Blog – Page 188 – Windhoek Observer

08 Oct

Ithete promises turnaround at struggling Nida

National News

Justicia Shipena The minister of industries, mines and energy, Natangue Ithete, says his ministry will no longer tolerate non-performance at the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (Nida). Speaking in Parliament on Thursday in response to questions from opposition leader McHenry Venaani, Ithete said both the government and the public have been disappointed by the agency's failure to deliver on its industrialisation mandate. Earlier this year, Nida, a commercial state-owned enterprise, released its first financial report in six years, covering the financial years 2018/2019 to 2023/2024. The report showed a loss of N$102 million. It also revealed that Nida was owed N$89…

08 Oct

Willemse’s fate to be decided at month end

National News

Justicia Shipena Former National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) executive Cornelius “Cedric” Willemse will know on October 28 whether he will be released on bail. Magistrate Olga Muharukua will deliver the judgement. Willemse (52) is facing charges of fraud, corruption, theft under false pretences, money laundering, and tax evasion in the alleged Namcor corruption scandal involving Enercon Namibia, Erongo Petroleum, and other entities. He was arrested on 8 July and has remained in custody since. Through his lawyer, Willemse told the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court that the state’s fears that he will flee or interfere with investigations are unfounded. He argued…

08 Oct

Investors hold steady as Namibian bond market stalls

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Trading on the Namibian Stock Exchange’s (NSX) fixed income market was quiet on Monday, with only one deal recorded, according to NSX data. The government bond market remained largely unchanged, with yields stable across maturities. Economic indicators pointed to steady conditions as the country enters the final quarter of 2025. The only transaction involved the GC32 government bond, with N$10 million in nominal value traded at a yield of 9.31%. The bond, which matures in April 2032, closed unchanged at a price of 98.27. Other benchmark government bonds, ranging from the short-term GC25 to the long-term GC50, reported…

08 Oct

Westair unveils new air ambulance

National News

Staff Writer Medical Rescue Africa (MRA), a subsidiary of Westair Aviation, has launched its new air ambulance, the Beechcraft King Air 350i. The aircraft is equipped with advanced medical evacuation facilities, marking a major step forward in Namibia’s emergency response capability. The launch event brought together industry stakeholders, partners, and representatives from organisations that have supported the development of Namibia’s medical evacuation infrastructure. “A service like this is never needed until it is needed – and then it must be available, safe, and reliable,” said Westair Aviation CEO Henri van Schalkwyk. “The King Air 350 provides the highest standards of…

08 Oct

Old Mutual expands financial education to local languages

Observer Money

STAFF WRITER Launched in 2018, the Old Mutual Foundation’s Financial Education Face-to-Face Training programme introduced an innovative “animal behaviour” approach to simplify complex financial concepts. Since then, it has grown into one of Namibia’s leading financial literacy initiatives, empowering over 50 000 Namibians, from individuals and school communities to corporate teams, with practical skills to budget, save, reduce debt, and make informed financial decisions. Recognising that true understanding begins with clear communication, the Old Mutual Foundation has taken a bold step towards inclusivity and accessibility by expanding its Financial Education programme, previously delivered primarily in English, into six vernacular languages:…

08 Oct

Policy gap leaves companies vulnerable on social media

Observer Money

Staff Writer With no specific laws regulating social media use in the workplace, many Namibian businesses face growing risks of data breaches and cyberattacks. From sharing client information on WhatsApp to clicking malicious links on Instagram, unregulated activity on these platforms exposes corporate networks to cybercriminals. The 2024 IBM Cost of a Data Breach report estimates the average global cost of a cybersecurity breach at US$4.9 million, showing the scale of damage cyber incidents can cause. Criminals increasingly use platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and WhatsApp to deploy malware, steal credentials, and access sensitive data. Weak IT oversight and unrestricted social…

08 Oct

Service is a soul, not a script

Observer Money

Ester Kafidi Customer service is often measured by speed, efficiency, and satisfaction scores. But beneath the numbers and KPIs lies something far more human: the quiet power of being seen, heard, and understood. In a world increasingly automated, where chatbots handle questions and algorithms anticipate needs, the real heart of service isn’t just about solving problems. It’s about connection. It’s easy to think of customer service as a department, a function, or a role. But more than that, it’s a mindset: one that should live in every part of an organisation. It’s the receptionist who welcomes someone with genuine warmth,…

08 Oct

OBSERVER DAILY | When lunch becomes a luxury: The crisis of public service productivity

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security minister Lucia Iipumbu recently directed that all ministry offices remain operational during lunchtime. On the surface, this may seem like a minor administrative adjustment. But in reality, it exposes a deep and chronic crisis within our civil service, a culture that has normalised inefficiency, eroded public trust, and forgotten that service delivery is not a favour to the public but a duty. A nation held hostage by lunch breaks For years, ordinary Namibians have stood in endless queues outside government buildings, sometimes under the unforgiving sun, sometimes in the rain, waiting for something as…

07 Oct

PM tries to tenderise Mushokabanji’s leadership at Meatco

Main

Justicia Shipena Prime minister Elijah Ngurare says former Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) chief executive officer Mwilima Mushokabanji should be commended for his leadership at Meatco. Ngurare said Mushokabanji led Meatco under difficult circumstances. Ngurare recently told Parliament that it would be an oversimplification to blame Meatco’s financial and structural challenges on one individual. He said the company’s problems stem from long-standing inefficiencies that existed before Mushokabanji’s tenure. “The difficulties encountered by Meatco are rooted in longstanding structural and operational inefficiencies that predate Mr Mushokabanji’s tenure. Notably, it was during his tenure that many of these contractual anomalies and unsustainable…

07 Oct

Ministry plans charcoal production expansion in communal areas

National News

Justicia Shipena Environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti says the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism is looking into expanding charcoal production into communal areas. He said this will be done while maintaining strict environmental and safety standards. Mufeti explained that the ministry is conducting studies and assessments to develop a framework that will allow communal farmers to join the growing charcoal industry. “We are not yet giving permits there, but we want to. Studies and assessments are being done to see how we can allow communal farmers to be involved in charcoal production,” he said at a recent press conference in…