Opinions – Page 4 – Windhoek Observer

30 Aug

OBSERVER DAILY | Diplomacy or Trade: Where is the Centre of Gravity?

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Namibia’s diplomatic service has historically been framed around political solidarity, liberation credentials, and the maintenance of good neighbourly relations. These have been important foundations. But the times have changed. The 21st century demands that diplomacy be primarily economic. Today’s ambassadors should not only attend receptions and negotiate communiqués; they should be Namibia’s chief salespeople in foreign capitals. If the Ministry of International Relations and Trade is serious about trade, then returning diplomats should be evaluated not only on how many bilateral agreements were signed, but on whether they facilitated investment, opened markets for Namibian products, or created opportunities for Namibian…

29 Aug

HEROES DAY: FROM MEMORY TO MANDATE – A PAN-AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The Unspoken Mandate Beyond the Rhetoric of Liberation For too long, the echoes of liberation speeches have reverberated across our Namibian landscape, promising unity, prosperity, and an end to the corrosive blight of corruption. A presidential address on Namibia’s Heroes’ Day, let it be understood, is no mere rhetorical exercise it is a profound symbolic act, designed to venerate our national heroes, to forge a deeper unity among our people, and to inextricably link the hallowed legacy of the past with the audacious vision of the nation’s future. Yet, beneath these…

29 Aug

OBSERVER DAILY | “You Can’t Stand Next to the River and Wash Your Face with Saliva”

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

There is an old Nigerian saying that goes, “You cannot stand next to the river and wash your face with saliva.” In other words, when abundance is at your feet, it is an insult to go thirsty. That proverb captures perfectly where Namibia stands today. Our nation sits on fertile soil, blessed with rivers, rainfall, and arable land that has for too long been left underutilized. It is against this backdrop that President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s recent visit to the green schemes of the Kavango East Region takes on profound meaning. On Thursday, she walked the fields of Shadikongoro, taking in the sunflowers…

29 Aug

Whose Heroes /Heroines Day?

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Whose Heroes'/Heroines' Day? This is by no means a rhetorical question but a pertinent one after 35 years of the observation of this day. That is supposed to be not only historic but also sacrosanct, and this year it was just observed, or should one say some observed it, this Tuesday in Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi Region. Yours Truly Ideologically could not but observe the pre-coverage of the Day in the media a few days leading up to the official observance with keen interest but also trepidation later replaced by consternation. Especially the articles and broadcasts, as…

29 Aug

Youth and class consciousness in the face of Namibia’s upcoming elections

Opinions

Sakaria Johannes According to Karl Marx, class consciousness is the awareness by a social class of its own position, interests, and power in relation to other classes within the structure of a society. As Namibia heads toward the regional and local authority elections this November, the role of young people in shaping the future of this nation cannot be overstated. This moment demands not only youth participation but also youth awakening. It is a time for young Namibians to rise with clarity, purpose, and class consciousness, to seize democratic spaces and steer the country toward a more just and equitable…

28 Aug

OBSERVER DAILY | Electricity cannot become a luxury for the rich

Featured, Main, Opinions

There was a time, not too long ago, when a twenty-dollar note could buy you enough electricity to last a few days. Today, that same N$20 barely gives you a handful of units that flicker out before you even notice the lights are on. For many Namibians, this is no longer just a minor inconvenience. It is a looming crisis that threatens to turn electricity, one of the most basic necessities of modern life, into a luxury product reserved for the wealthy. On Friday, the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) announced a 3.8% increase in tariffs for the current financial…

28 Aug

ALL THAT THE VICTIMS, OFFENDERS & COMMUNITY NEED IS CLOSURE AND INTEGRATION

Featured, Opinions

"A Call for a Gazetted True & Genuine National Reconciliation Policy" Lazarus Kwedhi The death of Solomon “Jesus” Awala, who was given a state funeral in recognition of his role as a liberation struggle hero, has reignited painful questions about Namibia’s war past. While many honour his military service as a PLAN fighter and former Chief of the Namibian Defence Force, others remember his alleged role in the torture and killing of comrades accused of spying in what became known as the Lubango Dungeons. His reputation as the so-called “Butcher of Lubango” has stirred deep anger among survivors and families…

27 Aug

A song that speaks to the soul of a nation

Opinions

Hidipo Hamata There are moments in our national life when an ordinary act inside a classroom transforms into something extraordinary for the whole country. One teacher, a woman, a mother, stood before her pupils not with a textbook in hand, but with a song that has since captured our collective imagination. Her initiative — teaching children a song to protect themselves from inappropriate touching and harassment — is more than just a creative method of education. It is a national call to conscience, a mother’s cry for protection, and a teacher’s oath to safeguard the innocence of every child entrusted…

27 Aug

Why parliament must close Namibia’s loopholes on private employment agencies?

Opinions

Julius Natangwe Across Namibia, a quiet injustice has become routine: workers supplied by private employment agencies often called labour-hire firms are doing the same work as permanent staff while taking home a fraction of the invoice paid by the client enterprise. In some cases, workers report receiving as little as 30% of the invoiced amount, with the remainder disappearing in the pockets of private employment agencies as mark-ups. Their complaints aren’t isolated; One of the aims and objectives of The Revolutionary Union (RU), a trade union that I represent reads “6.5 to promote or oppose as the case may be,…

27 Aug

Unbalanced growth: the misalignment of infrastructure and urban priorities

Opinions

Ester Shafashike In too many corners of our country, the foundations of progress are crumbling. Schools lack proper buildings, and classrooms made of zinc sheets or tents have become the norm. Learners struggle with inadequate materials and science labs that exist only on paper. These conditions not only undermine the quality of education but also rob young minds of the opportunity to thrive. Beyond education, basic services remain out of reach for countless communities. Residents walk long distances to access medical facilities, often navigating deteriorated roads that suffer from poor workmanship. Even when road projects begin, the results are substandard…