Election campaigns come to an end this weekend, paving the way for voters to deliver their verdict at polling booths and ballot boxes on 27 November. Unfortunately, we have seen several incidents of rogue violence involving some political parties attempting…

Police chief Joseph Shikongo has surely crossed the line when it comes to law enforcement by unilaterally and unreasonably banning a protest by people advocating the legalisation of dagga, the marijuana plant. Shikongo told the Ganja Users of Namibia (GUN)…

If not for propaganda and looting, why must taxpayers fork out nearly N$70m more compared to last year for the NBC, Nampa and New Era? This year, the three institutions have been given N$365 million to spend, compared to just…

For years, the government has showered traditional leaders with gifts or favours in return for loyalty to Swapo. But as the years go by, it has become clear this relationship has become untenable, especially in some areas where jobs and…

From Kavango to Kunene, down south across the breadth and width of Namibia, the scramble for the country’s mineral, oil and energy sources is in overdrive. Lithium, petroleum, uranium, gas and green hydrogen have propelled Namibia to the equivalent of…

Statistician general Alex Shimuafeni has a point in saying the public should accept official data as factual compared to partisan speculation, especially from political parties. Shimuafeni was downplaying criticism by Affirmative Repositioning leader Job Amupanda who claimed unemployment has ballooned…

Paying lip service to the concepts of transparency and credibility will not engender trust in the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). Until ECN chairperson Elsie Nghikembua, her fellow commissioners, chief electoral and referenda officer Peter Shaama and his top executive…

Great idea, questionable motive. That’s not a harsh way to sum up the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB). The NIPDB opened its doors in early 2021 with the noble aim of making it easy for foreign investors and…

The world marked World Mental Health Day yesterday, reminding us of the importance of ‘mental health at work’. “Safe, healthy working environments can act as a protective factor for mental health. Unhealthy conditions – including stigma, discrimination and exposure to…

Objections raised by anti-gay demonstrators in Windhoek this week about teaching sex education at schools is a strong reminder that more needs to be done to encourage open and respectful dialogue about sexuality. An anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex…

Long before green hydrogen became a fad, the Namibian government promised to make the country a logistics hub nation by 2025, i.e. next year. So, when fuel taxes are increased to get money for our roads (up by 25 cents…

How surreal it must have been for president Nangolo Mbumba and his entourage to beg the richest person in the world to bring his satellite internet business to Namibia. We’d have loved to be a fly on the wall: How…