Observer Money – Page 148 – Windhoek Observer

22 Sep

Housing target of 20 000 units, a pipe dream

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The target set by the government of delivering 20 000 housing units by the end of 2025, remains a pipe dream and will not be met. This is as a result of the slow pace at which the National Housing Enterprise is constructing houses. The country’s housing backlog stands at 300 000 housing units; this means that the country needs to construct around 30 000 houses annually. “However, it appears unlikely that this target will be met, given the current pace of construction by the National Housing Enterprise (NHE). Only 29% of this goal has been achieved, and…

22 Sep

Exempting Chinese from visas will increase tourism

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The proposed visa exemptions for 30 days for Chinese nationals arriving in Namibia will have a positive impact on tourist arrivals from the Asian giant given that it is the second biggest economy in the world and a big player in travel and tourism globally. “Namibia will do well to tap and establish a tourism market in China. This will enhance tourism growth for the country as well as economic growth and investment. The visa requirement has been one of the challenges that hampering Chinese arrivals, with that exemption, we are confident that the tourism arrivals will increase…

22 Sep

Trans Kalahari blends with TransNamib plans

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The proposed Trans Kalahari Railway to link Botswana and the port of Walvis plans will undoubtedly blend in with plans of TransNamib, to have a rail link between Namibia and Botswana, TransNamib said this week. The Trans-Kalahari Railway is anticipated to facilitate the transportation of 14 million tons annually in its inaugural year of operation, with the potential to increase to 56 million tons per annum by its 30th year of service, as revealed in project tender documents. Scheduled to commence construction in January 2025, this ambitious project comes with a multi-billion-dollar price tag. Stretching across a distance…

21 Sep

Shifeta calls for action to achieve sustainable forest management

Observer Money

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Pohamba Shifeta, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, highlighted the multifaceted challenges facing Namibia’s forests and emphasized the urgent need for collective action towards sustainable forest management. Speaking at the end of the conference titled “The Future of Namibia’s Forests – Sustainable Forest Management as Key to Unlock Its Potential”, organized by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) and the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN), Shifeta focused the attention on the significant deterioration caused by deforestation. “Our forests ate confronted by numerous challenges, with deforestation at the forefront. Nevertheless, we find solace in Namibia’s proactive steps to…

20 Sep

The Windhoek Observer Launches WhatsApp NewsBot

Observer MoneyThe Windhoek Observer Launches WhatsApp NewsBot

Windhoek, Namibia – September 20, 2023 – The Windhoek Observer, a leading newspaper in Namibia, announced the launch of its innovative WhatsApp NewsBot, becoming the first newspaper in Namibia and one of the earliest in Southern Africa to offer this state-of-the-art feature. The InfoBot/NewsBot provides instant access to a myriad of offerings, including: On-Demand E-Paper Access: Subscribers to the bot, which is free to access, can instantly receive the daily e-paper and the weekend newspaper, both in convenient PDF formats. Latest Headlines at a Touch: Readers can get the latest headlines from latest news, finance to energy and sports, automatically…

20 Sep

Gondwana Collection takes action amidst surge in crimes against tourist

Observer MoneyGondwana Collection takes action amidst surge in crimes against tourist

Niël Terblanché Amidst a concerning uptick in criminal activities targeting international tourists, Gondwana Collection Namibia has launched the “Tourism Heroes” campaign. This initiative, in partnership with Namibian authorities, aims to reward and recognize individuals and entities pivotal in preserving and enhancing Namibian tourism. In this regard the Gondwana Collection Namibia contributed a generous N$1,000,000 to the cause—split between cash and in-kind donations facilitated through the Gondwana Care Trust. Christiaan Jacobie, Senior Content Architect at Gondwana, emphasized the importance of this campaign. “Namibia, globally celebrated for its enthralling landscapes and warmth, now faces challenges jeopardizing its visitors’ safety. Our campaign aims…

20 Sep

High seas disrupt cargo deliveries and strand tourists in Namibia

Observer Money

Niël Terblanché Severe weather and high seas conditions have caused chaos along the coastlines of several Southern African countries over the past few days. Maersk, a leading international shipping conglomerate, has diverted two of its colossal container ships due to the adverse weather, rerouting them to the port of Walvis Bay. The company released a statement explaining the drastic measure: “The Maersk Sofia and Maersk Sheerness, are significantly affected by the weather around the coast, prompting us to omit Cape Town West Bound calls for both vessels.” The company said all Cape Town imports will be discharged in Walvis Bay…

15 Sep

Trans-Kalahari Railway to move 14 million tons per annum

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The proposed Trans-Kalahari Railway, slated for construction between Namibia and Botswana, is anticipated to facilitate the transportation of 14 million tons annually in its inaugural year of operation, with the potential to increase to 56 million tons per annum by its 30th year of service, as revealed in project tender documents. Scheduled to commence construction in January 2025, this ambitious project comes with a multi-billion-dollar price tag. Stretching across a distance of 1500 kilometers, this railway will span from Mmamabula in Botswana to its final destination, Walvis Bay, primarily serving as a conduit for transporting coal and copper…

15 Sep

Elevated fuel cost to fuel inflation

Observer Money

According to Simonis Storm, the surge in fuel prices is anticipated to trigger a rise in inflation in Namibia. This increase in fuel costs could result in higher transportation expenses, a significant component of the consumer basket, eventually impacting overall inflation. Currently, fuel prices in the United States have reached their highest seasonal level in more than a decade, surpassing last year’s rates, with the national average for regular gasoline reaching US$3.81 per gallon. The firm attributed this increase to Saudi Arabia and Russia extending their oil supply curbs for an additional three months, maintaining production cuts that have kept…

15 Sep

Uis Mine to increase productivity and output

Observer Money

Andrada Mining Limited, under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Anthony Viljoen, has unveiled plans to enhance productivity and increase output at its Uis mining projects. This decision comes in the wake of securing N$100 million in funding from the Development Bank of Namibia, a crucial element of their comprehensive funding and development strategy. The allocated funds will be strategically utilized to implement improvements at the Uis Mine, aiming to boost the plant’s productivity and output. Viljoen emphasized that these resources will expedite the implementation of the Uis Mine Stage II Continuous Improvement Project. Furthermore, Viljoen expressed optimism that the…