Month: November 2023

Paavo Amwele was re-elected as Ondangwa mayor for the third time on Friday.

Amwele will be deputised by his fellow Swapo councillor Ester Auala, while Julia Kapia (Swapo), Gaus Tshithigona (IPC) and Nicodemus Amadhila (Swapo) were elected as management committee members.

Tshithigona replaced Ericky Angula of the same party, who resigned as council member, leaving a vacant position in the council earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Kapia was re-elected as the chairperson of the management committee.

Alfeus Hauwanga and Maria Haufiku, both from IPC, are ordinary members of the seven-member Ondangwa Town Council office bearers.

In his acceptance speech, Amwele reaffirmed his commitment to continue advocating for hard work, innovation and improved corporate governance, particularly accountability and transparency, as they render services to the people.

‘I will be relying on the support that you give me as well as the support that I can get from the staff members,’ he said.

He added that as leaders and councillo
rs they should always remember that their duties are to give direction to staff members and to encourage them to do their work and in a conducive environment.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Swapo Party Youth League central committee members gathered at the Sam Nujoma Multi-purpose Centre in the Oshana Region on Friday for the second central committee meeting to discuss bread and butter issues faced by Namibians.

Party Vice-President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said the discussions come at the right time, however, the youth should remain united if they are to achieve their intended purpose.

Nandi-Ndaitwah made the remarks during the official opening of the central committee meeting held at Ongwediva, saying there should always be time for politics and development for the benefit of the Namibian people.

According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, it is now time to work hard for the interest of the Namibian youth.

‘I was carried by young people during the congress, and we need to continue to work together to meet the aspirations of the young people who elect us,’ she said.

Speaking at the same occasion, SPYL Secretary Ephraim Nekongo indicated that the meeting will amongst others discuss youth unemployment, wa
ter issues and drought.

Nekongo also stressed that they want the Swapo party leadership to ensure that young people are included in leadership, saying that young people should be given an opportunity to sit at the leadership table.

‘We are not asking to be wheelbarrowed in, but to be fairly considered for leadership. The Swapo Party Women’s Council did it, why not the youth?’ he asked.

He stated that they want to be in Parliament and become ministers, and requested the party leadership to give them the opportunity as they have proven that they are capable.

Nekongo also told the gathering that there will be no extra-ordinary congress as suggested by many, as the party has already elected its presidential candidate for the 2024 election.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Education, Arts and Culture Minister, Anna Nghipondoka on Friday officially announced the commencement of the Basic Education Act, Act no:3 of 2020, which has been operating since 05 October 2023, in Namibian schools.

Nghipondoka in a media statement said the new Act replaces the Education Act 2001 (Act No. 16 of 2001), following nationwide consultations with the support of UNICEF to assess the evolving needs of the education system.

The key findings were that there is a need for an Education Act that focuses on inclusivity, equity and quality.

‘It addresses not only basic education but also adult education and lifelong learning, reflecting the diverse needs of our society. It mandates the abolition of non-voluntary parental contributions and legal provisions for exemption from such contributions.’

She said that with the new Act, the age of compulsory attendance in school has shifted from 16 to 18 years and includes a section dedicated to ensuring that learners with special educational needs and difficul
ties are accommodated within the basic education system.

‘The act puts emphasis on the prevention and management of learner pregnancy, and a safe and healthy school environment, including school health services and outlining minimum standards for schools and hostels,’ she said.

Nghipondoka further said the new act now encompasses lifelong learning and adult education, parental responsibility towards learners, and learners’ participation in school governance. The act also emphasises issues of learner discipline, looking at the responsibility to motivate their children for education and their disposition for good behaviour and discipline.

‘By the year 2030, Namibia will operate a totally integrated, unified, flexible, and high-quality education and training system that prepares Namibian learners to take advantage of a rapidly changing global environment in science and technology,’ the minister said.

Furthermore, the guideline principles of the act with regard to educational matters are, the best interest of
the child, the protection and promotion of the well-being of all children, education that is inclusive, learner-centred, focusing on the needs of the learner, who is encouraged to express his or her own views in matters that concern or affects them- nothing for them without them, among others, she noted.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has announced the termination of a N.dollars 26 million tender awarded to a company to construct a neonatal health care facility in Swakopmund.

The ministry decided to build the new neonatal intensive care ward in the Swakopmund Hospital in order to cater for the coastal area and its surrounding areas including Walvis Bay.

The new 28-bed neonatal ward will consist of 12 standard care beds, six high care beds, six intensive care unit (ICU) and four isolation unit beds, along with a 12-bed mothers’ lodging unit.

Currently, the Swakopmund district has a maternal ward with a capacity of 26 beds and four neonatal incubators.

According to Minister Dr Kalumbi Shangula in an interview with the media on Thursday, the tender which was awarded in November 2020, when construction commenced, was cancelled after the company failed to complete the construction in the agreed period of time of February 2022.

‘The tender was awarded to a contractor and the work was supposed to b
e completed but unfortunately there have been challenges with the contract and despite all the remedial actions the ministry instituted, it was not coming to completion. As a result, a decision was taken by the ministry to terminate the contract and we now have to issue a new contract,’ the minister said.

Shangula added that the ministry has revised the scope of work and what needs to be done before appointing a new contractor who will then complete the job.

‘This is critically important because we know from experience that babies and mothers used to be transferred to Windhoek, which usually takes more than three hours to arrive. This puts the lives of both the mother and baby at risk, hence the need to have a place nearby in order to cater for the needs of mothers and babies in these surroundings,’ he said.

He noted that the ministry regrettably acknowledges the delays, however, there is a way forward and the project will be completed in due course.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency