Desert FM 95.3

Political analyst Johanes Sakaria says opposition scrutiny of bills is part of a healthy democratic process, aimed at ensuring laws benefit the public and not just a few individuals.

Several Namibians say they paid tens of thousands of dollars to Katutura Central councillor Rodman Katjaimo, who promised to arrange their travel to the United Kingdom (UK) for the Commonwealth Games.

Families now allege the trip was never about sports but a scheme to get them to the UK to claim asylum. The trip never happened, leaving many, including the late Godhard Metirapi, financially and emotionally affected.

Immo Kauandenge, who was helping her younger brother, speaks to Desert FM about what she was told, the real plan behind the trip, whether she has recovered any money, and how the ordeal has changed her life.

The Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) is facing mounting questions after errors were detected in the printing and allocation of ballot papers ahead of next week’s elections. Cases of under allocation, overallocations and duplicate ballot books have raised concerns over the integrity of the vote. With election teams deploying on 23 November and special voting set for the following day, the ECN is racing to resolve the discrepancies.

Desert FM speaks to ECN director of operations Zenia Klasen on what went wrong and how the commission plans to fix it in time.

The Prime Minister Charity Foundation Gala Dinner is a new national initiative hosted by the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (Nipam).

The fundraising platform is designed to mobilise resources in support of under-resourced public institutions, particularly local authorities.

Desert FM speaks to Nipam marketing and business development manager Johannes Hatutale.

Namibia has lost nearly 30 000 employers in just five years, dropping from about 45 000 in 2018 to only 15 000 in 2023.

Economists warn that this collapse is shrinking the country’s tax base and worsening unemployment.

To unpack this crisis Desert FM speaks to labour research expert Herbert Jauch.

A nationwide go-slow by magistrates is now spilling over into essential policing and public services across several regions. In the Oshana region, delays in court operations have left families unable to collect the bodies of loved ones for burial.

At the same time, police holding cells are becoming dangerously overcrowded as trials, bail hearings and case progressions stall. To get more insight, Desert FM speaks to Oshana regional police commander Naftal Sakaria.

Knowledge Ipinge, founder of the Namibian Association of Offshore Oil and Gas Service Providers, warns that Dangote’s planned massive fuel storage facility could disrupt local downstream petroleum businesses if local infrastructure and workforce participation are not prioritized.

We take a closer look at the performance of Namibia’s parliament over the past eight months, examining how effectively it has served the nation and highlighting both its key achievements and areas that require improvement.

In conversation with Desert FM, Affirmative Repositioning chief whip Vaino Hangula provides insight into parliament’s priorities, its overall performance, and what Namibians can expect moving forward.

Namibia has been drawn into a diplomatic storm after United Kingdom (UK) home secretary Shabana Mahmood threatened Trump style visa bans on Namibia, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, if they refuse to take back people the UK labels as “illegal migrants and criminals.”

The warning has sparked global debate over sovereignty, migration policy, and the balance of power between African nations and Western governments.

To unpack the implications on diplomacy, human rights, and Namibia’s foreign policy stance, Desert FM speaks to international relations expert Tuliameni Kalomoh.

The announcement that Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board (NIPDB) chief executive Nangula Uaandja will step down at the end of December has sparked debate about the future of Namibia’s investment architecture.

Uaandja exists during a turbulent period marked by structural shifts and warnings from analysts about the potential downgrading of the NIPDB into an underpowered function within a ministry. 

To unpack the economic implications of this transition, Desert FM speaks to economist Salomo Hei.