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19 Jun

Walvis Bay leads April exports with N$5.6 billion

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Chamwe Kaira Walvis Bay Harbour recorded exports worth N$5.6 billion in April, making it the top export point for the month. Eros Airport followed with exports of N$2.4 billion, while the Katima Mulilo border post accounted for N$1.1 billion, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s April trade report. On the import side, Walvis Bay Harbour remained the main entry point with imports valued at N$5 billion. Ariamsvlei recorded N$3.2 billion in imports, and the Trans Kalahari border post followed with N$1.7 billion. Sea transport remained the most used export mode, handling goods worth N$6.1 billion. This represented 55.5% of Namibia’s…

19 Jun

THE INTERCONNECTION OF THE BANTU LANGUAGE FAMILY: A LIVING FOSSIL OF AFRICAN CIVILIZATIONAL CONTINUITY

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PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) ABSTRACT On 16 June 2025, the Day of the African Child, we are reminded of the profound legacy of linguistic and cultural suppression endured by generations of African children. This article draws methodologically on Cheikh Anta Diop’s interdisciplinary framework, integrating linguistics, historical reconstruction, and cultural analysis as indispensable tools of epistemic decolonization and African renaissance. The goal is not only scholarly clarification but, more profoundly, the unwavering affirmation of Africa’s sovereign intellectual heritage and a fervent call for the immediate and comprehensive internalization and institutionalization of our indigenous languages as…

19 Jun

Inflation stable compared to neighbouring countries

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Chamwe Kaira Namibia recorded a 3.5% annual inflation rate in May, placing it in a stable position compared to neighbouring countries. South Africa reported a lower inflation rate of 2.8% in April, which remained within the target range set by the South African Reserve Bank, according to a report by Simonis Storm Securities. Botswana maintained low and steady inflation, with prices rising by 2.3% year-on-year in April. In contrast, some countries in the region are facing much higher inflation. Zambia recorded an inflation rate of 15.3% in May, down from 16.5% in April. Angola’s inflation dropped to 20.74% in May,…

19 Jun

Final report for Venus oil project submitted for approval

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Chamwe Kaira SLR Environmental Consulting (Namibia) submitted the final scoping report for the proposed development of the Offshore Venus Field in Block 2913B to the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism on 30 May. TotalEnergies EP Namibia B.V. (TEEPNA), together with joint venture partners NAMCOR and QatarEnergy, holds the exploration licence for Block 2913B, located offshore southern Namibia. Following positive exploration and appraisal results and ongoing development studies, the joint venture is now assessing the feasibility of producing oil commercially from the Venus Field. The Venus Field lies about 320 km southwest of…

19 Jun

Koryx advances Haib copper project

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Chamwe Kaira Koryx Copper Inc. has announced significant progress on its Haib Copper Project in southern Namibia. Haib is a copper-molybdenum project expected to produce clean copper concentrate through conventional crushing, milling, and flotation, with potential for additional copper production through heap leaching. Koryx Copper President and CEO Heye Daun said, “We are very pleased with the substantial progress we have made with the met testwork, process flowsheet and infrastructure development aspects of the Haib copper project during the last six months. Results are highly encouraging and are being incorporated in the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) which we are preparing…

19 Jun

Rate of mishandled baggage continues to decline

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2024 was a record-breaking year for air travel, with global passenger numbers reaching 5.3 billion, the highest in aviation history. As the volume of passengers soared, so did the number of bags handled. Yet the rate of mishandled baggage continued to decline, according to the newly released SITA Baggage IT Insights 2025. This is a clear sign of industry progress, though challenges remain. The mishandling rate dropped to 6.3 bags per 1000 passengers in 2024, down from 6.9 the previous year, a 67% improvement since 2007. This drop is even more significant considering the surge in global traffic, which grew…

18 Jun

Govt left in the dark as Meatco turmoil deepens

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja The ministry of agriculture, water and land reform says it has been unable to secure a meeting with the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) board for months. The ministry said this is despite repeated efforts involving the ministry of finance and the office of the attorney general. This came just days before Meatco board chairperson Sakaria Nghikembua resigned. He stepped down on Friday, citing alleged unlawful government directives. His resignation was confirmed by agriculture minister Inge Zaamwani in the National Assembly on Wednesday. “Up until yesterday, we were looking to confirm the time with the Board of Directors…

18 Jun

London court hears appeal over fishrot-inspired art case

info_e12wt4csNational News

Justicia Shipena A legal battle over the limits of artistic freedom and corporate accountability is underway at the High Court of Justice in London, where Icelandic artist Odee Friðriksson is appealing a ruling in favour of the Icelandic fishing giant Samherji. The hearing, which began on Wednesday and will end on Friday, deals with concerns about Friðriksson's conceptual art piece We’re Sorry, which draws directly from the Fishrot Files corruption scandal that implicated Samherji in Namibia. The court is conducting a rolled-up appeal, which means it will first consider whether to grant permission to appeal and, if so, proceed immediately…

18 Jun

AR wants more teens at the ballot box

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Allexer Namundjebo The Affirmative Repositioning (AR) Movement wants the voting age lowered from 18 to 16. AR parliamentarian Tuhafeni Kalola on Wednesday gave notice that he would table a motion on the matter next month. Kalola said the motion is based on the fact that 16-year-olds in Namibia are already permitted by law to make several significant life decisions. He said this includes giving legal consent to sexual activity, acquiring a national ID card, opening a bank account, making a will, and applying for a learner’s driving licence. Article 20(3) of the Namibian Constitution also allows 16-year-olds to decide whether…

18 Jun

Unam, NIP to grow pathology talent pool

info_e12wt4csNational News

Justicia Shipena A renewed agreement between the University of Namibia (Unam) and the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP) will establish specialised training in pathology through a Master of Medicine programme. It will also create advanced training opportunities for medical technologists and scientists. On Tuesday, NIP and Unam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Windhoek to strengthen cooperation in pathology education, specialised training, and medical research. The agreement was signed by NIP chief executive officer Kapena Tjombonde and Unam vice chancellor Kenneth Matengu. The agreement includes joint curriculum development, internships for medical students, joint research projects, technology upgrades, and expert…