Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Telecom Namibia plans to invest more than N$2.3 billion over the coming years to expand and upgrade its national telecommunications infrastructure, alongside a tariff rebalancing that will lower prices across several services from 1 February 2026. The company said the investment will expand fibre-to-the-home and business services, strengthen the national fibre network, upgrade mobile networks from 3G to 4.5G and prepare for 5G, and improve international connectivity through the Google Equiano undersea cable.  Funding will also go to billing systems, customer self-service platforms, cybersecurity, cloud services and backup power solutions. As part of the tariff changes, Telecom Namibia…

Chamwe Kaira TransNamib Holdings Limited says the manufacturing of 20 locomotives has not yet formally started, with timelines and implementation dependent on the outcome of an independent technical report. TransNamib’s executive for commercial and marketing, Kendall Swartz, said only limited preparatory work has taken place so far.  This includes the stripping of two locomotives as part of preliminary remanufacturing activities. He said no completion timeframe has been set. Swartz told Observer Money that the cost of manufacturing the 20 locomotives and the expected savings will only be known once the independent technical report is finalised.  He said the report will…

Staff Writer The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) approved N$912.7 million in funding during the 2024/25 financial year, a marginal increase of 0.7% from the N$906.1 million approved the year before. Private sector approvals reached N$562.7 million, a slight drop from N$564.7 million in 2023/24. Public sector approvals rose to N$350.0 million, up from N$341.3 million in the previous year. DBN approved 128 loans during the year, fewer than the 141 loans approved in 2023/24. Start-up financing remained limited. The bank approved 15 start-up loans worth N$17.1 million in 2024/25, compared with 16 start-up loans totalling N$233.1 million the year…

Chamwe Kaira Nedbank Group has announced plans to acquire about 66% of the issued share capital of NCBA Group Plc, a deal that would give the South African bank effective control of one of East Africa’s largest financial institutions. Nedbank said it has submitted a formal notice of intention to the NCBA board, the Capital Markets Authority, the Nairobi Securities Exchange and the Competition Authority of Kenya.  The group plans to acquire about 1.09 billion NCBA ordinary shares through a partial pro rata offer. Under the proposal, each NCBA shareholder may tender 66% of their holding.  Shareholders may also tender…

Staff Writer Sectoral job creation in projects funded by the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) fell in the 2024/25 financial year, with supported projects creating 512 permanent and 971 temporary jobs. According to DBN’s Integrated Annual Report 2024/25, this marks a decline from the 717 permanent and 1,586 temporary jobs recorded in the previous year. Job creation within small and medium enterprises also weakened. SMEs generated 225 permanent and 257 temporary jobs in 2024/25, down from 375 permanent and 405 temporary jobs in 2023/24.  Despite the drop, SMEs continued to contribute to employment across several sectors. The construction sector remained…

Staff Writer Alexforbes Namibia has been ranked the No. 1 Top Employer in Namibia for 2026 after receiving certification from the Top Employers Institute. The accreditation recognises the company’s people practices and its focus on employee development, engagement and wellbeing.  The Top Employers Programme assesses organisations against global standards across six areas.  These include people strategy, work environment, talent acquisition, learning, diversity and inclusion, and wellbeing. Alexforbes said the ranking shows strong alignment between its people strategy and business goals, which supports long-term performance and growth. Commenting on the recognition, managing director of Alexforbes Namibia Holdings Stéfan du Preez said…

Staff Writer For many young Namibians, building a career now comes with heavy family responsibilities. Many support parents nearing retirement, younger siblings still in school, and extended family members with ongoing health needs. This often places them in the role of primary breadwinner, even as they work toward financial independence. According to Geoffrey Namaseb, sales manager at Standard Insurance Brokers Namibia, this reality is more common than many expect. “Many young professionals are the backbone of their families,” he says.  “Yet few have the savings needed to absorb sudden financial shocks, particularly the unexpected passing of a loved one –…

Chamwe Kaira  The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has entered a period of strategic transition with the implementation of a new five-year integrated strategic business plan aimed at strengthening the institution’s resilience, adaptability and long-term development impact. Board chairperson Evangelina Nailenge said the strategy marks an important step in repositioning DBN as a future-focused development finance institution while reinforcing its role in supporting Namibia’s economic and social progress.  She said the plan is built on four strategic pillars: financial sustainability, people and culture, market positioning, and developmental effectiveness. Nailenge said DBN’s governance framework remained sound during the period under review,…

Chamwe Kaira  The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has flagged several downside risks to the Namibian economy despite a positive growth outlook, according to its Integrated Annual Report for the 2024/25 financial year. The bank said one of the main risks is reduced diamond export earnings, driven by declining global diamond prices and growing competition from lab-grown alternatives.  It also warned that possible trade disruptions linked to rising protectionist policies, together with inflationary pressures caused by ongoing global conflicts, continue to increase economic uncertainty. Fiscal pressures remain a concern, with declining revenues from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and…

Chamwe Kaira  Mining activities at Langer Heinrich Mine continued to ramp up during the quarter ended 31 December 2025, with drilling, blasting, and load-and-haul operations focused on the G and F pits, according to Paladin Energy.  Total material mined reached 5.53 million tonnes, up from the previous quarter, resulting in higher volumes of mined ore and low-grade ore added to stockpiles. The remaining mining fleet arrived at the port of Walvis Bay during the quarter and is scheduled for delivery to the mine by the end of January, with commissioning expected in the March quarter. Crusher throughput reached 1.21 million…