Opinions – Page 21 – Windhoek Observer

05 Nov

Is Industrialisation possible without an Agricultural revolution?

ObserverOpinionsIs Industrialisation possible without an Agricultural revolution?

“Africa has not initiated an agricultural revolution that is able to sustain a positive growth of agricultural and food production per capita and per rural household. Yet it is the condition to industrialisation, urbanisation and social development. In Africa, the production and the productivity per rural household have remained stagnant if not declined in some regions. Under such conditions, rural emigration is not a result of a relative over-population created by agricultural growth but it is a desperate escape of populations trying to evade rural hunger. This type of emigration results in monstrous urbanisation, without hope for industry to take…

05 Nov

Mid-Term Budget Review: Never too late to reform

ObserverOpinionsMid-Term Budget Review: Never too late to reform

Josef Kefas Sheehama Namibian Finance Minister, Mr Iipumbu Shiimi, delivered his 2023/2024 Mid-Term Budget speech on 31 October 2023, taking note of the achievements, challenges, and performances of State-Owned Enterprise (SOE). The Mid-Term Budget Review plays a critical role in the entire budgetary process because it sets the tone for the fiscal framework for the next main budget. The budget is the most important economic instrument of government, as it reflects the country’s socioeconomic policy priorities by translating priorities and political commitments into expenditures. This would include projections for inflation, productivity growth, unemployment, and balance of trade. The economic outlook…

24 Oct

Investments in reality practically serve the interests of capitalists themselves

ObserverOpinions

ARTICLE 100 of the Namibian Constitution talks about the “Sovereign Ownership of Natural Resources,” meaning of course the country, Namibia’s, natural resources with the sovereigns being none other than the people. But towards what end? One cannot but be prompted to ask. But before pondering this question it is apt to clarify what is meant by the country’s natural resources. Once again the constitution is pertinent as it is categorical. “Land, water and natural resources below and above the surface of the land and in the continental shelf and within the territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone of Namibia.”…

13 Oct

Investments for continued impoverishment, self-enrichment or for betterment, upliftment?

ObserverOpinionsInvestments for continued impoverishment, self-enrichmentor for betterment, upliftment?

Kae Matundu Tjiparuro SHOULD the country really be appreciative of the government’s efforts to attract investments, which have seen many delegations crisscrossing the globe presumably in mobilsising investors. This is a pertinent question in view of the numbers of trips which has been undertaken by government’s officials, including the President, to woo investors. As well as the investment conferences the government and country have hosted and continue to these days. Whether such investment rides and conferences have been having the desired results remain to be seen. But here the question Yours Truly Ideologically wishes to muse about by himself, and…

05 Oct

Sports Commentary

ObserverOpinions, Sportse Internal Rugby Board (IRB). The IRB is the FIFA of world rugby., Sports Commentary

Isack Hamata There is a serious case to be made about how small rugby nations like Namibia are treated by the Internal Rugby Board (IRB). The IRB is the FIFA of world rugby. Our national team has been rushed through the group matches, playing the first match on 9 September and the final one on 29 September while the other teams in our group i.e New Zealand, France, Uruguay and Italy are only concluding their group matches on the 6th October. That is almost a full month of just playing group stage matches while the Namibian national team is already…

02 Oct

Creative Oasis: Addressing Regional Artistic Gap

ObserverOpinions

Sarah Anghuwo As an ardent advocate for the arts, it is disheartening to witness the profound artistic void that exists within our regions. The absence of functional art facilities, let alone museums, in many areas is a stark reality. To compound this issue, a simple Google search for art facilities, like museums, in places such as Oshakati, yields paltry and insufficient results. This should never be regarded as the norm, for the lack of such establishments not only douses the creative flames but also stifles the dreams of aspiring young artists in our midst. Let us remember that each region…

02 Oct

Fuel prices are rising again as the economy struggles

ObserverOpinionsFuel prices are rising again as the economy struggles

Josef Kefas Sheehama The Ministry of Mines and Energy has announced an increase in the prices of petrol and diesel, citing a combination of rising international oil prices and the depreciation of the Namibian Dollar and catastrophic flooding in Libya. With effective from 04 October 2023 the price of diesel will increase by N$2.40 per litre whilst the price of petrol will increase by N$1.90 per litre. This substantial increase means that a litre of fuel prices in Namibia will be N$22.88 per litre of petrol, diesel 50ppm will be N$23.15 per litre and of diesel 10ppmd will now set…

29 Sep

Only consciousness among progressive classes may bring about a real alternative

ObserverOpinionsOnly consciousness among progressive classes may bring about a real alternative

YOURS Truly Ideologically cannot but conclude that unless some miracle happens between now and whenever, Namibia is forever condemned to perpetual exploitation and endless poverty. This is as far as most if not all the current political parties and formations continue to accept, embrace and glorify capitalism as a fait accompli as most seem to. Because currently in Namibia there is little, if any at all, among the various political parties and formations to choose from ideologically, policy choices let alone in terms clear and unambiguous and non-ambivalent commitment to radical socio-economic transformation. Whether one would wish to deny it…

22 Sep

Just Saying with Matts Haikali

ObserverOpinions, SportsJust Saying with Matts Haikali

In the world of sports, fairness and equity should be fundamental principles, ensuring that competition thrives on merit rather than the size of one’s pocket. Unfortunately, in the MTC Premier Netball League, there is a disconcerting trend, with government-funded institutions dominating the league, while community-funded teams struggle to keep pace. Teams such as wanders, united, Black Africa, Tigers used to be competitive, but that’s the story of the past. Am just saying, this glaring discrepancy is not merely a reflection of superior resources, but a challenge to the core values of sportsmanship and equality that we hold dear. The MTC…

21 Sep

Why Namibia can be Africa’s next ‘Dubai’

ObserverOpinionsUnited Arab Emirates (UAE), Why Namibia can be Africa’s next ‘Dubai’

Elvis Mboya Namibia can rapidly transform from a third world economy to be one of the most competitive countries in Africa and a global commercial hub, to mirror the United Arab Emirates (UAE), taking into account their similarities - if it can adopt UAE’s economic growth strategies. In the process, Namibia’s sleepy coastal cities such as Walvis Bay and Swakopmund can transform to be like UAE’s global finance and tourism hub - Dubai. Remember, it took Dubai barely 20 years to develop from a sparsely populated desert country founded 50 years ago, that depended on fishing along its vast coastline,…