Blog – Page 31 – Windhoek Observer

09 Dec

Namibia’s diplomacy must serve the nation, not factional interests

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s commissioning of seven new heads of mission signals an important moment for Namibia’s diplomatic future. The appointments, to Nigeria, Belgium, Zambia, Ghana, Japan, Egypt, and Zimbabwe, arrive at a time when the nation is recalibrating its foreign policy to centre economic diplomacy, investment attraction, and strategic global partnerships. The President’s message was clear and firm: these envoys must prioritise national development interests and project a credible Namibian profile to the world. The newly appointed ambassadors deserve sincere congratulations. Walde Natangwe Ndevashiya, Alfredo Tjirimo Hengari, Goms Menette, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, Rosina //Hoabes, Weich Murcle Uapendura Mupya, and David Thomas…

09 Dec

MTC unveils strategy to drive digital future

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) has announced a new strategy aimed at shifting the company from a traditional mobile operator to a regional digital powerhouse. MTC's managing director Licky Erastus unveiled the plan on Monday during the presentation of the 2025 annual results. He said the company has identified seven key pillars to protect its core business and expand into new digital markets. The roadmap focuses on protecting mobile revenue, winning the home market, growing enterprise services, building digital platforms, scaling fintech solutions, establishing a national data centre and expanding into local and regional markets. Erastus said the strategy…

09 Dec

FNB Namibia Retail announces Luvindao CEO

Observer Money

Staff Writer FNB Namibia Retail has appointed Mbo Luvindao as its new chief executive officer. Luvindao steps into the role with more than 20 years of senior and executive leadership experience in Namibia’s banking and financial services sector. He began his career at Bank Windhoek, where he held several leadership roles, including head of the SME segment. He later joined NamPost as executive for financial services, where he led the Savings Bank and helped shape and implement the organisation’s strategy. Before joining FNB, Luvindao served as chief commercial officer at Letshego Bank Namibia. He was responsible for driving the bank’s…

09 Dec

MTC will face competition from Paratus, Starlink

Observer Money

Staff Writer Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) has reported strong financial results for the 2025 financial year, supported by favourable operating conditions and ongoing strategic investments. Financial analyst Max Rix from Simonis Storm rated the stock a “measured buy,” pointing to its attractive valuation and strong cash flows, but also noting growing competitive pressure. MTC’s total income rose to N$3.71 billion, an increase of 14 to 15% year-on-year. The prepaid segment performed well, with subscriber numbers rising by 4.3% and average revenue per user growing by 14.6%. This lifted mobile revenue at a time when prepaid markets in many emerging economies…

09 Dec

Companies announce high-stakes decisions on NSX

Observer Money

Staff Writer The first week of December has been unusually active on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX), with listed companies reporting major share trades, corporate governance shifts and updates to executive incentive plans. Capricorn Group Limited confirmed a significant on-market transaction involving one of its directors. Marthinus Johannes Prinsloo sold 385,347 ordinary shares on 5 December at N$26 per share, a transaction valued at just over N$10 million. The group said the sale was direct and beneficial and that Prinsloo had received the necessary clearance in line with Namibian Securities Exchange rules. Global mining company Anglo American also issued a…

09 Dec

Trustco board rejects RVF-driven director nominations

Observer Money

Staff Writer Trustco Group Holdings has rejected an attempt by the Riskowitz Value Fund (RVF) to replace the company’s board, after a regulatory review process failed to proceed. The matter began on 20 November when RVF issued a notice under Section 189 of Namibia’s Companies Act. The notice sought the removal of the current board and proposed five new directors: Grant Pattison, Dee Sauls-Deckenbrock, Jerome Davis, Sepo Haihambo and Robert Hutchinson-Keip. The move prompted Trustco to seek an independent legal opinion on whether the notice met statutory requirements for a publicly listed company. As a dual-listed entity on the JSE…

09 Dec

Free tertiary education: Steenkampwarns against over-enrolment …NSFAF lowers income loan threshold to N$100 000

Main

Renthia Kaimbi The minister of education, Sanet Steenkamp, has warned universities and vocational centres not to over-enrol students as the government prepares to roll out fully subsidised tertiary education next year. Steenkamp issued the caution yesterday during the launch of the new funding model, which fulfills a commitment made by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in her April state of the nation address. Starting in the 2026 academic year, the government will pay 100% of registration and tuition fees for first-time undergraduate students at public and private universities and for trainees in primary trades at vocational training centres. Students will still be…

08 Dec

IN A WORLD OF GIANTS AFRICA CANNOT BE A PAWN IN THE BATTLE FOR SOVEREIGNTY

Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Why are African leaders so silent? Why, at a moment when the continent’s dignity is being tested, do so many African Heads of State seem content to look away, turning a deaf ear as if nothing is happening? Why is there no united front, no public indignation, no clear voice defending the sovereignty of Africa’s people? These questions are not asked to provoke disrespect but to expose a painful truth: African leadership risks becoming complicit through silence. Steve Biko warned us about this long ago. “The most potent weapon in…

08 Dec

The death of arts and culture in Namibia: A crisis of custodianship

Opinions

Recently, I received a visit from a Nigerian colleague who had travelled to Namibia to consult on nationhood branding.As we walked through Windhoek’s central district, he stopped abruptly, surveyed the cityscape, and asked with visible confusion, “Where are your cultural markers?” A few minutes later, after observing more concrete, glass, and corporate branding than any trace of Namibian cultural presence, he looked at me and said, “You guys are so culturally cautious that you are killing your identity.” His remark, although delivered lightly, struck me with unexpected force. It was embarrassing, not only because he was right, but because his…

08 Dec

Faulty appeal ends BoN bid to remove judge in Trustco liquidation

National News

Justicia Shipena A High Court judge will continue presiding over the Bank of Namibia’s liquidation application against Trustco Bank. The Supreme Court struck the central bank’s appeal after finding that it failed to file a valid notice of appeal. The judgement, delivered on Thursday, found that the appeal did not meet the basic procedural rules required for the court to hear the matter. This comes as the Bank of Namibia has been trying to challenge the judge’s refusal to recuse herself from the liquidation case. The bank argued that judge Eileen Rakow would not approach the matter with an open…