Page 65 – Windhoek Observer

10 Jul

How to stabilise Africa’s debt

Observer Money

In the context of high global uncertainty, tighter global financial conditions, and rising borrowing costs, concerns about sub-Saharan Africa’s debt vulnerabilities are mounting. But the region is tackling this issue head-on, and public debt ratios have stabilised on average. Our analytical note in the IMF’s latest Regional Economic Outlook for sub-Saharan Africa uses a new data set to highlight when, how often, to what extent, and how debt stabilisation was achieved. Contrary to perception, countries in the region have often been able to stabilise or reduce their debt ratios without debt restructuring. With more than 60 debt reduction episodes (defined…

10 Jul

Voluntary separation: not a loophole for disguised retrenchment

Opinions

Filleppuss George Ampweya Namibia’s workers face a growing trend that Trade unions and employees alike must scrutinise carefully: the rise of the so-called ’Voluntary Separation Scheme”. At face value, these schemes appear fair and harmless as they offer employees a “choice” to leave employment on mutual grounds, often with a separation package that seems better than statutory retrenchment pay-outs. But beneath this façade lies a practice that, if misused, can directly undermine the very principles of fairness, transparency, and collective bargaining process that the Labour Act, 11 of 2007 enshrines for any employer considering job cuts for economic reasons. Section…

10 Jul

Philip Keripuu Tjerije: The stalwarts who kept Swapo’s name alive

Opinions

Joshua Razikua Kaumbi At the time of paying tribute to Immanuel Ngatjizeko my article was dedicated to Philip Keripuu Tjerije – a live tribute. Well, now Philip Keripuu Tjerije has died. I would always call him Comrade Senior as I would pose the same question as to whether Swapo in Omaruru would die with them. Philip Tjerije a second of seven children was born 13 June 1947 in Otjihinaparero and grew up in Omaruru, in that street that came all the way from town, a street of one big family. Our street connected separate worlds without irony. He died on…

10 Jul

Corruption in Namibia is Systemic, and there is a Psychology behind it

Opinions

Ndumba J Kamwanyah Namibia is once again in the spotlight because of corruption. This time it's not the Fishrot but the state-owned oil company, NAMCOR. Thirteen individuals, including entities, Have been charged in connection with a corruption scandal involving over N$500 million. This is not just another news story. It’s a serious reminder of how deep corruption has grown in our country, and how much work is needed to fix it. What’s shocking is not only the amount of money involved, but the network involved and how long it took for action to be taken. Signs that something was wrong…

10 Jul

When shall Africa ever awaken to the writing on the wall and rise?

Opinions

Kae Matundu Tjiparuro IT is mindboggling how many times African leaders have to read the writing on the wall, which has been there since the days Imperialism and Colonialism, for them to realise that they are on their own. Regarding steering and shepherding African societies towards genuine economic emancipation and/or the whatever after Kwame Nkurumah’s political kingdom which all of the African countries have obtained. But since the dawn of political kingdoms not much have been happening and is happening to reach what should be the promised land. Economic emancipation. That few if any of these countries can ever claim…

10 Jul

The shattered mirror of Namibia: A Pan-Africanist analysis of economic decline and the urgency of sovereignty

Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) There are realities whose poignancy transcends mere numerical quantification. Namibia’s recent downgrade by the World Bank’s classification - a global singularity, being the only state to transition from upper - middle - income to lower - middle - income status in 2025 does not constitute a mere statistical datum. It represents, rather, the visceral cry of an economic paradigm in the process of disintegration, an echo vehemently amplified by intellectual contributions in this prestigious journal. This imperative cry demands an introspection that transcends the coldness of econometric language, delving into…

09 Jul

Oil trails Namcor alumni in bribe web

MainAnti-Corruption Act, Cornelius ‘Cedric’ Willemse, Enercon, Validus Energy

Justicia Shipena Four of the eight individuals arrested this week by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on corruption charges are former employees of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor). The remaining four are private individuals. An ACC official confirmed the arrests to the Windhoek Observer on Wednesday after three more suspects were taken into custody. The eight suspects are accused of violating several sections of the Anti-Corruption Act, including sections 32 to 35. These provisions relate to public officials abusing their position or giving bribes to officials. “For those that were arrested now, four are former employees and four are…

09 Jul

Meatco board fails to appoint CEO as acting term expires

National NewsIngwe Zaamwani, Mwilima Mushokabanji, Sakaria Nghikembua, Stefanie de Klerk

Hertta Maria Amutenja The Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) is heading into August without a substantive chief executive officer. Acting CEO Patrick Liebenberg confirmed to Windhoek Observer that his six-month term will end this month. “I only will serve my six months, which will end at the end of July. Not been extended; I didn’t ask for an extension. The recruitment process is handled by the board because management doesn’t have any input into the recruitment process,” Liebenberg said on Wednesday. Liebenberg was appointed in February after the board decided not to renew the contract of former CEO Mwilima Mushokabanji. …

09 Jul

Hengari demands revival of dead rent board

National NewsSankwasa, Tjekero Tweya

Allexer Namundjebo Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) Member of Parliament Inna Hengari is demanding answers from minister of urban and rural development minister James Sankwasa over the government’s failure to implement a rent control board. Hengari said the proposed board, first announced years ago to regulate rental markets and protect tenants, remains non-functional. “Without proper implementation, the board remains a symbolic gesture, offering no real protection for struggling tenants,” she said. She wants to know what has delayed the board’s rollout, why it is not operational, and why no members have been appointed to enforce regulations. In 2023, then minister of…

09 Jul

Namibia, India talks centre on trade, diamonds, pharmaceuticals

National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Wednesday said Namibia is committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation with India in strategic sectors such as mining and value addition. She made the remarks during official talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Windhoek on a state visit. The discussions focused on trade and investment, industrial cooperation, health, defence, multilateral reform, and people-to-people ties. “This State Visit provides us indeed the opportunity to give impetus to that vision and goal by strengthening trade, investment, technical cooperation, political and people-to-people relations between our two countries,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said. She said the two countries…