Blog – Page 79 – Windhoek Observer

13 Oct

Mining leaders call for policy clarity in South Africa

Observer Money

Staff Writer Joburg Indaba chairman, Bernard Swanepoel, says South Africa’s mining industry needs a renewed sense of purpose. “We need a globally competitive industry. For panellists, a key constraint for the mining industry in South Africa is policy uncertainty,” he said at the Joburg Indaba, asking attendees how to “keep the faith in the mining industry” without fake optimism. Several hundred CEOs, investors, and policymakers gathered at the 13th annual Joburg Indaba, held last week at the Inanda Club in Sandton, Johannesburg. The event was hosted by Resources 4 Africa in collaboration with Thinkspiration. Duncan Wanblad, CEO of Anglo American,…

13 Oct

Explaining strong credit growth in Brazil

Observer Money

At 15%, Brazil’s monetary policy interest rate (called Selic) is one of the highest among major economies. Yet in 2024, bank credit grew by 11.5%, and corporate bond issuance rose by 30%. This credit expansion in the face of high policy rates benefited many individuals, households, and companies. But it also raised questions about the effectiveness of monetary policy itself. In other words, why did the central bank’s efforts to cool down the economy by making financing more expensive seem not to be working? Our analysis, in the context of Brazil’s latest yearly economic review, shows that concerns have been…

13 Oct

Has the government run out of ideas on fuel smuggling?

Featured, Latest, Opinions

There is something profoundly absurd about the fact that, three decades after independence, Namibia continues to lose the battle against Ngungula, the smuggling of cheap Angolan fuel into the country. Every few months, the police announce a “breakthrough”, a new arrest, or a haul of jerry cans and plastic drums seized from some unsuspecting backyard in Oshikango, Ongwediva or Oshakati. And then, predictably, it is back to business as usual. The trade continues. The prices remain irresistible. And the authorities remain helpless. The question that must now be asked, bluntly, without euphemism or diplomatic restraint, is this: has the Namibian…

10 Oct

Ngurare to ‘Play God’ over third terms at SOEs boards

Main

Justicia Shipena Prime minister Elijah Ngurare will have the final say on who can serve a third term on state-owned enterprises boards (SOEs) under the newly proposed Public Enterprises Governance Amendment Bill. Ngurare tabled the bill in Parliament on Wednesday. It seeks to realign powers and responsibilities in the governance of state-owned entities and amend the Public Enterprises Governance Act of 2019 (PEGA). The amendment gives the prime minister sweeping powers previously held by the ministers of public enterprises and finance. Under the new law, board members will serve a three-year term, renewable once. A third term will only be…

10 Oct

Nust boss suspension triggers panic among students

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The Students Union of Namibia (SUN) has urged calm among students following the suspension of Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) vice chancellor Erold Naomab. Speaking to the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday, SUN spokesperson Johannes Malapi said the suspension has stirred concern among students, but learning and administration will continue as normal. “Let it be unequivocally stated, the institution is an enduring legal entity, not contingent upon the presence or absence of any singular office bearer. The academic and administrative machinery of Nust remains fully operational,” he said. Malapi assured students that all academic activities, including the…

10 Oct

Kunene mine opposition belittles govt authority – Aupindi

National News

Renthia Kaimbi A member of parliament and chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on agriculture, environment, and natural resources, Tobie Aupindi, says the ongoing opposition to the Goantagab Mine in the Kunene region undermines government authority and exposes "economic racism" against entrepreneurs. He said the government ministries had issued legitimate licenses for the mining operations, yet legal challenges persist. “We cannot allow a situation where economic opportunities are weaponised against black people in their own country,” he said. The dispute over the Goantagab Mine is currently before the High Court, where Ultimate Safaris and several conservancies are seeking to stop…

10 Oct

Neeef still failing to take off

National News

Justicia Shipena Seven years after its introduction, the National Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework (Neeef) remains incomplete, leaving Namibia’s ambition to tackle deep-rooted inequality hanging in the balance. The framework, which has been under development since 2018 and aims to address the country’s persistent socioeconomic disparities and inequalities rooted in past discriminatory laws, has yet to be finalised. Despite being described last week as “at an advanced stage” by the Law Reform and Development Commission (LRDC), Neeef has been stuck in development for years. During a meeting with prime minister Elijah Ngurare, the LRDC said the framework is close to completion.…

10 Oct

No salt collection ban in newly declared Etosha Lyomongwa Conservancy

National News

Allexer Namundjembo The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has assured residents of the newly declared Etosha Lyomongwa Conservancy in the Oshikoto region that they can continue collecting salt as usual. The ministry dismissed public claims that the conservancy’s new status would restrict traditional practices or indicate a land sale. Ministry spokesperson Ndeshipanda Hamunyela told the Windhoek Observer that the area’s declaration changes nothing about community access. “People will continue to collect salt as usual. There are no restrictions from the ministry or from the conservancy itself due to the area’s new status,” she said. Hamunyela explained that registering an…

10 Oct

Hundreds of mothers still dying during childbirth

National News

Justicia Shipena Hundreds of mothers are still dying during childbirth in Namibia. The latest data shows 139 deaths for every 100 000 live births. This is almost twice the global target of fewer than 70 by 2030. The figure was revealed at the launch of the national strategy for reproductive, maternal, newborn, adolescent health and nutrition (2025/2026–2029/2030) in Windhoek on Thursday. Health minister Dr Esperance Luvindao said Namibia has made progress in expanding access to healthcare, but maternal and newborn deaths remain a major problem. “Namibia’s maternal mortality ratio is estimated to be at 139 per 100 000 live births,…

10 Oct

Over one million cyber threats detected in six months

National News

Justicia Shipena Namibia experienced more than one million cyber threats in the first half of 2025. Information and Communication Technology Minister Emma Theofelus sounded the alarm over the country’s growing exposure to cyber risks, saying the attacks highlight the urgent need to strengthen digital security systems. Presenting a ministerial statement in Parliament on Wednesday, Theofelus said that between January and June 2025, the Namibia Cybersecurity Incident Response Team (Nam-CSIRT), housed at the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran), detected 1 103 784 cyber threats and 1 090 342 vulnerabilities across the country’s digital systems. “These statistics should send an alarm…