Opinions

bold, balanced path The recent warning from the Chamber of Mines about "growing risks" to Namibia’s mining sector due to policy uncertainty, particularly the proposal for 51% mandatory local ownership in new projects, deserves careful attention. The Chamber is right on one key point: investor confidence depends on a stable and predictable regulatory environment. But it is wrong to suggest that government proposals aimed at ensuring greater domestic participation should be viewed as threats rather than opportunities. Namibia is not stepping into the unknown. Local ownership is not a radical or reckless concept; it is a globally recognised policy instrument…

There are few topics in Namibia as emotionally charged and politically potent as land reform. Rightly so. Land is not only an economic asset but also a deeply symbolic issue rooted in the country’s colonial and apartheid past.  The generations of black Namibians were robbed of land, denied ownership, and consigned to the margins of society. When independence came, the cry was loud and clear: “The fight was about the land.” And now, over three decades later, we must ask—what have we done with the land we fought for? The painful truth is this: Namibia’s resettlement programme has failed. Catastrophically.…

This week, Namibia witnessed a moment of quiet revolution in the nation’s healthcare system. The Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund’s donation of a state-of-the-art Lodox full-body X-ray machine to the Ministry of Health and Social Services marks not only a milestone for Katutura Intermediate Hospital but also a shining example of what can be achieved through public-private collaboration in addressing Namibia’s critical infrastructure challenges. Valued at over N$13 million, this generous gift is far more than a piece of medical equipment; it is a lifeline. Installed at the Katutura Intermediate Hospital’s emergency unit, the Lodox machine is the first of…

When the Windhoek Observer previously wrote that the National Youth Development Fund (NYDF) was “dead on arrival,” we did not make that assertion lightly.  Our conclusion stemmed from years of observing well-intended government initiatives being crippled by red tape, poor execution, lack of continuity, and, frankly, the failure to place the youth at the centre of development, not just in policy rhetoric, but in real, tangible action. However, today, we are prepared to re-examine our position. We are willing to say: we may have been too quick to write the fund off. The launch of the NYDF at Gobabis on…

Etosha National Park, the crown jewel of Namibia’s conservation and tourism legacy, is burning. It is not merely grass and trees that are turning to ash; it is our national pride, our environmental responsibility, and the livelihoods of thousands. As flames devour hectares of this irreplaceable ecosystem, what is perhaps more disturbing than the fire itself is the collective silence and stunning lack of urgency from those who ought to be leading the response. Where is the outrage? Where is the accountability? Etosha is not a small, peripheral reserve; it spans over 22 000 km², making it one of the…