Windhoek Observer

22 May

YOUNG OBSERVER | Ngurare urges graduates to turn skills into opportunity

National News

Patience Makwele Prime minister Elijah Ngurare has urged graduates to use their qualifications to create opportunities for themselves and contribute to Namibia’s development as the country continues facing high youth unemployment. Ngurare made the remarks on Wednesday during the 2026 graduation ceremony of Triumphant College, where more than 600 graduates received certificates, diplomas and degrees in fields including computer science, education, engineering and legal studies. The number of graduates increased from the 523 recorded last year. Addressing the graduates, Ngurare encouraged young people to continue learning, researching and developing new ideas beyond the classroom. “Remember that education is a public…

22 May

Namibian horse mackerel sales help oceana earnings

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Oceana Group says stronger pricing, improved sales and fuel hedging gains in Namibia helped boost the performance of its wild-caught seafood business during the six months ended 31 March 2026, despite lower horse mackerel landings. The company reported that Namibian horse mackerel landings declined by 16% to 16 649 tonnes from 19 746 tonnes recorded during the same period last year. Oceana attributed the decline to lower catch rates and the absence of the Desert Diamond vessel, which operated in Namibian waters during the comparative period. Despite the lower volumes, Oceana said performance in Namibia improved because operating…

22 May

OL targets N$2.5 billion EBIT under vision 2029 strategy

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Local business group OL says its vision 2029 strategy aims to grow earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to N$2.5 billion while positioning the company among the world’s top 10 great places to work. The group announced its targets while unveiling a new corporate identity as part of a wider transformation strategy focused on growth, leadership, and organisational culture. OL said the strategy also aims to improve returns across all operating companies and achieve an OL Persona score above 85%. The rebrand introduces the concept of “One OL”, which the company said reflects a more unified business operating…

22 May

NSA signs data sharing agreement with Angola

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) and Angola’s National Statistics Institute have signed a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at improving cooperation in statistics, governance and public policy planning. The agreement was signed in Windhoek this week during a working visit by the Angolan delegation to Namibia. The two institutions said the agreement will strengthen cooperation in the production and sharing of reliable statistics while improving technical capacity and data systems in both countries. The MoU focuses on areas such as statistical governance, macroeconomic data, labour statistics, national accounts, censuses, surveys and geographic information systems. The agencies will also cooperate…

22 May

Walvis Bay airport gets new firefighting vehicle

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has acquired an additional aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle for Walvis Bay International Airport as part of efforts to strengthen aviation safety and expand airport operations. The new Rosenbauer firefighting vehicle will improve the airport’s emergency response capacity and help meet international aviation safety requirements. NAC said the investment forms part of its strategy to maintain high safety standards while positioning Namibia as a stronger aviation and logistics hub in Southern Africa. The company said modern rescue and firefighting equipment remains important as international aviation safety regulations continue to evolve. “By enhancing its…

22 May

US retail sales rose 0.5% in April

Observer Money

US retail diamond sales rose 0.5% in April to US$757.1 billion, driven by tax refunds and steady consumer spending despite inflation and higher gas prices. April retail sales increased 0.5% month-over-month and 4.9% year-over-year, marking the seventh consecutive month of growth. Clothing and accessories, including jewellery, saw a 10% year-over-year sales increase and a 0.6% rise from March. Retail growth persisted despite inflation, rising gas prices, and cautious consumer sentiment, supported by wage growth and tax refunds. Rapaport Trade Insight: Steady jewellery sales growth amid inflation highlights natural diamonds’ resilience when consumers prioritise meaningful purchases. US retail sales grew in…

22 May

Botswana’s SACU agriculture trade challenge

Observer Money

Wandile Sihlobo I am among those who have been critical of Botswana’s approach to regional agricultural trade. The country frequently imposes bans on imports of South African fruits and vegetables to protect its domestic farmers. Such an approach would be understandable if we were not all part of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), which, amongst other things, encourages free trade. These frequent non-tariff barriers disrupt the South African farming community and businesses and impose a cost burden on consumers in Botswana. Still, one can sympathise with Botswana’s efforts to boost its food security by increasing domestic production and reducing…

22 May

NNN, Namibians, America is coming for our friend!

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro As much as the ongoing solidarity campaign by Namibians and fellows with Cuba may not be based on ideological grounds and/or convictions, it is pleasing to see this initiative and it needs every possible support, especially from Namibians, given the role that Cuba played during the country’s liberation struggle. Eventually Namibia is a free, independent and sovereign country – not so much an equal among the nations of the world, but it has claimed its nominal place among the nations of the world. It cannot be expected at this stage to be an equal among fellows and other…

22 May

Africa at the edge of history: A pan-African warning

Opinions

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Sankofa: Memory as strategy The Akan principle of Sankofa teaches, "Go back and fetch what was forgotten.” This is not a call to romanticise the past. It is a warning against historical amnesia. We are going to celebrate on May 23 the Omagongo/Omaongo Annual Cultural Festival, inscribed by UNESCO on the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2015. The 25th of May is Africa Day, and May 28 is officially observed as Genocide Remembrance Day in Namibia. It is a national public holiday dedicated to honouring…

21 May

Medicine shortages gives NNN sleepless nights

Main, National News

Justicia Shipena Medicine shortages in public hospitals are keeping President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah awake at night. Nandi-Ndaitwah said the continued shortage of medicines remains one of the biggest burdens on her administration. “If there is one of the things that gives me sleepless nights, in all sincerity, it is when I'm hearing no medicines in our hospitals,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said during her visit to the FabuPharm pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Otjiwarongo on Wednesday. Her remarks come at a time when public hospitals and clinics across the country continue running low on essential medicines. This week, the Ministry of Health and Social Services…