Page 7 – Windhoek Observer

27 Mar

YOUNG OBSERVER | Namib Mills joins MTC to train youth in baking

Uncategorised

Staff Writer Young people in the ǁKaras region will begin skills training in April under the MTC4Life 2026 programme, aimed at helping them start small businesses and earn an income. The programme will support 30 young people aged 18 to 35 with training in trades such as baking, hairdressing, barbering, leatherwork, sewing and cell phone repair. This week, Namib Mills has partnered with MTC to support the baking trade. Namib Mills will contribute N$5 000 per trainee, either in cash or equipment, and will also provide a baking expert, equipment and ingredients for training. Participants will attend training sessions over…

27 Mar

YOUNG OBSERVER | Private college fills gap as youth seek skills

National News

Patience Makwele Private colleges are stepping in as many young Namibians struggle to access tertiary education and find work, with institutions like International Training College Lingua offering skills-based training to bridge the gap. As youth unemployment remains high and public institutions cannot absorb growing demand, many school leavers are left without clear pathways into jobs. Some have qualifications but lack practical skills needed in the workplace. Amid this gap, International Training College Lingua has positioned itself as an alternative route. What started as informal lessons in a one-bedroom apartment has grown into an accredited institution that has trained more than…

27 Mar

The case for Namibia Air: A strategic imperative for a rising economy

Editorial

Namibia stands at the threshold of a new economic era. A surging tourism sector, coupled with the transformative potential of newly discovered oil reserves and expanding gas developments, is rapidly redefining the country’s growth trajectory. In this moment of opportunity, the question of establishing a new national airline, Namibia Air, should not be approached with hesitation or nostalgia but with strategic clarity and national ambition. The government’s assertion that Namibia Air will be a new entity, distinct from Air Namibia, is not merely semantic. It is fundamental. The failure of Air Namibia, while costly and instructive, should not serve as…

27 Mar

GDP growth slowed to 1.7% in 2025

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Namibia’s economy grew by 1.7% in real terms in 2025, down from 3.8% recorded in 2024. Real GDP measures total economic output adjusted for inflation, while nominal GDP reflects current prices without adjusting for inflation. Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) statistician general Alex Shimuafeni said the slowdown was mainly driven by a decline in primary industries. Primary industries contracted by 7.2% in real value added, compared to a decline of 3.2% in 2024. The drop was driven by mining and quarrying as well as agriculture, forestry and fishing. Mining and quarrying declined by 9.4%, while agriculture, forestry and fishing…

27 Mar

Shafudah says budget protects services and jobs

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Finance minister Ericah Shafudah has defended Namibia’s 2026/27 national budget, saying it balances fiscal discipline with the need to protect essential services and support economic recovery. Speaking during the second reading of the appropriation bill, this week Shafudah said the budget does not introduce broad-based tax increases. She said it aims to stabilise revenue without adding pressure on households and businesses. She acknowledged concerns about Namibia’s reliance on Southern African Customs Union (SACU) revenues, which make up about a quarter of total income. She said this remains a structural risk and that government plans under the sixth National…

27 Mar

Plans for national airline in final stage

Main, National News

Chamwe Kaira The government is moving ahead with plans to launch a new national airline, Namibia Air, before the end of 2026, as concerns grow over transparency and oversight. Minister of information and communication technology Emma Theofelus said the process is underway and the airline will not be a revival of Air Namibia but a new entity. She said a technical team is reviewing different operating models, including possible partnerships with international airlines such as Ethiopian Airlines. The team will submit its findings to the line minister before Cabinet makes a final decision. No exact launch date has been set.…

27 Mar

Haib mine life could extend beyond 35 years

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Koryx Copper has reported an increase in the estimated copper at its Haib project in southern Namibia, raising the total from 2.6 million tonnes to 3.5 million tonnes. The company said the higher estimate could extend the life of the project. Haib is planned as a large open-pit mine where copper will be extracted and processed on site. It is expected to produce about 9 000 tonnes of copper per year. An earlier study showed the project could be viable. The updated figures point to a longer mine life and an improved outlook. Koryx Copper chief executive Heye…

27 Mar

AFDB provides N$400m to support DBN’s women initiative

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The African Development Bank has provided N$400 million to support a new women-focused financing initiative by the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) aimed at boosting women’s participation in the economy. The initiative, called DBN For Her, was launched in Windhoek this week. It is designed to support businesses that are fully owned by women by giving them access to funding to start, grow and expand. Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah said the programme responds to barriers that limit women’s economic participation. “DBN For Her represents a deliberate and strategic response to structural imbalances in our economy. It is not…

27 Mar

ABC to split shares three-for-one

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Africa Bitcoin Corporation Limited (ABC) has proposed a share split and changes to its memorandum of incorporation, a move that will affect its listing on the Namibian Stock Exchange. The company, which is listed on the JSE Limited and the NSX under the code BAN, plans a three-for-one subdivision of its ordinary shares. Under the proposal, shareholders will receive three shares for every one they currently hold. The change will not affect ownership or the company’s overall value. The board said the aim is to improve liquidity and make the shares more accessible to investors. A lower share…

27 Mar

Ultimate Safaris expands global guide exchange

Observer Money

Staff Writer Ultimate Safaris has continued its international guide exchange programme, marking its fourth year and investing more than N$400 000 since it began. Each year, the “Ultimate Guide of the Year” travels to Baja California in Mexico for a three-week experience with Todos Santos Eco Adventures. Peter Nuugonya, the 2025 winner, took part in the programme this year. He grew up in a village near Ondangwa, where he learned to track animals from a young age. Nuugonya started his career at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in the NamibRand Nature Reserve as a barman before moving into guiding. Over time, he…