Windhoek Observer – Page 228 – Windhoek Observer

22 May

SONAs, SORAs are businesses usual

Opinions

Kae Matundu INCREASINGLY Yours Truly Ideologically is starting to doubt and question the meaning and essence of the yearly State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs) and same as well as that of State of the Region Addresses (SORAs) as has become the political tradition since independence. Especially doubting if the said addresses are true reflections of the real socio-economic conditions of the people on the ground, rather than just a public relations exercise by the powers that be. To make the country believe that the administration is and has been doing something to better the lives of the country and…

22 May

Namdeb plans to upscale wind plant to 150MW

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Namdeb plans to upscale its planned 34 MW wind plant to 100-150 MW. Corporate affairs manager Grace Luvindao said the intent of the recent MoU signed with NamPower is to upscale the project to a significantly larger wind energy facility that is connected to the NamPower electrical grid. “Initial indications are that the facility can be upscaled to between 100-150MW, however this will be confirmed as the study progresses. The capital cost and the funding for the project will be determined once the study phase of the project is nearing completion.” Luvindao said at present, Namdeb does not…

22 May

Procurement board tackles TransNamib tender cancellation

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Central Procurement Board of Namibia says it is dealing with the government’s decision to cancel TransNamib’s plan to buy 23 new locomotives for N$1.7 billion. Johanna Kambala, Manager of Stakeholder Relations at the board, said the matter is sensitive and the board will respond to questions at an appropriate time. Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi confirmed that the locomotive tender had been cancelled due to concerns over sourcing from a single supplier. He said TransNamib now needs to come up with new timelines for the locomotive purchase. Earlier this year, TransNamib announced plans to buy…

22 May

Construction sector projected to expand by 8.5%

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Namibia’s construction sector is projected to grow by 8.5% in 2025, making it the fastest-growing sector despite accounting for just 1.4% of GDP in 2024. This growth is driven by monetary easing, increased public infrastructure investment, and renewed private sector confidence. Simonis Storm Securities said total output is expected to reach about N$4.3 billion. Growth will focus on residential developments, commercial real estate, and government capital projects. Since late 2024, the Bank of Namibia has cut interest rates by 100 basis points, easing financing conditions. Another rate cut is expected in the second half of 2025. Lower rates…

22 May

FNB lowers 2025 inflation forecast to 3.9%

Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA FNB Namibia economist Helena Mboti said FNB now expects inflation to ease to 3% year-on-year in May. The annual average inflation for 2025 is forecast at 3.9%, slightly below the earlier projection of 4.2%. “Our updated forecast reflects lower-than-expected pressure from housing and utilities, while other assumptions remain broadly unchanged. Although housing and rent prices are expected to remain elevated, the utilities outlook has improved. We had anticipated an electricity tariff increase of over 8%, assuming limited fiscal capacity to subsidise national tariffs for a second consecutive year,” Mboti said. NamPower’s announcement of a more moderate 3.8% increase,…

22 May

Consumers are preferring fuel-efficient cars

Energy, Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Namibian car buyers are shifting their focus from luxury and performance to affordability, fuel efficiency, and practicality. Simonis Storm Securities says this trend is creating space for new brands, especially Chinese manufacturers, to enter the market as some established European brands lose ground. “This evolution presents new opportunities for local dealerships, financiers, and service providers to adapt their offerings in line with shifting consumer expectations, focusing more on cost-conscious packages, servicing support, and competitive financing models tailored to the growing mid-tier vehicle segment,” Simonis Storm Securities said. Vehicle sales data for April 2025 show a strong preference for…

22 May

Sanlam, Tyme Bank form joint venture

Observer Money

Sanlam has announced that Sanlam Life, Sanlam Personal Loans Proprietary Limited (SPL) and Tyme Bank Limited have entered into agreements which will result in the establishment of a joint venture focused on unsecured personal loans with an embedded credit life offering. The establishment of the joint venture will be subject to the fulfilment of certain suspensive conditions. SPL provides unsecured personal loans of between R5000 and R300000 to qualifying individuals on repayment terms of 12 months to six years at a fixed interest rate. The SPL loan book size was R5 billion as at 31 December 2024. Tyme Bank is…

22 May

Kimberley Process marks ‘breakthrough’ in expanding definition

Observer Money

The World Diamond Council (WDC) has welcomed the meaningful progress made towards expanding the Kimberley Process definition of conflict diamonds after a successful week of open and productive dialogue at the 2025 Intercessional in Dubai. The meeting, hosted by the UAE and current KP Chair Ahmed Bin Sulayem, marked a significant breakthrough in seeking to expand the definition of conflict diamonds after years of discussion. The current definition, established over two decades ago, primarily addresses diamonds financing rebel movements against legitimate governments. However, the evolving nature of conflicts necessitates a broader scope. The African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA), representing 15…

21 May

Home Affairs mum on alleged document forgery

Main

Allexer Namundjebo The Ministry of Home Affairs is in hot water after a man discovered his identity documents had allegedly been used fraudulently by another person. Months after the incident was reported, the ministry confirmed forgery but has yet to provide any answers. Matheus Matheus, a resident of Arandis, found out about the identity breach in July 2024.He was applying for a passport at the Swakopmund Home Affairs office when officials told him his name and ID number were already in the system, but his photo and signature didn’t match. He was then referred to the ministry’s head office in…

21 May

Activists call for lights and CCTV after woman dies in riverbed

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Katutura Residents Committee (KRC) and women’s rights activists have called for urgent safety interventions, including improved street lighting and CCTV cameras, following the death of a woman found in a riverbed in Windhoek's Damara location on Thursday. Women's rights activist Rosa Namises, speaking in the wake of the incident, said the death reflects a deeper crisis facing women in unsafe and neglected areas of Windhoek. “This is not just a mysterious or unknown death of a woman in our midst. It is part of the violence against women in our country. It shows how unsafe and insecure our…