Opinions

Namibia is once again mourning. Eight lives, fathers, mothers, children, breadwinners, dreamers, lost in an instant at Oniimbwele village. The images and reports from the scene are gut-wrenching. A nation stands in grief, united by sorrow but also by frustration, because deep down, we know that much of this tragedy was preventable. Every holiday, every long weekend, every festive season, the pattern repeats itself: twisted metal, flashing sirens, tears by the roadside, and the haunting wail of families shattered forever. Then come the statements, the condolences, the promises, and we move on. Until the next one. This cycle of mourning…

Namibia has recorded its first confirmed case of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, and while that headline alone may alarm some, this moment should be seen as an opportunity for vigilance, not fear. The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has moved swiftly to isolate the patient, begin contact tracing, and activate the national emergency response system. That decisive action deserves commendation. In times like these, calm professionalism matters just as much as medical expertise. Understanding Mpox: What we are dealing with Mpox is not new to Africa or to the global health landscape. It’s a zoonotic viral disease,…

The Namibian government must understand this once and for all: jobs are not political slogans to be thrown around at convenience, they are a matter of national survival. Every mixed message, every contradictory pronouncement, and every vague promise chips away at public confidence and deepens the despair of thousands of unemployed Namibians. When the Office of the Prime Minister announced recently that all unadvertised government positions would be frozen, many citizens reluctantly accepted it as part of much-needed fiscal discipline. The assumption was simple: government is tightening its belt to control the ballooning public wage bill, prioritising efficiency and redirecting…

When Dr Ndjodi Ndeunyema recently travelled home to Namibia, it was for a profoundly personal reason, to marry the woman he loves, herself an academic of exceptional calibre. The Windhoek Observer congratulates the newlyweds and celebrates their union as a joyful reminder of what Namibian brilliance looks like. But this editorial is not about romance; it is about recognition. It is about celebrating excellence and asking whether, as a nation, we truly value our best minds. Dr Ndjodi Ndeunyema represents the very best of Namibia, a young, highly accomplished scholar who has distinguished himself on one of the world’s most…