Blog – Page 12 – Windhoek Observer

05 Sep

Tariffs disrupt diamond markets

Observer Money

Diamond prices fell in many categories in August as the US tariffs impacted demand for Indian goods. Prices of rounds weakened, though fancies were stable. Deep uncertainty dampened sentiment. US retail and wholesale were steady. The RapNet Diamond Index (RAPI) for 1-carat goods — reflecting round, D to H, IF to VS2 diamonds — fell 1.1% in August. The index for 0.30- and 0.50-carat stones declined 3.8% and 3.9%, respectively. Larger stones continued to outperform smaller items, with the 3-carat RAPI increasing 0.4%. US President Donald Trump implemented 25% duties on Indian goods from 1 August and 50% from 27…

05 Sep

Letshego pushes AI-powered inclusion at Global Forum

Observer Money

The chief executive officer of Letshego Microfinancial Services Namibia, Melvin Hosea Angula, addressed global policymakers this week at the Alliance for Financial Inclusion's (AFI) Global Policy Forum 2025 in Swakopmund, sharing how AI, digital identity, and microfinance can close the financial inclusion gap in Africa. Angula’s presentation, titled Leveraging Technology to Improve Supervision and Regulation: The Taamba Maris Case Study, highlighted Namibia’s first instant mobile credit product developed with MTC Maris. He said the platform is transforming access to finance while giving regulators real-time visibility. “We built Taamba Maris not just for speed, but for trust. By embedding safeguards like…

05 Sep

Is a national airline really a development pillar?

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Air Namibia ceased operations and was liquidated in 2021. The Namibian government decided to shut it down as a last resort given the substantial financial burden on the state. Thus, Namibia currently lacks a national flag carrier, for better or worse. For better or worse. For better with its demise having been a good riddance for releasing much-needed resources for other priorities rather than investing such in a bottomless hole as it seemed. Although given the kleptomaniac culture that has for long now been engulfing and gripping the country extensively, firmly and systemic, there’s no certainty if indeed…

05 Sep

The interplay of economic diplomacy and conventional diplomacy: the case of Angola and Namibia’s bilateral & multilateral trade agreements

Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Abstract With the Inter-Africa Trade Fair (IATF) taking place in Algiers this September under the theme “a gateway to new opportunities” underpinned by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), this article follows in the footsteps of the article on 30 August 2025 that appeared in this newspaper under the title “Diplomacy or Trade: Where is the centre of gravity? In that article, it is said that today’s ambassadors are called upon to transcend traditional confines and embrace their paramount role as Namibia’s chief economic architects and frontline salespeople in…

04 Sep

Divundu correctional officer loses fight to retain job

Featured

Justicia Shipena The Windhoek High Court has dismissed a case brought by former correctional officer Eric Lifasi Sibungo, who tried to challenge his dismissal from the Namibian Correctional Services (NSC) after being found guilty of assault and interfering with an investigation. The case stems from an October 2021 incident at the Divundu Correctional Facility, when Sibungo’s private car collided with a state-owned vehicle. Chief correctional officer PM Kaputungu, was assigned to investigate. During the probe, Sibungo confronted Kaputungu at the Divundu Police Station, where a struggle broke out over official documents. Kaputungu reported that Sibungo twisted his arm and grabbed…

04 Sep

Sewage woes frustrate Walvis Bay vendors

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Vendors at Ekutu Market in Walvis Bay expressed frustration over the municipality’s slow response to a sewage overflow that flooded the market earlier this week. The incident was caused by a power outage at the Kuisebmond Sewer Pump Station, which led to raw sewage spilling into the trading area. The vendors later stepped in to clean up the area. “The dirt had been here for days, so we decided to clean up. I thank my fellow vendors for taking this initiative. Now our place is clean," vendor Moses Shadjanale told the Windhoek Observer. He urged others to join…

04 Sep

‘We will remember their names’

Main

…Mariental accident victims remembered Justicia Shipena The nation remember lives lost in a tragic accident in a memorial service. This follows the death of 16 people in a head-on collision near Mariental on 30 August, including 14 officers from the Namibian Police Force and Namibia Correctional Service (NSC) and two civilian sisters, Diana Jagger and Roseltha Higoam. Among the deceased were officers David Musambani, Naemi Shipena, Silvanus Hofeni, Simon Sinyemba, Alina Simeon, Petrus Mbuale, Adreheid Taapopi, Noa Hameho, Tomas Shikongo, Johannes Mbeeli, Jason Amadhila, Katjitombua Muheue, Mercia Louw, and Gerson Hepute. The crash happened in the early hours of Saturday…

04 Sep

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila abandons power instrument

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, walked out of the chamber yesterday after a dispute over a motion, leaving behind the mace, the symbol of the house’s authority. Affirmative Repositioning (AR) chief whip Vaino Hangula had tabled a motion for parliament to continue with the order of the day without interruption. Swapo member of parliament Paula Kooper objected, prompting Kuugongelwa-Amadhila to call for a vote on whether the motion should be considered. Speaking after the session, Hangula said the motion aimed to keep business flowing. “We basically just wanted the House business to continue without any…

04 Sep

Ministry cites job risks in pilchard quota decision

National News

Justicia Shipena The ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform (MAFWLR) says auctioning the precautionary pilchard quota would have taken too long and put Namibian jobs at risk, defending its choice to award Eco Fish Farms (Pty) Ltd the right to harvest 10 000 metric tonnes. The decision follows backlash over the quota, valued at about N$180 million, which was awarded to a company led by fishing businessman Ivo de Gouveia. Reports in The Namibian cited claims that the allocation contradicted a cabinet directive to create jobs, with fisheries executive director Theo Nghitila accused of favouring a middleman operator.…

04 Sep

Erongo Petroleum faces asset seizure over hotel debt

National News

Justicia Shipena Erongo Petroleum CC risks losing its assets through a public auction. This follows a High Court order directing the company to pay more than N$86 000 owed to Seaside Hotel and Spa (Pty) Ltd. The case stems from services provided between August 2022 and November 2024. The hotel said it offered accommodation, spa treatments and restaurant services to company owner Austin Elindi at Erongo Petroleum’s request, but invoices and statements went unpaid. A summons was served in July 2025, giving the fuel supplier ten days to respond. Court records show no defence was filed. On 15 August 2025,…