Sometimes when the Top Gear Bakkie of the Year is announced, there is a lot of furniture moving around the room as Wynand Mostert shows his displeasure with the top pick. But this year the furniture was safe because Top Gear South Africa’s bakkie of the year for 2024 has gone to Mitsubishi’s Next-Gen Triton. ...
Author: Edgar Brandt (Edgar Brandt )
Repo rate impact
A local economist has weighed in on last week’s repo rate reduction, saying it may have come too late for already heavily indebted households still reeling from exorbitantly high interest rates exacerbated by a prolonged Covid recession. Last Wednesday, the Bank of Namibia announced the third interest rate cut since July 2024, bringing the cumulative...
Mercedes AMG GLE53 blows away competitors …face-lifted coupé offers dynamism and comfort
When walking into the Mercedes showroom in Windhoek, the dynamic presence of the face-lifted GLE53 Coupé is unmistakable, as the aggressive stance of the AMG immediately draws in visitors to better inspect the sharpened all round design. The striking demeanour and overall sporty ambience of this world-famous coupé is accentuated by an independent front apron...
Regulator stops Starlink’s illegal operations
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) earlier this week issued a cease-and-desist letter to Elon Musk’s low-earth orbiting satellite communications company Starlink to immediately cease all operations in Namibia. The directive was issued on Tuesday after a Cran investigation confirmed that Starlink is operating a network within Namibia without the required telecommunications licence. Cran has,...
Daures attacks prophets of doom … intensifies hydrogen production push
The Daures Green Hydrogen Consortium has hit back at detractors of the massive project. The consortium is constructing a green hydrogen village on the fringes of the desolate Dorob National Park in the heart of an isolated Namibian landscape. Project leaders said, completion of the development has been severely hampered by supply chain constraints, specifically...
NCAA restricts airspace during elections
The Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has established restricted airspaces within the Windhoek Flight Information Region (FYWF) to ensure safety and security during the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly Elections.Taking the lead from Namibia’s Civil Aviation Regulations, executive director in the NCAA Toska Sem issued a directive restricting certain activities in the Windhoek Flight Information...
ECB’s hands tied as local authorities challenge law
The Electricity Control Board (ECB) of Namibia cannot currently take any action against local authorities who block pre-paid electricity meters for arrears of non-electrical services. Although this practice is against the law, it is being challenged in court by local authorities drowning in debt, and the practice continues unabated. It is estimated that NamPower, the...
Mahindra mining bakkie makes for an easy choice
SWAKOPMUND – Mahindra single- cab bakkies are becoming increasingly popular at the Namibian coastline, particularly where heavy industry and mining companies operate. These sturdy and reliable workhorses are preferred in both single and double-cab configurations for these labour-intensive industries, where reliability is not an option, but a necessity. Speaking to Woema at M&Z Motors Swakopmund,...
Research association attacks NSA over unemployment data
The Economic Policy Research Association (EPRA) has expressed dismay with the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) for the omission of domestic unemployment figures from the latest census results. In a statement issued yesterday, the EPRA stated that since 2018, the NSA has failed to conduct a labour force survey, leaving a significant gap in the understanding...
DBN annual report showcases transformative impact…as new strategic business plan aims for 25 000 jobs
The Development Bank of Namibia’s 2023/24 annual report shows the institution facilitated the creation of 3 525 jobs through various projects, with a substantial focus on supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The report, launched last Thursday, shows DBN supported 74 SME projects with funding of N$95.9 million. Meanwhile, the bank’s ambitious 2024-2029 Integrated Strategic...