Windhoek Observer – Page 7 – Windhoek Observer

31 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | #UNMUTED

Featured, Opinions

Parliament recently revisited the long-delayed Mental Health Bill. The minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, confirmed that the bill is in its final stages of review and will soon be resubmitted to legal drafters. This comes after years of delays in replacing the outdated Mental Health Act of 1973, a law that no longer reflects the realities of modern mental health care in Namibia. News outlets earlier in the week reported that employers would no longer be able to discriminate against mentally ill people; of course, that caused an uproar. While the discussion may seem technical or…

31 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | The state of public healthcare through the eyes of the youth

National News

Public healthcare is one of those topics that touches everyone at some point in life. Whether you have visited a clinic for a minor flu or accompanied a family member to a hospital, the experience stays with you. For many young Namibians, the state of public healthcare is a reflection of the broader challenges the nation faces — from inequality to resource shortages to the quiet heroism of health workers who keep showing up. It is a system filled with contradictions: frustration and hope, neglect and compassion, struggle and survival. Healthcare does not exist in isolation. It often mirrors the…

31 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | How to manage debt without losing your sanity

National News

Debt is the quiet shadow that follows so many of us through adulthood. It lurks behind paydays, hides in bank statements and sometimes finds its way into our conversations with the same unease as a confession. For young Namibians especially, debt has become a shared experience. Student loans, clothing accounts, microloans, car instalments or the quiet borrowing from a friend at month's end – it is woven into how we survive, build and sometimes struggle. Yet the real question is not whether we owe money, but how to manage debt without losing our sanity in the process. The hardest part…

31 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | Internet access as a right and why data should be cheaper

National News

In today’s world, being connected to the internet is as essential as having electricity or water. It is how we work, study, communicate and even dream. For young Namibians, internet access is not a luxury anymore. It is a bridge to opportunity. Yet every month, the cost of data stands as a wall between that bridge and the people who need it most. This reality raises a question that is becoming louder across the world: should internet access be treated as a basic human right, and if so, why is it still so expensive for those who need it most?…

31 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | Cancel culture or accountability and where we draw the line

National News

Social media has become the loudest courtroom in the modern world. A single post can elevate a person to fame or tear their reputation apart. The youth of today live in a digital age where opinions travel faster than facts and where outrage often feels like justice. In Namibia, as in many other places, names have trended on social media for all the wrong reasons. Business owners, influencers and public figures have faced public backlash for bad service, dishonesty, or misconduct. Yet as the lines blur between accountability and destruction, we must ask: are we building a fair society or…

31 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | Discovering Namibia’s hidden gems

National News

Timbila glamping site There are places that feel like they were waiting for you to arrive. Places that slow your thoughts, steady your heartbeat and remind you that peace still exists beyond phone screens and deadlines. Timbila Glamping Site is one of those places. Tucked quietly in the folds of Namibia’s wild beauty, it offers a kind of escape that is not just physical but spiritual. For young travellers searching for meaning, rest and connection, this hidden gem feels like a rediscovery of what truly matters. Glamping, which is a combination of the words 'glamorous' and 'camping', is the bridge…

31 Oct

Agra boosted by good rainfall prospects

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Regional forecasts from SARCOF-31 and the Namibia Meteorological Service predict normal to above-normal rainfall across the north and central interior, where most of Agra’s customers and stores are located. “These zones are likely to see markedly improved grazing conditions and stronger on-farm liquidity from January to March 2026, driving herd rebuilding, higher auction volumes and renewed input demand. Although parts of the southwest may remain drier and the risk of localised flooding persists, the overall climatic bias supports the agricultural value chain. In practice, that should translate into firmer rural spending, improved credit recoveries and more predictable cash…

31 Oct

FirstRand bullish on uranium, oil and gas

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira FirstRand Limited believes that Namibia’s uranium and oil and gas sectors are well positioned for a rebound. The firm said that while low inflation should help keep interest rates down, fiscal strain from declining Southern African Customs Union and diamond revenues could force the government to reduce its spending plans to maintain debt sustainability. On tariffs, FirstRand noted that Namibia’s exports to the United States make up less than 1% of GDP and that certain products are exempt from US tariffs. The company added that, despite weaker crop farming and a contraction in diamond production, growth in Namibia’s…

31 Oct

De Beers Q3 output jumps 38% on strong Botswana production

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira De Beers’ diamond production rose 38% to 7.7 million carats in the third quarter of 2025, driven by higher output from its Jwaneng mine in Botswana, parent company Anglo American said in its quarterly production report. De Beers operates through joint ventures with the Namibian government, including the Namibia Diamond Trading Company, Debmarine Namibia, and Namdeb land operations. Production in Botswana climbed 51% to 6 million carats as Jwaneng processed higher-grade ore ahead of an extended maintenance shutdown planned for the entire fourth quarter. Orapa also resumed operations after a scheduled shutdown in the previous quarter. Output in…

31 Oct

Model’s N$60m Auas Valley revamp marks Pick n Pay exit

Observer Money

O&L Group has said the franchise agreement with Pick n Pay South Africa concluded on 30 June 2025. The roll-out of the Model brand started on 1 July 2025, with every previously branded Pick n Pay store being rebranded to Model. Observer Money asked Carmen Maartens, O&L communications specialist, about the process of rebranding from Pick n Pay to Model. Observer Money (OM): How has the transformation from Pick n Pay gone? Carmen Maartens (CM): The franchise agreement with Pick n Pay South Africa concluded on 30 June 2025, but preparations for this transition had been underway throughout the preceding…