Day: September 4, 2024

A 34 – year – old female member of the Namibian Defence Force ( NDF ) reportedly committed suicide at her house at Osona Village outside Okahandja on Tuesday . The Namibian Police Force ‘ s head of community affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region , Senior Inspector Maureen Mbeha , in an interview with Nampa on Wednesday said the deceased has been identified by relatives as Helena Nalushila . Nalushila was a soldier stationed at the Osona Military Base , said Mbeha . ” It is alleged that she hanged herself with a piece of cloth from the window frame inside the main bedroom ,” stated Mbeha . Preliminary police investigations indicate that Nalushila previously underwent counseling after she allegedly attempted suicide , Mbeha said . No suicide note was found and no foul play is suspected so far , she added . An inquest docket has been opened in connection with the matter at the Okahandja Police Station . Police investigations continue .

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Two jurisdictions in Australia’s north and west are undermining the national effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions and shift toward clean energy, a report said.

In the report published on Wednesday, Sydney-based NGO the Climate Council compared the progress of each of Australia’s eight states and territories in the effort.

The report found that there has been impressive progress overall in recent years, with most jurisdictions making embracing renewable energy a top priority, but that the state of Western Australia and the Northern Territory are putting that progress at risk.

“Western Australia and the Northern Territory keep expanding and approving highly polluting coal and gas projects, seriously undermining our national efforts to cut climate pollution and protect Australians from worsening unnatural disasters,” the report said.

According to the report, 18 percent of Western Australia’s electricity came from renewable sources in the 12 months to August, the second-lowest proportion of any jurisdictio
n ahead of only the Northern Territory at 7 percent.

The Australian Capital Territory was the only jurisdiction where 100 percent of electricity came from renewable sources followed by Tasmania at 98 percent and South Australia at 78 percent.

Overall, 40 percent of electricity in Australia’s main grid came from renewables in the year to August.

“The amount of clean energy powering our homes and businesses has doubled in just six years,” Greg Bourne from the Climate Council said in a statement.

In Queensland in Australia’s northeast, 27 percent of electricity was generated by renewable sources in the 12-month period, but the Climate Council found the state has become the leader in rooftop solar uptake and clean energy investment.

Over 50 percent of houses in Queensland have installed rooftop solar systems, the report said.

The federal government has set a national target of 82 percent of Australia’s electricity coming from renewable sources by 2030. Enditem

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Sudan defeated Niger 1-0 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers in Juba, the capital of South Sudan, on Wednesday.

Sudan coach James Kwesi Appiah expressed his satisfaction with his team’s victory over a tough and determined opponent.

“We started very well getting to the end of the first half, the game was not as I had expected, but in the second half we started strongly to make sure that we got the victory,” Appiah said during a post-match press conference at the Juba Olympic Stadium.

Appiah added that his team is doing everything possible to qualify for the 2025 AFCON tournament, which will be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.

Niger’s coach, Ezzaki Badou, congratulated his opponents and acknowledged the strength of the Sudanese team. He mentioned that the focus now is on quickly regaining the physical fitness of his players ahead of their next game against Ghana on September 9. Meanwhile, Sudan will travel to Angola for the other match in Group F. Enditem

