Blog – Page 4 – Windhoek Observer

05 Jan

Community voices must guide Namibia’s future

Featured, Opinions

Ester Shafashike In a democratic society, decisions that affect the lives of citizens cannot be made in isolation. The principle of community consultancy, seeking public views before implementing any policy or project is not only a moral obligation but also a constitutional and developmental imperative for Namibia. The Constitution of the Republic of Namibia (1990) makes it clear that sovereignty rests with the people. Article 1(1) declares Namibia a democratic state founded upon the will of its citizens, whereas Chapter 3 guarantees freedoms of speech, assembly, and association. These rights are not symbolic, but they are the right tools through…

05 Jan

Fishrot at five years: When courts delay, power decides and victims pay the price

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) After reading the allegations involving the so-called fugitive lawyer Marén de Klerk, authorised by the Supreme Court to testify via video link in the Fishcor and Sea Flower Pelagic matter, my blood boiled. That anger was sharpened by the memory of Sacky Shanghala lecturing young Namibians at SWAPO Youth League Youth Day celebrations with astonishing arrogance. The allegations now reveal that the former Minister of Justice allegedly told those involved that they “could all stand to make a lot of money.” If true, this is not a lapse in judgement.…

05 Jan

Government owes N$146.3 billion locally

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The government domestic debt increased both month-on-month and year-on-year at the end of December 2025. Domestic debt stood at N$146.3 billion, rising by 1% from November and by 16% compared to December 2024. The increase was recorded across Treasury Bills and Internal Registered Stock. As a share of gross domestic product, domestic debt also rose on a monthly and annual basis. By the end of December, domestic debt reached 52.5% of GDP, up by 0.5 percentage points month-on-month and 2.2 percentage points year-on-year, reflecting growth in both treasury bills and internal registered stock. Outstanding treasury bills increased to…

05 Jan

Students get new tool to find accommodation

Observer Money

Staff Writer Namibia’s student housing market is set for a digital shift with the launch of Pozi, a platform that links students and graduates with landlords offering safe and affordable accommodation. The platform aims to simplify the search process while improving security and transparency in the rental market. Each year, thousands of students move to towns and cities for their studies and face costly and stressful housing searches. Many depend on informal networks, which expose them to scams and unsafe living conditions. Landlords also face challenges with tenant management and irregular rental payments. Pozi seeks to address both sides by…

05 Jan

Foreign reserves improve despite slow credit growth

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s official stock of international reserves increased slightly at the end of November 2025, supported mainly by revaluation gains, according to the Bank of Namibia’s (BoN) money and banking statistics. Month-on-month, official reserves rose by 1.2% to N$49.2 billion at the end of November. The increase was driven by favourable price movements on fixed-income securities and a modest rise in customer foreign currency placements by commercial banks. At this level, reserves were enough to cover an estimated 3.2 months of imports, or 3.6 months when oil and gas exploration-related imports are excluded. Liquidity conditions in the banking sector…

05 Jan

Economy still growing but more slowly

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s economy continues to grow, but at a slower pace. Gross domestic product expanded by 1.9% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, according to recent data. Growth has remained positive, but momentum has softened compared to 2024, reflecting uneven performance across sectors and continued pressure on domestic demand. Almandro Jansen, an economist at Simonis Storm Securities, said the third-quarter outcome points to a weaker underlying trend than first expected. This follows stronger growth of 2.8% in the first quarter and a softer performance in the second quarter. “Economic activity is still expanding, but the pace has clearly…

05 Jan

Travel insurance essential for safe and stress-free trips

Observer Money

Staff Writer Travel insurance has become a key part of trip planning, whether for a family holiday, a business journey or a short getaway. From medical emergencies to lost luggage and trip cancellations, experts say the right cover can prevent serious financial strain. Franco Feris, chief executive officer at Santam Namibia Limited, said travellers need to understand what their policies actually cover. “Travel insurance isn’t just paperwork for visa applications. It’s a legal contract between you and your insurer, designed to protect you when things don’t go according to plan,” he said. The level of cover depends on the trip.…

05 Jan

SA’s food price inflation at its lowest level since 2010

Observer Money

Wandile Sihlobo I know people often forget what they paid for groceries a few months ago, let alone last year. Things seem to be getting expensive every day, especially with our tough economic conditions in South Africa. Still, I think it is essential to highlight welcome data developments when we see some. We are ending this year with food price inflation, the rate at which prices increase, cooling off the levels we have not seen in years. For example, after slowing to 2.8% in October 2024, South Africa’s consumer food price inflation decelerated notably to 1.6% in November, the lowest…

05 Jan

BoN links diamond decline to production cuts

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s diamond, uranium, zinc and gold production showed mixed results in the third quarter of 2025, reflecting weak market conditions, operational challenges and shifting prices, according to the Bank of Namibia’s (BoN) third quarter 2025 quarterly bulletin. Diamond production fell both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter. Output reached 442 012 carats, a 3.5% drop from a year earlier and a 15.3% decline from the previous quarter. BoN said the fall followed deliberate production cuts, mainly at Debmarine Namibia, in response to weak global demand. Lower diamond prices, growing competition from lab-grown diamonds and high inventory levels weighed on the sector.…

19 Dec

Namibia targets 80% electricity self-sufficiency under energy compact

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Namibia has joined a continental drive to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030 with the launch of its National Energy Compact under the Mission 300 initiative on Thursday in Windhoek. Mission 300 is an Africa-wide effort aimed at expanding access to electricity, and Namibia’s participation centres on a National Energy Compact that sets out country-specific reforms, targets, and implementation plans aligned with the continental agenda. The Compact commits Namibia to coordinated actions to increase electricity connections, improve supply reliability, and strengthen energy security to support economic transformation. Industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse said the…