Opinions

Lazarus Kwedhi Public memory is one of the most powerful instruments in shaping a nation’s identity. The names of towns, streets, institutions and monuments are not merely administrative labels; they are historical markers that record the journey of a people. When such markers are erased or replaced, history itself risks being distorted or forgotten. For this reason, the growing practice of renaming and rebranding public infrastructure and institutions in Namibia deserves critical reflection. A lesson from local history illustrates this point. When my grandfather, Kwedhi kwa Shivute, who was then the headman of Eputa Village, passed away in 1956, Tk.…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The international system is undergoing one of the most profound transformations since the end of the Cold War. Rising geopolitical tensions, technological rivalries, economic competition, and persistent regional conflicts are reshaping the architecture of global power. What many analysts increasingly describe is not simply a series of isolated crises, but the gradual emergence of a new world order. Within this evolving landscape, the diplomatic posture adopted by Namibia’s eighth administration deserves careful attention. By reaffirming a policy rooted in strategic neutrality, non-alignment, multilateral engagement, and pragmatic diplomacy, Namibia is positioning…

Josef Kefas Sheehama  The 2026–2027 national budget is a critical instrument for shaping Namibia’s economic path. It seeks to address structural weaknesses, stabilise macroeconomic conditions, and support development priorities.  In an environment of moderate growth, fiscal constraints, and high unemployment, the budget reflects the challenge of balancing financial discipline with the need for investment in infrastructure, human capital, and industrial capacity. Achieving this balance requires careful policy coordination. Governments must manage public debt and inflation while creating conditions that promote long-term growth. Strategic allocation of resources toward sectors that enhance productivity, combined with institutional reforms and private-sector engagement, can improve…

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Lately various instances have been running in and out of State House for what the Presidency has been billing as the conventional, but in the parlance of the first lap of the 8th administration, perhaps it is the business unusual of Her Excellency’s democratic credentials of openness, punctuated, among others, by consultations with certain entities.  So far for most of them, if not all of them, in their various and respective hues and sizes, as well as differing outlooks, political parties and/or formations; traditional authorities and/or leaders of traditional communities; chiefs; paramount chiefs; kings – call them what…

Prof Uchendu Eugene Chigbu One humid morning, on a flight from Kampala to Windhoek via Johannesburg, I had a conversation with someone that later made me think twice about tourism in Namibia. A lady had just boarded the plane and moved to sit next to me. She buckled her seat belt and took out a tablet, keen to put her time to use.  “I’m Elke. Are you also stopping in South Africa?” she asked, looking sternly at me. “I’m flying to Namibia,” I replied. Surprised by my response, she kicked off a long story of her escapades travelling through Namibia…

Kae Matundu Tjiparuro The report and/or the derivatives of the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources cannot but be highly suspect. Regarding the exploration of uranium in the region of Omahake, specifically in the Stampriet area by Headspring Investments, a subsidiary of the Russian energy company. A matter the local media has lately been zeroing in on. But at variance.  One headlining its story on the exploration of uranium is hanging in the balance. While the subsequent informed and reported on the Parliament’s Standing Committee on Natural Resources’ love and/or favourable inclination towards the exploration.  Gunning for…

Victoria Shekutamba Burnout is often described as a personal struggle and portrayed as an employee feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope with workplace demands. However, burnout is not merely an individual issue. It is an organisational risk with significant long-term consequences for performance, morale, and institutional sustainability. In many workplaces across Namibia, burnout does not always present obvious symptoms. Employees continue to report for duty, meet deadlines, and attend meetings. On the surface, operations appear stable and functional. Yet beneath this apparent stability, energy levels may be declining, engagement may be weakening, and cognitive sharpness may be gradually diminishing. It…

Lazarus Kwedhi As conventional wisdom dictates, “oshilongo mpa oosa, mpa ondigolo” and “gumwe otati sa, gumwe otati kalako", meaning that one part of the country is mourning while another part is celebrating. One person wants you dead while another wants you alive. In light of this conventional wisdom, the USA–Israel coordinated military strike against the Islamic Republic of Iran that reportedly killed Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with other national and military leaders has ignited mixed feelings among Iranians, in Middle Eastern countries, and around the world at large. Anti-Islamic Republic government supporters are seen supporting the USA–Israel…