Blog – Page 7 – Windhoek Observer

13 Mar

Paratus delays release of financial results

Observer Money

Staff Writer Paratus Namibia Holdings Limited has delayed the publication of its interim financial results for the period ended 31 December 2025. In a notice to shareholders, the company said the results will be released after the deadline set under the listing requirements of the Namibia Securities Exchange. The company said the delay follows the rollout of a new operating support system and business support system at Paratus Telecommunications (Pty) Ltd, the group’s main operating subsidiary. The systems were introduced to support the launch of Paratus’ mobile business. According to the board, the company needs more time to reconcile and…

13 Mar

Labour commissioner resolves 77% of disputes

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Office of the Labour Commissioner resolved 77% of labour disputes during the 2024/2025 financial year, exceeding its target of 75%. According to the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for 2026/2027 to 2028/2029 for labour and industrial relations, the office handled 4 203 labour dispute cases through its dispute resolution system. Of these cases, 3 253 were resolved, while 950 remained pending by 31 March 2025. Most of the pending cases were delayed due to postponements. Conciliation remained the most common method used to resolve disputes. A total of 2 064 cases, representing 63% of resolved matters, were settled through…

13 Mar

Maryke van Lill to lead O&L Leisure

Observer Money

Staff Writer O&L Leisure, the hospitality division of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group, has appointed Maryke van Lill as managing director, effective 1 March 2026. Van Lill simultaneously joins the O&L Group executive team, marking a significant milestone for her career and the business. Van Lill brings more than 15 years of diverse experience across marketing, brand strategy, innovation and client leadership. Most recently serving as O&L Leisure's general manager for marketing, she was the driving force behind the "Namibia Through Our Eyes" platform, a philosophy that has redefined how O&L Leisure presents Namibia to local and global travellers.…

13 Mar

DStv getting a new streaming service

Observer Money

Canal+ CEO Maxime Saada says the company will bring its over-the-top (OTT) platform, the Canal+ app, to South Africa to replace the “bleeding” Showmax. MultiChoice announced its intention to shut down Showmax on 5 March 2026 and said it would ensure no disruptions for Showmax subscribers during the transition phase. “As you know, this was a severely loss-making activity on which we saw no recovery, no matter what was done,” the CEO said. Saada explained that Canal+ quickly came to an agreement with Comcast to shut down Showmax as soon as possible but said he couldn’t share details on the…

13 Mar

De Beers sale gets cheaper, though not easier

Observer Money

Anglo American has massively downgraded the value of De Beers on its balance sheet, suggesting a bargain might be in the offing for its many bidders. Which might make the sale easier and quicker, right? Of course, this is not an obvious conclusion, given that after nearly two years, the sale of the once-formidable diamond business is still dragging along, while the assault of lab-grown gems on the market has intensified. Take the fact that a third cut to De Beers’ value last year – from US$4.1bn to a miserable US$2.3bn – was largely to blame for parent Anglo American’s…

13 Mar

Apparent haste by parly committee on uranium exploration in Omaheke suspect

Opinions

Kae Matundu Tjiparuro The report and/or the derivatives of the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources cannot but be highly suspect. Regarding the exploration of uranium in the region of Omahake, specifically in the Stampriet area by Headspring Investments, a subsidiary of the Russian energy company. A matter the local media has lately been zeroing in on. But at variance. One headlining its story on the exploration of uranium is hanging in the balance. While the subsequent informed and reported on the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Natural Resources’ love and/or favourable inclination towards the exploration. Gunning for…

12 Mar

Hot water, cold reality

Editorial, Featured

This week we witnessed what should have been a routine maintenance matter elevated into a moment of political theatre: the restoration of hot water at one of the country’s major public hospitals. The ministers responsible deserve acknowledgement for taking decisive action. But while we congratulate them for addressing a deeply embarrassing situation, the circumstances surrounding this “achievement” raise troubling questions about the priorities of governance in our country. Let us begin with the obvious. The absence of reliable hot water in a major national hospital is not merely an inconvenience. It is a failure of basic governance. Hospitals are places…

12 Mar

Kalangula proposes rail overhaul to save TransNamib …outsourcing rail maintenance threatens TransNamib’s future

Main, National News

Justicia Shipena Bringing railway maintenance back to TransNamib Holdings Limited could help save the struggling state-owned enterprise, according to Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) member of parliament Nelson Kalangula. Kalangula made the remarks while contributing to the budget debate in the National Assembly on Tuesday. He said TransNamib is facing operational and financial challenges, including an ageing fleet, limited operational capacity and rising debt. “Bringing railway maintenance back to TransNamib could potentially save the enterprise by consolidating resources, ensuring direct oversight, and aligning maintenance schedules with long-term goals,” he said. Kalangula said TransNamib operates depots in more than 18 towns…

12 Mar

Central Hospital geysers switched back on

National News

Justicia Shipena The government has spent N$6.48 million to restore the industrial electrical geyser water heating system at Windhoek Central Hospital. Minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi announced the completion of the project during a handover ceremony at the hospital on Wednesday. The project was completed over seven months by Namibia Engineering Cooperation (NEC) and Pumps (Pty) Ltd, a Namibian-owned company. Nekundi said the upgrade restores reliable hot water across the hospital and improves conditions for patients and healthcare workers. “I am proud to provide that this project was undertaken and sincerely delivered at a cost of N$6.48 million…

12 Mar

Omaheke water tank scandal exposes governance gaps

National News

Patience Makwele The arrest of three officials in the Omaheke region over the alleged diversion of community water tanks has raised concerns about accountability in public service and the protection of resources meant for vulnerable communities. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) this week arrested three officials from the directorate of rural water supply within the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform following an investigation into alleged corrupt practices involving community water tanks. The suspects, Katjimune Lion, Tjaondo Festus and Mbingana Morbe Albert, are accused of submitting fraudulent requisitions to the Omaheke Regional Government Stores to obtain two 10 000-litre…