Opinions

Kae Matundu Tjiparuro OIL business usual or unusual? This question must occur naturally to Yours Truly Ideologically as indeed to any Namibian. Adding their voices to many and varied ones on the vexed subject of the discovery of oil. A subject that of lately has been invoking and receiving various perspectives from across a spectrum of diverse fields of competence, interests and studies. All zeroing in one way or the other on the discovery of oil in Namibia. Perspectives all intended to register authority in shaping the expected and much-anticipated nascent Namibian oil industry as it would be.  The postulation…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) As Namibia marks its 36th Independence Anniversary on 21 March 2026, the nation rises in celebration, flags waving, anthems echoing, and memories of sacrifice honoured with pride. It is a moment of unity. A moment of dignity. A moment of remembrance. But beneath the celebration, a quieter, more uncomfortable question lingers. Will independence remain a symbol or become a lived reality for every citizen?  Indeed, the strength of a nation is not measured only by how far it has come but by how many of its people are able to…

Sakaria Johannes Independence is the condition in which a nation exercises full control over its political, economic, and social systems without external domination. It goes beyond symbolic sovereignty to include ownership of resources, self-determination, and mental liberation. True independence means that citizens are not only governed by their own people but also benefit equitably from the country’s wealth and opportunities. Namibia’s independence in 1990 marked a historic victory against colonial rule. The country established democratic institutions, constitutional governance, and international recognition as a sovereign state. Politically, Namibians gained the right to vote and determine their leadership, laying a strong foundation…

Serron Nghoshi  As Namibia marks 36 years of independence, the moment invites not only celebration but also reflection. For many young Namibians who were born long after 1990, independence is something they inherited rather than experienced. The question we must ask today is how this generation will protect, strengthen and advance the freedom that was fought for.  As Namibia approaches another Independence Day on Namibian Independence Day, we are reminded that independence is not merely a date on the calendar but a living responsibility carried by every generation.  When our country gained independence on 21 March 1990, under the leadership…

Lazarus Kwedhi Public memory is one of the most powerful instruments in shaping a nation’s identity. The names of towns, streets, institutions and monuments are not merely administrative labels; they are historical markers that record the journey of a people. When such markers are erased or replaced, history itself risks being distorted or forgotten. For this reason, the growing practice of renaming and rebranding public infrastructure and institutions in Namibia deserves critical reflection. A lesson from local history illustrates this point. When my grandfather, Kwedhi kwa Shivute, who was then the headman of Eputa Village, passed away in 1956, Tk.…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The international system is undergoing one of the most profound transformations since the end of the Cold War. Rising geopolitical tensions, technological rivalries, economic competition, and persistent regional conflicts are reshaping the architecture of global power. What many analysts increasingly describe is not simply a series of isolated crises, but the gradual emergence of a new world order. Within this evolving landscape, the diplomatic posture adopted by Namibia’s eighth administration deserves careful attention. By reaffirming a policy rooted in strategic neutrality, non-alignment, multilateral engagement, and pragmatic diplomacy, Namibia is positioning…

Josef Kefas Sheehama  The 2026–2027 national budget is a critical instrument for shaping Namibia’s economic path. It seeks to address structural weaknesses, stabilise macroeconomic conditions, and support development priorities.  In an environment of moderate growth, fiscal constraints, and high unemployment, the budget reflects the challenge of balancing financial discipline with the need for investment in infrastructure, human capital, and industrial capacity. Achieving this balance requires careful policy coordination. Governments must manage public debt and inflation while creating conditions that promote long-term growth. Strategic allocation of resources toward sectors that enhance productivity, combined with institutional reforms and private-sector engagement, can improve…

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Lately various instances have been running in and out of State House for what the Presidency has been billing as the conventional, but in the parlance of the first lap of the 8th administration, perhaps it is the business unusual of Her Excellency’s democratic credentials of openness, punctuated, among others, by consultations with certain entities.  So far for most of them, if not all of them, in their various and respective hues and sizes, as well as differing outlooks, political parties and/or formations; traditional authorities and/or leaders of traditional communities; chiefs; paramount chiefs; kings – call them what…

Prof Uchendu Eugene Chigbu One humid morning, on a flight from Kampala to Windhoek via Johannesburg, I had a conversation with someone that later made me think twice about tourism in Namibia. A lady had just boarded the plane and moved to sit next to me. She buckled her seat belt and took out a tablet, keen to put her time to use.  “I’m Elke. Are you also stopping in South Africa?” she asked, looking sternly at me. “I’m flying to Namibia,” I replied. Surprised by my response, she kicked off a long story of her escapades travelling through Namibia…