Windhoek Observer – Page 4 – Windhoek Observer

27 Nov

S&P upgrades SA banks after sovereign rating lift

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira S&P Global Ratings has upgraded eight South African banks after raising the country’s sovereign rating on 14 November. The agency lifted South Africa’s foreign-currency rating to BB from BB- and its local-currency rating to BB+ from BB, with a positive outlook. It said the move reflects better economic growth, a stronger fiscal path, and lower risks from state-owned enterprises as Eskom posts its first profit in decades. On 18 November, S&P said the sovereign upgrade allowed higher ratings across major banks, noting that most institutions remain capped by the sovereign ceiling because government distress can affect domestic banks.…

27 Nov

Chamber of Mines calls for reliable and efficient railway system

Observer Money

Chamber of Mines of Namibia chief executive Veston Malango says recent incidents involving hazardous materials such as sulphuric acid show the risks posed by damaged sections of the country’s railway network. He said these incidents can cause serious environmental harm, especially in sensitive areas. Malango said the mining sector relies on safe and reliable transport. He stressed that a strong railway system is critical for moving mining inputs and products in a safe and cost-effective way. Observer Money (OM): What is the Chamber of Mines of Namibia’s position on the current state of the railway industry in Namibia? Veston Malango…

27 Nov

Andrada Mining expansion gathers pace

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Andrada Mining Limited reported higher production, stronger revenue and reduced operating losses for the six months ended 31 August 2025. The company said it is now entering a scaling phase after completing engineering upgrades and corporate restructuring. The unaudited interim results showed continued investment across its Namibian operations, including the Uis Mine and several development projects aimed at expanding tin, tantalum and lithium output. The company processed 527 583 tonnes of ore, up 10% from 481 504 tonnes in the first half of the previous financial year. Tin concentrate production increased by 14% to 858 tonnes, and tantalum…

27 Nov

Africa Bitcoin enters OTCQB market

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Africa Bitcoin Corporation Limited (ABC), formerly Altvest Capital Limited, says its ordinary shares have started trading in the United States on the OTCQB Venture Market. Trading began on Wednesday under the ticker AFBCF. The company anticipates that this move will enhance its visibility and reach, providing global investors with an additional avenue to access its shares. The OTCQB Market is an electronic broker-dealer platform operated by OTC Markets Group. It is not a licensed or regulated securities exchange, and ABC’s admission is not a formal listing. It allows secondary trading of the company’s existing ordinary shares through US…

27 Nov

Black Friday: balancing act between opportunity and overspending

Observer Money

Staff Writer Black Friday has become a major event on Namibia’s retail calendar. It has shifted from an imported idea to a period that shapes how consumers spend and how businesses plan. For retailers, it is a chance to boost revenue and connect with customers. For consumers, it offers savings but carries the risk of financial strain when approached without discipline. Awareness of Black Friday remains high. Electronics and appliances are still the most sought-after items, followed by clothing and household essentials. Shoppers are becoming more cautious, focusing on value and necessity rather than impulse buys. Rising living costs, interest…

27 Nov

Abu Dhabi meeting explores future of energy

Observer Money

Staff Writer Abu Dhabi brought global energy leaders together for ADIPEC 2025, where discussions focused on rising demand and the future of the sector. Opening the event, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, welcomed thousands of attendees and delivered a message centred on urgency. Al Jaber said ADIPEC has become the platform “where facts come into focus” and where the future of energy is shaped through direct dialogue and investment-driven action. He highlighted the pressures created by shifting geopolitics, volatile markets and increasing complexity. He said electricity demand will climb sharply through 2040 as data…

27 Nov

Do regional and local authority elections make any difference?

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro This may sound like a nonsensical and rhetorical question, if not altogether useless and belated, in view of the fact that we just concluded these very elections and are only now awaiting the results thereof. Be that as it may, compared to the Presidential and National Assembly Elections, there’s no denying that the Regional and Local Authority Elections are, ordinarily, meant to bring politicians closer to people and thereby service delivery. By making councillors elected directly by those they are meant to serve in their regions and localities. Ideally councillors are thus not only known to most, if…

27 Nov

Giving a leeway for foreign intervention through local actors as proxies with silk gloves

Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The legendary revolutionary leader Che Guevara once emphasised that “not an inch of concession to imperialism” was a key principle in the struggle for liberation. In Namibia today, that warning echoes louder than ever as questions of sovereignty, foreign influence, and domestic political opportunism reach a boiling point. At the centre of this moment stands Bernadus Swartbooi, leader of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM), a man whose recent political behaviour raises alarms far beyond ordinary opposition politics. Swartbooi’s now-infamous letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. President…

27 Nov

Magistrates’ strike could freeze swearing-in of new office bearers

Main

Allexer Namundjembo If the government does not respond to magistrates’ demands and the nationwide strike continues, the swearing-in of office bearers who will emerge victorious from the regional and local authority elections may be delayed or halted. In a letter to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Affirmative Repositioning leader and member of parliament Job Shipululo Amupanda says the absence of magistrates will stop newly elected leaders from assuming office. This week, the Magistrates and Judges Association of Namibia (MJA) issued a formal strike notice to finance minister Ericah Shafudah, justice and labour relations minister Fillemon Wise Immanuel, the Magistrates Commission and the…

27 Nov

Young voters shy away from the polls

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Youth participation in the regional and local authority elections remained low, with many young voters not visible in the queues at the polls on Wednesday. This is despite more than 643 000 youth registered to vote, making up about 42% of the 1.49 million voters on the final voters register released by the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). The regional and local authority elections took place on 26 November 2025. Landless People’s Movement (LPM) Youth leader Duminga Ndala says the low youth turnout in yesterday’s Regional and Local Authority elections signals a serious disconnect between young people and…