Gerda Brand

Tax Director at Deloitte Namibia, runner, traveller and proud Namibian

[Laurika 🌻🐕🌊 @lolsielove]

I am kindly asking to please please share for me
Please
Right now we are desperately needing funds to clear our Pet Shop accounts that is R17 000
You can pay directly into the Petshop account

Petshop account
Pet Food Express Kleinmond
Bank: FNB Cheque
Acc No: 63109241420
Branch: 200412
Ref: Zola's Paw Rescue
📩 Please send POP to [email protected]

[Laurika 🌻🐕🌊 @lolsielove]

‼️‼️‼️PLEASE JUST SHARE FOR ME ‼️‼️‼️
https://t.co/3RPEHF0oUI

[Gondwana-Lodges @GondwanaLodges]

Desert lion on the move. 🦁 Guide Eddy Vaino reports a lion sighting on the Palmwag Concession yesterday morning — a rare glimpse of one of Africa's most elusive big cats in their ancient homeland. Happens less than you think. 28 April 2026 #Namibia #DesertLion #Palmwag #GondwanaLodges #SafariLife

[Earth @earthcurated]

Today is World Penguin Day.

[Gondwana-Lodges @GondwanaLodges]

You have not seen the world until you have seen Namibia. #Namibia #VisitNamibia #ExploreAfrica #DiscoverEarth #Travel

[Laurika 🌻🐕🌊 @lolsielove]

I am kindly asking to please please share for me
Please
Right now we are desperately needing funds to clear our Vet and Pet Shop accounts. We have to halt with everything until it is all cleared 💞

Kleinmond Animal Clinic
Bank: Nedbank
Account Number: 1279089032
Branch Code: 198765
Reference: Zola’s Paw Project
Please email proof of payment to:
📧 [email protected]

Or the Petshop account
Pet Food Express Kleinmond
Bank: FNB Cheque
Acc No: 63109241420
Branch: 200412
Ref: Zola's Paw Project
📩 Please send POP to [email protected]

If anybody can help. Please assist if you can

[Gerda Brand @gerdabrand]

Hola! Thank you Mr Ambassador for being so kind - free tasting of the chicken paella at the Spanish stall because I couldn’t access cash at the ICB. it was the best! @EmbEspNam #cultures #namibia 🇳🇦

[Embajada de España en Namibia @EmbEspNam]

🇪🇸 Spain is on the table today!
Join the Embassy of Spain at the International Charity Bazaar 2026 and discover the flavours of Spain 🇪🇸
From savoury bites to sweet treats, come taste a little piece of Spain for a great cause.
📍 WIS
⏰ 11:00–16:00 | 🎟️ Free entry
¡Os esperamos!

[Laurika 🌻🐕🌊 @lolsielove]

Please share, I did not want to start a backabuddy as I do not know if it really work, but please share for me,‼️ please‼️ this dream is big I know, but I have to start somewhere
Please please please SHARE
https://t.co/3RPEHF0oUI

[Gondwana-Lodges @GondwanaLodges]

SOSSUSVLEI IS FLOODED. 🚣 Guide Jens Viëtor confirmed water levels high enough for a rubber boat — yes, really. Happens maybe once every few years. Don't miss it. April 2026. #Namibia #SossusvleiFlooded #NamibDesert #GondwanaLodges

[Gondwana-Lodges @GondwanaLodges]

The oldest desert on Earth. Flooded. This is Sossusvlei today. 🔴🌊 #Namibia #DiscoverEarth #OurPlanetDaily #Travel

[Gerda Brand @gerdabrand]

@Daleen124 @KotieTromp

[Gary Meyer @garymeyerca]

https://t.co/MxEh6sdnMa

[Charles Onyango-Obbo @cobbo3]

Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria Early African Winners as They Harvest Windfall from the Misery of US–Israel vs Iran War
As the world reels from the escalation of the US–Israel vs Iran war that erupted on 28 February, the humanitarian suffering is profound. Yet in the realm of global commerce, a quieter upheaval is underway. With the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz rendered near impassable – shipping traffic down by 90% – Africa has emerged as the world’s most vital logistics corridor.
•In KENYA, the once-forgotten LAMU PORT has roared to life. Long dismissed by critics as a white elephant, it has seen a 974% surge in volume. Ultra-large vessels, too deep for Mombasa and too exposed for Gulf waters, now dock at Lamu’s 18-metre natural depth.
•ETHIOPIA'S national carrier Ethiopian Airlines has seized the moment. With Dubai and Doha mostly paralysed by airspace risks from Iranian missile and droke strikes, Addis Ababa has become the continent’s primary air-bridge. Cargo revenue is up 14%. High-value goods – electronics, pharmaceuticals, perishables –are now routed through Bole International, bypassing the 40-day sea detour.
•NIGERIA is counting its crude. Brent prices hit $120 per barrel in March. Against a budget benchmark of $64.85, daily revenues have doubled. The government has stumbled into an unexpected multi-billion dollar fiscal cushion.
•DURBAN, South Africa’s main port, has shed its reputation for congestion. It is now clocking 28 crane moves per hour, processing thousands of ships rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope with a rare level of precision.
•MOROCCO'S Royal Air Maroc has moved swiftly. Ten new international routes –including Los Angeles and Beirut – have siphoned off transit passengers who once relied on Middle Eastern hubs. Casablanca traffic is up 12%.
•WALVIS BAY in Namibia has become the first reliable refuelling station for ships emerging from the South Atlantic. Bunkering demand is up 30%.
•The DANGOTE Petroleum Refinery has in Nigeria, is cashing in. In March, it issued an export tender for 84,000 metric tonnes of jet fuel and diesel. It is no longer just a domestic project – it is replacing Persian Gulf supplies for the continent.
•MOZAMBIQUE'S $20 billion LNG project has been fast-tracked. TotalEnergies resumed operations in early 2026. Over 4,000 workers are racing to meet an accelerated production date. Iranian gas is out. Mozambican gas is in.
•At Mozambique's PORT of MAPUTO, volumes grew by 16% in the weeks following the war’s outbreak. Chrome and coal exporters have abandoned northern routes in favour of the safer Indian Ocean–Cape corridor.
•MAURITIUS, ever shrewd, has leveraged its mid-ocean position into a 15% revenue increase. High-end logistics and emergency repair services are now its bread and butter.
But no doubt, the most intriguing twist is the Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) revolution in Lamu. Manufacturers are using RoRo ships – where vehicles are driven on and off via ramps – to offload thousands of cars. These are then ferried to the Gulf on small, low-risk boats to avoid the $200,000+ war risk insurance premiums slapped on large carriers entering the Strait of Hormuz.
To protect this windfall, Kenya and Ethiopia have launched joint military operations along the once-languishing Lamu Port–South Sudan–Ethiopia Transport (LAPSSET) corridor. This unprecedented coordination is designed to ensure that the new “safe harbour” of Lamu remains shielded from regional spillover.
And because the closure of the Strait of Hormuz marooned shipping containers, an emergency air-bridge has formed. Nairobi and Addis Ababa are now the primary transit points for consumer electronics flown from Asia to Europe—bypassing the the 17,700KM sea detour.
US leader Donald Trump despises Africa, once labelling its countries "sh*thole", but while many of them will be hit hard by rising energy and fertilisers from America and Israel's attack on Iran, several of them will get a bounty he would never have wished for them.

[Deloitte Namibia @deloittenamibia]

36 years of Freedom, Unity and Pride. Celebrating the spirit of Namibia today and always.
#IndependenceDay #DeloitteNam #Namibia

[Gerda Brand @gerdabrand]

Happy Independence Day Namibia 🇳🇦 #landofthebrave #ournamibia @Daleen124 @deloittenamibia

[Namibia Revenue Agency @NamRA_org_na]

InBrief: Columbia SIPA Delegation Visits NamRA

NamRA hosted a Columbia SIPA delegation for a knowledge-sharing engagement on tax administration and policy development.

#NamRA #ServingWithPassion #Collaboration #TaxAdministration

[Deloitte Namibia @deloittenamibia]

Are you a driven, insightful, motivated tax professional?
An exciting opportunity awaits to grow your career and make an impact that matters at Deloitte Namibia.

https://t.co/Dw5X5si9O7

[Namibia Revenue Agency @NamRA_org_na]

How can one reset their ITAS password on the ITAS e-Portal?
Watch the video to find out how quick and easy it is.

