Windhoek Observer – Page 45 – Windhoek Observer

02 Oct

Foreign reserves dip 1.9% to N$57 billion

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The Bank of Namibia’s (BoN) stock of international reserves fell by 1.9% in August to N$57 billion. The central bank attributed the decline to increased government foreign payments and withdrawals of customer foreign currency by commercial banks. “This level of international reserves translates into 3.7 months of import cover, whereas the import cover excluding oil exploration and appraisal activities stood at 4.2 months,” BoN said. Broad money supply (M2) growth slowed to 10.2% in August from 10.4% the previous month. “The slight decrease in M2 growth was underpinned by the slowdown in the growth rate of domestic claims…

02 Oct

Doctors, pharmacists claimed N$3.6 billion from medical aids

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Hospitals, pharmacies, medical specialists, and general practitioners received the largest share of healthcare spending in 2024, accounting for 70.9% or N$3.6 billion of total benefits paid by medical aid funds. Hospital claims were the highest at N$1.8 billion, followed by pharmacy claims for medicines dispensed at N$802 million. Claims by specialists amounted to N$563.2 million, while general practitioners received N$473.1 million. The Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) reported that the country’s medical aid funds industry remained unchanged in 2024, with seven active funds in the market. Of these, five were open funds, representing about 71% of the…

02 Oct

Rhino Resources and partners make third oil discovery in orange basin

Observer Money

Staff Writer Rhino Resources, together with its joint venture partners Azule Energy, the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) and Korres Investments, has announced a gas discovery at the Volans-1X exploration well on Block 2914A, Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 85, offshore Orange Basin. PEL 85 is operated by Rhino Resources with a 42.5% working interest. Azule Energy also holds 42.5%, while Namcor has 10% and Korres Investments 5%. The Volans-1X well was spudded on 31 July 2025 using the Northern ocean semi-submersible deepsea mira and reached a total depth of 4,497.5 metres TVDSS on 30 August 2025. The well successfully…

02 Oct

Paratus invests N$471m into infrastructure

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Paratus Namibia has invested N$471.4 million in infrastructure, up from N$204.3 million the previous year. Of this, N$381.2 million was allocated to its mobile project for equipment, site builds, and digital software to support operations. During the build year of its mobile network, the company increased its mobile base stations by 256%, expanding coverage to more than 70% of Namibia’s population. The remaining capital expenditure was focused on connecting customers and enhancing network capacity. Paratus also refinanced a N$30 million note that matured on 16 September and secured an additional N$100 million in notes under the same programme…

02 Oct

New alliance targets sustainable growth in finance

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Bank of Namibia (BoN), along with financial institutions, regulators and industry associations, launched the Namibia Sustainable Finance Alliance (NSFA) this week. The alliance brings Namibia’s financial sector together to advance sustainability, strengthen climate resilience and support inclusive growth. Speaking at the launch, the deputy governor of the Bank of Namibia and chairperson of the alliance, Ebson Uanguta, said, “The Namibia Sustainable Finance Alliance represents a clear demonstration of the collective resolve of our institutions to address one of the most defining challenges of our time: embedding sustainability and climate resilience into the financial system.” The NSFA is…

01 Oct

Etosha in crisis: Raging wildfires decimate wildlife, tourism appeal affected

Main

Allexer Namundjembo The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) says veterinarians are investigating the cause of death of an elephant recently found in Etosha National Park. The ministry confirmed that the elephant was discovered during monitoring operations following wildfires that have destroyed more than 775 163 hectares inside the park since 22 September. An additional 171 098 hectares of grazing land and communal areas outside the park have also burnt. Farmers from Omutambo-gomawe near the park said they suspected livestock loss. “An elephant was recently spotted, and veterinarians are still determining the cause of its death,” said the ministry's…

01 Oct

PDM MP to question Steenkamp on 221 literacy centre closures

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja A Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) parliamentarian will ask the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts, and Culture in the National Assembly next week about the closure of 221 literacy centres. Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo filed a notice of questions scheduled for 9 October 2025, targeted to education minister Sanet Steenkamp. She wants to know how the closures have affected communities, literacy promoters, and marginalised groups. The ministry said last year the move saved N$6 million. Mbinge-Tjeundo argues the savings came at the expense of vulnerable groups. “Instead of strengthening education, the government has chosen to balance its books on…

01 Oct

Only 1.5% of budget targets women, speaker tells G20 Summit

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, says Namibia has failed to fully implement gender-responsive budgeting, with only 1.5% of the national budget confirmed as gender-specific. She was speaking at the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit during a meeting of the P20 second meeting of women parliamentarians in Kleinmond, South Africa, on Tuesday. She said the gender-responsive budgeting guidelines, approved by the cabinet in 2014, remain largely unimplemented. Over 95% of the budget is still allocated through mainstream categories that do not specify gender impacts. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila noted that Namibia’s experience shows specific allocations to women can deliver…

01 Oct

Ekango Lyomongwa declared a conservancy

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Ekango Lyomongwa in the Oshikoto region has been formally declared a conservancy under the Nature Conservation Ordinance of 1975. The declaration was published in Government Gazette No. 8744 on 17 September 2025. The conservancy, located in the Omuntele Constituency, covers 132 651.94 hectares and will be divided into management zones. Its boundaries start at the Etosha National Park fence and extend through Okalonga, Othadhambuku, Etopelyombidhi, Etambo, Oshalongo, Onkani, Epumbu, Omutomboli, and Iitota, before returning to the starting point. The minister of environment, forestry, and tourism, Indileni Daniel, said the declaration of Ekango Lyomongwa is a milestone for community-based…

01 Oct

Experts warn of health risks in caged chicken farming

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The African Network for Animal Welfare (ANAW), in partnership with the Open Wing Alliance held a workshop with media practitioners in Windhoek yesterday to highlight their campaign against caged chicken farming in Africa. They described the practice as cruel and a threat to sustainable agriculture. The groups aim to educate policymakers, farmers, and consumers about the welfare compromises of housing egg-laying hens and broilers in battery cages. They say these systems are inappropriate from an animal welfare perspective. The workshop also sought to equip journalists with knowledge to spread informed messages on the issue. ANAW chief executive officer…