Opinions – Page 5 – Windhoek Observer

02 Feb

Winner takes all, the state loses: How political purges are hollowing out Namibia

Opinions

Last week, after laying my mother to rest, a retired Executive Director, what we used to call a Permanent Secretary, came to pay his respects. After the cultural formalities, we sat and spoke, as Namibians often do, about life. I asked him a simple question: what are you doing with yourself after retirement? He shrugged, almost apologetically. “I’m just busy with a few things, here and there,” he said. There was no bitterness in his voice, only resignation. That moment stayed with me long after he left. Not because of the words themselves, but because of what they symbolised. Here…

02 Feb

New Year full of empowerment and recommitment as mine workers

Featured, Opinions

Shavuka Mbidhi The growth in Namibia's domestic economy is anchored by upbeat activities in the natural resources sector, namely mining. A look back at the economic stories of 2025 began with a radical policy shift geared towards addressing long-standing social constraints, including high levels of poverty and unemployment. Undeniably, Namibia has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the world, and youth unemployment stood at 37.3% in 2024. Part of its Vision 2030, and under the current sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), the government focus is on promoting industrialisation, economic diversification, health and education, job creation, and social…

30 Jan

Dear Inspector General Joseph Shikongo,

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

We write to you as the Windhoek Observer, and by extension on behalf of a concerned but hopeful Namibian public, to commend the Namibian Police Force for launching a national crime prevention operation scheduled to run from 30 January to 1 February across all 14 regions of our country. At face value, this is a welcome and necessary intervention. More importantly, it is long overdue. For far too long, crime has crept steadily into every corner of Namibian life, from our cities to our villages, from our homes to our places of work. What was once sporadic has become routine.…

30 Jan

YOUNG OBSERVER | #UNMUTED

Featured, Opinions

As we move deeper into 2026, the identity of the young Namibian professional is undergoing a quiet but radical transformation. We are no longer defined simply by the degrees we hold or the offices we occupy; we are defined by the complexity of the burdens we carry and the ingenuity of the "hustle" we have mastered. This edition of the Young Observer seeks to peel back the polished veneer of corporate success to reveal the raw, lived truths of our generation. From the high-stakes pressure of the Groove Economy to the systemic lockout of the Experience Paradox, we are navigating…

30 Jan

Ideology vs pragmatism, which is which?

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Yours Truly Ideologically could not but take a keen and deep interest as well as be intrigued by the opinion piece of Rodney Cloete in the Namibian Sun of last Wednesday, 21 January, 2026 titled: Beyond East and West: What Namibia gets wrong about great power competition. Admittedly for Yours Truly, it is not only a good read but a good write for that. Its essence being the endeavour entreating Namibia to wake up to the challenges of today in a practical and unideological, if not an ideological, way, believing the days of ideology, those of hardline Western…

30 Jan

Beyond ceremony, remembering our leaders toward enduring legacy

Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) With only a few days remaining before the anniversary commemorations of three of Namibia’s most distinguished leaders, one cannot help but pause and reflect not only on their lives, but on how the nation chooses to remember them. The month of February carries profound historical and emotional weight for Namibians. It marks the remembrance of Dr Abraham Iyambo on 2 February, the late Third President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr Hage G. Geingob, on 4 February, and the Founding Father of the Namibian Nation and First President of our…

29 Jan

Municipalities: competence must trump politics

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

A video clip now circulating widely on social media has struck a nerve across the country. In it, Prof. Job Amupanda confronts the CEO of a local authority over a presentation made to a parliamentary committee. The presentation contained a slide titled “Statistical Overview”, yet when questioned, the CEO could not provide a single statistic. The uncomfortable exchange that followed has since become a viral moment, but beyond the embarrassment of one official lies a much deeper and more troubling national issue: the appointment of individuals to critical public positions without the competence such offices demand. This newspaper has previously…

28 Jan

Why partnerships matter in the clean energy journey

Energy, Opinions

Gift Kandukira Each year on 26 January, the International Day of Clean Energy reminds the world that the energy transition is not optional; it is foundational to development, resilience and competitiveness. For Namibia, energy is the backbone of household wellbeing, economic growth and industrial productivity. It also speaks directly to SDG7: universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services, a growing share of renewables, and faster energy-efficiency gains. Clean energy is not a peripheral sustainability initiative; it is an operational necessity and a national responsibility. Yet the transition to cleaner energy is not achieved through a single project or…

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…