Windhoek Observer – Page 96 – Windhoek Observer

11 Sep

Govt dragging its feet on sign language recognition, says NNAD

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Namibian National Association of the Deaf (NNAD) is calling on parliamentarians and the ministry of education to urgently act on the motion to recognise Namibian Sign Language (NSL) as a national language. The national executive director of NNAD,Paul Nanyeni, said the parliamentary standing committee on constitutional and legal affairs has already acknowledged that communication is a human right and confirmed that NSL is a legitimate language with its own grammar and structure. “We want to express our profound thanks to the committee who has made all the possible recommendations. However, it is time they follow up with…

11 Sep

Namibia to sign water MoU with Finland

National News

Justicia Shipena Namibia is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Finland to strengthen cooperation in water management. The agreement will build on the work of the Finland–Namibia Twinning Project, which ended with a final workshop in Windhoek this week. The three-year project, launched in 2023, supported Namibia’s accession to the United Nations Water Convention, formally known as the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. Namibia became a party to the convention on 8 June 2023, joining a global framework that promotes cooperation and sustainable management of shared water resources. Speaking on…

11 Sep

Walvis Bay’s homeless living with the dead

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Homeless people in Walvis Bay are turning to cemeteries for shelter, with some also engaging in illegal activities among the graves. The discovery was made after Landless People’s Movement councillor Ryan Gordon investigated reports of a young homeless mother and her son living in the Narraville graveyard. Gordon said he was alerted by residents concerned about the woman. He later found that she had hidden her belongings inside a gravestone but had since been hospitalised fter an assault. Before moving to the cemetery, she had been living near the KFC area in town. During his visit, Gordon also…

11 Sep

Swapo infighting in Erongo derails election preparations

National News

Renthia Kaimbi With the November local authority elections approaching, internal conflict in the Swapo party has delayed candidate selection and forced the postponement of the Walvis Bay and Arandis district conferences. The conferences, set for last weekend, were meant to shortlist aspirants for the Arandis, Walvis Bay Urban, and Walvis Bay Rural constituencies. A dispute over candidate eligibility in Walvis Bay disrupted the process. Members claim they were informed only registered party delegates may stand as candidates. The rule sparked outrage, with some saying it was not communicated at the start of nominations and accusing leadership of trying to manipulate…

11 Sep

Henties’ Omdel extension 7 still waiting for power

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Residents and property owners of Omdel Extension 7 in Henties Bay are are still without electricity more than a year after being promised electrification of their area. The community, which includes pensioners, say they face hardship and safety risks while being charged full land tax for properties they cannot use. According to residents, the acting chief executive officer of the municipality of Henties Bay, Ignasia Neis, informed them that a tender for the electrification project had been awarded to Faraday Electrical in February 2025. However, no visible work has taken place, and residents say they have received no…

11 Sep

Swakopmunder backs community fight against substance abuse

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Bornfree Fishing (Pty) Ltd, a youth-owned Namibian fishing company, has donated N$10 000 to the Swakopmund Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (SAADA) Community Outreach. The outreach event, held on 29 August 2025, focused on addressing substance abuse among young people in the town. Bornfree Fishing founder, Regto Ndemufayo David, said supporting SAADA was a natural decision decision for the company, which was established in 2018. David said the company’s roots as a youth-run enterprise gave it insight into the struggles of young people. “We cannot employ every young person, but we can support initiatives that keep them off…

11 Sep

Trump hints on exempting diamonds from US tariffs

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira US President Donald Trump has directed changes to annex II of the tariff schedule, expanding and modifying the scope of goods covered under the reciprocal tariff system, the White House announced. On 5 September, Trump signed an executive order that broadens US trade tariffs under his ‘reciprocal tariff’ regime. The move is part of his effort to rebalance America’s trade relationships. According to the White House, reciprocity remains the core principle. Trump has argued that US partners maintain lower tariffs on American goods while enjoying easier access to US markets. Under the new system, the US will impose…

11 Sep

Old Mutual earnings jump by 29% in six months

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Old Mutual Limited reported adjusted headline earnings of N$4.2 billion for the six months ended 30 June, reflecting growth of 29%. The company said the increase was supported by strong underwriting performance in Old Mutual Insure and positive equity market performance in South Africa and Malawi. Return on net asset value rose to 15.5%. Equity value decreased to N$18.40 per share due to business impacts and methodology changes. ThThe group’s new business margin value dropped to 1.3% for the same reasons. The board declared an interim dividend of 37 cents per share, up 9% from the previous period.…

11 Sep

Paratus Group expands operations into East Africa

Observer Money

Staff Writer Paratus Group has completed its expansion into East Africa. The move is part of the company’s plan to connect businesses and communities across sub-Equatorial Africa with reliable digital infrastructure. Paratus Kenya has been operational since November 2024 as a licensed internet service provider and authorised Starlink reseller. Rwanda and Uganda have also launched as ISPs, with Rwanda offering Starlink services. In 2025, Tanzania joined the network, delivering ISP services to enterprise and wholesale customers nationwide. The company now supports sectors including retail, transport and logistics, education, health, and tourism across all four countries. The expansion is underpinned by…

11 Sep

FNB Namibia brings banking to Osire

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Osire Refugee Camp, home to about 5000 refugees, has long struggled with access to banking services. More than 3000 adults in the camp have never been banked by any financial institution in Namibia, even though some hold IDs and passports. Until now, the only way for residents to access money was to travel more than 200 kilometres to Otjiwarongo. The journey was costly, time-consuming, and dangerous. Many refugees reported being robbed and losing their money during these trips. Despite these challenges, Osire is a hub of small businesses that serve both the camp and nearby farms. These…