Month: December 2023

Windhoek – Erastus Uutoni, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, has emphasized the need for local authorities, including the City of Windhoek, to rely more on their permanent employees instead of outsourcing municipal functions to external agencies. This call was made amidst concerns over the management of municipal duties.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Speaking on Tuesday, Uutoni highlighted the prevalent practice among municipalities, such as contracting debt collection agencies, which has led to dissatisfaction among residents. He questioned the reliance on agencies when municipal councils like Windhoek have sufficient manpower. Uutoni’s comments came during a ceremony where he handed over 53 new houses in Windhoek’s Greenwell Matongo area under the Informal Settlement Upgrading Project.

Additionally, the minister expressed concern over the repossession of houses built under the project, attributing this partly to the impatience of debt collectors. Nestor Kalola, Samora Machel Councillor, confirmed that some homeowners are facing repossession due to repayment challenges.

In response, Moses Matyayi, CEO of the City of Windhoek, acknowledged the minister’s points but noted the complexities involved in local government operations, stressing the balancing act required in service delivery.

Windhoek – Lukas Muha, Chairperson of the National Council, announced the completion of the 10th session of the sixth National Council in Namibia. The session, which began on November 20, 2023, focused on regional and national issues in line with the Namibian Constitution.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), In a statement, Muha reported that the session was productive, with significant progress in parliamentary conduct. The council reviewed and passed several bills, including the Magistrate Court Amendment Bill (Bill 17-2023), the Electoral Amendment Bill (Bill 20-2023), and the Appropriation Amendment Bill (Bill 21-2023). Two additional bills, the High Court Amendment Bill (Bill 18-2023) and the Vehicle Mass Bill (Bill 19-2023), were deferred to the next session.

The session also saw the tabling of three motions, with two referred to standing committees and one postponed to a subsequent session. Muha commended the committees and delegations that submitted their reports promptly and encouraged timely submissions in future sessions.

Highlighting future legislative developments, Muha revealed that the Regional and Constituency Development Fund Bill, previously known as the Constituency Development Fund Bill, is expected to be tabled in the National Assembly early next year. He urged Parliament members to engage efficiently in the upcoming discussions on the bill to avoid delays.

Windhoek – Lukas Muha, Chairperson of the National Council, announced the completion of the 10th session of the sixth National Council in Namibia. The session, which began on November 20, 2023, focused on regional and national issues in line with the Namibian Constitution.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), In a statement, Muha reported that the session was productive, with significant progress in parliamentary conduct. The council reviewed and passed several bills, including the Magistrate Court Amendment Bill (Bill 17-2023), the Electoral Amendment Bill (Bill 20-2023), and the Appropriation Amendment Bill (Bill 21-2023). Two additional bills, the High Court Amendment Bill (Bill 18-2023) and the Vehicle Mass Bill (Bill 19-2023), were deferred to the next session.

The session also saw the tabling of three motions, with two referred to standing committees and one postponed to a subsequent session. Muha commended the committees and delegations that submitted their reports promptly and encouraged timely submissions in future sessions.

Highlighting future legislative developments, Muha revealed that the Regional and Constituency Development Fund Bill, previously known as the Constituency Development Fund Bill, is expected to be tabled in the National Assembly early next year. He urged Parliament members to engage efficiently in the upcoming discussions on the bill to avoid delays.

Epukiro – The much-anticipated annual Epukiro Football and Netball tournament is set to commence this Saturday at the Okovimburu sports fields. Renowned as a key festive event in rural Otjozondjupa and Omaheke, the tournament is a highlight for sports enthusiasts in the region.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Ngatuuane Hange, the event’s marketing manager, shared with the Namibian Press Agency (Nampa) on Thursday that the tournament, established in 1985, has been instrumental in developing sports talent in the Epukiro district and across Namibia. It is slated to conclude on December 17th.

Hange emphasized the tournament’s role in nurturing sports at the grassroots level, contributing significantly to the regional and national sports scenes. The tournament is known for producing a high percentage of players who advance to the regional leagues and the Namibia Premier League. This year’s event has attracted 35 netball and 55 football teams, reflecting its growing prominence in the holiday sports calendar.

The tournament will distribute a total of N.dollars 60,000 in prizes, with N.dollars 40,000 allocated for football and N.dollars 20,000 for netball. Participation fees are set at N.dollars 2,000 per team. The netball category winners will receive N.dollars 10,000 and a trophy, while the runners-up will get N.dollars 5,000. The football champions will be awarded N.dollars 20,000 and a trophy, with the runners-up receiving N.dollars 10,000.

Last year, the Otjijere Football Club and the Easter Swallows netball team triumphed in their respective divisions.

Windhoek – In an effort to enhance environmental sustainability, Melania Ndjago, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, has recommended the rehabilitation of old waste dumps in Namibia. This recommendation was presented during a National Council report on the 10th Nevsky Ecological Congress held in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Ndjago emphasized the need for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) to support and encourage local authorities in revamping old dump sites. She proposed the creation and reinforcement of legal frameworks to foster green and sustainable practices among organizations, individuals, and businesses.

During the congress, Viktoria Abramchenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, highlighted critical environmental challenges including freshwater scarcity, land pollution, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and atmospheric damage due to human activities. Ndjago, reflecting on the congress discussions, suggested that MEFT should promote biodiversity preservation in Namibia, especially in forest-rich areas, and support reforestation efforts by providing planting materials.

The 2023 Nevsky International Ecology Congress, an important global environmental platform, saw participation from over 1,500 delegates, including ministers, international organization representatives, parliamentary heads, and diplomats. The congress was jointly organized by the Russian government, the Russian Federation Council, the Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS member nations, and Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Onyaanya, Oshikoto Region – Anna Nghipondoka, the Minister of Education, Arts and Culture of Namibia, has called for increased efficiency in the use of learners’ books by school principals and teachers nationwide. This appeal was made during the handover of a N.dollars 4,000 donation from Vice President Nangolo Mbumba to Ihongo Senior Secondary School.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Minister Nghipondoka expressed concern over the underutilization of educational resources in schools. She highlighted the issue of learners discarding partially used exercise books, a practice that has attracted numerous complaints from parents and guardians. Nghipondoka urged principals to ensure that each learner’s exercise book is fully utilized before issuing new ones. She emphasized the importance of internal efficiency in schools, citing that a significant portion of exercise books remains unused.

The minister also addressed the problem of insufficient exercises being given to learners, leading to poor academic performance. She suggested that teachers should fully utilize the pages in exercise books to enhance learning efficiency.

Furthermore, Nghipondoka encouraged school principals to adopt innovative approaches for sustaining their schools. She proposed the utilization of unused classrooms as laboratories and shared her experience from her tenure as MoEAC director in the Omusati Region, where she initiated the ‘Groom a Scientist’ project, leading to the creation of laboratories.

In addition to these educational strategies, Nghipondoka advised parents to support schools when necessary, while also noting that the Ministry provides many resources. She emphasized the importance of schools communicating their needs to parents without overburdening them.