Joseph Diescho is a Namibian political scientist. He is an emeritus professor at the University of Bonn in Germany. Today, the name Joseph Diescho resonates with wisdom, knowledge or a commitment to intellectual pursuit. On the other hand, the name brings out controversies such as a self-imposed exiled Namibian, someone at loggerheads with the...
Thought Leaders
Opinion – Namibian food system’s sustainability litmus test
Sustainability is a concept we encounter frequently, defined by the United Nations Brundtland Commission as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Namibia has demonstrated a strong commitment to wildlife conservation and environmental protection, notably being one of the first African countries to incorporate...
Opinion – Namibian politics, governance through a magnified lens
To date, hundreds of thousands of Namibian citizens are standing at the far end of the tunnel, focussing anxiously on the awaited Vision 2030 to emerge. As years pass by, every small amount of light detected prompts an adjustment of the lens the society is using to view through the tunnel. It is so because...
Opinion – Policy issues of concern in dual-use dilemma
Dual-use research dilemma refers to the quandary of producing and publishing research in the life sciences that is directed towards or intended to improve public health, animal health or agricultural productivity, but that could be used to harm public health in the hands of a rogue state, terrorist group or individual. One of the technical...
Opinion – Youth inclusivity becoming a dubious political agenda
In recent years, political parties worldwide have recognised the growing urgency for sustainable development, particularly in response to the climate crisis. In Namibia, as in other democratic nations, politicians have adapted their ideologies to align with sustainable practices, which promise tangible benefits to citizens. However, while the discourse on sustainability is a welcome change, another...
Opinion – Ukraine ill-advised on peace, diplomacy
Ukraine is running out of time as counter-offensive measures against Russia’s “special military operation” and the recent Ukraine’s terror incursion in Kursk Oblast of Russia dismally failed. Russia continues gaining more ground and seizing vast territories in relentless, fierce battles since then. The strategic town of Prokovsk is about to fall. But what has Ukraine...
Opinion – Privatisation or peril for livestock industry?
The Namibian government is under increasing pressure to privatise the Meat Corporation of Namibia (Meatco) as concerns mount over the company’s financial instability. A recent report by Ombu Capital (Pty) Ltd, led by former Standard Bank Namibia Holdings CEO Vetumbuavi Mungunda, has put forth a strong case for privatisation to prevent the state-owned entity from...
Opinion – UN cybercrime treaty enables threatening state intrusion
Alarm has reverberated around the world following the adoption of the draft United Nations (UN) convention on cybercrime in early August 2024 by the Ad Hoc Committee of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) specifically created to draft such a treaty. What is fuelling the alarm within the global human rights community is the fact that the...
Opinion – Namibia’s capital outflow hits N$14.2 billion
In a recent announcement, Bank of Namibia governor Johannes !Gawaxab reported a significant increase in capital outflow from Namibia, with N$14.2 billion leaving the country betweenJanuary and August 2024. This marks a sharp rise from the N$10.6 billion recorded during the same period in 2023, reflecting a N$3.6 billion increase in net outflows. The governor...
Opinion – Unduly restrictive land reform
Definitionally, land reform entails and/or encompasses a purposeful drive championed by the State, through its machinery, in addressing historical injustices with restorative measures. This would, therefore, mean the land reform programme must have ingredients of restitution and statutory restoration of rights unto land. Central to this will be premised on the natural recognition of historical...