Page 3 – News Stand

17 Jun

O&L’s lodge acquisition awaits NaCC green light

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Justicia Shipena O&L Leisure’s acquisition of two hospitality properties, Le Mirage in the Sossusvlei area and Divava on the Kavango River, is awaiting approval from the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC). The announcement was made on Tuesday by O&L Leisure, a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List Group. Sven Thieme, managing director of O&L Leisure and executive chairman of the O&L Group, said the acquisition supports the group’s “Namibia Through Our Eyes” vision and strengthens its footprint in key tourism areas. “This expansion marks a key moment in realising our ‘Namibia Through Our Eyes’ vision, growing our presence across the country’s…

17 Jun

South Africa and Switzerland lead Namibia’s coffee supply

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Justicia Shipena As winter sets in and households tighten their budgets, Namibia’s trade data shows a sharp imbalance in the coffee sector. In April 2025, the country imported coffee worth N$12.4 million, mainly from South Africa and Switzerland. This is revealed in the latest Namibia international merchandise trade statistics bulletin by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). Over the same period, the NSA revealed that the country exported only N$14,629 worth of coffee to Angola and South Africa. This gap highlights the country’s reliance on foreign coffee and raises questions about opportunities in domestic processing and value addition. This comes as…

17 Jun

Collective action is needed to combat desertification

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché Namibians were to embrace a long-term, regenerative approach to land use at the commemoration of Desertification and Drought Day, held in Outapi on Tuesday. Environmental commissioner Timoteus Mufeti addressed attendees at the ceremony on behalf of the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Indileni Daniel. “This year’s theme, ‘Restore the Land, Unlock the Opportunities’, is both a statement of fact and a call to action,” said Mufeti. He described land as more than just a resource, calling it the bedrock of a thriving society. “A healthy, functional ecosystem is not a luxury, but the fundamental foundation of a…

17 Jun

Tsumeb municipality defends housing tender process

info_e12wt4csNational News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Tsumeb Municipality has defended its decision to use a restricted bidding process for the construction of 31 Build Together housing units in Nomtsoub Extension 8. The municipality said the approach was in line with the Public Procurement Act and necessary due to time constraints. This follows a complaint filed last week by Affirmative Repositioning activist Johannes John. He questioned the transparency of the process, alleging that only six companies were invited to bid and that one company had already been informally selected. He called for the cancellation of the tender and a restart under open bidding. In…

17 Jun

‘Shift towards transparency and citizen engagement’ – Mathe

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The executive director of ministry of information and communication technology, Audrin Mathe, has called on government public relations officers to prioritise transparency and place citizens at the centre of public service. Speaking at a retreat for government communication officers in Rundu this week, Mathe said effective communication remains one of the biggest challenges in modern governance. “In an era where information travels at the speed of light, where citizens expect immediate access to government services and real-time updates, transparency is not merely a democratic ideal but a fundamental requirement for effective governance,” he said. He stressed that laws…

17 Jun

First rabies case among seals confirmed at Walvis Bay

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché Namibia has confirmed its first case of rabies in a Cape fur seal after the death of an infected animal at the Walvis Bay Lagoon on Friday. The ministry of agriculture, fisheries, water and land reform said the seal showed signs of aggression and unusual behaviour before it died on Saturday. Laboratory tests conducted in Windhoek on Monday confirmed the presence of the rabies virus. “This is the first case of rabies in a seal reported in Namibia. It is the first known outbreak of rabies in marine mammals in the region and one of the very few…

17 Jun

Strict standards set for NDF recruits

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché Air Marshal Martin Pinehas, chief of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF), has officially opened the 18th Recruit Training Intake at the NDF Training Establishment in Osona, cautioning the recruits that discipline, honour and loyalty are non-negotiable values in their journey as future defenders of the nation. A total of 1,679 recruits, drawn from all 14 regions of Namibia, reported for training. The intake includes 1,303 men and 361 women, as well as 88 drivers and 11 student pilots. Pinehas described the occasion as an opportunity to mould civilians into soldiers capable of safeguarding Namibia’s sovereignty and constitutional obligations.…

17 Jun

MUN still challenging Sinomine’s voluntary separation scheme

info_e12wt4csNational News

Niël Terblanché The Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN) has reiterated its opposition to what it describes as disguised retrenchments at the Sinomine Copper Smelter in Tsumeb, following the company’s announcement of a voluntary separation scheme (VSS) affecting up to 650 workers. Speaking after a six-hour meeting with Sinomine management earlier this week, MUN general secretary George Ampweya said the union remained unconvinced by assurances that the VSS is optional and falls outside the scope of Section 34 of the Labour Act. “The chief executive officer of Sinomine confirmed the VSS has been board-approved and is final. Accordingly, the union…

17 Jun

Desert Dash gifts Ovitoto kids with bicycles from proceeds

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Erasmus Shalihaxwe Nedbank Namibia has donated 40 bicycles to Beautiful Kidz, a non-profit organisation that supports vulnerable children and their families in Windhoek and Ovitoto. The bicycles, valued at N$40,000, were bought with funds raised during the 2024 Nedbank Desert Dash. Participants and supporters pledged the amount during the event to support Beautiful Kidz. Nedbank Namibia communication manager Selma Kaulinge said the organisation operates from community centres in Windhoek and Ovitoto. “They serve hundreds of children with pre-primary education, tutoring, youth clubs, and holiday camps, and offer outreach and parenting support,” she said. Kaulinge said that the organisation also empowers…

17 Jun

Food prices push up inflation in May

info_e12wt4csObserver Money

Justicia Shipena Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the main contributors to price increases in May 2025. This is despite a slowdown in the country’s annual inflation rate to 3.5%. This marks a decline from 4.9% recorded in May 2024 and slightly below April’s rate of 3.6%. Consumer prices rose by 0.2% on a monthly basis, unchanged from April. According to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), the steady rate reflects modest gains in food and alcohol prices, a small rebound in transport costs, and ongoing deflation in housing services. Core inflation stood at 4.1% in May, down from 4.3% in April. …