Opinions – Page 2 – News Stand

05 Jun

Corporate Social Investment serves as a conduit for sustainable development

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Veripura Muukua The call for the private sector to join forces with the government to drive socio-economic and sustainable development through public-private partnerships, collaboration, and/or policy development has become more pertinent than ever. Over the years, Corporate Social Investment (CSI), traditionally referring to a company's broad ethical obligations and commitment to societal welfare, has evolved into one of these conduits: a strategic imperative practice through which companies forge meaningful partnerships with government and civil society to invest in their communities, address poverty, and achieve sustainable development collectively. Sometimes, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Social Investment (CSI) are used interchangeably.…

05 Jun

Tips for finding a suitable home during the winter season in Namibia

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Denver Beukes There is something magical about finding a home during the winter season in Namibia. Imagine moving into a cosy house with a fireplace, surrounded by the serene beauty of the Namibian landscape. Winter can highlight the charm and warmth of a home, making it feel even more inviting. Winter in Namibia is a unique and beautiful time of year. The cooler temperatures and clear skies create an ideal backdrop for house hunting. While many people might think that summer is the best time to buy a home, winter offers its own set of advantages that can make your…

05 Jun

The crisis of fixing what is not broken: Teachers’ unemployment- a call to put things right

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Lazarus Kwedhi The ongoing demonstrations by unemployed teaching graduates demanding the government to abolish the interview process and implement mass recruitment are not surprising, given the reality on the ground. The unemployment rate among teaching graduates is estimated to have risen to 15,000 over the past two years. This trend is likely to continue if their demands are not addressed. This issue is not complex. From a public policy perspective, it's a classic case of market failure—caused by the very government decision-makers who, in their wisdom, saw it fit to reform the teacher training system. Specifically, they abolished and merged…

04 Jun

Omuthiya at a crossroads: A Call to rescue Oshikoto

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Isak Tuyoleni Haimbodi Omuthiya, the capital of the Oshikoto region, stands as a symbol of both promise and neglect. Despite its administrative status, the town suffers from poor infrastructure, limited economic activity, and a glaring absence of higher education institutions. Across the region, residents face crumbling roads, inadequate healthcare, and high unemployment, all worsened by political inaction. Oshikoto’s youth face major obstacles to accessing tertiary education. While most regions host institutions such as UNAM, NUST, or IUM, Omuthiya has none. A long-promised vocational training centre remains unrealised, despite land having been allocated. Only a few under-resourced private colleges operate in…

03 Jun

Shame is not a shelter: Why silence protects perpetrators and harms survivors

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Pefimbo Shipunda In the wake of yet another series of brutal acts of violence against women and children in Namibia, a painful truth confronts us: while perpetrators may commit the violence, it is silence that sustains it. Shame is a powerful force in our communities. It silences victims, shields abusers, and prioritises reputation over justice. It tells survivors to keep quiet, not because they are wrong, but because speaking out might bring “dishonour” to their families. It urges communities to downplay what they know and families to “deal with it privately”, often by suppressing the voices of those most harmed.…

02 Jun

Occupational safety and health contemporary issues: A call for restorative justice

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Lazarus Kwedhi The government, through the Tripartite Committee—comprising representatives from the state, employers, and employees—is currently drafting the Occupational Safety and Health Bill (OSH Bill). Once completed, the bill will be gazetted as an Act of Parliament. This Act will provide the legal and administrative framework to ensure a safe and healthy working environment for every employee, including a mechanism for dispute resolution and compliance with the OSH Act. Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is not a new concept in the Namibian labour market. It was incorporated in Chapter 4 of the Namibian Labour Act, 2007 (Act No. 11 of…

29 May

Nothing to write home about GRN’s inaugural Genocide Remembrance Day

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Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Declaring Genocide Remembrance Day this time around last year, on the 28th of May, to be exact, the descendants were for the second year running since 2023, commemorating it at the Independence Museum, while this Wednesday the government held what it termed the inauguration of the day. For Your Descendant Truly, there was not much to write home about regarding the said inauguration, be it in format, content, and attendance. Let alone about what was the inaugural speech of the day by the President of the Republic of Namibia, Her Excellency, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Especially for the descendants who…

29 May

Pedestrianism of genocide ‘welcoming remarks’ and ‘vote of thanks’dismemberement, racism and genocide continuity are the amarmament

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Prof. Dr. Job Shipululo Amupanda What later became the first genocide of the 20th century was enabled by the software of racism that W.E.B du Bois correctly captured as the operating system of the 20th century stating, in 1903, that “the problem of the 20th century is the problem of the color line". Du Bois wrote this one year before the first genocide of the 20th century was committed against our people, in Namibia. He was analysisng the psychosis of those who later became the perpetrators of genocide. In the 20th century, white people and Europeans drew what Frantz Fanon…

26 May

It all adds up: Supporting Namibian math education

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Bronwyn Moody If you buy food from food carts over your lunch break, you will notice that many servers use calculators to calculate change. As a result, queues build up, and transactions are delayed, affecting the profitability and productivity of the food carts. Suppose the servers have a high knowledge of mathematics. In that case, they can speed up the process by counting on the go, which speeds up customer servicing, increasing the business's productivity and profitability. Basic numeracy has a fundamental impact on the economy and development. Mathematics is essential for the workforce to thrive in today's market, since…

22 May

Transformative regionalism and people-centered diplomacy: A reflection on Namibia’s diplomatic initiatives in Southern Africa

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PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) INTRODUCTION Regional stability in Southern Africa has emerged as a multifaceted concern engaging stakeholders across political, economic, and social spectrums. While conventional security paradigms often dominate discourse on regional stability, progressive African leadership has increasingly reoriented focus toward people-centered development, peacebuilding, and regional integration. This paradigm shift is exemplified by the diplomatic initiatives of Namibia's President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, whose recent engagements with neighboring Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Tanzania represent more than ceremonial diplomacy—they constitute a deliberate strategy of transformative regionalism and underscore how diplomacy functions simultaneously as negotiation and as…