40 years since The Namibian first rolled off the press in 1985
August 29, 2025
[PODCAST]
This year marks 40 years since The Namibian first rolled off the press in 1985, born in the thick of state hostility. At its helm, then, was Gwen Lister, who gained a reputation as a fearless journalist who managed to turn a small resistance newspaper into a national institution.
Four decades later, The Namibian is part of the country’s democratic DNA. To reflect on its birth, the struggles, and the sacrifices made along the way, we speak to founding editor Gwen Lister.