Opinions – Page 2 – Windhoek Observer

20 Oct

The ROI of laughter: measuring the business impact of team building

Opinions

By Diamond Training Institute It’s easy to dismiss laughter as the soundtrack of leisure, not productivity. Yet, in the modern workplace, it may be one of the most reliable indicators of a healthy, high-performing team. When employees laugh together, they do more than share a moment of joy—they build trust, reduce stress, and strengthen social bonds that directly affect business results. The return on investment (ROI) of team building, then, is not just measured in smiles but in measurable shifts in engagement, innovation, and performance. Psychologists and organizational researchers have long noted that laughter triggers positive emotional contagion—a ripple effect…

17 Oct

YOUNG OBSERVER | #UNMUTED

Featured, Opinions

Last week during a Parliament session, a member of an opposition party took to the floor to lament the exclusion of the springbok on one of the national notes. While some may have found it hilarious, the episode posed a sobering question regarding the (possibly deteriorating) quality of debate in the August House. The National Assembly is the legislative arm of government, and it is meant to dissect and pass laws with scrutiny of government actions and policies. It is supposed to be a house that seeks solutions for the challenges that we face as a nation. One therefore wonders…

17 Oct

OBSERVER DAILY | Celebrating Excellence: Why Namibia must call its best home

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

When Dr Ndjodi Ndeunyema recently travelled home to Namibia, it was for a profoundly personal reason, to marry the woman he loves, herself an academic of exceptional calibre. The Windhoek Observer congratulates the newlyweds and celebrates their union as a joyful reminder of what Namibian brilliance looks like. But this editorial is not about romance; it is about recognition. It is about celebrating excellence and asking whether, as a nation, we truly value our best minds. Dr Ndjodi Ndeunyema represents the very best of Namibia, a young, highly accomplished scholar who has distinguished himself on one of the world’s most…

16 Oct

Local processing towards what ultimate end?

Opinions

Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro Northern farmers turn to meat processing to boost profits. This headline of a local English daily this week could not but catch Yours Truly Ideologically’s attention. As it indeed should, must and may have caught the attention of many Namibians, especially communal farmers. Because local processing cut to the bone of the Namibian government’s value-addition song, almost elevating such to the status of another national anthem. The headline, as is self-explanatory, is about the initiative of Lesha Investment, a wholly Namibian-owned company owned by Joan Pohamba. “I as a citizen of Namibia, hereby pledge as an individual and…

16 Oct

Botswana’s president on “plausible complimentarity”

Opinions

PAUL T. SHIPALE (with inputs by Folito Nghitongovali Diawara Gaspar) Speaking during the second session of the Namibia-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Windhoek last week, the President of Botswana, Advocate Duma Boko, strongly emphasised the need for the two countries not to compete against each other but to complement each other in what he termed as “objective, plausible, complimentary” between the two economies and insisted that discussions must lead to measurable outcomes. He described the summit as part of a wider transformation process between the two nations. He said the discussions had been “open and frank” and called on officials…

16 Oct

THE TIDE LINE | A farewell to Namibia’s Favourite uncle

Featured, Opinions

The coastal air feels heavier this week. Walvis Bay, usually abuzz with salt, seagulls, and the rhythm of commerce, has fallen a little quieter. The news of the passing of John Savva, or as everyone knew him, Uncle Savva, has rippled across the Namibian coastline with the weight of disbelief and sorrow. It feels, quite simply, like the town has lost a heartbeat. Yes, death is life’s unbroken promise to us all. But there are those rare souls whose presence feels eternal, whose laughter fills rooms, whose kindness steadies communities, and whose integrity anchors generations. Uncle Savva was one of…

16 Oct

Vision without action is a mirage

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

General (Rtd) Denga Ndaitwah’s recent public lecture at the University of Namibia’s School of Military Science was not just a reflection on leadership; it was a sober call to national reality. With characteristic clarity and discipline, Namibia’s First Gentleman and former Chief of the Namibian Defence Force reminded us of an uncomfortable truth: Vision 2030 risks becoming a beautiful but empty academic document unless its ambitions are grounded in the lived realities of our people and implemented with unwavering commitment. A vision without a compass Vision 2030, unveiled two decades ago, remains one of the most aspirational national blueprints in…

15 Oct

A quarter century of UNSCR 1325

Featured, Opinions

Selma Ashipala-Musavyi I remember vividly the corridors of the United Nations in October 2000. During Namibia’s leadership of the Security Council in October, I carried with me the conviction that the world needed to view conflict differently. We had emerged from our own liberation struggle, a struggle during which women were not only victims but also fighting side by side with our male combatants, leaders and even mediators. It was inconceivable to my colleagues and I, that women should remain marginalised in the Council's deliberations on peace and security. When Namibia proposed that women must be recognised not just as…

15 Oct

DAILY OBSERVER | Losing ground at sea: Why Namibia must urgently reclaim Walvis Bay’s global standing

Editorial, Featured, Opinions

When the Port of Walvis Bay slipped in the latest global port efficiency rankings, the news landed with the weight of disappointment. For years, the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) has stood as a model of national competence, a success story of what a well-run public enterprise can be. Walvis Bay, in particular, has symbolised Namibia’s gateway to global trade, a logistical hub linking southern Africa to the Atlantic and beyond. Namport attributes the decline in ranking to global shipping disruptions, and that explanation is not without merit. The world’s supply chains have been in disarray for years, buffeted by overlapping…

14 Oct

Post-AGOA: A catalyst for Africa’s economic self-reliance and continental prosperity

Opinions

Jason Kasuto The expiration of the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) on September 30, 2025, signals a pivotal moment for Africa’s economic trajectory. Since its inception in 2000, AGOA has fuelled African aspirations by providing duty-free access to the lucrative US market—a beacon for growth, jobs, and infrastructure development across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). But with its demise, the continent faces both a challenge and an unprecedented opportunity to redefine its economic destiny beyond dependency. Understanding AGOA’s impact—A wake-up call for Africa While AGOA served as a vital bridge for SSA exports—ranging from textiles and apparel to critical minerals—it was…