Blog – Page 72 – Windhoek Observer

24 Sep

Tourism returns to pre-covid strength

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The tourism industry has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, with the national occupancy rate rising to 67.55% in August, up from 59.61% in July. This was a 4.5 percentage point increase from 63.02% in August 2024 and marked the highest monthly rate since the pre-Covid peak of 69.9%. “This robust performance underscores the resilience of the tourism sector and signals a full recovery of seasonal demand. With September historically being the busiest month of the year, it is anticipated that the upcoming figures will surpass pre-pandemic levels,” said Macro Pulse, an analyst at Simonis Storm Securities. On a year-to-date…

24 Sep

Heineken deal costs Remgro N$50m in earnings

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Remgro Group says its share of IFRS 3 amortisation and depreciation charges related to the Distell/Heineken transaction amounted to N$140 million for the year, down from N$257 million in 2024. “These charges stem from additional assets identified when Heineken Beverages obtained control over Distell Group Holdings Limited and Namibia Breweries Limited,” the group reported in results for the year ended 30 June. Heineken Beverages contributed a loss of N$50 million to Remgro’s headline earnings, compared to a loss of N$573 million in 2024. Excluding amortisation and depreciation, Heineken Beverages posted a profit of N$90 million, compared to…

24 Sep

Choppies sales grew by 42.3% in Namibia

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Choppies Enterprises Limited reported a mixed performance across its southern African operations for the year ended 30 June 2025. In Namibia, sales grew 42.3%, with like-for-like sales up 33.06%. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 220%, while EBIT losses narrowed from BWP14 million (N$18 million) in the prior year to BWP9 million (N$11.7 million). “Profitability improved as new stores reached full potential, supported by better promotional activity and the completion of an inventory optimisation system,” the company said. The retailer operates more than 20 stores in Namibia and is considering expanding into the south, where…

24 Sep

Nedbank CEO says marketing marketing builds value

Observer Money

Staff Writers Nedbank Group chief executive Jason Quinn says marketing must be seen as central to business growth. He noted that marketing has shifted from being a back-office function to a driver of trust, brand equity, and long-term value. He cautioned against cutting marketing budgets during tough times, asking whether reducing visibility and customer engagement could ever solve business challenges. Quinn was speaking at the Nedbank Integrated Marketing Conference (IMC) 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The event drew over 3 000 delegates in person and online and featured more than 20 speakers under the theme 'Marketing is Business'. Nedbank Namibia…

24 Sep

Canal+ offer for MultiChoice now unconditional

Observer Money

Staff Writer MultiChoice Group Limited says Groupe Canal+'s mandatory offer to acquire all ordinary shares in MultiChoice not already owned by Canal+ has become unconditional. The cash offer of N$125 per share was first outlined in a circular on 4 June 2024. As of 19 September 2025, all suspensive conditions have been met or waived. The settlement process will begin once the takeover regulation panel issues its compliance certificate. Canal+ now directly owns 200,030,591 MultiChoice shares, equal to 46% of the company’s issued shares excluding treasury shares. A further 9,767,641 shares, or 2.2%, have already been tendered under the offer.…

24 Sep

Fertility treatment is a right, not a luxury

Featured, Opinions

Dr David Emvula Infertility is a medical disease, not a lifestyle choice. Classified by the World Health Organization under the ICD-10, alongside cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS, it affects millions globally. Yet in Namibia, couples struggling with infertility are left to fend for themselves: public healthcare and private medical insurance exclude fertility treatment. This is not just unjust; it is discriminatory. Globally, one in six couples face infertility, and in Africa, it’s as high as one in four. For many, the inability to conceive carries devastating emotional, social, and psychological consequences. In a society where childbearing is central to cultural identity…

24 Sep

Coaching skills that strengthen employee performance

Opinions

Diamond Training Institute Great managers don’t just assign work—they grow capability. Coaching is the performance multiplier that turns potential into consistent results, especially when it’s woven into everyday routines rather than reserved for annual reviews. The strongest coaching cultures are built on a handful of practical skills that any leader can learn and apply in the flow of work.Start with trust. Coaching lands only when employees feel safe to admit gaps and try new approaches. You build that safety by showing up consistently, being curious rather than judgmental, and keeping commitments. Small behaviours—being on time for one-to-ones, documenting agreed actions,…

24 Sep

OBSERVER DAILY | A Critical Blow to Namibia’s Green Hydrogen Ambitions

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

James Mnyupe’s sudden resignation from Namibia’s Green Hydrogen Programme is more than a routine personnel change, it is a serious blow to one of the most promising economic ventures this country has ever embarked upon. Let’s call it what it is: an initiator of a whole new industry is walking away mid-stream, and that cannot be good for Namibia. Mnyupe was not just another advisor tucked away in State House. He was the architect and chief salesman of Namibia’s green hydrogen dream. With a rare blend of financial expertise, CA, CFA, CFP, and an unmatched grasp of how global capital…

23 Sep

Donatus arrested at Swakopmund roadblock

Main

Allexer Namundjembo and Renthia Kaimbi Suspended Walvis Bay rural councillor Florian Donatus was arrested on Monday morning in Swakopmund and formally charged with fraud, alternatively theft and money laundering. The police confirmed and noted that Donatus is expected to appear in the Swakopmund Magistrate’s Court today. His arrest follows weeks of controversy surrounding his suspension from the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC). He was suspended on 5 September over allegations of corruption and financial misconduct. The claims include misuse of the Erongo Regional Council’s credit facility to procure goods valued at more than N$116 000 and authorising a N$10 000…

23 Sep

Namibia yet to ratify WTO fisheries subsidies pact

National News

Justicia Shipena Namibia has not ratified the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, which prohibits governments from supporting illegal fishing and the overexploitation of fish stocks. The agreement was adopted at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2022 and officially entered into force last week after two-thirds of members deposited instruments of acceptance. Namibia has not done so yet. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer in Geneva, Switzerland, commercial counsellor Jeanthea Tjitaura from Namibia's Geneva mission said her office has written to the ministry of international relations and trade (MIRT) to facilitate ratification. “Our office has written to…