Johnson one shot off the golf lead in Gaborone

Johnson one shot off the golf lead in Gaborone

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Golfer Kyle Johnson remains the top performer on the national team at the Africa Confederation Region Five tournament taking place in Gaborone, Botswana. The Botswana Golf Union reported on Thursday that Johnson is currently in second place overall, just behind South Africa’s Astin Wade Arthur, who leads the standings. “Arthur fired a superb 8-under-par 63 in round two to reach a tournament total of 134 (-8), overtaking Zimbabwe’s Keegan Shutt, who slipped to third after a 3-over-par 74 brought his total to 136 (-6).  Johnson, meanwhile, remained consistent with a 4-under-par 67, taking his total to 135 (-7)…
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SADC PF head calls for economic self-reliance amid rising tariffs

SADC PF head calls for economic self-reliance amid rising tariffs

Moses Magadza Boemo Sekgoma, the Secretary General of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), has urged Southern African nations to take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen their economies and regain control over their development trajectory. Speaking via Zoom at the opening of the "High-Level Dialogue on Trade Justice: Mitigating the Impact of US Reciprocal Tariffs on SADC Economies and Women and Girls" on Thursday, Sekgoma acknowledged the far-reaching implications of tariff increases and called for a recalibration of regional trade and production strategies. “While we certainly have no control over foreign jurisdictions and the tariffs they…
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Govt eyes new eurobond

Govt eyes new eurobond

Chamwe Kaira The government is considering issuing a new Eurobond or seeking a syndicated facility in 2026. However, analysts have urged caution due to the country’s heavy exposure to US dollar- and euro-denominated debt and the ongoing volatility in global bond markets. Simonis Storm Securities warned that any new issuance should be carefully timed and backed by a clear fiscal consolidation plan. “Investor appetite will not be guaranteed, and we’ve seen risk premiums widen fast across similarly rated sovereigns,” the firm said. Namibia has increased its reliance on the domestic bond market in recent years. In the 2020/21 financial year,…
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Oryx gets the green light to buy Safari Investments

Oryx gets the green light to buy Safari Investments

Chamwe Kaira Oryx Properties Limited has received approval from the Namibian Competition Commission to acquire 100% of Safari Investments Namibia (Proprietary) Limited. The approval, granted on 9 May, comes without any conditions. Safari Investments Namibia owns and manages the Platz am Meer Shopping Centre, a waterfront mall in Swakopmund. Oryx first issued cautionary announcements about the deal in March and May. The company said, “The transaction and purchase price remain contingent upon the fulfilment of conditions agreed upon with the sellers. Therefore, we advise unitholders to be cautious when trading their Oryx securities until we make another announcement. The deal…
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SA getting lion’s share of dividends

SA getting lion’s share of dividends

Chamwe Kaira South Africa remained the largest recipient of dividend payments in 2024, according to the Foreign Investment Report by the Bank of Namibia and the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB). Since 2019, more than 50% of dividend payments have gone to South Africa. This reflects strong profits in the financial, insurance, wholesale, and retail trade sectors. Mauritius increased its share of dividends from 1.9% in 2019 to 28.1% in 2024, driven by better profitability in the gold industry. The United Kingdom saw a decline in its dividend share in 2024. This was mainly due to weak diamond…
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Gecko Gold Mining wants a slice of mining boom

Gecko Gold Mining wants a slice of mining boom

Chamwe Kaira  Gecko Gold Mining plans to explore copper, zinc, gold, and precious stones in the Otjozondjupa Region. The company aims to contribute to the country's socio-economic development through mining. Mining is Namibia’s leading economic sector, accounting for about 10% of the country’s gross domestic product each year. Gecko said the prospecting and exploration activities could boost other sectors and create temporary jobs. The company also expects to generate mineral rights levies, taxes for the government, and business opportunities for local small and medium enterprises. The company sees mining as a source of trained workers and small businesses that support…
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Liquidity pressures cast shadow over NBL

Liquidity pressures cast shadow over NBL

Chamwe Kaira  Liquidity pressures are becoming clear in Namibia Breweries Limited’s (NBL) balance sheet, according to an analysis by Simonis Storm Securities. Bank overdrafts have risen to just over N$230 million. Meanwhile, net debt dropped to N$403 million from N$536 million a year earlier. However, this apparent improvement hides a weaker capital structure. The net debt-to-equity ratio jumped to 64.01%, up from 34.6% the previous year, showing a decline in balance sheet strength. Working capital also shows stress. Inventories increased by 4.7%, and trade and other payables grew by 22.5%. At the same time, trade and other receivables fell by…
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Positive trade reforms on the horizon

Positive trade reforms on the horizon

Chamwe Kaira  Recent developments point to positive changes in the country’s trade environment, driven by targeted reforms and capacity-building efforts to improve efficiency, market access, and competitiveness, says Almandro Jansen, an analyst with Simonis Storm. In March 2025, the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade launched the Namibian Trade Information Portal. This digital platform centralises key trade information, such as customs procedures, licensing requirements, tariff schedules, investment incentives, and trade regulations.  Jansen explained that the portal reduces red tape and makes trade processes more predictable. “It is particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to engage in regional and global…
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Langer Heinrich hits high production output

Langer Heinrich hits high production output

Chamwe Kaira The Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) processed more than 900 000 tonnes of ore during the March 2025 quarter. This marked the highest throughput since the mine restarted operations. The plant achieved an average recovery rate of 88%, which is within the company’s target. Paladin Energy, the mine’s operator, said it produced 745,484 pounds of uranium oxide in the March quarter. This was a 17% increase from the previous quarter and the highest quarterly output since the restart. Total uranium oxide production for the nine months ending 31 March stood at two million pounds. During the March quarter, the…
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Otjikoto projects gold output of up to 185 000 ounces

Otjikoto projects gold output of up to 185 000 ounces

Chamwe Kaira The Otjikoto Mine is expected to produce between 165,000 and 185,000 ounces of gold in 2025. Cash operating costs are forecast between US$695 (approximately N$12 931) and US$755 (approximately N$14 054) per ounce.  All-in sustaining costs are projected between US$980 (approximately N$18 243) and US$1 040 (approximately N$19 366) per ounce. Production will be higher in the first half of the year. Open-pit mining is scheduled to end in the third quarter of 2025. The mine will process 3.4 million tonnes of ore in 2025, with an average grade of 1.63 grams per tonne and a gold recovery…
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