Opinions

OBSERVER DAILY | An inconvenient truth: Namibia’s silent suicide crisis

Namibia is facing an inconvenient truth, one we have been too timid to confront head-on: suicide is claiming lives at an alarming rate. Among those who have chosen this tragic path are not only men and women buckling under social and economic strain, but children, our children. Every report of a life cut short is not merely a statistic, but a devastating rupture in families, communities, and the nation’s future. And yet, as the suicide rate climbs, our national response remains timid, fragmented, and inadequate. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was correct to express concern about suicides in her recent address. But…
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Is our government working clockwise with its people?

Is our government working clockwise with its people?

Hidipo Hamata Many unemployed youths and adults find themselves unable to provide basic needs or put bread and butter on the table because they are unemployed. Employment is hard to find, and even when you are fortunate enough to secure a job, the salary is often too small to sustain yourself, let alone your extended family. Life is hard, but is our government truly working clockwise to find amicable solutions for her people — solutions that soften the economic pressure while also building the country brick by brick, together with its citizens? Today, thousands of Namibians have found creative ways…
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SUCCESSION PLANNING, A MISSING LINK IN NAMIBIA’S PUBLIC ENTITIES

SUCCESSION PLANNING, A MISSING LINK IN NAMIBIA’S PUBLIC ENTITIES

Lusia Kornelius and Zucky Bauleth-Nashima  Succession planning within Public Entities (PEs) has been overlooked, and failure to implement it can lead to operational inefficiency, derailed strategy implementation and financial losses. When key officials retire or leave unexpectedly, institutions are compelled to conduct external searches for replacements matching the qualifications and years of expertise. While replacement is inevitable, the process is usually lengthy, as it requires an extensive hiring process, which can contribute to operational stagnation and sometimes a management vacuum. These recruitment processes can incur financial implications, which could otherwise be utilised to fund key company projects and improve service…
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OBSERVER DAILY | The middleman syndrome: How Namibia bleeds through procurement

The Minister of Health and Social Services recently boasted that the ministry saved more than N$200 million through better procurement practices. On the surface, this is good news. But before we clap, let’s pause. Why should we celebrate a ministry for simply not wasting money? Praising a government department for finally buying goods at fair value is like applauding a fish for swimming. It exposes the rot in our procurement system rather than proving its efficiency. And at the heart of this rot is the phenomenon of “middlemen.” The mrise of the middleman Middlemen exist in every economy. They connect…
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Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar: Omukwanilwa Nakale Nomwenyo

Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar: Omukwanilwa Nakale Nomwenyo

Lazarus Kwedhi  Many still vividly remember the funeral of Her Majesty, the late Queen Elizabeth II, where African presidents were transported in buses while other world leaders, particularly from the USA and Europe, travelled in the comfort of their presidential fleets. These arrangements angered many Africans back home, who felt their leaders were disrespected and made to appear like schoolchildren on a tour bus. The privacy and security of African leaders seemed far less important than those of their Western counterparts. If that happened in public, one wonders what treatment they received behind closed doors. Were African presidents also placed…
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Mining for tomorrow: building a legacy between mining, people and planet 

Mining for tomorrow: building a legacy between mining, people and planet 

Nandeshasho Nickanor The extractive industries stand at a critical crossroads, because while the world demands resources, there are also calls for urgent action to protect our natural environment. Mining, often perceived solely as extractive, holds a powerful opportunity to contribute meaningfully to global biodiversity goals. By embedding biodiversity and community well-being into operational DNA, the sector can demonstrate that development and conservation are not opposing forces but complementary pillars of sustainable progress.  Biodiversity as an operational priority This goes beyond compliance but is a conscious integration guided by a company’s environmental policy. Through efforts such as habitat restoration, biodiversity monitoring,…
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The crucial role of student leadership in education: beyond politics 

The crucial role of student leadership in education: beyond politics 

Taapopi Naftali  As a student leader, I have seen firsthand how student representative bodies like NANSO, NASA, SUN, and others are constantly contradicted and undermined, often for the wrong reasons. These organisations are essential because they are the voice of the learners; they identify challenges, propose solutions, and implement programmes that improve the educational experience for everyone. Yet, instead of being supported, we face unnecessary resistance from directors, principals, and institutional authorities.  Student leaders are often blocked from carrying out their programmes; mentorship initiatives, awareness campaigns, peer-support sessions, and skill-building workshops are delayed or cancelled due to bureaucracy and unnecessary…
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OBSERVER DAILY | Bantustan ghosts in a unitary state

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s address to the 26th Annual Meeting of the Council of Traditional Leaders should send shivers down the spine of anyone who cares about Namibia’s unity. On the surface, her speech was respectful and conciliatory, an olive branch to chiefs, hompas, and traditional authorities across the land. But between the lines lay a sobering warning: our country risks sliding back into a Bantustan mentality, the very disease our liberation struggle sought to cure. The illusion of tradition Let us be brutally honest. Traditional authorities play a role in our cultural identity. They preside over rituals, settle minor disputes,…
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365 days of palliative care operations in Namibia

365 days of palliative care operations in Namibia

Rolf Hansen The Cancer Association of Namibia (WO30) proudly marks the first anniversary of the House Zietsman Care Facility, under the auspices of Palliative Care Namibia, a programme in our organisation. This milestone offers an opportunity to reflect not only on victories but also on the many challenges that continue to shape our journey. It has not been an easy road. Yet the reward has been overwhelmingly positive. One lesson stands out clearly – the understanding of palliative care, even within Namibia’s broader medical ecosystem, remains limited. Too often, there is a reluctance to confront the reality of death and…
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OBSERVER DAILY | Namibia’s unequal struggle: From recognition to real action

When Finance Minister Erica Shafudah addressed over 800 delegates and 80 central bank governors at the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Global Policy Forum in Swakopmund, she did something that deserves recognition: she confronted the uncomfortable truth. Namibia, three decades after independence, remains one of the most unequal societies in the world. The minister did not hide behind slogans or polished talking points. Instead, she acknowledged that inequality, rooted in colonial dispossession and apartheid exclusion, continues to cast a long shadow over our democracy. That candor matters. Too often, governments facing stubborn structural problems resort to denial or distraction. Commending…
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