Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia recorded a trade deficit of N$393 million in December 2025, a sharp improvement from the N$4.4 billion deficit recorded in November 2025. On a year-on-year basis, the country posted a trade surplus of N$297 million, according to data released by the statistician general and chief executive officer of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), Alex Shimuafeni. South Africa remained Namibia’s largest trading partner during the period, accounting for the largest share of both exports and imports. Exports in December were driven mainly by the mining sector. Non-monetary gold, precious stones (diamonds) and uranium dominated the export basket.  Fish…

Chamwe Kaira The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) recorded growth in assets from about N$167 billion as of 31 March 2024 to around N$183 billion by 31 March 2025. GIPF maintained a balanced portfolio across local and international markets, allowing it to access global opportunities while managing risk. GIPF officially launched its 2025 integrated annual report on Thursday in Oshakati.  Speaking at the launch, GIPF chief executive officer and principal officer Martin Inkumbi said the report provides a full account of the Fund’s financial and operational performance for the year ended 31 March 2025. Inkumbi said the 2025 financial results…

Staff Writer Namibia’s residential property market showed mixed results in the final quarter of 2025, according to the latest FNB House Price Index report.  House price growth remained modest due to weak economic conditions, strained household finances and uneven activity across regions. The FNB House Price Index rose to 7.6% in the fourth quarter of 2025 from 5.9% in the previous quarter. Over the same period, growth in transaction volumes eased to 17% from 18.4%. “This reflects an uneven market, with strong price growth observed in the central and coastal regions, while the northern region continues to lead in transaction…

Staff Writer Letshego Holdings Namibia Limited has appointed Christoffer Chipeio as an independent non-executive director, effective 4 February 2026. The company said the appointment was made in line with Rule 3.59 of the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX) listing requirements. Chipeio is a Namibian legal practitioner with more than ten years of experience in compliance, legal advice, corporate governance and regulatory matters. His career includes senior and executive roles in the financial services and corporate sectors, with experience in both banking and legal practice. Letshego Holdings Namibia says Chipeio brings a strong understanding of governance, risk management and regulatory frameworks, which…

Staff Writer Namibia will present a range of investment-ready mining opportunities at the 2026 Investing in African Mining Indaba in Cape Town, the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) announced on Thursday.  The mining sector is supported by a broad resource base that includes uranium, diamonds, lithium, rare earth elements, copper, graphite, cobalt, manganese and zinc.  Mining remains a key contributor to economic growth, jobs and industrial development. As part of its long-term mining and industrialisation strategy, Namibia is promoting both large-scale mining and small-scale and emerging mining.  The approach forms part of an integrated development pipeline aimed at…

Chamwe Kaira Andrada Mining Limited has cleared the main conditions required to unlock the first US dollar investment under its earn-in agreement with BWCAM Limited for the development of the Brandberg West project in Namibia. The company said the conditions were met following its announcement on 21 January 2026, triggering the first stage of the staged earn-in partnership. BWCAM is an affiliate of ACAM LP. As a result, Andrada expects to receive about N$160 million, equivalent to around US$10 million, in the coming days to fund the initial development of Brandberg West.  Once the funds are received, BWCAM will hold…

Chamwe Kaira Celsius Resources Limited was required this week to request a halt in the trading of its securities on the Australian Securities Exchange after discovering errors in certain cleansing notices issued by the company. The company said the notices incorrectly stated that it was compliant with Chapter 2M of Australia’s Corporations Act 2001.  The non-compliance relates to an administrative oversight linked to the resignation of a previous auditor in 2011, when the company was still known as View Resources Limited. Celsius Resources holds a 95% interest in the Opuwo Cobalt Project in northern Namibia.  The project is described by…

Staff Writer South Africa has formally acceded to the Establishment Agreement of the African Export-Import Bank, marking its official entry into the Bank’s membership. The move follows the South African Parliament’s approval of the accession in 2025 and confirms a strategic partnership between the country and Afreximbank.  South Africa becomes the 54th state to join the bank, strengthening cooperation aimed at expanding trade and investment across the continent. To activate the partnership, Afreximbank will roll out major financial support in South Africa.  This includes a new US$8 billion country programme aimed at supporting economic growth. The programme focuses on industrial…

Staff Writer Namcor, in partnership with SBM Offshore and the Namibia Youth Energy Forum, hosted an FPSO masterclass at the Namcor Auditorium on Tuesday. The session was facilitated by Thomas Lorin, FPSO Framing Manager at SBM Offshore. It focused on Floating Production, Storage and Offloading units, a key part of offshore oil and gas development.  The masterclass covered FPSO design, construction and operations and offered practical insight for industry professionals and young Namibians interested in the energy sector. More than 110 people attended the event, including Namcor staff and members of the youth community. SBM Offshore country manager Matthieu Jeannin…

Staff Writer Glencore plc has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the US-backed Orion Critical Mineral Consortium for the possible sale of a 40% stake in its Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) mining assets. The agreement covers Mutanda Mining and Kamoto Copper Company, both located in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  The proposed transaction is expected to value the two assets at a combined enterprise value of about US$9 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, Orion CMC would acquire a minority strategic stake, while Glencore would retain operational control.  Mutanda Mining and Kamoto Copper Company would continue…