Observer Money

Staff Writer Proflight Zambia has launched a new Lusaka–Livingstone–Windhoek flight service, creating a direct link between Zambia and Namibia. The route connects the three cities and allows passengers to travel between Lusaka, Livingstone and Windhoek on the same day. The airline says the service will support business travel, tourism and investment between the two countries. Speaking at the launch, Zambian minister of transport and logistics Frank Museba Tayali said the new service supports the government’s plan to position Zambia as a transport and logistics hub in the region. “You all know that it has been a long aspiration of our…

Staff Writer  The governor of the Bank of Namibia, Ebson Uanguta, and the governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago, have signed a revised memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Pretoria, South Africa. The signing took place during Uanguta’s courtesy visit to the South African Reserve Bank and strengthens cooperation between the two central banks. The new agreement replaces the earlier memorandum signed on 11 September 2015. The revised MoU reflects changes in the financial sector in both countries.  It recognises stronger supervisory roles for central banks, the development of resolution frameworks and the growing complexity of financial institutions…

Staff Writer  Oryx Properties Limited expects stronger interim financial results for the period ended 31 December 2025. In a trading statement issued under the Namibia Securities Exchange Listings Requirements, the company informed unitholders that its distribution per linked unit is expected to increase by between 10% and 30% compared to the same period last year. Earnings per share, profit for the period and headline earnings are also expected to rise by more than 30% compared to the previous corresponding period. The company said the improvement is linked to operational contributions from the Platz am Meer Shopping Centre and a supportive…

Staff Writer  MTC has launched the MTC 4 Life 2026 project to equip young Namibians with practical skills and support for small businesses. The programme will focus on 30 youth from the ǁKharas Region. It targets self-employed and unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 35. Participants will receive practical training and basic business support to help them start or grow small businesses. The training will run for seven days. Participants will learn skills in trades such as hairdressing, barbering, baking, leatherwork, sewing and cell phone repair. Each trade will train up to five participants or more to allow…

The global diamond market is undergoing one of the most complex and consequential periods in its history. Geopolitical instability, changing consumer behaviour and the rapid rise of lab-grown diamonds have combined to create a climate of uncertainty that is reshaping the industry’s foundations. Today’s diamond market operates within a narrow and volatile space. Price discovery has become increasingly challenging; demand is uneven across categories, and confidence across the value chain remains fragile. While diamonds have always symbolised permanence, the market surrounding them is being forced to adapt to a world defined by rapid change and heightened economic sensitivity. Unlike previous…

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s diamond production fell by 7% to 2.1 million carats in 2025 as Anglo American continued restructuring its diamond unit, De Beers, amid weaker global demand for rough stones. According to Anglo American’s 2025 Integrated Annual Report, De Beers produced 21.7 million carats during the year, down 12% from 24.7 million carats in 2024. The company cut production across Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Canada to align outputs with market demand. In Namibia, output declined mainly due to lower production at Debmarine Namibia.  The decommissioning of the Coral Sea and Grand Banks mining vessels reduced volumes. Higher-grade ore…

Chamwe Kaira FirstRand Namibia has reported strong interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2025, as it positions itself to benefit from expected growth in oil and gas investment and an improving domestic outlook. Namibia’s economic prospects hinge on improved agricultural yields, rising uranium production and renewed activity in mining, exploration and infrastructure.  The anticipated final investment decision (FID) by global oil and gas companies could reshape the investment landscape. A positive FID could attract foreign capital, drive further investment and create opportunities across sectors. The group said robust monetary policy and improving consumer sentiment should support household…

Chamwe Kaira Nedbank Group Limited reported a 2% increase in headline earnings to R17.2 billion for the year ended 31 December 2025, describing the period as a transformative year marked by strategic restructuring, portfolio repositioning and balance sheet resilience. Headline earnings per share increased by 2% to 3 706 cents, while diluted headline earnings per share rose by 3% to 3 628 cents. Return on equity measured 15.4%, slightly down from 15.8% in 2024 but still above the group’s cost of equity. Revenue grew by 3% to R73.9 billion. Expense growth of 7% to R43.4 billion pushed the cost-to-income ratio…

Staff Writer Corporates continued to make net repayments in January 2026 despite lower lending rates and contained inflation, reducing overall credit uptake, according to Standard Bank Namibia economist Helena Mboti. Private Sector Credit Extension (PSCE) slowed to 4.2% year-on-year in January, down from 4.4% in December 2025. Mboti said the slowdown reflected subdued demand rather than tighter financial conditions. Business credit growth declined by 1.0 percentage point to 3.8% year-on-year in January. Household credit edged up by 0.3 percentage points to 5.8%. Inflation eased from 3.6% year-on-year to 3.4% in November 2025. Lending rates also declined under an accommodative monetary…

Staff Writer The Namibian Standards Institution (NSI) has concluded stakeholder consultations on the review and formulation of the standards regulations. The consultations took place in the Khomas and Erongo regions. They form part of a national process to strengthen Namibia’s standards and regulatory framework and ensure it responds to economic changes, technological developments and international regulatory practice. The current standards regulations were promulgated in 2013 after the Standards Act of 2005 came into effect. Since then, Namibia’s economic and regulatory environment has changed. Trade integration has increased. Industrial activity has expanded. Expectations for stronger regulation and market oversight have grown.…