Observer Money

Staff Writer Telecommunications network services provider Paratus Group has launched “Paratus 500” following its expansion into seven new African markets this year. The new markets include Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe. With the expansion, Paratus is now licensed to operate in 15 African countries. This makes the Group one of the first pan-African telecom companies to cover over 500 million people south of the equator, representing more than one-third of Africa’s population and GDP. Paratus 500 connects all 15 licensed operations through a single, contiguous telecom network. The infrastructure includes terrestrial fibre routes, subsea cable landings, and…

Staff Writer FNB Namibia has appointed Carpio Minnaar as head of operations. With more than 15 years of experience in business optimisation, operations leadership, and regulatory compliance, Minnaar brings expertise from the banking, ICT and telecommunications sectors. He has held senior and executive roles at Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC), Nedbank Namibia, and MTN Business Solutions. Known for aligning operations with business goals, Minnaar’s leadership will strengthen FNB Namibia Retail’s operational efficiency and service delivery. As head of operations, he will provide strategic and tactical direction while overseeing the management of the retail segment’s operations. His focus areas include improving efficiency,…

Chamwe Kaira The Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has reduced its losses to N$1 million for the financial year ending March 2025, down from N$8 million recorded in the previous year. The authority presented its 2024/2025 integrated annual report to the minister of works and transport, Veikko Nekundi, on 6 November.  It described the report as a reflection of strong financial recovery and improved operational performance. NCAA board chairperson Bethuel Mujetenga said the Authority achieved an unqualified audit opinion, showing solid governance and financial discipline. “For the financial year ending March 2025, the NCAA reduced its operational loss to just…

Chamwe Kaira FNB Namibia economist Cheryl Emvula says Namibia’s import coverage ratio could fall below the three-month target following the US$750 million eurobond redemption in October. According to the Bank of Namibia (BoN), international reserves stood at N$54.7 billion in September, down from N$57 billion in August.  The 4.1% monthly decline was driven by higher government external obligations and foreign payments. “Despite the reduction, reserves remain sufficient for the Bank of Namibia to fulfil its mandate of maintaining macroeconomic stability. At the current level, reserves cover 3.6 months of imports and four months excluding oil exploration and appraisal activities. Looking…

Staff Writer Andrada Mining Limited has improved its energy efficiency by 8%. The company also reduced hazardous waste generation by 64%. Overall, total waste dropped to 57 tonnes from 158 tonnes the previous year. The company said these results reflect its focus on climate action and responsible resource management. Andrada, a producer of critical minerals including tin, tantalum, lithium, tungsten, and copper, released its 2025 sustainability report last week.  The report outlines progress in environmental performance, health and safety, community impact and governance for the year ended 29 February 2025. The company also introduced the Andrada Nature Roadmap, a framework…

Staff writer Legislation alone will not solve Namibia’s growing cyber crisis, according to Mach 10, part of the O&L Group.  The company says the country faces a serious shortage of ICT professionals, especially in cybersecurity, network engineering, cloud computing and systems administration. The warning comes as the Namibia Cyber Security Incident Response team, housed at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran), recorded over 1.1 million cyber threats and over 1.09 million vulnerabilities in the first half of 2025. This is the highest number since the national cybersecurity body was created. “These alarming figures underscore a reality that can no…

Chamwe Kaira In October, many Namibians felt their wallets tighten as the cost of living continued to climb, pushing everyday expenses even higher. Residents of the Khomas region paid about N$15 more per kilogram for tomatoes. In total, they paid N$44.95 per kilogram.  This was despite the region recording the lowest inflation in the month under review.  This was far higher than in the northern regions, where consumers in Zone 1 (Kavango East, Kavango West, Kunene, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, and Zambezi) paid N$29.35 and those in Zone 3 (//Kharas, Erongo, Hardap, and Omaheke) paid N$28.76. According to the…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s September trade data shows a slight improvement in external balances but highlights the country’s continued dependence on imported energy and machinery against a narrow, mineral-based export sector, economist Almandro Jansen has said. He noted that uranium and diamond exports remain Namibia’s main foreign exchange earners but said limited local beneficiation is holding back industrial development. Jansen said diversifying exports through value addition in mining, manufacturing, and agro-processing, together with deeper integration into regional and global supply chains, is essential for building a stronger and more competitive trade sector. Trade data from the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) shows…

Staff Writer Bannerman Energy Ltd has announced a change in the shareholding of its executive chairman, Brandon Munro.  The uranium developer said Munro exercised vested performance rights under the company’s employee incentive plan (EIP) before they were due to lapse on 15 November 2025. A portion of the shares issued from this exercise was sold on the open market to settle tax obligations arising from the transaction.  The company said the move was procedural and in line with the EIP’s terms, reflecting transparent governance at the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), OTCQX and Namibia Stock Exchange (NSX) listed miner. Bannerman’s Namibian…

Chamwe Kaira Finance minister Ericah Shafudah said the government is addressing the slow execution of capital projects through stronger coordination between the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Commission (NPC).  She told parliament that both institutions are working to improve project delivery rates through upcoming public expenditure reviews. Shafudah made the remarks in parliament this week while responding to lawmakers’ concerns about the 2025/26 mid-year budget review. She assured lawmakers that the government remains committed to fiscal prudence, social protection and sustainable economic growth. She thanked members of parliament for their input during the debate, calling it a reflection…