Blog – Page 29 – Windhoek Observer

06 Nov

Nedbank’s #GetMoneyFit aims to strengthen financial wellness

Observer Money

Staff Writer Nedbank Namibia’s newly launched #GetMoneyFit campaign aims to help people take control of their financial wellbeing by building consistent and intentional money habits for long-term financial strength. The campaign encourages people from all walks of life to make small, daily steps toward financial stability, regardless of their income level or life stage. Launched alongside the Nedbank Desert Dash on Wednesday, the campaign reflects the bank’s broader focus on overall wellbeing, linking physical fitness with financial fitness. While the Desert Dash celebrates physical endurance, #GetMoneyFit focuses on financial endurance and the discipline needed to build a secure future. Nedbank…

05 Nov

‘Stop treating magistrates like they don’t matter,’ AR tells Govt

Main

Allexer Namundjembo The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement in the Otjozondjupa region says the government must stop treating the judiciary as an afterthought and act quickly to address the problems faced by magistrates. AR regional activist Johannes Johannes said the movement supports magistrates nationwide who plan to strike today. The magistrates demand dignity, fairness and better working conditions. “The government must stop treating the judiciary as an afterthought. These are men and women who uphold justice daily under impossible conditions. Their grievances are valid and must be addressed urgently,” he said. Johannes said the continuous postponement of cases and poor court…

05 Nov

Windhoek residents make N$1 million selling waste to municipality

National News

Justicia Shipena Windhoek residents earned about N$1 million in a year and six months selling recyclable waste to the City of Windhoek through its first waste buy-back centre. According to the municipality, the centre helped divert more than 120 tonnes of waste from landfill sites. The Windhoek municipality opened its first buyback centre in Katutura in April 2024, located at the corner of Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Bondel streets. By December last year, residents had received over N$164 000 for waste sold to the centre, which was developed with support from the European Union (EU). According to city records, at that…

05 Nov

Inmates live in fear as gangs take over prisons

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Organised gangs operating freely inside correctional facilities are instilling a culture of fear and violence, a parliamentary investigation has found. The report by the standing committee on home affairs, security, and constitutional and legal affairs revealed that gangs, such as the notorious 'Gang 28', known for their violent and sodomy-related practices, operate with impunity. The gang’s presence highlights the vulnerability of LGBTQI inmates and the state’s struggle to protect them. The findings come from the committee’s oversight visits between January and March 2025. The investigation found that gangs operating in correctional facilities and police cells recruit new members…

05 Nov

ECN in Zambezi short of 73 cars for elections

National News

Justicia Shipena The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in the Zambezi Region still needs 73 vehicles to meet its transport requirements for the upcoming regional and local authority elections. This comes as last month, the ECN announced plans to hire more than 5 000 privately owned vehicles for use during the 26 November election. The highest number of vehicles, 716, will be needed in the Ohangwena region, followed by Omusati with 689 and Oshikoto with 520. In the other eleven regions, the ECN plans to hire 174 vehicles in Hardap, 276 in Khomas, 277 in Omaheke, 326 in Otjozondjupa, 327…

05 Nov

Learners at Oshilulu School receive new study materials

National News

Allexer Namundjembo A Gift of Hope Association has donated scientific calculators, Oxford English dictionaries, and mathematical sets to Oshilulu Combined School in the Oshikoto region. The donation, made on Monday, marked the association’s second community drive aimed at supporting education and empowering rural learners. The event was led by coordinators Tim Martins and Dr Oskar Mbango. They represented the association founded by Sofia Mbango and Thomas Hasselberger. “We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone as we continue giving back and working tirelessly to close the educational gap. It gives us immense purpose and joy to know that our efforts are…

05 Nov

OBSERVER DAILY | judiciary on the brink: The looming magistrates’ strike demands urgent action

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Namibia stands on the precipice of an unprecedented judicial crisis. The looming nationwide strike by magistrates, the first of its kind in recent memory, is not merely another labour dispute; it is a thunderclap warning of deep and festering discontent within the very foundation of our justice system. If this strike proceeds tomorrow as threatened, it will shake public confidence in our courts, disrupt thousands of pending cases, and place the credibility of our judiciary under severe scrutiny. For years, murmurs of frustration have echoed through the corridors of our lower courts: complaints of overwork, understaffing, inadequate facilities, and stagnant…

05 Nov

Trade deficit improves to N$3.4 billion in September

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s trade deficit narrowed to N$3.4 billion in September, showing an improvement from the N$5.3 billion shortfall recorded in August. The chief executive officer and statistician general of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), Alex Shimuafeni, said the latest figures also reflect an improvement compared to the N$5.7 billion deficit recorded in the same month last year. “The analysis of Namibia's top trading partners revealed that South Africa maintained its dominance as the country’s largest market for both imports and exports. In terms of goods, the country’s export composition for September was mainly concentrated on commodities of the mining…

05 Nov

Private sector credit uptake expected to climb past 6%

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Private sector credit extension (PSCE) growth is expected to exceed 6% year-on-year in the fourth quarter, supported by lower lending rates and improved affordability, according to Simonis Storm Securities analyst Almandro Jansen. “The repo rate has been reduced to 6.50% and commercial banks are expected to lower their prime lending rates further by 12.5 basis points before year-end, easing financing costs across mortgages, overdrafts, and installment credits,” Jansen said. PSCE grew by 5.9% year-on-year in September, the highest rate since early 2020. The growth was driven by strong corporate borrowing in mining, manufacturing, and agriculture, as well as…

05 Nov

Private sector must lead job creation, says Shafudah

Observer Money

Staff Writer Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah described the private sector as the engine of job creation and called for stronger collaboration to improve fiscal performance and reform procurement and tax systems. “A robust domestic capital market is crucial for sustainable development financing,” she said, thanking the banking sector for its role in redeeming Namibia’s Eurobond, which she said showed the country’s financial strength and responsibility. Shafudah made the remarks during the recent FirstRand Namibia mid-term economic breakfast budget review held at the FNB Namibia Parkside Head Office. The event brought together leaders from government and business to discuss the key…