Blog – Page 68 – Windhoek Observer

28 Jan

Namport reviews regional economy and trade outlook

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) says changing economic conditions among regional trading partners present both opportunities and competitive pressure for Namibia’s ports as countries adjust to slower global growth, infrastructure limits and commodity price swings. Namport said South Africa’s economy slowed to 0.5% growth in 2024, weighed down by structural challenges, drought, weak performance by state-owned enterprises and ongoing transport and logistics constraints. While improvements in electricity supply offered some relief, growth prospects remain limited, with GDP expected to rise by 0.7% in 2025 and average 1.2% in 2026 and 2027. Despite gradual improvements in South Africa’s logistics network,…

28 Jan

Tech leaders push deeper use of AI and skills

Observer Money

Staff Writer KPMG says organisations worldwide are moving past pilot projects and are now integrating artificial intelligence into core operations, according to its Global Tech Report 2026. The report, titled Leading in the Intelligence Age: Excelling Today, Shaping Tomorrow, shows that while the use of AI and other advanced technologies is rising fast, scaling them brings new challenges and uneven returns on investment. The survey covered 2,500 executives from 27 countries across sectors including automotive, retail, energy, financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. It found that 68% of organisations aim to reach the highest level of AI maturity by…

28 Jan

5G rollout sets pace for ICT transformation

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The rollout of 5G technology is emerging as a key driver of Namibia’s ICT sector transformation, positioning the industry for faster growth, innovation and wider economic integration in 2026, according to the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran). After a year of regulatory and technological progress, 5G is moving beyond faster mobile broadband to support new uses across transport and logistics, finance, trade, agriculture, health, education, mining and energy. Cran says companies around the world are using 5G to improve efficiency, automation and security through private networks, a trend that is starting to take shape in Namibia. The…

28 Jan

Namibia on the rise: streaming, 5G and the promise of progress

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

This week, Namibia found itself in the spotlight for two remarkable reasons, both signalling the country’s growing relevance on the global stage. American internet sensation IShowSpeed arrived in Windhoek as part of his highly publicised Africa StreamTour, drawing international attention to Namibia’s vibrant culture, energy, and youthful dynamism. At the same time, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) announced the rollout of 5G technology, a move poised to revolutionise the nation’s ICT landscape and drive economic growth across multiple sectors. At first glance, these two events may seem unrelated: one a pop culture phenomenon, the other a technical leap…

28 Jan

IShowSpeed visits Namibia for a day

National News

Renthia Kaimbi IShowSpeed arrived in Namibia yesterday for a brief visit, spending a single day touring sites around Windhoek before departing later that night. The visit followed a cancelled stop last month during his “Speed Does Africa” tour, after the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) denied a permit for his private aircraft. This was because his aviation permit requirements were not submitted on time. This time, the popular streamer, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr, compressed several local experiences into a few hours. His itinerary, confirmed to the Windhoek Observer, included a visit to a Himba village at Tjiri…

28 Jan

Mulunga asks court to excuse late filing in bail appeal

National News

Justicia Shipena Former National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) managing director Immanuel Mulunga has asked the High Court to condone the late filing of his heads of argument in his bail appeal. Mulunga explained that circumstances beyond his control caused the delay, which did not prejudice the State. Mulunga recently filed a founding affidavit in the High Court, stating that he had to submit his heads of argument by 19 December 2025. He explained that he only managed to file them on 31 December after receiving a court record running to 4 797 pages. Mulunga states that on the deadline…

28 Jan

Namibia ranked best in Africa for investor confidence

National News

Staff Writer Namibia has ranked first in Africa in the Market Perception Pillar of the StartupBlink Innovators Business Environment Index 2026. This places the country at the top of the continent for institutional trust and governance credibility. The ranking, released on Tuesday by StartupBlink, also places Namibia first in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Africa in the same category. The index measures the conditions that support innovation, with a focus on ease of doing business, incentives and market perception. It covers more than 125 countries and draws on over 30 indicators to assess how easily businesses can start, operate and build…

28 Jan

Small claims court bill nearly ready for parliament

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Namibia is close to establishing its first Small Claims Court. The court aims to expedite justice and decrease the expenses associated with resolving minor civil disputes. The office of the judiciary has confirmed that justice minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel is finalising legislation to create the court, with the bill expected to be tabled in parliament later this year. The cabinet gave the initiative urgent priority in late 2024. The proposed Small Claims Court is intended to address long-standing challenges linked to high legal costs and delays in the justice system. It will deal with everyday disputes such as…

27 Jan

NSFAF to continue loan recovery under subsidised education …disbursed N$3.1bn to over 30 000 students in 2025

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) says the recovery of existing student loans will continue. NSFAF said this would continue as a key measure to safeguard the sustainability of the scheme, even as the government rolls out fully subsidised tertiary education. NSFAF acting chief executive officer Kennedy Kandume on Monday said loan repayment remains a core mandate of the fund and will continue until further notice to ensure that future generations can also benefit from financial support. “The responsibility for the recovery of any student loan due to the fund will continue until further notice, safeguarding the…

27 Jan

Councillors call for action on recurring food poisoning

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Rundu urban constituency councillor Paulus Mbangu has called on government to take urgent action to stop recurring food poisoning incidents in the Kavango East and Kavango West regions. He warned that continued delays are costing lives. Speaking to Windhoek Observer on Monday, Mbangu said the two regions must be treated as a special priority. He said targeted measures are needed to address food safety failures, poverty and the lack of local laboratory capacity to investigate deaths. “I don’t know how many people the government is waiting to die so they act. I think for now the central government…