Featured – Page 28 – Windhoek Observer

14 May

SACU calls on the U.S. to reconsider its trade tariffs

Featured, National News

Niël Terblanché The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) has called on the United States to reconsider its planned tariff increases, warning they could harm trade relations and reverse development gains in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and those under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The SACU Council of Ministers made the appeal in a joint communique after their recent meeting in Johannesburg. The council, chaired by finance minister Erica Shafudah, urged the U.S. administration to apply the principle of differential treatment and exempt LDCs and AGOA-eligible countries from the new tariffs set to take effect in July. The U.S.…

11 May

Kauandenge criticises free tertiary education as a PR exercise

Featured, National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Joseph Kauandenge, president of the newly formed Association for Localised Interests (ASOLI), has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of free tertiary education in addressing high unemployment among graduates.. This comes after President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced in her State of the Nation Address last month that university fees will be scrapped from 2026. Kauandenge welcomed the government's decision to offer free tertiary education starting next year. He, however, questioned its practicality and its potential to benefit young people. He pointed out that while access to education may be an issue for some, the bigger problem lies in the thousands…

08 May

De Beers relocates its auctions business to Gaborone

Featured, Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA De Beers Group has announced that its auctions business has resumed operations following the successful relocation of the business’s headquarters from Singapore to Gaborone. The completion of this relocation unites De Beers Group’s global diamond trading activities in Gaborone, enhancing operational efficiency and supporting Botswana’s position as a major player in the global diamond value chain. With auction sales now being re-established, De Beers Group ran a small-scale trial event for Sightholder customers during Cycle 3. The event generated substantial interest, with a high number of customers viewing lots and participating, resulting in the majority of lots being…

08 May

Netball Namibia hopes that planned stadiums will include netball courts

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Former Netball Namibia president Rebecca Goagoses hopes the planned construction of sports stadiums in all 14 regions will include netball courts. This follows the announcement by Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, that N$35 million has been allocated to build stadiums in each region during the 2025/26 financial year. Steenkamp said the stadiums will meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) category two standards, and each will have 10,000 seats. Goagoses, who currently serves as acting Netball Africa president, has long raised concerns over the lack of proper netball courts in Namibia. She urged…

07 May

GRN plans 10 000-seater stadiums across all regions

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has set aside N$35 million to build sports stadiums in all 14 regions. Each stadium will have a seating capacity of 10,000. Minister Sanet Steenkamp made the announcement in Parliament on Tuesday while motivating the ministry’s N$1.2 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year. She stated that the Confederation of African Football will build the stadiums to meet category two standards. Each regional capital will have a facility to give young people across the country access to proper sports infrastructure. This follows after President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced in…

07 May

Recon expects 2025 to be successful

Featured, Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd has filed its annual disclosure documents for the nine-month period ending 31 December 2024. The company holds interests in exploration prospects under Petroleum Exploration Licence 73 in the Kavango Basin, Namibia. It is focused on the Damara Fold Belt and Kavango Rift Basin, covering parts of northeastern Namibia, southeastern Angola, and northwestern Botswana. In April 2024, ReconAfrica raised US\$17.5 million through a bought deal public offering. In July 2024, it raised another US$38.8 million through an underwritten public offering. In November 2024, the company completed drilling operations of the Naingopo exploration well. The results…

06 May

Analysts warn free tertiary education could worsen unemployment

Featured, National News

Justicia Shipena Political analysts have urged the government to first address the root causes of unemployment before introducing a free tertiary education policy. Political analyst Sackaria Johannes has cautioned the government to examine the root causes of unemployment before rolling out free tertiary education. In an interview with the Windhoek Observer last week, Johannes said the real issue is not access to education but the growing number of unemployed graduates. “The leaders should start by asking, ‘What is the real problem that we have? Are they people who want to go to school but cannot afford it? Or is it…

05 May

Deaf women encouraged to participate in sports

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Namibia Deaf Sports Federation (NDSF) indicated that it will focus on increasing the participation of deaf women in sports across the country. NDSF president Abner Sheya made the remarks during the closing ceremony of the National Deaf Games, held from 2 to 4 May at the Rietfontein National Youth Service Centre in the Otjozondjupa region. “There is a lack of participation by deaf women across various sports codes. Going forward, we must focus on developing Deaf women’s participation in sports across all regions. The NDSF Board will work on the ‘Building Capacity in Sport for Deaf Women’…

01 May

NNN urges unity for workers’ rights

Featured, National News

Niël Terblanché President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah used her first Workers’ Day address as head of state to call for a united effort to build a just and prosperous Namibia where labour is respected and rewarded fairly. She addressed the crowd in Oshakati on Thursday under the theme “Workers Demand Justice through Natural Resource Beneficiation, Value Addition, Living Wages, and Youth Employment.” “Workers are the backbone of our economy. We cannot speak of freedom and independence without addressing economic injustice. Workers cannot continue to live in poverty while contributing to the growth of industries,” she said. She said the high level of…

29 Apr

Debmarine opens exhibition at Lüderitz Maritime Museum

Featured, Observer Money

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Debmarine Namibia has opened its first permanent exhibition at the Lüderitz Maritime Museum. The exhibition marks the company’s entry into public educational spaces focused on Namibia’s marine diamond industry. The launch follows the official opening of the museum by former president Nangolo Mbumba in September 2024. The museum is housed in the old Lüderitz Power Station and forms part of the second phase of the Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company (LWDC) initiative. Speaking at the event, Debmarine Namibia Chief Executive Officer Willy Mertens said the exhibition aims to support education and promote awareness of the country’s marine resources. He…