Featured – Page 2 – Windhoek Observer

12 Dec

Rent control: A terrible idea for Namibia, and a disastrous answer to the wrong question

Editorial, Featured

Namibia stands at a dangerous crossroads. Faced with an undeniable housing crisis, one driven by a chronic shortage of serviced land and formal units, the government is once again flirting with the illusion that administrative decrees can override economic reality. The push for a Rent Control Bill, still present in ministerial legislative plans, is not merely misguided. It is a profound policy error that risks strangling an already over-regulated economy, undermining investment, and worsening the housing crisis it claims to solve. Rent control is often sold as a compassionate intervention, a quick fix to high rents. But the global evidence…

09 Dec

Namibia’s diplomacy must serve the nation, not factional interests

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s commissioning of seven new heads of mission signals an important moment for Namibia’s diplomatic future. The appointments, to Nigeria, Belgium, Zambia, Ghana, Japan, Egypt, and Zimbabwe, arrive at a time when the nation is recalibrating its foreign policy to centre economic diplomacy, investment attraction, and strategic global partnerships. The President’s message was clear and firm: these envoys must prioritise national development interests and project a credible Namibian profile to the world. The newly appointed ambassadors deserve sincere congratulations. Walde Natangwe Ndevashiya, Alfredo Tjirimo Hengari, Goms Menette, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, Rosina //Hoabes, Weich Murcle Uapendura Mupya, and David Thomas…

08 Dec

AfDB’s N$30.3bn commitment: opportunity or oversold promise?

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

The African Development Bank’s approval of N$30.3 billion for Namibia under its 2025–2030 Country Strategy Paper is, without question, one of the most significant financial commitments the nation has seen in recent years. Headlines have naturally celebrated the investment as a major win; “economic transformation”, “human capital development”, “strategic infrastructure”, and other familiar phrases have again taken centre stage. But as with all large-scale development financing, the real question for Namibians is simpler and far more urgent: What, exactly, will this money do, and for whom? The language surrounding the allocation is predictably polished. The AfDB highlights “inclusive growth”, “economic…

05 Dec

From councils of elders to committees of convenience: Namibia’s task force dilemma

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) In traditional African communities, pressing challenges were addressed by councils of elders – small groups of trusted, wise individuals who diagnosed problems and proposed solutions. Modern African governments have mirrored this model through task forces: ad hoc committees created to tackle crises in health, economics, corruption, energy, and national security. Typically appointed by presidents, cabinets, or ministers, these bodies are meant to act faster than bureaucracy, mobilise expertise, and recommend actionable reforms. Task forces in theory and reality At their best, task forces are problem-solving engines that: • Gather high-level…

05 Dec

Guided democracy and Swapo’s attempt at self-correction: A necessary consolidation or a democratic setback?

Editorial, Featured

The recent revelation that the Swapo Party politburo has taken the bold step of directly deciding who should serve as mayors and members of management committees in towns under its control has sparked inevitable debate across the political landscape. Critics are already denouncing the move as heavy-handed centralisation, a retreat from democratic norms, and an overreach that sidelines elected councillors. Yet others, including this newspaper, see a more complex picture, one that reflects a maturing understanding within Swapo of its vulnerabilities, shortcomings, and the need to adapt to a political environment far less forgiving than the one it dominated for…

05 Dec

YOUNG OBSERVER | Youth Spotlight: William Minnie

Featured, Opinions

Young Observer caught up with the youngest and newly elected local authority councillor, William Minnie, of the Mariental Constituency. You have just become one of the youngest councillors in the country. What was the decisive moment that pushed you from being an engaged young person to actually contesting for office? My journey into leadership began long before I ever imagined myself in public office. I was raised in Mariental since birth by my late father, my grandparents and my two aunts, who created a home filled with discipline, compassion, and a deep sense of responsibility to others. My late father…

05 Dec

YOUNG OBSERVER | Holiday hustle showdown: Quick cash ideas for the break

Featured, National News

The festive season is officially here and so is the urge to spend. Whether you are saving up for next year’s tuition, need cash for a new phone or just want to stop asking your parents for airtime, December is the perfect time to activate your inner entrepreneur. Forget the myth that you need massive capital or a degree to earn money. In the spirit of the #KeDezemba hustle, your best assets are your skills, your network, and your smartphone. The Young Observer breaks down the best ways for students and young Namibians to secure that holiday cash, categorized by…

05 Dec

YOUNG OBSERVER | Navigating the festive pressure cooker and protecting your mental health

Featured, National News

The final bell rings, the classrooms are empty, and the long-awaited December holiday is officially here. We are immediately bombarded with images across social media of perfect family reunions, elaborate travel plans, and endless joy. The social script for December is clear: “Be happy. Be busy. Be perfect.” This commercialised pressure is the origin of the Festive Pressure Cooker. Here is the honest truth, though, that needs you to embrace: The festive season is not always the happiest time for everyone. For many, the high expectations, the disruption of routine, the financial strain, complicated family conflicts, or overwhelming grief can…

05 Dec

YOUNG OBSERVER | #Unmuted

Featured, Opinions

December has arrived with the familiar brightness of warm weather, crowded calendars and a soft expectation that the mood of the country should somehow lift. The festive season in Namibia always brings its own rhythm: towns get louder, families gather, travel plans fill group chats, and everyone turns their attention toward rest, celebration, or escape. Yet as we step into this first edition of the month, it is important to acknowledge that the start of December does not magically reset what young people have been carrying throughout the year. If anything, it brings those realities into sharper focus. This week’s…

04 Dec

The Namibian skills armageddon: Time to match education with national needs

Editorial, Featured

Namibia stands at a defining crossroads. With 70% of our population under the age of 35, we possess what many nations can only dream of: a young, energetic demographic capable of driving innovation, production, and economic transformation for generations to come. And yet, ironically, we are simultaneously burdened by soaring unemployment rates, a growing semi-skilled workforce, and a tertiary education system that often operates in isolation from the true requirements of the economy. This is a dangerous contradiction, one that may soon plunge us into what can only be described as a skills armageddon if decisive action is not taken.…