Blog – Page 5 – Windhoek Observer

05 Jun

Travellers urged to consider trip cancellation insurance

Observer Money

Staff Writer Travellers are being urged to consider trip cancellation insurance as a safeguard against financial losses caused by unexpected events that force them to cancel their travel plans. According to Santam Namibia chief executive officer Franco Feris, uncertainty remains a reality for travellers, with factors such as illness, family emergencies and severe weather capable of disrupting even the most carefully planned holidays. Trip cancellation insurance is designed to reimburse travelers for prepaid, non-refundable expenses when unforeseen circumstances prevent them from travelling before their scheduled departure date. Feris explained that the cover can protect significant travel investments. He cited the…

05 Jun

Community gardeners take centre stage at Market Day

Observer Money

Staff Writer Beetroot, carrots, chillies, herbs and other vegetables grown in a Namibian community garden were showcased and sold at Shoprite Lafrenz in Windhoek during Market Day. This year, the project which annually provides local community gardeners with a valuable retail platform coincided with World Hunger Day, which is a global awareness day focused on food insecurity and sustainable solutions. Groot Aub Fresh Producers is among more than 300 community gardens supported by the Shoprite Group across southern Africa, helping to strengthen food security in the region. “This year, Market Day provided nearly 60 local gardeners and cooperatives across the…

05 Jun

Angola to Reduce Supply of Small Diamonds

Observer Money

Angola will limit output of small rough in the coming months, aiming to avoid flooding the market, state-owned diamond miner Endiama has said. Angola is the world’s fastest-growing diamond-producing nation, with rough exports increasing 70% to 17.7 million carats in 2025. However, many of those goods are in the smaller categories that have struggled in the past two years, leading to charges the African nation has contributed to a glut in polished under 1 carat. The next sales of rough from Catoca and Luele, Angola’s two largest mines, will see a “substantial reduction” in availability of small goods, Elton Escrivão,…

05 Jun

Bank Gaborone MD resigns

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Capricorn Group has announced that Olebile Makhupe will step down from her role as managing director of Bank Gaborone, a subsidiary of the group, to pursue other strategic interests and priorities. Her resignation was acknowledged at the bank’s board meeting held on 28 May. She will leave the group on 31 August. Over the coming months, she will focus on the orderly handover of her responsibilities to support a smooth transition. “Since joining the group in February 2023, Makhupe has been a valued member of the Group Executive Committee and has provided steady leadership during an important…

05 Jun

SA wool industry remains key economic driver

Observer Money

Staff Writer South Africa's wool industry continues to play a significant role in the country's agricultural economy, despite its contribution having diminished from the dominant position it held more than a century ago, according to agricultural economist Wandile Sihlobo. Speaking at the National Wool Growers Association (NWGA) Congress in Jeffreys Bay, Sihlobo reflected on the historical and current importance of wool production after attending a presentation by Stellenbosch University agricultural economist Professor Johann Kirsten. Kirsten highlighted the industry's historic significance, noting that wool production accounted for 71% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Cape Colony in 1866. While…

05 Jun

IATA-ICAO deepen cooperation on boosting sustainable aviation fuels

Observer Money

Staff Writer The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) announced enhanced cooperation at ICAO Aviation Climate Week this week to advance transparency and integrity in tracking progress, and to accelerate the development and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Close collaboration between industry and states, supported by robust systems and high-quality data, will aim to enable transparent and credible tracking of cleaner aviation energies and their contribution toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, in alignment with the respective IATA and ICAO ambitions and commitments. Both organisations agreed to explore how SAF registries and the…

05 Jun

Are community gardens grander than grandiose?

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro "Otjombinde community garden blossoms" was the screaming headline of an article in a recent edition of one of the local English dailies. Interestingly, the article was the second lead in that publication, a testimony to its importance, or pseudo-importance, if you will. Ordinarily, an article like this rarely finds its way into the mainstream media as a leading story. But of what use is a garden in the rural constituency of Otjombinde, worse still in the Omaheke Region which is traditionally a livestock-rearing and production area? Yours Truly Ideologically cannot help but think loudly, for lack of an…

05 Jun

Safe baby abandonment—an act or preparedness? Should mothers abandon babies to ghosts and gunners?

Opinions

Sem Billy David I Recently, the Minister of Gender and Child Welfare, Emma Kantema, said that Namibia's Child Care and Protection Act 3 of 2015 now allows a mother in crisis to safely abandon her newborn baby at designated places such as police stations, hospitals, or schools without facing criminal charges, provided strict conditions are met. These efforts are meant to prevent baby dumping and protect innocent lives from suffering a harsh start to life. The intention is pure and should be welcomed. However, her statement raises serious concerns about how prepared we truly are to implement this in practice.…

04 Jun

Municipal debt crisis demands more than disconnection threats

Editorial

The decision by Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa to direct municipalities to disconnect water and electricity services to government ministries, state-owned enterprises and large private companies that fail to settle outstanding municipal debts has ignited intense debate across the country. On the surface, the directive appears both logical and overdue. Municipalities cannot continue to provide services indefinitely while carrying billions of dollars in unpaid debt. Local authorities rely heavily on revenue from rates, taxes, electricity and water payments to maintain roads, sanitation systems, waste management, public facilities and essential infrastructure. When major consumers fail to pay their bills,…

04 Jun

OBSERVER COASTAL | Nearly 1 000 bags of rubbish collected in Walvis Bay

Featured, Uncategorised

Renthia Kaimbi More than 990 bags of rubbish were collected in Walvis Bay, after community members, businesses, volunteers, and municipal teams joined forces for the first Mayoral Clean Up Campaign two weeks ago. Led by Walvis Bay mayor Johannes Shimbilinga, the coordinated day transformed public spaces across the coastal town, with clean-up activities focused mainly in Kuisebmond, Narraville, and the town centre. Held in observance of World Biodiversity Day and under the global theme “Acting Locally for Global Impact,” the campaign began at Tutaleni High School before participants dispersed to designated areas. Addressing volunteers, Shimbilinga emphasised that the initiative represented…