Month: April 2024

WINDHOEK: President Nangolo Mbumba has appointed four members to form part of the fifth Boundaries Delimitation and Demarcation Commission (BDCC).

BDCC is aimed at delimiting and demarcating the boundaries of Namibia and to recommend the determination of the boundaries and names of regions, constituencies and local authorities.

In his remarks, while announcing the appointments here on Wednesday, Mbumba said the commission is tasked to conduct an assessment of the current boundaries of regions and constituencies in Namibia to recommend whether any changes to the existing boundaries are required, needed and beneficial.

Mbumba emphasised that the commissioners have three months ahead of elections to deliver valuable insights that will greatly assist the work of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to enable registration of eligible voters in the correct regions and constituencies.

He noted that government has taken note that the country has now passed the three million population mark therefore, the commission’s work will provide valuable insights into the changing demographics which comprise the majority of youth.

‘To this end, the government will, based on the work of the Commission, formulate responsive policy interventions. I charge you, to without delay commence with the task at hand, as you have a very limited time frame of only three months, in which you are expected to deliver results,’ he said.

In his acceptance speech, Chairperson Petrus Unengu assured that the commissioners would carry out their duties without reservations.

‘The task for us is not an easy one to perform. The challenges and expectations are huge but with hard work, and dedication I believe that as professionals we will rise to the occasion and carry over the duties and functions in terms of reference diligently,’ he said.

Other commissioners include Penias Topnaar; Gerhardt Gurirab and Prisca Anyolo.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) will feature 15 co-exhibitors from the Namibia tourism industry at the World Travel Market (WTM) Africa 2024, set to take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa from 10-12 April.

NTB in a media statement on Wednesday said this year’s event promises to be a milestone in Namibia’s quest to solidify its position as a premier family holiday destination on the African continent.

WTM Africa is a significant event for the travel and tourism industry as it provides platforms for travel destinations such as Namibia to promote their tourism offerings.

It said the NTB will showcase under the theme ‘Travel’, presenting a chance for the Namibian tourism sector to highlight Namibia’s diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and unique wildlife experiences from the vast sands of the Namib Desert to the wildlife-rich plains of Etosha National Park.

Namibian exhibitors, it added will focus on engaging in various presentation platforms, networking
opportunities, and marketing strategies to attract attention and interest from visitors and fellow exhibitors. This will involve showcasing stunning imagery and providing information on travel experiences.

‘The objectives of Namibia’s participation at WTM Africa 2024 include raising awareness about Namibia as a premier family holiday destination among travel industry professionals, media representatives, and potential travelers attending the event. Our participation is to enhance Namibia’s brand visibility and positioning in the African travel market while generating leads and partnerships with tour operators, travel agencies, airlines, and other travel-related businesses,’ it stated.

The NTB stand will feature exhibitors such as the Namibia Wildlife Resort, Ondili Lodge Namibia, Exclusive Reservations and Marketing, SES Travel Agency, Naankuse Ecotourism Collection, Fly Namibia, and many other private and public entities collectively representing the diverse facets of Namibia’s tourism industry.

It will
further present a stand competition featuring enticing prizes such as accommodation vouchers and complimentary flight tickets, the NTB said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, on Wednesday, announced additional promotions of five senior officers to head various divisions within the force.

During the announcement ceremony held at the NamPol National Headquarters, Shikongo said the promotions aim at building a more responsible, loyal and committed force for the nation to ensure that Namibians are rendered quality services.

He said NamPol has so far promoted over 7000 officers between December 2023 and February 2024, noting that: ‘We are improving the lives of our members by promoting them for the hard work and dedication they put into the force, while at the same time ensuring that all appropriate structures in the organisation are filled.’

The officers promoted include Deputy Commissioner Petrus Swartz who was promoted to the rank of Commissioner and appointed as Head of Traffic Law Enforcement Directorate; Auster Linanga, former NamPol trainer at Simon Mutumba Mutumba Police Tra
ining Centre at Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi region who was promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner and appointed as a Commandant of that police training centre.

Rehabeam Hengari who is also a former NamPol trainer at Simon Mutumba Mutumba Police Training Centre was promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner and appointed to Head the Ceremonial and Recreation Division, Training and Development Directorate in Windhoek while Chief Inspector Ester Nghihalwa was promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner and appointed as Head of Protocol Division in the Office of the Inspector General at the police headquarters.

Inspector Erickson Moshanah has been promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector and has been appointed as Head of the Police Conduct and Investigation Sub-division in the Zambezi Region.

On the sidelines with Nampa, Deputy Commissioner Hengari said he hopes to promote public education on the law, stating that, ‘One of the challenges faced by the Namibian Law enforcement is the public thinking they k
now the law and try to challenge the police.’

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OSHAKATI: Leader of the Official Opposition McHenry Venaani has called on President Nangolo Mbumba to urgently take heed of the worrying indicators of rhino poaching in the country and address the matter with the urgency that it requires.

Venaani in a media statement on Wednesday said: ‘The inefficiency of government in dealing with this matter should be addressed by the Presidency with immediate effect, as the continued poaching of rhinos not only undermines the country’s conservation efforts but also tarnishes our international reputation.’

He said Namibia is home to a small population of rhinos, consisting of 6000 black rhinos and 15000 white rhinos, with close to 300 being poached over the past five years.

Venaani’s call follows the latest figures released by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism this week that a total of 28 rhinos were poached since the beginning of the year, with no case of elephant poaching recorded.

According to the ministry, 19 of the rhinos were poached in the Etosha
National Park of which 10 were discovered during dehorning operations throughout the month of March.

The figures further showed that four white rhinos were also reported to have been poached on a private farm in the Otjozondjupa region, this brings the total of rhinos poached in private farms in the country to five for the year.

Additionally, three rhinos were poached in rhino custodianship farms, and 1 in the Kunene region bringing the overall total to 28 for the year consisting of 19 black and 9 white rhinos.

Venaani noted that: ‘It is even more troubling to note that despite the Ministry of Environment and Tourism efforts to bolster the anti-poaching drive by procuring 13 horses at a reported cost of N.dollars 130 000, poaching and illegal hunting continues to proliferate.’

He added that the significant investment made by the government, with taxpayers’ money should yield tangible results.

‘The preservation of our environment and its ecosystem is paramount and requires decisive action to ensure the su
rvival of our rhino population for generations to come,’ he noted.

Venaani went on to say that measures should be taken to not only root out corruption within law enforcement agencies but also to hold them accountable as it is worrying that reports suggest that these very officials are complicit in facilitating these criminal activities.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency