Kalimbo Iipumbu unpacks the publiation of National Directory by Telecom Namibia

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We shine a spotlight on Telecom Namibia’s recent unveiling of its 2025 National Directory. More than just a phone book, the publication this year is being positioned as a cultural keepsake—featuring Namibia’s first female president, Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, on the cover as a symbol of national pride, progress, and female leadership.

But in the age of smartphones and Google search, how relevant is a printed or even digital directory today? Was this money well spent—or a nostalgic gesture in a digital world that’s moved on?

To discuss this from a critical and economic perspective, we were joined by Kalimbo Iipumbu, a representative of the Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) to hear his views on whether this was a worthy national investment, what could’ve been done better, and how we should be rethinking state-linked innovations in today’s economy.