Opinions

P T SHIPALE I. Prologue Indeed, a great tree has fallen and a great shadow hangs heavy across the entire land because our beloved Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation, H.E. Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma is no more.  For those of us who knew him, who worked alongside him, who counted and relied on him, who were led by him, who learned from him, who loved him, it is unbearable that we will not see him again. The sad news of his passing struck a deep and solemn note as he was an iconic and quintessential revolutionary leader,…

Lot Ndamanomhata The Lobito Corridor, an ambitious trans-African project, is reshaping the geopolitics of Southern Africa. Spanning Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the corridor connects mineral-rich regions to the Atlantic Ocean, facilitating the export of critical resources such as copper and cobalt. These materials are vital for renewable energy and green technology, and the project’s backing by the U.S. and its allies underscores its global significance. However, the corridor has sparked concerns about sovereignty, resource exploitation, and geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China. The Corridor: A strategic gateway The Lobito Corridor links the DRC’s…

P T Shipale Although, in my capacity as the Senior Special Assistant to the Founding President, I was kept abreast of the condition of the Founding President, one is never prepared to hear the sad news of the passing of a person who is close to our hearts.  More so, if such a person is of the calibre of the Founding President and Father of the Namibian Nation, H.E. Dr Sam Nujoma.  The first time I met the Founding President in person was in 1979 after the Cassinga Massacre on the 4th of May 1978 as I was part of…

Lot Ndamanomhata History sometimes unfolds in ways that no one anticipates. When Dr. Nangolo Mbumba was sworn in as the fourth President of the Republic of Namibia on 4 February 2024, it was under circumstances no one could have foreseen. The nation was in mourning following the passing of President Hage G. Geingob, and in that moment of deep national sorrow, leadership fell upon a man who had never sought the highest office but whose service to the nation had been unwavering for decades. Dr. Mbumba, the unassuming statesman from Olukonda, Pohadopate, became the nation’s guiding hand at a time…

In its 1976 political programme the Swapo Party of Namibia notes two economies that existed in parallel in colonial Namibia. “Wealthy white-owned economy based on the extensive extraction of varied natural resources” and “a separate subsistence economy enveloping the majority of the African population who are forced to live in Bantustans.” “The two economies have been consciously designed in accordance with the social interests of the white settler group and international monopoly capitalism.” Yours Truly Ideological cannot but note the observation of, by and in the Swapo 1976 Political Programme of the two economies existing side by side, most notably…

Josef Kefas Sheehama President Trump's executive orders serve as a wake-up call for African leaders, demanding that they put public service and economic development ahead of foreign aid and begging. The time has come for them to learn from these directives. To make sure that everyone feels appreciated and respected, every sovereign country should put in place an inclusive and equitable system. Trumponomics and Double-Edged Sword President Trump must be credible and relevant in his actions against world leaders. It is true that America has been feeding African nations for a long time despite the fact that they have rich…

Wayambekange N Hamufenhu Namibia is renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich biodiversity, and natural resources. From the sprawling desert landscapes of Namib to the lush wildlife in the northeast, the nation’s natural affluence is an integral part of its identity and economy. However, the threat of climate change is beginning to cast a dark shadow over this fragile bio-network. The impacts are already evident and pose a severe threat to the sustainability of the country’s environment, economy, and future. As a largely arid country, Namibia’s reliance on its natural resources, especially water, agriculture, and wildlife, is undeniable. The rising temperatures…

The mantra of President-elect Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (NNN) is “business unusual.” Yours Truly Ideologically, cannot but ask the pertinent and daunting question, as indeed all, including our celebrated policy analysts in their respective orientations, should ask: what is “business unusual,” and unusual from what? What has been the "business as usual" for NNN's predecessors and their administrations, of which she has been an integral part at every step of the way, in one capacity or another? From which, a la her mantra, is she determined to depart? Is it in terms of the Swapo Party ideological foundation on which all her…