Since the passing of our Founding Father Sam Shafishuna Nujoma on 8 February 2025, Namibians from all walks of life have been weighing in on the life of their revered leader. They did that in speech, song, and poetry in style and in the most colourful tones. However, these speeches were mainly, and rightly so,...
Author: Gerson Uaripi Tjihenuna (Gerson Uaripi Tjihenuna )
Opinion – The ‘invisible’battle of ideas
On 18 August, I published an opinion piece in The Namibian newspaper, titled: ‘The people of Venezuela have spoken.’ In that opinion piece I, inter alia, stated that I had observed the presidential elections that were held in Venezuela on 28 July. I further argued that, according to my analysis, and contrary to what was...
Opinion – Historic phone call
On a Sunday afternoon, 14 July 2024 to be exact, I made what I thought was a random call. We had just come back from the funeral of our then last surviving matriarch, Sukoo Kavari, a week earlier. At that funeral, some of the elders of the clan and I were teaching the youngsters about...
Opinion – The citizens’ sovereignty an absolute norm
For the sake of clarity, it is perhaps important to first break down the key concepts that are flagged in this heading.
Opinion – Chris Hani and communist ideals
The 10th of April 2024 marked the 31st anniversary of Chris Hani’s assassination.
Opinion – The Rwanda tragedy: 30 years later
The 7th of April 2024 marked the 30th anniversary of the Rwanda genocide when about one million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by Hutu militants. These two ethnic groups actually speak the same language, called Kinyarwanda.
Opinion – Workers’ struggles: A rejoinder
Dr Shaun Whittaker and Harry Boesak published a piece in The Namibian of 28 April 2023 under the heading: ‘Workers’ Struggle: Odalate Naiteke’. The latter means to cut the wire, referring to the vicious contract labour system that was common before independence.
Opinion – Remembering Nyerere
On 13 April 2023, one of Africa’s finest brains, Julius Kambarage Nyerere would have turned 101 years old; had he been alive. In Tanzania he is still revered as both Mwalimu (teacher) and Baba wa Taifa (Father of the Nation).
Opinion – Open letter to fellow Namibians (Part 2)
This open letter is a follow-up to the one that was published last week (New Era, 12 April 2023). In this second open letter, I want to focus on the milestones that can bring us together.
Opinion – Open letter to fellow Namibians (Part1)
In 1903, the Pan African scholar, William EB Du Bois prophetically remarked: “The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the colour line.”