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The latest declaration by the Former Refugees Repatriation Association of Namibia (FRRAN) that it will escalate its demands to President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah should concern every Namibian who cares about the country’s future governance. Former refugees, camping at Swapo headquarters since October last year, insist that United Nations funds meant for their resettlement in 1989 were handed to Swapo and never paid to them. The United Nations denies this. Swapo’s records deny this. Yet the protest continues, and a new political audience is now being sought. At the same time, liberation struggle veterans, despite decades of gratuities, pensions, land allocations, business…

A.Shipena Secondary School has given Namibia a moment to celebrate. Emerging as the only public school in the Khomas region to place in the national top ten in the 2025 Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary (NSSCAS) examinations, ranking seventh nationally, is no small achievement. Principal Moses Haufiku’s pride is justified. His words reflect not just institutional success but community spirit. “A community which works together can excel in so many other aspects,” he said, adding that A.Shipena brings a distinct “Katutura flavour” to excellence. In a country desperate for positive education stories, A.Shipena is a beacon. But while we…

The Namib Desert Diamonds (Namdia) diamond heist of N$315 million was not an ordinary crime. It was the most daring and audacious financial theft in recent Namibian history. It struck at the heart of national pride, shook confidence in public institutions, and traumatised a nation that rightfully regards its diamonds as part of its collective inheritance. Now, as investigations continue and an employee has been arrested in connection with the heist, Namdia has chosen to retreat behind a wall of secrecy, refusing to disclose even the arrested person’s identity, gender, or position in the company. The justification given is that…

Diplomacy is often described as the quiet engine of international relations. It runs on protocol, trust, discretion and mutual respect between sovereign states. When it functions well, citizens rarely notice it. When it falters, however, the consequences can be swift and embarrassing, not only for the officials involved but also for the national image they represent. Recent developments in relations between Namibia and Ghana have raised legitimate concern. Ghana has sought clarification from Namibia over the appointment and public commissioning of former agriculture ministry executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata as high commissioner-designate to Accra, despite the fact that formal consent from…

Namibia’s announcement that the state will begin covering tuition and registration fees at public tertiary institutions from the 2026 academic year is, without question, one of the most ambitious and potentially transformative policy decisions in recent years. It is a policy rooted in the noble objective of expanding access to higher education and vocational training, particularly for students from low-income households. Yet, as President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s clarification during the 2025 state of the nation address demonstrated, the public conversation around this initiative has been muddied by confusion over what “free education” means. This confusion underscores a deeper and recurring challenge:…