicle financing

Observer Money

Staff Writer Bank Windhoek has retained its position as the market leader in vehicle financing for the fourth consecutive year. The announcement was made by the bank’s chief financial officer, Zenaune Kamberipa, during the Bank Windhoek Vehicle and Asset Finance (VAF) Selekt Sales Awards. In the sales categories, JP Geldenhuys from Pupkewitz Toyota was named top salesperson of the year for new vehicles, with Stefan Botes from Gobabis Toyota taking silver. Jhandre Nel and Genivo Mouton of Indongo Auto shared bronze. For used vehicles, Kobus Prins of Zeda Cars won gold, followed by Roux Jeffery of Pupkewitz Toyota with silver…

30 Oct

Africa’s circular economy gains momentum

Observer Money

Staff Writer On the outskirts of Addis Ababa, 30-year-old Behailu Seboka, founder of Askema Engineering, manufactures brake pads from discarded slaughterhouse materials. What began as a university project now employs 268 people and serves 6 400 customers across Ethiopia. “With the right support, we can prove that the circular economy is not only good for the environment but also for business,” he said. Askema Engineering, an exhibitor at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), shows how African innovation, supported by policy and investment, can become an industrial and export-ready asset. Across the continent, companies like…

30 Oct

OBSERVER COASTAL | Henties Bay Xmas initiative appeals for community support

Featured, Uncategorised

Renthia Kaimbi For ten years, a family-led initiative in Henties Bay has brought Christmas joy to children who might otherwise go without. What began in 2015 as a small act of kindness has grown into a cherished community event known as Charmy’s Heart of Hope. The initiative started when founder Charmaine Jansen noticed how some children in the town were left out of the Christmas spirit. “Every year, many of us gather joyfully with our loved ones to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Yet, some children do not have the privilege of experiencing that same warmth, joy, and love,” Jansen…

30 Oct

Erongo RED modernises power services

Featured, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Erongo RED has launched a new mobile application and made major progress in bringing electricity to the community in the Erongo region. The app, introduced in Walvis Bay this week, allows customers to buy prepaid electricity, pay bills, check balances, report faults, track usage, receive outage updates, and request advanced units. It was developed in partnership with Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC), BCX Namibia, Syntell and DPO Pay. Erongo RED chief executive officer Immanuel !Hanabeb said the new platform reflects the company’s effort to bring innovation closer to consumers and improve service delivery. “The launch of the mobile application…

30 Oct

OBSERVER COASTAL | Swakopmund to host circular economy workshop

Featured, Uncategorised

Renthia Kaimbi Local businesses, educators and policymakers are set to attend a workshop in Swakopmund next month to explore waste management and green economy solutions. The event, which will take place on 5 November 2025, is organised by the international CircuWasteVETAfrica Project under the ERASMUS+ programme, co-funded by the European Commission (EU). The workshop aims to raise awareness about sustainable waste management and promote circular economy practices that focus on reusing and recycling materials to reduce waste. The CircuWasteVETAfrica Project seeks to build green skills in Africa through vocational training and capacity-building initiatives. It brings together partners from Europe and…

30 Oct

OBSERVER COASTAL | Walvis Bay lounge faces complaints days after opening

Featured, Uncategorised

Renthia Kaimbi The Walvis Bay Crime Fighting Unit (WBCFU), a community watch group known for tackling crime, found itself dealing with complaints about noise from the newly opened La Vine Lounge. The lounge, which had been operating for less than five days and is not classified as a nightclub, quickly became a topic of discussion in the WBCFU’s WhatsApp group. The complaints grew so frequent that one member, Peter Poldavsky, created a separate group titled “V Lounge Must Fall”. The group was later deleted. When contacted for comment, Poldavsky confirmed he started the group but said it was not meant…

30 Oct

Iipumbu tells staff to be careful what they tell clients

National News

Justicia Shipena Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Lucia Iipumbu says the tendency of staff members to tell clients that their documents are waiting for her signature affects her mental health and concentration. Speaking during the workplace mental health and suicide prevention awareness session at the ministry's headquarters in Windhoek on Tuesday, Iipumbu said such actions, though seemingly minor, have serious effects on both staff and leadership well-being. “Do you know that the people you tell that the files are in my office follow me? Whether I’m in China or in Germany, they call me. Imagine you are…

30 Oct

OBSERVER DAILY | Namibia clears its eurobond: A victory worth applauding, but with eyes wide open

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Namibia this week announced that it has fully settled its US $750 million Eurobond, a decade after it was first issued in 2015. The Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Namibia confirmed that all payments were made in full and on time, a move that many have described as a major fiscal milestone. At first glance, this is indeed a moment to celebrate. In a world where several developing nations have defaulted on external debt in recent years, Namibia’s ability to meet its Eurobond obligations reflects discipline, foresight, and credibility. Yet, while the country deserves credit for fulfilling its…

30 Oct

NHE targets to build 20 000 houses by 2029

National News

Justicia Shipena The National Housing Enterprise (NHE) aims to deliver 20 000 houses over the next five years. This is part of its new integrated strategic business plan (ISBP) for 2024/25 to 2028/29, launched in Windhoek on Wednesday. NHE chief executive officer Gisbertus Mukulu said the five-year plan comes as the enterprise realigns itself with national priorities. “The success of this plan will require aligned efforts from leadership, management, and staff and collaboration from all our stakeholders," said Mukulu. He said the ISBP serves as a roadmap built through reflection and collaboration, adding that strategy alone is not enough without…

30 Oct

More women than men set to vote

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Over 800 000 women have registered to vote in the upcoming regional and local authority elections set for 26 November 2025. The Electoral Commission of Namibia’s (ECN) final voters register shows that out of 1 499 449 registered voters, 808 419 are women and 691 080 are men. This means women make up just over 54% of all registered voters. ECN chief electoral and referenda officer Peter Shaama said women have continued to show strong commitment to civic participation. “Their dominance on the voters’ roll is not just a statistic; it’s a reflection of their leadership in community…