Featured – Page 22 – Windhoek Observer

09 Feb

President Nangolo Mbumba’s consequential leadership

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE A year after the shocking untimely passing of the Late President Hage Geingob, many Namibians are still grappling with the reality that he is gone forever. On the 04th of February 2024, a sombre cloud hovered over the nation as, in the early hours, then Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba announced that Geingob had passed away, said the reporters in the daily newspapers. On the occasion of the commemoration of the first anniversary of his passing, Namibians from all walks of life paused to reflect and pay tribute to him. Indeed, in honour of the Late President Geingob, the…

05 Feb

MTC 4Life initiative continues to empower Namibian youth

Featured, Observer Money

Niël Terblanché Namibia’s leading digital innovation company, MTC, has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment with the continuation of its MTC 4Life programme. The Corporate Social Investment (CSI) initiative aims to equip young Namibians with practical business and entrepreneurial skills to establish or expand their small and medium enterprises, ultimately helping to reduce unemployment. The initiative announced on Tuesday will provide 40 young entrepreneurs with a two-week training programme in various trades, including barbering, brick manufacturing, animation, carpentry, hairstyling, electricity and solar installation, upholstery, and welding. The training will be facilitated by qualified Namibian professionals. Upon completion, participants will receive…

03 Feb

Khomas Nampol Ladies FC taste first defeat in Women’s Super League

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shailihaxwe Khomas Nampol Ladies Football Club suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 3-1 to Football Club Ongos Ladies on Saturday. Despite the loss, Khomas Nampol remains at the top of the log with 18 points from seven games, having scored 34 goals and conceded only three. Beauties Football Club sits in second place with 16 points from six games, scoring 20 goals and conceding just one. African Stars Queens Football Club follows in third place with 16 points from seven games, scoring 11 goals and conceding one. Reigning champions FC Ongos Ladies are in fourth place with…

02 Feb

Amupanda calls for halt on N$1.7 billion TransNamib deal

Featured, National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja TransNamib’s procurement of 23 new locomotives worth N$1.7 billion has come under scrutiny, with concerns raised about the transparency of the process. The Affirmative Repositioning’s leader, Job Amupanda has called for the cancellation of the acquisition of new locomotives, arguing that the use of direct procurement is inappropriate for a deal of this scale. He claims the process lacks transparency and is being rushed to benefit "white interests" before the new administration takes office in March 2025. Amupanda has also levelled accusations against TransNamib’s chief executive officer (CEO), Desmond van Jaarsveld, accusing him of orchestrating the deal for…

02 Feb

Namibians should brace for steep price hikes

Featured, National News

Niël Terblanché Consumers across Namibia will soon feel the impact of rising global oil prices when they go shopping for essential goods. On Friday, the Ministry of Mines and Energy announced a sharp increase in fuel prices. The increase is set to take effect on Wednesday and will have an impact on the prices paid for food and other consumer goods. In its announcement, the ministry attributed the price hike to continued global geopolitical tensions, OPEC+ production cuts, and currency exchange rate fluctuations, which have driven up the cost of importing crude oil. The ministry said in its statement that…

27 Jan

Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup 2025 edition launched

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The 2025 edition of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup was launched in Windhoek on Monday and is scheduled to take place during the Easter weekend in Outjo, Kunene Region. The tournament will feature football and netball teams from all 14 regions of Namibia. Speaking at the launch, Nedbank Namibia’s Managing Director Martha Murorua expressed the bank’s pride in being the title sponsor of the event, reaffirming its commitment to youth sports development. “We have a deep-set obligation to do so, but it is an obligation that we respect, embrace and cherish with every fibre of our being. This…

27 Jan

Goagoses calls for the inclusion of netball facilities in schools & public spaces

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Netball Namibia’s president, Rebekka Goagoses has called on the government, corporate partners, and local authorities to prioritise the inclusion of netball facilities in schools and public spaces. Goagoses made the appeal on Monday during the launch of the 2025 edition of the Nedbank Namibian Newspaper Cup in Windhoek. The tournament will see netball and football teams competing. She said one of the most significant challenges netball has been facing over the years across the country, is the lack of netball facilities at primary schools and in many communities. According to her, this absence of infrastructure deprives children of…

23 Jan

MTC Maris Cup to go ahead despite boycotting threats

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The MTC Maris Cup competition round of 16 between Premier League clubs will proceed as scheduled, despite reports that some teams considered boycotting due to insufficient preparation funds. It was reported that several clubs intended to skip the games, citing that the N$30 000 provided to each team by the main sponsor, MTC, for preparations was inadequate to cover expenses such as transport and accommodation. Teams have also raised concerns about the distribution of the N$1.5 million prize money, arguing that the current winner-takes-all system does not fairly benefit all participating clubs. MTC’s corporate communication officer, Erasmus Nekundi…

23 Jan

Door open for Namibia to export to SA

Featured, Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA South Africa’s improved trade balance and economic stability in 2024 carry significant implications for Namibia, given the strong economic linkages between the two countries. The N$150 billion trade surplus achieved by South Africa, driven by lower imports and declining oil prices, enhances its purchasing power, potentially increasing demand for Namibian exports, a Simonis Storm Securities report has said. South Africa’s reduced imports of minerals, metals, and machinery could limit Namibia’s import-driven growth, although declining oil prices may alleviate input costs for Namibia’s imported goods, the firm stated. Simonis said the strengthening of the rand, driven by improved market…

19 Jan

Beyond the game with MT – A call for a change in mindset for sports leadership

Featured, Sports

Mathew T Haikali Am just saying, the dream of professionalizing sports in Namibia will remain out of reach unless there is a shift in the mindset of those leading the sector. Despite claiming to be passionate about sports, many leaders have failed to prioritize the long-term development of the industry. All I am saying is that this stagnation is evident in how teams, clubs and academies continue to rely on handouts and grants without showing genuine commitment or the accountability expected of professional organizations. I still remember a time when a major bank pledged N$2.5 million annually over three years…