Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
April 2026
New Era
San communitiescalled forend to dehumanisation, marginalisation, dignity and land ownership
Source
“Marginalised communities have called for an end to what they describe as continued dehumanisation and marginalisation as they push for dignity and land ownership in Namibia.”
Sanare described asthe 'original affluent society'
Source
“Suzman discusses the San as the "original affluent society", a phrase first coined by economist Marshall Sahlins in the 1960s to describe hunter-gatherer societies such as the San.”
At a Windhoek workshop, San representatives, government officials and activists discussed historical and ongoing dehumanisation and marginalisation of San communities, with calls for dignity and land ownership. Human rights activist Uhuru Dempers criticised exploitative practices such as employing San people as domestic workers and using their children for manual labour, describing these as a continuation of colonial-era dehumanisation requiring leadership intervention.
Why it matters
San communities' call for land ownership and an end to marginalisation addresses a longstanding inequality affecting Namibia's most vulnerable citizens.
At a Windhoek workshop, San representatives, government officials and activists discussed historical and ongoing dehumanisation and marginalisation of San communities, with calls for dignity and land ownership. Human rights activist Uhuru Dempers criticised exploitative practices such as employing San people as domestic workers and using their children for manual labour, describing these as a continuation of colonial-era dehumanisation requiring leadership intervention.
Deputy Minister Moses //Khumub told the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues that Namibia has improved access to identity documents, healthcare and education for Indigenous minorities including San, Ovatue and Ovatjimba communities, while highlighting challenges such as drug-resistant tuberculosis and climate change impacts. A national document registration drive between June and August 2025 issued 22,426 identification documents to San community members.
The Hai||om have filed a High Court case seeking recognition of ancestral land rights over Etosha National Park and Mangetti West farms, claiming dispossession by German settlers in the 1890s and violent apartheid-era eviction in 1954. They are seeking restoration of land rights, alternative land, or financial compensation, citing violations of the Namibian Constitution and international indigenous rights frameworks.
Germany's commitment to reckon with its colonial past in Namibia has weakened significantly under the new CDU/CSU-SPD government, which mentions colonialism only briefly in its coalition agreement and makes no reference to Namibia. A newly appointed state secretary for culture dismisses adding colonialism to official memory culture as "dangerous relativism," citing the Holocaust as the singular reference point for German state ethics.
Namibia recorded 1.26 million international tourist arrivals in 2024, a 45.5% increase from 2023, with the high-end sector experiencing robust recovery driven by demand for eco-conscious, low-density experiences in destinations like Etosha, Sossusvlei, and emerging remote areas. The sector is projected to generate N$4.6 billion in 2025 with continued growth expected from improved air connectivity and diversified marketing strategies.
American YouTube sensation IShowSpeed toured Namibia, visiting Himba and San communities in Okahandja, learning traditional practices, and sampling local food. The streamer was hosted by the Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board and expressed interest in supporting local campaigns in the communities he visited.
An opinion piece examines Bernadus Swartbooi's calls for southern Namibian independence in light of historical land dispossession and upcoming oil revenues, arguing that Nigeria's civil war over oil-driven regional wealth division offers cautionary lessons for resolving Namibia's north-south divide through fair resource sharing rather than armed conflict.