Featured – Page 11 – Windhoek Observer

30 Sep

INSURING NAMIBIA | Why financial protection matters more than ever

Featured, Observer Money

Mignon du Preez Life in Namibia today is anything but uncomplicated. Families across the board are finding the strain of ever-increasing prices, a lack of jobs, and static incomes that cannot keep up with the cost of living. It's the price of bread, school charges, petrol, or rent; pressure is building across the country. These are not abstractions; these are flesh-and-blood issues that shape how people live, plan, and dream. Universal concerns like inflation, economic stagnation, and unemployment characterise our own backyard existence. But even during these circumstances, there is one unchanging fact: insurance and saving are not luxuries; they…

30 Sep

Short-term insurance sector down by 11.2%

Featured, Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira The number of active policies in the short-term insurance sector dropped by 11.2%, reaching 660 156 as at 31 December 2024. The decline was mainly due to lapses, although the industry recorded growth in new underwritten policies during the year. Despite the fall in active policies, profit before tax increased by 9.6% to N$762.3 million. Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) figures showed that the rise in profit was driven by the growth in new policies. The sector demonstrated resilience in 2024, supported by strong performance in financial markets. Excess assets rose by 15.2% to N$2.8 billion, while…

30 Sep

OBSERVER DAILY | The National Youth Development Fund: A second look, a new hope

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

When the Windhoek Observer previously wrote that the National Youth Development Fund (NYDF) was “dead on arrival,” we did not make that assertion lightly. Our conclusion stemmed from years of observing well-intended government initiatives being crippled by red tape, poor execution, lack of continuity, and, frankly, the failure to place the youth at the centre of development, not just in policy rhetoric, but in real, tangible action. However, today, we are prepared to re-examine our position. We are willing to say: we may have been too quick to write the fund off. The launch of the NYDF at Gobabis on…

29 Sep

Etosha is burning and we are failing it

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Etosha National Park, the crown jewel of Namibia’s conservation and tourism legacy, is burning. It is not merely grass and trees that are turning to ash; it is our national pride, our environmental responsibility, and the livelihoods of thousands. As flames devour hectares of this irreplaceable ecosystem, what is perhaps more disturbing than the fire itself is the collective silence and stunning lack of urgency from those who ought to be leading the response. Where is the outrage? Where is the accountability? Etosha is not a small, peripheral reserve; it spans over 22 000 km², making it one of the…

26 Sep

YOUTH SPOTLIGHT | From Namibia to Japan: Loide’s Teaching Journey

Featured, Uncategorised

When most Namibians dream of life after graduation, their thoughts rarely drift as far as the bustling streets of Tokyo or the quiet countryside of Japan, but for Loide Mpinge, a young Namibian who studied education at the Hifikepunye Pohamba Campus in Ongwediva, the classroom has taken on a whole new meaning thousands of kilometres away. Now living in Japan, she spends her days teaching English to Japanese learners beyond the rules of grammar and punctuation and also to speak and connect across cultures. Hers is a journey of courage, determination and the willingness to take a leap of faith.…

26 Sep

YOUNG OBSERVER | The future of connectivity in Namibia: progress that includes everyone

Featured, Opinions

From mobile payments to digital banking, Namibians are certainly in their connectivity and technology advancement era. Recently, both MTC and Paratus have announced the launch of e-SIM technology, promising a seamless, flexible and convenient experience for mobile users. For those unfamiliar, an eSIM (embedded SIM) allows you to activate a mobile plan without a physical SIM card. It is quite the popular choice, especially for frequent travellers who do not have the luxury of time to buy a physical SIM card while in transit or who simply want to stay connected without constantly swapping SIMs. While Namibia’s network coverage is…

26 Sep

YOUNG OBSERVER | #Unlimited

Featured, Opinions

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) recently advertised a vacancy for an ICT Specialist, specifying that it was open to female candidates only. In a country that proudly celebrates having its first female President, a female vice president, a female speaker of parliament, and a notable level of women’s representation in the cabinet and the National Assembly, all achievements that have earned Namibia international praise, one might have expected applause. Instead, the announcement was met with resistance, scepticism, and even questions about its legality. The legal framework, as critics quickly pointed out, complicates matters. The Labour Act does not…

26 Sep

OBSERVER DAILY | A Statue on Robben Island Is Not Enough: Toivo Ya Toivo Deserves More

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

As the Namibian nation commemorates the legendary Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, a life-size statue of him will be unveiled on Robben Island in South Africa. This tribute is part of the historic Robben Island Prisoners Reunion, a key event celebrating the sacrifices of those who fought for the liberation of Namibia and South Africa. While this is a significant symbolic gesture, it raises a critical question: Is this enough for a leader whose legacy helped shape the very foundations of an independent Namibia? Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo deserves more than just a statue on a distant island; he deserves recognition…

25 Sep

OBSERVER COASTAL | Erongo governor urges use of census data to tackle unemployment

Featured

Renthia Kaimbi The governor of the Erongo region, Natalia /Goagoses, has called on all sectors to use the newly released census data to address the region’s 32% unemployment rate and to speed up development in line with the national agenda. She made the call on Tuesday at the launch of the 2023 Census Report and the Erongo Regional Profile at the Swakopmund Multi-Purpose Centre. The event brought together local authorities, traditional leaders, and business representatives. The census puts Erongo’s population at 240 206. /Goagoses said the figures are more than just numbers, describing the data as a "factual snapshot of…

25 Sep

OBSERVER COASTAL | Seibeb’s allies warn dethroning him could destabilise clan

Featured

Renthia Kaimbi A conflict within the Dâure Daman Traditional Authority has escalated into a stalemate, dividing a concerned community group and supporters of its chief, Zacharias Seibeb. The dispute centres on allegations of financial mismanagement, legitimacy, and claims of procedural flaws at the ministerial level. This followed after the government began the process to remove Seibeb as leader of the traditional authority. The process has been initiated by Urban and Rural Development minister James Sankwasa, who informed Seibeb of the decision in a letter dated 22 September 2025. The deputy chairperson of the Dâure Daman Community Concerned Group, Cornelia Atjiwara,…