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01 Aug

It’s Time to Ask the Hard Questions About Doing Business in Namibia

info_e12wt4csEditorial, Featured, Opinions

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s decision to integrate Trade into the Ministry of International Relations deserves praise. It is a smart move, one that aligns Namibia’s foreign policy with the urgent need to attract investment. It tells the world that Namibia is ready to do business. But the bigger question is, how easy is it to actually do business here? The truth is, Namibia offers plenty of opportunities. We have political stability, rich natural resources, and a location that opens doors to regional markets. On paper, we look attractive. Yet, the reality on the ground often tells a different story. Investors quickly…

01 Aug

Former health bosses not under ACC watch

info_e12wt4csMain

Justicia Shipena Former top officials at the Ministry of Health are not part of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)’s current investigation into the mismanagement of medicine tenders. ACC director general Paulus Noa told the Windhoek Observer that neither former health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula nor former executive director Ben Nangombe is under investigation. “We have nothing that we are investigating, Dr. Shangula. There’s no such investigation going on around here. We also don’t have a file against the former executive director Ben Nangombe. As far as I know, there was no report that has been submitted to me concerning Nangombe,” Noa…

01 Aug

Nandi-Ndaitwah declares poor reading skills a national emergency

info_e12wt4csNational NewsPresident Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has declared learning poverty a national development emergency. She said that no infrastructure project should take precedence over ensuring children can read, write, and perform basic numeracy by age 10. She made the declaration on Thursday during the national launch of the African Union's “End Learning Poverty for All in Africa” campaign held in Outjo. Namibia is one of 25 African countries selected in phase one of the AU campaign. Learning poverty refers to the share of children who cannot read and understand a simple text by age 10, including those out of school who…

01 Aug

Etunda Feedlot targets beef exports

info_e12wt4csNational News

Justicia Shipena The Etunda Feedlot, set for completion by September 2026, will have the capacity to hold up to 1,000 cattle and aims to strengthen the communal livestock sector in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs). The N$78.9 million facility is being built within the Etunda Irrigation Scheme near Ruacana and forms part of the broader N$400 million Livestock Support Programme jointly funded by the Namibian government and the European Union. The project was launched on Thursday during a groundbreaking ceremony attended by government officials, EU representatives, regional governors, traditional leaders, and farmers from across the Omusati region. Agriculture minister Inge…

01 Aug

Donor preference for NGOs raises accountability concerns – Speaker

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The speaker of the National Assembly, Sara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, has warned that international donors who opt to work exclusively with civil society organisations rather than elected governments risk undermining state-led development. She said this approach could also weaken democratic accountability. She made the remarks during an interactive debate at the United Nations in Geneva under the theme “Networked Global Governance for More Effective Multilateralism: Does it Work?” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said civil society organisations and other non-state actors contribute to national development, but they do not carry the same democratic mandates as elected governments. “We note that there are some limitations.…

01 Aug

MTC Maris customers to borrow N$1 500 in a minute

info_e12wt4csNational NewsMTC Maris

Justicia Shipena MTC Maris customers can borrow up to N$1,500 in 60 seconds through a new service launched in partnership with Letshego Micro Financial Services Namibia (LMFSN). The instant loan product, called Taamba Maris, allows eligible users to access loans ranging from N$100 to N$1,500 through their Maris mobile financial services wallets. The service went live on Thursday. It runs over USSD, making it available even in areas with limited internet access, and takes about a minute with funds disbursed instantly. To qualify, applicants must be Namibian citizens aged 18 to 60, have been active on the MTC network for…

01 Aug

NAC to build third Hosea Kutako terminal

info_e12wt4csNational NewsNamibia Airports Company (NAC)

Allexer Namundjembo The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) is set to build a third terminal at Hosea Kutako International Airport as part of a broader infrastructure expansion plan. The announcement was made on Thursday during a briefing on the state of air transport infrastructure. The NAC also confirmed that upgrades are planned at Walvis Bay and Lüderitz airports to support the country’s oil and gas sector. In addition, Katima Mulilo Airport will be further developed to accommodate the rise in tourism, which the NAC says is outpacing international passenger growth. The new projects come after more than N$350 million was invested…

01 Aug

Usakos signs agreement for affordable housing

info_e12wt4csNational NewsThe Usakos Town Council

Allexer Namundjembo The Usakos Town Council has signed agreement with the National Housing Enterprise (NHE) to formalise informal settlements and provide affordable housing to low-income residents The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed this week at the Usakos Town Council chambers, is part of the National Informal Settlement Upgrading Project (ISUP). The signing ceremony was attended by NHE chief executive officer Gisbertus Mukulu, local councillors, technical staff, and community representatives from the Saamstaan and Ongulumbashe areas. Usakos mayor Irene Simeon said the partnership is a step towards addressing inequality and housing insecurity in the town. “Together, we are choosing to say,…

01 Aug

Nuclear energy could inject N$20 billion into economy

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Chamwe Kaira The government sees potential in the nuclear fuel cycle chain, including uranium conversion and small modular reactors, with the ability to inject up to N$20 billion into the economy under favourable conditions. These include geopolitical dynamics, market trends, and Namibia’s financial and technical capacity. The sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) shows that one of the planned interventions is to assess the viability of uranium conversion. The plan also sets the stage for considering a nuclear power programme beyond the NDP6 period. The proposed activities include the establishment of a Nuclear Institute of Namibia and exploring flagship nuclear projects…

01 Aug

Talks advance on N$10 billion hydrogen loan

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Chamwe Kaira The Namibia Green Hydrogen Programme (NGH2P) is in advanced talks with the European Investment Bank for a €500 million (approximately N$10 billion) facility. The proposed facility carries a 3.5% interest rate with a five-year grace period. Earlier this year, the programme, in partnership with the ministry of finance, submitted a funding proposal to the Climate Investment Funds’ Industry Decarbonisation Program under the Clean Technology Fund. The requested amount ranged from $50 million to $250 million, with a low-cost facility averaging 1% interest in USD. This funding has been awarded, and the NGH2P is now in the project pipeline…