Featured – Page 17 – Windhoek Observer

19 May

Is Namibia a Mafia State?

Featured, Opinions

Sakaria Johannes The concept of a "mafia state" has become a critical framework for analysing political systems where state institutions serve private networks of power rather than the public good. These are not failed states in the traditional sense but rather functioning kleptocracies that wear the mask of democratic legitimacy. While Namibia has long enjoyed a reputation as a stable democracy in southern Africa, recent political developments and corruption scandals suggest it may be undergoing a quiet transformation. By examining scholarly definitions of mafia states and linking them to key Namibian cases—including Fishrot, election irregularities, the N$8 million NDF car…

15 May

SADC PF head calls for economic self-reliance amid rising tariffs

Africa / World, Featured

Moses Magadza Boemo Sekgoma, the Secretary General of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), has urged Southern African nations to take advantage of this opportunity to strengthen their economies and regain control over their development trajectory. Speaking via Zoom at the opening of the "High-Level Dialogue on Trade Justice: Mitigating the Impact of US Reciprocal Tariffs on SADC Economies and Women and Girls" on Thursday, Sekgoma acknowledged the far-reaching implications of tariff increases and called for a recalibration of regional trade and production strategies. “While we certainly have no control over foreign jurisdictions and the tariffs they…

14 May

Kauandenge pokes holes in Nudo constitution with dual membership

Featured, National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Former National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) secretary general, Josef Kauandenge, says Nudo's constitution does not prevent him from forming another party while remaining a fully fledged Nudo member. Kauandenge recently announced the formation of the Association for Localised Interests (ASOLI), where he serves as president. Despite this, he stressed that he is still a Nudo member. He represented Nudo in both the City of Windhoek local authority council and the national assembly. “I still stand by the position that I’m still a Nudo member, although I have started an association. Perusing through the party constitution, I could not…

14 May

Young cricketers make strong start in 2025 Nashua Junior League

Featured, Sports

Justicia Shipena Namibia’s young cricketers took centre stage over the past weekend, as the 2025 Nashua Junior Franchise League began with matches across Windhoek. This year, the league expanded to include an under-12 category, bringing the total to nine teams across U12, U14, and U19. Franchises include Grove Mall, Ashburton Investments, STADIO Higher Education, and Naankuse, with Green Enterprise Solutions joining for the first time. The action started on Friday, 9 May, with the U12 Ashburton Eagles beating Grove Mall Wildcats by 9 wickets at the High Performance Oval. The Wildcats posted 71/6, but the Eagles chased it down in…

14 May

NAVIGATING PROCUREMENT HURDLES: ADDRESSING STOCKOUTS OF ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES IN THE NAMIBIAN HEALTH SECTOR

Featured, Opinions

Lusia Kornelius and Zucky Bauleth-Nashima As the global market experiences major uncertainties, probable recession and unprecedented social dynamics, there is pressure on healthcare systems, and the Namibian health sector is no exception. Namibia is facing significant challenges concerning procurement and availability of essential medical supplies. Recent tariff hikes under U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration not only magnify the trade war but also disrupt the global supply chain, impacting the export and import of goods across the globe. The effect is directly felt by pharmaceutical suppliers and distributors, thereby resulting in disrupted or delayed service delivery. This disruption may cause friendshoring…

14 May

SACU calls on the U.S. to reconsider its trade tariffs

Featured, National News

Niël Terblanché The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) has called on the United States to reconsider its planned tariff increases, warning they could harm trade relations and reverse development gains in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and those under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The SACU Council of Ministers made the appeal in a joint communique after their recent meeting in Johannesburg. The council, chaired by finance minister Erica Shafudah, urged the U.S. administration to apply the principle of differential treatment and exempt LDCs and AGOA-eligible countries from the new tariffs set to take effect in July. The U.S.…

11 May

Kauandenge criticises free tertiary education as a PR exercise

Featured, National News

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Joseph Kauandenge, president of the newly formed Association for Localised Interests (ASOLI), has expressed doubts about the effectiveness of free tertiary education in addressing high unemployment among graduates.. This comes after President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced in her State of the Nation Address last month that university fees will be scrapped from 2026. Kauandenge welcomed the government's decision to offer free tertiary education starting next year. He, however, questioned its practicality and its potential to benefit young people. He pointed out that while access to education may be an issue for some, the bigger problem lies in the thousands…

08 May

De Beers relocates its auctions business to Gaborone

Featured, Observer Money

CHAMWE KAIRA De Beers Group has announced that its auctions business has resumed operations following the successful relocation of the business’s headquarters from Singapore to Gaborone. The completion of this relocation unites De Beers Group’s global diamond trading activities in Gaborone, enhancing operational efficiency and supporting Botswana’s position as a major player in the global diamond value chain. With auction sales now being re-established, De Beers Group ran a small-scale trial event for Sightholder customers during Cycle 3. The event generated substantial interest, with a high number of customers viewing lots and participating, resulting in the majority of lots being…

08 May

Netball Namibia hopes that planned stadiums will include netball courts

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Former Netball Namibia president Rebecca Goagoses hopes the planned construction of sports stadiums in all 14 regions will include netball courts. This follows the announcement by Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, that N$35 million has been allocated to build stadiums in each region during the 2025/26 financial year. Steenkamp said the stadiums will meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) category two standards, and each will have 10,000 seats. Goagoses, who currently serves as acting Netball Africa president, has long raised concerns over the lack of proper netball courts in Namibia. She urged…

07 May

GRN plans 10 000-seater stadiums across all regions

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has set aside N$35 million to build sports stadiums in all 14 regions. Each stadium will have a seating capacity of 10,000. Minister Sanet Steenkamp made the announcement in Parliament on Tuesday while motivating the ministry’s N$1.2 billion budget for the 2025/2026 financial year. She stated that the Confederation of African Football will build the stadiums to meet category two standards. Each regional capital will have a facility to give young people across the country access to proper sports infrastructure. This follows after President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced in…