Featured – Windhoek Observer

16 Mar

TURNING POINT | The Case for Ownership: From Observers to Participants

Featured, Opinions

The recent decision by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to off-load its 10% shareholding in Rössing Uranium Mine presented Namibia with a rare and consequential opportunity. Such moments, when ownership of strategic national assets becomes available, are not merely commercial transactions. They are moments that test a nation’s economic ambition, its confidence in local enterprise, and its commitment to building indigenous participation in key sectors of the economy. Yet, as far as can be determined, few Namibian companies and not even the Namibian government stepped forward to bid for this stake when the opportunity arose through public bidding. When our company decided…

16 Mar

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila: Oversight without results is just observation

Editorial, Featured

When the speaker of the National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, addressed the parliamentary women’s caucus in Swakopmund this weekend, she articulated a concern that resonates far beyond the walls of Parliament. Her call for stronger oversight mechanisms, ones that produce measurable results rather than simply reports, captures the growing sentiment among many Namibians who follow the work of the legislature with interest, hope, and, at times, frustration. At its core, Parliament performs two critical functions in a democratic society: it creates laws and it holds the executive accountable for implementing them. These responsibilities are not abstract constitutional ideals; they are the…

13 Mar

Namibia must do better for its mining future

Editorial, Featured

Namibia prides itself on being one of Africa’s most stable and investment-friendly countries. We regularly remind the world of our democratic credentials, our respect for the rule of law and our political stability. These are indeed achievements worth celebrating. But when it comes to the mining sector, one of the pillars of our economy, the latest global assessment suggests that pride alone will not secure our future. The Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2025 places Namibia squarely in the middle of the global rankings. Out of 84 jurisdictions assessed worldwide, Namibia sits at 59th, with an investment attractiveness…

12 Mar

Hot water, cold reality

Editorial, Featured

This week we witnessed what should have been a routine maintenance matter elevated into a moment of political theatre: the restoration of hot water at one of the country’s major public hospitals. The ministers responsible deserve acknowledgement for taking decisive action. But while we congratulate them for addressing a deeply embarrassing situation, the circumstances surrounding this “achievement” raise troubling questions about the priorities of governance in our country. Let us begin with the obvious. The absence of reliable hot water in a major national hospital is not merely an inconvenience. It is a failure of basic governance. Hospitals are places…

12 Mar

OBSERVER COASTAL | Walvis Bay warns against illegal stand rentals at Farm 37

Featured, National News

Renthia Kaimbi The Walvis Bay municipality has warned that the subleasing of residential stands at Farm 37 threatens fair access to land for residents waiting for legal allocation. Deputy mayor Miina Hangula raised the concern during the launch of the municipality’s 2026 public meeting series held at Farm 37 on Monday. The meeting drew strong attendance from residents and focused on service delivery updates and land allocation concerns. Hangula said the subleasing of stands undermines municipal policies and prevents residents from accessing land through official processes. Council representatives condemned the practice and urged residents to report any cases to the…

12 Mar

OBSERVER COASTAL | Lifeguards warn of drowning risks as heatwave hits coast

Featured, National News

Monarch Lifeguard and Emergency Rescue Services has urged the public to exercise caution near water as heatwaves continue to affect Namibia’s coastal towns. The organisation warned that high temperatures are drawing more people to beaches and increasing the risk of drowning. Founder Marthin Muyenga said families must take extra care when visiting the ocean. “This is the right time as a parent to advise your little ones not to come and swim at the beach without any parental supervision or at a beach without lifeguards. Therefore, let’s take this precaution very seriously,” Muyenga said. He said the current weather conditions…

12 Mar

OBSERVER COASTAL | Rössing donates N$135 000 to Swakop Striders

Featured, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Rössing Uranium has donated N$135 000 to the Swakop Striders Running Club following the recent Rössing national marathon held in Swakopmund. The funds were raised through registration fees collected during the event held on 7 March. The donation will support the club’s programmes and assist local long-distance athletes in the Erongo Region. The contribution forms part of Rössing Uranium’s community support initiatives aimed at promoting sport and healthy lifestyles. An additional N$20 010 raised from entry fees for the 5 km Fun Walk was donated to the Cancer Association of Namibia. Corporate communication manager at Rössing Uranium, Daylight…

11 Mar

Housing urgency must not replace accountability

Editorial, Featured

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s directive to bypass standard government tender procedures for a rapid-build housing initiative reflects a sense of urgency that few Namibians would dispute. The country’s housing backlog continues to grow, informal settlements expand year after year, and the promise of affordable shelter remains out of reach for thousands of families. Any initiative that claims it can deliver houses within days at a cost as low as N$50,000 will inevitably attract attention and hope. But hope, when combined with haste and limited oversight, can also produce costly consequences. The proposal currently receiving presidential support involves the use of alternative…

09 Mar

Dialogue must move Namibia from courtesy to concrete action

Editorial, Featured

In a political age increasingly defined by polarisation, spectacle and hardened ideological lines, the decision by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to engage the leadership of opposition parties is a gesture that deserves recognition and encouragement. Democracy does not thrive merely through elections; it flourishes through constant conversation between those who govern and those who challenge power. Since assuming office in March 2025, Nandi-Ndaitwah has initiated consultations with leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly, including the official opposition, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), led by Panduleni Itula. She has also met representatives from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)…

06 Mar

Regulating the ride: Government must bring order to Namibia’s e-hailing revolution

Editorial, Featured

The rise of e-hailing services in Namibia has exposed a familiar dilemma facing governments across the world: how to regulate innovation without stifling it. Platforms such as Yango, InDrive and LEFA have rapidly become a visible part of the urban transport landscape, particularly in Windhoek. Yet their growth has triggered escalating tensions with traditional taxi operators, raised safety concerns, and highlighted gaps in Namibia’s transport laws. At the heart of the conflict lies a regulatory vacuum. Namibia’s Road Traffic and Transport Act of 1999 was written long before smartphones and app-based mobility existed. As a result, e-hailing services have expanded…