Observer Money

Staff Writer  The Cabinet has taken note of the outcomes of the 2026 International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Spring Meetings held in Washington D.C., United States, while approving a headquarters agreement to strengthen the operations of the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor Management Committee. The IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, held from 13 to 19 April 2026, focused on economic challenges affecting Sub-Saharan African economies, particularly external-sector vulnerabilities, including limited foreign-exchange markets, currency mismatches and fragile inflation expectations. According to a Cabinet report, the meetings provided a platform to discuss measures aimed at addressing these challenges and strengthening…

Staff Writer  The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN)has announced the appointment of Bridget Ellen Dundee to its management team, effective 6 July 2026. Dundee will assume the position of manager of economics and market development. Dundee will be responsible for leading economic and market research within the communications sector, informing evidence-based regulatory decisions, monitoring market competition, and driving initiatives that support sustainable growth, fair market access and improved outcomes for ICT consumers in Namibia. An accomplished industrial economist with over ten years of professional experience, Dundee has built a distinguished career across academia, regulatory research and international development work.…

Staff Writer  South African retail group Lewis Group has received a credit rating upgrade from Global Credit Ratings (GCR), with its long-term national scale issuer rating raised to AA-(ZA) from A+(ZA), reflecting sustained earnings growth, strong liquidity and a resilient business model. The Lewis Group operates 27 stores in Namibia across both urban and rural areas.  The upgrade, announced on 13 July, also saw Lewis’ short-term national scale issuer rating upgraded to A1+(ZA) from the previous rating, while the outlook was revised to Stable from Positive. GCR said the upgrade was supported by Lewis’ ability to maintain earnings growth through…

Staff Writer  The Nedbank Future of Business Conference returns on 29 July 2026 at Droombos Estate, Windhoek, bringing together business founders, leaders, and decision-makers from across Namibia and the region for a day dedicated to growth, insight, and connection. Now in its second year, the conference has grown into one of Namibia’s leading platforms for owner-managed businesses and MSMEs, offering practical, real-world strategies. This year’s programme features a strong line-up of Namibian and international speakers, panel discussions, and case studies designed to equip business leaders with tools they can apply immediately. Confirmed speakers include Sven Thieme, chief executive officer of…

Staff Writer More than 140 officials from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will meet in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 15 to 17 July for a specialised training programme aimed at helping governments deliver better results with limited resources.  Hosted by the Copenhagen Consensus Center, the three-day seminar will equip government officials with practical tools to apply cost-benefit analysis in policymaking, an approach that compares the full costs and benefits of public investments to identify the most effective solutions.  With many SADC member states facing tight budgets and growing demands in health, education, infrastructure, and economic development, the training…

SESILIA NKOSHI Climate and catastrophe risk is becoming more noticeable in insurance. It is not just something discussed at senior level anymore. It’s starting to show up in day‑to‑day work. There are simply more events, and sometimes the impact is higher than expected. Floods, fires and storms have always been around, but the frequency and severity don’t look quite the same as before. In the past, insurers leaned a lot on historical data. What happened before helped guide decisions, and in many cases, it worked well enough. That is still part of the approach, but it is not always enough…

Mpho Justice Khoza As debates over constitutional reforms intensify in parts of Africa, a North-West University (NWU) legal expert has cautioned that changes to a country’s highest law should not be judged by the political interests they advance, but by their ability to protect democracy for future generations. Advocate Mpho Justice Khoza, a constitutional law expert and lecturer at the NWU’s Faculty of Law, says recent developments in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Zimbabwe highlight the importance of strong safeguards when governments seek to amend constitutions. Zimbabwe’s Parliament recently approved constitutional amendments that include…

CHAMWE KAIRA Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) retained its position as Namibia's most profitable public enterprise in the 2026 IJG Public Enterprise Governance Ranking, with profits rising to N$1.45 billion in the 2025 financial year. According to IJG Securities' analysis of annual reports from public enterprises, MTC recorded a profit of N$1.44 billion for the year ended September 30, 2025, up from N$1.09 billion in the previous financial year. NamPort emerged as one of the strongest turnaround performers, increasing its profit to N$864.5 million for the year ended 31 March 2025, from N$584.5 million in 2024.  The port operator has steadily…

CHAMWE KAIRA Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) achieved a perfect score of 20 out of 20 in the 2026 IJG Public Enterprise Governance Ranking.  The rankings, compiled by IJG Securities, assess the governance performance of public enterprises over a five-year period using four criteria: publication of annual reports, profitability, reliance on fiscal transfers, and CEO stability. According to the report, MTC earned full marks by publishing annual reports every year, recording profits throughout the five-year assessment period, receiving no transfers from the fiscus, and maintaining stable executive leadership under the same chief executive officer. NamPort, Agribank and NamibRe shared second place…

CHAMWE KAIRA De Beers intends to pause production at the Venetia mine in South Africa for two years to reduce costs while also rephasing capital expenditure on its underground project.  The company said this will involve critical infrastructure investment to enhance the capacity and efficiency of the mine, with the intention to support future production growth as business and industry conditions improve. “De Beers is engaging with stakeholders in accordance with relevant requirements and the company’s values as it moves through this process, and will both support impacted employees and continue to invest in its community and Social and Labour…