Day: July 1, 2024

Ten-thousand residents of the Kunene Region’s Epupa Constituency cannot afford to buy food, a crisis exacerbated by the recurring drought, the aftermath of COVID-19, and the high degree of poverty in the region’s poorest constituency.

This figure represents nearly half of the constituency’s population, which currently stands at 26 491 according to last year’s population census, a figure regarded as worrisome by Epupa Constituency councillor Tjimtambo Kuuoko.

Kuuoko in a recent interview that focused on the constituency’s challenges, told Nampa that the increase in food insecurity was not due to the constituency’s sluggish economy, but rather drought, which continues to wreak havoc on farmers’ livelihoods, leaving individuals dependent on the government feeding programme.

He further stated that around 2 000 households rely on the food programme for survival after most people lost their jobs at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the majority of inhabitants lost their livestock and crops to drought.

‘Farmers in the Epupa Constituency have not harvested enough crops for the past seven years. Farmers used to prepare their fields, but now it only rains once in a while and some areas don’t even get any rain. Livestock farmers lost most of their livestock during the past seven years as well,’ he said.

According to Kuuoko, the vast majority of drought-affected farmers have relocated to other regions such as Omusati, Oshikoto, and the two Kavango regions in search of better pasture, while some have chosen to migrate to neighbouring Angola.

Meanwhile, the councillor commended government entities such as the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform and the Kunene Regional Council, among others, for their efforts to mitigate the drought. Boreholes have been drilled, renovated, and installed, and the work is still proceeding, he said.

‘The drought assistance programme will continue to be distributed until June 2025 and while food is in short supply due to the extended drought,
the majority of locals also rely on handouts,’ he noted.

Currently, the constituency provides drought relief food packages that include one 20 kilogramme bag of maize meal, one bottle of cooking oil and four tins of fish.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Representatives of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in the Otjozondjupa Region on Monday expressed satisfaction with the total number of eligible voters who have so far registered with ECN to acquire new voter cards.

According to Otjozondjupa Regional Electoral Officer, Victoria Amutenya in an interview with Nampa on Monday, a total of 46 126 eligible voters have so far acquired their new voter cards in the region’s seven constituencies of Omatako, Grootfontein, Otjiwarongo, Okahandja, Okakarara, Otavi and Tsumkwe.

‘Looking at the regional population of about 220 000 and the over 46 000 newly issued voter cards, we at ECN are impressed to have gone this extra mile in four weeks. Also looking at the speed, we are now operating with two voter card printers at each registration point we are hopeful during this week to even do more,’ said Amutenya.

She stated that the Otjiwarongo Constituency has so far registered the highest number of eligible voters with 11 798, while Okahandja is second with 9 776,
and Grootfontein in third place with 8 606.

The remaining four constituencies of Omatako, Okakarara, Otavi and Tsumkwe issued less than 6 000 voter cards each, said Amutenya.

She further explained that ECN created an additional fixed voter card registration centre at the Osona Village in order to serve that community with a dedicated team resourced with all materials and two voter card printers.

The ongoing general voter card registration allows all Namibians from the age of 18 years to acquire new voter cards in order to participate in the Presidential and National Assembly elections on 27 November this year, as well as in the regional and local authority elections in 2025.

Amutenya advised inhabitants of Otjozondjupa to register now and get their new voter cards as there will be no supplementary voter registration.

The general voter card registration exercise which started countrywide on 03 June this year, will end on 01 August 2024.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

A Rundu entertainment establishment, Creation Nightclub was robbed of N.dollars 90 000 on Sunday, the police said.

Namibian Police Force Acting Regional Commander in the Kavango East Region, Deputy Commissioner Eino Nambahu on Monday said the incident occurred around 09h00.

According to Nambahu, two employees of the nightclub were busy counting stock and money when the incident took place.

One employee reportedly went outside to record readings on the water and electricity meters using the backdoor. While at the back, he was allegedly approached by two unknown robbers armed with knives who tied him up, and proceeded into the establishment.

In the nightclub, the suspects overpowered the bar lady and made away with the N.dollars 90 000 in cash.

The police are requesting any person with information on the two fugitives to contact the police.

Meanwhile, investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Thousands of mourners from all walks of life came together on Sunday to bury a renowned First National Bank Manager of the Rundu branch, Reagan Mwalimu Limmy Kwala, who died in a car accident on 18 June 2024.

Kwala was buried at his home village Ishuvu in the Katima Rural Constituency in the Zambezi Region.

Kwala died in a fatal car accident that occurred on the Otavi-Otjiwarongo road, which claimed the lives of eight other people.

Speaker after speaker praised and spoke highly of Kwala, noting that his demise is not just a loss to his family but also to the region and the entire country. Kwala, who began his banking journey in 2007 with First National Bank at Katima Mulilo, climbed up the ladder with the assistance of qualifications from Stellenbosch University and passion for his profession.

One of the speakers was elder brother Dobson Kwala, who spoke highly of his younger brother.

‘This son of the soil was not just a banker but a professional, disciplined and passionate one. He was a smart young man.
We have lost as a family. For some of us, he taught us financial management and how to save at home,’ Kwala sobbed.

Other sympathisers like Namibian motivation and business coach Sam Shivute took to social media to express their condolences for the loss of Kwala, describing him as a great man, an amazing human being who was passionate about being of service to others.

‘Limmy created great memories for many people. He had a big vision for promoting domestic tourism in the country,’ said Shivute.

Kwala owned and ran a river boat cruise business on the Zambezi River banks.

He is survived by his mother, two children and two siblings.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Ten-thousand residents of the Kunene Region’s Epupa Constituency cannot afford to buy food, a crisis exacerbated by the recurring drought, the aftermath of COVID-19, and the high degree of poverty in the region’s poorest constituency.

This figure represents nearly half of the constituency’s population, which currently stands at 26 491 according to last year’s population census, a figure regarded as worrisome by Epupa Constituency councillor Tjimtambo Kuuoko.

Kuuoko in a recent interview that focused on the constituency’s challenges, told Nampa that the increase in food insecurity was not due to the constituency’s sluggish economy, but rather drought, which continues to wreak havoc on farmers’ livelihoods, leaving individuals dependent on the government feeding programme.

He further stated that around 2 000 households rely on the food programme for survival after most people lost their jobs at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, while the majority of inhabitants lost their livestock and crops to drought.

‘Farmers in the Epupa Constituency have not harvested enough crops for the past seven years. Farmers used to prepare their fields, but now it only rains once in a while and some areas don’t even get any rain. Livestock farmers lost most of their livestock during the past seven years as well,’ he said.

According to Kuuoko, the vast majority of drought-affected farmers have relocated to other regions such as Omusati, Oshikoto, and the two Kavango regions in search of better pasture, while some have chosen to migrate to neighbouring Angola.

Meanwhile, the councillor commended government entities such as the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform and the Kunene Regional Council, among others, for their efforts to mitigate the drought. Boreholes have been drilled, renovated, and installed, and the work is still proceeding, he said.

‘The drought assistance programme will continue to be distributed until June 2025 and while food is in short supply due to the extended drought,
the majority of locals also rely on handouts,’ he noted.

Currently, the constituency provides drought relief food packages that include one 20 kilogramme bag of maize meal, one bottle of cooking oil and four tins of fish.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency