Euro-African Life in Namibia

Daniel Motinga , Senior Manager Research and Development at First National Bank Namibia has revised the annual GDP growth outlook downwards from 4,5% to 3,9% in the recent Africa monthly report by RMB (Rand Merchant Bank) on Global Markets research. Motinga: "We believe the economy expanded by 2.8% in 1H13 and expect most of the momentum to be in 2H13. Our biggest concern is the sluggish pace of private consumption growth , which registered an 8% increase in 2012. We forecast a slight improvement to 8.3% in 2013, largely supported by tax relief. We are also becoming less bullish on investment spending growth given the large base established in the prior  year." Motinga added that investment spending rose by 19.7% in real terms in 2012 , a feat impossible to replicate in 2013, particularly as there was a deceleration in private sector investment spend. He continued to say that on the demand side, imports would detract from growth as they continued to expa...

Women know modern relationships are difficult, fraught with anxiety, often do not last and lack genuine commitment because of a sudden change in lifestyle, e.g. women now seek education instead of marriage, women want  financial independence and employment instead of marriage. Yes, the social status of women has significantly improved since Namibia gained Independence in 1990; and now that we can choose our careers , postpone / manage our fertility with contraception and plan for a future , it has become extremely IMPORTANT to choose the right partners, who are supportive of our goals, share our values and who will remain committed to the modern relationship. Sometimes, as everyone is wont to do, we make MISTAKES when choosing a partner. Modern mistakes are often costly; a verbal apology and a few fervent prayers can't erase or make them go away. Below is a list of indicators to look out for when assessing that 'special person'... 20 SIGNS the man in your life is n...

Last Friday was a miserable day. I looked forward to the Africa's Finest Fashion Renaissance event at Hotel Thuringerhof in Windhoek with the same enthusiasm as for a shoe-and-bag shopping spree. But by one o'clock of that day, I had to call it quits. My health suffered a blow and sick as a designer puppy, I dragged myself to the pharmacy and then to bed, where I remained in agony until the following day. And so, I missed the event. Fortunately, the organisers kindly uploaded photographs on the Facebook page and after reviewing the photographs, my eyes twinkled, my snout glistened, I licked my chops and grinned broadly. The reason? This event exposed a real rough diamond in the form of YD (young designer) Pewa Metha Uushona. (Photographs by Janusz Miarka) Twenty-four year-old Pewa Metha Uushona has something 'different' and it's so subtle, her style could easily be dismissed as just another 'ethnic' look. Look closer and you'll see a designer...

We're approaching the end of winter in Namibia. The days are slightly longer, sunny and bright, framed by the bluest of blue skies. Oh, the blue skies of winter in Namibia are stunning, aren't they? I've seen a few t-shirts on the streets of Windhoek even though the nights are chilly, and the odd sandal. It took a while for us to 'register' a drop in temperatures indicated the approaching winter and many of us stubbornly refused to dress accordingly but all in all, it was a good, uneventful season. Lunch today was a pleasant visit to a popular local lunch haunt, Fishmonger's, in Adler Street, Windhoek West. The latter is also a favoured chomping site of some of the coolest people in Windhoek. While waiting for my take-away order, I had the pleasure of running into COTA (College of the Arts) photographic lecturer, Kristin Capp (wife of famous Namibian filmmaker, Cecil Moller). A renowned photographic artist, Kristin is also the guest photo essayist in o...

The evening of Friday, 2nd August 2013 , is the day of  'Africa's Finest Fashion Renaissance' . The venue is Hotel Thuringerhof, Independence Avenue, Windhoek, and the aim is to showcase Namibia's best designers. The British-based Namibian designer, Mrs. Eva Miarka (pictured below), can be contacted on eva.miarka@gmail.com for more information and will also showcase her range. Tickets are available at the following rates: Early Bird = N$ 150.00 , Standard Entry = N$ 200.00 and VIP = N$ 300.00.  The beneficiary of the first ever Africa's Finest Fashion Renaissance is NEKA (Namibian Exile Kids Association) and entertainment will be provided by Namibian musicians Marvin Sanzila, Tunakie and Sunny Boy.  I'm looking forward to seeing strong Euro-African flavours , getting much-needed inspiration and therefore reserved a VIP seat for my camera and I. For more information and to reserve your ticket for what promises to be an exciting evening, please con...

‘Optimist’: An Exhibition by Papa Shikongeni Ndasuunje Shikongeni, who is popularly known as “Papa”, is a Namibian internationally recognized visual artist; he is also storyteller, spiritual believer and leader in Namibia’s post-independence arts education and culture. In his visual arts, Shikongeni has worked extensively in wood and paper mache sculpture and pioneered novel techniques in printmaking by using cardboard, painting, ink on paper and linoleum, he is also created with the innovation zips technique stretched on frame. In the past decade, Shikongeni’s works, which depicting different aspects of Namibian culture and traditions, have been showcased around the world. Since the early 1990s, Shikongeni has hosted 16 solo exhibitions and over 40 group exhibition in countries including, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Uganda, Burundi, Zambia, London, The UK, Germany, Russia and Norway. Shikongeni has also lectured at John Mauf...

So, Tuesday is defined as the day after Monday and the day before Wednesday, hope that makes sense. Monday is the first day of the week and Wednesday, the middle of the week...working week, that is. Today, Tuesday, started with a cold, sharp wind thumping rudely against the decent windows and doors of respectable houses in Windhoek. It started last night and by this morning, it was thoroughly prepared to blow us into our polo necks, long-sleeved jerseys, vests, knee-high boots and double decitex pantihose . It was really cold in Windhoek this morning! I'm warmly dressed today; wearing almost my entire winter wardrobe all at once, in an effort to remain warm. I have all of the aforementioned except for a knitted beannie on my head. Taking a look around Windhoek, and especially visitors to  Wernhil Park Shopping Centre, it appears I may be one of the few people struggling to endure the chilly wind. 'Ninja' (pictured above) looked light, airy and almost summery in t...