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Magistrates push back on Immanuel’s return-to-work directive

Magistrates push back on Immanuel’s return-to-work directive

Renthia Kaimbi Magistrates have defied a return-to-work directive issued by justice and labour relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel.  Immanuel, on Sunday, in a letter to Magistrates’ Commission chairperson Boas Uusiku, acknowledged the frustrations of magistrates over the delayed housing and vehicle allowances but maintained that the nationwide strike had no legal basis.  He then instructed all magistrates to return to their duty stations and resume work, warning that failure to comply would lead to serious consequences. Despite his [Immanuel's] order, magistrates have continued their 'go-slow' industrial action, bringing civil trials, criminal proceedings and bail applications to a halt.  The magistrates…
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Green schemes spend 35% of revenue on electricity

Green schemes spend 35% of revenue on electricity

Renthia Kaimbi Electricity costs take up about 35% of the total revenue of Namibia’s green scheme projects.  The executive director of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, revealed this during a national workshop on green schemes in Rundu on Monday.  She said each project spends close to N$1 million per month on electricity. “Each green scheme project spends close to N$1 million per month on electricity alone, representing roughly 35% of its total revenue, a burden that severely impacts profitability and long-term operational viability,” she said. Nghituwamata said high power tariffs have become a major…
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IPC proposes independent commission to oversee SOEs 

IPC proposes independent commission to oversee SOEs 

Justicia Shipena The official opposition party wants to create an independent Public Enterprises Governance Commission (PEGC) to stop politics from interfering with how state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are run under the new Public Enterprises Governance Amendment (PEGA) Bill. The leader of the official opposition in parliament, Immanuel Nashinge, said the bill risks recentralizing power and undermining professional governance.  “The Bill, presented as reform, in reality takes power away from professionals and places it back into political hands,” he said during the parliamentary debate last week.  Nashinge said SOEs have collapsed under the weight of political interference, with the same individuals being…
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Unpaid winnings stir trouble for Okahandja’s BetZilla

Unpaid winnings stir trouble for Okahandja’s BetZilla

Allexer Namundjembo An Aviator player has accused BetZilla, a betting company based in Okahandja, of failing to pay out his winnings of N$1 040. Kudumo Sikongo said he played the game Aviator and, after winning, tried to request his payout but was sent from one contact number to another before his calls were blocked.  “I won at BetZilla, and after calling them, they blocked my number,” he told the Windhoek Observer on Monday. He said he reported the matter to the Okahandja Police Station.  "I was told they knew where the office was and would go there, but I haven't…
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OBSERVER DAILY | An African awakening in the diamond trade: Namibia must match boldness with wisdom

A quiet but powerful tremor is shaking the global diamond industry, and this time, it is emanating from Africa itself. Reports that Angola and Botswana are in discussions to acquire or expand ownership of De Beers mark a profound turning point in the continent’s long and complex relationship with its mineral wealth. Even more encouraging, Namibia’s Cabinet has approved plans to pursue a significant stake in De Beers Namibia. This is not mere corporate reshuffling; it is an awakening. For generations, African nations have occupied the lowest rungs of the global resource value chain. We mined and exported, while others…
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Houses cost N$1.7 million on average in central regions

Houses cost N$1.7 million on average in central regions

Chamwe Kaira The FNB House Price Index recorded a 12-month average growth rate of 5.9% in the third quarter, down from 7.7% in the second quarter and 7.0% in the same period last year.  FNB Namibia said on Monday that despite the slowdown, the index remains resilient since exiting negative territory early this year. Price growth across the small, medium, large, and luxury segments stood at 4.4%, 0.3%, 1.9%, and -23.9%, respectively. Regionally, all areas recorded growth in the third quarter.  The central region rose by 4.8%, the coastal by 1.2%, the northern by 10.9%, and the southern by 8.5%,…
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Namibians can expect slightly higher living costs next year

Namibians can expect slightly higher living costs next year

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s inflation is expected to average between 3.5% and 3.8% in 2025, trending toward 4% in 2026 as fuel and utility costs stabilise at higher levels, according to analyst Almandro Jansen of Simonis Storm. Jansen said price pressures remain contained, but risks are tilted to the upside. “At its upcoming MPC meeting, we assign roughly a 60% probability to a further 25 basis points rate cut, aimed at supporting domestic demand while maintaining credibility in anchoring inflation expectations and preserving price stability,” he said. He noted that the inflation outlook remains steady but slightly upward. Moderating food prices…
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RCC to cut costs through lease-to-own strategy

RCC to cut costs through lease-to-own strategy

Staff Writer The Roads Contractor Company (RCC) has entered into an agreement that allows it to receive and use brand-new equipment, including graders, tippers, dozers, drum rollers, excavators and loaders. RCC chief executive officer Dasius Nelumbu said the new machinery will help the company execute construction projects effectively and deliver on its mandate.  “For the past ten years, RCC was awarded construction projects which, due to lack of capacity in terms of equipment, were in most cases executed with a partner who had the required capacity. However, this arrangement could not yield the desired results because most of the projects’…
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Paratus grows footprint to 15 countries

Paratus grows footprint to 15 countries

Staff Writer Telecommunications network services provider Paratus Group has launched “Paratus 500” following its expansion into seven new African markets this year. The new markets include Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. With the expansion, Paratus is now licensed to operate in 15 African countries. This makes the Group one of the first pan-African telecom companies to cover over 500 million people south of the equator, representing more than one-third of Africa’s population and GDP. Paratus 500 connects all 15 licensed operations through a single, contiguous telecom network. The infrastructure includes terrestrial fibre routes, subsea cable landings, and…
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FNB Namibia appoints Minnaar as operations head

FNB Namibia appoints Minnaar as operations head

Staff Writer FNB Namibia has appointed Carpio Minnaar as head of operations. With more than 15 years of experience in business optimisation, operations leadership, and regulatory compliance, Minnaar brings expertise from the banking, ICT and telecommunications sectors. He has held senior and executive roles at Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC), Nedbank Namibia, and MTN Business Solutions. Known for aligning operations with business goals, Minnaar’s leadership will strengthen FNB Namibia Retail’s operational efficiency and service delivery. As head of operations, he will provide strategic and tactical direction while overseeing the management of the retail segment’s operations. His focus areas include improving efficiency,…
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