Elections are the bedrock of democracy and the election commissions’ credibility is central to democratic legitimacy. Elections give citizens an opportunity to choose leaders or representatives of their choice, hold government to account and help to shape national policy making. In Africa, many independent election bodies established in the 90s on the eve of Namibia’s...
Opinions
Opinion – International Women’s Day: Time for self-assessment
International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on 8 March across the globe. This year’s theme is ‘Accelerate Action’, aimed to instruct and remind us that the time for policymaking is to be replaced by implementations. It seeks to acknowledge public and private policies and strategies that positively impact women’s upliftment. The purpose of the day...
Opinion – Zooming in on Namibia’s data protection
Fellow Namibian citizens, can we truly trust our institutions to safeguard our personal data? The simple answer is ‘no’. While this response is blunt, the reality of our digital setting demands a deeper understanding of the risks we face and the urgent reforms needed. What happened? Whether you are a consumer, investor or a policy...
Opinion – The Genocide Joint Declaration: A Travesty of Justice
The genocide negotiations between Namibia and Germany, that culminated in the nebulous Joint Declaration (JD), ought to have been started on the strength of a resolution of the Namibian Parliament of 2006, that emanated from a motion tabled by the late president of the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo), Chief Kuaima Riruako. A motion which...
Opinion – Celebrating Nujoma’s legacy through project management lens
Initiation Every historic project begins with a visionary leader who clearly defines its purpose, goals, and scope. His Excellency Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, affectionately known as the ‘Founding Father of the Namibian Nation’, initiated Namibia’s struggle for independence with a bold, unwavering vision. From a young age, Nujoma recognised the urgent need to liberate his...
Opinion – Nujoma traced back to Kaokoland
Kuku Helvi Mpingana Kondombolo (1898-2008), affectionately known as Kuku Gwakondo, was the mother of the Namibian Founding President, the late Dr. Sam Nujoma (1929-2025). Often, we hear Kuku Gwakondo’s father is Kondombolo ka Nakathingo; Nakathingo ja Kambulua; Kambulua ka Hango. However, have you ever wondered who the mother of the Uukwambi princess (Gwakondo) was? Where...
Opinion – What now for the humiliated Zelensky?
“A grandiose failure” – take it from the best Ukrainian news site. That’s how Strana.ua has summed up the visit of Vladimir Zelensky, past-best-by-date leader in embattled Kiev, to Washington. And no one who watched the no-holds-barred shouting match between Zelensky, on one side, and US president Donald Trump and vice president J.D. Vance, on...
Opinion – Reconstructing Nujoma in time and space
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,...
Opinion – Why Namibians should embrace Kiswahili
As Namibia reflects on the legacy of its Founding President Sam Nujoma, one meaningful way to honour his Pan-African vision is by reintroducing Kiswahili in schools. More than just a language, Kiswahili represents unity, identity and opportunity – values that Nujoma championed throughout his life. He was a firm believer in African unity and saw...
Opinion – Tribute to Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma
Indeed, when the history of Namibia has been written, Swapo will go down as having stood firm where others wavered with Shafiishuna Sam Nujoma, at its helm. Shafiishuna, as his name resonates with his trademark Colgate smile, will welcome you ascending to occasions when it is of lighter, jovial moments and calm and relaxed environment,...