Opinions

OBSERVER DAILY | Electricity cannot become a luxury for the rich

There was a time, not too long ago, when a twenty-dollar note could buy you enough electricity to last a few days. Today, that same N$20 barely gives you a handful of units that flicker out before you even notice the lights are on. For many Namibians, this is no longer just a minor inconvenience. It is a looming crisis that threatens to turn electricity, one of the most basic necessities of modern life, into a luxury product reserved for the wealthy. On Friday, the Northern Regional Electricity Distributor (Nored) announced a 3.8% increase in tariffs for the current financial…
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ALL THAT THE VICTIMS, OFFENDERS & COMMUNITY NEED IS CLOSURE AND INTEGRATION

ALL THAT THE VICTIMS, OFFENDERS & COMMUNITY NEED IS CLOSURE AND INTEGRATION

"A Call for a Gazetted True & Genuine National Reconciliation Policy" Lazarus Kwedhi The death of Solomon “Jesus” Awala, who was given a state funeral in recognition of his role as a liberation struggle hero, has reignited painful questions about Namibia’s war past. While many honour his military service as a PLAN fighter and former Chief of the Namibian Defence Force, others remember his alleged role in the torture and killing of comrades accused of spying in what became known as the Lubango Dungeons. His reputation as the so-called “Butcher of Lubango” has stirred deep anger among survivors and families…
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A song that speaks to the soul of a nation

A song that speaks to the soul of a nation

Hidipo Hamata There are moments in our national life when an ordinary act inside a classroom transforms into something extraordinary for the whole country. One teacher, a woman, a mother, stood before her pupils not with a textbook in hand, but with a song that has since captured our collective imagination. Her initiative — teaching children a song to protect themselves from inappropriate touching and harassment — is more than just a creative method of education. It is a national call to conscience, a mother’s cry for protection, and a teacher’s oath to safeguard the innocence of every child entrusted…
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Why parliament must close Namibia’s loopholes on private employment agencies?

Why parliament must close Namibia’s loopholes on private employment agencies?

Julius Natangwe Across Namibia, a quiet injustice has become routine: workers supplied by private employment agencies often called labour-hire firms are doing the same work as permanent staff while taking home a fraction of the invoice paid by the client enterprise. In some cases, workers report receiving as little as 30% of the invoiced amount, with the remainder disappearing in the pockets of private employment agencies as mark-ups.  Their complaints aren’t isolated; One of the aims and objectives of The Revolutionary Union (RU), a trade union that I represent reads “6.5 to promote or oppose as the case may be,…
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Unbalanced growth: the misalignment of infrastructure and urban priorities

Unbalanced growth: the misalignment of infrastructure and urban priorities

Ester Shafashike In too many corners of our country, the foundations of progress are crumbling. Schools lack proper buildings, and classrooms made of zinc sheets or tents have become the norm. Learners struggle with inadequate materials and science labs that exist only on paper. These conditions not only undermine the quality of education but also rob young minds of the opportunity to thrive. Beyond education, basic services remain out of reach for countless communities. Residents walk long distances to access medical facilities, often navigating deteriorated roads that suffer from poor workmanship. Even when road projects begin, the results are substandard…
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Money talks, but who is listening?

Money talks, but who is listening?

Sanja van den Berg  Money is something we think about every day, whether we’re swiping for groceries, figuring out how to make it to payday, or silently stressing about that one unexpected bill that could throw everything off. It shapes our choices, affects our sleep, and influences our relationships. It’s the loudest conversation in the  room, but for many of us, it’s one we try not to have. The truth is that most people are figuring it out as they go along. We copy what our parents did, we try not to spend too much, and sometimes we take loans…
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OBSERVER DAILY | From scare Namibia to Air Namibia

When Air Namibia was grounded and liquidated in 2021, the decision was framed as bold fiscal discipline. After all, the airline had swallowed more than N$11 billion in government bailouts over two decades without ever finding sustainable profitability. To many, pulling the plug seemed the only sensible choice. But history has a way of exposing short-term decisions for what they truly are: costly miscalculations. Today, as President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah signals her government’s intention to reintroduce a national carrier, we are compelled to ask ourselves: was closing Air Namibia the right move? The answer is an emphatic no. In fact, the…
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DAILY OBSERVER | Prime minister’s kindness: time for a rethink?

Prime minister’s kindness: time for a rethink? When President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah took the oath of office, she pledged inclusivity and fairness as guiding principles for her administration. “No special treatment” was her rallying cry, meant to signal a new era in which the government would lead by example, not by exception. Yet, one long-standing tradition continues to sit awkwardly alongside that promise: the so-called prime minister’s kindness. This is the practice of allowing public servants to leave work early, sometimes at 10h00, sometimes at 14h00, on the eve of public holidays. The reasoning has always been straightforward: give workers a…
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DAILY OBSERVER | Steering Namibia’s Oil with an Unusual Crew

Namibia’s oil and gas sector is standing on the edge of history. For decades, we dreamed of “the big find,” and now that dream is reality. Oil is no longer a rumour off our shores, it’s here, commercially viable, and promising to change the face of our economy forever. But here’s the catch: how we manage this industry from day one will determine whether Namibia becomes a success story or just another African country that struck oil and ended up poorer for it. That’s why leadership matters. The people at the top set the tone, negotiate the deals, and decide…
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DAILY OBSERVER | Let Netumbo Be Netumbo

In Namibia, politics is as much a national pastime as it is the engine of governance. The moment a new president assumes office, our collective curiosity shifts into high gear. Who will be appointed to Cabinet? Which familiar faces will be retained, and which newcomers will find themselves elevated to positions of influence? For weeks, conversations across dinner tables, taxis, shebeens, and WhatsApp groups circle around the same subject: who’s next? Who are the new ambassadors?  This chatter is not unique to Namibia. In every democracy, the arrival of a new leader generates speculation, innuendo, and even misinformation. But in…
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