Day: December 14, 2023

OMUNTELE: A three-year-old girl died after allegedly consuming home-brewed beer given to her by her mother on Tuesday at about 20h00, at Onewawa village in the Omuntele Constituency in the Oshikoto Region.

According to the Namibian Police crime update issued on Wednesday by Commissioner Theopoline Kalompo-Nashikaku, it is alleged that the girl and her eight-year-old brother were given Tombo by their mother at home and fell ill.

‘The girl was taken to Omuntele Clinic, where she died shortly after arrival. The brother was rushed to Okatope Health Centre in critical condition after consuming the same liquor,’ Kalompo-Nashikaku said.

The body of the deceased was taken to the Omuthiya police mortuary for an autopsy while investigations continued.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OPUWO: On Saturday and Sunday, Coblenz in the Otjituuo area and Okondjatu will have their annual festive football and netball activities at their respective school sports grounds.

After more than five years, there is currently a rebirth of sporting activity in the Otjiuuo area.

Nguvitjita Katjina, the promoter of the Coblenz tournament, told Nampa on Thursday that the goal is to restart football and netball activities in the community. At the same time, the competition will be used to pick the settlement’s All-Stars football and netball teams, who will compete in Namibia Rural Sports Development Federation tournaments next year.

Katjina stated that sports have been dormant in the area for the previous five years, thus the event would allow youngsters to demonstrate their abilities.

According to Katjina, the competition is just for Otjituuo teams, and they expect 20 teams from both divisions to compete.

Participating teams will pay N.dollars 1 900 to register, with a total of N.dollars 25 000 set up for t
he competition.

The winning netball team will get N.dollars 3 000, gold medals and a trophy, while the runner-up will receive N.dollars 2 000 and silver medals. The football champions will get N.dollars 10 000, gold medals, and a trophy, the runner-up will receive N.dollars 5 000 and silver medals, and the semi-finalists will each receive N.dollars 2 500.

In Okondjatu, the festive football and netball tournament will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Kondjatu Combined School sports site under the auspices of its governing organisation, the Etundu Rakajova Sports Association.

This year celebrates the 35th year of the Okondjatu competition.

According to the tournament’s organiser, Anaki Hamunjela, more than 20 teams are expected to compete in both divisions. On Thursday, Hamunjela told Nampa that the tournament is just for Okondjatu teams.

A total of N.dollars 20 000 is up for grabs, with N.dollars 13 000 set aside for football categories and the remaining N.dollars 7 000 placed out for netball.

The n
etball champions will get N.dollars 3 500, the runner-up will receive N.dollars 1 500, and the semi-final losers will each receive N.dollars 1 000.

The winning football team will get N.dollars 6 500, the runner-up will receive N.dollars 3 500, and the semi-final losers will each receive N.dollars 1 500.

Last year, Okatjaveva and Chief Keja won the tournament in netball and football, respectively.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Namibian Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed significant growth in the third quarter of 2023, recording a strong gain of 7.2 per cent, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).

The expansion represents a substantial increase from the 5.4 per cent recorded during the same period last year. Statistician General and NSA Chief Executive Officer, Alex Shimuafeni, said the economy witnessed a commendable trend, characterised by 10 consecutive quarters of positive growth.

In nominal terms, he said the GDP reached N.dollars 59.7 billion during the third quarter, an increase from the N.dollars 52.9 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2022.

‘The commendable performance in the third quarter of 2023 was primarily propelled by the primary industries, which experienced a substantial expansion of 38.3 per cent.

‘Notably, this growth was spearheaded by the mining and quarrying sector, which demonstrated an impressive 51.7 per cent increase, alongside the agriculture and forestry se
ctor, which exhibited a commendable 19.9 per cent expansion.

‘These positive developments can be attributed to enhanced oil and gas exploration activities, coupled with increased momentum in livestock marketing,’ Shimuafeni said in a statement on Thursday.

He added that the tertiary industries demonstrated a growth of 2.2 per cent during the quarter, with noteworthy contributions from key sectors such as wholesale and retail, transport, hotels and restaurants, and financial services.

These sectors, according to Shimuafeni, exhibited robust expansions in real value added, with growth rates of 6.1 per cent, 8.8 per cent, 6.4 per cent, and 3.7 per cent.

On the contrary, secondary industries encountered challenges during the third quarter of 2023, as both manufacturing and construction experienced contractions of 8.7 per cent and 30.6 per cent, he said.

The NSA observed that the downturn in the manufacturing sector can be attributed to declines in specific subsectors, namely basic non-furious metal (-74.4 pe
r cent), diamond processing (-29.8 per cent), and beverages (-24.9 per cent).
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: 14 DEC (NAMPA) – The Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade has received equipment worth N.dollars 3.5 million from the German government through its development and cooperation agency, GIZ, aimed at supporting small business activities.

These include eight vehicles and industrial machinery, including an industrial rotary cutter, dye sublimation printer, industrial iron and 3D printers. The donation also included laptops, printers, office chairs, laser printers and colour printers.

