Featured – Page 8 – Windhoek Observer

28 Jul

Liberation Movements – Past Their Sell-By Dates?

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

The former liberation movements of southern Africa – the ANC in South Africa, SWAPO in Namibia, the MPLA in Angola, among others – have gathered in South Africa under the lofty theme:“Defending the Liberation Gains, Advancing Integrated Socio-Economic Development, Strengthening Solidarity for a Better Africa.” On paper, it sounds noble. In reality, it reeks of irony. For decades, these movements carried the dreams of their people, leading struggles that dismantled colonialism and apartheid. They promised freedom, prosperity, and dignity. Today, however, many citizens look at them and ask: What liberation gains are left to defend? Liberation vs. Governance The transition from…

28 Jul

Historic first for Namibian referee at WAFCON final

Featured, Sports

Erasmus Shalihaxwe Namibia Football Association (NFA) president Robert Shimooshili has praised Namibian referee Twanyanyukwa Antsino for making history as the first Namibian to officiate the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final. Antsino officiated the match between Nigeria and Morocco on Saturday night. In a statement issued on Sunday, Shimooshili described the occasion as an achievement for Antsino, the NFA, and the nation. "Antsino's selection to officiate the WAFCON final is a testament to her dedication, skill, and unwavering commitment to excellence," he said. Shimooshili said her role in the final brings pride to both herself and the association and…

28 Jul

MTC unveils five-year creator awards sponsorship

Featured

Allexer Namundjembo The Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC) has pledged N$4.5 million over the next five years to sponsor the Content Creator Awards. Of that amount, N$1.5 million is allocated for this year's event. The announcement was made last week by MTC's spokesperson, Erasmus Nekundi, who said the sponsorship is part of the company’s support for Namibia’s digital space. The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on 6 December at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN) and will recognise individuals who have contributed to digital content creation in the country. This year's event will include 20 award categories with increased…

25 Jul

THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF PRESIDENT NANDI-NDAITWAH THROUGH THE LENS OF FREIRE AND UNGER’S EMPOWERED DEMOCRACY: FROM SYMBOLISM TO SUBSTANCE

Featured, Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Abstract This analysis examines President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's inaugural 100 days through the theoretical frameworks of Paulo Freire's conscientization and Roberto Mangabeira Unger's institutional reinvention. Moving beyond ceremonial assessments, this scholarly examination interrogates the substantive transformation of Namibian governance structures and the symbolic yet significant declaration of Nujoma Day. The analysis provides an honest evaluation of performance metrics while establishing a framework for understanding the trajectory from electoral promises to developmental praxis. Introduction: The Crucible of Transformative Leadership Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah first 100 days in office have marked a decisive shift in Namibia’s…

25 Jul

Let’s confront the spectre of tribalism before it consumes us

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

Tribalism is rearing its ugly head in Namibia. What was once whispered in hushed tones has now found a loudspeaker in burning food stalls, toxic social media narratives, and widening social fault lines. The recent incident in Otjinene — where food stalls belonging to Aawambo and Ovazemba people were torched, reportedly by members of the Ovaherero community — is not just an isolated act of criminality. It is a symptom of a deeper, more dangerous illness spreading through our national fabric: a growing sense of ethnic resentment. The background to this violent escalation is as tragic as it is telling.…

24 Jul

When the Cost of Living Becomes the Cost of Life.

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

In recent months, Namibia has borne witness to a heartbreaking and deeply troubling trend: a spate of suicides among teachers — the very custodians of our children’s futures. These tragedies are not isolated incidents. They are echoes of a deeper national pain — one rooted in financial strain, psychological isolation, and a silent war waged every day in households across this country. The teaching profession has always demanded sacrifice: long hours, modest salaries, and an unwavering emotional investment in others. But when those giving so much to society find themselves drowning in debt, struggling to feed their families, and confronting…

24 Jul

Namibia must embrace its indigenous languages for unity, identity and justice

Featured, Opinions

Ndaindila Allexer Namundjembo In the heart of every nation lies its language. It shapes how people think, relate to one another, and understand the world around them.In Namibia, a land blessed with rich linguistic and cultural diversity, our languages are fading into silence, not because they are unworthy, but because our systems continue to elevate the colonial tongue above our own.It is time for Namibia to radically reimagine its language policy. We must embrace and institutionalise our indigenous languages, not just as national symbols, but as living and functional communication tools in governance, education and public life.Each region should be…

22 Jul

Success is not copy-paste: Charting your own path to a meaningful future

Featured, Opinions

Ester Shangandi & Junias Erasmus . In our pursuit of success, it is natural to look around for examples that inspire us. Often, we find motivation in those closest to us, family members, mentors, or even neighbours who seem to be living the life we desire. For instance, if your neighbour (From the village) owns a beautiful house in the expensive suburb, drives a nice car, and appears fulfilled, it is easy to think that studying the same programme or walking the same professional path will yield similar results. While this reaction is human and understandable, it also presents a…

22 Jul

NDP6: Big Promises, Thin Substance — But We Must Still Hope

Featured, Opinions

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s launch of the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6) marked a historic moment - not only as Namibia’s first female Head of State, taking the reins of long-term national planning, but also as a leader seeking to chart a new direction in the face of stagnating growth. Her leadership carries the promise of renewal. NDP6 presents an ambitious blueprint that speaks to the country’s most pressing concerns—economic diversification, youth empowerment, climate resilience, and national cohesion. Namibia is not short of plans. From Vision 2030 to Harambee Prosperity plan and five previous NDP’s, the country has demonstrated an admirable…

20 Jul

Welwitschias scrum for second chance at World Cup

Featured, SportsNamibia Rugby Union (NRU)

Erasmus Shalihaxwe The Welwitschias, the national rugby team, are determined to regroup and refocus following their loss to Zimbabwe in the Rugby Africa Cup final on Saturday. The tightly contested match ended 30–28 in favour of Zimbabwe in Kampala, Uganda. The win secured Zimbabwe a spot at the 2027 Rugby World Cup, marking their first qualification in 34 years. Namibia, which has featured in every Rugby World Cup since 1999, now risks missing out for the first time since 1996. However, the team still has a chance to qualify through the intercontinental repechage tournament. Following the loss, the Namibia Rugby…