Paratus Botswana, a leading telecommunications and network services provider, has commenced work on lighting a new fibre route, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Highway, which will connect Gaborone in Botswana, through Zimbabwe, to Livingstone in Zambia. The first section in Botswana, which runs from Gaborone to Plumtree, spans approximately 500 kilometres. It is scheduled...
In a strategic move for the burgeoning domestic oil and gas industry, Cabinet recently approved the National Upstream Local Content Policy. The policy is set to play a crucial role in reducing Namibia’s dependence on foreign expertise by focusing on the development of local capacity. Aimed at strengthening economic sovereignty and empowering Namibians within the...
The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) has appointed its new board of directors, effective 1 January 2025 until 31 December 2027. The board was appointed by the finance and public enterprises minister, Ipumbu Shiimi, in line with the Public Enterprise Governance Act No. 1 of 2019 (PEGA). The appointments highlight confidence in the board’s leadership...
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) recently launched a series of capacity-building training sessions with customs officials from the Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA). This initiative, conducted under the agreement between CRAN and NamRA, seeks to deepen understanding and strengthen compliance with type approval regulations for telecommunications equipment. Type approval is a regulatory process that...
The central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously decided to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7% yesterday. This move provides much-needed relief to consumers who have been suffering in a high-interest rate environment for too long. According to a Bank of Namibia (BoN) statement, issued by governor Johannes !Gawaxab, this decision...
Namibia has wholeheartedly welcomed a joint statement by the Republic of Botswana and the G7 Diamond Technical Team on 27 November 2024, announcing that Botswana will establish a certification point for diamond exports to G7 markets. Mines and energy minister, Tom Alweendo, this week stated that the establishment of export certification nodes in African countries...
The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) officially launched its WhatsApp consumer assistant and revamped website on Monday. These initiatives aim to enhance service delivery, improve consumer engagement,and promote a more transparent and accessible communication environment in Namibia. Cran’s CEO Emilia Nghikembua emphasised the importance of responsive and efficient communication channels. She stated that “It...
BEIJING – Beijing yesterday said it will restrict exports to the United States of some key components in making semiconductors, after Washington announced curbs targeting China’s ability to make advanced chips. Among the materials banned from export are metals gallium, antimony and germanium, Beijing’s commerce ministry said in a statement that cited “national security” concerns. Exports...
This week, Namibia and Germany signed three grant agreements of over N$380 million. The funds, financed by the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW Development Bank, are to be utilised for the water sector infrastructure (Ohangwena groundwater system and technical assistance for NamWater) and urban development, specifically for informal settlements upgrading. The agreement was signed...
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) recently concluded a three-day conference titled ‘Unlocking Sub-Saharan Africa’s Potential: Transforming Transport and Logistics for a Sustainable Future’. The conference took place in Johannesburg from 19 to 21 November 2024. The event, jointly hosted by Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT)’s Namibia, South Africa and...