Author: Maihapa Ndjavera (Maihapa Ndjavera )

An estimated 390 000 people faced acute food insecurity between January and March 2023. Exacerbating food insecurity were key factors such as high food prices and localised adverse weather that induced severe shortfalls in cereal production in 2022.

Bank of Namibia governor Johannes !Gawaxab has urged fellow Common Monetary Area (CMA) central bank governors not to shy away from pointing out the adverse impact of a weak South African Rand. 

Members of parliament were last week summoned by the minister in the Office of the Presidency, Christine ||Hoebes, cautioning them not to politicise green hydrogen for the sake of popularity, particularly in the face of the current economic climate. 

As environmental ists and wealthy farmers vehemently oppose its operations and exploration plans, Uranium One yesterday opened an office in Leonardville, amidst calls from locals to allow the company to mine in the area in the hope that jobs and investment will alleviate debilitating poverty. 

The real value of building plans approved decreased during the first quarter of 2023. This leading indicator for future construction activity, decreased year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter by 27.1% and 33.3%, respectively. 

 Hyphen Hydrogen Energy CEO Marco Raffinetti says the US$10 billion green hydrogen project is by no means dependent on government taking up a 24% equity stake.

The incoming board of directors at the Namibian Agronomic Board (NAB) has been urged to consider escalating prices of goods and services, and has thus been urged to keep food affordable. 

Finance and public enterprises minister Iipumbu Shiimi continues to introduce new bills in the National Assembly.

The Road Fund Administration (RFA) says revenue collected from current Road User Charges (RUCs) is insufficient for the needs required for sufficient road network maintenance in the country.