Companies, markets, trade, jobs.
The government has lowered its 2026 economic growth forecast to 2.3% from 3.1% and revised revenue down by N$1.5 billion, citing weaker mining receipts and rising debt-servicing costs; the national budget appropriation has increased to N$88.6 billion from N$87.9 billion announced in February.
23 hours ago · Windhoek Observer →
The government has lowered its 2026 economic growth forecast to 2.3% from 3.1% and revised revenue down by N$1.5 billion, citing weaker mining receipts and rising debt-servicing costs; the national budget appropriation has increased to N$88.6 billion from N$87.9 billion announced in February.
23 hours ago · Windhoek Observer →
Stimulus Investments Limited has declared an interim dividend of N$79.3 million (N$17.05 per share) for holders of its 2011 preference shares listed on the Namibia Securities Exchange. The dividend is payable on 27 November 2026 to shareholders recorded on 20 November.
23 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
South African restaurant group Famous Brands reported an 18% decline in SADC revenue to N$183 million for the six months ended 31 August 2026, with weak trading in Botswana—where system-wide sales fell 14.8%—weighing on regional performance including Namibia operations. Operating profit in the region plunged 78% to N$5 million, attributed to subdued economic conditions driven by pressure in Botswana's diamond sector.
23 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Cashbuild's sales in its African markets, including Namibia, Botswana, Eswatini and Lesotho, fell 11% in the first quarter of its 2027 financial year, driven by a 16% decline in revenue from existing stores in the Rest of Africa segment, though new stores contributed 5% growth.
23 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Clicks Group plans to invest N$780 million in new stores and pharmacies in the 2027 financial year, with total capital expenditure of N$1.5 billion, as it aims to open 40 to 50 new stores and refurbish 70 to 80 existing outlets. The South African retailer's expansion follows a year in which it opened a net 41 stores and 60 pharmacies.
23 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Basson van Rooyen has moved from a financial-services assurance role to lead investment strategy at Sanlam Investments Namibia, a position requiring financial acumen, risk awareness and sound judgement.
23 October 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The ministry of finance is reviewing the value-added tax zero-rating on sugar, citing health effects of sugar consumption as a reason to reconsider the measure. The government is also considering introducing VAT zero-rating on imported agricultural inputs and equipment to reduce domestic food production costs.
22 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Chinese-made vehicles are moving from the margins towards the mainstream of Namibia's motor market, with their market share doubling from 8% to 16% over the past two years. The shift is most visible in the new sedan market, driven largely by buyers prioritising price and added features, and may be accelerated further by rising fuel prices.
22 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's luxury house prices jumped 21% in Q2 2026 to average N$9.25 million, with only six sales recorded. Nationally, house prices increased 7.4% year-on-year to N$1.46 million, but the market shows a divergence between rising prices and transaction activity.
22 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Nako Energy is seeking to liquidate South Africa's state-owned PetroSA over an unpaid R606-million fuel debt, but PetroSA says Nako owes it R833-million for diesel and that offsetting both debts would leave Nako liable for R227-million.
22 October 2026 · The Namibian →
FNB Namibia and DHL Namibia have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership supporting Namibian small and medium enterprises through combined logistics expertise, market access, financing solutions, and business advisory support. The partnership aims to help SMEs overcome barriers to international trade through training, mentorship, and access to global markets.
22 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
As companies increasingly rely on third-party service providers for cloud storage, payroll, accounting software and other functions, they face growing cyber risks despite strong internal controls. IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report 2026 found supply chain compromise is the second most common attack vector after phishing, with such breaches taking an average of 258 days to identify and resolve.
22 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
United States ambassador to Namibia John Giordano met government officials, corporate executives and investors in multiple cities to attract private investment in Namibia's energy, mining and infrastructure opportunities.
21 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The International Monetary Fund forecasts Namibia's economy to grow at 2% in 2026 and 2.7% in 2027, outpacing South Africa's projected 1% growth in 2026, though both will remain below the sub-Saharan African average of 4.5%. However, economist Abraham Eita warns that such GDP growth may not translate into jobs and improved living conditions for ordinary Namibians.
21 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Banks and finance providers evaluate income, existing debt, credit history, banking behaviour, and the vehicle itself to determine vehicle finance applications in Namibia. Each lender applies its own credit policies based on factors like monthly income, household expenses, credit history, account management, income stability, and vehicle details.
