Opinions

Tomas Nashongo Access to reliable public transportation is a catalyst for urban mobility, linking individuals to socio-economic opportunities and employment. Public transportation serves as a lifeline, connecting people to essential services and financial activities. However, in Namibia, the legacy of apartheid—a policy of political, social, and economic discrimination against non-white people—has left many without adequate access to transportation. Orcutt explains that apartheid-era policies marginalized certain communities, restricting their mobility and access to transportation services. This deliberate exclusion not only limited access to transport but also preserved economic inequalities by denying people opportunities for work, social interaction, and cultural engagement. The…

Tomas Nashongo A closer examination of democracy reveals that it is a system of governance where eligible members of the state dictate laws and policies through their elected representatives. Consequently, these elected representatives work to serve the people. We can thus assess that democracy is a system of governance by people for the people equality and freedom is thus at the core of democratic principles. The refusal to legalize same-sex matrimony questions the anatomy of Namibia's democracy because it denies same sex couples the fundamental tenets of democracy, which is equality and freedom in this case to marry. Furthermore, the…

Esther Shakela It’s 9 o clock on a Tuesday morning and you are getting frustrated because the desk officer who needs to draft an authorization letter for your pensioned mother to finally get approval for a house is not answering their landline. The desk officer is yet to arrive at the office, he left his house at 08h30. You send an e-mail and decide to call again during the course of the day. Thereafter, you answer the landline in your office and inform a citizen that they should call you back later and return to discussing the latest episode of…

There can be no better time than now for the country to be become more vigilant over its natural resources and with the same vigour that it is currently crisscrossing the globe, like the late President Dr Hage Geingob did, looking for investors to tap into the rich natural resources of the country. Likewise there can be no better generation than the current and future one to do this. Because it behooves it to ensure that such natural resources are preserved for future generations, which is none other than them. One cannot but notice that currently it is this very…

Stephanus Pombili SWAPO Party is notoriously known for stifling dissent, ousting those they perceive as threats, and eliminating those who outshine them in intelligence. In 1999, Ben Uulenga was labelled with derogatory terms, and the late Hidipo Hamutenya famously voiced out "It's called outside SWAPO party," while his colleague Cde Jerry Maudjuu Ekandjo branded him a "traitor" for advocating for justice and opposing constitutional amendments. Despite this being a common practice, the SWAPO party has failed to acknowledge the internal strife it is causing. An Oshikwamyama proverb states, "What is destroying the party is within the party." Ben Uulenga went…

Mulopo Siseho In Namibia's 34 years of independence, the elections of 2024 will be the most competitive. The opposition political leaders, filled with high expectations, have prepared themselves and are ready to dance. win the upcoming presidential elections. The past South African 2024 elections, The ANC was baffled, which boosted the confidence of Namibian opposition leaders. Though safe, calling the previous elections uncompetitive is misguided. The recent elections in South Africa have sparked the high hopes of current opposition leaders. This has motivated them to vigorously compete for power. The same election might have also put the ruling party under…

Josef Kefas Sheehama Given the potential for the blue economy to generate a significant number of direct and indirect jobs, Namibia has a great chance for long-term economic growth and development. The NDP 5 interventions can also be utilized to realize Namibia's Vision 2030 aspirations of eradicating poverty, decreasing inequality, and fostering an inclusive economy. Namibia must revive, implement robust climate change mitigation strategies, and maintain an eco-friendly economy that generates employment to preserve the ecosystems. The country will thereafter be able to effectively combat climate change. The green economy is defined by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as…

Thomas Nashongo The anatomy of Namibian democracy is dependent on the commitment of all those eligible to vote. While youth engagement is often highlighted, participation by all eligible age groups is as important.It is also critical to understand that first-time voters come from a variety of ages and backgrounds. Whether they are young or old while casting a ballot, newly registered first-time voters' voices are vital to delegate a democratic type of government. Namibian citizens should embrace voting as a civic duty and a rite of passage especially for first time voters. As a citizen of a vibrant democratic one…