Opinions

As a nation that faces some of the most severe impacts of climate change, including prolonged droughts, unpredictable rainfall and escalating desertification, Namibia can no longer afford to treat the climate crisis as a sideline issue.  Yet today, our response remains fragmented, under-resourced and largely reactive.  I acknowledge we have a National Climate Change Policy,...

If Namibia’s new investment framework is to deliver inclusive growth, value addition and policy coherence, the red meat sector must be treated as strategic.  The public debate surrounding Namibia’s proposed Investment Promotion and Facilitation Bill has understandably focused on foreign investors, access, regulation and investor confidence.  However, these framing risks overlooking a more fundamental issue:...

The focus on grade 11 and 12 results overshadows the real foundation of academic achievement: the quality of primary education. Why does senior-level performance attract more attention than the efforts invested in earlier grades? Education begins in primary school and continues through secondary levels. The primary stage provides learners with foundational knowledge, skills and attitudes...

On Monday, 9 February, as Namibians mark the Constitution Day, we do more than simply observe a public holiday. We commemorate a foundational act of political genius and national will.  Thirty-six years ago, in the charged atmosphere of a newly liberated nation, 72 delegates achieved what many deemed impossible – they forged a Constitution of...

Life in Swapo camps was not only focused on how to defend ourselves from the attacks of the enemy, but there was an important aspect of social life, which is less talked about (never documented at all).  That kept people together and happy, especially the young ones who do not know what the war was...

In Namibia, a quiet crisis is denying our most vulnerable children the fundamental human right to education. While we celebrate achievements in education access, thousands of learners with special needs remain locked out, languishing on waiting lists that stretch for years. Our special schools are at capacity. Classrooms designed for 15 learners now accommodate 25....

Although some strides are being made, it is difficult to state with certainty that the current Administration is winning the war against the scourge of corruption. One of the stigmas is the persistence of remnants of the previous regime within the Administration.  Of course, some ministers are trying to wedge into that area, sometimes adapting...

Recently, the Ministry of Works and Transport has outlined a plan to roll out live-streaming cameras at blind spots and to deploy drones as part of the broader strategy to reduce road accidents in Namibia. Although this is a welcome development, it is inherently an arduous and costly task to sustain that size of the...

Finding a fitting title for this opinion piece has not been easy, as no single phrase fully captures the depth of the issue at hand. Nevertheless, the purpose of this article is clear: to reflect on observed behavioural patterns and social consequences associated with the consumption, and, in many cases, abuse of Otombo, a traditional...