Blog – Page 176 – News Stand

07 Nov

Schlettwein calls for optimised funding at African Water Facility meeting

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché Africa has to step forward in its collective effort to address the continent’s water challenges, with a specific focus on strategic planning, resource optimisation, and collaborative action to ensure sustainable water access for all its people. On Wednesday, Calle Schlettwein, Namibia's Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, at the 24th African Water Facility (AWF) Governing Council Meeting in Abidjan, Ghana, stressed the critical need for prioritising and optimising funding to enhance access to water across Africa. Schlettwein, in his role as the Chairperson of the AWF Governing Council, opened the session by highlighting the pressing global issues…

07 Nov

October inflation rate stood at 3.0%

info_e12wt4csNational News

Martin Endjala According to the Namibia Consumer Price Index released this week by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), Namibia’s inflation rate currently stands at 3.0%, recorded during the month of October. The core inflation rate stood at 4.0% while the headline inflation rate was at 3.0%, compared to 6.0% registered in October 2023. On a monthly basis, the inflation rate witnessed an increase of 0.4% compared to a deflation of 0.2% recorded a month ago. Core inflation refers to a measure of inflation that excludes certain volatile elements from the overall inflation calculation. These volatile elements, according to NSA chief…

07 Nov

N$1.5 million winner-takes-all MTC Maris Cup launched

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Sports

Windhoek General Administrators (WGA), a subsidiary of MTC, has launched the MTC Maris Cup, the country’s largest pre-season football tournament with a prize pool of N$1.5 million for the winning team. This is the biggest prize in Namibian football history. The tournament, beginning on 25 January 2025 will feature 16 Debmarine Premier League teams in a knockout format based on last season’s standings. The event also promotes MTC’s new mobile money service, "MTC Maris," and includes additional prizes: a N$30 000 preparation fee for each team, N$20 000 for both the top goal scorer and Player of the Tournament, and…

07 Nov

Talking sport with Dimitri Bittler

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Sports

Breathing New Life into Ramatex The former Ramatex textile factory, once a symbol of Namibia's industrial ambitions, now stands as an abandoned shell, a reminder of opportunities lost. However, this massive facility holds the potential for a new chapter in its history – one that could benefit the entire nation. Transforming Ramatex into a state-of-the-art indoor sports arena could open the doors to hosting international competitions and revitalizing the country’s sporting landscape. The Ramatex facility, located in the heart of Windhoek, offers a vast space that could be repurposed into a world-class indoor sports complex. With its high ceilings, ample…

07 Nov

The rise of BRICS and Namibia’s geopolitical strategy as the Naval HQ, logistical hub and gateway for SADC landlocked countries

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Opinions

Paul T Shipale Bo Mbindwane, a South African-based socio-political researcher, with a focus on geopolitical risk management and national security, wrote an article titled; “Namibia and South Africa – Partners in History, Allies in the Future,” which appeared in the Windhoek Observer on 28 October 2024. In that article, Mbindwane says it is time to re-elevate Namibia’s role, strengthen its partnerships, and leverage a unique geographical bond to safeguard its future as that of neighbouring South Africa with whom it has a shared legacy and a shared destiny. Both nations’ fates and futures are geographically intertwined: sharing a land border…

07 Nov

Given its aversion to ideology Namibia to learn little from UDC

info_e12wt4csOpinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro The victory of the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) in the recently concluded Botswana national polls, which saw the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), also known as Domkrag, exit the corridors of governance after 58 years, would be the height of political naiveté for the Namibian so-called opposition political parties. The UDC's triumph has been a gradual process, not a sudden accomplishment. Determination, patience, resolve, principles, and a strong ideological disposition have all contributed to the UDC's success. All these attributes and traits are in rare supply among all, if not most, Namibian political parties and/or formations. With the…

07 Nov

Will you win the Black Friday deals?

info_e12wt4csOpinions

João Bismarck It’s a warm November morning in Windhoek, and the streets are alive with anticipation. Some Namibians have saved diligently for the day, while others have sought assistance from financial institutions. Black Friday, the global shopping phenomenon, is around the corner, promising deals worth the dash. But as Namibians flock to stores, eyes fixed on “SALE” signs, Letshego Holdings Namibia poses a crucial question: Will the shoppers win the deals, or will their wallets lose out? Behind the thrill lies the threat of overspending, overindebtedness, and post-shopping remorse. Many Namibians know this feeling too well: wallets stretched thin, with…

07 Nov

Afreximbank close to deals with two local banks

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

CHAMWE KAIRA Afreximbank is currently considering facilities for two local banks, one for a letter of credit confirmation facility and a second one to act as a Trade Finance Intermediary and Local Administrative Agent. Gwen Mwaba, Managing Director for Trade Finance and Correspondent Banking, Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank explained in an interview that nominated trade finance intermediaries act as its local administrative agents in different African markets. She was speaking on the sidelines of the annual Afreximbank Trade Finance Seminar held in Windhoek. She said the Bank has been holding these seminars since 1999 and added that the idea…

07 Nov

Oil discoveries throw Namibia into spotlight

info_e12wt4csEnergy, Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA The recently discovered oil fields offshore Namibia could potentially be one of the last big oil and gas discoveries in the world. Laurent Ruseckas, executive director, gas industry, Europe, the Middle East and Africa at S&P Global told Observer Money that Namibia maybe the last oil and gas giant find to be discovered. Namibia has become an oil exploration hotspot after several discoveries by oil majors including Shell and Total estimated at 2.6 billion barrels. He added that large fields are economic to manage because the unit prices are low. Ruseckas is a specialist on gas markets, gas…

07 Nov

Businesses will struggle with N$18 minimum wage

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Business executive, Bärbel Kirchner, spoke to Observer Money on behalf of the Namibian Employers Federation (NEF) on the implications of the recently announced minimum wage of N$18 per hour. Observer Money (OM): The government has increased the national minimum wage for all Namibian workers to N$18 per hour, what impact will this have on members of the NEF?Bärbel Kirchner (BK): The Namibian Employers Federation (NEF) foresees significant challenges for employers due to the N$18 per hour minimum wage. Many businesses, particularly in sectors where profit margins are low, will struggle to accommodate this sudden increase. This may force employers to…