Day: July 8, 2024

OSHAKATI: Oshana Governor, Elia Irimari has called on the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR) to reopen the Eloolo Abattoir at Oshakati.

Irimari made the call during the opening of the long-week MAWLR’s Annual Work Plan and Management Workshop taking place in Oshakati, Oshana Region.

The Oshakati Eloolo abattoir was reopened in 2020, after it was shut down in 2016 and then closed again two years later.

According to Irimari, by opening the abattoir, farmers within the northern communal areas (NCAs) will be able to get market access to sell their livestock.

MAWLR Executive Director, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, committed that the Ministry will do everything possible to reopen the abattoir as soon as possible, indicating that the Ministry has initiated a process to terminate the leasing agreement with current operator, and the process is now at arbitration.

Nghituwamata further highlighted the successful operationalisation of Green Scheme projects, with a total of eight projects currently unde
r production, which are; Etunda, Musese, Sikondo, ORIP, Shandikongoro, Hardap, Uvungu-Vhungu and Shadikongoro.

The Executive Director also confirmed progress at the Kalimbeza Rice Project, explaining that evaluation for the appointment of the consultant to redesign the project has been finalised and is due to be tabled for discussion.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The European Union (EU) Delegation to Namibia is hosting a week-long workshop for officials handling financial intelligence, money laundering investigations, terrorist financing prosecution, and crime proceeds tracing and recovery.

The workshop was prompted by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) placing Namibia under increased monitoring, also known as grey listing, for failing to comply with international anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing standards in February this year.

It is expected to increase the capacity of the attending officials, allowing Namibia to adequately implement the necessary actions identified in the FATF action plan, as well as improve Namibia’s compliance with relevant international and FATF Standards, allowing Namibia to exit the grey list in the shortest amount of time.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop in Windhoek on Monday, Ana Beatriz Martins, EU Ambassador to Namibia, stated that the EU is increasingly active
in Africa with its partners, contributing to state stability and allowing for informed, effective, and sound financial systems.

‘We are delighted to be here this morning to offer our support to Namibia, not only to exit the grey list, which is a priority for us all, but also to strengthen her framework in combating illicit financial flows, money laundering, and forms of organised crime,’ she stated.

Financial Intelligence Centre Director Bryan Eiseb stated that Namibians should continue to strive for excellence and create a long-term impact in maintaining the integrity of their financial institutions and the interests of society as a whole.

‘We must consolidate our efforts amongst state agencies, the private sector, and international partners to disrupt financial crime. We must use all tools available in our criminal justice arsenal to identify proceeds of financial crimes and intervene on these proceeds so that we demonstrate that crime does not pay,’ he said.

The workshop’s approximately 30 attendees in
clude representatives from the Namibian Police Force, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Namibia Central Intelligence Service, and the Office of the Prosecutor General, among others.

It is being hosted by the EU Delegation to Namibia in collaboration with the Financial Intelligence Centre.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The second preliminary round of the 2024 Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off competition took place in Walvis Bay this weekend, with Rhonda Baseko, Laura Egumbo, and Veueza Kasemba qualifying for the final slated for August.

The competition, now in its tenth year, held its second preliminary stage in the coastal town, with 25 participants hoping to advance to the final and win the main prize of a fully equipped mobile kitchen valued at N.dollars 130 000.

Participants were required to produce a salsa and kapana dish in 30 minutes and present it to professional judges from the Namibian Chefs’ Association. The chefs evaluated the dishes based on hygiene, taste, presentation, and overall authenticity.

Egumbo, who has participated in the tournament for six years without winning the big prize, stated that she is ready to win this year.

‘Last year, I finished third, but this year I’m bringing the caravan to the seaside. They say practice makes perfect, and I will do my best,’ she stated.

When asked about her expe
rience, first-time entrant Baseko said: ‘It was a tough competition, but I enjoyed myself. Although there was limited time to prepare the dishes, it was indeed a good experience.’

Gernot de Klerk, Head of Marketing and Communication at Nedbank Namibia, stated that the environment and togetherness experienced by the crowd over the weekend was excellent.

‘We’ll be back in Walvis Bay for the 11th edition of the tournament, and we hope to see everyone at the next coastal preliminary stage of the Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off tournament. To everyone who participated, it was a pleasure to host you for this edition of the competition,’ he remarked.

The next preliminary round will be held on 20th July in Windhoek, with three contestants selected to compete in the final on 24 August at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OSHAKATI: The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform has said 91.7 per cent of households in Namibia have access to potable water.

The ministry’s Executive Director, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata during the opening of the ministry’s annual performance review workshop at Oshakati on Monday, said a number of activities during the current financial year contributed to this figure.

These include the construction of 12 new earth dams – five in the Ohangwena Region, four in Oshana, two in Kavango West, and one in Hardap.

The ministry has also constructed three new pipelines and rehabilitated three short pipelines; rehabilitated 47 existing water points; cleaned 34 existing boreholes, connected 815 private off-takes (POTs); drilled 146 new boreholes, and installed 82 newly drilled boreholes.

‘The ministry has further constructed 94 sanitation facilities – 88 in Oshikoto, four in Oshana, and two in Kavango East,’ Nghituwamata said.

With regards to bulk water supply, Nghituwamata stated that progress on ongoing
bulk water supply pipelines includes the construction of the Onamatanga pipeline, which is 55 per cent completed, and the Okanguati-Ohamaremba pipeline which is 94 per cent completed.

Meanwhile, Oshana Governor Elia Irimari said they are making progress with the construction of seven earth dams that are being carried out at a cost of N.dollars 8 million.

There are also a few ongoing water projects in the region to address the scarcity of water as a result of the prolonged drought.

The performance review workshop will end on Friday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Mariental Fire Station received two fire trucks and an ambulance on Monday.

The donation was made possible through a collaboration with the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, the Municipal Council of Murcia in Spain, and the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.

In her keynote address, Deputy Minister of Urban and Rural Development Evelyn! Nawases-Taeyele said the timely donation is a significant contribution towards improving the capacity of the Mariental firefighting and rescue services and improving their ability to protect lives.

‘This project not only protects lives and property in Mariental and the broader Hardap Region, but also empowers our firefighters with advanced tools for technical operations,’ she said.

Dirk Cloete, manager of the Mariental Fire Station, highlighted the urgent need for these resources, saying there has been a significant number of fire incidents, particularly in informal settlements where narrow streets pose challenges to the vehicles they currently use.

‘These vehicles ca
n navigate narrow streets more effectively, which is crucial for reducing our response time and preventing devastating fires in informal settlements,’ he said.

Cloete elaborated on the capabilities of the new vehicles, which include specialised equipment for handling petroleum fires and floodlights for nighttime emergencies, saying these enhancements will not only improve response times, but also bolster the safety of both residents and firefighters themselves.

‘These appliances are ready to serve. They mark a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to create a safer and more secure Mariental and Hardap region,’ he stated.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency