Blog – Page 33 – News Stand

26 Mar

Deepening of Walvis Bay harbour completed on time

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Niël Terblanché The dredging project to deepen and widen the access channel to Walvis Bay Harbour was recently completed. The deepened and widened access channel is expected to accommodate larger vessels, thereby boosting trade and economic growth. The project also enhanced Namibia's maritime infrastructure. The initiative, undertaken by Van Oord in partnership with Boskalis, involved deepening the ten-kilometre-long access channel from 14.4 to 16.8 metres and widening it from 130 to 200 metres. Additionally, the harbour basin was dredged to a depth of 16.3 metres and expanded by more than 400 metres. According to the contractors, one of the primary…

26 Mar

UN Tourism backs Namibia as Africa’s next hot investment spot

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Niël Terblanché The tourism sector has been placed firmly in the international spotlight with the launch of the “Tourism Doing Business Investing in Namibia” guidelines by UN Tourism. According to UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, the initiative is aimed at encouraging global investors to consider Namibia as a destination not only for travel but also for strategic, long-term investment in tourism development. He said the newly released guidelines provide a comprehensive overview of the country’s potential, detailing the current state of the economy, the steady rise in tourism arrivals, and favourable conditions for doing business. According to Pololikashvili, Namibia’s blend…

26 Mar

Swakopmund school gets N$61 000 boost from uranium mining company

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Niël Terblanché The Vrede Rede Primary School in Swakopmund has undergone upgrades to its infrastructure, thanks to a N$61 631 donation from uranium exploration company Deep Yellow Limited and its Namibian subsidiary, Reptile Mineral Resources and Exploration (RMR). The funds were used to repair cement walkways between classrooms and reconstruct a sports field for netball and soccer. According to RMR’s public relations officer, Sugnet Smit, the initiative was part of the company’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility and its aim to foster a safe and supportive learning environment for children. “Recognising that quality education is the foundation of a…

26 Mar

FIMA Act: A Step Towards Financial Transparency or an Economic Burden?

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Opinions

Thomas Nashongo The Financial Institutions and Markets Act (FIMA) is a Namibian financial regulation law designed to strengthen oversight of financial institutions, protect clients, and encourage transparency. FIMA was gazetted in 2021 to replace the Pension Fund Act of 1956 it was put on hold owing to public concerns, and is now being evaluated for re-tabling in Parliament. The FIMA act was scheduled to be enacted on 01 October but subsequently faced societal criticism leading to its postponement. The lack of consultation during the drafting phase also stems as a flaw in the act. The Act contains a pension preservation…

26 Mar

NYC pledges N$10 000 sponsorship for para swimmer

info_e12wt4csSports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The National Youth Council (NYC) of Namibia has pledged N$10 000 to support paralympic swimmer Namasiku Van Der Linden. NYC executive chairperson, Beverly Silas-Garas, announced the sponsorship on Wednesday to assist Van Der Linden as she prepares to compete at the Level 3 Paralympic Swimming Championships in South Africa. Van Der Linden will be the first Namibian with Down Syndrome to participate in the event. "NYC is immensely proud of you. And we wish you well in your para-swimming career,” said Silas-Garas during Van Der Linden’s courtesy visit to the NYC office to receive the sponsorship. The 2025…

25 Mar

‘No room for delays or inaction’ – NNN

info_e12wt4csFeatured, Main

Ester Mbathera President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has told her new Cabinet there will be no room for delays or inaction in her administration. She made the statement during the first Cabinet meeting of the 8th Administration held in Windhoek on Tuesday. “This is not a time for complacency and procrastination. Decisions taken must be implemented without any delay. Delays in the implementation of decisions taken will not be accepted,” she said. She reminded ministers that the nation expects improved service delivery and the faster implementation of government programs. Nandi-Ndaitwah said a monitoring dashboard will be used to track progress on all…

25 Mar

Mbumba expands communal land before exit

info_e12wt4csNational News

Allexer Namundjembo Former President Nangolo Mbumba issued a proclamation to incorporate portions of unalienated state land into existing communal areas before leaving office. The decision, made under the powers granted by the Communal Land Reform Act of 2002 and approved by the National Assembly, aims to expand communal land areas in various regions. The proclamation was published in Government Gazette No. 8602 on 9 March 2025. It includes land allocations to communities such as Otjimbingwe, Ovitoto, and Aminuis. Otjimbingwe communal land will now include the remaining extent of Portion A of Farm Okongava, covering 15 160 hectares. Ovitoto communal land…

25 Mar

NamPol launches intelligence unit to fight organised crime

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The Namibian Police (NamPol) has officially launched a Crime Intelligence Analytical Unit aimed at enhancing its capacity to combat transnational organised crime through data-driven policing strategies. The new investigative unit was officially established at the headquarters of NamPol in Windhoek, and it will form part of the broader ENACT (Enhancing Africa’s Response to Transnational Organised Crime) project, supported by INTERPOL and the European Union. The new unit in Namibia is the tenth to be launched under the initiative across Africa, joining countries such as Côte d'Ivoire, Congo, Togo, Nigeria, and Uganda. Major General Anne-Marie Nainda, deputy inspector general…

25 Mar

CRAN, MICT pushes for urgent cyber law reforms

info_e12wt4csNational News

Ester Mbathera The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) have renewed calls for urgent reforms to the cybercrime and data protection laws. This trend is following a rise in cyberattacks and data breaches affecting both the public and private sectors. The MICT’s spokesperson, Ngaevarue Heuva, said the Data Protection Bill has been finalised and submitted to the Cabinet committee on legislation for review. The Cybercrime Bill, though redrafted, still requires further refinement. “During the third Cabinet decision-making meeting for 2025, Cabinet directed the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to urgently…

25 Mar

Towns respond positively to N$2.4 billion Namwater debt

info_e12wt4csNational News

Allexer Namundjembo NamWater has received a positive response from local authorities as it works to recover the N$2.4 billion owed to the corporation. Lot Ndamanomhata, NamWater's spokesperson, on Monday, told the Windhoek Observer that most local authorities approached for payment have shown a willingness to settle their debts. “We are pleased with the overwhelmingly positive responses we've received from local authorities so far. We will continue to approach other local authorities with outstanding debts and encourage them to meet their financial commitments,” he said. This positive turn comes after a report earlier this month revealed that local authorities were responsible…