Featured – Page 6 – Windhoek Observer

15 Dec

When unity becomes a performance, the centre no longer holds and the nation falls apart: The selective accountability dilemma

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara) Namibia is widely praised for its stability, democratic institutions, and robust legal frameworks. Yet beneath this reputation, a troubling pattern has emerged: accountability is increasingly inconsistent, seemingly influenced more by political proximity than principle. From diplomatic postings to internal reshuffles, some officials face swift public censure, while others with comparable controversies are quietly elevated. This uneven application of rules raises concerns that Namibia may be drifting toward selective governance, a phenomenon observable in other African democracies under political strain. Let us unpack these contradictions, trace their origins, and examine what they…

12 Dec

YOUNG OBSERVER | Namibians who stopped the show in 2025

Featured

In every generation there are figures whose achievements capture national attention and inspire widespread admiration. In 2025, several Namibians did more than simply excel. They stopped the show by performing on global platforms, elevating national pride, breaking barriers, and reshaping cultural narratives. From global beauty stages to creative entrepreneurship and political leadership, these individuals demonstrated ambition, resilience, and excellence that reached far beyond Windhoek. This feature highlights some remarkable Namibians whose work defined the year and gave young people real stories of success to celebrate. Selma Kamanya: A global pageantry trailblazer One of the most memorable Namibian successes of 2025…

12 Dec

YOUNG OBSERVER | #UNMUTED

Featured, Opinions

December often arrives with a unique intensity in Namibia. It brings an air of celebration, a sense of relief, and the familiar anticipation of gathering with loved ones after a demanding year. Yet beneath the lights, the music, and the busyness of the festive season, December also invites a quieter and more meaningful form of reflection. It is the one period in the year when many young people confront the reality of who they have become, what they have survived, and what they hope to build in the year that follows. For many young Namibians, 2025 has been a year…

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…