Observer Money

Staff Writer Africa Finance Corporation has announced the signing of key financing agreements for the Lobito Atlantic Railway Project in Angola, where it acted as co-financial adviser alongside Eaglestone to Lobito Atlantic Railway S.A., the borrower and concessionaire of the 1 300-kilometre brownfield rail corridor. The project is backed by sponsors including Mota-Engil, commodities trader Trafigura, and rail operator Vecturis. The partners bring technical, operational and commercial expertise to support the long-term operation of the corridor. The signing covers a US$753 million financing package made up of US$553 million from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and US$200 million from…

Chamwe Kaira Credit and liquidity data for November 2025 show that monetary easing continues to support Namibia’s economy, though growth has slowed after one-off liquidity adjustments, according to financial services firm Simonis Storm. Private Sector Credit Extension (PSCE) slowed to 4.5% year on year in November, down from 4.7% in October.  The moderation reflects softer borrowing by both companies and households following liquidity effects linked to the Eurobond redemption.  Despite the slowdown, PSCE remains well above the weak levels recorded in 2023 and early 2024, pointing to improved credit conditions rather than a downturn. Simonis Storm expects PSCE growth to…

Staff Writer Anglo American plc has given an update on its portfolio restructuring plan announced on 14 May 2024, aimed at unlocking value and improving returns for shareholders. The mining group said it is making progress and meeting its post-offer commitments linked to Nickel, Anglo American Platinum, Steelmaking Coal, De Beers and Crop Nutrients. Anglo American confirmed it remains on track with the sale of its nickel business. The company announced on 18 February 2025 that it had signed a binding agreement to sell the business to MMG Singapore Resources Pte. Ltd, a subsidiary of MMG Limited, for cash consideration…

Chamwe Kaira Fuel consumption in Namibia increased during the third quarter of 2025, pointing to firmer economic activity, according to the Bank of Namibia’s (BoN) third-quarter economic indicators. BoN said total fuel consumption rose by 7.2% year-on-year to 320 million litres during the quarter.  The increase was driven by higher demand for diesel and petrol, which grew by 4.8% and 13.5%, respectively. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, total fuel consumption increased by 7.3%. Business registrations also recorded strong growth during the quarter. BoN, which treats business registrations as a leading indicator of future economic activity, reported that new registrations rose by…

Staff Writer Curro Holdings Limited, which operates three schools in Namibia, will be delisted from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) after the implementation of a scheme of arrangement that enables its acquisition by the Jannie Mouton Stigting. Curro said all suspensive conditions linked to the scheme have been fulfilled or waived, making the transaction unconditional.  Shareholders approved the scheme by the required majority at a general meeting held on 31 October 2025. Under the transaction, shareholders listed on the register on the scheme consideration record date will receive payment made up of a cash portion and a share portion.  The…

Chamwe Kaira  The government domestic debt increased both month-on-month and year-on-year at the end of December 2025.  Domestic debt stood at N$146.3 billion, rising by 1% from November and by 16% compared to December 2024.  The increase was recorded across Treasury Bills and Internal Registered Stock. As a share of gross domestic product, domestic debt also rose on a monthly and annual basis.  By the end of December, domestic debt reached 52.5% of GDP, up by 0.5 percentage points month-on-month and 2.2 percentage points year-on-year, reflecting growth in both treasury bills and internal registered stock. Outstanding treasury bills increased to…

Staff Writer  Namibia’s student housing market is set for a digital shift with the launch of Pozi, a platform that links students and graduates with landlords offering safe and affordable accommodation.  The platform aims to simplify the search process while improving security and transparency in the rental market. Each year, thousands of students move to towns and cities for their studies and face costly and stressful housing searches.  Many depend on informal networks, which expose them to scams and unsafe living conditions.  Landlords also face challenges with tenant management and irregular rental payments.  Pozi seeks to address both sides by…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s official stock of international reserves increased slightly at the end of November 2025, supported mainly by revaluation gains, according to the Bank of Namibia’s (BoN) money and banking statistics. Month-on-month, official reserves rose by 1.2% to N$49.2 billion at the end of November.  The increase was driven by favourable price movements on fixed-income securities and a modest rise in customer foreign currency placements by commercial banks.  At this level, reserves were enough to cover an estimated 3.2 months of imports, or 3.6 months when oil and gas exploration-related imports are excluded. Liquidity conditions in the banking sector…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s economy continues to grow, but at a slower pace. Gross domestic product expanded by 1.9% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, according to recent data.  Growth has remained positive, but momentum has softened compared to 2024, reflecting uneven performance across sectors and continued pressure on domestic demand. Almandro Jansen, an economist at Simonis Storm Securities, said the third-quarter outcome points to a weaker underlying trend than first expected. This follows stronger growth of 2.8% in the first quarter and a softer performance in the second quarter. “Economic activity is still expanding, but the pace has clearly…

Staff Writer  Travel insurance has become a key part of trip planning, whether for a family holiday, a business journey or a short getaway. From medical emergencies to lost luggage and trip cancellations, experts say the right cover can prevent serious financial strain. Franco Feris, chief executive officer at Santam Namibia Limited, said travellers need to understand what their policies actually cover.  “Travel insurance isn’t just paperwork for visa applications. It’s a legal contract between you and your insurer, designed to protect you when things don’t go according to plan,” he said. The level of cover depends on the trip.…