info_e12wt4cs – Page 4

26 Jun

Welwitschia Private Hospital sets benchmark with ISO credentials

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The Welwitschia Private Hospital in Walvis Bay has become the first medical facility in Namibia to earn ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 certification. Hospital manager Stephan Nel confirmed the achievement, which came after about a year and a half of hard work. The global assurance firm DNV issued the endorsement, placing the hospital in a position to meet the standards required to serve the mining, marine, and growing oil and gas sectors in Namibia. Nel said the process began early last year when management decided to align all departments with the two ISO standards. “We were audited several…

26 Jun

NNN to attend Public Enterprise CEO summit in Walvis Bay

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The Public Enterprise CEO Forum will convene on 23 July in Walvis Bay, with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah set to attend for the first time. Her presence underscores the importance of state-owned companies in the country’s economic agenda. Formed in 2017 and registered under Section 21 of the Companies Act, the forum brings together leaders of more than 80 public enterprises. It serves as a platform to review strategies, discuss governance, and exchange practical lessons. Deputy chairperson Toska Sem described the gathering as the biggest and most anticipated meeting of CEOs in the sector. “It’s a rare opportunity for…

26 Jun

Region 5 Youth Games launch inclusive sports guide

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The organisers of the African Union Sports Council's (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games have released a guide to help stakeholders use respectful and accurate language when communicating with and about athletes with disabilities. The guide, launched this week, is aimed at supporting dignitaries, broadcasters, newsrooms, and other stakeholders in engaging with disability sport using empowering terms. It introduces key terminology related to parasport, Special Olympics, and inclusive youth sport. For the first time, the Region 5 Youth Games will include events for athletes with disabilities and special needs. The 11th edition of the games will take place in…

26 Jun

Maybe God Will Judge Us by How We Treat Our Animals: Noah’s Ark, Part ll

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Opinions

Mauricio Adelino The Bible has long emphasized treating animals with kindness and respect. In the story of Noah’s Ark, God commanded Noah to save each species, highlighting the intrinsic value of all creatures. Proverbs 12:10 reinforces this, stating, "The righteous care for the needs of their animals." In Namibia, where animals play integral roles—whether as companions, livestock, or working animals—we have a profound responsibility to ensure their welfare. This biblical directive resonates deeply in our society, where animals are central to both rural and urban life. As a veterinary student deeply invested in the welfare of domestic animals in Namibia,…

26 Jun

Celebrating World MSME Day 2025: A Namibian Perspective on Progress and Possibilities

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Opinions

Hasekiel Johannes On 27 June 2025, the world gathers once again to commemorate World Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day. This annual event, declared by the United Nations General Assembly in 2017, is more than just a symbolic occasion. It is a global call to recognise the indispensable role of MSMEs in job creation, economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development. For Namibia, a nation forged in unity and freedom since its independence in 1990, this day carries particular resonance as we reflect on our journey and the ongoing work to empower local enterprises. As a proud member of the…

26 Jun

FNB expects BoN to hold repo rate at 6.75%

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Chamwe Kaira FNB Namibia economists Cheryl Emvula and Helena Mboti expect the Bank of Namibia to keep the repo rate steady at 6.75% over the coming quarters, even as global markets begin pricing in rate cuts. “As a result, the interest rate differential with South Africa is expected to compress to 25 basis points over the course of the year. Should capital flow pressures intensify, or reserves come under severe strain, the central bank may consider pre-emptive rate adjustments to stabilise inflows and reinforce its commitment to capital flows,” Emvula and Mboti said. Despite Namibia’s strong trade position, international reserves…

26 Jun

Oil, dollar fluctuations affect Namibia

info_e12wt4csEnergy, Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia takes a direct hit whenever oil prices rise or the US dollar strengthens on global markets. The country imports all its refined fuel, has no domestic refining capacity, and holds only modest foreign currency reserves. According to a report by Simonis Storm Securities, these external shocks drive up imported inflation and widen trade imbalances. The firm estimates that a sustained 10% rise in Brent crude prices increases Namibia’s headline inflation by between 0.8 and 1.2 percentage points. The impact depends on how fast the higher costs filter through and how stable the currency remains. “The Namibia dollar…

26 Jun

Irony of common wealth of exploiters and exploited in the Commonwealth

info_e12wt4csOpinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Last week Namibia hosted the Commonwealth Business Summit which took place parallel to the ministers of trade meeting. “Namibia hosts historic Commonwealth Summit to bolster trade”, screamed a headline in one of the dailies in an apparent bid to invoke a sense of pride, if not in itself as a publication for whatever reason, and equally in the club of illusive and aspiring capitalists, but no doubt in the general Namibian public. Least the Namibian workers, as if the Commonwealth means and would ever mean anything to the workers. Not to mention the fact that if they have…

26 Jun

The US-Africa summit in Angola: rehearsing sovereignty or repeating subordination?

info_e12wt4csOpinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) A Summit of Symbols and Struggles: The Unsteady Choreography of Power Under the gleaming banner of “Sustainable Partnerships for Inclusive Growth”, the 2025 US-Africa Business Summit in Luanda projected itself as a pivot point in global diplomacy. Presidents shook hands, investment pledges were declared, and corridors buzzed with the language of opportunity. Yet, beyond this theatre of polished speeches and protocol smiles, the summit revealed the unsteady choreography of a continent negotiating its space between the aspiration for autonomy and the persistence of subordination.Each African head of state arrived not…

26 Jun

De Beers contribution to Namibia’s economy drops

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Chamwe Kaira Anglo American, through its subsidiary De Beers, revealed in its 2024 tax and economic contribution report that its total tax and economic contribution in Namibia amounted to US$545 million (N$10.2 billion), a decrease from US$611 million (N$11.4 billion) in 2023. Taxes and royalties borne in Namibia amounted to US$63 million, compared to US$144 million the previous year. Total taxes and royalties borne and collected reached US$136 million, lower than US$234 million in 2023. De Beers operates in Namibia through a 50:50 partnership with the government. It recovers land-based diamonds through Namdeb and offshore diamonds through Debmarine Namibia. The…