Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Macroprudential Oversight Committee of the Bank of Namibia (BoN) met last week for its second review of the year to assess risks in the financial system. BoN deputy governor Ebson Uanguta said the committee found the system stable after assessing global and domestic developments.  “After a thorough assessment of the global and domestic macro-financial developments and their potential impact on domestic financial stability, the committee concluded that the domestic financial system remains sound and stable, and it continues to operate without disruptions. Both the banking and non-banking financial sectors remained sound and well capitalised with sufficient levels…

Chamwe Kaira Deep Yellow Limited chairman Chris Salisbury said the company made steady progress across its project pipeline during the 2025 financial year.  He said detailed study work continued to reinforce the value of the Tumas project in Namibia. “Although engineering works and limited early site activities have begun, the board opted to delay full-scale construction until uranium market prices rise sufficiently to support long-term, sustainable greenfield development,” Salisbury said.  He said ongoing engineering work will reduce project risk, while delaying the final investment decision positions shareholders to benefit from expected uranium price increases as global supply tightens. Negotiations with…

Chamwe Kaira Alpha Namibia Industries Renewable Power Limited (Anirep) held its 7th annual general meeting in Windhoek last week, where shareholders approved most of the resolutions presented. The meeting was held in person and online. Shareholders adopted the minutes of the previous AGM and approved the annual financial statements and consolidated financials for the year ended 28 February 2025, along with the directors’ and auditors’ reports.  All 74 769 510 votes cast were in favour, with no objections. The meeting resolved that no dividend will be declared for the 2025 financial year.  Several board and committee changes were also confirmed.…

Chamwe Kaira Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) signalled a strong performance ahead of its year-end results after issuing a trading statement on 21 November 2025.  The company said its profit after tax, basic earnings per share and headline earnings per share for the period ending 30 September 2025 are expected to rise by between 28% and 35% compared to the previous year. MTC said the projected increase is driven by solid revenue growth and cost-control measures.  The figures have not yet been reviewed or audited, and the audited results are set for release on or around 8 December 2025. In the…

Chamwe Kaira City Lodge Hotels Limited says its Namibian operation, Town Lodge Windhoek, continues to experience strong demand, according to its latest operational update. Earlier this year, the group wrote down N$13.5 million in Namibia after new tax rules restricted how companies can carry forward assessed losses.  Under the changes introduced by the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) in September 2024 and effective from 1 July 2024, losses can only be set off against taxable income up to N$1 million or 80% of taxable income, whichever is higher. Losses also cannot be carried forward for more than five years. Last year,…

Staff Writer  The European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the International Air Transport Association have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore how the European Union Flight Emissions Label can work with IATA’s environmental data systems, EcoHub and the IATA carbon dioxide (CO₂) connect calculator. The aim is to streamline industry processes so passengers can see clear and consistent CO₂ emissions data when booking flights.  The Flight Emissions Label came into effect under an EU regulation launched in 2024 and gives airlines a trusted framework to share emissions information with passengers. IATA’s EcoHub is a system used to manage sustainability…

Chamwe Kaira  Cyber crooks are using sharper and more sophisticated tactics to target businesses and individuals, experts have warned. Social engineering remains one of the most common methods. Criminals use phishing emails, fake calls, and misleading messages to trick people into giving them sensitive information.  “They often pose as trusted institutions, create urgency and convince victims that sharing details will prevent financial harm,” said FirstRand Namibia chief executive officer Conrad Dempsey. Deepfake and AI-driven fraud are also rising. Criminals use synthetic media to copy voices or identities for high-value scams. “As more businesses move online, these sophisticated techniques are harder…

Chamwe Kaira  Windhoek’s approved building plans fell by 12% month-on-month, dropping from 226 in September to 198 in October, economic analyst Almandro Jansen of Simonis Storm said. On an annual basis, approvals were down 19%, showing slow construction activity in the capital. Swakopmund moved in the opposite direction. The coastal town recorded an 80% rebound from 85 to 153 approvals. Year-on-year, it posted a 119% increase, supported by a low 2024 base and stronger sentiment linked to tourism, relocations and future energy-sector activity. Windhoek remains Namibia's main growth centre, with an average of 179 approvals per month this year.  “But…

Chamwe Kaira  S&P Global Ratings has upgraded South Africa’s long-term sovereign ratings, raising the country from ‘BB-’ to ‘BB’ for foreign currency and from ‘BB’ to ‘BB+’ for local currency.  The outlook is positive, the South African National Treasury said. South Africa is one of Namibia’s biggest trading partners. In September, it was Namibia’s largest export destination with a share of 17.8%. Botswana followed with 14%. Zambia, China, and the UAE were also among Namibia’s top five export markets. South Africa remained Namibia’s main source of imports, accounting for 33.3% of all goods entering the country.  China held 10.8%, while…

Chamwe Kaira  Four sources have confirmed that TotalEnergies, Chevron and other oil majors are leading the race to buy a 40% stake in Galp Mopane in Namibia, Reuters reported this week.  Galp said it will announce the winning bidder and the estimated resources of Mopane by year-end. Namibia has continued to attract international oil companies after several major finds since 2022.  The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) says the discoveries point to Namibia’s potential to rank among the world’s top 15 oil producers by 2035, even though the country does not yet produce hydrocarbons. TotalEnergies and Chevron declined to…