[4] On the 15th anniversary of its foundation, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan praised the newspaper: "The Namibian worked courageously in difficult and often dangerous conditions.

[6] There were several incidents of violence against The Namibian's offices, leased from anti-apartheid activist and architect Kerry McNamara,[7] in the months after its foundation.

[9] South Africa's Civil Cooperation Bureau planned to poison editor Lister,[10] the newspaper was boycotted by the white business community, and "journalists and sympathisers" of The Namibian were denied entry in shops all over the country.

[6] Dirk Mudge, head of the South African-controlled government from 1978 to 1989 wrote at the occasion of the newspaper's 10th anniversary:[11] "During the past ten years [...] The Namibian [...] did not show particular understanding nor sympathy towards me personally and my political views.

These pages dedicated to "short messages to the editor" allow citizens from all over Namibia to comment on and raise topics, since mobile phones are widespread and cheaper and easier than mail or internet.

According to former editor Gwen Lister, The Namibian was the first newspaper to offer such an open forum for discussion via text message, since similar programmes at other media (e.g. in South Africa) only allowed comment on chosen articles.