Opinions – Page 9 – Windhoek Observer

14 Nov

YOUNG OBSERVER | #UNMUTED

Featured, Opinions

A recent survey revealed a statistic that should alarm every policymaker, educator and truly, even the business leaders in this country: only 19% of our young people, those aged 18 to 35, aspire to start their own businesses. This figure reportedly represents the lowest rate of entrepreneurial ambition recorded across the African continent. Simultaneously, a massive 44% of our youth state a clear preference for jobs within the civil service. This paradox goes beyond just a statistical anomaly. It is actually a confirmation that we have structured our economy and society in a way that actively encourages our brightest minds…

13 Nov

The “business as unusual” mantra is not enough!

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro CERTAINLY it needs more than the mantra and/or slogan “business unusual” for the current administration of Namibia to rescue the country from the current stagnation quagmire. As there is and can be no better word to encapsulate the country’s socio-economic situation currently than stagnation, if not deterioration, degeneration and regression. Nobody knows, let alone the administration’s spin doctors, analysts and economists, who can and may otherwise make the masses believe that indeed the country is better and/or shall be better served now and in the foreseeable future. On the contrary, the red flags have, for some time now,…

13 Nov

Etunda Farm Primary School: A beacon of hope

Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) In the heart of Namibia’s Otjozondjupa Region, some 30 km south of Otavi, rises a vision turned reality: Etunda Farm Primary School. Born from the foresight of Namibia’s founding president, Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, this institution stands not just as a school but as a testament to what leadership guided by purpose can achieve. A vision beyond wealth The land for the school was generously donated by President Nujoma, a gesture reflecting his unwavering commitment to the education of every Namibian child. This school was meant for the children of farm…

13 Nov

OBSERVER DAILY | The presidency must speak clearly or risk losing the nation’s confidence

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

In a move that sent shockwaves through parliament and beyond, the newly appointed interim minister of Mines, Hon. Frans Kapofi, announced that the government intends to urgently amend the Petroleum Act of 1991. The proposed changes, we are told, would grant significantly greater powers to the President in matters of petroleum licensing and oversight, an area already fraught with political tension and public scrutiny. On the surface, the intention might be practical: to streamline decision-making, enhance accountability at the top, and ensure strategic control over Namibia’s increasingly vital oil and gas sector. But the reaction in Parliament and among the…

13 Nov

THE TIDE LINE | Time to bring the fishermen’s saga to an end

Featured, Opinions

For months now, the plight of the fishermen from Namibia’s Erongo region has remained a painful reminder of the unfinished business in our fisheries sector. This week, when a group of these men once again journeyed from the coast to Windhoek to hand over a petition to the Minister of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Land Reform, it was not merely another act of protest; it was a cry of fatigue, frustration, and hope. These are people who once powered the fishing industry of Walvis Bay, Lüderitz, and Henties Bay, an industry that is both the pride and lifeblood of coastal…

12 Nov

Rethinking leadership as a posture

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Esther Shakela Leadership is influence. This is the one definition that scholars across the world, such as John C. Maxwell, amongst others, agree on. To lead is to sway those who are led towards the achievement of a common goal. The use of the word “sway” in this context is deliberate because leadership, though often positively used, can be negatively employed. After all, rebel groups, for example, have leaders too. Despite the fact that influence is not exactly synonymous with loud, the attributes often attached to the accepted brand of effective leadership are charisma and visibility. The louder you are,…

12 Nov

OBSERVER DAILY | Tribalism has no place in the hearts of Namibian youth

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

There are moments in a nation’s story that unite us, moments when pride transcends tribe, language, and region. One such moment is upon us. Johanna Swartbooi, Miss Namibia 2024, is halfway across the world representing our beautiful country at the Miss Universe pageant. She carries not only her grace and intelligence but also the hopes and dreams of an entire nation. Yet, instead of celebrating her achievement, some Namibians have chosen to shame and ridicule her. What a disgrace. In the age of supposed enlightenment, where the Namibian youth are expected to be the torchbearers of progress, inclusion, and unity,…

11 Nov

OBSERVER DAILY | An African awakening in the diamond trade: Namibia must match boldness with wisdom

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

A quiet but powerful tremor is shaking the global diamond industry, and this time, it is emanating from Africa itself. Reports that Angola and Botswana are in discussions to acquire or expand ownership of De Beers mark a profound turning point in the continent’s long and complex relationship with its mineral wealth. Even more encouraging, Namibia’s Cabinet has approved plans to pursue a significant stake in De Beers Namibia. This is not mere corporate reshuffling; it is an awakening. For generations, African nations have occupied the lowest rungs of the global resource value chain. We mined and exported, while others…

10 Nov

The jobpocalypse is not coming – It’s already here

Opinions

Celeste Nangolo We used to talk about the future of work like it was something far away. Something our children would have to worry about. But let’s be honest: it’s already here. The jobpocalypse isn’t a distant storm on the horizon. It’s happening right now, quietly reshaping the way we live, work, and survive. Jobs are disappearing. Not because people aren’t trying hard enough, but because the world is changing faster than we ever imagined. Machines are doing things we thought only humans could do. Algorithms are making decisions, writing reports, and even handling customer service. And while that sounds…

10 Nov

The importance of community and solidarity in the mining industry

Opinions

Rebekka Bengela Mining is an important sector in Namibia, but it is also an industry that may have a damaging impact if not carefully safeguarded. Economically, mining's contribution to the Namibian GDP has been phenomenal. Despite the mining sector contracting by 1.2% in 2024, over the past five years (2019-2023), diamonds and uranium were the most significant mineral commodities contributing to Namibia’s economy. In 2023, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (“KPCS”) revealed that Namibia (having the richest known marine diamond deposits in the world, estimated to total more than 80 million carats) is among the top five African diamond exporters,…