Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s foreign reserves, inflation outlook and economic growth could face pressure if the conflict in the Middle East continues, Bank of Namibia governor Ebson Uanguta has warned. Uanguta said the domestic economy remains stable for now, but risks linked to rising global oil prices and disruptions to shipping routes have increased following the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States. “The situation remains fluid,” he said, warning that inflation and reserves could come under pressure if oil prices rise further and the Strait of Hormuz faces disruption. He said Namibia had been benefiting from a stable inflation…

Chamwe Kaira Anglo American says it will proceed with plans to sell De Beers and expects to provide an update during 2026. De Beers plays a key role in Namibia’s diamond sector through its partnership with the government in Debmarine Namibia, Namdeb Land and the Namibian Diamond Trading Company. The update comes as Namibia’s diamond production declined in the first quarter of 2026. Output fell 12% to 556 000 carats, down from 631 000 carats in the same period last year.  The drop follows scheduled maintenance on Debmarine Namibia’s mining fleet and the earlier decommissioning of two vessels. Production improved…

Staff Writer The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has launched a new client portal to improve access to its services and strengthen communication with clients. The platform forms part of the bank’s five-year strategy, which focuses on digital transformation to improve service delivery and efficiency. The Client Portal is a secure, mobile-friendly platform for existing clients with active loans. It allows users to manage their profiles, view account information and connect with DBN portfolio analysts. DBN chief of marketing and corporate affairs Jerome Mutumba said the platform marks a key step in the bank’s digital plans. “The introduction of the…

Apart from “A Diamond Is Forever", beacon campaigns, marketing, research, lobbying, social and environmental stewardship, traceability, and supply control, what has De Beers ever done for us? The reference is to the 1979 British comedy Monty Python’s Life of Brian. The leader of the People’s Front of Judea asks what good has ever come from their occupiers and enemies, the Romans. To his shock, faction members in the room start calling out positives: the aqueduct, the sanitation, the roads, education, and more. That’s how the industry sometimes sounds. Traders enjoy criticising the world’s most famous and influential diamond miner, which,…

Staff Writer The Ocean Innovation Africa Summit 2026, held in Durban at the end of March, brought together 581 delegates from 36 countries and hosted more than 420 business meetings focused on Africa’s blue economy ventures and innovations. The director general of the European Commission’s maritime affairs and fisheries department, Charlina Vitcheva, said progress in the sector depends on turning commitments into action through Africa-Europe cooperation. Salma Baghdadi, Innovation Lead at The Wave, said ocean regeneration requires strong systems around innovation. She emphasised the need for stakeholders to connect, ensuring that science drives solutions, those solutions penetrate the market and…

Chamwe Kaira Namibia produced 556 000 carats of diamonds in the first quarter ending 31 March 2026, up from 459 000 carats in the fourth quarter of 2025. Production, however, was down 12% compared to the first quarter of 2025.  The decline was linked to scheduled maintenance on two vessels at Debmarine Namibia and the decommissioning of two vessels in 2025. Debmarine Namibia produced 354 000 carats in the first quarter, compared to 286 000 carats in the previous quarter. Namdeb land operations produced 202 000 carats in the first quarter, up from 173 000 carats in the fourth quarter…

Chamwe Kaira The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Namibia (AOPA Namibia) has warned that Namibia’s aviation sector is exposed to fuel supply and pricing risks due to single-supplier concessions at airports. AOPA Namibia chief executive officer Matt Totten Jr said airports operated by the Namibia Airports Company rely on one fuel provider at each facility. He said this leaves airlines, charter operators and general aviation users exposed to supply disruptions and price pressure. “The era of single-supplier airport concessions must end,” Totten said. He said recent regional fuel concerns have highlighted a long-standing weakness in the airport operating model.…

Chamwe Kaira Investor confidence in government bonds remains firm, with yields holding steady across the curve, according to a Namibian Securities Exchange (NSX) bond price report released on Monday. Monday was a non-trading day for the equity market, but bond market data was still published. Short-term government bonds continued to show stable yields.  The BN25, maturing in November 2026, held a yield of about 10% with a price of 96.29. The GC27 bond stood at 98.45, with a yield of 7.27% ahead of its January 2027 maturity. Medium-term bonds also remained steady. GC28, maturing in October 2028, recorded a yield…

Staff Writer FirstRand Namibia has announced the resignation of independent non-executive director Jan Coetzee, effective 30 April 2026. The company said Coetzee stepped down in line with Namibia Securities Exchange listing requirements governing director changes. Coetzee joined the board on 1 October 2021 and served the financial services group for nearly four and a half years.  During this time, he held oversight roles and served on the audit committee and the risk, capital and compliance committee. In a notice to shareholders issued on Tuesday, FirstRand Namibia said the board had expressed its sincere appreciation for Coetzee’s service and thanked him…

Staff Writer The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Technical Support Mission on international credit ratings has started a three-day visit to Namibia aimed at strengthening the country’s ability to engage with global credit rating agencies. The mission began with meetings with National Planning Commission (NPC) director-general Kaire Mbuende and APRM focal point and chief executive officer ambassador Lineekela Mboti.  The visit forms part of an African Union initiative to support member states in managing the global credit rating system. Led by APRM lead expert researcher on international credit ratings Misheck Mutize, the mission will assess challenges Namibia faces during the…