Observer Money

Justicia Shipena  The chief investment strategist at Old Mutual Wealth South Africa, Izak Odendaal, has cautioned against attempting to time the market.  He said that while global equities have experienced sharp selloffs, many remain richly valued.  He was speaking at a recent strategic investment breakfast hosted by Old Mutual Wealth Namibia.  The breakfast event brought together clients and industry professionals to explore key market trends and how they shape investment decisions. Odendaal urged investors to stay disciplined and committed to their long-term strategies. “We are seeing a rethinking of global capital flows, as political instability in the US challenges investor…

Chamwe Kaira  Rössing Uranium is holding N$421 million in restricted Iranian funds in 2024, up from N$394 million in 2023. This money represents dividends owed to the Iran Foreign Investment Company (IFIC), a shareholder in the company. The funds were first restricted under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1929. Although that resolution was later repealed by UNSCR 2231, some sanctions remain in place. The United States Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) lists IFIC as a government-controlled entity. It has also placed IFIC on its Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. “The board has critically assessed this…

Allexer Namundjebo  Mobile Telecommunications Ltd (MTC Namibia) has awarded over N$4 million to support employee-run businesses since the launch of its internal Dreamers Program.  Launched in 2021, the MTC Dreamers Program provides financial assistance and entrepreneurship training to employees running part-time businesses alongside their full-time jobs. “To date, the program has assisted 80 MTC ambassadors with over N$4 million,” said MTC’s chief brand, marketing, communications, and sustainability officer, Tim Ekandjo. Ekandjo said the initiative was established to help staff pursue their dreams of owning businesses while still working at the company.  “Just as we are philanthropic to the nation, we…

Eddie King Understanding the legal consequences of financial default is essential for anyone managing personal or business-related debt. Default occurs when a debtor fails to meet the legal obligations of a loan, typically by not making the required payments. This failure can trigger a series of legal actions with long-term financial impacts. Before initiating legal action, a creditor will contact the debtor to request payment. This approach allows the debtor to settle the debt or arrange payments and avoid legal proceedings. Legal Action and Collection Processes Creditors may initiate legal proceedings to recover the debt when a default occurs. This…

Branding the Continent: A Conversation with Thebe IkalafengFounder and Chairman of Brand Leadership Africa As Namibia celebrates its most admired brands in the 2025 edition of the Brand Africa 100 | Namibia’s Best Brands, we spotlight the man who has made it his life’s mission to elevate brand-led excellence in Africa: Thebe Ikalafeng. For over almost two decades, Ikalafeng has been a central figure in shaping the narrative of a confident, competitive, and self-determined Africa. Through Brand Africa, he has championed the role of branding as not merely a marketing tool, but a strategic national asset; a vehicle for economic…

Chamwe Kaira Old Mutual says its Life APE sales were slightly lower in the quarter ending 31 March 2025. The drop was due to weaker guaranteed annuity sales in personal finance, which followed a market-wide decline caused by falling yields. The company also said it did not repeat the large savings sales it recorded in the same period last year under Old Mutual Corporate. These corporate deals tend to be irregular, with long and unpredictable lead times. “This was partially offset by good risk sales across all distribution channels in mass and foundation cluster as well as strong corporate sales…

Chamwe Kaira  SLR Environmental Consulting Namibia, commissioned by Osino Gold Exploration and Mining, has completed an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for groundwater abstraction from the Kranzberg Aquifer near Usakos in the Erongo Region.  The assessment found that with recommended mitigation measures, the residual impacts are low to very low. SLR said the mitigation plan follows a hierarchy: avoiding sensitive areas first, then reducing impacts, and finally rehabilitating disturbed sites.  The firm considers the EIA and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) robust enough for MAFWLR and MEFT to make informed decisions. Osino is developing the Twin Hills Gold Project about 25 km…

Chamwe Kaira  Rössing Uranium produced 2,600 metric tonnes of uranium oxide in 2024, down from 2,920 metric tonnes in 2023, according to the Sustainability and Performance report. The mine extracted 30,334,678 metric tonnes of material in 2024, compared to 16,683,199 metric tonnes the previous year. Ore milled decreased to 8,486,056 metric tonnes from 9,301,890 metric tonnes in 2023. Revenue fell by 9% due to a 20% drop in sales volume following a month-long major maintenance shutdown, a delayed restart, water-related challenges, and technical issues at the processing plant. Despite these setbacks, Rössing Uranium made a net profit after tax of…

Chamwe Kaira The Bank of Namibia’s stock of international reserves rose by 6.6% at the end of April to N$63.6 billion. The increase was mainly driven by Southern African Customs Union (SACU) receipts. This level of reserves covers 4.2 months of imports. When oil exploration and appraisal activities, mostly funded from abroad, are excluded, import cover stands at 5.1 months. Broad money (M2) grew by 11.6% in April, up from 10.1% in March. The growth in M2 came from an increase in domestic claims, which rose by 9.8%, compared to 9.2% the previous month. “The rise in domestic claims growth…

Chamwe Kaira Oceana Group Limited has received formal notice that clients of Allan Gray have increased their stake in the company. The asset manager’s clients now hold 10.34% of Oceana’s total issued ordinary shares. The company shared this update in a statement issued to shareholders. “Shareholders are hereby advised that Oceana has received formal notification that clients of Allan Gray have, in aggregate, acquired an interest in the ordinary shares of the company, such that the total interest in the ordinary shares of the company held by Allan Gray’s clients now amounts to 10.34% of the total issued ordinary shares…