Featured – Page 3 – Windhoek Observer

03 Nov

Supporting mental health in the mining industry

Featured, Opinions

Jeane Namhadi September and October are dedicated to wellness, with a focus on mental health, cancer awareness, and community care. In the 2024/2025 financial year, the Ministry of Health and Social Services reported over 100,000 mental health cases, a number that continues to grow. This rising figure calls for compassion, open dialogue, and the courage to care. Mental health in the workplace is a vital aspect of creating a supportive and inclusive environment, particularly in industries like mining, where unique working conditions such as shift rotations and extended periods away from family are part of the job. In the mining…

31 Oct

OBSERVER DAILY | When the Engineering Council stalls, the country pays

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

A country that is building roads, schools, clinics, airports and power lines cannot afford a docile Engineering Council. Namibia’s development agenda depends on quiet, often invisible, disciplines: design standards, competent supervision, rigorous inspections, and professional accountability for the people who sign off on the nation’s concrete, steel, electrical systems and digital infrastructure. When the Engineering Council of Namibia (ECN) is at a standstill months after its appointment, the costs are not abstract; they multiply daily through risks, delays, corner-cutting and declining public confidence. The ECN is not a ceremonial board. It exists to register engineers and technologists, set and enforce…

31 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | #UNMUTED

Featured, Opinions

Parliament recently revisited the long-delayed Mental Health Bill. The minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Esperance Luvindao, confirmed that the bill is in its final stages of review and will soon be resubmitted to legal drafters. This comes after years of delays in replacing the outdated Mental Health Act of 1973, a law that no longer reflects the realities of modern mental health care in Namibia. News outlets earlier in the week reported that employers would no longer be able to discriminate against mentally ill people; of course, that caused an uproar. While the discussion may seem technical or…

30 Oct

THE TIDE LINE | Police score a win in the battle against drugs

Featured, Opinions

The Namibian Police deserve full credit for their swift and effective action in apprehending a 38-year-old woman at Walvis Bay this week in connection with drug trafficking. Acting on intelligence, officers raided a residence in the Nampost residential area, recovering 1 070 Mandrax tablets valued at N$128 400. While this arrest is only one in a series of drug-related busts along Namibia’s coastline, it is nonetheless significant. It reflects diligent policing, improved intelligence gathering, and inter-unit coordination. At a time when drug abuse continues to infiltrate communities, this successful operation reminds citizens that law enforcement is still in the fight…

30 Oct

The art of the comeback: Leadership lessons from Singapore

Featured, Opinions

Mufaro Nesongano Something that has always amazed me is the remarkable comeback after a setback. As human beings, we tend to celebrate success stories more, for few people wish to be associated with failure. Yet those who have experienced moments of loss and disappointment know that the greatest growth often comes from the hardest seasons of life. Recently, I watched a documentary exploring what made Singapore the great nation it is today. It served as a powerful reminder that real progress is often born from adversity and thoughtful leadership. At independence in 1965, Singapore had very limited natural resources, deep…

30 Oct

OBSERVER COASTAL | Henties Bay Xmas initiative appeals for community support

Featured, Uncategorised

Renthia Kaimbi For ten years, a family-led initiative in Henties Bay has brought Christmas joy to children who might otherwise go without. What began in 2015 as a small act of kindness has grown into a cherished community event known as Charmy’s Heart of Hope. The initiative started when founder Charmaine Jansen noticed how some children in the town were left out of the Christmas spirit. “Every year, many of us gather joyfully with our loved ones to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Yet, some children do not have the privilege of experiencing that same warmth, joy, and love,” Jansen…

30 Oct

Erongo RED modernises power services

Featured, National News

Renthia Kaimbi Erongo RED has launched a new mobile application and made major progress in bringing electricity to the community in the Erongo region. The app, introduced in Walvis Bay this week, allows customers to buy prepaid electricity, pay bills, check balances, report faults, track usage, receive outage updates, and request advanced units. It was developed in partnership with Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC), BCX Namibia, Syntell and DPO Pay. Erongo RED chief executive officer Immanuel !Hanabeb said the new platform reflects the company’s effort to bring innovation closer to consumers and improve service delivery. “The launch of the mobile application…

30 Oct

OBSERVER COASTAL | Swakopmund to host circular economy workshop

Featured, Uncategorised

Renthia Kaimbi Local businesses, educators and policymakers are set to attend a workshop in Swakopmund next month to explore waste management and green economy solutions. The event, which will take place on 5 November 2025, is organised by the international CircuWasteVETAfrica Project under the ERASMUS+ programme, co-funded by the European Commission (EU). The workshop aims to raise awareness about sustainable waste management and promote circular economy practices that focus on reusing and recycling materials to reduce waste. The CircuWasteVETAfrica Project seeks to build green skills in Africa through vocational training and capacity-building initiatives. It brings together partners from Europe and…

30 Oct

OBSERVER COASTAL | Walvis Bay lounge faces complaints days after opening

Featured, Uncategorised

Renthia Kaimbi The Walvis Bay Crime Fighting Unit (WBCFU), a community watch group known for tackling crime, found itself dealing with complaints about noise from the newly opened La Vine Lounge. The lounge, which had been operating for less than five days and is not classified as a nightclub, quickly became a topic of discussion in the WBCFU’s WhatsApp group. The complaints grew so frequent that one member, Peter Poldavsky, created a separate group titled “V Lounge Must Fall”. The group was later deleted. When contacted for comment, Poldavsky confirmed he started the group but said it was not meant…

30 Oct

OBSERVER DAILY | Namibia clears its eurobond: A victory worth applauding, but with eyes wide open

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Namibia this week announced that it has fully settled its US $750 million Eurobond, a decade after it was first issued in 2015. The Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Namibia confirmed that all payments were made in full and on time, a move that many have described as a major fiscal milestone. At first glance, this is indeed a moment to celebrate. In a world where several developing nations have defaulted on external debt in recent years, Namibia’s ability to meet its Eurobond obligations reflects discipline, foresight, and credibility. Yet, while the country deserves credit for fulfilling its…