Day: February 16, 2024

WINDHOEK: Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, said the Regional and Constituency Fund Bill, which he tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, seeks to financially empower regional councils.

In his motivation in the National Assembly, Uutoni said the Bill, among others, will establish a regional and constituency development fund to financially assist with the development of projects in the regions and local authorities.

He said the Bill will also provide a guaranteed annual appropriation to fund development projects in all constituencies.

If passed, the Bill will repeal and replace the Trust Fund for Regional Development and Equity Provisions Act of 2000. The current legislation that ought to provide funding for regional development has shortcomings, the minister said.

In terms of the Regional Council’s Act of 1992, Uutoni said regional councils are mandated to plan and develop infrastructure such as water, electricity, communication networks and transport systems.

Uutoni noted that a lack
of financial resources hinders the ability of regional councils to fulfill their statutory mandates, especially with regards to sustainable development initiatives that aim to enhance the well-being of communities at the constituency level.

He said the envisaged Regional and Constituency Fund Bill is a pro-decentralisation initiative that provides additional funding from the central government to the regional and constituency levels to boost community-based small-scale development projects.

‘The proposed funding approach thus empowers regional governments and gives political leaders and their constituents the opportunity and flexibility to direct resources to support development initiatives at the grass-roots level,’ Uutoni explained.

The minister added that the envisaged fund will also boost the confidence of local communities in their development initiatives and contribute to employment creation.

Meanwhile, Uutoni pointed out that the National Council, which initiated the idea of the fund, has learned f
rom Kenya and Zambia, where the implementation of regional and constituency development funds has proved successful.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: President Nangolo Mbumba has conferred a hero’s funeral on former President Hage Geingob.

President Mbumba made the declaration in a notice published in the Government Gazette on Friday in terms of Sub-Article 8 of Article 32 of the Namibian Constitution, following the former president’s death on 04 February 2024 in Windhoek.

The president is empowered to make such a declaration by Sub-Article (3)(h) of that Article read with sections 3 and 4 of the Conferment of National Honours Act, 2012 (Act No. 11 of 2012).

Mbumba further directed that a State funeral be held in honour of the late Geingob and that he be buried at the National Heroes’ Acre on 25 February.

A period of mourning has been declared from 05 February until the day of the burial. During the same period, all flags were to be flown at half-mast in Namibia and at Namibian Missions around the world.

The funeral will be preceded by a public memorial service at Independence Stadium on Saturday.

Following the passing of the former preside
nt and the subsequent swearing-in of Mbumba as Namibia’s fourth president, a high-level committee chaired by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was set to coordinate the funeral of the late President Geingob.

Meanwhile, President Mbumba has declared Sunday, 25 February, a public holiday. However, per the Public Holidays Act of 1990, when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as a public holiday. Therefore, Monday, 26 February 2024 will be a public holiday.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

OTJINENE: Otjinene on Thursday joined the rest of the country and to pay tribute to the late President Hage Geingob through a candlelight vigil.

During the event, many described the late Geingob as a leader who championed inclusivity and fought for the socio-economic progress for all Namibians during his tenure as Head of State.

Otjinene constituency councillor, Erwin Katjizeu, described the late president as somebody who remained steadfast in his commitment to the well-being of all Namibians.

Katjizeu said the president’s wisdom, compassion and ability to unite his people in times of crisis defined his leadership.

‘Let us honour the memory of President Hage Geingob by upholding the values he cherished: unity, compassion, and the tireless pursuit of a better future for all. His legacy serves as a guiding light for our nation, inspiring us to strive for the ideals he so passionately believed in,’ Katjizeu said.

His commitment to social justice and economic development has empowered our nation and set a st
andard for governance. In times of adversity, he displayed unwavering strength, inspiring us to rise above challenges and strive for a better tomorrow, the councillor highlighted.

Lesley Kauandara, the Chairperson of the Otjinene village Council, in his tribute, described Geingob as a leader who embraced unity of purpose and a politically mature leader, whose aim was to build a Namibian house for all his countrymen.

‘One lesson I learned from our late president was to maintain a politically mature relationship with opposition parties. Geingob appointed our Nudo president, Esther Muinjangue, to the position of deputy minister based on merit. That represented his level of political maturity,’ Kauandara said.

Furthermore, the chairperson remembers Geingob as a visionary leader who anticipated prosperity for the Namibian nation, a leader who brought national trust in young people by appointing them to ministerial positions and as governors during his time.

‘It was not an easy journey for our president at all,
but I know for sure that Geingob was a true Namibian soldier who died wearing his boots,’ he noted.

Source: Namibia Press Agency