Windhoek Observer – Page 4 – Windhoek Observer

16 Apr

Agriculture, forestry, fishing expected to recover

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Bank of Namibia (BoN) says agriculture, forestry and fishing are expected to recover during the forecast period, supported by improved rainfall and better crop production. The central bank said in its March 2026 economic outlook that livestock production will recover more slowly. This is due to herd rebuilding after earlier drought conditions forced farmers to reduce stock. The mining sector is expected to show mixed performance. Diamond mining is projected to remain under pressure due to weak global demand and lower production. Uranium production is expected to stay high, supported by strong demand and prices, although growth…

16 Apr

Diverging fortunes in banking sector

Observer Money

Staff Writer Namibia’s listed banking sector is showing mixed performance, with some banks growing while others face pressure, according to Simonis Storm Securities. FirstRand Namibia reported headline earnings of N$1.066 billion for the first half of FY2026. Return on equity reached 30.2%. Total assets declined by 2.6% after the bank exited its asset and liability management hedge. Key indicators improved. The net interest margin rose to 6.3%. The credit loss ratio improved to 0.4%. Non-performing loans dropped to 4.3%. The firm said the performance was supported by changes in funding. Franchise deposits increased by 9.4%. Institutional funding fell by 26.7%.…

16 Apr

Real estate, consumer stocks lead local, JSE indices rebound

Observer Money

Staff Writer Market indices in Namibia and South Africa recovered on Tuesday after losses in the previous session, data from the Namibian Securities Exchange shows. The JSE all share index rose 1.10% to close at 119,795.83 points, recovering from a 0.45% decline recorded on 13 April. The index remains 3.42% higher than its level in December 2025, although still below its 2026 high. In Namibia, the overall index increased by 1.29% to 2,290.09 points, reversing a 0.15% drop in the previous session. The index has gained 6.95% since December 2025. The Local Index showed little movement, rising 0.06% to 827.78…

16 Apr

Mining drop not as bad as reported — Mining chamber

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Chamber of Mines of Namibia says the scale of the mining sector contraction reported by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) may be overstated. NSA reported that mining and quarrying contracted by 9.4% in 2025. The decline was driven by a 19.4% drop in diamond mining, along with contractions of 12.2% in metal ores and 14.5% in other mining activities. The Chamber said this does not fully reflect production trends. Gold output increased by about 5% in 2025, while uranium production rose by around 23%. These increases would usually offset declines in diamonds. Metal ores, including gold and…

16 Apr

The art of networking

Opinions

Adolf Kaure Networking is an art. It does not matter which profession you find yourself in; it is necessary to grasp the soft skills of building a network of personalities who enhance your presence in your industry. Whether you carry the energy and light that charm every room or you are a quiet ‘church mouse’, there is no excuse for not having networking skills, as they are the fulcrum that can easily catapult you to another stage of your professional career. In the communications and public relations profession, networking is highly essential – not only the reason behind it but…

15 Apr

Comply or pay: Mbandeka’s warning must not be ignored

Editorial, Featured

Namibia’s public institutions have been put on notice, and this time, the warning is not wrapped in bureaucratic niceties. It is blunt, urgent, and overdue. Festus Mbandeka has sounded the alarm: failure by state institutions to comply with existing laws is costing the government dearly, in courtrooms, in public funds, and in credibility. This is not a theoretical concern. It is a systemic problem that has quietly drained state resources and eroded public trust for years. What Mbandeka has done is simply to say out loud what many insiders already know, that too many government entities operate with a dangerous…

15 Apr

New CPBN rules may leave few qualified evaluators

Main, National News

Allexer Namundjebo Policy analysts say stricter qualification requirements introduced by the Central Procurement Board of Namibia (CPBN) could limit the pool of eligible experts. They raise concerns about how effective the reforms will be in improving procurement processes. The CPBN recently introduced new measures for appointing Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) members. These include mandatory qualifications recognised by the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA), police clearance certificates, structured training, and competency assessments. According to CPBN spokesperson Johanna Kambala, the aim is to improve how public bids are evaluated. Kambala said the strengthened procedures are aimed at promoting integrity, fair dealing, transparency and…

15 Apr

Namibia, Angola sign N$941m power deal

National News

Chamwe Kaira Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) and Angola's Rede Nacional de Transporte de Electricidade have signed agreements for the Angola-Namibia Power Interconnector Project (ANNA), valued at N$941 million. The project is expected to be completed by 2029. The two utilities on Tuesday signed a joint development agreement and a power purchase agreement. These set out how the project will be built, managed and operated. The project was approved by Cabinet in February as part of national energy plans with funding of about N$4 billion allocated to support NamPower’s capital contribution. The funding will cover the engineering, procurement and construction of…

15 Apr

Kandumbu denies skipping suspended Katima CEO’s hearing

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Former Katima Mulilo Town Council administrator Marina Kandumbu has denied claims that she refused to testify in the disciplinary hearing of suspended chief executive officer Raphael Liswaniso. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Tuesday, Kandumbu said the claims are false. “I was in Katima Mulilo from Monday and only returned to Windhoek last night (Monday). I had travelled there to testify at the hearing,” she said. She said she has no reason to avoid the process and will continue to cooperate. “I want to make it clear that I will never turn against the honourable minister. In any…

15 Apr

Govt cracks down on vaping

National News

Patience Makwele Namibia is moving to tighten laws on e-cigarettes and other emerging nicotine products as part of efforts to strengthen tobacco control. The deputy minister of health, Susan Ndjaleka, said the government is reviewing the Tobacco Products Control Act to close gaps in regulation. She was speaking at the Africa Tobacco Control Core Partners Biannual Coordination meeting in Windhoek on Tuesday. “We are in the process of amending the Tobacco Product Control Act to address emerging tobacco products,” Ndjaleka said. She said Namibia is also working towards joining the protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products to curb…