Industrialisation and trade minister, Lucia Iipumbu, who received the donation on Thursday, said the donation to the StartUp Namibia Project will help strengthen the capabilities of the startup ecosystem in Namibia.

‘The handover of this essential equipment reflects the German government’s dedication to promoting economic growth, fostering innovation, and building a resilient business ecosystem.

‘These tools and resources will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in empowering our local businesses, facilitating enterprise
development and ultimately contributing to the overall development of our nation, as the ministry intends to put them to use in supporting various enterprises, especially startups and scale-ups,’ she said.

The StartUp Namibia project was a joint effort between the governments of Namibia and Germany and is being implemented by the GIZ with the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology Innovation, and the City of Windhoek.

Iipumbu noted that the initial project had a lifespan of three years, starting in 2020 and officially closed its doors at the end of 2022.

The minister added that the Startup Namibia Project has been critical in supporting the improvement of the conditions for the establishment and growth of more than 150 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in selected regions.

During the COVID-19 period, the project supported 600 MSMEs, especially in the informal sector, through grant funding, which kept many businesses alive, she said.

The minister al
so commended Germany’s Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, the German Embassy and GIZ for their dedication and foresight to collaborate with her ministry.

‘Our collaboration has resulted in identifying the areas where our nation could benefit the most, especially through the startup programme which played a significant role during the pandemic by providing much-needed support to the business communities,’ she said.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

ONDANGWA: The Ondangwa Town Council officially handed over 231 fully serviced plots at the Omashaka informal settlement on Thursday.

Of the total amount, 37 plots were allocated to the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia.

Ondangwa Town Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Ismael Namgongo, said the initiative forms part of the council’s five-year strategic plan.

Namgongo indicated that as part of the plan, the council has committed to tackling the issue of housing and land provision.

‘Omashaka proper has been serviced with water reticulation and electricity services this financial year. The water reticulation servicing was done by council employees,’ he said.

He added that this forms part of the cost cutting measures, adding that employees have expertise in carrying out similar projects as they have done the same in other areas of the town.

Namgongo said this is also cost effective in a way that the council does not have to pay for labour, but just has to buy materials.

Namgongo said homeowners will be a
ble to connect to this service and have potable water in their own homes.

Moreover, the electricity services started around August 2023 and are 100 per cent complete, at a cost of N.dollars 4.3 million, while the water servicing was N.dollars 400 000.

Omashaka proper houses around 350 erven, of which five are public spaces which will also be serviced.

Omashaka proper is still an informal area, however, the process to upgrade it has commenced.

Namgongo urged the beneficiaries to ensure that they honour their N.dollar 105 monthly site rental fee, which will ensure that council can continue to assist future beneficiaries.

The town’s mayor, Paavo Amwele, said that this is a collective effort by the members of council and officials of the council, all of whom were committed to ensuring that they deliver on the housing backlog in the town.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OPUWO: The Namibia Football Association’s North West Stream First Division continues this weekend with Eleven Warriors aiming to maintain their perfect start against Young Chiefs FC at Omulunga Stadium in Grootfontein on Saturday.

The league’s fifth and sixth rounds take place on Saturday and Sunday in Otavi, Grootfontein, Outjo, Oshikuku, and Oshakati, featuring 12 clubs competing for a spot in the Namibia Premier League (NPL) next season.

Eleven Warriors, leading the league, will confront Oshakati-based Golden Bigs Football Club on Sunday, currently at the bottom with one point from four games. On Saturday, Ongwediva City FC will host Khuse Lions FC at Uukwangula Stadium, while Oshikuku Young Stars FC welcome Onambula United at the Oshikuku sports field. Golden Bees, with only one win this season, host second-placed KK Palace at the Etoshapoort Stadium in Outjo on Saturday.

Outjo Football Academy will face bottom team African Motto FC, also at the Etoshapoort Stadium. Otavi-based Touch and Go FC, two poi
nts above relegation, will aim for a home win against Golden Bigs FC at the Otavi sports field.

On Sunday, Ongwediva City FC challenge Onambula United FC at Uukwalunga Stadium in a battle for the top four slots, currently holding the fourth and sixth positions with six points each. Oshikuku Young Stars will host Khuse Lions FC, while Africa Motto will travel to Outjo at the Etoshapoort Stadium in a bid to frustrate Golden Bees FC and get out of the relegation zone.

In a fight of the top three, Outjo Football Academy will host KK Palace, while Touch and Go FC will host former NPL affiliate, Young Chiefs FC, at the Otavi sports field.

Eleven Warriors top the log standings with 12 points after winning all four of their initial four games, followed by KK Palace with 10 points after three victories and one tie. At the bottom of the table, Golden Bigs FC and Africa Motto are tied for 11th and 12th place with one point each. Both teams have failed to win any of their matches, although they have a draw and three l
osses to their names.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency