Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s annual inflation rate eased to 2.9% in January, down from 3.2% recorded in January last year, according to the latest Namibia Consumer Price Index report. Statistician general and Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) chief executive officer Alex Shimuafeni released the report. On a month-on-month basis, inflation rose to 0.8% in January from 0.1% in December 2025. This shows prices increased at a faster pace during the month under review. The report states that inflation measures the sustained increase in the general price level of goods and services over time.  Changes in inflation are tracked through movements in the…

Chamwe Kaira The Namibia Deposit Guarantee Authority (NDGA) says the country’s Deposit Guarantee Scheme covers more than 90% of current depositors. The figures are contained in the NDGA’s three-year strategic plan for 2026 to 2028, which sets out the institution’s priorities for the next three years. The Deposit Guarantee Scheme allows depositors to access all or part of their money within a set period if a bank fails. It aims to prevent panic withdrawals by assuring depositors that their funds are protected. All Namibian banking institutions, branches of foreign banks and building societies must join the scheme and pay annual…

Chamwe Kaira The global uranium market outlook remains firm as demand for nuclear energy rises due to energy security concerns and growing electrification.  Utilities are seeking secure uranium supplies from Western-aligned countries amid supply constraints caused by years of underinvestment.  This is based on the Langer Heinrich Mine investor report released by Paladin Energy. In Namibia, Paladin Energy’s Langer Heinrich Mine is ramping up towards full mining and processing operations. The mine produced 2.3 million pounds of U₃O₈ during the first half of the 2026 financial year.  Full-year production for FY2026 is expected to reach the upper end of the…

Staff Writer Trustco Group Holdings Limited has announced that Meya Mining Limited, in which the Windhoek-based group holds an indirect equity interest, has secured a US$25 million financing facility from Ecobank Sierra Leone Limited, supported by Ecobank Ghana Plc. The funding was announced at a signing ceremony on the opening day of the Africa Mining Indaba 2026 in Cape Town.  Meya said the facility was obtained on normal commercial terms and does not include any equity conversion rights or restrictive conditions. The company said the financing marks a step toward full commercial diamond production under its 25-year exclusive mining licence…

Hileni Amadhila February tells us that love should be exciting. Big gestures. Surprise spending. Something memorable enough to post about. But when it comes to money and relationships, the kind of love that lasts is usually quiet, practical and, frankly, a bit boring. Borrowing money choices don’t make for good stories. No one brags about sticking to a budget or paying an insurance premium on time. Yet these are the choices that protect relationships when life takes an unexpected turn. They’re the decisions that keep stress low and trust intact long after the flowers have wilted. Money is one of…

Staff Writer Nedbank Group Limited and Nedbank Limited have announced changes to their boards of directors and board committees as part of the group’s board continuity programme. With effect from 3 March 2026, Peter Wharton-Hood has been appointed as an independent non-executive director on the boards of Nedbank Group and Nedbank. He will also serve on the Nedbank Group Credit Committee and the large-exposure approval committee.  Wharton-Hood is the Group Chief Executive of Life Healthcare Group Holdings Limited and has more than 20 years of international executive and board experience. He has previously held senior roles at Standard Bank Group…

Namibia’s upstream narrative has, until recently, been defined by deepwater success in the Orange Basin, where major offshore discoveries have transformed perceptions of the country’s hydrocarbon potential. Galp’s Mopane discovery, estimated to hold up to 10 billion barrels of oil equivalent, alongside TotalEnergies’ Venus find, has firmly positioned Namibia on the global exploration map and underpinned expectations of first offshore oil before the end of the decade.  Alongside this offshore momentum, however, a parallel story is unfolding onshore, where frontier basins, lower entry costs and improving geological understanding are drawing increased attention from explorers and investors alike. Onshore Namibia presents…

Chamwe Kaira  The Namibia Airports Company Limited (NAC) recorded revenue growth of 6% in the 2024/25 financial year as passenger volumes continued to recover. For the year ended 31 March 2025, NAC’s revenue increased by 6% to N$540 million. The company said the growth was driven by improved passenger numbers and a return to normal operations after the Covid-19 pandemic. Aeronautical revenue also increased by 6%, supported by route development initiatives and stronger relationships with strategic partners. NAC chief executive officer Bisey /Uirab said the results show the company’s ability to respond to market needs while preparing for future growth. …

Staff Writer Andrada Mining Limited has signed a cooperation agreement with the European Investment Bank to advance the feasibility study for the Uis Lithium Expansion Project in Namibia. The agreement was concluded through Andrada’s wholly owned subsidiary, Uis Tin Mining Company (Proprietary) Limited. It will provide technical and project development support to move the lithium project to a bankable feasibility level. The support will come through the EU-funded Critical Raw Materials Technical Assistance Facility under the EU–OACPS framework. Consulting services worth up to €2 million, about N$37.9 million, will be provided as a non-dilutive grant. The agreement carries no repayment…