Blog – Page 5 – Windhoek Observer

21 Nov

Advocates demand community action to stop child marriage

Africa / World

Moses Magadza Participants at the inaugural public lecture honouring the late chief Theresa Kachindamoto of Malawi have called for stronger collaboration, greater community engagement and intensified sensitisation efforts to end child marriage across Zambia and the SADC region. The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), with funding from Sweden and in collaboration with the National Assembly of Zambia, the University of Zambia’s School of Law, CARE International, and other partners, convened the lecture at the University of Zambia last week. Kachindamoto was a Malawian traditional leader who annulled more than 3 500 child marriages and championed girls’ education…

21 Nov

OBSERVER DAILY | Dear Honourable Bernadus Swartbooi

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Namibia has entered the familiar, feverish stretch of the political calendar known as the “silly season”, when passions run high, rhetoric grows sharp, and politicians of all stripes test the limits of what they can say to energise their supporters. Elections are, by their very nature, noisy affairs. Positions clash, words fly, and agendas jostle for prominence. In that sense, your recent remarks about wishing for an “actual shooting war” to start in Namibia, and your call for foreign intervention from U.S. president Donald Trump, may be chalked up by some as campaign theatrics. But even in the silly season,…

21 Nov

The velvet grip of power: Why Namibians must stay vigilant as election day approaches

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) As Namibians prepare for the Regional and Local Authority Elections on 26 November 2025, a recent political confrontation in Europe has unexpectedly offered a mirror to our own democratic landscape. It came from a Dutch member of the European Parliament, who boldly challenged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, reminding the world that even in the heart of Western democracy, power can slip quietly beyond the reach of the people. Her argument was unsettling yet essential: are we really being governed democratically, or merely invited to participate in a…

21 Nov

YOUNG OBSERVER | A purple signal in a moment of global decision making

Featured, Opinions

As G20 leaders gather to negotiate the future of global growth, security and cooperation, the world outside the summit walls is speaking a language they can no longer ignore, and that language has taken on a colour: purple. The Purple Hearts Movement is a political symbol that has spread across digital platforms and even public spaces in the form of protests, drawing attention to one of the most persistent governance failures of our time: gender-based violence against women. The symbolism is deceptively simple: purple hearts shared online, purple profile images, and purple clothing worn at vigils and protests. Yet beneath…

21 Nov

Youth Spotlight: Emma Muteka, councillor of Windhoek West Constituency

Featured, National News

Q: You wear multiple hats… How do you balance these roles while staying grounded in the needs of your community? A: I believe there is no such thing as perfect balance in our world. What truly keeps me grounded is the discipline to prioritise, the willingness to stay flexible, and the commitment to plan with intention. These are the realities that have helped me carry out each role with purpose while keeping my community at the centre of everything I do. Q: What inspired your entry into public service, and what does leadership mean to you beyond the political title?…

21 Nov

YOUNG OBSERVER | A message to election candidates

National News

If you could send one message to the leaders competing for your vote, what would you tell them right now? With only a few days left before the regional and local authority elections, the Windhoek Observer asked young voters what message they want to send to the candidates competing this year. Here is what they had to say. Ndiwohamba Haidula (25) Show us action, not promises. Put people first and just not politics. I am tired of empty talk. Actually work for the people you want votes from. Understand our struggles before asking for our votes. Janet Haufiku (22) Focus…

21 Nov

YOUNG OBSERVER | #UNMUTED

Featured, Opinions

There are moments in a nation’s public life that reveal far more about us than we intend. The reaction to Miss Namibia 2025, Johanna Swaartbooi, is one of them. What should have been support and celebration towards a young woman stepping into a national role that carries pride quickly exposed how easily our national conversations can be poisoned by old prejudices. Tribal slurs began to circulate. Derogatory remarks about her beauty and her worth followed. And Namibia, for a moment, felt smaller than it is. Tribalism is not new in this country. It is a shadow that lingers, often dismissed…

20 Nov

Cyber crooks target businesses with new tricks

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Cyber crooks are using sharper and more sophisticated tactics to target businesses and individuals, experts have warned. Social engineering remains one of the most common methods. Criminals use phishing emails, fake calls, and misleading messages to trick people into giving them sensitive information. “They often pose as trusted institutions, create urgency and convince victims that sharing details will prevent financial harm,” said FirstRand Namibia chief executive officer Conrad Dempsey. Deepfake and AI-driven fraud are also rising. Criminals use synthetic media to copy voices or identities for high-value scams. “As more businesses move online, these sophisticated techniques are harder…

20 Nov

Coastal building plans surges as Windhoek slows

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira Windhoek’s approved building plans fell by 12% month-on-month, dropping from 226 in September to 198 in October, economic analyst Almandro Jansen of Simonis Storm said. On an annual basis, approvals were down 19%, showing slow construction activity in the capital. Swakopmund moved in the opposite direction. The coastal town recorded an 80% rebound from 85 to 153 approvals. Year-on-year, it posted a 119% increase, supported by a low 2024 base and stronger sentiment linked to tourism, relocations and future energy-sector activity. Windhoek remains Namibia's main growth centre, with an average of 179 approvals per month this year. “But…

20 Nov

South Africa gets a credit rating upgrade

Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira S&P Global Ratings has upgraded South Africa’s long-term sovereign ratings, raising the country from ‘BB-’ to ‘BB’ for foreign currency and from ‘BB’ to ‘BB+’ for local currency. The outlook is positive, the South African National Treasury said. South Africa is one of Namibia’s biggest trading partners. In September, it was Namibia’s largest export destination with a share of 17.8%. Botswana followed with 14%. Zambia, China, and the UAE were also among Namibia’s top five export markets. South Africa remained Namibia’s main source of imports, accounting for 33.3% of all goods entering the country. China held 10.8%, while…