Windhoek Observer – Page 327 – Windhoek Observer

15 May

Ministry denies claim that London mission lacks Nandi-Ndaitwah portrait

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of International Relations and Trade (MIRT) has rejected claims in the Windhoek Observer on 15 May that diplomatic missions, including the High Commission in London, had not displayed the official portrait of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Executive director Penda Naanda said the article was "inaccurate and misleading" and confirmed the portrait is displayed at the London mission. "Upon consultation with the Mission, it was confirmed that the official portrait has indeed been displayed at the High Commission in London, contrary to the impression created in the article that no official portrait has been displayed," Naanda said. The…

15 May

Africa Trust calls for feminist, people-centred trade justice framework

Africa / World

Moses Magadza The Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Africa Trust, Alice Kanengoni, has called for a bold reimagining of trade justice in Southern Africa, urging a shift away from exclusive technical approaches to inclusive, people-driven frameworks that centre those most affected by global economic shifts. Kanengoni made the call when she delivered welcome remarks at the beginning of a High-Level Dialogue on Trade Justice in Johannesburg co-convened with the SADC Parliamentary Forum. She welcomed the gathering of parliamentarians, civic organisations, feminist movements, cross-border traders, and policy experts to what she described as “a pivotal convening”. “This is not just…

15 May

Soil sampling training set to boost food security

National News

Niël Terblanché A two-day training session hosted in Windhoek earlier this week has equipped Namibian agricultural technicians with practical skills in soil sampling, a critical element in sustainable farming and land use. The program, organised under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), aims to enhance the country’s approach to improving food security by combining international expertise with local knowledge. The session also aimed to improve food security by combining international expertise with local knowledge. It forms part of the second phase of the China–FAO–Namibia South-South Cooperation project to boost Namibia’s agricultural productivity. The…

15 May

Namibian athletes and coach among 2025 regional sports award nominees

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Four Namibian athletes have made the final list of nominees for the 2025 Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA), announced Thursday by AUSC chief executive officer Stanley Mutoya. Lahja Ishitile is nominated for Sportswoman of the Year with a disability. She will compete against Taonele Banda of Malawi and Simone Kruger. Pieter Benade, a rugby coach, is nominated for Coach of the Year. He faces competition from athletics coaches Kebonyemodisa Dose of Botswana and Douglas Kalembo of Zambia. Chris Kinda is nominated for Sportsman of the Year with a disability. He will compete against Mpumelelo Mhlongo of South Africa…

15 May

‘Sport has outgrown recreation’ – Ballotti

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts, and Culture, Dino Ballotti, said sport management is not just a career but a vehicle for economic growth, youth empowerment, and nation-building. He spoke at the Namibia University of Science and Technology’s (Nust) graduation ceremony on Thursday in Eenhana, Ohangwena region. Ballotti praised the university for offering sports management degrees. He said graduates in this field play a key role in building sustainable structures, ensuring ethical governance, and creating economic opportunities through sport tourism, athlete development, and infrastructure investment. “Personally, I am also pleased to know that Nust offers qualifications…

15 May

Johnson one shot off the golf lead in Gaborone

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Golfer Kyle Johnson remains the top performer on the national team at the Africa Confederation Region Five tournament taking place in Gaborone, Botswana. The Botswana Golf Union reported on Thursday that Johnson is currently in second place overall, just behind South Africa’s Astin Wade Arthur, who leads the standings. “Arthur fired a superb 8-under-par 63 in round two to reach a tournament total of 134 (-8), overtaking Zimbabwe’s Keegan Shutt, who slipped to third after a 3-over-par 74 brought his total to 136 (-6). Johnson, meanwhile, remained consistent with a 4-under-par 67, taking his total to 135 (-7)…

15 May

SADC PF head calls for economic self-reliance amid rising tariffs

Africa / World, Featured

Moses Magadza Boemo Sekgoma, the Secretary General of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), has urged Southern African nations to take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen their economies and regain control over their development trajectory. Speaking via Zoom at the opening of the "High-Level Dialogue on Trade Justice: Mitigating the Impact of US Reciprocal Tariffs on SADC Economies and Women and Girls" on Thursday, Sekgoma acknowledged the far-reaching implications of tariff increases and called for a recalibration of regional trade and production strategies. “While we certainly have no control over foreign jurisdictions and the tariffs they…

15 May

Govt eyes new eurobond

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The government is considering issuing a new Eurobond or seeking a syndicated facility in 2026. However, analysts have urged caution due to the country’s heavy exposure to US dollar- and euro-denominated debt and the ongoing volatility in global bond markets. Simonis Storm Securities warned that any new issuance should be carefully timed and backed by a clear fiscal consolidation plan. “Investor appetite will not be guaranteed, and we’ve seen risk premiums widen fast across similarly rated sovereigns,” the firm said. Namibia has increased its reliance on the domestic bond market in recent years. In the 2020/21 financial year,…

15 May

Oryx gets the green light to buy Safari Investments

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Oryx Properties Limited has received approval from the Namibian Competition Commission to acquire 100% of Safari Investments Namibia (Proprietary) Limited. The approval, granted on 9 May, comes without any conditions. Safari Investments Namibia owns and manages the Platz am Meer Shopping Centre, a waterfront mall in Swakopmund. Oryx first issued cautionary announcements about the deal in March and May. The company said, “The transaction and purchase price remain contingent upon the fulfilment of conditions agreed upon with the sellers. Therefore, we advise unitholders to be cautious when trading their Oryx securities until we make another announcement. The deal…

15 May

SA getting lion’s share of dividends

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira South Africa remained the largest recipient of dividend payments in 2024, according to the Foreign Investment Report by the Bank of Namibia and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB). Since 2019, more than 50% of dividend payments have gone to South Africa. This reflects strong profits in the financial, insurance, wholesale, and retail trade sectors. Mauritius increased its share of dividends from 1.9% in 2019 to 28.1% in 2024, driven by better profitability in the gold industry. The United Kingdom saw a decline in its dividend share in 2024. This was mainly due to weak diamond…