Month: August 2023

NamWater held a ground-breaking ceremony for the raw water pipeline replacement project at Katima Mulilo on Thursday.

The project will address the growing water demand and extend the supply of water to rural areas to provide clean drinking water to local communities.

The pipeline is core to water supply in the Zambezi Region as the town of Katima Mulilo, the communities serviced by the Katima-Sibbinda pipeline, Katima to Bukalo pipeline and Katima-Linyanti pipeline would not receive water if the raw water pipeline is not functional.

The project, executed at a cost of N.dollars 2.4 million, was officially launched by Zambezi Region Governor Lawrence Sampofu, who said supplying water to Katima Mulilo and surrounding areas in adequate amounts to acceptable quality had become a major concern and challenge to NamWater.

The governor said water supply has been a major issue in Katima Mulilo, recalling that residents could attest to the endless water supply interruptions and associated inconveniences to the livelihoods and economy of the Zambezi capital.

Katima Mulilo Urban Constituency Councillor Kennedy Simasiku on his part welcomed the project, emphasising that the intervention is long overdue. He said pipeline replacements including reservoirs will accommodate the growing population of Katima.

NamWater Chief Executive Officer Abraham Nehemia reassured the residents that the water from the Katima Mulilo scheme remains top quality and free from possible pollution, as was the concern with the old dilapidated reservoir covers that were in place.

Nehemia also revealed that NamWater has made a strategic decision to ensure that water supply leadership in the region is localised, with an area manager appointed to attend to local needs.

The CEO of the national water supplier further urged Katima residents to continue paying for water services rendered to enable the corporation to continue serving the nation.

NamWater also rehabilitated the clear water reservoirs at Katima Mulilo at a cost of N.dollars 5.4 million.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Otjozondjupa police have launched a culpable homicide investigation after a man navigating a towed vehicle died in a collision on the Okahandja-Karibib road on Thursday.

The Namibian Police Force’s head of community affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha told Nampa in an interview the deceased was identified as Albert Hiskia, whose age was yet to be established.

The accident occurred around 16h12, approximately 40 kilometres west of Okahandja.

The Toyota pick-up was being towed by another pick-up when the driver of the leading vehicle allegedly lost control because the towing material they were using, malfunctioned while the vehicles were in motion.

“Both vehicles then overturned after hitting the shoulder portions of the road near a bridge,” said Mbeha.

The four occupants of the leading vehicle, including the 46-year-old male driver, survived with slight to serious injuries.

Hiskia, who was alone in the car that was being towed, sustained serious injuries and was transported to the Okahandja State Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, said Mbeha.

His next of kin have been informed of his death and investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Minister of Urban and Rural Development Erastus Uutoni has reaffirmed Government’s commitment towards supporting developmental initiatives through regional and local authority councils.

Uutoni said this during the commemoration of the Africa Day of Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development at Okahao in the Omusati Region on Thursday.

This year’s day is commemorated under the theme ‘The contribution of African Subnational and Local Governments in the Making of the African Continental Free Trade Area’.

Uutoni stated that one of the instruments they are using to harness the economic potential of regions and local authorities is their Regional and Local Economic Development (LED) White Paper of 2011, which they are reviewing in order to ensure its continued relevance.

“Through our LED programme, we will continue to support and build the capacity of our regional and local governments to develop and implement effective regional and local economic development strategies and initiatives with a view to attract and retain investment and business, which are important sources and catalysts for employment and wealth creation as well as economic growth and development,” he said.

Uutoni said they need to be mindful that their decentralised system still needs nurturing and perfection before they can experience the full benefits thereof.

He said this more than ever calls for enhanced cooperation and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders, especially line ministries who have to decentralise functions and corresponding resources as well as regional and local authority councils as the recipients, to re-commit and do everything in their power to accelerate the pace of decentralisation.

The minister indicated that with other government ministries and agencies such as the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, they will also continue to assist local governments to build business sites and premises, as well as to access production equipment that offer conducive spaces for trading and boost the productive capacity of their micro, small and medium enterprises.

Uutoni stressed that decentralisation has the potential to unleash development potential at regional and local levels, which in turn translates into benefits at both local and national levels.

The commemoration was attended by all 14 regional governors.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) on Thursday stated that the country received below normal rainfall with a delay in the onset of rain, since the beginning of 2022/23 season.

In a Crop Prospect, Food Security and Drought situation report issued to Nampa on Friday, MAWLR Executive Director (ED), Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata stated that most parts of the country only received productive rainfall in January.

“In addition to sporadic and insufficient rainfall patterns that have dominated the season, the country noted severe and prolonged dry spells in December, February, March and April, which led to poor agricultural production and pasture establishment,” Nghituwamata said.

The ED stated that the aggregate cereal analysis showed that the country has recorded 153 000 Metric Tons (MT), which is 9 per cent lower than the last season’s harvest of 168 200 MT, but 23 per cent above 10 years’ average production of 124 200 MT.

Furthermore, a considerable number of households in the key communal crop producing regions have reported a depletion of their harvest from the previous season, and they are now relying mainly on the market and drought relief food in some regions for sustenance, she said.

Due to the findings of the assessment among others, recommendations were made for possible interventions and future assistance, such as that Government through the Office of the Prime Minister should continue with the provision of the drought relief measures to households faced with food insecurity in Kunene, parts of Omusati and Erongo, Omaheke, ||Kharas and Hardap, until situations normalise.

According to Nghituwamata, another recommendation made was for the government to consider the roll-out of drought relief interventions (food assistance and the Livestock Support Programme) across the remaining eight regions, including the entire Omusati and Erongo regions.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency