Month: April 2024

The upgraded Onhuno Road Traffic Checkpoint in the Ohangwena Region signifies the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all road users.

This was according to Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Albert Kawana, during the inauguration of the upgraded Onhuno Road Traffic Checkpoint on Thursday.

Kawana indicated that the Onhuno Road Traffic Checkpoint holds immense importance because it serves as a critical point for monitoring and regulating traffic flow, ensuring compliance with road safety regulations, and deterring criminal activities on national roads.

‘With the upgrading of this facility, we are not only modernising our infrastructure, but also strengthening our capacity to effectively address the challenges posed by road traffic management and security,’ he said.

He added that the upgraded checkpoint is equipped with road traffic checkpoint shelter and an office block with ablution facilities for officers and members of the public.

Kawana st
ated that the construction of facility costed the government an amount of about N.dollars 8.4 million.

He stressed that these enhancements will enable law enforcement agencies to better identify and address potential risks, thereby ensuring safer roads for all.

Speaking at the same occasion, Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Inspector General, Joseph Shikongo, said the upgraded checkpoint not only makes their work as police officers easier, but it creates a special bond between law enforcement and the community at large.

‘Beyond the physical infrastructure, this checkpoint stands as a testament to our collective resolve to combat crime and ensure the rule of law,’ he said.

He added that it serves as a frontline defence against illegal activities such as smuggling, human trafficking and drug trade, which threaten the fabric of the society.

He further urged members of the public to assist NamPol in the fight against crime, and in the same vein caution them to refrain from aiding criminals and their proceeds o
f crime.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Ras Sheehama’s three decades of music tribute show was brought to life last weekend under the creative direction of Othilia Mungoba.

The concert featured a stunning lineup filled with electrifying performances from multiple celebrated art forms integrating all forms of the creative industry into one setting, a first of its kind show.

The depiction paid homage to the life and contribution of Namibian musician and performer Ras Sheehama. The project involved close to 30 Namibian creatives from multi-disciplines such as visual and performing artists.

In an interview with Nampa on Tuesday, Mungoba reflected: ‘We really took Ras Sheehama’s songs and did renditions of those songs, a show like this has never been done. We took all the different aspects of performing and creative arts and placed them all on one stage.’

The show featured a visual integration aspect where those who were unable to physically attend could tap in virtually. The virtual integration allowed people to buy online tickets that al
lowed them to experience the show via livestream.

‘We made history but we did not make a profit, which is quite disheartening. We knew that on the first night, we had two to three other events happening on the same night with a similar fan base, but we were not swayed and we pulled through for the next day,’ said Mungoba.

She further shared that they pulled out all the stops when it came to promoting the concert, a sentiment that was shared by one fan who was in attendance at the show. Mind Ngombe popularly known as ‘Mr Mind’, a gospel artist, told Nampa in an interview on Wednesday that for the celebrated icon that is Ras Sheehama, he expected a bigger turnout at the concert.

Ngombe said he believes the concert had such a low turnout because uniquely Namibian music genre’s barely have a market in the country, with many people choosing to rather popularise music genres from other countries.

‘Namibia needs to have an identity, it needs space in the international arena, people should be able to pinpoint Nam
ibian music when it is played anywhere.’

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Vice President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the government is dedicated to developing plans to mitigate the impact of drought.

While addressing the Swapo Party central committee meeting here on Thursday, Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed concern about the looming drought.

‘We are almost in the middle of April with not much improvement on the rain forecast. That means as a nation, we are faced with a severe drought that will affect both people and livestock. It is therefore important for all of us to understand the impacts and ramifications of the drought,’ she said.

Namibia recorded poor rainfall, which is expected to lead to a very poor harvest for farmers across the country.

Poor rainfall in Namibia is predicted to result in an extremely low harvest for farmers around the nation. Other SADC countries are also affected, with Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe having already declared natural disasters.

‘That suggests that Namibia needs to map out strategies to be able to go through all these natural odds. I can
assure you that our government is committed to working out strategies to mitigate the impact of the drought.

‘However, those strategies will only be successful if those administering the programmes will work and ensure that they deliver the services to the intended beneficiaries. I therefore appeal for strong cooperation on the part of all those who will be involved in the drought management programmes,’ Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

In its November 2023 Crop Prospects and Food Situation report, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimated that 695 000 people in Namibia are projected to face acute food insecurity between October 2023 and March 2024.

The United Nations agency observed that weather and price shocks, as well as subdued economic growth, are key factors driving the high levels of acute food insecurity.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Cabinet has issued a directive to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development to collaborate with the Ministry of Justice, in amending Section 77(4)(a) of the Electoral Act.

The announcement was made on Thursday by the Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus, who said the amendment will provide clarity pertaining the resignation of public servants upon election or nomination to the National Assembly and regional councils.

The amendment, she said, shall provide clarity on the legal provisions dealing with the case of members of the public service who wish to participate in elections, to the effect that such persons are deemed to have resigned upon being elected to the National Assembly or regional council and not before being nominated.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

KEETMANSHOOP: President Nangolo Mbumba has conferred the honour of national heroine status and a State funeral on the late Ida Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros, who died last week Wednesday at the age of 79 years.

In a statement issued to the media on Thursday, the Presidency said: ‘Under the powers vested in the President by Article 32 (3) (h) of the Namibian Constitution, read together with section 3 (1) of the Conferment of National Honours Act, 2012, and following recommendation by the National Honours Advisory Committee, the president confers the honour of a national heroine and directs that a State Funeral be held in her honour.’

President Mbumba last week visited the family home of the late Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros at Keetmanshoop to console the family and extended a message of condolences to the children, the entire family and the Namibian people.

Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros was born in Keetmanshoop in the year 1945, she served among others as Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency councillor, Swapo regional coordinator for ||Kharas between 1
992 and 1998, was a member of the Swapo politburo and central committee, and Swapo head of elections and district coordinator for Lderitz.

The opening service is set to take place on Sunday at farm Sniprivier in the Bethanie district while the funeral will take place on 20 April 2024.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency