Month: April 2024

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Sheya calls for modernisation, decentralisation of police service

Kunene Region Governor, Marius Sheya has called for concerted efforts to modernise and decentralise police services to better serve the public and reduce bureaucracy.

Sheya made the call during Monday’s stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Opuwo with the Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, held to reaffirm and strengthen the longstanding relationship with the community.

Central to the discussions were the community’s support for Namibia’s rule of law initiatives, as well as the completion of the ongoing construction of the regional police headquarters at Opuwo.

Sheya argued that the demand for police services is driven by both government policy decisions and communities, in addition to requests to preserve law and order.

As a consequence, Sheya stated that modernisation and decentralisation of different services, such as car clearance and the issuing of arms licences, should be implemented at all police stations, as well as the installation of the internet an
d computers, to allow the police to better serve the people.

‘As we always talk about service delivery, as for somebody to stand up from Khorixas or Kamanjab, to hike here or Oshakati for police clearance, whether for arms clearance, it is something the police, under the inspector’s reign, can accomplish,’ he went on to say.

Similarly, Sheya remarked that he wants the people to be able to readily utilise these services at every police station, as it will be meaningful to visit any police station and find a copy machine and a computer that can assist them with anything they require.

Furthermore, Sheya requested that permanent roadblocks be built in the region’s hot spots for stock theft and poaching, as well as additional police stations in hard-to-reach areas, to help curb crime and reduce overcrowding at some police stations.

The governor also commended the police work in the region, adding that Kunene police have been effective since he became governor, indicating a positive working relationship that ex
tends beyond police services.

On his part, Shikongo assured that Sheya’s proposal would be given top priority, since it is critical to modernise and decentralise police services, including the establishment of more police stations in the region.

He, too, feels that more has to be done to allow the police to serve the public steadfastly, as he calls on all stakeholders to work together to assist the police carry out their missions.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

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Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat anniversary cycle challenge kicks off

The governments of Namibia, Botswana and South Africa have pledged to recommit themselves to continue facilitating the seamless movement of goods and persons on the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC).

The three countries kicked off their 20th anniversary celebrations on Tuesday, with a cycle challenge from Rustenburg, South Africa, via Lobatse in Botswana to Walvis Bay, Namibia. The agreement between the three countries was signed on 03 November 2003.

In a pledge read by the Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat Co-Chair Segodi Mogotsi, in Rustenburg, the countries also pledged to simplify and harmonise the requirements and controls that govern the movement of goods and persons to reduce transport costs and transit times.

‘The three member states pledge to continue to promote safety and security on the Trans Kalahari Corridor with the view to ensure the safety of users through regular joint law enforcement operations and border controls,’ the pledge reads.

The pledge further stated that the countries will ensure
that the road and infrastructure on the TKC is kept in a condition that responds to the needs of the corridor users.

‘The three member states pledge to promote spatial development initiatives on the TKC in order to enhance the livelihoods of persons living along the corridor,’ it further states.

South Africa’s Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, represented at the signing ceremony by the Chairperson of the South African Local Government Association, Khumalo Molefe signed the pledge.

Transport Minister of Namibia, John Mutorwa and Botswana Transport Minister Mothibi Molale will also sign the pledge, during the cycle challenge en route to Walvis Bay.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

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Ballot Street murder suspect expected to appear in court

WINDHOEK: The suspect in the murder case of the deceased 29-year-old Frieda Amadhila is set to appear on 25 April 2024 at the Katutura Magistrate’s Court.

According to Namibian Police Force Senior Investigator Joseph Ndokosho, the 22-year-old suspect is expected to appear in court on charges of murder and housebreaking following the stabbing of Amadhila on 08 April 2024 at her residence in Ballot Street, Windhoek.

The suspect allegedly broke into the victim’s home and stabbed her three times on the chest with a kitchen knife and scissors. It was later confirmed that the suspect was an ex-boyfriend of the deceased and had been hospitalised after the incident following an alleged self-inflicted wound on his throat.

‘The suspect has been in critical condition but he is slowly recovering in the hospital,’ said Ndokosho.

Amadhila who was a Market Analyst at Nedbank was buried on Saturday, 14 April 2024 at her family’s residential home at Elombe in the Ohangwena Region.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

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SA extends well wishes to Namibia, Botswana ahead of national elections

South Africa’s Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga on Tuesday extended well wishes to Namibia and Botswana, ahead of their respective National elections set for later in the year.

Chikunga in a speech read on her behalf at the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between South Africa, Namibia and Botswana for the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) Secretariat said: ‘We are in an election year, as are our member states. Tell them that we as the Republic of South Africa will have free and fair elections. Tell our friends in Botswana and Namibia that we wish them well, in their pursuit for the advocacy and the advancement of development and democracy.’

