Featured – Page 3 – Windhoek Observer

06 Oct

The basics: Preparing for the rainy season

Featured, Observer Money

Erastus Ngaruka As Namibian farmers eagerly anticipate a favourable rainy season, signs of climate change persist. Although the previous rainy season may have ended with a sigh of relief for farmers, every rainy season has become spatially and temporally unique in terms of its initiation, intensity, distribution, and duration. This means farmers need to continuously prepare for every rainy season, as each season may present different challenges and climate change-related risks. As Namibian farmers eagerly anticipate a favourable rainy season, signs of climate change persist. Although the previous rainy season may have ended with a sigh of relief for farmers,…

06 Oct

OBSERVER DAILY | All politics is local: Choose wisely at the ballot box

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Election season is upon us once again. This is what will mark the familiar campaign: across the country, the familiar rhythms of political life are playing out, campaign posters springing up on every lamppost, rallies drawing crowds with promises and pageantry, and political hopefuls crisscrossing constituencies in a last-minute bid to win favour. The Swapo party was first out of the block and has officially launched its campaign, and it will soon be followed by others, all eager to convince voters that they hold the answers to our problems. Yet beyond the slogans, the music, and the promises, some more…

03 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | Theofelus named among TIME’s 100 Next: A moment of global pride for Namibia

Featured, Latest

In a proud and historic moment for Namibia, Emma Theofelus, the country’s Minister of Information and Communication Technology, has been named on TIME magazine’s prestigious list of the 100 Next, a global recognition of the world’s most influential rising leaders. This recognition places Theofelus among a cohort of extraordinary young visionaries who are not only leading change today but shaping the future across politics, innovation, activism, the arts, and more. The list, curated annually by TIME, celebrates those who have demonstrated unwavering courage, groundbreaking vision, and tangible impact in their respective fields. For Namibia, this accolade is more than a…

03 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | Why the land bill matters for young people

Featured, National News

On 30 September 2025, the minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, Inge Zaamwani-Kamwi, tabled the motion for a comprehensive land bill. The bill seeks to overhaul Namibia’s land management framework. It proposes the creation of communal land boards and a Communal Land Development Fund, sets rules for demarcating and allocating communal land and clarifies the roles of chiefs, traditional authorities and land committees. It continues key institutions such as the Land Reform Advisory Commission, the Land Acquisition and Development Fund, and the Lands Tribunal. On commercial land, it gives the state a preferential right to purchase farmland, empowers…

03 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | Beyond the brush: A conversation with Lydia Matheus

Featured, National News

Lydia Matheus, widely recognised as Beauty by Carita, is a popular name in the Namibian beauty scene. With her artistry, she doesn’t just apply makeup; she inspires confidence, creativity and self-expression for every client who sits in her chair. As a young creative making her mark, Lydia’s trajectory is one of passion, precision, and purpose. In this Young Observer spotlight, we explore both the vision behind her craft and the path she has walked. Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in the makeup business? A: My name is Lydia, popularly known as…

03 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | President Nandi-Ndaitwah at the United Nations: Why NamYouth should pay attention

Featured, National News

In a poll, many of you told the Young Observer what you expected President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to include in her maiden speech before the United Nations General Assembly on 24 September 2025; you hoped she would focus on Namibia’s economic and development priorities and give attention to youth empowerment and employment. On that day in New York, she delivered a speech that carried both symbolic resonance and concrete policy ambition. For young Namibians, it signals not only promise but also responsibility. The speech opened with history and humility. Nandi‑Ndaitwah reminded the world that Namibia’s independence, achieved through the tireless petitions…

03 Oct

Opuwo Youth Choir competes in Mauritius

Featured, National News

Staff Writer The Opuwo Youth Choir is representing Namibia at the African Asia Pacific Choir Games and Grand Prix of Nations. The choir games began in Mauritius on 27 September and will conclude this weekend. The directorate of arts under the Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC) supported the choir’s participation as part of its mission to uplift Namibian artists, particularly the youth, by creating opportunities to showcase their talent on international platforms. Founded in 2015 by music director Mbaseua Tjongarero, the Opuwo Youth Choir unites young singers from the Kunene Region, many of whom come…

03 Oct

OBSERVER DAILY | Local ownership in mining: Namibia must strike a

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

bold, balanced path The recent warning from the Chamber of Mines about "growing risks" to Namibia’s mining sector due to policy uncertainty, particularly the proposal for 51% mandatory local ownership in new projects, deserves careful attention. The Chamber is right on one key point: investor confidence depends on a stable and predictable regulatory environment. But it is wrong to suggest that government proposals aimed at ensuring greater domestic participation should be viewed as threats rather than opportunities. Namibia is not stepping into the unknown. Local ownership is not a radical or reckless concept; it is a globally recognised policy instrument…

02 Oct

OBSERVER DAILY | Resettlement farms: From land reform to national embarrassment

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

There are few topics in Namibia as emotionally charged and politically potent as land reform. Rightly so. Land is not only an economic asset but also a deeply symbolic issue rooted in the country’s colonial and apartheid past. The generations of black Namibians were robbed of land, denied ownership, and consigned to the margins of society. When independence came, the cry was loud and clear: “The fight was about the land.” And now, over three decades later, we must ask—what have we done with the land we fought for? The painful truth is this: Namibia’s resettlement programme has failed. Catastrophically.…

01 Oct

OBSERVER DAILY | A noble gesture that will save lives: MVA Fund leads the way

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

This week, Namibia witnessed a moment of quiet revolution in the nation’s healthcare system. The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund’s donation of a state-of-the-art Lodox full-body X-ray machine to the Ministry of Health and Social Services marks not only a milestone for Katutura Intermediate Hospital but also a shining example of what can be achieved through public-private collaboration in addressing Namibia’s critical infrastructure challenges. Valued at over N$13 million, this generous gift is far more than a piece of medical equipment; it is a lifeline. Installed at the Katutura Intermediate Hospital’s emergency unit, the Lodox machine is the first of…