Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira  Data consumption increased by 8% in the second quarter of 2025, while data revenue declined by 1.2%, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) reported.  This balanced the N$800 million revenue level reached in the last quarter of 2024 after several quarters of around N$700 million.  The decline in revenue despite higher consumption was linked to free data promotions by operators. The revenues from voice and SMS continued to fluctuate. SMS revenue dropped by 14%, while voice revenue fell by 6%. During the quarter, ICT revenue increased by 1%, but operating expenses increased by 4%. Social media accounted…

Staff Writer  The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund’s (MVA Fund) proposal to introduce new levies on locally registered vehicles, foreign-registered vehicles, and electric vehicles signals a shift in how Namibia finances its road accident compensation system. Marco Pulse of Simonis Storm Securities said the MVA, which relies heavily on a N$N$0.47 per litre fuel levy, is facing sustainability challenges.  He noted that as vehicles become more fuel efficient and electric vehicle adoption expands, fuel levy revenue is no longer keeping up with the fund’s growing obligations, such as trauma care, rehabilitation, and loss-of-income payouts. “This decoupling of road use from fuel…

Justicia Shipena Artificial intelligence (AI) could drive growth in low- and middle-income economies if they invest in digital infrastructure and supportive policies, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) says in its 2025 World Trade Report. The report was launched on Wednesday, during the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, Switzerland.  It shows that under a “policy catch-up” scenario, low-income economies could see gross domestic product (GDP) rise by 11% and middle-income economies by 12.4% by 2040.  High-income economies are projected at 12.2%. With faster technology adoption, the gains could be even higher, reaching 15.3% for low-income and 14.4% for middle-income economies. Global…

With air travel demand across Africa skyrocketing and passenger expectations shifting fast in a digital-first world, airlines face mounting pressure to deliver smoother, more efficient journeys while managing increasingly busy operations. At the same time, destinations like Ethiopia are rapidly emerging as hubs for tourism, investment, and trade, raising the stakes for national carriers and leaving a lasting positive impression on travellers. To meet these challenges head-on, Ethiopian Airlines and SITA have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop innovative solutions that strengthen the airline’s operations and enhance the passenger experience.  The collaboration will tap into startups, technology…

Staff Writer  Nasan Energies Namibia (Pty) Ltd has reached an agreement with Vivo Energy Namibia to acquire 53 Engen and Shell-branded fuel service stations. The deal is still subject to approval by the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC). In May 2024, Vivo Energy completed the purchase of Engen Limited from Petronas, which included Engen Namibia. As part of the regulatory process, the Competition Commission ruled that Vivo Energy had to sell a number of its service stations to maintain a fair market. “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Nasan Energies, which not only fulfills the regulatory requirements to…

Chamwe Kaira Oceana Group says catch rates for Namibian horse mackerel continued to disappoint, leaving the business performing at the same level as the prior period.  In a trading statement for the year ending 30 September, the group said horse mackerel sales prices remained firm due to sustained market demand. This follows, as for the 2025 fishing season, the cabinet set the horse mackerel Total Allowable Catch at 208 000 metric tonnes, down from 270 000 metric tonnes. The group expects basic earnings per share to fall by at least 40%, or 368 cents per share, compared to 920 cents…

Chamwe Kaira Andrada Mining Limited, the critical minerals producer with operations in Namibia, has reported record quarterly tin output for the three months ended 31 August 2025. The company produced 453 tonnes of tin concentrate during the quarter, up 17% from 388 tonnes in the same period last year. Contained tin rose 14% to 273 tonnes, supported by improved operational efficiency and a stronger recovery rate of 73%, compared to 69% in the previous quarter.  The average realised tin price increased 4% year-on-year to US$33,308 per tonne. Andrada also achieved record six-month tantalum concentrate production of 27 tonnes, with 10…

Chamwe Kaira Paladin Energy Ltd has released its Annual Information Form for the year ended 30 June 2025, outlining mining, processing, and sales targets for the Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) current financial year. The Namibian uranium mine, Paladin’s only operation currently in production, entered the 2026 financial year with 2.2 million tonnes of medium-grade ore stockpiled.  About 49% of the planned mining fleet is in use, with the rest expected to arrive later this year and be fully commissioned in the second half of the financial year. Mining will focus on the G-pit, with limited activity in the F and…

Namibia’s headline inflation slowed to 3.2% year on year in August, marking the lowest rate so far this year.  While this continues the disinflationary trend seen since late 2023, the outlook suggests that inflation will gradually pick up again toward 3.7% to 3.9% by December, as several pressures begin to build. Food inflation remains the main driver, holding steady at 5.2% year on year. Strong increases in fruit, meat, and vegetables continue to weigh heavily on household budgets, and global trends are not offering much relief. The latest FAO Food Price Index shows renewed strength in vegetable oils and meat,…

Chamwe Kaira Oryx Properties  says construction of the Goreangab Mall development in Windhoek is on track for completion in April 2026.  The 14 500-square-meter mall will  serve the Goreangab suburb, the greater Katutura area, and surrounding communities.It will host more than 40 tenants and be anchored by Shoprite with 60% of the lettable space has already been secured.  “The mall is expected to enhance employment prospects significantly, with approximately 340 jobs created during construction, followed by 360 opportunities once it is operational. The development is expected to be completed by April 2026,” the group said. The shopping centre is the…