Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Her Excellency Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s speech at the High-Level Conference on Transatlantic Slavery and Restorative Justice in Ghana is most revealing – especially her referencing of it as “remarks.” Yet in the local media, this induced screaming headlines. “Genocide: NNN demands justice, not revenge,” led one local English daily. “NNN Takes Namibia Reparations Fight To Global Stage,” another headline begged for the coveted attention of readers, including the descendants. But do these headlines strike any reassuring chord with them? Not at all, if the sentiments of some of them towards her Ghana escapade are anything to go by. It…

VICTORY SHIMWANDI Incentive travel has moved from a discretionary line item to a boardroom priority. In a labour market defined by high attrition and intensifying competition for top performers, organisations are re-examining every tool available for retention and engagement.  What the research consistently shows is that experiential reward outperforms cash bonuses and merchandise in emotional impact, memory durability and the strength of connection it creates between a high performer and the organisation that recognises them.  The Incentive Research Foundation has documented this repeatedly: travel-based rewards are harder to commoditise, impossible to compare with a colleague’s salary package and, critically, shared. …

JOSEF KEFAS SHEEHAMA Africa stands at a critical moment in its economic development journey. As global trade patterns continue to evolve, and economic alliances become increasingly important, African countries have an opportunity to strengthen their position within the global economy through strategic partnerships that promote industrialization, trade expansion, and sustainable development. One of the most significant opportunities currently emerging is China's decision to extend tariff-free access to African exports and the prospect of formalizing cooperation through the China–Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development Agreement (CADEPA). In this context, Namibia and other African countries can deepen their engagement with China while…

Sem Billy David Long waiting times in hospitals and clinics remain one of the major challenges facing Namibia’s healthcare system. In many public healthcare facilities, patients are still required to queue for hours before receiving medical attention. The use of manual numbering tickets, manual cards for stamps or, in some cases, the absence of any formal queue management system contributes significantly to delays, confusion, loss of patient’s historical data, and overcrowding and even cause eventualities of worsening sickness or cause death. Patients often arrive very early in the morning to secure a place in line, yet many still spend several…

Lazarus Kwedhi What if we are already in heaven? The question sounds spiritual, but it is deeply political and economic. Across religion, economics, and politics, the same moral lesson is preached in different languages: sacrifice now, be rewarded later. Clergymen promise heaven after death. Economists promise development after structural adjustment. Politicians promise prosperity after the next election. The vocabulary changes, but the structure does not. The reward is always deferred, and the gatekeepers remain the same. Christianity teaches Namibians to trade competing values - righteousness against sin - while waiting for judgment day. Believers endure poverty on earth so they…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) We could not let this remarkable gathering of Netflix series enthusiasts pass without sharing our reflections on the positive and negative lessons conveyed by this powerful production. The series took us on a profound journey through themes of leadership, public resource management, and the future. What particularly struck us was the fact that the story begins with the funeral of its main protagonist. This narrative choice prompted me to reflect on the paths many African nations have taken since achieving independence.  In a somewhat ironic sense, while political independence was…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The case for establishing the Dr Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma Museum and Living Conversational Center The recent inauguration of the Obama Presidential Center has attracted international attention not merely because it commemorates the legacy of a former President of the United States, but because it reflects a growing global recognition that nations must invest in institutions capable of preserving historical memory, cultivating civic values, documenting leadership experiences, and transmitting national knowledge across generations. Across the world, countries are increasingly discovering that monuments alone are insufficient. Statues may honour history, but institutions…

Dylan Mukoroli Namibia is currently at a crossroads, and the name “Leonardville” now centres an international debate around a widely used mining method known as In Situ Leaching (ISL). Having attended a number of consultations on this mining method convened by the mine itself, community organisations, private bodies, and the Uranium Mining Institute, where farmers, water experts, geologists, and hydrological specialists unpacked this method to its core in a bid to demystify and understand what it entails, I rise to add my voice in support of this mining method. Stampriet Aquifer Uranium Mining Association’s (SAUMA) economic development, 500 jobs vs…

Sakaria Johannes The National Youth Council (NYC) of Namibia was established through the National Youth Council Act of 1994 as an independent statutory body tasked with promoting, coordinating, and advancing the interests of young people in Namibia. The institution was created in recognition of the important role that young people play in national development and the need to provide them with a platform through which they can participate in decision-making processes. The council was never intended to serve the interests of a particular political party or ideological grouping. Rather, it was designed to represent all Namibian youth regardless of political…

Namibia’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist in June 2026 is more than a technical victory for regulators and policymakers. It is an important economic milestone with direct implications for entrepreneurs, investors and the country’s long-term competitiveness. As a Namibian entrepreneur, I view this development not simply as a compliance achievement, but as the restoration of confidence in our financial ecosystem. Confidence, after all, is one of the most valuable currencies in business. When Namibia was placed on the FATF greylist in February 2024, the designation sent an unfortunate signal to the international community. Greylisting does not…