Namibia elected chair of African utility body

Namibia elected chair of African utility body

The Electricity Control Board (ECB) has been elected chair of the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR).  Namibia will now take over leadership at the end of the 22nd Annual Conference and General Assembly, which will conclude today in Swakopmund. Namibia was nominated by Lesotho and elected unopposed. Burkina Faso was elected as vice chair. ECB chief executive officer Robert Kahimise now assumes the role of AFUR chair.  He said Namibia is ready to lead efforts to strengthen regulation and improve service delivery across Africa’s energy and water sectors. He said the organisation will focus on improving regulatory standards, strengthening…
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YOUNG OBSERVER | Zambezi youth turn floods into income

YOUNG OBSERVER | Zambezi youth turn floods into income

Patience Makwele Youth in parts of the Zambezi region are turning floodwaters into a source of income as rising water levels continue to disrupt daily life. In areas such as Kabbe South and Linyanti, young people have taken up small-scale fishing to support their households. With limited job opportunities and ongoing economic pressure, both youth and older residents are using the floods to earn a living. Seasonal floods have displaced families, interrupted schooling and cut off access to services. In response, many young people are fishing and selling fresh and dried fish within their communities. “After the drought, we lost…
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YOUNG OBSERVER | Namib Mills joins MTC to train youth in baking

YOUNG OBSERVER | Namib Mills joins MTC to train youth in baking

Staff Writer  Young people in the ǁKaras region will begin skills training in April under the MTC4Life 2026 programme, aimed at helping them start small businesses and earn an income. The programme will support 30 young people aged 18 to 35 with training in trades such as baking, hairdressing, barbering, leatherwork, sewing and cell phone repair. This week, Namib Mills has partnered with MTC to support the baking trade.  Namib Mills will contribute N$5 000 per trainee, either in cash or equipment, and will also provide a baking expert, equipment and ingredients for training. Participants will attend training sessions over…
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YOUNG OBSERVER | Private college fills gap as youth seek skills

YOUNG OBSERVER | Private college fills gap as youth seek skills

Patience Makwele  Private colleges are stepping in as many young Namibians struggle to access tertiary education and find work, with institutions like International Training College Lingua offering skills-based training to bridge the gap. As youth unemployment remains high and public institutions cannot absorb growing demand, many school leavers are left without clear pathways into jobs. Some have qualifications but lack practical skills needed in the workplace. Amid this gap, International Training College Lingua has positioned itself as an alternative route. What started as informal lessons in a one-bedroom apartment has grown into an accredited institution that has trained more than…
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The case for Namibia Air: A strategic imperative for a rising economy

Namibia stands at the threshold of a new economic era. A surging tourism sector, coupled with the transformative potential of newly discovered oil reserves and expanding gas developments, is rapidly redefining the country’s growth trajectory. In this moment of opportunity, the question of establishing a new national airline, Namibia Air, should not be approached with hesitation or nostalgia but with strategic clarity and national ambition. The government’s assertion that Namibia Air will be a new entity, distinct from Air Namibia, is not merely semantic. It is fundamental. The failure of Air Namibia, while costly and instructive, should not serve as…
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GDP growth slowed to 1.7% in 2025

GDP growth slowed to 1.7% in 2025

Chamwe Kaira  Namibia’s economy grew by 1.7% in real terms in 2025, down from 3.8% recorded in 2024. Real GDP measures total economic output adjusted for inflation, while nominal GDP reflects current prices without adjusting for inflation. Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) statistician general Alex Shimuafeni said the slowdown was mainly driven by a decline in primary industries. Primary industries contracted by 7.2% in real value added, compared to a decline of 3.2% in 2024.  The drop was driven by mining and quarrying as well as agriculture, forestry and fishing. Mining and quarrying declined by 9.4%, while agriculture, forestry and fishing…
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Shafudah says budget protects services and jobs

Shafudah says budget protects services and jobs

Chamwe Kaira  Finance minister Ericah Shafudah has defended Namibia’s 2026/27 national budget, saying it balances fiscal discipline with the need to protect essential services and support economic recovery. Speaking during the second reading of the appropriation bill, this week Shafudah said the budget does not introduce broad-based tax increases. She said it aims to stabilise revenue without adding pressure on households and businesses. She acknowledged concerns about Namibia’s reliance on Southern African Customs Union (SACU) revenues, which make up about a quarter of total income.  She said this remains a structural risk and that government plans under the sixth National…
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Plans for national airline in final stage

Plans for national airline in final stage

Chamwe Kaira  The government is moving ahead with plans to launch a new national airline, Namibia Air, before the end of 2026, as concerns grow over transparency and oversight. Minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus said the process is underway and the airline will not be a revival of Air Namibia but a new entity. She said a technical team is reviewing different operating models, including possible partnerships with international airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines.  The team will submit its findings to the line minister before Cabinet makes a final decision. No exact launch date has been set.…
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Haib mine life could extend beyond 35 years

Haib mine life could extend beyond 35 years

Chamwe Kaira  Koryx Copper has reported an increase in the estimated copper at its Haib project in southern Namibia, raising the total from 2.6 million tonnes to 3.5 million tonnes. The company said the higher estimate could extend the life of the project.  Haib is planned as a large open-pit mine where copper will be extracted and processed on site. It is expected to produce about 9 000 tonnes of copper per year. An earlier study showed the project could be viable. The updated figures point to a longer mine life and an improved outlook. Koryx Copper chief executive Heye…
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AFDB provides N$400m to support DBN’s women initiative

AFDB provides N$400m to support DBN’s women initiative

Chamwe Kaira  The African Development Bank has provided N$400 million to support a new women-focused financing initiative by the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) aimed at boosting women’s participation in the economy. The initiative, called DBN For Her, was launched in Windhoek this week. It is designed to support businesses that are fully owned by women by giving them access to funding to start, grow and expand. Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah said the programme responds to barriers that limit women’s economic participation. “DBN For Her represents a deliberate and strategic response to structural imbalances in our economy. It is not…
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