Windhoek Observer – Page 13 – Windhoek Observer

03 Sep

Twenty two learners discharged after food poisoning scare at Rundu

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Twenty two learners from Maria Mwengere Secondary School in Rundu were discharged from hospital after suspected food poisoning at the school’s hostel. 11 others remain in Rundu Hospital, receiving fluids and medical support. The ministry of education said in a press statement on Tuesday. “Among them, 22 of them were discharged after receiving treatment, while 11 remains under the medical care receiving necessary fluids and support," the executive director in the ministry of education Erastus Haitengela said, Haitengela noted that early feedback from learners pointed to several food items served at the hostel as possible causes. He said…

03 Sep

Health drive distributes 6 000 condoms in Oshana

National News

Justicia Shipena A total of 6 000 condoms were distributed during a recent sexual and reproductive health outreach in the Oshana region. The initiative reached close to 950 students and community members. The outreach was organised by the #BeFree Cares Clinic in partnership with the ministry of health and social services, Ongwediva MediPark Hospital, Walvis Bay Corridor Group, the University of Namibia (Unam), the International University of Management (IUM), Valombola Vocational Training Centre, and the Society for Family Health. Services were offered at five tertiary institutions, including Unam Oshakati, Hifikepunye Pohamba, Jose Eduardo Dos Santos campuses, IUM Ongwediva, and Valombola…

03 Sep

NNN to attend Mariental memorial service

National News

Allexer Namundjembo President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will attend a mass memorial service in Mariental today to honour the 16 people who died in a head-on collision near the town on Saturday, the presidency said on Tuesday. The service will be held at the Mariental sports field. The ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security said that the event will start at 11h00, with activities beginning at 10h00. Minister Lucia Iipumbu said wellness officers and investigators have been sent to Mariental to provide psycho-social support to survivors, families, and colleagues affected by the crash. The car crash that happened in the…

03 Sep

Inflation expected to pick up at year end

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s annual inflation rate eased to 3.5% in July from 3.7% in June, resuming the downward trend seen earlier in the year. However, an analyst has warned that risks remain skewed to the upside heading into the last part of 2025. Almandro Jansen of Simonis Storm Securities said imported cost pressures continue to present the main threat. He pointed to the 30% US tariff on South African exports and ongoing reviews of US tariffs on Chinese goods as new sources of uncertainty in global supply chains. “For Namibia, the short-term impact may involve marginal relief from surplus South…

03 Sep

Capricorn expects profit to increase up to 17%

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Capricorn Group has told shareholders it expects profit after tax, earnings per share and headline earnings per share for the year ended 30 June 2025 to rise by between 12% and 17% compared to the previous year. The audited results are scheduled for release on or about 18 September. In the 2024 financial year, Capricorn reported profit after tax of N$1.74 billion, up 17.7% from N$1.48 billion in 2023. Return on equity increased to 17.9% from 17.6%. The growth was attributed to strong results across its businesses, including Bank Windhoek, Bank Gaborone, Capricorn Asset Management, Entrepo Group, Peo…

03 Sep

Nida, Nafau settle on worker remuneration

Uncategorised

Justicia Shipena The Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida) and the Namibia Food and Allied Workers Union (Nafau) have reached an agreement on employee remuneration and working conditions. The deal covers the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 financial years. The settlement was facilitated with the support of the ministry of trade. Nida and Nafau said the deal is a full and final settlement, securing labour stability and the continuity of operations. The agreement provides for fair and improved working conditions while maintaining operational efficiency. Nida said it remains committed to driving the country’s industrialisation agenda. The deal follows demands made last year by…

03 Sep

New NCCI Lüderitz exco promises to support all businesses

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The new executive committee of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) Lüderitz branch has pledged to represent businesses of all sizes. It will focus on creating an enabling environment that promotes entrepreneurship, youth empowerment, and investment. Alex Gawanab was elected chairperson, with Daniel Hooft as vice-chairperson. Both are prominent figures in the local business community, representing the fishing industry and the emerging kelp-linked sector. In his acceptance speech, Gawanab said Lüderitz has the resources to drive economic growth in the town and the Karas Region through both established industries and new sectors. He said the committee…

03 Sep

Shoprite sales growth reaches N$20.6 billion

Observer Money

Shoprite Group results for the 52 weeks ended 29 June surpassed a N$250 million mark, the group announced on Tuesday. Chief executive officer Pieter Engelbrecht said the group achieved sales growth of N$20.6 billion for the period. Engelbrecht said the group returned N$16.5 billion at point of sale while successfully maintaining its selling price inflation at only 2.3% in its core Supermarkets RSA segment. The group has 30 million customers, and in terms of sales performance in its core Supermarkets RSA segment, the Shoprite and Usave brands saw a sales increase of 5.9%, translating to N$6.5 billion in sales growth…

03 Sep

OBSERVER DAILY | Financial inclusion: Namibia’s next liberation struggle

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Namibia this week hosts the inaugural Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum. James Chapman, managing director of Bank Windhoek, has marked the moment with an essay celebrating his bank’s role in expanding access: rural branches, cellphone banking, local-language ATMs, digital apps, and fee-free accounts. These steps are commendable. But Namibia cannot afford to confuse corporate milestones with national transformation. Financial inclusion is not a marketing slogan; it is a matter of economic justice. And justice, if it is to mean anything, must be enforced through political will, not polished through corporate press releases. The ghosts of exclusion Before…

02 Sep

Sisters and unborn twins perish in Mariental crash

Main

Allexer Namundjembo A heavily pregnant woman, her unborn baby, and her sister were among 16 people who perished in the deadly head-on collision near Mariental on Saturday morning. The accident also claimed the lives of 12 correctional officers, two police officers, and two civilians. The collision occurred just after 07h00 on the B1 road, about seven kilometres north of Mariental. Four police officers had rushed to Withuis location to assist Diana Jagger, who had gone into labour and had no transport to hospital. They picked up Jagger along with her sister Roseltha Higoam but never reached their destination. Inspector general…