Day: September 22, 2023

Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Peya Mushelenga, has urged the inhabitants of the ||Kharas Region to stand united to fully participate in the value chain of the green hydrogen project.

He made the called at the official launch of the regional campaign for national symbols in Oranjemund in the ||Kharas Region on Thursday.

Mushelenga said unity is of paramount importance among the inhabitants of the ||Kharas region, as the country embarks on the monumental green hydrogen project, which holds the promise of transforming the energy landscape, creating new opportunities, and driving economic growth.

“We must collaborate across sectors, across communities and across boundaries, with the region’s vast area and small population, we need to welcome and work hand in hand with people who don’t speak like us, look like us and worship like us to realise the development of our beautiful region,” he said.

The minister further said that mining, tourism and fishing sectors are the pillars of the region’s economy and they too require collaboration and unity to flourish.

“By working together, we can unlock the true potential of these industries, attract investment, create jobs and improve the lives of our people. We must recognise that our collective success lies in our ability to leverage the strengths of each sector, to share knowledge and resources and to build partnerships that drive sustainable development,” he added.

However, Mushelenga qualified that unity is not just about economic prosperity, but about creating a society where every individual feels valued, respected and included.

“It is about nurturing a sense of belonging and shared purpose. When we stand united, we become a force to be reckoned with, a force that can overcome challenges, address inequalities and build a brighter future for all,” he stressed.

He also urged the inhabitants of the region to embrace national symbols and to embody the values they represent.

“Let us observe the hoisting or lowering of our national flag with pride, while adhering to the correct protocols. Let us sing our national anthem with passion, and let us honour our Coat of Arms with reverence.”

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Spokesperson in the Zambezi region, Inspector Kisco Sitali, has highlighted ongoing concerns regarding stock theft in the region, with nearly 100 cases recorded this year.

During an interview with Nampa on Wednesday, the unit commander revealed that from January to September, 93 cases of stock theft have been recorded, involving the theft of 374 heads of cattle in the region, with a combined value of over N.dollars two million.

Out of the 374 livestock stolen, 211 were successfully recovered in Namibia, and 38 of those were found in Zambia. The remaining 163 animals have not yet been recovered. Those arrested in connection with these cases include 18 Namibians and 16 Zambian nationals.

Meanwhile, Sitali believes that there is a market for stolen livestock in both Namibia and Zambia. He acknowledged that the cattle taken to Zambia are primarily used for farming purposes, while those stolen and kept within the region are slaughtered and sold as beef to local residents.

In light of this, Sitali cautioned the Zambezi region’s residents against the emergence of unauthorised meat markets, where stolen livestock meat is sold. He also called upon traditional authorities to regulate the meat market to prevent the sale of meat from stolen animals.

The spokesperson further said his office faces challenges in working with livestock owners to combat stock theft and cited gross negligence on the part of cattle owners in attending to their herds, while cattle herders leave their flocks unattended while grazing.

When animals are left unsupervised, it becomes difficult for the police to trace missing livestock, Sitali added.

In an effort to address these issues, NamPol, along with their counterparts in the Western Province of Zambia, have combined resources to combat stock theft through border patrols and collaboration with other stakeholders in watch forums. He urged farmers to always brand their animals to facilitate the tracking of missing livestock.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Oshikoto regional head of rural water supply and sanitation in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, (MAWLR) Stevenson Tuukondjele has encouraged Oshikoto regional constituency residents to maintain traditional wells as an alternative to the shortage of water supply.

Tuukondjele, in an interview with Nampa on Wednesday, said there is currently a shortage of water in Eengodi, Okankolo, Nehale and some parts of Omuthiya constituencies.

“These areas are at the receiving end point of the Calueque Canal from Angola which supply us water”, said Tuukondjele.

He said that the Government is busy upgrading the canal so that it can start holding a huge volume of water to accommodate the demand for water as it is high this time of the year.

“From August the weather changes, from cold to hot, and people and animals get dehydrated. Plants need to be watered and when the water is come from the main sources, it is already occupied severely and when it reaches to Oshikoto region, it is fewer”, said Tuukondjele.

Tuukondjele is not certain when the challenge of the shortage of water will be resolved, saying the process might take time as pipes need to be filled first before it reaches these constituencies.

In the meantime, residents are encouraged to maintain the traditional wells as an alternative source and people should purify the water either by boiling it or using water tablets that they receive from Ministry of health, he advised.

He further said the ministry is also trying to get tanks to transport water to schools and clinics in the meantime, adding that it is a very hectic and costly exercise as there are no proper roads.

“The roads are not conducive as our trucks either get stuck in the sand road or get stuck by thorns, and it is costly to repair them,” said Tuukondjele.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) is urging the public to register their Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards before the deadline of 31 December 2023.

The ministry, in a press release issued on Thursday, stated that any SIM cards not registered by this cut-off date will be disconnected.

“Despite the critical timeframe provided for this critical process, there has been a low public response to this imperative [procedure]. MICT firmly reiterates that there will be no extension granted beyond the specified date of 31 December 2023,” it said.

According to the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia, as of 15 June 2023, only 795 991 out of 2 760 804 subscribers, constituting a mere 29 per cent, have registered their SIM card, the press release read.

“It is essential to underscore the significance of SIM card registration, as this process plays a pivotal role in deterring phone-based fraud, identity theft, and other criminal activities,” it added.

Mandatory registration and identification of SIM card users align Namibia with international best practices, according to the ministry.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

First Lady Monica Geingos has highlighted that paths to ending AIDS must be sustainable, which includes sustainable finance.

Geingos made these remarks at a High-Level Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) event titled ‘Celebrating Global HIV Progress to End AIDS and Advance Sustainable Development Goals’, hosted Thursday at the UN on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Namibian First Lady said that there is much to celebrate in global HIV progress to end AIDS. Sufficient gains have been made, including the announcement by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) that Namibia has achieved HIV epidemic control, one of six African countries to do so.

Namibia mobilises 70 per cent of its domestic resources, with the rest coming from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which is a crucial partner in the fight to end AIDS.

The Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS #WeAreEqual Campaign will see African First Ladies lend their voices and advocacy platforms to speak to closing the gaps in gender equality. With the campaign already launched in several African countries, it seeks to reach N.dollars 700 million African minds and hearts.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency