Month: August 2023

The Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) officially opened a new satellite office at Opuwo on Thursday to supplement the office in Khorixas in its attempts to bring its services closer to the people.

This means residents of Opuwo and surrounding areas will no longer be required to travel long distances to submit their tax returns or obtain tax and good standing certificates.

The official inauguration of the satellite office also featured an oversight visit and a community involvement programme, officiated by NamRA’s Commissioner Sam Shivute.

Shivute said the agency will work to preserve and enforce Namibian tax and customs regulations in a consistent, fair, efficient, and effective manner, with a focus on the requirements of each taxpayer and trader.

He also emphasised the need to pay taxes, stating that revenue collection is the only method for the government to care for its inhabitants.

‘Tax payments are a mandatory and collective approach that allows our government to provide for its citizens in terms of road infrastructure, health care and education. So the money you pay ensures that the police are paid, government workers are compensated, and medication is available at our hospitals,’ he explained.

The commissioner also reiterated the agency’s stance on the tax amnesty programme, assuring customers that once the capital tax arrears are resolved during the programme duration, 100 per cent of their penalties and interest will be written off.

‘I am equally pleading with those in those arrears to make the necessary arrangements to have their penalties waived before October 2024,’ he said.

Kunene governor Marius Sheya commended NamRA for its successes and dedication to tax collecting efforts and national development, stating that the agency’s revenue has been the backbone of the country’s social progress and economic prosperity.

‘Tax compliance is critical, and it is our responsibility to contribute our fair share. Failing to contribute our fair share harms the most vulnerable in our society,’ Sheya explained.

The agency also handed over 200 spades to the regional governor’s office.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

In a world that sometimes feels like its spinning out of control, there are individuals who stand as beacons of hope and courage.

One such individual is Petrus David, a dedicated paramedic and firefighter serving his local community. With his selfless commitment and fearless spirit, he embodies the essence of a true hero.

As Namibia prepares to commemorate Heroes Day on 26 August, Nampa recently sat down with David to hear his story of being a local hero in his own right.

David’s journey into the world of emergency response started at an early age. Growing up in Katutura’s Shandumbala, he was no stranger to sirens and the call of duty. Finding it intriguing to observe lives being saved in front of him by City of Windhoek emergency responders sparked a desire in him to make a difference in his community.

“I saw the impact saving lives had on the people of my community,” David reflects.

“It was inspiring to see how they rushed toward danger to help those in need, and I knew I wanted to do the same.”

David’s path led him to becoming both a paramedic and firefighter, a combination of skills that allows him to respond effectively to a wide range of emergencies. His days are unpredictable, and his roles are often intertwined.

David recalls one particularly harrowing event when he faced his first medical emergency.

“I recall my first day as a junior paramedic on the site. We were called to the Hosea Kutako International Airport in 2006. A visitor on his way to South Africa suffered a heart attack while on the stairs, fainted and rolled down the stairs. The first concern was the distance; we were in the city and needed to go 40 kilometres to attend to someone who had just had a heart attack, so we were concerned about making it there on time. When we finally arrived, I saw a helpless person on the floor, and his complexion had drastically changed. I was the youngest member of the team and had to perform CPR while listening to my senior’s directions,” he explained.

David said the mental image of each scene was impossible to forget, especially at the start of his career. Talking about it with his loved ones or friends however makes him feel better and encourages him to try his best the next day.

“On so many scenes during a fire outbreak, your only mission is to get everyone to safety,” he remembers. “Some people are unfortunately not so lucky and end up getting hurt very badly, to a point where the first-degree burns make their skin fall off, a horrific scene I’ve seen too many times to count.”

David not only fights fires or treats injuries, he is also an educator and community builder. Through his company, Africa Fire and Rescue, David along with his team regularly visita schools and different establishments to teach fire safety, conduct CPR workshops and participate in community events. Building trust and a sense of security within the community is as important to him as putting out fires.

He describes being a paramedic and firefighter as “no walk in the park” as the physical demands can be gruelling, the emotional toll heavy and the hours unpredictable.

