Featured – Page 7 – Windhoek Observer

11 Sep

Lea’s Sins: An exclusive interview with author, Lea Matheus.

ObserverFeaturedLea’s Sins: An exclusive interview with author

Lea Matheus is a 31 years old Science teacher, a profession she absolutely loves. She recently published her debut novel titled, “Worry about your sins, God won’t ask you mine.” Where were you born and raised?I was born in Okahandja, and due to unforseen circumstances, we moved to the north. Though I moved to Luderitz, and Windhoek later; I’d say my life was based more in the north. Can you tell us about your family?When I was very young, my parents sadly passed away. It was a difficult time for our family, and I was left without their guidance and…

04 Sep

On the road with Faraway Sandy Trails Stonetrees, a White Lady & many cups of coffee

ObserverFeaturedOn the road with Faraway Sandy Trails Stonetrees

Ron Swilling I picked up some unusual travelling literature on a recent trip through Namibia, a book called ‘Faraway Sandy Trails’ written by Lily Marion Newton more than sixty years ago. It gave me the opportunity to compare routes and find amusing and interesting anecdotes about the country and the days of travel before organised tourism and tar roads. This time I focused on the chapter about two attractions in north-western Namibia, the Petrified Forest and the well-known White Lady rock painting. Today both are on the tourist map and there are well-signposted gravel roads, but in Lily’s day it…

04 Sep

Honeymoon in Namibia – Memories to last a lifetime

ObserverFeaturedHoneymoon in Namibia - Memories to last a lifetime

Despite the world dealing with the aftermath of Covid, Sabrina and I decided to get married last year on September 18th, 2021. We held a small garden wedding with our family and closest friends. It was a magical day that will be forever engraved in our hearts. One thing was missing though; we had to postpone our honeymoon until the world opened up again. Once it did, there was an unlimited well of possibilities. We decided to honeymoon in Africa as it was a continent we both hadn’t explored much and it intrigued us. Sabrina researched several countries in the…

03 Sep

The Artificial Intelligence of Talita

ObserverFeaturedTalitakuum Ekandjo, The Artificial Intelligence of Talita

Talitakuum Ekandjo talks to us about growing up in rural northern Namibia, working for the Bank of Namibia and now pursing studies in studying artificial intelligence. Tell us where you were born and where you grew up?I was born in Oupumako, a village just outside Ongwediva. I grew up in many different places, but my home village is Oniithima in the Oshikoto Region. Which primary and secondary school did you attend?I started my educational journey at Hamunyela Primary School. This is the closest school to my home village. I was there from Grades 1-3 before moving to Oniipa Primary School…

01 Sep

Menzies Aviation loses bid to stay on at HKIA

ObserverFeaturedMenzies Aviation loses bid to stay on at HKIA

Niel Terblanche HIGH Court Judge, Hannelie Prinsloo this morning dismissed an application of Menzies Aviation Namibia where the British-owned company appealed against being evicted from the Hosea Kutako International Airport on 19 August 2023 with costs and removed the matter from the roll. The judge found that Menzies had no legal right to insist on continuing to provide ground handling services at the airport and that the company had no legal right to further occupy any premises of the Namibia Airports Company at the airport. The judge also found that the Namibia Airports Company was fully entitled to enforce the…

28 Aug

Samantha Majiedt´s Dance Diplomacy…Embracing one´s cultural heritage while fostering global connections through the universal language of dance and education

ObserverFeaturedKurt Hahn, Samantha Majiedt

For two years, Samantha Majiedt immersed herself in a diverse world of dance during a scholarship at the United World College in Singapore 2021 - 2023. This unique educational institution is part of a network of 18 United World Colleges spanning four continents. The first UWC was founded in Wales in 1962 by German educator Kurt Hahn, who believed in the power of education to foster peace, a vision that emerged during the tumultuous Second World War. Hahn’s dream was to bring together 16-19-year-olds from various social, economic, and cultural backgrounds, uniting them through education to promote intercultural understanding and…

28 Aug

Debunking E-commerce…An exclusive interview with rising star Emilia Eino

ObserverFeaturedDebunking E-commerce...An exclusive interview with rising star Emilia Eino, Emilia Eino

Emilia Eino has served in the ICT sector for 12 years. She first served as a Development Planner responsible for ICT infrastructure development . As the founding manager and expert in the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia she introduced the first development of the first ever Regulatory Framework for the postal sector in Namibia. She is currently serving as a Council Member on the Pan African Postal Union (PAPU). Where does Emilia Eino come from? I was born and raised in Windhoek, Namibia. Can you tell us about your family? I belong to a nuclear family of 3 biological brothers,…

23 Aug

Circular Economy: A Sustainability Promise

ObserverFeatured, OpinionsCircular Economy, Circular Economy: A Sustainability Promise

Vivian !Nou-/Gawaseb and McClay Thikusho The need of adopting the circular economy’s principles becomes evident when we try to reimagine a sustainable future for Namibia. The circular economy is an economic model that emphasises the recycling and repurposing of materials and goods, particularly as a strategy to maintain ecologically responsible or sustainable production.It offers a paradigmshifting strategy that not only encourages economic development but also ensures social advancement and preservation of the environment. Prioritising and allocating resources to theprogress of circularity is becoming more and more important, especially in the context of Namibia. This specifically applies to important industries including…

22 Aug

Rising Against Giants: The Essential Disruption in Namibia’s Business Landscape

ObserverFeatured, OpinionsHosea Kutako International Airport, Menzies, Paragon Aviation, Rising Against Giants: The Essential Disruption in Namibia's Business Landscape

Nrupesh Soni, Facilit8 Namibia The unfolding saga at Hosea Kutako International Airport is more than a mere corporate dispute—it encapsulates a broader issue that reverberates throughout Namibia and indeed, the wider African continent. The tension between Paragon Aviation, a local entity, and Menzies, an international behemoth, over the airport's ground handling tender , goes beyond a mere contractual disagreement. Instead, it sheds light on the uphill battle local businesses face when striving to navigate the labyrinth of corporate colonialism. A persistent, if paradoxical, sentiment exists in parts of Africa, including Namibia: the belief that local firms, by virtue of their…

21 Aug

Inside the Mind of a Black Child

ObserverFeaturedInside the Mind of a Black Child, Johanna Swartbooi

Johanna Swartbooi, a creative entrepreneur was born and raised in the ||Karas, region and attended public schools in Windhoek. She received three years of training in Social Work before changing fields and acquiring a Higher Certificate in Business and Marketing Management in 2021. She is currently in her final year of studies in Business Administration majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management. Johanna’s professional career in fashion began with modelling in 2016. Since then she received various awards including Miss Namibia 2019 2nd Runner Up and Female Model of the Year in 2020 from the Simply You Magazine Lifestyle and Fashion…