Blog – Page 55 – Windhoek Observer

26 Jan

WBCG plans health clinics for truck drivers

National News

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…

26 Jan

Lower interest rates to support vehicle sales in 2026

Observer Money

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…

26 Jan

Uranium market strength lifts Tumas project outlook

Observer Money

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,…

26 Jan

Barloworld shares to be delisted after Newco takeover

Observer Money

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.…

26 Jan

Truworths remains cautious but positive about 2026

Observer Money

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…

26 Jan

Street children, border gaps and a focus on financial and immigration legislation

Opinions

Ian Coffee By late 2025, Namibia faced a visible surge of Angolan minors on city streets and in northern towns, selling wooden curios and begging. Advocates described it as a humanitarian disaster in plain sight. The presence was not confined to border regions. It stretched along the Oshikango to Windhoek corridor and pooled at intersections where tourism is thick and oversight thin. Is this a question of compassion alone, or is it a test of whether our immigration and child protection systems can hold under pressure? The facts are plain. There was a marked increase between August and October. Local…

26 Jan

Omaruru local authority council must be people-centered

Featured, Opinions

Serron NghoshiIt is quite obvious that moments of excitement in local governance are inevitable. The swearing-in of councillors and public announcements on land delivery, housing lists, or infrastructure plans often raise hope among residents, not only for Omaruru but everywhere. However, history has shown that excitement alone does not improve the lives of residents. What truly matters is the work that follows the excitement has passed. For many residents of Omaruru, particularly those in informal settlements and low-income areas, the daily realities remain unchanged; access to serviced land continues to be a major challenge year after year, lists are announced,…

26 Jan

The biggest lie being sold: A reflection on the vilification of black enterprise

Featured, Opinions

“Do you know who the biggest thieves in the country are? It’s black businesspeople. And do you know why you are not successful and why your life is miserable? It’s those same thieving, corrupt black empowerment elites and tenderpreneurs in this country.” That statement, delivered casually in conversation, captures a dangerous narrative quietly normalized in Namibia’s public discourse. It is not merely an opinion; it is the product of a sustained ideological campaign that frames black entrepreneurship, particularly participation in public procurement, as inherently corrupt, morally suspect, and economically parasitic. As a black entrepreneur who has built a business through…

26 Jan

When the uniform becomes a threat: A nation must confront the growing crisis within its armed services

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Namibia woke up once again to the grim reality of gender-based violence intersecting with firearms and authority. In Khomasdal, a man believed to be a serving police officer allegedly shot his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself. The woman has reportedly survived and is receiving medical treatment. The man died at the scene. Police have confirmed the incident but have yet to release a full report. These bare facts are disturbing enough. But beyond the tragedy of two lives violently altered lies a deeper and more troubling question: How did we arrive at a point where those entrusted to…

23 Jan

Oil rush or national ruin: discipline must guide Namibia’s offshore future

Editorial, Featured, Latest, Opinions

In a recent OpEd published in this newspaper titled “Discovery Is the Easy Part: Why Capital Discipline Determines Frontier Offshore Success”, Fernando Sylvester delivers a sobering reminder to nations and investors alike: the true test of offshore resource development does not lie in discovery, but in the discipline that follows it. His argument is both timely and urgent for our country, as we are now standing at the threshold of potentially transformative offshore hydrocarbon wealth. Sylvester notes that frontier offshore discoveries have an outsized effect on perception. Markets react in hours. Governments issue triumphant statements. Partners congratulate one another. Value…