Opinions

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s address at the official opening of Cabinet for the 2026 calendar year was, by all accounts, polished, optimistic, and rhetorically disciplined. It emphasised commitment, unity, and the high expectations Namibians have for their leaders.  It recognised achievements, highlighted ongoing initiatives, and called for renewed focus as the administration advances toward Vision 2030. Yet, for all its lofty language and moral gravitas, the speech reveals a recurring challenge in Namibian political communication: ambition that is often unaccompanied by concrete operational clarity. In short, while the words inspire, they leave many questions unanswered. The President began appropriately, welcoming cabinet…

We write to you as the Windhoek Observer, and by extension on behalf of a concerned but hopeful Namibian public, to commend the Namibian Police Force for launching a national crime prevention operation scheduled to run from 30 January to 1 February across all 14 regions of our country. At face value, this is a welcome and necessary intervention. More importantly, it is long overdue. For far too long, crime has crept steadily into every corner of Namibian life, from our cities to our villages, from our homes to our places of work. What was once sporadic has become routine.…

A video clip now circulating widely on social media has struck a nerve across the country. In it, Prof. Job Amupanda confronts the CEO of a local authority over a presentation made to a parliamentary committee. The presentation contained a slide titled “Statistical Overview”, yet when questioned, the CEO could not provide a single statistic. The uncomfortable exchange that followed has since become a viral moment, but beyond the embarrassment of one official lies a much deeper and more troubling national issue: the appointment of individuals to critical public positions without the competence such offices demand. This newspaper has previously…

This week, Namibia found itself in the spotlight for two remarkable reasons, both signalling the country’s growing relevance on the global stage. American internet sensation IShowSpeed arrived in Windhoek as part of his highly publicised Africa StreamTour, drawing international attention to Namibia’s vibrant culture, energy, and youthful dynamism. At the same time, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) announced the rollout of 5G technology, a move poised to revolutionise the nation’s ICT landscape and drive economic growth across multiple sectors. At first glance, these two events may seem unrelated: one a pop culture phenomenon, the other a technical leap…