Opinions – Page 17

02 Jul

Women, Gender parity and the Tourism Puzzle in Namibia

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Aradhana Khowala Those of us in the West like to think of ourselves as the centre of the progressive world. On a recent flight to Namibia where I was invited to give a keynote at the African Hospitality Investment Conference, a story riveted me and captured my attention because it had an ending that I didn’t expect. It was the recent Gender gap report from WEF and it was clear to me that we remain stubbornly stuck to our prejudices about Africa and it’s time for a rethink. Since its independence in 1990, Namibia has made strides in achieving gender…

02 Jul

Local content in oil & gas: a catalyst for shared growth

info_e12wt4csEnergy, Opinions

Ndapwilapo Selma Shimutwikeni In light of the recent oil and gas discoveries in Namibia, local content was a central focus at the recently concluded 6th edition of the Namibia International Energy Conference, which was attended by over 750 delegates from 46 nations. In the oil and gas industry, local content refers to the development of local industries, workforce, and resources to support the operations of international oil companies within a country. For Namibia, fostering ‘Namibian Content’ can significantly enhance economic growth, social development, and technological advancement. As highlighted by the World Bank, “Implementing effective local content policies can drive economic…

27 Jun

Uninspiring leaders lacking ideology responsible for slow voter registration, likely voter turnout

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Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) chief electoral officer Peter Shaama said recently that the ECN during the ongoing voter registration exercise it had then registered 366 036 voters. Which by that time was 21 percent in two weeks. Representing an average of 29 918 registered voters per day during the period 10 to 15 June. With the Khomas region then leading the process with 77 098 registered voters, followed by Ohangwena with 40 122 registered voters. The Zambezi region had registered the least voters (11 381), followed by the regions of Omaheke, Kunene, Hardap and /Karas. This pace may have…

27 Jun

THE MUHARUKUA OKWAGALUKA SAGA

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Professor Joseph Diescho (Shakawewe: 26.06.24) Namibia's political leadership landscape is becoming a theatre of absurdity. There is something very unfortunate, weird and downright distasteful about Vipuakuje Ivan Muharukua's return to Swapo's leadership saga. The whole event that played out in Katutura on 25 June 2024 bespeaks a politics of dishonor, a politics without principles, a politics of personal greed and hubris, a politics that has no regard for other people's intelligence, a politics of Me, Myself and I, and a politics of banality. To have political ambition is one thing, but unfounded arrogance with no rectitude base and no followers…

27 Jun

Muharukua is a Man Without Any Sense of Integrity and Cannot Be Trusted

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Stephanus Pombili I have seen SWAPO Party members celebrating the return of Muharukua. Muharukua, who was a member of DTA (now known as PDM), has returned to the SWAPO Party. To me, I would call Muharukua a “man without a sense of integrity and can not be trusted.” Muharukua once said, “Only DTA now ‘Baptised’ PDM can govern Namibia,” but the sudden return of Muharukua to the SWAPO Party with instant Nandi-Ndaitwa praise singing is something one must worry about. Once a man who chanted in parliament that the SWAPO Party was corrupt is now our praise singer, the man…

20 Jun

Not much in South African GNU given colonial project of capitalism

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CAN any one coming from the background of the colonial project of the West put any premium on the much vaunted developments in South Africa, which are very much still work in progress if not very much fantasies of white liberalism as well as opportunists and liberation pretenders running out of ideas and their grands schemes being shown for what they really are and have been. Very much a neo-colonial project that it is and has been, which is part of the grand colonial project which is part of the global capitalist imperial project, which has seen the South being…

19 Jun

Namibia’s Oil and Gas have potential to improve overall economy without adverse on other sectors

info_e12wt4csEnergy, Opinions

Josef Keas Sheehama Although Namibia's oil and gas industry has the potential to boost the country's economy, careful management and diversification are essential to ensuring that this potential is realized without detrimental effects on other industries. Namibia, along with other African countries, is emerging as an attractive oil and gas opportunity due to legislative changes that make the market more appealing. Namibia's partnership with the world community and local enterprises reveals a desire for an industrialized future by utilizing its resources. Namibia's immense untapped resources and favourable investment climate are significant drivers of the sector's future economic growth. Namibia has…

13 Jun

Who is learning what from who between Namibia and South Africa?

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“You will not be able to stay home, brother You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out You will not be able to lose yourself on skag And skip out for beer during commercials, because The revolution will not be televised”. Goes the opening lyrics from the song by Gill Scott-Heron, pioneer of rap music. I relived the song live at Hyde Park in the late 1980s while performing live during the days of agitation for the end of Apartheid capitalism colonialism in Namibia, and likewise the reform of Apartheid in South Africa. Reform of…

10 Jun

NDP 5, Industrialization and the Youth

info_e12wt4csFeatured, OpinionsIndustrialization and the Youth, NDP 5

Namibia, a nation characterized by its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, is on a transformative journey toward economic prosperity and social development. Central to this endeavor is the fifth installment of its National Development Plan (NDP5), a strategic blueprint aimed at fostering inclusive growth, industrialization, and, crucially, empowering the youth. As we examine NDP5, it becomes clear that the synergy between industrialization and youth engagement is pivotal for Namibia's future. Namibia’s National Development Plan 5: An Overview Launched in 2017, NDP5 spans a five-year period, encapsulating Namibia's vision for sustainable development from 2017 to 2022. This plan is structured…

02 Jun

A Tale of Lost Opportunities and Shattered Promises: The Downfall of ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa

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Stephanus Pombili In the annals of political history, the downfall of Cyril Ramaphosa and the African National Congress (ANC) will forever be etched as a tragic tale of lost opportunities and shattered promises. Once the beacon of hope in post-apartheid South Africa, the party succumbed to the corrosive effects of corruption, arrogance, and incompetence. Ramaphosa, a charismatic leader who initially inspired confidence, soon found himself ensnared in a web of scandals that unraveled his credibility. The Marikana massacre of 2012, in which police brutally killed 34 striking miners, cast a long shadow over his presidency. Ramaphosa's handling of the scandal,…