Blog – Page 345 – Windhoek Observer

15 May

Soil sampling training set to boost food security

National News

Niël Terblanché A two-day training session hosted in Windhoek earlier this week has equipped Namibian agricultural technicians with practical skills in soil sampling, a critical element in sustainable farming and land use. The program, organised under the auspices of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), aims to enhance the country’s approach to improving food security by combining international expertise with local knowledge. The session also aimed to improve food security by combining international expertise with local knowledge. It forms part of the second phase of the China–FAO–Namibia South-South Cooperation project to boost Namibia’s agricultural productivity. The…

15 May

Namibian athletes and coach among 2025 regional sports award nominees

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Four Namibian athletes have made the final list of nominees for the 2025 Regional Annual Sports Awards (RASA), announced Thursday by AUSC chief executive officer Stanley Mutoya. Lahja Ishitile is nominated for Sportswoman of the Year with a disability. She will compete against Taonele Banda of Malawi and Simone Kruger. Pieter Benade, a rugby coach, is nominated for Coach of the Year. He faces competition from athletics coaches Kebonyemodisa Dose of Botswana and Douglas Kalembo of Zambia. Chris Kinda is nominated for Sportsman of the Year with a disability. He will compete against Mpumelelo Mhlongo of South Africa…

15 May

‘Sport has outgrown recreation’ – Ballotti

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts, and Culture, Dino Ballotti, said sport management is not just a career but a vehicle for economic growth, youth empowerment, and nation-building. He spoke at the Namibia University of Science and Technology’s (Nust) graduation ceremony on Thursday in Eenhana, Ohangwena region. Ballotti praised the university for offering sports management degrees. He said graduates in this field play a key role in building sustainable structures, ensuring ethical governance, and creating economic opportunities through sport tourism, athlete development, and infrastructure investment. “Personally, I am also pleased to know that Nust offers qualifications…

15 May

Johnson one shot off the golf lead in Gaborone

Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Golfer Kyle Johnson remains the top performer on the national team at the Africa Confederation Region Five tournament taking place in Gaborone, Botswana. The Botswana Golf Union reported on Thursday that Johnson is currently in second place overall, just behind South Africa’s Astin Wade Arthur, who leads the standings. “Arthur fired a superb 8-under-par 63 in round two to reach a tournament total of 134 (-8), overtaking Zimbabwe’s Keegan Shutt, who slipped to third after a 3-over-par 74 brought his total to 136 (-6). Johnson, meanwhile, remained consistent with a 4-under-par 67, taking his total to 135 (-7)…

15 May

SADC PF head calls for economic self-reliance amid rising tariffs

Africa / World, Featured

Moses Magadza Boemo Sekgoma, the Secretary General of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), has urged Southern African nations to take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen their economies and regain control over their development trajectory. Speaking via Zoom at the opening of the "High-Level Dialogue on Trade Justice: Mitigating the Impact of US Reciprocal Tariffs on SADC Economies and Women and Girls" on Thursday, Sekgoma acknowledged the far-reaching implications of tariff increases and called for a recalibration of regional trade and production strategies. “While we certainly have no control over foreign jurisdictions and the tariffs they…

15 May

Govt eyes new eurobond

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The government is considering issuing a new Eurobond or seeking a syndicated facility in 2026. However, analysts have urged caution due to the country’s heavy exposure to US dollar- and euro-denominated debt and the ongoing volatility in global bond markets. Simonis Storm Securities warned that any new issuance should be carefully timed and backed by a clear fiscal consolidation plan. “Investor appetite will not be guaranteed, and we’ve seen risk premiums widen fast across similarly rated sovereigns,” the firm said. Namibia has increased its reliance on the domestic bond market in recent years. In the 2020/21 financial year,…

15 May

Oryx gets the green light to buy Safari Investments

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Oryx Properties Limited has received approval from the Namibian Competition Commission to acquire 100% of Safari Investments Namibia (Proprietary) Limited. The approval, granted on 9 May, comes without any conditions. Safari Investments Namibia owns and manages the Platz am Meer Shopping Centre, a waterfront mall in Swakopmund. Oryx first issued cautionary announcements about the deal in March and May. The company said, “The transaction and purchase price remain contingent upon the fulfilment of conditions agreed upon with the sellers. Therefore, we advise unitholders to be cautious when trading their Oryx securities until we make another announcement. The deal…

15 May

SA getting lion’s share of dividends

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira South Africa remained the largest recipient of dividend payments in 2024, according to the Foreign Investment Report by the Bank of Namibia and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB). Since 2019, more than 50% of dividend payments have gone to South Africa. This reflects strong profits in the financial, insurance, wholesale, and retail trade sectors. Mauritius increased its share of dividends from 1.9% in 2019 to 28.1% in 2024, driven by better profitability in the gold industry. The United Kingdom saw a decline in its dividend share in 2024. This was mainly due to weak diamond…

15 May

Gecko Gold Mining wants a slice of mining boom

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Gecko Gold Mining plans to explore copper, zinc, gold, and precious stones in the Otjozondjupa Region. The company aims to contribute to the country's socio-economic development through mining. Mining is Namibia’s leading economic sector, accounting for about 10% of the country’s gross domestic product each year. Gecko said the prospecting and exploration activities could boost other sectors and create temporary jobs. The company also expects to generate mineral rights levies, taxes for the government, and business opportunities for local small and medium enterprises. The company sees mining as a source of trained workers and small businesses that support…

15 May

Liquidity pressures cast shadow over NBL

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Liquidity pressures are becoming clear in Namibia Breweries Limited’s (NBL) balance sheet, according to an analysis by Simonis Storm Securities. Bank overdrafts have risen to just over N$230 million. Meanwhile, net debt dropped to N$403 million from N$536 million a year earlier. However, this apparent improvement hides a weaker capital structure. The net debt-to-equity ratio jumped to 64.01%, up from 34.6% the previous year, showing a decline in balance sheet strength. Working capital also shows stress. Inventories increased by 4.7%, and trade and other payables grew by 22.5%. At the same time, trade and other receivables fell by…