Opinions – Page 22 – Windhoek Observer

15 Nov

Revitalizing Namibia’s Tourism and Hospitality Industries: A Path to Economic Recovery

ObserverNational News, OpinionsRevitalizing Namibia’s Tourism and Hospitality Industries: A Path to Economic Recovery

Josef Kefas Sheehama The global tourism industry, contributing approximately 10% to the global GDP, holds immense significance. In Namibia, tourism and hospitality contribute N$7.7 billion, equivalent to 3.7% of nominal GDP, with an indirect contribution of N$24.8 billion or 12.0%. Despite its importance, the industry faced severe setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating strategic interventions for recovery. The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism aims to rejuvenate the tourism sector by emphasizing domestic tourism and marketing Namibia as a safe holiday destination. Acknowledging the Namibian Tourism Board’s role, the Ministry’s active involvement is deemed critical in navigating the…

14 Nov

Who is to benefit from Green Hydrogen?

ObserverOpinionsWho is to benefit from Green Hydrogen?

OW much do ordinary Namibians really stand to benefit immediately and directly from Green Hydrogen? Yours Truly Ideologically cannot but think loudly and wonder in view of the ongoing seeming fanfare bordering on craziness if not misplaced expectation surrounding Green Hydrogen. Especially in terms of the ordinary user, especially those who currently do not have access to any means of energy, starting from the so-called informal settlements in most of Namibia’s urban centres, which at a rapid rate have been gaining room as sprawling towns or cities. As well as our rural areas, predominantly the communal ones, where and which…

10 Nov

Who is to benefit from Green Hydrogen?

ObserverOpinions

HOW much do ordinary Namibians really stand to benefit immediately and directly from Green Hydrogen? Yours Truly Ideologically cannot but think loudly and wonder in view of the ongoing seeming fanfare bordering on craziness if not misplaced expectation surrounding Green Hydrogen. Especially in terms of the ordinary user, especially those who currently do not have access to any means of energy, starting from the so-called informal settlements in most of Namibia’s urban centres, which at a rapid rate have been gaining room as sprawling towns or cities. As well as our rural areas, predominantly the communal ones, where and which…

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…