Opinions – Page 4 – Windhoek Observer

04 Mar

Truth must be faced head on: Power, terror and the crisis of moral consistency

Opinions

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) “If the truth is not faced head on, the lie will not disappear. It will destroy everything.” In the short story The Suit (1963) by Can Themba, a betrayal is symbolised by an object left in plain sight. No one confronts it. No one removes it. It remains in the room silent, heavy, and corrosive until it destroys the household. Today, the international order feels like that room. A narrative sits at the centre of global politics: that powerful states act primarily in defence of freedom, stability, and global security…

03 Mar

Given MAGA Jackson’s death cannot but be untimely!

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro A lifetime of 85 years was literally reduced to 30 minutes in Namibia during which Namibia, including President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, last Thursday, paid homage and tribute to civil rights leader, the late Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson. A tribute that had all signs of a hurried job and thus was reluctantly hosted. Worst of all and ironically but not strangely, late Jackson’s life was reduced by the United States of America's (USA) ambassador to Windhoek to a mere two minutes or so. Perhaps a reflection of the reality that few of his contemporaries are now around, especially in Namibia,…

03 Mar

Between arithmetic and transformation, fiscal discipline and growth: The budget anchors the ship without charting a new course

Opinions

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Namibia has just paid off the largest external debt obligation in its history. Yet today, it spends more than twice as much on interest payments as it does on development. That is not a crisis. It is a crossroads. When Finance Minister Ericah Shafudah tabled the N$104 billion 2026/27 national budget, she did not promise miracles. She promised stability. The deficit narrows from 6.6% to 5.5% of GDP. Public debt, projected at 65.2% of GDP, is expected to stabilise and gradually decline. There are no reckless giveaways, no fiscal fireworks,…

02 Mar

TURNING POINT | Budget reflections: Structural realities facing Namibian entrepreneurs

Featured, Opinions

When the minister of finance tabled the national budget, I listened through two lenses: that of a citizen concerned with fiscal sustainability and that of an entrepreneur operating within Namibia’s regulatory and commercial framework. A national budget is more than a fiscal ledger; it is an institutional signal of how the state conceptualises growth, allocates risk and positions the private sector within the broader development agenda. The budget reflects an awareness of competitiveness. Yet it also underscores structural constraints that continue to shape the ease of doing business in Namibia. These constraints are not abstract debates confined to policy forums;…

27 Feb

YOUNG OBSERVER | #UNMUTED

Opinions

As we look toward Parliament next week, the air in Namibia is thick with anticipation. A new budget, a reformed healthcare system, and a rising tide of entrepreneurship in our regions all point to a single truth. The New Namibia is no longer a distant promise because it is currently under construction by those willing to do the work. We are witnessing a moment where policy and possibility are finally converging, demanding a response from every citizen who has ever hoped for a more equitable society. Leading without a title is a concept we must now put into practice with…

27 Feb

YOUNG OBSERVER | Fuelling the high performer

Featured, Opinions

Physical health is the primary engine of cognitive performance, yet the link between nutrition and daily productivity is often overlooked in the rush of a demanding professional schedule. To maintain high levels of focus and energy throughout the day, it is essential to view food as more than just a source of satiety because nutrition is the biological foundation that dictates mental clarity, decision-making capacity, and the ability to sustain effort over long periods. Whether managing a complex technical project, studying for advanced professional qualifications, or navigating a fast-paced corporate environment, your output is intrinsically tied to your metabolic input.…

27 Feb

YOUNG OBSERVER | The N$100 billion conversation

Featured, Opinions

This week, the minister of finance stepped up to the podium in Parliament to table the 2026/27 national budget. For many young Namibians, this moment often feels like a distant exercise in accounting—a series of dry numbers and complex fiscal terms that belong to the world of politicians and economists. However, in a year defined by shifting energy landscapes and a total transformation in how we access education and healthcare, this budget is the most important document you will not read. It is the blueprint for your economic survival and the primary tool that will determine whether the "New Namibia"…

27 Feb

YOUNG OBSERVER | The health pill: Reclaiming the standard of care

Opinions

Following a directive from President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, senior government officials, including executive directors, the deputy auditor general, the secretary to the National Assembly and the President herself, will begin the transition from private medical suites to the corridors of our state hospitals. This is not merely a policy change or a budget-saving exercise because it is a profound reclamation of the public standard. For the youth of Namibia, this shift represents the end of a two-tier reality where the quality of a citizen’s healthcare was determined by the colour of their medical aid card. To understand the youthful urgency of…

27 Feb

YOUNG OBSERVER | The strength of second acts

Opinions

A child does not mark the end of a young woman's potential, yet for decades, the social narrative in Namibia has often treated young motherhood as a definitive full stop to personal and professional ambition. As we navigate the early months of 2026, it is time to dismantle this outdated stigma and recognise that the resilience required to raise a child while pursuing a future is one of the highest forms of leadership. Following the implementation of the latest national strategies for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health, and nutrition, we are seeing a shift in how the state and…

27 Feb

A budget that stabilises but does not transform

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

When minister Ericah Shafudah tabled the N$104 billion national budget this week, she presented it as a careful balancing act between fiscal discipline and developmental necessity. On paper, it is a responsible document. In substance, however, it raises a more difficult question: is Namibia managing decline cautiously or building growth boldly? The answer, at least for now, leans toward caution. The numbers are instructive. Of the N$104 billion, a staggering N$81.3 billion is directed toward operational expenditure, salaries, administration, recurrent costs and the machinery of government. Only N$6.5 billion is earmarked for development spending. That ratio should concern anyone serious…