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Nampol tight lipped on Shikongo’s suspension benefits 

Nampol tight lipped on Shikongo’s suspension benefits 

…as naked State House intruder’s family demands proof  Justicia Shipena  The Namibian Police (Nampol) is mum on whether inspector general Joseph Shikongo’s reported suspension comes with full benefits. Responding to questions from the media, Nampol spokesperson deputy commissioner Kauna Shikwambi did not directly address whether Shikongo remains entitled to his salary and benefits during the suspension. Instead, Shikwambi referred the media to the Presidency’s press release — a statement whose silence on the conditions of Shikongo’s suspension now speaks even louder. “Kindly refer to the press release by the Office of the President for further guidance on this matter,” Shikwambi…
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Repo rate cut eases borrowing conditions

Repo rate cut eases borrowing conditions

Chamwe Kaira  The recent interest rate cut by the Bank of Namibia has started to ease borrowing conditions, giving some relief to consumers and businesses, according to FNB economist Cheryl Emvula. Emvula said demand for long-term and secured credit has been improving since the previous rate cut in December last year. On 29 April, the Bank of Namibia (BoN) decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 6.50%, maintaining the 25-basis-point difference with South Africa.  The central bank said the decision was influenced by weak economic activity, slow private sector credit growth, inflation risks and the recent strengthening of the…
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Govt sets 2026 hunting season up to August

Govt sets 2026 hunting season up to August

Chamwe Kaira  The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has announced the 2026 hunting season for game animals and game birds in Namibia, with some hunting activities allowed until the end of August. The hunting season was published in the government gazette dated 30 April.  The notice was signed by environment, forestry and tourism minister Indileni Daniel. Namibia earns about N$400 million every year from professional hunting, according to government statistics. The ministry said communal conservancies earned N$292.5 million from hunting activities between 2013 and 2024.  During the same period, joint-venture tourism activities generated N$166.3 million. The notice sets out…
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Simonis Storm keeps hold rating on Paratus

Simonis Storm keeps hold rating on Paratus

Staff Writer  Simonis Storm Securities has maintained a hold recommendation on Paratus Namibia Holdings after the company reported strong revenue growth but weaker profits in its interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2025. Paratus reported revenue of N$381.3 million during the period, up 16.5% from N$327.3 million recorded a year earlier. Underlying operational revenue growth, excluding dividend income from the previous period, stood at 23.4%. Despite the increase in revenue, the company recorded a total comprehensive loss of N$36.3 million compared to income of N$26.5 million in the same period last year. No interim dividend was declared.…
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Major mining developments continued to advance in 2025

Major mining developments continued to advance in 2025

Staff Writer  The Chamber of Mines of Namibia says major mining projects continued to progress in 2025, strengthening expectations that the sector will remain one of Namibia’s main economic drivers in the coming years. The chamber said Namibia’s medium-term mining outlook remains supported by a strong pipeline of uranium, gold, copper and critical mineral projects. However, it warned that rising policy uncertainty is starting to affect investor confidence. One of the largest projects advancing is the Tumas Uranium Project, being developed by Deep Yellow. The project moved closer to a final investment decision as financing discussions with Nedbank continued. Nedbank…
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Langer Heinrich positioned to capitalise uranium deficit

Langer Heinrich positioned to capitalise uranium deficit

Chamwe Kaira  Paladin Energy says rising global demand for nuclear energy and a growing uranium supply shortage are creating opportunities for the company to strengthen value from its uranium assets, including the Langer Heinrich Mine in the Erongo region. The company said it is focused on increasing production at Langer Heinrich while maintaining financial flexibility and benefiting from long-term uranium supply contracts. Paladin said its position as an established uranium producer gives it exposure to what is expected to be long-term growth in nuclear energy and uranium demand. The company operates projects in Namibia and Canada and also has exploration…
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Nedbank engages clients in Rundu and Katima

Nedbank engages clients in Rundu and Katima

Staff Writer Nedbank Namibia held client engagement meetings in Rundu and Katima Mulilo as part of its annual Managing Director Roadshow aimed at strengthening relationships with communities and businesses across the country. The roadshow forms part of the bank’s efforts to engage employees, clients and local leaders while shaping its 2026 strategy around regional needs and opportunities. During the visits, Nedbank Namibia managing director Martha Murorua said each town has its own strengths that influence how the bank approaches service delivery. Speaking in Rundu, Murorua highlighted the town’s economic activity and community initiatives. She pointed to the Wapa Nawa Recycling…
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SA’s wheat plantings could fall to the lowest level in 12 years 

SA’s wheat plantings could fall to the lowest level in 12 years 

Wandile Sihlobo South Africa’s winter crop farmers face a challenging start to the 2026-27 production season. Lower commodity prices resulting from ample global wheat supplies are one challenge. But the sharply higher fuel and fertiliser prices are an even more pressing challenge as the season starts in the Western Cape and proceeds to other provinces over the coming two months. A more uncertain weather outlook, with a chance of lower-than-normal rainfall, is another issue farmers must consider as they plan area plantings for the season. But in all five winter crops that South Africa produces – wheat, barley, canola, oats,…
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Shaanika takes over Chamber of Mines CEO position

The Chamber of Mines of Namibia has appointed Fabian Shaanika as its new chief executive officer, effective 1 May 2026. The executive committee confirmed the appointment this week. Shaanika most recently served as managing director of Kelp Blue, where he led the scaling of Namibian operations to full commercial capacity. Before that, he was the mining and resources sector lead at Rand Merchant Bank Namibia and head of business banking at Standard Bank Namibia. His earlier career includes roles at Namdeb, Vedanta’s Skorpion Zinc Mine and Debmarine Namibia, where he worked in technical and strategic positions. Shaanika holds a Master…
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Debt-for-land swap offers Windhoek a rare chance to tackle the housing crisis

Debt-for-land swap offers Windhoek a rare chance to tackle the housing crisis

For years, the housing crisis in Windhoek has grown from a policy concern into a full-scale social emergency. Every year, more families are pushed into informal settlements, more young professionals are priced out of home ownership, and more working-class residents are forced to spend disproportionate portions of their income on rent, transport and basic services. Against this grim backdrop, the debt swap agreement between the Namibian government and the City of Windhoek is not just welcome ,  it is one of the most practical and consequential housing interventions seen in recent years. Under the agreement, government debt owed by the…
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