Namibia is set to go to the polls in November 2024, for the National Presidential and National Assembly elections. Botswana will host its National elections in October 2024 while South Africans are expected to vote in May 2024.

The TKC is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the MoU between South Africa, Namibia and Botswana with
a cycle challenge from Rustenburg South Africa, through Lobatse, Botswana, to Walvis Bay in Namibia.

The Trans Kalahari Corridor Secretariat (TKCS) is a tripartite transboundary Corridor Management Institution which was established with a political and economic vision to pursue or contribute towards deeper regional integration programmes of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

This is to be achieved by linking the port of Walvis Bay on the west coast to the port of Maputo on the east coast of Africa.

The TKC connects highways of Namibia commencing at the port of Walvis Bay through Kanye and Lobatse in Botswana to South Africa, mainly to the industrial heartland of the greater Gauteng,’ Chikunga said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

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NSI takes Metrology Act to Omaheke


The Namibian Standards Institution on Tuesday, during their stakeholder awareness campaign, engaged representatives of the Omaheke Region on the newly enacted Metrology Act, Act 5 of 2022.

The meeting at Gobabis attracted stakeholders from government institutions and business people including farmers from the region, with the aim of creating awareness of the new Act before its implementation.

Omaheke Regional Governor Pijoo Nganate, who was the keynote speaker, highlighted the importance of the new Act to Omaheke as a region and how it will transform the regional economy to the benefit of its people, especially farmers.

‘Metrology encompasses the principles in our daily lives, from the weight of the cattle we raise to the distance our goods travel across borders. Metrology ensures that these measurements are accurate, reliable and standardised,’ he noted.

Nganate furthermore indicated that because the region is known for its cattle farming, precision in measurement is crucial.

‘Accurate measurements of l
ivestock health, feed quantities and milk production are crucial for maximising productivity and ensuring animal welfare. The new Metrology Act will provide farmers with the tools and standards necessary to make informed decisions and optimise their farming practices, leading to increased efficiency and profitability,’ Nganate said.

The governor urged all stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the new Act and embrace the opportunities it will present in the region and the country at large.

‘This legislation is more than just numbers and standards, it is about ensuring a bright and prosperous future for our livestock farming and industrial community,’ he said.

Simasiku Matali, the head of metrology at the Namibian Standards Institution indicated that the new Act is aimed at informing and capacitating the nation on changes to the metrology legal framework. On administration and enforcement related matters, he also shared that they are engaging all stakeholders in the 14 regions of Namibia.

‘The Act cam
e at a time when Namibia is experiencing a growing need for accelerated metrology services and regulatory framework as a result of domestic and international market access,’ he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

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Iipumbu emphasises SEZ Bill’s importance for economic growth


The Minister of Industrialisation and Trade, Lucia Iipumbu, has emphasised the importance of ensuring that the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) Bill is fit for purpose and guarantees that an avenue for value addition is created to generate jobs.

According to the minister, the establishment of SEZ can significantly boost industrialisation, enhance export capabilities, and stimulate economic growth, especially as Namibia readies itself to participate fully in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Adopted in August 2022, the SEZ Policy includes a provision for both fiscal and non-fiscal investment incentives for various investment categories such as exporters and manufacturers.

Iipumbu, who was speaking at stakeholder consultations on the drafting of the SEZ policy, national informal economy, startups and entrepreneurship development policy in Walvis Bay on Monday, noted that these legislations are key in shaping the economic dimension of Namibia which can ultimately result in significant growth and de
velopment of the country.

‘Firstly, SEZs have over the years proven to be a catalyst for economic transformation around the globe, which is done through creating specific areas with favourable business conditions and incentives advanced by government, in order to boost and attract both domestic and foreign investments, foster innovation, and generate employment opportunities,’ the minister said.

It is for this reason that the ministry embarked on a journey to tailor the SEZ concept to Namibia’s unique needs and aspirations in order to eventually have it as a law to replace the Economic Processing Zone (EPZ) regime, which has thus far brought about various challenges.

Erongo hosts 3 981 business establishments, of which 3 286 were characterised as micro establishments, 453 as small establishments and 195 as medium establishments respectively.

Governor Neville Andre Itope said that only 47 establishments in the region constitute large establishments.

‘Therefore, it becomes important that our engagements ar
e focused on advancing these businesses, to help them grow by creating a conducive and enabling legislation, operational environment that will eventually stimulate optimal growth and investment of these and future prospective ones,’ he added.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency