Windhoek Observer – Page 97 – Windhoek Observer

14 Aug

Kauandenge warns Sankwasa on overstepping authority

National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The president of the Association for Localised Interest (ASOLI) and former member of parliament Joseph Kauandenge has cautioned urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa against overreaching in his role. He said the functions of ministers are outlined in the constitution, while the roles of regional and local authorities are clearly stated in various acts. “The minister’s directives therefore must embody the spirit of separation of powers and, more importantly, recognise the aspect of decentralisation, where these entities must be allowed to make their own decisions, especially so on the side of councillors as elected leaders and representatives…

14 Aug

Uukwangali gets recognised chief after 10 years

National News

Allexer Namundjembo After nearly a decade of leadership uncertainty, Eugene Siwombe Kudumo has been officially appointed as the new chief of the Uukwangali Traditional Authority. Minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa confirmed the decision in a letter dated 12 August 2025, addressed to Sisindi Mbambero, a member of the Uukwangali Chiefs Council. The Uukwangali community has been without a recognised chief since the passing of chief Daniel Sitentu Mpasi on 17 December 2014. Leadership succession was delayed due to disputes within the royal family and legal challenges, including a 2019 High Court ruling that set aside Siwombe’s initial…

14 Aug

Finding Common Ground: Sustainable Development in Namibia

Opinions

Mandy Hattingh Namibia is well known for its biodiversity and ecotourism appeal. Equally, its rich endowment of mineral resources has, for over a century, fuelled economic growth, infrastructure development, and job creation. As the government considers the Revised National Policy on Prospecting and Mining in Protected Areas and Other Environmentally Sensitive Areas, it does so at a moment that demands nuance and pragmatism. This policy will test whether Namibia can meaningfully balance two cornerstones of its national identity: its global conservation standing and its status as one of Africa’s most stable, investment-friendly mining jurisdictions. Achieving this balance is both possible…

14 Aug

Namibia joins outcry over Israel’s Gaza city takeover

National News

Justicia Shipena Namibia has called on the international community not to stand by as a “humanitarian catastrophe of potentially monumental proportions” unfolds in Gaza City. This follows the Israeli Security Cabinet’s approval of a plan to take control of Gaza City. Namibia says the move will worsen an already severe humanitarian crisis marked by hunger, deprivation, and the risk of forced starvation. The executive director in the ministry of international relations, Penda Naanda, said Namibia welcomes the condemnation of the plan by members of the international community. He said Namibia is guided by its constitution, advocating for peaceful dispute resolution…

14 Aug

Monetary committee leaves repo rate at 6.75%

Observer Money

Allexer Namundjembo The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Namibia (BoN) has maintained the repo rate at 6.75%. The decision was made during its fourth bimonthly meeting of 2025, held on 11 and 12 August. The committee said the decision aims to safeguard the peg between the Namibian dollar and the South African rand while supporting domestic economic activity. This follows the South African Reserve Bank’s decision in July to cut its repo rate to 7.00%, reducing the interest rate gap between Namibia and South Africa to 25 basis points. “After a thorough review of domestic, regional, and…

14 Aug

Standard Bank counts on supportive economic climate

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Standard Bank Namibia Holdings expects the economy to remain relatively favorable for business, despite persistent global and local risks. Internationally, growth may be held back by high debt levels, geopolitical tensions, and weak external demand. “Nonetheless, easing global inflation and a gradual pivot towards more accommodative monetary policies may offer some relief to financial markets and emerging economies,” the group said in its results for the six months ended 30 June. The profit after tax rose from N$505 million in the same period last year to N$556 million. Locally, the bank sees growth supported by the recovery of…

14 Aug

Petrofund inks two new oil and gas training deals

Observer MoneyThe Petroleum Training and Education Fund (Petrofund)

Justicia Shipena The Petroleum Training and Education Fund (Petrofund) has signed two new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to boost skills development in the country's oil and gas sector. The agreements were signed during the ongoing Namibia Oil and Gas Conference in Windhoek. One MoU was with global engineering firm McDermott, and the other was with FirstRand Namibia, which includes RMB Namibia, FNB Business, and FNB Retail. The MoU with FirstRand Namibia marks the first local contribution by a Namibian business to Petrofund for upstream oil and gas capacity development. Petrofund's chief executive officer, Nillian Mulemi, said the initiative came entirely…

14 Aug

Namibia among top global FDI improvers

National News

Staff Writer Namibia is among the most improved countries in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). This comes as the country ranked first in Africa and second globally in the 2025 Greenfield FDI Performance Index. Namibia climbed 10 places from the previous year, outperforming its expected share of FDI projects by almost eight times, the index stated. The index measures how effectively countries attract greenfield FDI projects relative to the size of their economies. El Salvador, Iceland, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Laos and Namibia are among the countries that showed the biggest improvement. While smaller economies see amplified changes in rankings from shifts…

14 Aug

Nedbank Group acquires ikhokha

Observer Money

Nedbank Group has announced that it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 100% of fintech innovator iKhokha Proprietary Limited for a cash consideration of approximately N$1.65 billion (subject to certain adjustments upon conclusion), a move that marks a significant milestone in Nedbank’s strategy to deepen its support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through digital innovation and inclusive financial services. The iKhokha transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to conclude in the coming months. The acquisition of iKhokha will strengthen and scale Nedbank’s positioning in the SME market. The acquisition will result in iKhokha…

14 Aug

The RedForce Conundrum: A Debt Crisis Without Easy Answers

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

The decision by Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa to cancel all RedForce contracts with local authorities has ignited a heated national debate. On one side, municipalities insist that external debt collectors are essential to keep their finances afloat. On the other, residents reject the very idea of private companies hounding them for overdue payments. It is a messy situation, but one fact is undeniable: many residents of our towns are in arrears for municipal services, water, electricity, refuse collection, for a variety of reasons. Some are genuine hardships; others are simply a refusal to pay. The rule…