Opinions

Namibia’s removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist in June 2026 is more than a technical victory for regulators and policymakers. It is an important economic milestone with direct implications for entrepreneurs, investors and the country’s long-term competitiveness. As a Namibian entrepreneur, I view this development not simply as a compliance achievement, but as the restoration of confidence in our financial ecosystem. Confidence, after all, is one of the most valuable currencies in business. When Namibia was placed on the FATF greylist in February 2024, the designation sent an unfortunate signal to the international community. Greylisting does not…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar)  The fundamental question of leadership Given the recent diplomatic engagements of the Namibian Head of State, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, with her counterparts in Ghana and Tanzania respectively, at first glance, the question we posed in our headline seems to be simple. Yet, its deeper paradox is that it asks us, before anything else, to question the assumptions behind the two concepts advanced herein. As such, our head question offers not merely a privilege or a responsibility to seek for an answer, but a rare opportunity to engage with a more…

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro This Tuesday, June 16, Namibia joins the rest of the continent – if not the international community – in supposedly remembering and paying tribute to the South African youth, some of whom, on this day 50 years ago, paid dearly with their lives. Why did they pay dearly with their lives, and who took the lives of some of them brutally? This was for being part of the broader resistance of the South African black majority and their sympathisers – a resistance that included armed resistance – against apartheid and all its manifestations.  Yours Truly Ideologically cannot but…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The twentieth century witnessed the rise of some of the most transformative political movements in modern history.  Across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and parts of the Middle East, liberation movements emerged as responses to colonial domination, racial oppression, foreign occupation, and authoritarian rule. They mobilized millions of people around aspirations for freedom, national sovereignty, social justice, and economic emancipation. For many societies, these movements represented more than political organizations. They embodied hope itself. Their leaders became symbols of sacrifice and resistance, while their victories marked the end of colonial empires,…

Lazarus Kwedhi Deng Xiaoping’s instruction to “seek truth from facts” still rings in our ears. The “Conference of the Left” held in Ekurhuleni on 29–31 May 2026, convened by the South African Communist Party (SACP) and attended by the EFF, MK Party, PAC, AZAPO, trade unions, and Pan-Africanist formations, should compel Namibian and African leaders to do exactly that – reflect. What we saw in Boksburg was not new. It signalled the return of the old communism versus capitalism blocs, reshaped for the 21st century. Same wine, different bottle.  During the Cold War, each bloc competed to win hearts at…

“Fare thee well Bernardus Van Wyk”. Joshua Razikua Kaumbi Life is about the people we meet, randomly placed next to your seat. For every soul carries a lesson or spark, some bring the light, others walk in the dark. But each one reminds us [that] we’re not on our own, in this beautiful world we call our unknown. (Christina de Vries, edited) On Wednesday morning, en route to work I noticed that the corner of Thuringer Hof Hotel was empty. Before I could make sense of it, my mind was swept away by the fast-paced rhythm of our capital, until…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) On this year’s day of the African Child, we want to reject the colonial narrative and arrogance that denies us our African humanity. In the same vein, we vehemently reject the passive victimhood mentality that denies us our African agency. We reject the colonial stereotypes and their internalization as ultimate political truth in order to teach our future generations to remember our history and overcome it where it constrains the present. For centuries, Africa has been described by others before Africans were allowed to describe themselves. Foreign explorers arrived on…

Dirk van Schalkwyk  We keep hearing that Namibia stands at the precipice of a historic economic transformation, driven by major offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin. However, what does this mean for local companies, especially as global energy giants dominate exploration and extraction?  Namibians need to ask themselves: what role do we play? How will our long-term success be measured? The answer is that our success lies in local content. As well as the ability of homegrown companies to integrate into the oil and gas supply chain. For established Namibian enterprises like Welwitschia Services Group, this early stage is a…

Paul T. Shipale (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) The phrase “paying to survive, paying to exist” captures a growing frustration felt across the world. Yet in Africa in general and Namibia in particular, despite the latter being ranked as one of Africa’s top performing countries, climbing from 15th to third place after South Africa and Mauritius according to the French publications Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report, there is a growing frustration that points toward an even deeper truth. It seems the issue is not simply about the cost of living but about the cost of powerlessness. Indeed,…

SINITTA BOOYSEN  Education is one of the first promises many families make. It’s tied to hope, opportunity, and the belief that things can be better for the next generation. Because of that, it carries a lot of emotional weight. Saving for education usually starts with good intentions. A bit set aside here. A plan to increase contributions later. Confidence that things will improve over time. But education costs rarely wait patiently. Fees rise. Extra costs appear. Life happens. And when pressure builds, education savings are often the first thing to be touched, because the future feels negotiable compared to today’s…