National News

Patience Makwele  Institutional investors have been urged to direct more capital toward projects that support Namibia’s long-term economic development. The call was made during the recently concluded 5th Annual Namibia Institutional Investors Forum (NIIF) 2026.  The forum brought together pension funds, asset managers, development finance institutions and policymakers to discuss how institutional savings can support economic growth. Speaking at the forum, Monasa Advisory and Associates managing director Jason Kasuto said Namibia faces an important moment as new economic opportunities emerge. Kasuto said Namibia’s economic outlook over the next decade is expected to improve, supported by developments in mining and the…

Chamwe Kaira Sanlam Limited has reported a decrease in Value of New Business (VNB) for the year ended 31 December, partly linked to the disposal of its Namibia operations to SanlamAllianz in 2024. The company said the decline was largely driven by a shift in product mix in South Africa, where clients continued to favour market-linked or living annuities instead of life annuities. “This was compounded by development costs associated with establishing new distribution channels in India as well as by the cessation of the Capitec partnership and disposal of the Namibia operations to SanlamAllianz in 2024,” the company said.…

Allexer Namundjembo Businessman Knowledge Katti says Namibians risk missing an opportunity to gain local ownership in the Rössing Uranium Mine.  In January, reports emerged that one of the shareholders of Rössing uranium, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) of South Africa, is selling its 10.2% stake in the mine. The IDC was among Rössing’s founding shareholders in the 1970s, when Rio Tinto was the main shareholder. IDC said it had reached the end of its investment horizon and intended to dispose of its 10.2% stake because the holding period for the investment had expired. Katti raised the concern on Friday in…

Justicia Shipena  President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says progress toward gender equality requires action and commitment from society. Nandi-Ndaitwah was among many leaders who, on International Women’s Day yesterday, called for stronger action to protect the rights of women and girls.  “Progress does not happen by chance. It requires action, determination and the collective will of societies to ensure that women and girls are given the dignity, opportunity and space to contribute fully to the development of our world,” she said during the commemoration of International Women’s Day at Hosea Kutako International Airport on Sunday.  The global event was observed under the…

Allexer Namundjebo  A two-year emergency food support programme aimed at addressing food insecurity among vulnerable households was launched last week at Ondera Farm in the Oshikoto region. The programme is implemented through a partnership between the government, Chevron and the non-profit organisation Palms for Life Fund. The launch ceremony took place on Friday and was officiated by the governor of Oshikoto, Sacky Kathindi, on behalf of vice president Lucia Witbooi.  Regional and traditional leaders and community members attended the event. The programme will provide nutritious food assistance to about 3 150 households, including highly vulnerable individuals, pregnant and breastfeeding women…

Justicia Shipena  The chief of the Ovaherero Traditional Authority (OTA), Hoze Riruako, has proposed that the government consider a quota system to allow communities that lost land during colonial rule to access land again. Riruako made the proposal during a courtesy meeting with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at State House on Thursday.  He said the proposal aims to address the long-standing issue of ancestral land without creating fear among other Namibians. “What we wanted to see reflected, especially in the national development plan, is a quota system that will allow those who have been completely disenfranchised of their land to get…

Renthia Kaimbi The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Namibia has launched an urgent petition opposing a proposal by the Namibian Defence Force to permanently close a large section of civilian airspace in the Erongo region. The proposal involves reclassifying FYM-401, a military operations area currently used by both civilian and military aircraft, into permanently prohibited airspace. The area covers a 30-nautical-mile radius around the Erongo Mountains and includes the towns of Omaruru, Karibib and Usakos. According to AOPA Namibia, the airspace covers about one million hectares and stretches from ground level to 25 000 feet. The association says the…

Justicia Shipena  Environment, Forestry and Tourism minister Indileni Daniel says Namibia will continue to oppose international pressure from anti-hunting groups calling for a ban on trophy hunting.  Daniel said such campaigns threaten the country’s conservation model and communal conservancy programme. Daniel made the remarks in Parliament while responding to questions from Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Diederick Vries on the role of trophy hunting in Namibia’s economy and conservation system. Daniel said the pressure from international groups conflicts with Namibia’s philosophy of sustainable use of wildlife and could undermine conservation efforts if not addressed. The international hunting community…

Allexer Namundjembo The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has approved new telecommunications tariffs and amended spectrum licence regulations. The decisions were published in the government gazette on 27 February.  Cran announced amendments to regulations governing fees for spectrum licences, certificates and examinations.  The changes update provisions contained in the regulations setting out fees for spectrum licences, certificates and examinations first published in 2020 and later amended in 2023. According to a notice signed by Cran board chairperson Tulimevava Mufeti, the amendments include changes to licence validity provisions and the introduction of a new radio frequency band. “The regulations are…