Opinions – Page 4 – Windhoek Observer

28 Jan

Namibia on the rise: streaming, 5G and the promise of progress

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

This week, Namibia found itself in the spotlight for two remarkable reasons, both signalling the country’s growing relevance on the global stage. American internet sensation IShowSpeed arrived in Windhoek as part of his highly publicised Africa StreamTour, drawing international attention to Namibia’s vibrant culture, energy, and youthful dynamism. At the same time, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) announced the rollout of 5G technology, a move poised to revolutionise the nation’s ICT landscape and drive economic growth across multiple sectors. At first glance, these two events may seem unrelated: one a pop culture phenomenon, the other a technical leap…

27 Jan

Sacky Shanghala: From legal drafter and advisor: a pioneer of the law to legal aid seeker as an accused man without a defence

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Sacky Shanghala, former Minister of Justice and former Attorney General of Namibia, spent years boasting that he was the architect of the country’s laws; no national regulation was issued without his opinion. Today, however, he finds himself accused in the Fishrot scandal, without the resources to secure an adequate defence, facing prosecutors paid with multimillion-dollar packages. “Why am I not legally represented as a former Minister of State? Why does the state have money for prosecutors but not for us?” Shanghala asked at the High Court of Windhoek. The contrast…

27 Jan

Words matter: Minister Sankwasa must lead with measure and restraint

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Public office is not merely a position of authority; it is a platform of influence. Every statement made by a minister carries weight beyond ordinary conversation, shaping public perception, institutional trust, and national cohesion. It is for this reason that the recent controversies surrounding Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa deserve sober reflection, not only by the minister himself, but by all who occupy positions of leadership in Namibia’s democratic order. The Editors Forum of Namibia (EFN) issued a strong condemnation following a personal and xenophobic attack directed at The Namibian journalist Tracy Tafirenyika. The attack reportedly arose after Tafirenyika…

26 Jan

Street children, border gaps and a focus on financial and immigration legislation

Opinions

Ian Coffee By late 2025, Namibia faced a visible surge of Angolan minors on city streets and in northern towns, selling wooden curios and begging. Advocates described it as a humanitarian disaster in plain sight. The presence was not confined to border regions. It stretched along the Oshikango to Windhoek corridor and pooled at intersections where tourism is thick and oversight thin. Is this a question of compassion alone, or is it a test of whether our immigration and child protection systems can hold under pressure? The facts are plain. There was a marked increase between August and October. Local…

26 Jan

Omaruru local authority council must be people-centered

Featured, Opinions

Serron NghoshiIt is quite obvious that moments of excitement in local governance are inevitable. The swearing-in of councillors and public announcements on land delivery, housing lists, or infrastructure plans often raise hope among residents, not only for Omaruru but everywhere. However, history has shown that excitement alone does not improve the lives of residents. What truly matters is the work that follows the excitement has passed. For many residents of Omaruru, particularly those in informal settlements and low-income areas, the daily realities remain unchanged; access to serviced land continues to be a major challenge year after year, lists are announced,…

26 Jan

The biggest lie being sold: A reflection on the vilification of black enterprise

Featured, Opinions

“Do you know who the biggest thieves in the country are? It’s black businesspeople. And do you know why you are not successful and why your life is miserable? It’s those same thieving, corrupt black empowerment elites and tenderpreneurs in this country.” That statement, delivered casually in conversation, captures a dangerous narrative quietly normalized in Namibia’s public discourse. It is not merely an opinion; it is the product of a sustained ideological campaign that frames black entrepreneurship, particularly participation in public procurement, as inherently corrupt, morally suspect, and economically parasitic. As a black entrepreneur who has built a business through…

26 Jan

When the uniform becomes a threat: A nation must confront the growing crisis within its armed services

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Namibia woke up once again to the grim reality of gender-based violence intersecting with firearms and authority. In Khomasdal, a man believed to be a serving police officer allegedly shot his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself. The woman has reportedly survived and is receiving medical treatment. The man died at the scene. Police have confirmed the incident but have yet to release a full report. These bare facts are disturbing enough. But beyond the tragedy of two lives violently altered lies a deeper and more troubling question: How did we arrive at a point where those entrusted to…

23 Jan

Oil rush or national ruin: discipline must guide Namibia’s offshore future

Editorial, Featured, Latest, Opinions

In a recent OpEd published in this newspaper titled “Discovery Is the Easy Part: Why Capital Discipline Determines Frontier Offshore Success”, Fernando Sylvester delivers a sobering reminder to nations and investors alike: the true test of offshore resource development does not lie in discovery, but in the discipline that follows it. His argument is both timely and urgent for our country, as we are now standing at the threshold of potentially transformative offshore hydrocarbon wealth. Sylvester notes that frontier offshore discoveries have an outsized effect on perception. Markets react in hours. Governments issue triumphant statements. Partners congratulate one another. Value…

23 Jan

YOUNG OBSERVER | #UNMUTED

Featured, Opinions

This week’s edition of The Young Observer sits at an intersection many young Namibians are familiar with: the space between institutions and intent, between what exists on paper and what is felt in everyday life. Across these pages, we reflect on leadership, youth governance, access to opportunity, and the persistent question of relevance. These are not isolated themes. They are connected by a deeper tension shaping the youth sector today and the struggle to ensure that structures designed for young people remain responsive to their realities. The recent developments within the National Youth Council of Namibia have once again brought…

22 Jan

The age of radical clarity

Opinions

Hileni Amadhila We live in a time when attention is thin and scepticism is thick. People do not want more messages; they want meaning they can trust. Radical clarity is the answer. It is not dumbing down. It is choosing words that meet people where they are and move them somewhere better. Clarity begins with intent. If you cannot say why this message matters in one sentence, you are not ready to send it. Cut the jargon, cut the small print, and say what is true and useful. Honesty is faster than trying to spin a story. When something goes…