UK firm takes 5% stake in Andrada

UK firm takes 5% stake in Andrada

Chamwe Kaira  Andrada Mining Limited has announced that JLE Newco Ltd, a company registered in Lichfield, United Kingdom, has acquired a 5% shareholding in the company.  The acquisition follows an internal restructuring within the corporate group of the ultimate beneficial owner. According to a regulatory filing submitted to the UK Financial Conduct Authority, JLE Newco now holds 83.7 million voting rights, representing 5% of Andrada Mining’s total issued share capital.  The transaction crossed the reporting threshold on 14 October 2025, and the company was notified on the same day. The filing asserts that no other entity controls JLE Newco, nor…
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Curro shareholders to vote on takeover and delisting 

Curro shareholders to vote on takeover and delisting 

Chamwe Kaira  Curro Holdings Limited has announced progress in the planned acquisition of all its issued shares by Jannie Mouton Stigting, which will lead to the company’s delisting from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange once the transaction is finalised. Curro released an update this week, confirming that they have met most of the suspensive conditions outlined in the circular to shareholders.  The company has secured all necessary regulatory and third-party approvals, with the exception of clearance from the competition authorities, to whom it made submissions in September. The company confirmed that approvals have been received from its debt funders, including Standard…
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FirstRand buys 20% Stake in global Fintech Optasia 

FirstRand buys 20% Stake in global Fintech Optasia 

Staff Writer  FirstRand Limited has acquired a 20.1% stake in Channel VAS Investments Limited, trading as Optasia, one of the world’s largest artificial intelligence-driven fintech platforms serving emerging markets. The deal comes as Optasia prepares for its initial public offering and marks a strategic move by FirstRand to expand its reach in digital financial services and financial inclusion. Optasia operates in 38 countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, providing financial access to millions of underbanked and unbanked consumers.  Using mobile data and AI, the company enables microloans and digital financial products at scale, allowing consumers to access credit…
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Standard Bank to host governance and risk breakfast

Standard Bank to host governance and risk breakfast

Staff Writer  Standard Bank Namibia will host its first Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Breakfast Connect on 31 October under the theme “Building Resilience: One Brick at a Time.”  The event will bring together industry leaders, risk professionals, and community stakeholders to discuss institutional resilience while raising funds for the bank’s Buy-a-Brick initiative, which supports low-income families in securing permanent housing. Paulina Iiyambo, senior manager for IT audit at Standard Bank Namibia, said the breakfast reflects the bank’s belief that governance, risk and compliance are strategic enablers of sustainable growth.  “To be truly effective, these disciplines must operate in concert,…
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President Nandi-Ndaitwah at 73: Seven months of measured hope

President Nandi-Ndaitwah at 73: Seven months of measured hope

As President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah marks her 73rd birthday this week, her first since assuming Namibia’s highest office, The Windhoek Observer extends heartfelt wishes for good health, clarity of vision, and continued strength in leadership.Birthdays are often a moment of personal reflection, but for a Head of State they also offer the nation an opportunity to pause and take stock, not just of years lived, but of months served, decisions made, and futures imagined. President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s first seven months in office have unfolded against a backdrop of global uncertainty and domestic transition. Yet, through it all, she has brought to State…
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President’s first year focuses on delivery

President’s first year focuses on delivery

Chamwe Kaira  Presidential press secretary Jonas Mbambo says President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s first year in office has been about action with purpose. He said four areas stand out most in her first year: youth empowerment, health reform, infrastructure and agriculture, and international relations. “The first is youth empowerment. Through the establishment of the National Youth Empowerment Fund, she has created real opportunities for young Namibians to access finance and turn their ideas into something tangible,” Mbambo said. “In its first phase, 42 youth-led projects received about N$14 million in funding, and that’s just the beginning of a N$500 million initiative that…
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MultiChoice unveils Nandi-Ndaitwah documentary

MultiChoice unveils Nandi-Ndaitwah documentary

Staff Writer  MultiChoice Namibia has premiered a documentary titled Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics, capturing the life and leadership of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the fifth and current President of Namibia. The premiere brought together Namibian and African dignitaries, including President of Botswana advocate Duma Boko and former president lieutenant general Dr Seretse Khama Ian Khama, along with high-level diplomats and invited guests. “As a brand that is built on premium entertainment and creativity, this documentary is a testament to our commitment to truthful, dignified, and locally rooted storytelling,” said David Mignot, Canal+ Africa CEO. “Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics will…
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Mixed record for President so far

Mixed record for President so far

Chamwe Kaira  Political analyst Henning Melber says President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s performance since taking office in March shows a mixed record so far. “Many innovations, such as the reduction of the cabinet, made sense. Others, such as the incorporation of mining, hydro energy, and nuclear power, lack sufficient transparency to understand the motives. Accountability has not been among the outstanding performances,” he said. Melber, who served as director of the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit from 1992 to 2000, is a resident associate at the Nordic Africa Institute in Uppsala, Sweden, and an extraordinary professor at the University of Pretoria and…
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The Netumbo documentary touches hearts across Namibia

The Netumbo documentary touches hearts across Namibia

On 9 October, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah attended the premiere of the documentary Netumbo: A Leader Beyond Politics at Ster-Kinekor, The Grove Mall in Windhoek. She was joined by President Duma Boko of Botswana, friends, family, and Namibians from all walks of life. Produced by Joe Vision Production House in collaboration with MultiChoice, the film tells the story of President Nandi-Ndaitwah’s journey from Onamutai Village to the frontlines of the liberation struggle and her lifelong commitment to Namibia’s freedom. According to the Namibian Presidency, during the Q&A session, the President spoke about the importance of the creative industry and shared her…
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NNN’s ‘self-appointment’ triggers constitutional outcry …MPs may challenge president’s takeover of ministry

NNN’s ‘self-appointment’ triggers constitutional outcry …MPs may challenge president’s takeover of ministry

Renthia Kaimbi President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s takeover of the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy has sparked a debate over whether she overstepped constitutional limits by appointing herself to the position. Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) leader Panduleni Itula accused Nandi-Ndaitwah of violating the Namibian Constitution and the Assignment of Powers Act 4 of 1990.  He said Nandi-Ndaitwah’s move to take charge of the ministry after firing Natangue Ithete was “a gross violation” of her oath of office and the law. “The president must seriously consider whether she acted within the law by appointing herself as minister for mines and energy,…
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