21 October 2026 · The Namibian →
At the Angola-Namibia Business Forum in Luanda, President Nandi-Ndaitwah urged businesses from both countries to invest jointly in industries and process natural resources locally rather than exporting unprocessed commodities, citing complementary economic strengths in agriculture, mining, fishing, oil and gas, and energy.
21 October 2026 · New Era →
The National Youth Development Fund has disbursed approximately N$90.8 million to beneficiaries supporting youth entrepreneurship, with approved projects expected to create about 2,500 employment opportunities. The fund received approximately 13,809 applications by August, with N$135 million in financing approved across participating development finance institutions.
21 October 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's national room occupancy rate reached 66.49% in the third quarter of 2026, exceeding the same period last year and the pre-pandemic level from 2019, according to figures from the Hospitality Association of Namibia. Bed occupancy also improved to 58.86%, though September showed a decline in room occupancy despite higher guests per occupied room.
21 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Alpha Namibia Industries Renewable Power Limited will ask shareholders to approve Deloitte Namibia as auditor for three years, replacing Ernst and Young Namibia, and declare no dividend for the financial year ended 28 February 2026 at its eighth annual general meeting on 16 November.
21 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
FirstRand Namibia shareholders approved all ordinary resolutions at the annual general meeting held on 16 October 2026, including annual financial statements, dividend confirmation, and director appointments. A total of 236,198,047 shares were voted, representing 88.27% of shares.
21 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Old Mutual Namibia has appointed Alovise Frey as general manager for finance and operations for the Old Mutual Investment Group Namibia, effective 1 October. Frey brings more than 12 years of experience in finance, risk management, credit, compliance, audit and taxation from her previous role as head of finance for FNB Namibia's commercial banking segment.
21 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The acting CEO of Nored ordered restoration of electricity to a hotel owned by board director Simeon Uahengo despite the property owing N$325,000, overruling an engineer's decision to block the meter. The move has drawn accusations of double standards, as Nored had previously stated it would cut off customers 30 days or more in arrears.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board has announced 130 job vacancies aboard MSC Cruises, the world's third-largest cruise line, as part of a partnership to help young Namibians gain international work experience and career development.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Ride-hailing company Yango claims Windhoek drivers earn an average of N$15,470 a week after commission and that earnings have increased 15.7% year-on-year, but drivers say their actual earnings are far lower. The company attributes its fare structure to a pickup component, per-kilometre and per-minute charges, and says it raised fares by 5% in March and introduced support measures including temporarily waiving commissions.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
PSG Financial Services increased recurring headline earnings by 4% to R754.5 million in the six months to August, driven by strong wealth business performance, while insurance and asset management divisions declined. The group also raised its interim dividend by 10% to 22 cents per share.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
E-hailing companies like Lefa Transportation Services, Yango, and inDrive transformed Windhoek transport by offering consumers choice, visibility of driver location, fare predictability, and route information — solving problems that traditional municipal taxis had not addressed, and growing because consumers embraced the technology.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Yango has corrected its earlier statement to The Namibian, saying drivers earn N$15,470 per month, not weekly, after service commission deductions. The company apologized for the confusion caused by the error in its October 16 statement.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
A High Court judge has temporarily suspended the Walvis Bay Town Council's decision to terminate its five-year debt collection contract with RedForce Debt Management. The council voted to end the contract in October following criticism from the minister of rural and urban development, who alleged RedForce was charging residents double the amount owed and that the contract was legally invalid.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
At the inaugural Angola-Namibia Bi-National Commission session in Luanda, President Nandi-Ndaitwah called for reducing administrative delays, transport constraints, and other barriers to trade between the two countries. She emphasized the need for stronger cooperation among border authorities and implementation of the more than 60 bilateral agreements already signed, to improve people's lives rather than just accumulate agreements.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia and Angola have agreed to strengthen bilateral economic cooperation through an inaugural Bi-National Commission, with Trade and International Relations Minister Selma Ashipala-Musavyi proposing a digital scorecard to monitor implementation of agreed commitments. The move aims to reverse declining trade between the two countries by leveraging their geographical proximity and people-to-people relations.
20 October 2026 · New Era →
Choppies Namibia is running a competition until December offering shoppers a chance to win their share of N$1 million in prizes, including weekly draws at each of its 25 stores with cash prizes ranging from N$40,000 to N$120,000 and a Toyota Vitz as the grand prize.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian corrects that Turki Nghipondoka, third respondent in a Development Bank of Namibia Supreme Court appeal, is the sister of businessman Vaino Nghipondoka, not his wife.
