Page 118 – Windhoek Observer

08 Dec

RP breaks the vows of its coalition marriage with ratepayers group

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Republican Party (RP) ended its pact with the Henties Bay Ratepayers Association (HRPA) after a last-minute decision to replace the HRPA’s candidate on its council list, triggering a public fallout between the two groups. The move came days before the swearing-in ceremony. Manfred Katjoko was sworn in as a town councillor on Friday and appointed to the management committee. He filled the second RP seat, replacing Willem Jansen, whose name had already been gazetted on the list submitted to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). RP president Henk Mudge accused Jansen of insubordination and said the party…

08 Dec

Gariseb: Coalition instability led to Swapo dominance in Windhoek

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Opposition lost power in Windhoek because the coalition collapsed almost immediately after taking office in 2020, says community activist Shaun Gariseb. He believes the result opened the door for Swapo’s return to the city’s political leadership in 2025. “Opposition failed in the very first year when the coalition was spoilt and councillors got captured by technocrats with S&T. From there, it was just political fights, and nothing moved,” Gariseb said. Swapo has now reclaimed the Windhoek municipal council with eight seats against the opposition’s seven, ending five years of coalition rule. Gariseb, while critical of the opposition’s performance,…

08 Dec

AfDB’s N$30.3bn commitment: opportunity or oversold promise?

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

The African Development Bank’s approval of N$30.3 billion for Namibia under its 2025–2030 Country Strategy Paper is, without question, one of the most significant financial commitments the nation has seen in recent years. Headlines have naturally celebrated the investment as a major win; “economic transformation”, “human capital development”, “strategic infrastructure”, and other familiar phrases have again taken centre stage. But as with all large-scale development financing, the real question for Namibians is simpler and far more urgent: What, exactly, will this money do, and for whom? The language surrounding the allocation is predictably polished. The AfDB highlights “inclusive growth”, “economic…

08 Dec

New digital tool to fight GBV

National News

Renthia Kaimbi A newly developed national gender-based violence (GBV) digital application will soon allow the public to report abuse, access support services and obtain verified information securely. The minister of gender equality and child welfare, Emma Kantema, recently announced the tool as part of the country’s response to rising physical and digital violence. The app, created in partnership with the European Union (EU) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), forms part of a broader push to strengthen digital safety. Kantema said the platform is being finalised alongside the Cybercrime Bill, which is under review by the Ministry of Information…

08 Dec

Sisa warns public about scam using Nujoma’s name

National News

Staff Writer The estate of the late founding president, Sam Nujoma, is still being finalised. Nujoma’s executor revealed this on Sunday in response to an online article, calling it false and fraudulent. In a statement issued on 7 December 2025, lawyer Sisa Namandje said he was alerted by the Nujoma family to an online publication titled “The Hidden Legacy of Sam Nujoma”. The article falsely claimed that Nujoma had endorsed an investment scheme called “Nujoma Capital”. The article alleges that Nujoma gave an interview before his death promoting a platform promising users earnings of up to N$15,000 per day and…

08 Dec

MTC’s profit after tax soars to N$1.02 billion

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Mobile Telecommunications Company's (MTC) profit after tax for the year ended 30 September 2025 rose to N$1.02 billion, up from N$772.9 million in 2024. MTC said the increase reflects strong execution across mobile, fixed broadband, enterprise, and digital services. Earnings per share grew to 136.37 cents, with headline earnings per share showing the same rise. Total income increased by 14.24% to N$3.71 billion, driven by higher demand for high-speed data and value-added mobile services. Prepaid subscribers grew by 4.3% after successful SIM registration campaigns, and prepaid ARPU increased by 14.6%. Improved postpaid products helped protect core revenue, while…

08 Dec

AfDB to give Namibia N$33.4 billion to grow its economy

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The board of directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a Country Strategy Paper for Namibia, committing US$1.78 billion (about N$33.4 billion) to support economic transformation and inclusive growth from 2025 to 2030. The funding aims to drive job creation and economic diversification at a time when Namibia faces a high youth unemployment rate of more than 40% and a drop in per capita income from US$5 942 (about N$111 500) in 2012 to US$4 240 (about N$79 500) in 2024. The group’s deputy director general for Southern Africa and country manager for Namibia, Moono Mupotola,…

08 Dec

Fuel price hike expected to push inflation up

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Fuel prices are expected to put upward pressure on inflation after the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy increased pump prices by 21% per litre in December. The rise follows higher global crude oil prices and refinery constraints. Almandro Jansen of Simonis Storm said housing inflation is also expected to remain firm due to long-standing supply shortages and municipal tariff adjustments. Economists project inflation to average between 3.7% and 3.9% in 2025, rising toward 4% in 2026 as fuel and utility prices settle at higher levels. They warn that currency volatility, logistics costs and global supply conditions could…

08 Dec

Paratus battles inflation while growing its network

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira As Paratus Namibia marks its 20th anniversary, managing director Andrew Hall reflected on how the company began with a small team aiming to change the country’s digital future. What started as Internet Technologies Namibia (Pty) Ltd has grown into a major connectivity provider now preparing to enter the mobile network market. After a successful rights issue in May 2024, Paratus began one of its largest network expansions. The nationwide roll-out of its Radio Access Network and the growth of its retail footprint to 18 outlets led to strong customer uptake across its services. Fibre connections grew by 34%,…

08 Dec

NYC boss fights to clear her name as contract ends

Main

Renthia Kaimbi National Youth Council director Calista Schwartz-Gowases is demanding that her name be cleared and her legal fees repaid as her term ends this month. She says unproven misconduct allegations have damaged her reputation and wants an independent mediator to resolve the dispute. Schwartz-Gowases made the request through her lawyers, Shipindo & Associates, in a letter to interim board chairperson Kennedy Kariseb on Monday last week. “Our client essentially wants her name cleared from all such allegations before the parties part ways. We request for the Board Resolution and minutes of the meeting that gave effect to such action,”…