Opinions – Page 4 – Windhoek Observer

02 Oct

OBSERVER DAILY | Resettlement farms: From land reform to national embarrassment

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

There are few topics in Namibia as emotionally charged and politically potent as land reform. Rightly so. Land is not only an economic asset but also a deeply symbolic issue rooted in the country’s colonial and apartheid past. The generations of black Namibians were robbed of land, denied ownership, and consigned to the margins of society. When independence came, the cry was loud and clear: “The fight was about the land.” And now, over three decades later, we must ask—what have we done with the land we fought for? The painful truth is this: Namibia’s resettlement programme has failed. Catastrophically.…

01 Oct

OBSERVER DAILY | A noble gesture that will save lives: MVA Fund leads the way

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

This week, Namibia witnessed a moment of quiet revolution in the nation’s healthcare system. The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund’s donation of a state-of-the-art Lodox full-body X-ray machine to the Ministry of Health and Social Services marks not only a milestone for Katutura Intermediate Hospital but also a shining example of what can be achieved through public-private collaboration in addressing Namibia’s critical infrastructure challenges. Valued at over N$13 million, this generous gift is far more than a piece of medical equipment; it is a lifeline. Installed at the Katutura Intermediate Hospital’s emergency unit, the Lodox machine is the first of…

30 Sep

OBSERVER DAILY | The National Youth Development Fund: A second look, a new hope

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

When the Windhoek Observer previously wrote that the National Youth Development Fund (NYDF) was “dead on arrival,” we did not make that assertion lightly. Our conclusion stemmed from years of observing well-intended government initiatives being crippled by red tape, poor execution, lack of continuity, and, frankly, the failure to place the youth at the centre of development, not just in policy rhetoric, but in real, tangible action. However, today, we are prepared to re-examine our position. We are willing to say: we may have been too quick to write the fund off. The launch of the NYDF at Gobabis on…

29 Sep

Etosha is burning and we are failing it

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Etosha National Park, the crown jewel of Namibia’s conservation and tourism legacy, is burning. It is not merely grass and trees that are turning to ash; it is our national pride, our environmental responsibility, and the livelihoods of thousands. As flames devour hectares of this irreplaceable ecosystem, what is perhaps more disturbing than the fire itself is the collective silence and stunning lack of urgency from those who ought to be leading the response. Where is the outrage? Where is the accountability? Etosha is not a small, peripheral reserve; it spans over 22 000 km², making it one of the…

26 Sep

YOUNG OBSERVER | The future of connectivity in Namibia: progress that includes everyone

Featured, Opinions

From mobile payments to digital banking, Namibians are certainly in their connectivity and technology advancement era. Recently, both MTC and Paratus have announced the launch of e-SIM technology, promising a seamless, flexible and convenient experience for mobile users. For those unfamiliar, an eSIM (embedded SIM) allows you to activate a mobile plan without a physical SIM card. It is quite the popular choice, especially for frequent travellers who do not have the luxury of time to buy a physical SIM card while in transit or who simply want to stay connected without constantly swapping SIMs. While Namibia’s network coverage is…

26 Sep

YOUNG OBSERVER | #Unlimited

Featured, Opinions

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) recently advertised a vacancy for an ICT Specialist, specifying that it was open to female candidates only. In a country that proudly celebrates having its first female President, a female vice president, a female speaker of parliament, and a notable level of women’s representation in the cabinet and the National Assembly, all achievements that have earned Namibia international praise, one might have expected applause. Instead, the announcement was met with resistance, scepticism, and even questions about its legality. The legal framework, as critics quickly pointed out, complicates matters. The Labour Act does not…

26 Sep

President Netumbo-Nandi Ndaitwah’s appointment of Namibia’s envoys: Transformative leadership or business as usual?

Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) ABSTRACT This analysis examines President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s six months in office through the lens of Paulo Freire’s conscientisation and Roberto Mangabeira Unger’s institutional reinvention and transformative leadership. Moving beyond ceremonial assessments, this examination intends to look at the mantra of “business unusual” of President Nandi-Ndaitwah as opposed to the substantive transformation of Namibian governance structures if juxtaposed to Freire and Unger’s conceptual frameworks. Introduction In any political cycle, the sixth month of governance is a symbolic milestone. It is the moment for a preliminary balance: assessing what has been delivered,…

26 Sep

OBSERVER DAILY | A Statue on Robben Island Is Not Enough: Toivo Ya Toivo Deserves More

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

As the Namibian nation commemorates the legendary Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo, a life-size statue of him will be unveiled on Robben Island in South Africa. This tribute is part of the historic Robben Island Prisoners Reunion, a key event celebrating the sacrifices of those who fought for the liberation of Namibia and South Africa. While this is a significant symbolic gesture, it raises a critical question: Is this enough for a leader whose legacy helped shape the very foundations of an independent Namibia? Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo deserves more than just a statue on a distant island; he deserves recognition…

26 Sep

Political, human and civil rights meaningless without socio-economic rights, justice!

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Are human rights and economic rights, the latter entailing socio-economic justice, mutually inclusive and/or exclusive? Yours Truly Ideologically cannot but pose this pertinent question in view of the fact that the two are usually treated and projected as not interlinked, interdependent and intertwined. Just as much as economic emancipation is and has been treated as more a byproduct of civil and political rights instead of being a focus of agitation and/or advocacy in itself. Going back to the days of national resistance and subsequently the liberation struggle. When emphasis was on freedom and independence, while the return of…

25 Sep

The cost of caring

Featured, Opinions

Ashante Manetti In Namibia, the workplace is changing but not like we might think. Apart from the performance appraisal level, team meetings, and productivity monitoring, an emerging crisis is financial stress. The 2024 Old Mutual Financial Services Monitor revealed that over half of working Namibians are feeling financially strained. It's more than a statistic: it's a silent struggle that affects how people arrive at work, how they treat their teams, and how they work. Financial stress doesn't have a work schedule when employees clock in. It goes to the office with them, to the meetings, and to the interactions. It's…