Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira  Tsodilo Resources Limited has raised 900 000 Canadian dollars (about N$12.6 million) through a private placement to advance its mineral projects in Botswana. The company said the funding will support its critical minerals and rare earth elements project, as well as the Xaudum Iron Formation project. Tsodilo confirmed that it issued 4.5 million units at a price of C$0.20 per unit. Each unit includes one common share and one share purchase warrant. Each warrant allows the holder to buy an additional share at US$0.20 within five years. The securities are subject to a holding period of four months…

Staff Writer  The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has won the Artificial Intelligence Initiative Award at the Central Banking Awards. The award recognises institutions that use artificial intelligence in areas such as forecasting, payments oversight, regulation and fraud detection. The bank was recognised for using artificial intelligence and machine learning in its daily operations. Key projects include a non-performing loans predictive model, an inflation nowcasting system and a regulatory navigation tool. The non-performing loans model helps provide early insights into risks in the banking sector. The inflation nowcasting system produces near-real-time inflation estimates to support monetary policy decisions. The Regulatory Navigation…

Vusi Thembekwayo I stood in a room in Windhoek last week and asked one question that silenced the conversation: "Does the person who goes to bed hungry eat complacence?" I was invited to deliver the keynote at the Namibia Budget Dialogue 2026 alongside Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah, and what I saw in that room gave me hope and, with that, left me with some questions. I am a numbers guy, so let me tell you what hope looks like when backed by data. The resource  The Orange Basin holds an estimated 11 billion barrels of light oil. TotalEnergies is moving…

Pascal Haingura There was a time when the word 'computer' did not refer to a machine at all. It referred to a person – someone employed to perform calculations. Before electronic machines existed, governments, astronomers, engineers, and scientists relied on human “computers” to process numerical data manually and systematically. Then came the technological turning point of the 20th century. With the rise of electronic computing, machines assumed the work of calculation and data processing. From that moment onwards, a computer became something people used first in laboratories and government offices, later in businesses, and eventually in homes. Today, we are…

Chamwe Kaira  The implementation of Namibia’s National Energy Compact under the Mission 300 initiative is expected to cost about US$1.76 billion (about N$33 billion), with around US$411 million (about N$7.7 billion) expected from private sector investment. The programme aims to expand electricity access and increase renewable energy generation. This is according to a report by the African Development Bank.  The government is developing a National Electrification Policy to expand electricity access in rural and peri-urban areas. The National Energy Compact forms part of broader plans to increase access to electricity and improve energy security. Under the strategy, Namibia plans to…

Chamwe Kaira  The Namibian Securities Exchange opened the week higher on Monday, 16 March, with gains in financial and consumer stocks, while real estate and basic materials declined. The benchmark FTSE/JSE All Share Index rose by 1,638.04 points (1.43%) to close at 116,562.25, up from 114,924.21 in the previous session. The index remains below its 2026 high of 128,455.68. On the local market, the NSX Overall Index increased by 10.80 points (0.50%) to close at 2,159.45, up from 2,148.65. The index has risen 0.85% since December 2025, when it stood at 2,141.33. The NSX Local Index added 0.25 points (0.03%)…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia needs higher economic growth to reduce unemployment and inequality, the African Development Bank has said. Real GDP is expected to grow to 3.8% in 2025 and 3.9% in 2026. The recovery is linked to improved weather conditions and activity in the natural resources sector. The sector includes petroleum exploration and increased uranium production, supported by higher global commodity prices. “A recovery is also evident in tourism, transport and storage, financial services, and electricity generation. Growth prospects are expected to be bolstered by developments in the green hydrogen industry, increased investment in oil and gas, and infrastructure expansion.…

Staff Writer  Stockbroking firm Simonis Storm has maintained its buy recommendation on SBN Holdings following the bank’s 2025 financial results. The firm said the bank delivered higher earnings despite pressure on margins, weaker non-core revenue and a subdued economic environment. Asset quality improved during the year. Excess liquidity was redirected into customer lending, which strengthened the balance sheet. SBN reported a profit after tax of N$1.187 billion, extending the level reached in 2024 when it passed N$1 billion in annual earnings. Simonis Storm said the bank’s performance shows it can deliver earnings across different market conditions. “The debate is no…

Staff Writer  Plans to position Windhoek as a startup hub are gaining momentum following a new initiative launched last week. Grindstone, co-owned by Knife Capital and Thinkroom, joined ecosystem partners in Windhoek to launch the initiative under the banner Accelerate 36. The event brought together policymakers, regulators, investors and founders to explore how Namibia can grow its startup sector and expand access to capital. The initiative focuses on building a pipeline of startups that can scale and eventually list on the Development Capital Board of the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX). “We have the influence, brainpower, and energy in this room…

Staff Writer  Old Mutual Limited has said the global environment is likely to remain uncertain, shaped by uneven growth and ongoing heightened geopolitical risks.  Against this backdrop, the South African outlook has become more constructive, supported by the 2026 national budget, which reaffirmed a commitment to fiscal discipline.  With public debt projected to stabilise and decline over the medium term, alongside a sustained primary surplus and targeted relief for households, these conditions will provide a more supportive foundation for confidence and investment.  Looking forward, Old Mutual said from 2026, it will measure and report the delivery of its value creation…