Observer Money

Namibia’s colder months and the peak tourism season officially began in May, albeit on a soft footing.  While the season typically brings increased activity, the early indicators suggest a more subdued start, with momentum expected to build gradually as the country approaches the height of the season in August and September. National occupancy rates declined marginally by 0.04 percentage points month-on-month, easing from 54.94% in April to 54.90% in May.  On an annual basis, however, the sector experienced a more notable  slowdown, with occupancy rates falling by 5.44 percentage points from 60.34% recorded in May 2024.  Despite this annual decline,…

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has stated that limited access to capital and networks continues to hinder the growth of women-owned businesses in Namibia.  This challenge, she said, persists despite ongoing efforts to support female entrepreneurship. “Nearly 40% of our SMEs are now women-owned, but many still face limited access to capital and networks. Accordingly, we have to bridge this gap,” she said during a panel discussion at the US-Africa Business Summit. The discussion, titled “Women in Leadership: Driving Innovation, Catalysing Investments and Shaping Policy”, was part of the 2025 summit, marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for…

Staff Writer  Sanlam has officially rebranded as SanlamAllianz Namibia, marking the start of a new chapter for the country’s insurance sector.  The announcement was made on Tuesday following a strategic alliance with Allianz, one of the world’s leading insurers and asset managers.  The rebrand was unveiled during a series of events in Windhoek, including a vibrant parade along Independence Avenue to the National Theatre of Namibia, a media conference at Sanlam Centre, and a gala dinner at Windhoek Country Club Resort. SanlamAllianz CEO Tertius Stears spoke at the gala dinner, emphasising that the partnership brings together the expertise and financial…

Justicia Shipena The Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) attributes the decline in tourist arrivals from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland to increased travel costs. This includes airfare and visa fees, which discourage long-haul travel.  The DACH region, which is made up of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, traditionally represents Namibia’s largest middle-market segment.  HAN also pointed to global political uncertainty and geopolitical tensions as key factors weighing on international travel sentiment, particularly from European markets. This comes as the latest hospitality report by Simonis Storm shows that the country's national occupancy rate slightly decreased from 54.94% in April to 54.90% in May. …

Justicia Shipena The governor of the Bank of Namibia (BoN), Johannes !Gawaxab, says many Namibians continue to fall victim to investment scams.  Despite ongoing financial literacy efforts by the central bank, he said Namibians often fall victim to scams commonly known as Ponzi schemes. !Gawaxab made the remarks while briefing the parliamentary standing committee on economy and industry, public administration and planning on Tuesday.  During the meeting, he urged lawmakers to educate their constituents about the risks of illegal investment schemes.  The BoN has previously warned about investment scams. In October of last year, BoN issued an alert in which…

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Nedbank Namibia has finalised the funding deal with Trollope Contractors Namibia (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of the South African-based Trollope Mining Group. Nedbank Namibia managing director Martha Murorua announced the agreement on Monday, calling it the start of a strategic partnership to advance Namibia’s mining sector.  The funding includes asset-based finance and working capital to support Trollope’s mining operations in the country. “The Nedbank funding is expected to create employment opportunities and stimulate economic activity in the Erongo Region. A strategic partnership for growth. Trollope Contractors Namibia is a new entrant to the Namibian market but brings with…

Justicia Shipena  The Old Mutual Foundation by Old Mutual Namibia has allocated N$1 million toward its flagship entrepreneurship programme, the Old Mutual Sustainable, Economic and Empowerment Drive (OM SEED).  The funding marks the launch of the fourth and final leg of the initiative, known as OM SEED 4.0, under the theme “Rooted in Growth for Sustainability”. The final phase will focus on the Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, Omusati, and Kunene regions.  The programme aims to support local entrepreneurs with seed funding, mentorship, and business development support. Since its launch in 2022, OM SEED has empowered more than 100 entrepreneurs across Namibia. “Through…

Justicia Shipena Standard Bank Holdings Namibia (SBN) is set to benefit from big spending plans in the oil and renewable energy sectors, thanks to its early involvement and in-house deal-making capacity. A report by Simonis Storm says that while these sectors can be unpredictable, the bank is well protected with a strong capital adequacy ratio of 18.3% and careful use of its funds. The report titled “Equity Insights: Trade Idea: Standard Bank Holdings Namibia” highlights that the bank is now well-positioned at the intersection of Namibia’s most capital-intensive growth areas.  The report also flags three risk areas: concentrated credit exposure…

Justicia Shipena Rising fuel prices and concerns about the environment are pushing the need for better support for electric vehicles (EVs) in Namibia. A May 2025 report by Simonis Storm Securities says investing in home chargers, smart electricity pricing, and public charging stations could help more people switch to EVs. This call for investment comes as new vehicle sales in Namibia slowed in May. A total of 1,011 units were sold, down from 1,243 in April and 1,320 in March.  Despite the 18.7% month-on-month drop, sales increased by 4.7% year-on-year from 966 units in May 2024. The report, compiled by…