Blog – Page 32 – News Stand

03 Jun

Namport records growth in cargo throughput

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) recorded a 4.8% increase in cargo throughput for the financial year ending 31 March 2025. A total of 8.42 million tonnes moved through the Ports of Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, up from 8.03 million tonnes the previous year. Elias Mwenyo, Namport’s commercial executive, said in a statement on Tuesday that the growth reflects strong performance across various cargo segments. “The growth demonstrates the sustained strength of Namport’s operations across bulk, break-bulk, containerised, and liquid cargo segments and is attributed to continued cargo diversification, targeted infrastructure enhancements, and strategic partnerships with key industry stakeholders,"…

03 Jun

SACU and diamond sales push up import cover

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Justicia Shipena Namibia’s foreign exchange reserves grew by 6.6% in April 2025, reaching N$63.6 billion. This means the country now has enough money saved to pay for about 4.2 months of imports or 5.1 months if one excludes special oil-related imports that are funded from outside. Simonis Storm Securities revealed this in its April 2025 report on private sector credit extension released on Monday. According to Simonis Storm Securities, the rise in reserves is good news for Namibia. “The recovery in reserves reverses the sharp decline seen in March and helps restore external buffers. This improvement strengthens the credibility of…

03 Jun

New investment from Capricorn Foundation tackles malnutrition

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Justicia Shipena The Capricorn Foundation has committed N$2 million to fight malnutrition in the country through two partnerships. It will contribute N$600,000 to the Gondwana MealforTwo Programme and N$1.4 million to Genesis Namibia, focusing on the Omaheke Region. The Omaheke region has been hard hit by malnutrition. In August last year, Governor Pijoo Nganate said the region recorded 30,219 malnutrition cases and over 800 deaths in two financial years. In January of this year, the governor's office and commercial farmers provided 21 goats to support nutrition efforts in the region. The Capricorn Foundation’s new support builds on an earlier partnership…

02 Jun

Sex Workers still waiting for legal reform

info_e12wt4csMain

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Sex workers in Namibia used International Sex Workers Day on 2 June to renew their call for the government to reform laws that criminalise their work. While exchanging sex for money is not illegal in Namibia, laws under the Combating of Immoral Practices Act and municipal by-laws criminalise related activities. These include public solicitation, brothel operation, procuring sex work, and exposing oneself in public. Deyonce Naris, who identifies as a sex worker, said the current legal setup puts them at risk and prevents them from reporting crimes. “We cannot report crimes committed against us because we are criminalised…

02 Jun

Teachers question jobless registration

info_e12wt4csNational News

Allexer Namundjebo Unemployed teachers in Kavango West have questioned the educator registration for record keeping. The teachers say they are frustrated by the lack of jobs despite numerous registration call outs. This comes after the Regional Council called on all qualified but jobless educators to register with the Directorate of Education, Arts, Culture, Innovation, Youth, and Sport. Teachers are asked to register by subject specialisation before 6 June 2025. Many say the call offers nothing but empty promises. Philipus Kamwi, a qualified teacher unemployed for four years, says the process is misleading. “They give us false hopes. I don’t know…

02 Jun

Health ministry deploys 36 new ambulances nationwide

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Health and Social Services has commissioned 36 new ambulances to improve emergency medical care across Namibia. The vehicles were officially put into service on Monday in Windhoek. Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao said the new fleet is part of efforts to strengthen the country’s public healthcare system. “These vehicles symbolise our resolute commitment to saving lives and strengthening our healthcare system,” she said at the commissioning ceremony. The ambulances will be sent to health facilities in both urban areas and rural communities. Luvindao stressed the importance of a quick response in medical emergencies. “These ambulances…

02 Jun

Occupational safety and health contemporary issues: A call for restorative justice

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Opinions

Lazarus Kwedhi The government, through the Tripartite Committee—comprising representatives from the state, employers, and employees—is currently drafting the Occupational Safety and Health Bill (OSH Bill). Once completed, the bill will be gazetted as an Act of Parliament. This Act will provide the legal and administrative framework to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for every employee, including a mechanism for dispute resolution and compliance with the OSH Act. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is not a new concept in the Namibian labour market. It was incorporated in Chapter 4 of the Namibian Labour Act, 2007 (Act No. 11 of…

02 Jun

World heritage protection set to go high-tech

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché Namibia is hosting a regional workshop in Windhoek today focused on using digital technologies to protect and manage World Heritage sites in Africa. The event, held under the theme Digital Technologies to Empower World Heritage in Africa, is organised by the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, in collaboration with the National Heritage Council and UNESCO. The ministry said the workshop is a response to ongoing threats to African heritage sites, such as poor documentation, climate change, urban growth, illegal activities, conflict, and trafficking. “Africa is home to a wealth of natural and cultural heritage…

02 Jun

NNN calls for unity, readiness and modernisation of NDF

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Defence Force (NDF) celebrated its 35th anniversary with a national parade in Grootfontein on Monday. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, in her role as commander in chief, led the event and reflected on the force’s development since independence in 1990. She recalled the debate at the time about whether an independent Namibia needed a defence force. “Thankfully, in the final analysis and as a result of visionary political leaders and the leadership of our Founding President, Dr Sam Nujoma, a decision was made to establish a Namibian Defence Force,” she said. Nandi-Ndaitwah acknowledged the role of early leaders,…

02 Jun

Oil and Gas event doubles in size to support SMEs

info_e12wt4csEnergy, Observer Money

Allexer Namundjebo The Namibia Oil and Gas Conference (NOGC) will double in size this year and add a new exhibition hall to give more access to entrepreneurs and small businesses. On Monday, the Economic Association of Namibia (EAN), the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB), and the Hanns Seidel Foundation launched the third edition of the conference in Windhoek. The conference will take place from 12 to 15 August in Windhoek. It is endorsed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and supported by the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) and SNC Incorporated. This year’s theme is “From…