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Electrification budget set to rise above N$12m

Electrification budget set to rise above N$12m

Justicia Shipena  The government plans to increase its electrification budget to speed up access to electricity for peri-urban communities. The allocation is expected to rise from N$12 million to at least N$20 million. This was announced by the minister of industries, mines, and energy, Modestus Amutse, during the groundbreaking ceremony and site handover of peri-urban electrification projects in the Hardap region on Thursday. “Our intention is to increase this allocation to at least N$20 million, and potentially more, as we strengthen partnerships with other stakeholders and funding partners,” Amutse said. Amuste said the real challenge going forward will not only…
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Former councillor refuses to repay NSFAF loan

Former councillor refuses to repay NSFAF loan

Renthia Kaimbi Former Omuthiya councillor Nghipudilo ya Shiindi has said she will not repay her Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) loan until the government first recovers billions lost to corruption and mismanagement. She criticised the state’s renewed push to collect student loan repayments and condemned recent amendments to NSFAF, calling for a pause on repayments until what she described as equal justice is applied. Ya Shiindi said student loans should not be treated like commercial debt. “Student loans are policy instruments, not commercial products. They are issued for education, not for profit, and are intended to expand national human…
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Skybuild’s attempt to stop FNB debt recovery dismissed

Skybuild’s attempt to stop FNB debt recovery dismissed

Justicia Shipena  The High Court has dismissed a bid by Skybuild Construction CC and its two members to set aside a default judgment granted to First National Bank of Namibia over unpaid loan and overdraft debts worth millions. FNB obtained default judgment on 12 August 2024 after Skybuild failed to repay a N$9.05 million loan advanced in 2019, as well as an overdraft facility.  The court granted judgment for more than N$7.5 million, plus interest, and an additional amount linked to the overdraft.  Skybuild’s members, Ralph Rickert Mouton and Rosetta Hendrietta Mouton, were held jointly liable after signing suretyship agreements.…
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Analyst says Hishoono deserved state funeral

Analyst says Hishoono deserved state funeral

Allexer Namundjembo  Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah has said liberation struggle veteran Mathias Kanana Hishoono deserved the state funeral he was accorded. He said actions must be understood within the harsh colonial context of the time. “In my view, Kanana Hishoono still deserved the state funeral he was accorded,” Kamwanyah said in response to questions from the Windhoek Observer on Sunday.  He said that Hishoono testified in the 1968 terrorism trial involving Andimba Toivo ya Toivo and other accused freedom fighters, but the circumstances under which that testimony was given remain unclear. “While it is true that he might have testified…
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Nuclear energy must stay on the table — Mbuende

Nuclear energy must stay on the table — Mbuende

Renthia Kaimbi Africa should not shy away from nuclear energy, Namibia’s National Planning Commission (NPC) director general Kaire Mbuende has said.  Mbuende said nuclear power remains a necessary option for meeting future energy needs. He was speaking at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last week.  Mbuende said global debates around energy security must include nuclear power, especially for countries that already supply uranium to the world. “As the largest producer of uranium in Africa and the third largest in the world, we cannot shy away from the prospect of generating nuclear energy, especially when our raw…
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WBCG plans health clinics for truck drivers

WBCG plans health clinics for truck drivers

Justicia Shipena  The Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) plans to establish wellness clinics and improve water and sanitation facilities for truck drivers operating along Namibia’s main transport corridors.  This was revealed by WBCG acting chief executive officer Edward Shivute during an engagement with truck drivers in Walvis Bay on Wednesday.  The plan forms part of efforts to develop practical responses to challenges faced by drivers and to strengthen safety, efficiency, and reliability along the corridor network. Shivute said the proposed wellness clinics are intended to bring basic health services closer to truck drivers, many of whom cannot leave high-value cargo…
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Lower interest rates to support vehicle sales in 2026

Lower interest rates to support vehicle sales in 2026

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s vehicle market is expected to record steady growth in 2026, supported by improved credit conditions, lower interest rates and changes in regional vehicle supply chains. Vehicle sales eased slightly toward the end of 2025, but demand remained firm.  According to Simonis Storm, this points to a stable expansion in the year ahead rather than a slowdown. New vehicle sales peaked at 1 320 units in March 2025 before falling to 1 138 units in December, down 8.5% from November’s 1 244 units.  Despite the monthly decline, December sales were 13.8% higher than the 1 093 units sold…
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Uranium market strength lifts Tumas project outlook 

Uranium market strength lifts Tumas project outlook 

Chamwe Kaira  Uranium prices strengthened through 2025 as supply remained tight and expectations for global nuclear power growth increased, improving the outlook for new uranium projects. The uranium spot price rose by almost 13% during the year to US$81.40 per pound at 31 December 2025. Term prices for newly negotiated long-term contracts increased to between US$86 and US$87 per pound, according to market data. Despite higher contracting activity, global utility term contracts remained below annual uranium consumption. This points to an ongoing supply shortfall. Analysts link rising demand to reactor restarts, nuclear expansion in countries such as India and Japan,…
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Barloworld shares to be delisted after Newco takeover

Barloworld shares to be delisted after Newco takeover

Staff Writer Barloworld Limited has confirmed that its ordinary shares will be delisted from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and A2X following the completion of a compulsory acquisition by Newco. The company said Newco exercised its rights under Section 124(1) of the Companies Act 2008 to compulsorily acquire all remaining Barloworld ordinary shares that were not taken up under the earlier standby offer.  The compulsory acquisition was completed on Thursday, 22 January 2026, with payment made in line with legal requirements. The delisting, first announced in November 2025, will take effect from the start of trade on 27 January 2026.…
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Truworths remains cautious but positive about 2026

Truworths remains cautious but positive about 2026

Staff Writer Truworths International Limited has reported steady performance for the 26-week period ended 28 December 2025.  Truworths says it remains cautiously optimistic about its outlook for the 2026 financial year. The group, which operates in Namibia, South Africa and the United Kingdom, said retail sales for the period remained unchanged at N$12.5 billion, in line with the same period last year. Performance differed across regions. Office UK, the group’s UK retail business, recorded a 6.4% increase in retail sales in sterling terms compared to the same period last year.  Office UK contributed N$4.5 billion to group sales during the…
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