BEIJING – Shares in Chinese automaker BYD jumped this week after it unveiled plans to unroll advanced self-driving technology on nearly all its cars, including budget models priced below US$10 000. The company said it would integrate AI startup Deepseek’s software into its cars, following domestic peers such as Geely, Great Wall Motors and Leapmotor....
Author: Edgar Brandt (Edgar Brandt )
Namibia maintains corruption ranking …as Sub-Saharan Africa scores worst out of all global regions
Namibia has for the fourth consecutive year maintained a score of 49 out of 100 on the Transparency International’s (TI’s) Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). This index is the leading global indicator of public sector corruption, providing an annual comparative snapshot of 180 countries and territories. The consistent score for Namibia has kept the country at...
JAC owners embark on first-ever fun drive
JAC Owners Namibia this past weekend held the first-ever JAC fun drive. Karl-Heinz Eisenberg, sales manager at JAC Motors Namibia, told Woema that the intention is to embark on the initiative annually. “This will be the first of many gatherings. It was quite a successful event, filled with passion. It is always fun when you...
Labour market risks drive social instability – FNB …informal employment more viable for youth
Without targeted interventions to stimulate job creation, address regional disparities and better align skills with market demands, Namibia’s labour market risks becoming a driver of social instability and economic stagnation. This is according to FNB’s analysis of the 2023 Labour Force Survey, where the bank states that the findings paint a sobering picture of Namibia’s...
NamWater aims to optimise retail supply process
Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) last month commenced with the Okashandja–Olweege pilot project, which is scheduled to run for six months until June this year. The objectives of the pilot programme are in line with upgrading Namibia’s water delivery infrastructure, and include smart metering technology, automated billing systems, infrastructure upgrades and digital payment platforms. Specifically, the...
Consumers brace for fuel increase
Commuters and consumers have to brace themselves when the petrol price increases by 42 cents per litre, and diesel goes up by N$1.20 per litre on Wednesday. These significant increases are sure to set in motion a domino effect that will impact prices of most items, from transport fares to bread. The mines and energy...
Nuclear option still eludes domestic electricity mix …as Mbumba calls for investment in uranium beneficiation
Despite consistently being one of the world’s top producers of uranium, Namibia still suffers from a severe power deficit by depending mainly on hydropower and purchasing electricity from neighbouring countries that are themselves facing severe shortages. This strategy has worked thus far but is clearly unsustainable and evidently overlooks the massive potential of uranium as...
Born in Southern Africa, Ineos makes global inroads ….already present in 50 markets after only two years
Ineos vehicles are rapidly becoming a sought-after brand on the global stage, making notable inroads in some of the world’s toughest markets. Inspired by the original Land Rover Defender of the 1980s, Ineos’ flagship the Grenadier is about as no-frills as a premium SUV can be and what’s more, the concept for these amazing vehicles...
Windhoek rental prices out of control …as residents suffer in the absence of regulation
The low supply of rental properties in Windhoek is wreaking havoc on the local property market. The low supply is exacerbated by slow land delivery for new residential units, the exorbitant cost of living, and an influx of new inhabitants. A seasoned estate agent said the situation is driving some Windhoek residents to temporarily opt...
Daures village harvests on local shelves
While much-anticipated clean energy is yet to be produced at the Daures Green Hydrogen Village, the project has started harvesting its first cucumbers and is on track to produce more vegetables throughout the rest of the year. In fact, vegetable production is an integral aspect of the ambitious project on the fringes of the desolate...