Blog – Page 23 – Windhoek Observer

30 Mar

Etosha gates and facilities upgraded

National News

The government has handed over new and upgraded infrastructure in Etosha National Park and other protected areas to improve visitor experience and strengthen conservation. The environment, forestry and tourism minister, Indileni Daniel officiated the handover at Ombika on Friday. She said the upgrades are aimed at improving tourism while strengthening wildlife protection and park management. The projects, worth about N$166 million, cover Etosha, Hardap National Park and Bwabwata National Park. They were funded by the Namibian government and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through KfW Development Bank. Upgrades in Etosha include improvements at Ombika, Namutoni and…

30 Mar

Shielding the nation in a storm: A measured response to global energy volatility

Editorial

Namibia finds itself navigating yet another period of global uncertainty as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East ripple across international energy markets. Against this backdrop, the government’s decision to temporarily reduce fuel levies by 50% for at least three months is both timely and commendable. It reflects a pragmatic understanding of the pressures facing households and businesses, while signalling a willingness to act decisively in the national interest. The announcement by Energy Minister Modestus Amutse comes at a moment when global oil and gas markets are under severe strain. The ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has…

30 Mar

‘Seeds planted’ for 2027 growth — Simonis Storm

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s economy grew by 1.7% in 2025, reflecting a slowdown caused by contractions in key sectors. Simonis Storm said the figure fell short of both market expectations and its own 3.0% projection, citing “the severity of the diamond sector contraction, the depth of the livestock farming reversal, and the steeper-than-expected decline in gross fixed capital formation". Growth started at 2.8% in the first quarter but weakened during the year before a slight recovery in the third quarter, resulting in a lower annual outcome. The firm said policy support and early credit growth signals show that a recovery is…

30 Mar

Etango works progress within budget

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Early construction works at the Etango Uranium Project are progressing on schedule and within budget, with Bannerman Energy reporting steady progress across infrastructure and engineering activities. The company said site activity has increased, with more than 560 contractor personnel deployed and over 500 000 lost-time injury-free hours recorded. The project maintains a 17-year LTI-free safety record. Bulk earthworks are about 66.5% complete and remain on track. Work includes the development of heap leach pads, associated ponds and wet plant terraces. Blasting, crushing and screening of heap leach drainage aggregate have reached about 24% of total requirements and meet…

30 Mar

Windhoek formalisation cost still unknown

Observer Money

The City of Windhoek is implementing a large-scale planning and formalisation process to address the shortage of serviced land as informal settlements continue to grow. Data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development shows there are 419 informal settlements across 57 local authorities in the country, with 150 located in Windhoek. A total of 606 435 people, representing 176 708 households, live in informal settlements nationwide. Of these, 213 234 people, or 67 077 households, are in Windhoek. The municipality said the formalisation process follows statutory town planning, environmental management, land surveying and…

30 Mar

Vetumbuavi Mungunda elected NCCI chairman

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) has elected a new leadership team at its Annual General Meeting in Windhoek. Vetumbuavi Mungunda takes over as president from Bisey /Uirab, who remains on the board. Leake Hangala continues as an honorary director. In his first remarks, Mungunda acknowledged past leadership and said directors are custodians responsible for strengthening the institution to support the economy. The new board will serve a two-year term. Patty Karuaihe-Martin is the first vice president and Tarah Shaanika is the second vice president. Other members are Amalia Schmidt, Bisey /Uirab, Brent Eiseb, Caroline Mswabi,…

30 Mar

BoN, PAN launch payment system strategy

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Bank of Namibia, in collaboration with the Payments Association of Namibia and the payments industry, has launched the National Payment System Vision and Strategy 2026–2030 under the theme “Inclusive Payments, Shared Prosperity: Charting the Next Era". The strategy builds on progress made under the previous framework, which focused on modernising the payments system. Developments include regulatory reforms, wider use of digital payment services, improved interoperability across platforms and the adoption of standards such as ISO 20022, open banking and NAMQR code. These changes have supported growth in electronic funds transfers, card payments and e-money platforms. The new…

30 Mar

O&L subsidiaries earn recognition at SADC awards

Observer Money

Staff Writer Two operating companies within the Ohlthaver & List Group (O&L) have received recognition at the SADC Quality Awards 2025/2026. Hartlief and O&L Leisure were awarded certificates of recognition at a ceremony held in Johannesburg on 25 March 2026. Hartlief was recognised in Category 4: Exporter of the Year (Large Enterprise), while O&L Leisure received recognition in Category 3: Service of the Year (Large Enterprise). The awards were accepted by Beverly Jandrell, who represented both companies at the event. O&L executive chairman Sven Thieme said the recognition reflects the group’s focus on operations and its Vision 2029 strategy. He…

30 Mar

Namcor welcomes production testing at Kavango West

Observer Money

Staff Writer The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor), through its upstream unit Namcor Exploration and Production, has welcomed the start of production testing at the Kavango West-1X discovery well in PEL 73, onshore Namibia. PEL 73 is operated by ReconAfrica with a 70% stake, alongside BW Kudu with 20% and NAMCOR E&P with 10%. The joint venture is focused on developing the Kavango Basin. Regulatory approvals have been secured and work crews are on site preparing the well for testing. The Kavango West-1X well has shown encouraging data. Updated analysis indicates about 75 metres of net hydrocarbon pay in…

30 Mar

Exporting labour when the state lets its talent serve other economies

Opinions

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Landless People’s Movement (LPM) leader Bernadus Swartbooi said the government should explore exporting labour by sending qualified Namibians abroad and receiving remittances that can be ploughed back into society. This follows his concerns that the government is overemphasising social protection and particularly education, the highest-funded sector with a budget allocation of N$28 billion this financial year, which could create more problems. Swartbooi made the remarks while contributing to a discussion on the national budget in the National Assembly. “The government needs to look at countries like Nigeria and South Africa,…