Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira  Fraud losses in Namibia’s banking sector have risen sharply over the past five years, reaching N$73.9 million in 2025, according to new data from the central bank. In 2021, total fraud losses stood at N$13.3 million. Card fraud was the main driver at N$6.8 million, followed by e-money fraud at N$3.6 million and EFT fraud at N$2.9 million. In 2022, losses more than doubled to N$31.5 million. EFT fraud increased to N$14.5 million and became the largest contributor, overtaking card fraud. The rise continued in 2023, with total fraud reaching N$46.7 million. EFT fraud accounted for N$17.4 million,…

The Financial Institutions and Markets Act (Fima) is being implemented under Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) supervision following a formal directive from the minister of finance.  This marks a decisive step toward stronger governance, financial stability, and consumer protection in Namibia, according to Namfisa. According to Namfisa, Fima strengthens Namibia’s non-banking financial sector by promoting consumer protection, transparency, and sound governance. Importantly, the Act will be implemented effectively without the regulation on the preservation of retirement benefits, ensuring regulatory progress continues while safeguarding the public interest. Observer Money talks to Carmen Diehl, the senior manager for risk management &…

Staff Writer  The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has disbursed N$1 billion to support the development of healthcare infrastructure in Namibia. The funding forms part of the government's RoadMap initiative led by the Ministry of Health and Social Services and aligned with the medium-term expenditure framework. The programme supports national priorities under the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6).  It is led by the Ministry of Finance, in partnership with the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Ministry of Health and Social Services. DBN said it mobilised the financing to support the programme. The N$1 billion will fund the construction and…

Staff Writer International reserves fell to N$51.7 billion at the end of February, according to the Bank of Namibia. The decline of 0.3% from January was driven by net outflows of South African rand and withdrawals of foreign currency by customers. Despite the drop, reserves remained adequate. They provided import cover of 3.3 months, or 3.7 months when excluding oil and gas-related imports.  The reserves were also equal to about 9.8 times the currency in circulation, supporting the Namibian dollar’s peg to the South African rand and the country’s ability to meet short-term obligations. At the same time, banking sector…

Chamwe Kaira  Corporate bonds listed on the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX) and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) increased by N$449 million at the end of 2025. The total stock of bonds issued by Namibian corporates rose from N$7.4 billion in 2024. The NSX lists approximately 95.7% of these bonds, while the JSE lists 4.3%. The increase was driven by new bond issuances and the maturity of existing bonds. Commercial banks issued the largest share of corporate bonds during the year, amounting to N$6.2 billion. Other corporations issued N$1.5 billion, while state-owned enterprises issued N$130 million. In October 2025, Namibia fully…

Staff Writer FlyNamibia has launched scheduled flights between Windhoek Eros Airport and Lüderitz in partnership with Shell Namibia Upstream B.V. The flights will operate from 2 April to 22 April 2026 to support increased travel demand in the region. The airline said the service is aimed at improving movement for residents, workers and business travellers during a period of high activity in Lüderitz. FlyNamibia chief executive officer Nerine Uys said the partnership supports access to the town. “FlyNamibia is proud to partner with Shell to deliver reliable connectivity to Lüderitz at a time when accessibility is critical for both the…

Chamwe Kaira  The City of Windhoek has warned that changes in property valuations may affect municipal bills and could result in backdated charges if updates are not submitted on time. The city said property valuations are carried out to ensure accurate billing.  A general valuation takes place every five years, while interim valuations are done when changes occur. Any change in property value may increase monthly municipal bills. If updates are delayed, charges may be applied from an earlier date. The city said charges affected include rates on land, property improvements and waste management fees. Several factors can trigger a…

Erastus Tshatumbu Namibia enters April facing a fuel price increase that is not domestic in origin, nor part of routine market adjustments. It is the direct consequence of a global shock. In March, the Iran conflict shut down traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel that moves roughly one‑fifth of the world’s oil.  When that artery closed, global supply tightened almost instantly. Brent crude jumped from about US$65 to around US$100 per barrel in a matter of weeks, a 54% surge that pushed energy-importing economies into defensive mode. Namibia is one of them.  As a result, the latest…

Chamwe Kaira The Bank of Namibia (BoN) declared a dividend of N$200 million to the government for the 2025 financial year, down from N$720 million in 2024. The decline comes despite the central bank maintaining price and financial stability. BoN governor Ebson Uanguta said the bank achieved a 97.6% strategy execution rate in 2025 under its 2025–2027 Strategic Plan. The annual report said 2025 was marked by global uncertainty, with rising risks, changing technology and volatile commodity prices affecting central banks. Namibia remained exposed to external shocks such as changes in trade, demand and capital flows. Slower global growth also…

Chamwe Kaira Remgro has entered into an agreement with Investment Holding Limited, a subsidiary of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, to restructure their joint interests in Mediclinic Holdings. The agreement, announced on 30 March 2026, will see Remgro take full ownership of the Southern African business, known as the MCSA Group, which includes operations in Namibia. Investment Holding Limited will take full control of the Swiss-based Hirslanden Group. The transaction is valued at about US$950 million for each side. It involves Remgro exchanging its 50% stake in the Swiss business for Investment Holding Limited’s 50% stake in the Southern African operations.…