20 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's fiscal deficit is projected to widen to 6.5% of GDP in the 2026/27 financial year due to a N$2.1 billion revenue shortfall, rising debt-servicing costs, and economic pressures from foot-and-mouth disease and El Niño. Government revenue is forecast at N$87.5 billion against a budget of N$89.6 billion, with economic growth expected to slow to between 2% and 2.3% in 2026.
20 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Bank Windhoek aims to raise market awareness and accelerate progress toward a N$300 million sustainable funding target in the new financial year, viewing environmental and social considerations as integral to long-term economic growth. In the 2026 financial year, the bank classified N$147 million in sustainable finance through 97 loans with an average value of approximately N$1.5 million per loan.
20 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Schalk Erasmus, a director of Paratus Namibia Holdings Limited, sold 10,440 ordinary shares on 14 October 2026 at N$12.35 per share for N$128,934. Anglo American executives also acquired shares under the company's Share Incentive Plan on the London Stock Exchange.
20 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Windhoek plans to expand its municipal bus service by acquiring 20 new buses, while exploring greener operations that include the introduction of electric buses.
20 October 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The Roads Authority is rejecting vehicle registration applications for imports from Hong Kong involving fraudulent or unverifiable documentation, citing a significant increase in such cases. The authority says all applications must undergo verification with Hong Kong authorities before registration approval, and fraudulent or altered documents may result in police investigation and prosecution.
19 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Roads Authority has dismissed claims that road construction projects have been abandoned, stating that outstanding sections remain government commitments but depend on annual funding availability. Projects are being implemented in phases due to financial constraints and competing national priorities.
19 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Development Bank of Namibia has secured a Supreme Court appeal judgment against businessman Vaino Nghipondoka and his sister Turki for N$26.48 million. The court found that a July 2023 settlement between DBN and two of Nghipondoka's companies did not release him and his sister from liability for a N$15.9 million property finance loan obtained by Growmax Agri-Fertilizer in May 2017, for which they had entered into written suretyship agreements.
19 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board has announced 130 job vacancies aboard MSC Cruises ships as part of a partnership to help young Namibians gain international work experience. The initiative has expanded this year to offer close to 200 job opportunities, with 75 candidates having received employment offers so far.
19 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Four Capricorn Group and Bank Windhoek officials sold a combined 211,935 ordinary shares worth about N$6.42 million in off-market transactions on 15 October at N$30.30 per share, with required clearance obtained.
19 October 2026 · The Namibian →
New vehicle sales in September reached 1,498 units worth about N$1 billion, up 14.9% year-on-year, with Windhoek accounting for 64% of national sales. Passenger cars grew fastest at 18.9% to 655 units, while light commercial vehicles rose 13.5% to 746 units, with the Hilux remaining the market leader at 359 units.
19 October 2026 · The Namibian →
September vehicle sales were worth approximately N$1 billion, but the market remains about 25% below 2015 levels. Rising fuel prices and anticipated interest rate increases are expected to pressure vehicle demand.
19 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
According to an IMF comparison, Namibia has recorded 64% pass-through of international petrol price increases and 79% for diesel to domestic retail prices—below regional peers like South Africa, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe, but above Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria. Namibia's pass-through rates were 36 percentage points below the 100% benchmark for petrol and 21 points below for diesel over the period from 23 February to 14 September 2026.
19 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
PSG Financial Services Limited, a South African financial services group, has completed its exit from Namibian short-term insurance following the sale of Western National Insurance Namibia to Santam Namibia on 3 March 2025 for R56.5 million, generating a R51 million profit. The group retains PSG Wealth Management (Namibia) as its NSX sponsor but now concentrates core operational income primarily in South Africa, where it holds 18 of its 22 regulatory licenses.
19 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
The Namibia Securities Exchange local index closed at 904.71 points for the week ended 16 October, reaching its highest level for 2026 and gaining 12.00% since December 2025. The consumer discretionary sector led weekly performance with a 4.28% rise, though overall index gains were broad across most sectors except basic materials.
19 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Three Ohlthaver & List operating companies—Model, OL Leisure, and Hartlief—were recognised at the Namibian Standards Institute 2026 National Quality Awards, winning five Large Enterprise category honours including Company of the Year and Large Enterprise Exporter of the Year.
19 October 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Despite employers investing in physical wellness and other employee benefits, pension funds—a significant long-term financial benefit—often receive little attention or engagement, remaining primarily an administrative function rather than a prioritized component of employee financial well-being.
18 October 2026 · The Namibian →