Opinions

Dirk van Schalkwyk  We keep hearing that Namibia stands at the precipice of a historic economic transformation, driven by major offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin. However, what does this mean for local companies, especially as global energy giants dominate exploration and extraction?  Namibians need to ask themselves: what role do we play? How will our long-term success be measured? The answer is that our success lies in local content. As well as the ability of homegrown companies to integrate into the oil and gas supply chain. For established Namibian enterprises like Welwitschia Services Group, this early stage is a…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The phrase “paying to survive, paying to exist” captures a growing frustration felt across the world. Yet in Africa in general and Namibia in particular, despite the latter being ranked as one of Africa’s top performing countries, climbing from 15th to third place after South Africa and Mauritius according to the French publications Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report, there is a growing frustration that points toward an even deeper truth. It seems the issue is not simply about the cost of living but about the cost of powerlessness. Indeed,…

SINITTA BOOYSEN  Education is one of the first promises many families make. It’s tied to hope, opportunity, and the belief that things can be better for the next generation. Because of that, it carries a lot of emotional weight. Saving for education usually starts with good intentions. A bit set aside here. A plan to increase contributions later. Confidence that things will improve over time. But education costs rarely wait patiently. Fees rise. Extra costs appear. Life happens. And when pressure builds, education savings are often the first thing to be touched, because the future feels negotiable compared to today’s…

Lazarus Kwedhi President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s appointment of a new layer of special advisors has put her leadership to an early test and put the taxpayer on the hook. Article 32 of the Constitution and the Special Advisors and Regional Governors Appointment Act of 1990 give the President broad executive power. But that power carries a burden: to use it in a way that strengthens accountable institutions, and not duplicate appointments at the public's expense. The creation of “shadow advisors” operating in parallel to Cabinet raises both a constitutional question and a simple budget question: why are Namibians paying twice for…

Wendy Naruses “The true cost of saying goodbye is not measured only in grief, but in the financial burden families are often left to carry.” Death is one of life’s few certainties, yet it remains one of the least planned-for events in many households. In Namibia, funerals are far more than a burial and/or ritual of goodbye. They are a monumental cultural expression of deep love, unwavering respect and communal dignity. It is the moment where the entire community gathers to carry the weight of grief together, ensuring that a soul is transitioned with the highest honour. They bring families…

ABRAHAM EITA As the telecommunications, broadcasting and postal sector continues to evolve, driven by rapid technological changes, digital transformation, and increasing demand for connectivity, the role of the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) remains pivotal and goes beyond regulation. The Authority is committed to becoming a digital ecosystem builder, by shifting to functionality-based regulations. CRAN seeks to become a digital enabler by improving the adoption of emerging technologies through the establishment of regulatory sandboxes for new and emerging technologies and innovation. What is a Regulatory Sandbox? A regulatory sandbox is when innovators, start- ups, researchers, and established businesses are…

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro How accountable are community organisations? Yours Truly Ideologically is posing this question disturbed greatly by news and complaints that have been filtering through for some time now from the peripheries concerning the lack of accountability among our community institutions. Concerned because community organisations, ideally, are and should be the first among the firsts to usher in and spearhead egalitarianism as well as all the way guard, guide and protect such where and whenever it is realised among our communities. However, nascent such realisation may be. In the belief and orientation of “to each according to his/her needs and…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The 2026 FIFA World Cup was conceived as the ultimate celebration of football’s global reach. For the first time in history, forty eight national teams will compete in a tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, creating the largest and most geographically expansive World Cup ever organized. On paper, the event represents the triumph of globalization. More nations will participate, more supporters will travel, and more audiences than ever before will share in football’s most celebrated spectacle. Yet as the tournament approaches, a profound contradiction is becoming…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Ya Toivo’s warning and the questions Namibia must confront There are conversations that dominate Namibia’s public space. We hear about economic growth, foreign investment, oil discoveries, mining expansion, GDP forecasts, and development plans. Politicians speak proudly of progress. Investors speak confidently of opportunity. Government reports point to stability and economic potential. Yet there are other conversations that rarely receive the same attention such as the growing sea of tin (kambashus) shacks surrounding our towns and cities; the rising cost of fuel; the increasing price of water and electricity; the young…