Windhoek Observer

Staff Writer  The Motor Vehicle Accident Fund’s (MVA Fund) proposal to introduce new levies on locally registered vehicles, foreign-registered vehicles, and electric vehicles signals a shift in how Namibia finances its road accident compensation system. Marco Pulse of Simonis Storm Securities said the MVA, which relies heavily on a N$N$0.47 per litre fuel levy, is facing sustainability challenges.  He noted that as vehicles become more fuel efficient and electric vehicle adoption expands, fuel levy revenue is no longer keeping up with the fund’s growing obligations, such as trauma care, rehabilitation, and loss-of-income payouts. “This decoupling of road use from fuel…

Justicia Shipena Artificial intelligence (AI) could drive growth in low- and middle-income economies if they invest in digital infrastructure and supportive policies, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) says in its 2025 World Trade Report. The report was launched on Wednesday, during the WTO Public Forum in Geneva, Switzerland.  It shows that under a “policy catch-up” scenario, low-income economies could see gross domestic product (GDP) rise by 11% and middle-income economies by 12.4% by 2040.  High-income economies are projected at 12.2%. With faster technology adoption, the gains could be even higher, reaching 15.3% for low-income and 14.4% for middle-income economies. Global…

With air travel demand across Africa skyrocketing and passenger expectations shifting fast in a digital-first world, airlines face mounting pressure to deliver smoother, more efficient journeys while managing increasingly busy operations. At the same time, destinations like Ethiopia are rapidly emerging as hubs for tourism, investment, and trade, raising the stakes for national carriers and leaving a lasting positive impression on travellers. To meet these challenges head-on, Ethiopian Airlines and SITA have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop innovative solutions that strengthen the airline’s operations and enhance the passenger experience.  The collaboration will tap into startups, technology…

Staff Writer  Nasan Energies Namibia (Pty) Ltd has reached an agreement with Vivo Energy Namibia to acquire 53 Engen and Shell-branded fuel service stations. The deal is still subject to approval by the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC). In May 2024, Vivo Energy completed the purchase of Engen Limited from Petronas, which included Engen Namibia. As part of the regulatory process, the Competition Commission ruled that Vivo Energy had to sell a number of its service stations to maintain a fair market. “We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Nasan Energies, which not only fulfills the regulatory requirements to…