BoN plans to accumulate gold

BoN plans to accumulate gold

Chamwe Kaira The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has launched a gold accumulation strategy to diversify the country’s foreign exchange reserves and strengthen economic stability amid global uncertainty. BoN governor Johannes !Gawaxab said the strategy is part of a broader effort to protect Namibia’s financial system and improve its resilience against external shocks. He said gold will now form a key component of the central bank’s reserves portfolio, targeting 3% of total net foreign exchange holdings.  The gold will be acquired from local mines, kept under domestic custody and stored as London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) good delivery bars with 99.9%…
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Global economy shows resilience amid shifting commodity prices

Global economy shows resilience amid shifting commodity prices

Chamwe Kaira  The global economy continues to show resilience, even as forecasts point to slightly slower growth in the coming years. Bank of Namibia (BoN) governor Johannes !Gawaxab said this week that since the last Monetary Policy Committee meeting in August, inflation trends have moved in different directions across major economies, while global stock markets have strengthened and bond yields have declined. “The US Federal Reserve cut its policy rate for the first time this year, marking a shift in its monetary stance, while most other major central banks opted to hold their rates steady,” he said. The Organisation for…
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Business loans lift private sector credit to 5.8%

Business loans lift private sector credit to 5.8%

Chamwe Kaira Private Sector Credit Extension (PSCE) rose slightly to 5.8% year-on-year in August 2025, compared to 5.7% in July, showing a gradual recovery in credit demand driven mainly by corporate borrowing, according to FNB Namibia economist Helena Mboti. Mboti said the modest increase reflects a cautiously improving credit environment supported by stronger business confidence and continued investment activity. Household credit expansion, however, remains limited due to weak income growth and affordability constraints. Corporate credit led the growth, rising 10.3% year-on-year in August from 10.1% in July. Mboti said the increase was mainly supported by higher demand for other loans…
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Langer Heinrich posts record Uranium output

Langer Heinrich posts record Uranium output

Chamwe Kaira Paladin Energy Limited has reported record quarterly uranium production from its Langer Heinrich Mine in the Erongo region, marking another milestone in the mine’s ramp-up phase since restarting operations. The Australian Stock Exchange-listed uranium producer said output reached 1,066,496 pounds of uranium oxide during the quarter ending 30 September, up from 993,843 pounds in the previous quarter.  The company said the performance reflects “increasing operational strength and capability” as it moves towards full-scale production. Sales for the quarter totalled 533 789 pounds of uranium oxide at an average realised price of US$67.40 per pound, compared to US$55.60 in…
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Bannerman reports progress at Etango project

Bannerman reports progress at Etango project

Chamwe Kaira Bannerman Energy Ltd has reported continued strong progress at its Etango Uranium Project, achieving major milestones in construction, design, and marketing as it moves closer to a potential Final Investment Decision (FID), subject to market conditions. The company maintained an excellent safety record, marking 16 years without a lost-time injury.  Early works construction remains on budget and schedule, with construction power now commissioned within the mining licence area.  Detailed design for the process plant is 86% complete, and a factory acceptance test for the High Pressure Grinding Rolls tertiary crusher has been successfully completed. Bannerman awarded contracts for…
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Trustco nears completion of long-delayed financial statements

Trustco nears completion of long-delayed financial statements

Staff Writer Trustco Group Holdings has reported progress toward finalising its long-awaited annual financial statements while reminding investors to remain cautious as it moves ahead with plans to delist from three stock exchanges. The Windhoek-based investment group said on Monday it continues to work with regulators to complete the audit of its financial results for the year ended 31 August 2024.  The process has been more complex than usual following changes to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s (JSE) Listings Requirements on auditor appointments. Previously, Trustco was required to appoint two audit firms—one accredited by the JSE in South Africa (Nexia SAB&T)…
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Standard Bank joins KYC compliance awareness drive

Standard Bank joins KYC compliance awareness drive

Staff Writer Standard Bank Namibia has joined other financial institutions in an industry-wide effort to raise awareness about Know Your Client (KYC) compliance, in line with the Financial Intelligence Act of 2012. The initiative aims to ensure that customer information is accurate, current, and compliant with national regulations, a key step in protecting the integrity of Namibia’s financial system. Standard Bank has launched a multi-channel campaign encouraging clients to verify and update their personal details.  The campaign uses SMS and email notifications, as well as direct engagement through branches and relationship managers. “Client enablement is about more than just access;…
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Local processing towards what ultimate end?

Local processing towards what ultimate end?

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Northern farmers turn to meat processing to boost profits. This headline of a local English daily this week could not but catch Yours Truly Ideologically’s attention. As it indeed should, must and may have caught the attention of many Namibians, especially communal farmers. Because local processing cut to the bone of the Namibian government’s value-addition song, almost elevating such to the status of another national anthem. The headline, as is self-explanatory, is about the initiative of Lesha Investment, a wholly Namibian-owned company owned by Joan Pohamba. “I as a citizen of Namibia, hereby pledge as an individual and…
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Botswana’s president on “plausible complimentarity”

Botswana’s president on “plausible complimentarity”

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Speaking during the second session of the Namibia-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Windhoek last week, the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Boko, strongly emphasised the need for the two countries not to compete against each other but to complement each other in what he termed as “objective, plausible, complimentary” between the two economies and insisted that discussions must lead to measurable outcomes.  He described the summit as part of a wider transformation process between the two nations. He said the discussions had been “open and frank” and called on officials…
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Political parties clash with ECN over ballot observation costs

Political parties clash with ECN over ballot observation costs

Allexer Namundjembo  The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) says it will not cover travel expenses for political parties and stakeholders who wish to observe the printing of ballot papers.  The observation is for the ballots of the 2025 regional and local elections, set for next month.  All registered political parties, organisations, and associations are invited to observe the ballot paper production at their own expense. ECN said this decision was first communicated during the political parties liaison committee meeting on 3 September 2025 and reaffirmed during another PLC meeting on 14 October 2025. ECN chief electoral officer Peter Shaama said…
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