Opinions

Tio Nakasole Every year, the World Bank Group classifies the world’s economies into four income groups: low, low-middle, upper-middle, and high. These classifications get updated each year on 1 July, based on the previous year’s Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, expressed in U.S. dollars using the Atlas method. Based on the generous numerical definition of the World Bank's 2024 gross national income (GNI) per capita, economies are divided differently among income groups.  Using the World Bank Atlas method, income calculated per annum is low income, $1,145 or less; lower middle income, $1,146 to $4,515; upper middle income, $4,516 to…

Veruscka Gertze Namibia stands at the tip of a new generation; one where wealth built up by baby boomers and older Gen Xers is starting to pass on to the next generation. But this is not simply an issue of wealth changing hands. It's an issue of changing how wealth is managed, protected, and used according to new values, new family dynamics, and modern realities. Once, most families focused on building wealth in the form of assets like real estate, retirement funds, and businesses.  That's still true, but how families are handling their wealth is evolving. With greater financial sophistication,…

Kae Matundu Tjiparuro Have the Southern African Liberation Movements (LMs) now passed their sell-by dates, run their course, served their purposes, and are no more relevant and/or of any consequence to their countries next phase?  These are pertinent questions, as these movements, most of them years after the political independence of their countries, have now just been running on the crest of their so-called liberation exploits, their claim to having brought, through the nominal political independence of their respective countries, albeit not singularly and solely, it must be said. But at best, having been to a great degree instrumental thereto. …

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Abstract This article critically examines the contemporary relevance and challenges facing Southern Africa’s former liberation movements, specifically in the context of the LIBERATION MOVEMENTS SUMMIT 2025: The three-day indaba, which began last Friday and concluded on Sunday with the Summit of Heads of State and Leaders of Liberation Movements, ran under the theme “Defending the Liberation Gains, Advancing Integrated Socio-Economic Development, Strengthening Solidarity for a Better Africa.” The summit brought together six former liberation movements—the ANC of South Africa (host and outgoing chair), Zanu-PF (Zimbabwe), MPLA (Angola), SWAPO (Namibia), Frelimo…

JOSEF KEFAS SHEEHAMA It's time to have an uncomfortable conversation and be honest with each other. It is upsetting and sad to watch Namibia's multiple scandals emerge, particularly those involving State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in an array of critical economic sectors. This piece will not pinpoint specific entities involved in corruption and mismanagement scandals that have threatened our citizens' livelihoods and service delivery. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah stated during her inaugural speech that corruption is treason and should be treated as such. As a result, corruption emerges as soon as new administrations take office as part of their commitment to improving transparency…