Despite the challenges, David finds immense fulfilment in his work. The most rewarding aspect, he says, is the direct impact he has on people’s lives.

“When you save a life or protect someone’s property, you feel a sense of purpose that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s not just a job; it’s a calling.”

What makes David even more remarkable is his humility. He does not consider himself a hero, despite the countless lives he has touched and saved. He attributes his success to the incredible teamwork and support of his colleagues, as well as the unwavering encouragement of his family.

In a world that often craves recognition, David serves as a humble reminder that true heroes are not defined by accolades, but by their unwavering commitment to others.

Looking ahead, he has no plans to slow down. He is committed to continuous training and improvement, staying up to date with the latest techniques and technologies in his field. He is also excited about the future generation of firefighters and paramedics who are going to change the lives of many Namibians.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The SOS Children’s Village plans to expand countrywide to provide care and support to vulnerable children and families across the country.

During a workshop held in Tsumeb on Friday, the National Programme Director, Iyaloo Ngodji said they have been working tirelessly for over 37 years to provide care and support to children who lost parental care and those at risk of losing parental care.

“Through our various programmes, we have touched the lives of thousands of children and young people to provide the care and support they need to thrive. As we strive forward to a new change, it is the right time for us to consolidate our strengths and identify opportunities for further development for bigger impact, so as to steer our institution to the next level of excellence,’ she said.

She said their Family Strengthening Programme (FSP) and Alternative Care (AC) try to address the plight of children at risk of losing parental care and those who lost parental care.

“In the past year, we have developed gatekeeping guidelines, contextualised our youth policy, and in the same vein, we have done tangible work towards refocusing FSP to ensure programmes’ contextual relevance”, she said.

She added that

“This year, we embarked on the development of our first national strategy which sets a tone for innovation and robust advocacy for child care and protection with a strong emphasis on youth development and scaling up FSP for greater community impact,’ she said.

The regional coordinator, Eyobi Berhanu, stated that the SOS Children’s Villages is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit international development organization that has branches in 134 countries and is headquartered in Innsbruck, Austria.

“The organisation provides humanitarian and developmental assistance to children in need and protects their interests and rights around the world and it currently has three branches in Windhoek, Tsumeb and Ondangwa,” she explained.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The much-anticipated expansion of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc has gained momentum with the current members having collectively decided to extend invitations to six countries to become full members, effective from January 2024.

“As the five BRICS countries, we have reached agreement on the guiding principles, standards, criteria and procedures of the BRICS expansion process, which has been under discussion for quite a while. We have consensus on the first phase of this expansion process, and further phases will follow.

“We have decided to invite the Argentine Republic, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to become full members of BRICS. The membership will take effect from 1 January 2024,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

President Ramaphosa said this in his capacity as Chair of BRICS and President of the Republic of South Africa during a media briefing to announce the outcomes of the XV BRICS Summit held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg on Thursday.

The debate over the expansion of BRICS topped the agenda at the three-day summit where the leaders of the emerging economies held meetings.

This announcement is expected to propel the group towards increased global influence in world relations as it already represents more than 40% of the world’s population (at least 3 billion people) and some 31% of the global GDP.

President Ramaphosa expressed that the bloc values the interest of other countries in building a partnership with BRICS.

He also announced that the leaders have tasked their respective Foreign Ministers to further develop the BRICS partner country model and a list of prospective partner countries and report by the next Summit.

BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue

The Heads of State will later today host leaders from Africa and the Global South in the BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue.

President Ramaphosa said this is aimed at having an inclusive dialogue on key issues affecting developing economies.

“This is so that we can have an inclusive dialogue on key issues affecting developing economies and identify actions that we can take together towards a more equitable, inclusive and representative world,” he said.

The President concluded by thanking the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China, together with their delegations, for participating in the “most successful” 15th BRICS Summit.

Through this Summit, he said, BRICS has embarked on a new chapter in its effort to build a world that is fair; a world that is just; a world that is also inclusive and prosperous.

Source: South African Government News Agency