Windhoek Observer – Page 129 – Windhoek Observer

16 Sep

Construction remain modest in Windhoek, Swakopmund

Observer Money

Staff Writer Construction activity remained modest in Windhoek and Swakopmund during August, reflecting uneven momentum in both regions, according to Macro Pulse, an analyst at Simonis Storm Securities. Windhoek recorded a slowdown in approvals, dropping from 261 in July, the highest monthly figure this year, to 176 in August. Swakopmund saw a similar trend, with approvals declining from 99 to 81 over the same period. From January to August, Windhoek averaged 171 approvals per month, while Swakopmund averaged 68, underscoring Windhoek’s role as the country’s primary growth hub. “However, Swakopmund’s gradual improvement compared to historical averages signals that the coastal…

16 Sep

ReconAfrica taps into Gabon’s offshore potential

Observer Money

Staff Writer Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd (ReconAfrica) has expanded its portfolio with an entry into Gabon’s offshore oil and gas sector. The company signed a production sharing contract and joint venture agreement with Gabon Oil Company (GOC) and Record Resources Inc. The deal covers Block C-7, renamed Ngulu, located in shallow waters offshore central Gabon. ReconAfrica will operate the block with a 55% working interest. Record Resources holds 20%, GOC 15%, and the Republic of Gabon a 10% carried interest. Ngulu covers 1 214 square kilometres and lies close to producing fields with reserves of between 38 million and 250…

16 Sep

MTC Maris, MICT in talks on e-money future

Observer Money

Staff Writer MTC Maris and the ministry of information and communication technology (MICT) are exploring collaboration to accelerate digital transactions. The financial technology company, a subsidiary of MTC Namibia, paid a courtesy visit to ICT minister Emma Theofelus to introduce its operations and discuss potential partnerships. Led by board chairperson Jerome Namaseb, the MTC Maris team presented the company’s new innovations and solutions. The discussions looked at possible cooperation through the upcoming Mega Hackathon, financial education initiatives, and joint efforts with other government departments to expand digital services across government. “The future of e-money in Namibia is where we are…

16 Sep

OBSERVER DAILY | From grief to guesswork: Why the Lubowski interview fails the evidence test

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Thirty-six years after Anton Lubowski’s assassination, the wound remains open and the questions still sting. That grief deserves recognition and compassion. No family should carry the weight of a loved one’s unresolved murder. The sorrow of Gabrielle and Nadia Lubowski is real, and their yearning for answers is understandable. But grief, no matter how deep, cannot stand in for proof. Pain is not evidence, and in their recent interview the two women drift from mourning into dangerous conjecture. Their claims that Sam Nujoma, SWAPO’s founding president, was effectively a South African asset and complicit in Anton’s killing are not just…

15 Sep

Opposition accuses Swapo of threatening voters …as NNN says service delivery will be delayed without Swapo majority

Main

Justicia Shipena Opposition parties have accused Swapo president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of threatening voters after she said service delivery will be delayed if Swapo does not win a majority in the upcoming regional and local authority elections. Nandi-Ndaitwah made the comments at the opening of Swapo’s central committee meeting on Saturday, urging voters to give the party a decisive mandate. Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leaders and spokesperson, Immanuel Nashinge, called the remarks undemocratic and misleading. “That’s just a political statement. It doesn’t make sense at all. Local authorities depend on the minister of urban and rural development, who is a…

15 Sep

City, Rani Group still negotiating Ramatex rent price

National News

Justicia Shipena The City of Windhoek and Rani Group International are still negotiating the rental prices for Grow More Investments to lease parts of the Ramatex Complex in Otjomuise. On Friday, the city council announced that it had approved the lease of portions seven and eight of Farm 466 to Grow More Investments, a subsidiary of Rani Group, for logistics and manufacturing operations over 25 years. The two plots measure 41 258 m² and 42 306 m² and house the Tai-Wah Warehouses. While the initial proposal set a monthly rental of N$100 000 per portion, amounting to N$200 000 in…

15 Sep

Venaani accuses Nekundi of orchestrating PDM resignations

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) leader McHenry Venaani has accused works and transport minister Veikko Nekundi of influencing recent resignations within his party. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Sunday, Venaani claimed that some young PDM members were leaving after receiving job promises allegedly linked to Nekundi. “The resignations are triggered by the ruling party’s shenanigans. Nekundi has been offering jobs to some of our youth league members who were in the Central Committee. They were invited to weddings in the north with Nekundi. For the last five months we have been noticing the mishaps of these young people,”…

15 Sep

China set to scrap tariffs on Namibian goods

National News

Justicia Shipena Chinese ambassador to Namibia Zhao Weiping says China will soon work with Namibia to implement zero-tariff treatment for African countries soon. In June, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will remove tariffs on imports from all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties. He made the announcement at a China–Africa cooperation meeting. China has been Africa's largest trading partner for the past 15 years. In 2023, African exports to China were valued at about US$170 billion, roughly N$3.15 trillion. The announcement comes as the continent faces increased tariffs on products entering the United States. “We will work with…

15 Sep

Gun-cleaning video could damage Amupanda’s image – analyst

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda’s recent video of him cleaning a gun could harm his political image and weaken support for the AR. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the video, posted on Amupanda’s Facebook page showing him holding a firearm and asking how guns are cleaned, risks being used by opponents to paint him as reckless and unfit for leadership. “Given the recent drama in Parliament, this video could be seen as adding fuel to the fire and may alienate some supporters,” Kamwanyah told the Windhoek Observer. He said the timing of the video compounds its impact. …

15 Sep

Over 2 million voters register for regional and local authority elections

National News

Justicia Shipena Over 2.2 million Namibians are set to vote in the upcoming regional and local authority elections scheduled for 26 November 2025, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has revealed. The supplementary voter registration, conducted between 4 and 19 August was aimed at ensuring all eligible Namibian citizens with the opportunity to register to vote and participate in local governance. According to ECN, the provisional register for regional councils shows 1.67 million eligible voters, with 1.5 million confirmed. This represents a 90% national registration rate. For local authorities, 949 890 voters were eligible, and 745 429 were confirmed, giving…