#ITAS #Password #NamRA

[Deloitte Namibia @deloittenamibia]

Your journey to becoming a Chartered Accountant starts here.
The CA Foundations Programme provides aspiring students with the foundation, guidance, and opportunities to succeed in the accounting profession.
Take the first step. Apply Now.

[Lisa Matomola @mieyolisa]

Running Through the Pain: My Fibroids Journey

In 2016, I underwent my first surgery to remove fibroids. At the time, I believed that would be the end of the journey. Like many women, I thought once the operation was done, life would simply move on.

But fibroids have a way of reminding you that healing can be a long road.

In November 2022, I went through another surgery. It lasted seven hours. This time, the doctors removed 89 fibroids and endometriosis. Yes, eighty-nine. It was one of those moments that makes you pause and reflect on how much the human body can endure, and how quietly many women carry their health battles.

I remember telling my doctor something very clearly:
“When I recover, I am going to run a marathon.”

One of the ongoing challenges from this journey has been iron deficiency. For years now, I have been managing low iron levels. For someone who loves endurance sports, that has not been easy. Iron deficiency affects your energy, your breathing, your recovery, and for a runner it affects your pace, stamina, and confidence on the road.

There were moments when I had to slow down. My pace dropped. My body could not perform the way it used to.

But I refused to let fibroids write the final chapter of my story.

Instead, I changed my strategy.

If I could not run fast, I would run with purpose.

Running stopped being about chasing personal best times. It became something much deeper. I decided that I would run for women’s health. I would run to raise awareness about fibroids and to remind women that they are not alone in this journey.

Fibroids are far more common than we talk about. Many women silently carry the pain, the surgeries, the heavy bleeding, the fatigue, and the emotional toll. It can take away your joy if you allow it to.

But running gave me something powerful.

It restored my joy.

When you run a marathon, something shifts inside you. The body that once felt weak begins to remind you of its strength. The mind that was overwhelmed finds clarity. The road becomes a place of healing.

I also began running slower and with others, especially women who wanted to start running but felt intimidated or unsure. Helping others cross finish lines became just as meaningful as crossing my own.

In many ways, I became a bus driver in the marathon world, guiding others, encouraging them, reminding them that finishing matters more than speed.

And through this journey, I have learned something important about life.

I want to live without regret. I want to move while I can and when my body cannot, I rest.

Running has given me the freedom to live beyond my diagnosis. It has improved my quality of life and allowed me to turn my pain into purpose.

My message to women is simple, your diagnosis is not the end of your story. Your body may slow you down, but it does not have to stop you.

You can still rise.
You can still find joy.
You can still run your race, in life and on the road.

If you ever feel alone in this journey, remember this, there are many of us running with you. 🏃🏾‍♀️💛

[Magatte Wade @magattew]

Everyone talks about how Africa needs to “leverage its natural resources” and I don't think people are paying attention to what's actually happening.

Botswana was the success story. 

They did everything right with their diamonds for decades, saved money, built solid institutions, avoided the corruption that wrecked other resource-rich countries. 

Then lab-grown diamonds showed up.

Debswana's sales dropped over 50% in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the year before. Anglo American has written down De Beers' value by $4.5 billion over two years. The company is now valued at around $4 billion, less than what Anglo paid for just a 40% stake back in 2011.

Lab-grown diamonds now make up around 45-50% of engagement ring purchases in the US. 

They are chemically identical to natural diamonds and cost 80-85% less. Gen Z and millennials don't care that it came from the ground.

And Botswana can't do anything about it.

Same pattern with cocoa. Ghana's production collapsed from over a million tons to around 617,000 this season, with 81% of growing areas hit by disease. 

Ecuador, Indonesia, Vietnam are all expanding to fill the gap with better yields and fewer headaches.

And that famous “Africa has 30% of world's critical minerals” stat everyone loves to repeat? 

When you actually look at the minerals that matter for the green transition, the ones on standard lists like lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper, rare earths, Africa's share of global reserves is under 5%. 

The 30% number comes from cherry-picking a few minerals where Africa is strong and ignoring the full picture.

When your commodity becomes difficult to deal with, the market doesn't wait. 

It builds alternatives and moves on.

Switzerland has limited natural resources. Nigeria has oil, natural gas, gold, coal, iron ore, and cocoa. Yet Switzerland's GDP per capita is about 95 times higher.

The difference was never what's in the ground.