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FirstRand launches N$150 billion domestic note programme

FirstRand launches N$150 billion domestic note programme

Chamwe Kaira  FirstRand Limited has launched a N$150 billion domestic medium-term note (DMTN) programme to raise funds in the South African capital market. The programme allows FirstRand to issue a range of unsecured debt instruments.  It enables the group to raise up to N$150 billion in total outstanding nominal value, unless the limit is increased under the programme’s terms. In Namibia, FirstRand Namibia Group owns FNB Namibia and RMB Namibia. Notes under the programme may be issued on a continuous basis. They may be structured as senior or subordinated instruments. Some notes may qualify as regulatory capital or FLAC (FirstRand…
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Proflight Zambia launches Windhoek service

Proflight Zambia launches Windhoek service

Staff Writer Proflight Zambia has launched a new Lusaka–Livingstone–Windhoek flight service, creating a direct link between Zambia and Namibia. The route connects the three cities and allows passengers to travel between Lusaka, Livingstone and Windhoek on the same day. The airline says the service will support business travel, tourism and investment between the two countries. Speaking at the launch, Zambian minister of transport and logistics Frank Museba Tayali said the new service supports the government’s plan to position Zambia as a transport and logistics hub in the region. “You all know that it has been a long aspiration of our…
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BoN and SARB sign agreement on financial supervision

BoN and SARB sign agreement on financial supervision

Staff Writer  The governor of the Bank of Namibia, Ebson Uanguta, and the governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago, have signed a revised memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Pretoria, South Africa. The signing took place during Uanguta’s courtesy visit to the South African Reserve Bank and strengthens cooperation between the two central banks. The new agreement replaces the earlier memorandum signed on 11 September 2015. The revised MoU reflects changes in the financial sector in both countries.  It recognises stronger supervisory roles for central banks, the development of resolution frameworks and the growing complexity of financial institutions…
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Oryx earnings expected to grow by over 30%

Oryx earnings expected to grow by over 30%

Staff Writer  Oryx Properties Limited expects stronger interim financial results for the period ended 31 December 2025. In a trading statement issued under the Namibia Securities Exchange Listings Requirements, the company informed unitholders that its distribution per linked unit is expected to increase by between 10% and 30% compared to the same period last year. Earnings per share, profit for the period and headline earnings are also expected to rise by more than 30% compared to the previous corresponding period. The company said the improvement is linked to operational contributions from the Platz am Meer Shopping Centre and a supportive…
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MTC 4 Life to empower 30 youth in ǁKaras

MTC 4 Life to empower 30 youth in ǁKaras

Staff Writer  MTC has launched the MTC 4 Life 2026 project to equip young Namibians with practical skills and support for small businesses. The programme will focus on 30 youth from the ǁKharas Region. It targets self-employed and unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 35. Participants will receive practical training and basic business support to help them start or grow small businesses. The training will run for seven days. Participants will learn skills in trades such as hairdressing, barbering, baking, leatherwork, sewing and cell phone repair. Each trade will train up to five participants or more to allow…
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The state of the diamond market

The state of the diamond market

The global diamond market is undergoing one of the most complex and consequential periods in its history. Geopolitical instability, changing consumer behaviour and the rapid rise of lab-grown diamonds have combined to create a climate of uncertainty that is reshaping the industry’s foundations. Today’s diamond market operates within a narrow and volatile space. Price discovery has become increasingly challenging; demand is uneven across categories, and confidence across the value chain remains fragile. While diamonds have always symbolised permanence, the market surrounding them is being forced to adapt to a world defined by rapid change and heightened economic sensitivity. Unlike previous…
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Empowering the women we celebrate 

Empowering the women we celebrate 

Fransina Kahungu On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2026, we are intentionally choosing to move beyond celebration without empowerment and confront a deeper question: how do empowered women empower others? This year’s theme is Give to gain. It has often been said that women do not help other women rise once they themselves have risen. Whether this has merit or not is yet to be properly studied. However, one might confidently state that real power is influence over policy. It is the ability to shape women and not just symbolise change. It is the ability to look back and say…
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‘Oil security not a concern for now’ – Amutse

‘Oil security not a concern for now’ – Amutse

Justicia Shipena Namibia’s fuel supply remains stable for the next few months despite rising global oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East, industries, mines and energy minister Modestus Amutse told parliament on Tuesday. He responded to an urgent oral question from the South West Africa National Union (Swanu) president and member of parliament Evilastus Kaaronda, who asked how prepared the country is for a possible fuel price increase after crude oil prices surged. This follows as brent crude oil prices rose sharply by 10% to around US$80 per barrel on Sunday. Analysts say prices could increase even further…
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Double dipping questions hang over finance ED

Double dipping questions hang over finance ED

Renthia Kaimbi The appointment of Oscar Capelao as executive director of the Ministry of Finance has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest, as he continues to serve on the board of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor). Capelao was appointed executive director in December 2025, a role that places him at the centre of government oversight of public enterprises, including Namcor. He has served as a Namcor board member since July 2024. His dual position has drawn scrutiny from governance expert Johannes Coetzee, who cautioned that the arrangement presents structural risks. “If the same person is on the…
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Windhoek rent takes a big bite out of youth salaries

Windhoek rent takes a big bite out of youth salaries

Staff Writer  Young working professionals in Windhoek are spending up to half of their monthly income on rent as housing costs continue to rise faster than wages.  A one-bedroom unit now ranges between N$4 500 and N$7 500 per month, excluding utilities. For many tenants, rent is their largest expense. An upfront payment of between N$8 000 and N$12 000, including deposits and utility charges, is often required to secure a one-bedroom apartment.  For entry- and mid-level earners taking home less than N$10 000 per month, the financial pressure begins before they move in. A 27-year-old marketing assistant, who spoke…
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