Opinions

Prof Uchendu Eugene Chigbu The 'Energy Sector in Namibia’ 2025 report identified 17 main actors in the energy sector. One of the biggest challenges these companies face is minimising disruption to the natural environment as they conduct their activities.  The report highlights several oil and gas challenges that must be addressed to ensure the coexistence of Namibia’s energy sector with the environment. It found that fuel wholesalers increasingly rely on trucks to transport fuel due to the declining performance of TransNamib. Some oil wells are located hundreds of kilometres from shore, in water depths of up to 3 000 metres.…

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro When the dust settles over the opportunistic, if not crocodile, tears over the sad and indeed untimely bowing out of this world of the prodigal son of Gam, James Unomasa Uerikua, none shall miss him dearly and direly, and for long so, more than the Otjiserandu villagers and indeed the broader inhabitants of the Gam Bantustan. An inopportune and untimely passing, surely, as if there were ever any death that were timely and opportune. The road to Gam, the days leading to the burial of Uerikua, was out of the world of Gam. Perhaps a pointer to his…

Malcolm Kambanzera  Recently, the legal fraternity gathered at Sisa Namandje & Co. Inc. to attend the public lecture by Dr Muzi Sikhakhane, a South African senior counsel and a practising advocate.  The lecture was about "A Decolonial Legal Culture and the Role of an African Lawyer in our Society". During this lecture he asked the audience, "What is the purpose of a constitution praised for being one of the best in the world, but it cannot deal with our people’s historical challenges? We are still landless and still socially and economically disadvantaged." It got me thinking, is it perhaps time…

George Kambala  There are moments in a nation’s life when time seems to stand still when the noise of politics fades, when the urgency of daily life pauses, and when we are called, collectively, to reflect. The passing of Hon. James Unomasa Uerikua is one such moment. It is difficult to speak of loss when the life we are remembering was so full, full of purpose, of conviction, of quiet but unwavering strength. And yet, perhaps the true measure of a life is not in how loudly it was lived, but in how deeply it was felt by those it…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Namibia’s conferment of the status of founding father of the Namibian nation on the first president of the republic under an Act of Parliament (Act 16 of 2005) is not merely a commemorative gesture.  It is a decisive political act that singularly put the origin story of the state and covered a complex liberation history into a legally sanctioned truth. In doing so, it does something far more consequential than honour the Founding Father, H.E. Dr Sam Nujoma; it narrows the field of interpretation and anchors political legitimacy in a…

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Exile to exile. Once in exile, always in exile until death. This seems to be the eternal epitome of the descendants of the survivors of the Ovaherero, Ovambanderu and Nama GENOCIDES.  Unless and until they themselves, nobody but themselves, deliver themselves through their own trials and tribulations via true restorative justice ultimately. Which entails the return of their land. Putting an end to their perpetual internal exiling and continued banishment to outposts such as Gam. Where many descendants, you name them, have since independence continued to be banished by none other than their own Swapo of Namibia government.…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Listening to the tributes and messages of condolences on the occasion of the memorial service at Parliament Gardens in honour of the late Hon. James Unomasa Uerikua and his beloved son Venturo, one thing that struck a chord so profoundly was the fact that most of the leaders of the opposition parties are young and were once upon a time either in the Nanso, workers’ union, youth league and Swapo party leadership, and one wonders why so. Perhaps the answer lies in their message that seeks to redefine freedom based…

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro What a brave attempt befitting the brave new world of the brave 8th administration of Namibia. Could not have been the immediate reaction of Yours Truly Ideologically to the National Council Secretary’s brave attempt at rationalising and attempting to instilling a sense of understanding in whatever way, politically, administratively and otherwise, regarding the recent appointment of especially deputy ministers by the President.  Her Excellency, in her typical “business unusual” gear and mode, herself cited governance, accountability, inclusivity and the acceleration of national development as, indeed, the obvious reasons and/or motivations for the appointments. Certainly they cannot be the…

Adolf Kaure Networking is an art. It does not matter which profession you find yourself in; it is necessary to grasp the soft skills of building a network of personalities who enhance your presence in your industry. Whether you carry the energy and light that charm every room or you are a quiet ‘church mouse’, there is no excuse for not having networking skills, as they are the fulcrum that can easily catapult you to another stage of your professional career. In the communications and public relations profession, networking is highly essential – not only the reason behind it but…