Blog – Page 31 – Windhoek Observer

29 Oct

FirstRand buys 20% Stake in global Fintech Optasia

Observer Money

Staff Writer FirstRand Limited has acquired a 20.1% stake in Channel VAS Investments Limited, trading as Optasia, one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence-driven fintech platforms serving emerging markets. The deal comes as Optasia prepares for its initial public offering and marks a strategic move by FirstRand to expand its reach in digital financial services and financial inclusion. Optasia operates in 38 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, providing financial access to millions of underbanked and unbanked consumers. Using mobile data and AI, the company enables microloans and digital financial products at scale, allowing consumers to access credit…

29 Oct

Standard Bank to host governance and risk breakfast

Observer Money

Staff Writer Standard Bank Namibia will host its first Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Breakfast Connect on 31 October under the theme “Building Resilience: One Brick at a Time.” The event will bring together industry leaders, risk professionals, and community stakeholders to discuss institutional resilience while raising funds for the bank’s Buy-a-Brick initiative, which supports low-income families in securing permanent housing. Paulina Iiyambo, senior manager for IT audit at Standard Bank Namibia, said the breakfast reflects the bank’s belief that governance, risk and compliance are strategic enablers of sustainable growth. “To be truly effective, these disciplines must operate in concert,…

29 Oct

President Nandi-Ndaitwah at 73: Seven months of measured hope

Featured, Opinions

As President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah marks her 73rd birthday this week, her first since assuming Namibia’s highest office, The Windhoek Observer extends heartfelt wishes for good health, clarity of vision, and continued strength in leadership.Birthdays are often a moment of personal reflection, but for a Head of State they also offer the nation an opportunity to pause and take stock, not just of years lived, but of months served, decisions made, and futures imagined. President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s first seven months in office have unfolded against a backdrop of global uncertainty and domestic transition. Yet, through it all, she has brought to State…

29 Oct

President’s first year focuses on delivery

National News

Chamwe Kaira Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo says President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s first year in office has been about action with purpose. He said four areas stand out most in her first year: youth empowerment, health reform, infrastructure and agriculture, and international relations. “The first is youth empowerment. Through the establishment of the National Youth Empowerment Fund, she has created real opportunities for young Namibians to access finance and turn their ideas into something tangible,” Mbambo said. “In its first phase, 42 youth-led projects received about N$14 million in funding, and that’s just the beginning of a N$500 million initiative that…

29 Oct

MultiChoice unveils Nandi-Ndaitwah documentary

National News

Staff Writer MultiChoice Namibia has premiered a documentary titled Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics, capturing the life and leadership of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the fifth and current President of Namibia. The premiere brought together Namibian and African dignitaries, including President of Botswana advocate Duma Boko and former president lieutenant general Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, along with high-level diplomats and invited guests. “As a brand that is built on premium entertainment and creativity, this documentary is a testament to our commitment to truthful, dignified, and locally rooted storytelling,” said David Mignot, Canal+ Africa CEO. “Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics will…

29 Oct

Mixed record for President so far

National News

Chamwe Kaira Political analyst Henning Melber says President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s performance since taking office in March shows a mixed record so far. “Many innovations, such as the reduction of the cabinet, made sense. Others, such as the incorporation of mining, hydro energy, and nuclear power, lack sufficient transparency to understand the motives. Accountability has not been among the outstanding performances,” he said. Melber, who served as director of the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit from 1992 to 2000, is a resident associate at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, Sweden, and an extraordinary professor at the University of Pretoria and…

29 Oct

The Netumbo documentary touches hearts across Namibia

National News

On 9 October, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah attended the premiere of the documentary Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics at Ster-Kinekor, The Grove Mall in Windhoek. She was joined by President Duma Boko of Botswana, friends, family, and Namibians from all walks of life. Produced by Joe Vision Production House in collaboration with MultiChoice, the film tells the story of President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s journey from Onamutai Village to the frontlines of the liberation struggle and her lifelong commitment to Namibia’s freedom. According to the Namibian Presidency, during the Q&A session, the President spoke about the importance of the creative industry and shared her…

28 Oct

NNN’s ‘self-appointment’ triggers constitutional outcry …MPs may challenge president’s takeover of ministry

Main

Renthia Kaimbi President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s takeover of the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has sparked a debate over whether she overstepped constitutional limits by appointing herself to the position. Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Itula accused Nandi-Ndaitwah of violating the Namibian Constitution and the Assignment of Powers Act 4 of 1990. He said Nandi-Ndaitwah’s move to take charge of the ministry after firing Natangue Ithete was “a gross violation” of her oath of office and the law. “The president must seriously consider whether she acted within the law by appointing herself as minister for mines and energy,…

28 Oct

‘Katima Mulilo is a total mess’ – Sankwasa

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The minister of Urban and Rural Development, James Sankwasa, has slammed the Katima Mulilo town, calling it “a total mess” after a fire gutted the council’s town planning and land management building and revealed deeper governance problems within the institution. The fire broke out shortly after midnight last Friday and severely damaged the building. The Katima Mulilo Fire Brigade managed to contain the fire but when council officials tried to report the incident, they faced resistance from the police. Sankwasa said the fire was deliberate, adding that police officers refused to open a case until the intervention of…

28 Oct

Namibia eyes new trade pact with US after AGOA ended

National News

Justicia Shipena The government has engaged with the United States to explore the possibility of a new trade agreement following the expiry of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) on 30 September 2025. The executive director in the Ministry of International Relations and Trade, Ndiitah Nghipondoka-Robiati, confirmed to the Windhoek Observer that Namibia took part in the Public Oral Hearing for the annual review of AGOA country eligibility for 2026. The hearing was held on 18 July 2025 at the Office of the United States Trade Representative in Washington, DC. She said the session focused on AGOA eligibility criteria…