SADC struggles with historic drought

SADC struggles with historic drought

Niël Terblanché Across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), countries are facing an unprecedented drought crisis, marking some of the lowest rainfall levels in over four decades. recent rains in parts, the late January and February season brought severe dry conditions, leaving Namibia and its neighbours in a desperate struggle against the shortfall. The SADC’s Food Security Early Warning System, bolstered by insights from USAID, paints a grim picture: widespread crop wilting in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, signalling a dire season with little hope for recovery. The impact extends beyond crops, with vegetation and water sources for livestock rapidly diminishing,…
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Nedbank celebrates top achievers of 2023

Nedbank celebrates top achievers of 2023

Martin Endjala Nedbank Namibia recently held its annual employee Top Achievers Awards 2023 ceremony under the theme, celebrating the success of your rhythm in harmony. The top achievers’ awards recognised the performance and contributions of employees who have made a significant impact on the company’s success in the previous year. A total of 15 award categories were presented and the winners were chosen based on their outstanding performance in the 2023 financial year. In addition to the individual awards, the bank also recognised top-performing teams which highlighted the importance of teamwork and collaboration in achieving success. The categories included Top…
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NCCI urge SMEs to work as a consortium

NCCI urge SMEs to work as a consortium

Martin Endjala The Namibia Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (NCCI) Chief Executive Officer, Charity Mwiya urged all Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to start collaborating to form consortiums. She said by doing this, many SMEs stand a chance to compete within various markets both locally and internationally while cautioning that those who choose to operate individually will miss out on many opportunities. “SMEs need to start forming consortiums to leverage the benefits of partnerships. The NCCI is here to expose you to various markets and partnerships will assist you along the way”. Mwiya said this during a business connect engagement…
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Namibia celebrates new level of aviation safety

Namibia celebrates new level of aviation safety

Niël Terblanché By celebrating advancements in aviation safety, the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) has proudly announced Namibia's significant progress in the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme – Continuous Monitoring Approach (USOAP-CMA). According to Dank Kamati, the NAC’s spokesperson, the audit was conducted between 6 and 18 March 2024, this comprehensive audit scrutinized the effectiveness of Namibia’s aviation safety oversight systems, benchmarking them against the globally recognized ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs). Emerging from the audit with a commendable preliminary score of 72.31 percent, Namibia has not only surpassed its previous 2016 score of 57.39…
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Langer Heinrich achieves commercial production

Langer Heinrich achieves commercial production

Martin Endjala Western Australia-based uranium mining company Paladin Energy Limited, has announced that uranium concentrate production and drumming were achieved at the Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) on 30 March 2024. This follows its announcement in January 2024 that the restart of the project at Langer Heinrich is now 93 percent complete, and commercial production is expected within the next few months. Focus will now shift to production ramp-up and building a finished product inventory, ahead of shipments to customers, and as part of the transition to production, Paladin’s Chief Operating Officer, Paul Hemburrow will assume responsibility for all LHM activities.…
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GIPF net asset value increases to N$151 billion

GIPF net asset value increases to N$151 billion

Martin Endjala The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has recorded an increase in its asset value of N$151 billion for the 2023 financial year, compared to N$147 billion recorded in 2022. GIPF’s Chief Executive Officer, Martin Inkumbi announced this during the launch of the integrated annual report year ended 31 March 2023. Inkumbi said the Fund’s investment return has increased by 7.7 percent to N$6.5 billion, compared to an increase of 10.8 percent (N$11.6 billion) in the prior year. Adding that the increase is attributed mainly to favourable investment returns during the period under review. The Fund has N$110 billion…
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Fuel prices skyrocket amid global oil tension

Fuel prices skyrocket amid global oil tension

Niël Terblanché The Ministry of Mines and Energy in Namibia has announced a significant hike in fuel prices that will come into effect tomorrow, 3 April 2024, marking a steep increase for motorists and industries alike. According to the ministry, the price of petrol will increase by 152 cents per litre and both types of diesel by 72 cents per litre. Prices at the pumps in Walvis Bay will henceforth be N$22.30 per litre for petrol and N$21.77 per litre for diesel. The ministry said the sharp increase has been attributed to a mix of global and domestic factors, including…
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Walvis Bay community protest against Redforce

Niël Terblanché A public outcry has emerged against RedForce Debt Management, a company contracted by the municipality of Walvis Bay, to recover outstanding debts from residents. This discontent culminated in a protest march, with demonstrators demanding the municipality sever ties with RedForce over their debt collection methods. Residents in a petition argued that the firm’s practices have not only exacerbated their financial burdens but have also led to essential services, such as water supply, being disconnected for some. The Walvis Bay Municipality's decision to employ RedForce stems from an attempt to recoup approximately N$375 million in debt. The municipality stated…
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AG to evaluate climate resilience program costs

AG to evaluate climate resilience program costs

Martin Endjala The Auditor General's Office is gearing up to evaluate the financial impact of Namibia's climate resilience and adaptation strategies as outlined in the Social Development Goals (SDGs), specifically goal 2.3, in the 2024/25 fiscal year. This initiative, part of the newly incorporated Environmental Audit, was announced by the Minister in the Presidency, Christina //Hoabes, during her budget speech in the National Assembly. With advancements in the extractive industry, the ministry is eager to align with the government's green energy and extractive industry goals, prompting the integration of the Environmental Audit for the upcoming financial year. //Hoabes detailed that…
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Walvis Bay Council allocates more land for affordable housing

Niël Terblanché The Walvis Bay Backyard Tenants Association is celebrating a significant milestone in their journey towards homeownership after the Municipal Council greenlit the allocation of land at Farm 37, earmarked for the development of low-cost housing. The decision marks a crucial step forward in addressing the housing crisis in Namibia's major harbour town. Farm 37, located on the outskirts of Walvis Bay, was identified back in 2015 as a potential solution to the pressing demand for housing and land. The area has since become the only hope for many residents striving to build their own homes. The allocated Portion…
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