Editorial – Windhoek Observer

13 Mar

Namibia must do better for its mining future

Editorial, Featured

Namibia prides itself on being one of Africa’s most stable and investment-friendly countries. We regularly remind the world of our democratic credentials, our respect for the rule of law and our political stability. These are indeed achievements worth celebrating. But when it comes to the mining sector, one of the pillars of our economy, the latest global assessment suggests that pride alone will not secure our future. The Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2025 places Namibia squarely in the middle of the global rankings. Out of 84 jurisdictions assessed worldwide, Namibia sits at 59th, with an investment attractiveness…

12 Mar

Hot water, cold reality

Editorial, Featured

This week we witnessed what should have been a routine maintenance matter elevated into a moment of political theatre: the restoration of hot water at one of the country’s major public hospitals. The ministers responsible deserve acknowledgement for taking decisive action. But while we congratulate them for addressing a deeply embarrassing situation, the circumstances surrounding this “achievement” raise troubling questions about the priorities of governance in our country. Let us begin with the obvious. The absence of reliable hot water in a major national hospital is not merely an inconvenience. It is a failure of basic governance. Hospitals are places…

11 Mar

Housing urgency must not replace accountability

Editorial, Featured

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s directive to bypass standard government tender procedures for a rapid-build housing initiative reflects a sense of urgency that few Namibians would dispute. The country’s housing backlog continues to grow, informal settlements expand year after year, and the promise of affordable shelter remains out of reach for thousands of families. Any initiative that claims it can deliver houses within days at a cost as low as N$50,000 will inevitably attract attention and hope. But hope, when combined with haste and limited oversight, can also produce costly consequences. The proposal currently receiving presidential support involves the use of alternative…

10 Mar

Municipal debt crisis demands urgent reform

Editorial

The growing debt crisis between Namibia’s local authorities and NamWater is no longer merely an administrative problem. It has become a systemic governance failure that threatens essential public services, undermines financial accountability and ultimately burdens the taxpayer. The situation unfolding in Rehoboth is a case in point. The Rehoboth Town Council reportedly owes NamWater between N$100 million and N$150 million. The magnitude of this debt has placed the town at risk of having its bulk water supply suspended, forcing authorities to urge residents to use water sparingly while negotiations continue. At the same time, Mayor Jacky Khariseb has warned institutions…

09 Mar

Dialogue must move Namibia from courtesy to concrete action

Editorial, Featured

In a political age increasingly defined by polarisation, spectacle and hardened ideological lines, the decision by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to engage the leadership of opposition parties is a gesture that deserves recognition and encouragement. Democracy does not thrive merely through elections; it flourishes through constant conversation between those who govern and those who challenge power. Since assuming office in March 2025, Nandi-Ndaitwah has initiated consultations with leaders of political parties represented in the National Assembly, including the official opposition, the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), led by Panduleni Itula. She has also met representatives from the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM)…

06 Mar

Regulating the ride: Government must bring order to Namibia’s e-hailing revolution

Editorial, Featured

The rise of e-hailing services in Namibia has exposed a familiar dilemma facing governments across the world: how to regulate innovation without stifling it. Platforms such as Yango, InDrive and LEFA have rapidly become a visible part of the urban transport landscape, particularly in Windhoek. Yet their growth has triggered escalating tensions with traditional taxi operators, raised safety concerns, and highlighted gaps in Namibia’s transport laws. At the heart of the conflict lies a regulatory vacuum. Namibia’s Road Traffic and Transport Act of 1999 was written long before smartphones and app-based mobility existed. As a result, e-hailing services have expanded…

05 Mar

Is this what the youth is telling us about the future?

Editorial, Featured

Chaos in the National Assembly is no longer shocking. It is becoming routine. This week, proceedings descended into disorder after National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) member of parliament Vetaruhe Kandorozu questioned the citizenship of deputy minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Dino Ballotti and told him to “go back to Italy.” The deputy speaker, Phillipus Katamelo, ruled the remarks unparliamentary. Swapo members of parliament walked out in protest after the matter was referred to the standing committee on rules. The session collapsed. We have written before about the conduct of our parliamentarians, on both sides of the…

04 Mar

Are we outsourcing the bench ?

Editorial, Featured

The Office of the Judiciary this week announced the appointment of former judges from the region to Namibia’s High Court. A former judge of the High Court of Botswana, Gabriel Komboni, has been appointed on contract for two years and five months. Two Zimbabwean jurists, retired High Court judge David Mangota and former High Court judge James Devittie, have been appointed as acting judges for three years. On paper, these are distinguished legal professionals. Their experience is not in question. Regional judicial exchange is not uncommon, and cross-border appointments can, in certain contexts, strengthen jurisprudential coherence within the Southern African region. Yet the announcement…

03 Mar

Sports betting: Why government must act now

Editorial, Featured

Psychologists are sounding the alarm: online gambling is rising sharply among young people, with a notable increase among young women. They warn that smartphones and social media have normalised gambling in a generation already weighed down by unemployment and financial pressure. In Namibia, this is not an abstract concern. It is a flashing red light. We have seen this movie before. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Namibia witnessed the rapid proliferation of shebeens across the country. At the time, the argument was framed as progressive and economically empowering. Legalising and tolerating informal bars was presented as a pragmatic…

02 Mar

Rising reserves reflect stability and a moment to consolidate

Editorial, Featured

Namibia’s international reserves rose to N$51.9 billion at the end of January, driven by inflows from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). In an uncertain global environment marked by currency volatility, geopolitical tension and tightening financial conditions, this development is a welcome affirmation of macroeconomic stability and disciplined fiscal management. For a small, open economy such as ours, international reserves are not abstract accounting figures. They are the backbone of financial credibility. They ensure the country can meet its import obligations, service external debt and cushion itself against global shocks. Crucially, they sustain confidence in the one-to-one peg between the…