Day: July 2, 2024

The DRC informal settlement and Matutura residents will soon be getting a police station closer to them at Swakopmund.

A ground-breaking ceremony was held on Tuesday for the construction of the police station through a donation of over N.dollars 20 million by Rössing Uranium Mine on land donated by the Swakopmund Municipality, on Erf 8443, Extension 3.

Minister of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security, Albert Kawana in a speech delivered on his behalf, expressed that the presence of a well-equipped police station will significantly enhance the ministry’s capacity to respond to emergencies, prevent crime, and maintain law and order.

‘It will also foster a stronger sense of security, encouraging economic growth and social cohesion and as a community, we must work hand in hand with our law enforcement officers, supporting them in their mission to protect and serve the community of DRC,’ he added.

Kawana registered his disappointment with the disturbing trend of crimes in the country, noting particul
arly the rise in the statistics of gender-based violence.

‘Erongo Region is no exception, thus, a holistic approach is required from all stakeholders, to be able to address this phenomenon. I, therefore urge all leaders and the community to join hands with the Namibian Police Force in the fight against crimes,’ he appealed.

Inspector General of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo commended Rössing’s efforts in joining Government to fight against crime and ensuring communities’ safety, while calling on the rest of the private sector to take heed of the example.

Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope said the establishment of the police station is not just about erecting a building; it symbolises Government’s commitment to ensuring that all residents, regardless of where they live, have access to essential services, safety and protection.

Rössing Uranium Managing Director, Johan Coetzee highlighted the organisation’s belief in the importance of public safety and the invaluable service
provided by the Namibian Police Force.

‘Our decision to support this project is rooted in our commitment to giving back to the communities that continue to make Rössing what it is to date. This is not just as a financial contribution, but an investment in the safety and well-being of every individual who calls DRC and Swakopmund home,’ he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Namibia recorded a trade deficit of N.dollars 3.3 billion in May 2024, with the country’s exports that were valued at N.dollars 9.4 billion, while imports stood at N.dollars 12.8 billion.

This was announced by Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) Chief Executive Officer, Alex Shimuafeni on Tuesday, who said the export value in May 2024 represented a 0.7 per cent decrease from the N.dollars 9.5 billion recorded in April 2024. However, compared to May 2023, exports increased by 2.8 per cent.

This indicates a slight recovery in export performance year-over-year despite a month-over-month decline, he said.

Shimuafeni stated that on the import side, the value for May 2024 showed a 1.1 per cent increase from the N.dollars 12.7 billion recorded in April 2024.

Compared to May 2023, imports rose by 6.2 per cent from the N.dollars 12.0 billion recorded during that period. This upward trend in imports suggests increased demand for foreign goods in Namibia, he explained.

He stated that the analysis of exports b
y commodities revealed that precious stones (diamonds) had the largest share of the export basket, accounting for 20.6 per cent of Namibia’s total exports, ahead of fish with 13.1 per cent and non-monetary gold with a share of 12.6 per cent.

According to Shimuafeni, copper and articles of copper (6.7 per cent) and petroleum oils (5.5 per cent) came in fourth and fifth positions.

In terms of imports, he stated that petroleum oils was the highest valued commodity with a share of 22.1 per cent of total imports, followed by nickel ores and concentrates and precious stones (diamonds) with a share of 3.8 per cent each.

Furthermore, motor vehicles for the transportation of goods and medicaments each accounted for 2.3 per cent of total imports, he said.

He added that Namibia’s trade by mode of transport revealed that in May 2024, vast goods were exported via sea transport, accounting for 35.7 per cent of total exports, followed by air transport with 33.6 per cent and road transport with 30.6 per cent.

Namibia ex
ported blankets amounting to N.dollars 29 387, while on the demand side, Namibia imported blankets valued at N.dollars 10.8 million, mainly sourced from South Africa and China. Imports of the commodity averaged monthly at N.dollars 6.5 million over the period May 2023 to May 2024, he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) head of rural water supply in the Oshikoto Region, Stevenson Tuukondjele is urging communities to pave the way for the Ondangwa-Omutsegwonime pipeline replacement project.

Tuukondjele said in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday that the community should accommodate the replacement of the Ondangwa-Omutsegwonime pipeline and not delay the process that is scheduled to be completed in 12 months only.

He urged the communities of the Oshikoto and Oshana regions to cooperate with the companies that are replacing the pipeline and smoothen the process.

‘Our community needs to understand that this is not a political exercise, it is the government effort to improve water supply to its communities,’ said Tuukondjele.

He pointed out that the community will be compensated for the worth of their loss, so they should not be concerned about the loss.

‘It all depends on us to make this project a success and I strongly call all the community members to cooperate wit
h the companies that are awarded this project,’ Tuukondjele said.

The replacement will be completed by Homefin Properties CC, a Namibian company, and China Jiangxi International, which is a Chinese company.

The pipeline will cover a distance of 110 kilometres from Ondangwa traversing through Omuthiya and culminating in the Omutsegwonime village.

NamWater Chief Executive Officer, Abraham Nehemia stated during the ground-breaking ceremony of the Ondangwa-Omutsegwonime project at Ondangwa on Friday that the current infrastructure of the Ondangwa-Omutsegwonime pipeline is struggling to meet the escalating demand and is plagued by frequent pipe bursts and supply interruptions.

