THE HONEST IMPACT with Gideon Kapuka

"Until the continent funds itself, feeds itself, and defends itself, “One Africa” will remain an empty slogan.’’ For decades, African leaders have thundered about Pan-Africanism, integration, and the dream of “One Africa.” Speeches at the African Union are delivered with passion, and declarations are signed with fanfare. Yet the continent remains fragmented, underdeveloped, and dependent on foreign loans. We are simply not ready for a borderless utopia. Tear those borders down today and chaos would follow: fragile economies collapsing into stronger ones, migration spikes overwhelming unprepared neighbors, and instability spilling across borders. Unity must be built step by step not wished into existence. Railways Before Rhetoric Consider trade costs: it is still more expensive to ship goods from Lagos to Accra than from Lagos to London. This is absurd for a continent with 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of N$54.8 trillion. Africa lacks internal connectivity. A continent-wide...

Somewhere in Namibia, an elder is adjusting his tie for a TV interview about “serving the people” right before signing off on a deal that serves only his bank account. Another is lecturing the youth about hard work while his own wealth came from cutting ribbons, not breaking sweat. They call themselves leaders, custodians of wisdom, and defenders of the nation’s values. But strip away the titles and respect, and you’ll find a club of men and women who have been so overfed by greed that their moral compasses no longer point anywhere. Once upon a time, an “elder” meant a wise, respected figure whose words carried the weight of lived experience. In Namibia’s new political dictionary, however, “elder” often means someone who has mastered the art of eating not food, but tenders, allowances, and public resources. These are elders marinated in greed, grilled in privilege, and served with a side of selective amnesia. Our housing shortage is the perfect example. The elders have perfected the na...

Oh, Namibia. The land of the brave, the beautiful, and apparently, the land of young women being “mentored” by their oh-so-lovely rich aunties and “best friends.” If you happen to live under a rock, let me give you a crash course in what’s happening across Windhoek, Ongwediva, and those beachy coastal towns that look like paradise but often feel like something out of a dark reality show. Let’s talk about the new definition of mentorship, shall we? Gone are the days of practical advice on how to land your first job or become financially literate. These days, young women are learning life lessons like how to make sure your sugar daddy doesn’t text you more than twice a day and the subtle art of dodging questions about your "business ventures." And who’s the mastermind behind this course? The aunts and besties of course. Those same women who post inspirational quotes about “sisterhood” and “empowerment” on Instagram but spend their evenings setting up their nieces and besties fo...