Page 6 – Windhoek Observer

26 Mar

RMB supports Telecom’s modernisation with N$405m loan

Observer Money

Staff Writer RMB Namibia has provided Telecom Namibia with a N$405 million loan to support the company’s plan to upgrade its network and expand connectivity. The seven-year loan will fund Telecom’s five-year strategy to improve infrastructure and increase access to internet and communication services across the country. Telecom Namibia chief executive officer Stanley Shanapinda said the aim is to improve access to services. “Telecom’s key objective is to ensure that every citizen can access and use entertainment, communication, information, education, commerce, and online health services through fast, reliable, and affordable internet, voice, and data connectivity. The strategy is closely aligned…

26 Mar

CDH appoints Nkuna as chief of operations

Observer Money

Staff Writer Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) has appointed Phetheni Nkuna as chief operating officer, effective 1 April. Nkuna will oversee operations across the firm’s offices in South Africa, Kenya and Namibia and support the integration of its African operations. She joined the firm in October 2020 as a director in the employment law practice and was appointed director of executive management in June 2023. In that role, she managed several operational portfolios and worked with chief executive officer Brent Williams on the firm’s strategy. Nkuna holds LLB and LLM degrees, a certificate in advanced labour law, a postgraduate diploma in…

26 Mar

Students invited to join stock market challenge

Observer Money

Staff Writer The Namibian Scholars Investment Challenge has opened for registration, with trading set to begin on 5 May 2026. Registration opened on 16 March and will close on 17 April. The competition will run until 30 October, giving students six months to trade on a simulated platform. Secondary school learners in Grades 10 to 12 and university students are invited to form teams of three to four members and take part. Each team will receive N$500 000 in virtual capital to invest in shares listed on the Namibia Securities Exchange (NSX). The aim is to grow the value of…

26 Mar

The unexamined classroom: Why TVET trainers must reflect on gender bias narratives

Opinions

Leena Kloppers In the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, classrooms and workshops are far from neutral spaces. They are the soil in which seeds of knowledge and skills are sown, shaped and fertilised by both the conscious and unconscious thoughts of TVET trainers and trainees. One powerful set of assumptions relates to which trades are ‘suitable’ for different trainees. This assumption translates into real-world actions where trades such as welding, construction, and automotive mechanics are usually male-dominated, and other trades such as office administration, hairdressing, and cosmetology tend to be dominated by women. While gender may influence…

25 Mar

Tsumeb councillor’s past ties haunt tender award

Main, National News

Renthia Kaimbi A municipal tender in Tsumeb has drawn scrutiny after it was awarded to a company previously linked to the chairperson of the municipality’s management committee, Sem Nghuulikwa. Sources who spoke to the Windhoek Observer raised concerns over the award to Kweni-Pewa Trading CC, citing Nghuulikwa’s past involvement with the company. A founding statement seen by the Windhoek Observer lists Nghuulikwa as a witness during the company’s registration. In a declaration dated 20 February 2026, Nghuulikwa confirmed his past role. “I confirm that during the year 2023, I assisted Kweni-Pewa Trading CC with business registration services. My name appears…

25 Mar

Starlink rejection sparks jobs concern

National News

Failed three of six regulatory criteria 1 164 vouched for Starlink 1 180 submissions received Allexer Namundjembo The rejection of Starlink’s licence application to operate in Namibia has been described as a setback for job creation. Some critics warn that it may limit opportunities in the digital economy. Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said the decision could have affected employment prospects. “Imagine how many jobs and opportunities this could have created," he said, noting that Starlink has improved internet access in rural areas in other African countries. “That kind of connectivity can change lives, especially in underserved areas.” He questioned whether…

25 Mar

About 34% of TB cases remain undiagnosed

National News

Patience Makwele Namibia is failing to detect more than a third of tuberculosis (TB) cases. Health minister Esperance Luvindao said an estimated 34% of TB cases remain undiagnosed. “While these numbers represent lives saved, our concern lies with the people we have not reached,” she said during World TB Day commemorations in Gobabis on Tuesday. She said the challenge is more severe in rural areas, especially in the Omaheke region, which has the highest TB notification rate despite its low population density. She said long travel distances to health facilities delay diagnosis and increase the risk of spread. Hence, the…

25 Mar

‘Stripping chiefs of land rights not the solution’ – Kamwanyah

National News

Allexer Namundjembo Political analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah says removing traditional authorities from land allocation may not solve the problem of illegal fencing in Kavango West. On Tuesday, during an outreach session led by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, residents of Casa Village in the region called for traditional leaders to be stripped of their powers to allocate communal land. Kamwanyah said concerns raised by residents of Casa Village under the Mbunza Traditional Authority are valid, but shifting power alone may not fix the issue. “The line ministry also has…

25 Mar

Amutse calls for inclusive approach to utility regulation

National News

Justicia Shipena The future of Africa’s utility sectors will depend on how regulators use technology to build inclusive systems, according to the minister of industries, mines and energy, Modestus Amutse. He spoke at the opening of the 22nd Annual Conference and General Assembly of the African Forum for Utility Regulators (AFUR) in Swakopmund on Monday. Amutse said new technologies must expand access to services and not increase inequality. He said tools such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, digital platforms and automation are changing how services are delivered. He said Namibia is investing in renewable energy, including solar, wind…

25 Mar

UN chief warns racism still widespread

National News

Justicia Shipena United Nations secretary general António Guterres has warned that racism remains widespread and continues to drive inequality, violence and division across the world. Guterres said racism is a direct violation of human rights. “Racial discrimination is a violation of human rights and human dignity,” he said at a General Assembly event in New York on Monday to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. He said racism remains deeply rooted and continues to shape economic, social and political inequalities. “It feeds many of the problems we face today, including economic, social and political inequalities,” he…