Featured – Page 3 – Windhoek Observer

14 Nov

OBSERVER DAILY | Namibia Air: What’s in a name?

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

When the Cabinet recently announced the launch of a new national carrier under the name Namibia Air, it marked a bold and welcome move by the administration of President Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah and her team. At a time when national symbols matter more than ever, the decision sends a signal that Namibia intends to reclaim pride of place in the skies. The return of our national airline taps into something deeply Namibian: the idea of connection, of our country being visible in global skies, of our citizens and stories being carried across continents. That ambition deserves applause. It is a sign…

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…

14 Nov

YOUNG OBSERVER | Adriano Visagie to co-host 10th Sotigui Awards in Burkina Faso

Featured, National News

Namibian actor and television personality Adriano Visagie will co-host the 10th edition of the Sotigui Awards, one of Africa’s leading film celebrations, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. He will share the stage with Burkina Faso’s television personality Stéphanie Zongo. The Sotigui Awards honour African actors and comedians from across the continent and the diaspora. The event is organised by the Sotigui Academy and governed by APROCAD, in partnership with FESPACO, the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou. This year’s ceremony takes place from 12 to 15 November 2025 under the patronage of Burkina Faso’s minister of communication, culture, arts and…

14 Nov

YOUNG OBSERVER | Reframing dating in the digital era

Featured, National News

Dating has always been a mirror reflecting the fundamental character of the era that shapes it. For young people today, our world is defined by unprecedented speed, universal access, and a relentless cascade of digital noise. The quiet, predictable rituals of previous generations such as a focused phone call, a clearly defined courtship, the commitment to face to face resolution have been systematically replaced. Now, we navigate a social landscape dominated by instant messaging, ephemeral voice notes, viral algorithmic feeds, and the constant, energy sapping anxiety encapsulated by the question, “why hasn’t he replied to my message from this morning?”…

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

Featured, Opinions

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

TURNING POINT | Guided democracy

Featured, Opinions

Every election season, Namibians get a chance to ask themselves a question that goes deeper than politics: are we really ready to govern? It’s been 35 years since independence, a lifetime for a country that promised democracy, accountability, and development. And yet, our towns, villages, and regional councils are in distress. Roads crumble. Water taps run dry. Councils are broke, divided, and sometimes downright dysfunctional. The signs of regression are too clear to ignore. We often talk about democracy as if the act of voting alone guarantees good governance. But democracy, as political philosopher Claude Ake reminded us, is not…