Uncategorised – Page 2 – Windhoek Observer

02 Mar

SACU inflows push international reserves higher

Uncategorised

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s international reserves increased to N$51.9 billion at the end of January 2026, supported by inflows from the Southern African Customs Union. The Bank of Namibia reported in its latest money and banking statistics that the official stock of reserves rose by 0.6% month-on-month. The increase was mainly driven by SACU receipts. At this level, reserves covered an estimated 3.3 months of imports. When excluding oil and gas exploration and appraisal imports, the cover stood at 3.8 months. The bank said the reserves were equal to 9.6 times the currency in circulation. They remain sufficient to maintain the…

13 Feb

Health ministry pressed on impact of US leaving WHO

Uncategorised

Allexer Namundjembo Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo has asked the Ministry of Health and Social Services whether it has assessed the impact of the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Namibia’s health system. She also asked whether such an assessment would be tabled before Parliament. Mbinge-Tjeundo on Tuesday gave a notice to ask detailed questions to health minister Esperance Luvindao. “The decision by the United States of America to formally withdraw from the World Health Organization represents a significant shift in global health governance, with real and lasting implications for developing countries that rely…

05 Feb

OBSERVER COASTAL | Report sees N$40bn FPSO industry for Namibia

Uncategorised

Renthia Kaimbi Namibia could position itself as Africa’s leading hub for the engineering and servicing of floating production, storage and offloading vessels (FPSO), with China identified as a key strategic partner to drive the plan, according to a new industry report. The 2025 report by the Namibian Association for Offshore Oil and Gas Service Providers, authored by its founder Knowledge Ipinge, sets out a strategy that could create an FPSO-linked industrial sector valued at between N$25 billion and N$40 billion a year by 2035. The report estimates that the sector could generate more than 10 000 direct and indirect jobs.…

29 Jan

Rail-centred logistics key to securing trade position

Uncategorised

Chamwe Kaira Namibia must urgently shift to a rail-anchored logistics model to secure its long-term position as a regional trade corridor, economist Almandro Jansen of Simonis Storm has said. Jansen said Namibia’s strategic value does not lie in the size of its economy but in its location, institutions and operational reliability. Positioned on the Atlantic coast, Namibia offers the shortest maritime route linking Southern and Central Africa to European and North American markets through the Port of Walvis Bay. He stated that relatively strong governance, clear regulations, transparent customs processes, and stable port operations strengthen this advantage. These factors reduce…

26 Jan

Electrification budget set to rise above N$12m

National News, Uncategorised

Justicia Shipena The government plans to increase its electrification budget to speed up access to electricity for peri-urban communities. The allocation is expected to rise from N$12 million to at least N$20 million. This was announced by the minister of industries, mines, and energy, Modestus Amutse, during the groundbreaking ceremony and site handover of peri-urban electrification projects in the Hardap region on Thursday. “Our intention is to increase this allocation to at least N$20 million, and potentially more, as we strengthen partnerships with other stakeholders and funding partners,” Amutse said. Amuste said the real challenge going forward will not only…

19 Jan

Construction recovery remains uneven

Observer Money, Uncategorised

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s construction sector remains on a cautious but uneven path, shaped by improving financial conditions and ongoing structural constraints, according to Simonis Storm’s Namibia Building Statistics for December. Lower inflation and a gradually easing interest-rate environment are providing some relief. However, weak investment pipelines, policy uncertainty and capacity constraints continue to limit a broad-based recovery. Municipal building plan data shows a mixed regional picture. In Windhoek, approved building plans rose by 13% year-on-year in December 2025 to 169 approvals. Month-on-month approvals fell by 4%. On a quarterly basis, Windhoek recorded 543 approved plans in the fourth quarter of…

18 Jan

Letshego, Nedbank offer lowest banking fees

Uncategorised

Chamwe Kaira Letshego Bank Namibia and Nedbank Namibia charge the lowest fees on basic bank accounts, according to the Bank of Namibia’s Banking (BoN) Fees and Charges Comparison report for December 2025. The report highlights fees and services offered to Basic Bank Account (BBA) holders by local banks. It shows that Letshego Bank Namibia and Nedbank Namibia charge N$4.70 when BBA clients transfer money through the cellphone banking (USSD) channel. First National Bank Namibia offers free point-of-sale purchases for all clients, including BBA holders. Bank BIC, Bank Windhoek and Standard Bank Namibia allow free internal and external debit order payments…

18 Jan

Paladin Energy bullish on December quarterly results

Uncategorised

Chamwe Kaira Paladin Energy Limited will release its quarterly results for the period ended 31 December 2025 next week Wednesday. The results will be published on the Australian Securities Exchange and made available on the SEDAR+ platform. Paladin is listed on the ASX, the Toronto Stock Exchange and the OTCQX, and is registered as an external company in Namibia. The company will host a quarterly results conference call after the release. At its annual general meeting in November, Paladin said the global uranium market outlook remains strong, supported by rising demand for nuclear energy linked to energy security concerns and…

18 Jan

Tsodilo verifies rare earth and critical minerals at Botswana project

Uncategorised

Chamwe Kaira Tsodilo Resources Limited has verified the presence of significant rare earth elements and critical minerals at its 100%-owned Gcwihaba Metals Project in northwest Botswana. The company said mineralisation was confirmed at the C26 and C27 targets following diamond core drilling. These targets were first identified as geophysical anomalies through ground magnetic and gravity surveys. C26 and C27 are high-grade geological exploration targets, known as skarn anomalies, identified during drilling. They contain cobalt along with rare earth elements, copper, nickel and vanadium. Tsodilo said drilling intersected skarn-hosted rare earth mineralisation at depths of between 20 and 50 metres below…

18 Jan

Standard Bank announces new private bank and wealth head

Uncategorised

Staff Writer Standard Bank Namibia has appointed Darius van Zyl as head of private bank & wealth, effective 5 January 2026. The bank said Van Zyl brings more than 15 years of experience in finance, corporate and international tax consulting, strategic leadership, and banking. A registered member of the Namibia Institute of Professional Accountants, the bank said he combines strong technical expertise with experience in delivering client-focused solutions. His academic background includes qualifications in accounting sciences, finance and taxation. He recently completed a Master of Science degree in Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom, where his…