Opinions

Filleppuss George Ampweya  Namibia’s workers face a growing trend that Trade unions and employees alike must scrutinise carefully: the rise of the so-called ’Voluntary Separation Scheme”. At face value, these schemes appear fair and harmless as they offer employees a “choice” to leave employment on mutual grounds, often with a separation package that seems better than statutory retrenchment pay-outs. But beneath this façade lies a practice that, if misused, can directly undermine the very principles of fairness, transparency, and collective bargaining process that the Labour Act, 11 of 2007 enshrines for any employer considering job cuts for economic reasons. Section…

Joshua Razikua Kaumbi At the time of paying tribute to Immanuel Ngatjizeko my article was dedicated to Philip Keripuu Tjerije – a live tribute.  Well, now Philip Keripuu Tjerije has died. I would always call him Comrade Senior as I would pose the same question as to whether Swapo in Omaruru would die with them. Philip Tjerije a second of seven children was born 13 June 1947 in Otjihinaparero and grew up in Omaruru, in that street that came all the way from town, a street of one big family. Our street connected separate worlds without irony. He died on…

Ndumba J Kamwanyah Namibia is once again in the spotlight because of corruption. This time it's not the Fishrot but the state-owned oil company, NAMCOR. Thirteen individuals, including entities, Have been charged in connection with a corruption scandal involving over N$500 million. This is not just another news story. It’s a serious reminder of how deep corruption has grown in our country, and how much work is needed to fix it. What’s shocking is not only the amount of money involved, but the network involved and  how long it took for action to be taken. Signs that something was wrong…

Kae Matundu Tjiparuro IT is mindboggling how many times African leaders have to read the writing on the wall, which has been there since the days Imperialism and Colonialism, for them to realise that they are on their own. Regarding steering and shepherding African societies towards genuine economic emancipation and/or the whatever after Kwame Nkurumah’s political kingdom which all of the African countries have obtained. But since the dawn of political kingdoms not much have been happening and is happening to reach what should be the promised land. Economic emancipation.  That few if any of these countries can ever claim…

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) There are realities whose poignancy transcends mere numerical quantification. Namibia’s recent downgrade by the World Bank’s classification - a global singularity, being the only state to transition from upper - middle - income to lower - middle - income status in 2025 does not constitute a mere statistical datum. It represents, rather, the visceral cry of an economic paradigm in the process of disintegration, an echo vehemently amplified by intellectual contributions in this prestigious journal.  This imperative cry demands an introspection that transcends the coldness of econometric language, delving into…

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Abstract As President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah marks 100 days in Office and is expected to announce a new round of ambassadorial and high commission appointments, with envoys scheduled for deployment in September this year, this article seeks to interrogate diplomacy in the 21st century which confronts a multifaceted crisis of legitimacy and effectiveness, characterized by inherent contradictions between economic interests and discernible discrepancies in geopolitical practices.   The article explores the evolution of contemporary diplomacy, with a particular focus on economic diplomacy, and critically analyzes its impacts, especially on African countries.  It…

Kae Matundu Tjiparuro With the world on the brink of the Third World War (WWIII), African political leaders were meeting in the Angolan capital of Luanda. Presumably to find and foster business links with business people from the United States of America (USA). Oblivious to the war ongoing, which was then in its 12th day between Israel and Iran, was nothing but a capitalist war America waging in the Middle East, with Israel as its proxy. One of the many wars Capitalist and Imperialist America has ever been waging all over the world since the dawn of Capitalism and Imperialism.…