Category: Top Stories
Namibians to Feel Pinch of Proposed 2% VAT Increase in South Africa
By: Loise Shiimi Namibian economists warn that a proposed 2% increase in South Africa’s value-added tax (VAT) could have a significant impact on Namibian consumers, as the hike contributes to rising costs of goods and inflation. South Africa’s…
EV Industry Warns Against Excessive Regulation
By: Justicia Shipena Electric vehicle (EV) industry experts are cautioning that excessive regulatory oversight and a lack of private sector engagement could hinder Namibia’s transition to electric mobility. Namibia’s plan to implement an EV charging infrastructure regulatory framework…
Windhoek Sees Growth in Building Approvals
By: Dolly Menas Windhoek recorded a 5.2% year-on-year (y/y) increase in approved building plans this January, with the city’s municipality approving 74 building plans valued at N$47 million. Despite this growth in approvals, the total value of the plans…
Non-Performing Loans Threaten Banks’ Stability
By: Justicia Shipena Economists are warning that the growing volume of non-performing loans (NPLs) in Namibia could destabilise the financial sector and jeopardise banks’ balance sheets. An increasing number of Namibians are defaulting on loans due to affordability…
Only N$78.7 Million Claimed from N$365 Million GRN Electricity Subsidy
By: Uaueza Kanguatjivi The Electricity Control Board (ECB) has disbursed only N$78.7 million to electricity distribution license holders from the N$365 million allocated by the government last year. The allocation for the 2024/2025 financial year, effective from 1…
EV Charging Infrastructure Framework Set for April Implementation
By: Uaueza Kanguatjivi and Dolly Menas The Electricity Control Board (ECB) CEO, Robert Kahimise, has announced that the implementation plan for Namibia’s Electric Vehicles (EV) Charging Infrastructure Regulatory Framework will commence in April 2025. Kahimise stated that the…
Half a Million Individual Clients Have Bank Loans
By: Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus Of the 706,275 economic participants who borrowed money from commercial banks by the end of last year, around 555,098 are individuals clients. Data analysed from the central bank, however, indicates that some of these individual clients…
Nam Urged to Extend Visa-Exemption To Entrepreneurs
By: Dolly Menas, David Shoombe Local business analysts have urged the recently announced agreement for mutual visa exemption between Namibia and China to expand beyond diplomats. Currently, the agreement is only for diplomatic passport holders and service officials between…
Entrepreneurs Call for Female Financial Inclusivity
By: Uaueza Kanguatjivi Female entrepreneurs are calling for systemic transformation to ensure that women and marginalised groups gain greater access to economic opportunities. Despite 79.8% of eligible women now being financially included, surpassing the 76.1% of men, investment opportunities…
Oil Not Accounted for Economic Growth in 2025
By: Justicia Shipena Oil exploration will not contribute to Namibia’s economic growth this year, according to the Bank of Namibia (BoN). Central Governor Johannes !Gawaxab emphasised the uncertainty surrounding oil exploration, stating that while significant investments are being…