‘NamWater wants to improve its service delivery of water supply to the Oshana and Oshikoto regions and has prioritised the development of critical water supply infrastructure in the country,’ said Nehemia.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Sylvia Makgone announced that Government has established eight operational fish farms and aquaculture centres countrywide.

She made this announcement during an update on the nation’s progress on aquaculture activities at the Ministry of information and Communication Technology (MICT)’s Government Information Centre (GIC), here on Monday.

‘To affectively promote the freshwater aquaculture sector, the government through the ministry has established eight operational fish farms and aquaculture centres countrywide. These include the Leonardville Fish Farm in the Omaheke Region, Fonteintjie Fish Farm in the ||Kharas Region, and Onavivi Inland Aquaculture Centre in the Omusati Region amongst others,’ said Makgone.

She added that it is to encourage the public to get involved in aquaculture and create businesses that will ensure the betterment of their livelihoods and which will also promote national development.

‘I urge the Namibian people to take adva
ntage of the services provided by Government and to actively complain through formal procedures in order to hold us accountable and as indicated earlier, our mandate is to promote aquaculture and we will go above and beyond to ensure that our fish farmers and aspiring fish farmers get the much needed support to improve Namibia’s aquaculture sector,’ said Makgone.

Aquaculture is the cultivation of aquatic animals, such as fish or shellfish, or of plants, such as seaweed, in a controlled and sometimes enclosed body of water.

Namibia’s aquaculture has two sub-sectors; freshwater aquaculture and marine aquaculture popularly known as mariculture which most people are involved in, therefore causing the government to take strides toward getting more people to participate in freshwater aquaculture.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Capricorn Academy for School Leavers, a ‘Young Talent Programme’ of Bank Windhoek, was officially launched in Windhoek on Tuesday, where 10 successful candidates for the programme were unveiled.

Capricorn Foundation Executive Officer, Marlize Horn announced that the curriculum, which was first introduced in May 2024 as the Capricorn Academy for School Leavers, has been renamed the Emerging Bankers Curriculum.

‘The Capricorn Foundation is creating valuable opportunities for young Namibians to acquire essential skills and find employment by investing N.dollars 1 million in the Emerging Bankers Programme,’ she stated.

The programme’s structure, which includes extensive training and job placements over 18 months, reflects a commitment to the foundation nurturing talent and preparing individuals for fulfilling careers in the banking sector, she said.

She added that the Emerging Bankers Programme recognises the unique challenges that young people in small towns face, such as limited access to educ
ation and employment opportunities. These individuals, she said, often encounter significant obstacles to advancing their careers and by providing training and job opportunities locally, the programme addresses unemployment and contributes to the development and empowerment of rural communities.

At the same event, Louretta Louw, Head People Development at Bank Windhoek, stated that the Emerging Bankers Programme aims to create a talent pipeline in smaller towns, foster community engagement, and harness the potential of the youth, thereby providing a sense of belonging to this critical demographic.

She explained that the effort targets long-term solutions through collaboration with local communities and stakeholders.

‘With over 750 applications, the scheme demonstrates early success and a commitment to empowering the youth workforce. It highlights the importance of providing opportunities for those facing challenges in accessing education and employment, ensuring a promising future. Investing in our youth r
educes unemployment, alleviates poverty, and creates a skilled and motivated workforce leading to increased productivity and innovativeness,’ she said.

The branches selected to host the candidates are Mariental (Dirlon Reynolds), Katima Mulilo (Musiyabai Tabale and Iuze Muitumwa), Oshifo (Juliana Fillipus), Ondangwa (Anna Haikali and Mateus Joseph), Outapi (Edla Tjikaka), Oshakati (David Nangombe), Keetmanshoop (Shawnae Stoffel), and Opuwo (Vamanouzeu Muzuma).

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Bank of Namibia (BoN) recently launched a tentative 16-month journey to mark the implementation of the Instant Payment Programme (IPP) aimed to increase financial inclusion and accessibility across the country.

In a media release on Monday, Marsorry Ickua, Officer in Charge at BoN, said the structured plan covers programme governance, stakeholder engagement, and the build and deployment phases to ultimately launch the IPP swiftly, transforming Namibia’s financial landscape and promoting economic growth and prosperity.

The Instant Payment Solution is designed to be accessible on any device, including non-smartphones, ensuring that everyone from vendors and taxi drivers to pensioners and small business owners can use it with ease, he added.

He stated that the agenda for the kick-off session included an overview of the programme, solution insights, and strategic objectives aimed at fostering financial inclusion and modernising Namibia’s payment infrastructure.

‘The project aims to fulfil access
ibility and affordability for underserved populations, achieving full interoperability of payment instruments by 2025, modernising the financial sector, and elevating cross-border payment efficiencies,’ he said.

The IPP is in full alignment with National Strategies such as the National Development Plan, and the National Payment System Vision and Strategy 2025.

‘This strategy was co-created by industry stakeholders, the Payment Association of Namibia (PAN), and the BoN, focusing on enhancing financial access and literacy, promoting affordable financial products, and expanding digital financial services.

Our collective journey is to spur financial inclusion across Namibia, ensuring that everyone can transact digitally and electronically regardless of where they live,’ he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency