Opinions

The mantra of President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (NNN) is “business unusual.” Yours Truly Ideologically, cannot but ask the pertinent and daunting question, as indeed all, including our celebrated policy analysts in their respective orientations, should ask: what is “business unusual,” and unusual from what? What has been the "business as usual" for NNN's predecessors and their administrations, of which she has been an integral part at every step of the way, in one capacity or another? From which, a la her mantra, is she determined to depart? Is it in terms of the Swapo Party ideological foundation on which all her…

PAUL T. SHIPALE André du Pisani, emeritus professor of politics at the University of Namibia, wrote an article with the headline: “Politics as a Site of Extraction” that appeared in one of the daily newspapers on Friday, 24 January 2025. In that article, du Pisani says the SWAPO Party’s manifesto outlines laudable and necessary priorities such as; economic growth,  development of agriculture, natural resources beneficiation; energy and infrastructure as well as youth empowerment, but despite the President-elect, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, emphasis that the manifesto would be consistently and fully implemented, he thinks none of these priorities will be realized as the…

Sakaria Johannes In recent days, we have seen the United States, under the leadership of President Donald Trump, make significant decisions that challenge the status quo of foreign aid to Africa. One of the most notable actions was the Trump administration’s decision to cut financial assistance to certain African countries. While this move was met with controversy and criticism, I believe it carries with it a deeper message for Africa; a message that, if embraced, could pave the way for a more prosperous and self-sufficient continent. For too long, African nations have been reliant on foreign aid. While international support…

Wayambekange N Hamufenhu As Namibia sets its sights on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) “access to clean water and sanitation for all” by 2030, questions arise regarding the country’s progress in reaching this ambitious target, particularly in terms of sanitation. While Namibia has made notable strides in improving water access, sanitation remains a pressing challenge. With just five years left until the target year, it is essential to critically assess the current situation, the progress made, and the path ahead to determine if Namibia can achieve SDG 6 on sanitation. So far, Namibia has made significant advancements in…

 Sheldon Husselmann We know it really matters HOW Hyphen delivers green hydrogen for Namibia. It is critical that we acknowledge and position our project in its overall context – balancing the positive socio-economic impacts it will bring to the country and its people, whilst identifying and minimising its environmental impact. We will do this through continuing to work directly with local communities and through very selective siting of infrastructure within the vast project area. Namibia’s position in the world  Globally, there is a strong commitment to transition towards a low-carbon future in a manner that is equitable and tailored to…

PAUL T. SHIPALE Given that Theobald Benjamin Dururo Gurirab, better known as Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab, wasborn on the 23rd of January 1938 amidst the mysteries of the !Oe #gâb mountain, meanderingeast of Okombahe and /Uikrens; the lifeline offered by the #Eseb river that splits /Â/#gomesin two; the alluring Namib desert landscape, just a stone throw away from Usakos; and theremarkable dunes and secrets of the Skeleton Coast, in January 2013, I wrote a piece titled;“Birthday Wishes for Dr. Theo-Ben Gurirab”, in which I narrated how the week was full ofsignificant events to talk about. Chief among those events was the…

Economically, Namibia has for some years now since independence been going through a rough patch. This has been partly due to the administration's own actions, and partly due to the unstable global economic situation.  The ongoing economic headwinds have affected all countries in equal measure, irrespective of any mode of production, including the capitalist or free market one. However, the impact on all countries has not been uniform. By virtue of their differing modes of production, the impact has equally been different. Differing from countries with purely capitalist modes of production, and according to their peculiar characteristics as it may…

John Steytler The President of the Republic of Namibia, His Excellency Dr. Nangolo Mbumba's New Year message to the nation emphasized that 2025 will be the year the country should cement its developmental interventions to become stronger and better for current and future generations. This foresight and clarion call to grow the country socio-economically resonated with me and is in line with the strategic business objectives of the Development Bank of Namibia. Fortunately, after three and half decades of well-thought-out targeted policies, systems, and sound institutions that were developed, Namibia is now positioned to be better after weathering major storms…