Page 36 – Windhoek Observer

09 Oct

The power of a small deduction … understanding the role of payroll deductions in Namibia’s economy

Featured, Opinions

Ingah Ekandjo I recently spoke at the opening of one of our top-performing branches, prepared to talk about growth and community impact. But instead, I choked up. The room faded; my past came alive. I grew up in a modest Namibian family of seven children. Not all of us could get student loans or bursaries, but my mother, a government nurse with little savings, had taken out an education policy (an insurance plan for schooling). Listening to my introduction, memories of my childhood flashed before my eyes. In that moment I fully understood how that simple policy brought me here. …

09 Oct

Microlenders hang civil servants dry

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Former minister of finance, Iipumbu Shiimi, says the country's high household debt, especially among public servants, is fuelled by gaps in the law and weaknesses in the deduction code system. Shiimi explained that the payroll deduction management system (PDMS), meant to improve access to credit, has instead encouraged excessive borrowing as microlenders face little risk when repayments are automatically taken from salaries. “Consequently, many civil servants are left with little to no disposable income and increasing financial distress,” he said. Shiimi called for the speedy adoption of the consumer protection bill to place all microlenders under the Namibia…

09 Oct

Drilling of Kavango West 1X on schedule

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) Ltd says drilling of the Kavango West 1X exploration well is progressing as planned. Brian Reinsborough, the company’s president and chief executive officer, said the final casing string has been set at a depth of about 2,300 metres, just above the targeted Otavi reservoir. “Currently, the well is drilling ahead into the Otavi carbonate reservoir, which is the primary target in the Damara Fold Belt. We anticipate drilling an extensive section of the potential reservoir, which will be followed by a full evaluation of the Otavi section. The Kavango West 1X well is testing…

09 Oct

Koryx Copper shareholder meeting delayed

Observer Money

Staff Writer Canadian-listed copper developer Koryx Copper Incorporated has made amendments to its management information circular ahead of a special shareholder meeting scheduled for 15 October. The company said the changes were required due to a labour dispute in British Columbia, which could delay regulatory approvals for its planned continuation and redomiciliation from Canada to Luxembourg. At the meeting, shareholders will vote on Koryx’s proposal to transfer its registered office and central administration to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, where it will operate as Koryx Copper S.A., a public limited company. The move is aimed at improving Koryx’s international corporate…

09 Oct

African companies raised over US$800 million in Q3

Observer Money

African companies raised over US$800 million in the third quarter of this year, marking a 21% increase compared to the same quarter in 2024. This growth was driven primarily by growth-stage funding, despite a decline in the number of deals. This uptick in funding, following several quarters of decline since the 2021 funding bubble, reinforces predictions highlighted in our recently released Africa Venture Pulse Report, which indicates that 2025 funding is on track to surpass 2024 totals. Since peaking in 2022, overall deal activities, particularly deals between US$100 000 and US$1m, have been on a steady decline. In contrast, very…

09 Oct

OBSERVER COASTAL | The Tide Line

Featured, Opinions

Reading the coast, understanding the nation Welcome to the Tide Line — the new weekly editorial voice of Observer Coastal. Here, at the edge of land and sea, stories don’t just happen; they arrive, shift, and recede like waves. From the harbours of Walvis Bay to the salt pans of Swakopmund, the dunes of Dorob to the fishing docks of Henties Bay, the Erongo coast has always been more than geography. It is the country’s pulse in motion, the line where Namibia breathes through the Atlantic. The Tide Line will exist at that intersection, between the economic and the environmental,…

09 Oct

OBSERVER COASTAL | Immanuel to hold talks with Okapare fishermen

National News

Renthia Kaimbi Minister of Justice and Labour Relations Fillemon Wise Immanuel will meet with leaders of the Okapare fishermen next week to address their ongoing grievances. He confirmed the meeting to the Windhoek Observer. The meeting comes days after Immanuel accompanied the fishermen into a packed Kuisebmond Stadium, where they were special guests of President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah during the launch of the Swapo party’s regional and local authority election campaign in Walvis Bay on Saturday. On that day, the fishermen had rejoined Swapo. The fishermen have been in conflict with the government since 2015, when mass layoffs left hundreds unemployed…

09 Oct

OBSERVER COASTAL | Walvis Bay gears up for Namport Nedbank cycling challenge

National News

Staff Writer The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport), Nedbank Namibia, and the Powerhouse Cycling Club have confirmed the dates for the 2025 Walvis Bay Namport Nedbank Powerhouse Challenge. The multisport weekend will take place from 1 to 2 November 2025 in Walvis Bay. Following the success of the inaugural event held in March 2025 during the Lüderitz Crayfish Festival, the second edition promises to be bigger, drawing top Namibian cyclists, runners, and fitness enthusiasts for a weekend of competition and community spirit. The challenge will feature various races for both professional athletes and recreational participants. Running events include a 21 km…

09 Oct

OBSERVER COASTAL | Namport champions wellness for Walvis Bay communities

National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Namibia Ports Authority (Namport) has championed the well-being of Walvis Bay’s youngest and oldest residents through two recent community initiatives focused on wellness and support. The first event, the Namport Community Wellness Initiative, was launched on 27 September at Dunes Mall. The launch drew a large turnout, including many senior citizens eager to participate. The mall’s atrium was transformed into a wellness hub offering free health checks, screenings, and fitness sessions led by TBT, featuring Zumba, Tae-Bo, and aerobics. Attendees also received advice on nutrition and mental well-being. One of the most popular activities was the “Adopt-a-Seedling…

09 Oct

NNN tells farmers to build a smarter, sustainable sector

Featured, National News

Justicia Shipena President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called on the agricultural sector to reimagine agriculture as a smart, sustainable and inclusive engine of development. She said the industry must evolve to meet the country’s long-term food security and economic goals. Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks on Wednesday at the 2025 Agricultural Outlook Conference held at the Windhoek Country Club. The conference, themed "Harvesting the Future," was organised by the Namibian Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU), the Namibian National Farmers Union (NNFU), the Previously Disadvantaged National Farmers Union (PDNFU), and the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU). The event brought together communal, emerging, and commercial…