Observer Money

In October, Namibia experienced its highest issuance of government debt securities for any month of the 2024/25 financial year thus far, totalling N$2.2 billion, according to the Bank of Namibia’s updated borrowing plan. However, despite this significant issuance, the country’s total government debt saw a net increase of only N$956 million, largely due to the redemption of the GC24 bond. The month-on month growth in government debt was 0.8% This was lower than the 1.73% increase recorded in September, despite the conduct of three bond auctions and five treasury bill auctions, which is more than typical for a month. By…

CHAMWE KAIRA Trustco is in the process of completing the US regulatory requirements to list on the Nasdaq Stock Market, the company announced. Both the JSE and NSX have been notified of the company’s intention to move the primary listing to a direct listing on Nasdaq, in terms of their relevant listing requirements. “The company intends to maintain secondary listings on the JSE and NSX. No action is required from shareholders at this time. Trustco has been publicly trading on the NSX for 18 years, and on the JSE for 15 years,” the company said. In terms of Section 18.26…

CHAMWE KAIRA MultiChoice has said currency depreciation reduced trading profit by close to N$7 billion over the last 18 months. The company said it delivered various positive operational outcomes through active interventions for the six-month period ended 30 September. The company said meaningful progress made on the Canal+ transaction with the merger control filing submitted to the South African Competition Commission on 30 September, and engagements with other regulatory authorities underway. The group's linear subscriber base declined by 11% or 1.8 million subscribers year to year to 14.9m active subscribers at 30 September. “While this is indicative of the extremely…

Mining Indaba, the premier platform for deal-making, investment, and corporate networking for African mining for over 30 years – has announced a 2025 agenda that emphasises the voices of indigenous people and communities in the mainstream of the conference. The new focus for next year’s event – Investing In Mining Indaba 2025 – reinforces the Mining Indaba commitment to future-proofing African communities, by foregrounding the experiences of those directly affected by mining. “The meaningful integration and collaboration with mining communities and indigenous people are essential to shaping the future of mining,” said Laura Nicholson, Head of Content & Strategic Partnerships…

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) attended and participated at the inaugural meeting of the Communications Regulators' Association of Southern Africa (CRASA) Consumer Committee, hosted by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). The gathering took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, marking a significant step towards advancing consumer protection initiatives in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The consumer committee meeting was convened to initiate the implementation of the Consumer Committee Operational Plan for 2024/2025. This forum provided a platform for CRASA members to collaborate on addressing critical issues and seizing strategic opportunities related to consumer rights…

The geopolitical conflict in Mozambique comes at a very delicate time for South Africa, when logistics and the supply chain are under pressure from several other disruptive challenges, says Juanita Maree, chief executive of the Southern Africa Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF). South Africa’s business sector has voiced concern over the Southern Africa Development Community’s (SADC) slow response, calling on member states to move immediately into a leadership position as mediator, to restore law and order and stabilise trade operations, which are critical to the regional economy. These actions, they assert, are critical to the safety of the citizens on…

Martin Endjala The Kelp Blue project in Lüderitz is setting the stage for a potential agricultural revolution by creating a biostimulant from seaweed. This Namibian company, founded by Daniel Hooft in 2020, cultivates kelp in Lüderitz’s nutrient-rich Shearwater Bay, where the Benguela Current fosters rapid, year-round seaweed growth. Kelp Blue is currently conducting a three-year trial. Operations deputy director manager, Iriya Jona, said it hopes to be in full operation by 2027 when its three-year trial ends as per the Ministry of Agriculture's policies. “The biostimulant we are producing, although still on trial, has yielded good results, particularly for our…

CHAMWE KAIRA Afreximbank is currently considering facilities for two local banks, one for a letter of credit confirmation facility and a second one to act as a Trade Finance Intermediary and Local Administrative Agent. Gwen Mwaba, Managing Director for Trade Finance and Correspondent Banking, Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank explained in an interview that nominated trade finance intermediaries act as its local administrative agents in different African markets. She was speaking on the sidelines of the annual Afreximbank Trade Finance Seminar held in Windhoek. She said the Bank has been holding these seminars since 1999 and added that the idea…