Observer Money

Hileni Amadhila December is full of sparkle. Lights go up, music plays, and people start to relax. It’s a time for family, food, and fun. But while we enjoy the festive season, it’s easy to forget what comes next: January. And January doesn’t wait.  School fees, transport costs, rent, and groceries all arrive right on time, whether we’re ready or not. In Namibia, many people spend more in December than any other month. There are weddings, trips to the village, Christmas lunches, and New Year’s parties. It’s a time of giving, hosting, and celebrating. But sometimes, we spend without thinking.…

Chamwe Kaira Savanna Beef Processors Limited has reported an operating loss of N$9.75 million for the six months ended 31 August 2025, according to its unaudited interim results released on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The company recorded a loss before taxation of N$13.21 million for the period, compared to a loss of N$7.67 million for the year ended 28 February 2025.  No taxation was recognised, resulting in a total, comprehensive loss of N$1.22 million for the interim period. Savanna Beef has over 250 million shares in issue, with a net asset value of 99 cents per share. Basic earnings…

Chamwe Kaira Most major banks in Namibia include travel insurance when a qualifying credit card is used to buy a return international flight.  Industry experts say this cover is often limited and may not fully protect travellers abroad. The chief executive officer of Santam Namibia Limited, Franco Feris, says credit card travel insurance can offer a useful and affordable starting point.  He says travellers must understand its limits before leaving the country. Many assume they are fully covered and only discover gaps when they need to claim. He says knowing what is covered and what is not helps avoid unexpected…

Chamwe Kaira Trustco Group Holdings Limited has suspended further implementation of its Legal Shield Holdings sale and conversion agreement after its board conducted a regulatory alignment review. In a notice to shareholders dated 17 December 2025, the Namibia-incorporated company said the transaction, approved by shareholders on 7 January 2025, was structured on the basis that it would not result in a change of control. The board said it undertook a regulatory alignment assessment to confirm that the transaction’s implementation remains consistent with the no-change-in-control framework approved by the JSE and disclosed to shareholders. Following this review, the board resolved to…

Chamwe Kaira The microlending industry, largely driven by cash loans, recorded subdued performance in the third quarter of 2025. The total loan book stood at N$7.8 billion, reflecting a marginal quarter-on-quarter decline of 0.1%, despite a year-on-year increase of 7.2%.  Term lenders accounted for 92% of the total loan book. The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) released its quarterly statistical bulletin for the third quarter, covering the period from 1 July to 30 September 2025.  The report provides an overview of performance, compliance and consumer protection trends across the non-banking financial institutions sector, which includes insurers, medical aid funds,…

Chamwe Kaira Vehicle sales continued on a steady but slower path in November, extending a trend seen since the March peak this year. Industry data compiled by Simonis Storm shows new vehicle sales reached 1 244 units, down 1.8% from October’s 1 267 units. Despite the monthly dip, sales remained well above last year’s levels.  November sales were 13.8% higher than in November 2024, when 1 093 units were sold. The year 2025 is shaping up as the strongest for the Namibian automotive sector since the pre-pandemic peak of 2015. Year-to-date sales stand at 13 356 units, exceeding the full-year…

Staff Writer The MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) has opened applications for its 2026 intake, offering aspiring African filmmakers a fully funded opportunity to enter the film and television industry. The pan-African training institution invites graduates from across the continent who want to become directors, filmmakers, scriptwriters, producers, and visual storytellers. Through its academies, MTF provides professional training focused on building the skills needed to tell African stories for local and international audiences. Following MultiChoice’s integration into the CANAL+ Group, the company has reaffirmed its focus on African content by investing in young creative talent.  The programme aims to equip the…

Staff Writer Old Mutual Namibia has appointed Ingah Ekandjo as managing director of its retail mass business, effective 2 January 2026. Ekandjo has more than 19 years of experience in the financial services sector, covering insurance and banking. She has spent 16 of those years in executive roles. She holds an undergraduate degree and a Master’s degree in business leadership and has completed leadership programmes in Namibia and abroad. Her career includes senior roles across retail mass, emerging, and affluent markets. She has led turnaround strategies, driven earnings growth, and introduced new business approaches. Her experience spans insurance distribution, channel…

Chamwe Kaira The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) has received overwhelming public support for Starlink’s application to operate in Namibia as it continues to assess the satellite internet provider’s licence request. Cran said it received 1 180 written submissions by Friday, 12 December 2025.  Of these, 1 164 supported the application, while 16 opposed it. The regulator said both supportive and opposing submissions raised substantive issues that Starlink will need to address as part of the licensing process. According to Cran, the feedback reflects wide public interest in Starlink’s potential impact on Namibia’s telecommunications sector and the future of…

Staff Writer Anglo American plc and Teck Resources Limited have received regulatory approval from the government of Canada under the Investment Canada Act for their proposed merger, announced on 9 September. The merger will create Anglo Teck, a larger global critical minerals company with operations and projects across several regions, including South Africa. Following the merger, Anglo Teck said its subsidiaries operating in South Africa will continue to comply with all empowerment requirements and mining licence conditions. As part of its support for the junior mining sector, Anglo Teck plans to contribute N$600 million to South Africa’s Junior Mining Exploration…