Sour
ce: The Namibia News Agency

The Directorate of Health and Social Services in the Oshikoto Region is preparing an Indoor Residual Spraying ( IRS ) campaign for malaria hotspots that will start on 16 September 2024 . The directorate ‘ s head , Joshua Nghipangelwa said in an interview with Nampa on Wednesday that they will carry out the IRS in remote areas of the region to curb malaria . Nghipangelwa said they are carrying out the spraying in the Okankolo , Eengodi , and Nehale Lyampingana constituencies from September to May 2025 . ‘ We normally have a challenge with malaria in our region during malaria season and that is why we came up with the IRS exercise to stop the cases ,’ he said . Nghipangelwa explained that IRS is the process of spraying the inside of dwellings with an insecticide to kill mosquitoes that spread malaria . Oshikoto Region Governor , Penda Ya Ndakolo also highlighted during the State of the Region Address on Friday that the health directorate is collaborating with its developmental partners to raise the standard of
health in the region . ‘ In this regard , the directorate is constructing a new 90 – bed capacity maternity ward at Onandjokwe Hospital at a budgeted amount of N . dollars 59 million . The project will contribute to enhance service delivery and possibly reduce maternal deaths upon completion ,’ Ya Ndakolo said . He added that N . dollars 1 . 8 million is being spent to renovate a theatre at Onandjokwe State Hospital , which will enhance service delivery and minimise referrals to Oshakati and Windhoek . ‘ Renovation of the Omuntele clinic to provide a conducive environment for patients and staff has been completed ,’ said Ya Ndakolo . The governor said that the construction of the Omeyantalala Health Post 10 000 – litre water tank , and fencing off the area in the Okankolo Constituency , which will improve community – based health care services , is completed . ‘ The directorate is busy constructing septic tanks at Onkumbula , Onyuulaye , and Onakazizi clinics respectively to improve sanitation and hygiene ,’
Ya Ndakolo added

Source: The Namibia News Agency

The police in the Oshikoto Region are seeking the public ‘ s assistance in tracing six of 11 suspects who escaped from the Omuthiya Police Station holding cells in the early hours of Saturday . The Namibian Police Force ‘ s Chief Inspector of Community Affairs for Oshikoto , Ellen Nehale – Kangulu , said the incident occurred just after 04h00 on Saturday . The suspects used a metal object to break through the wall of a cell before they escaped . Nehale – Kangulu said five suspects were re – arrested and a case of escaping from lawful custody and malicious damage to government property was opened against all 11 suspects . ‘ Members of the public who are aware of the six should inform the nearest police station ,’ she said . The chief inspector further said the damage to the wall was discovered during an inspection of the building by officers who had started the morning shift at 06h00 . ” Members went further to inspect from inside and discovered that there was a hole made in the toilet of the same cell ,” she
added . The suspects were being held for various crimes including theft , housebreaking with intent to steal and theft , rape , fraud , bribery , organised crime , assault of police officers , escaping from lawful custody and possession of drugs . Investigations continue

Source: The Namibia News Agency

WINDHOEK: Prosecutor General Martha Imalwa has lodged an appeal in the Supreme Court , contesting a High Court ruling that granted former Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister , Bernhardt Esau , access to his frozen assets . The order permits Esau to use funds from his frozen accounts to pay for legal representation . This information was disclosed by his lawyer , Florian Beukes , on Wednesday . Beukes informed the presiding judge , Moses Chinhengo , that his client would be joining former Justice Minister , Sakeus Shanghala in an application seeking to separate him , James Hatuikulipi , and Pius Mwatelulo from the main criminal trial until they can secure legal representation . The men are implicated in a corruption scandal involving the Icelandic fishing company Samherji and are accused , among other charges , of receiving bribes in exchange for fishing quotas . Shanghala is seeking a separation to allow him time to secure a lawyer without prejudicing his co – accused , who are ready to proceed with the t
rial . Arrested in November 2019 , the suspects are charged alongside Tamson Hatuikulipi , Mike Nghipunya , Nigel van Wyk , Ricardo Gustavo , Otneel Shuudifonya and Phillipus Mwapopi . Beukes indicated that he has been representing Esau for free over the past three years and is now in a difficult position due to Imalwa ‘ s appeal in the Supreme Court . He stated that he would continue to represent Esau on a pro bono basis but is uncertain whether he will withdraw as his lawyer in the main criminal trial . ‘ That brings us to square one . We are unable to say whether or not we will withdraw . However , we will file our notice to oppose the appeal in the Supreme Court today . This will leave us in a state of uncertainty . We do not know , and we cannot predict how long the Supreme Court will take or whether we will succeed in the appeal ,’ Beukes said . In July , Judge Beatrix de Jager ordered that N . dollars 3 . 5 million be released from Esau ‘ s frozen assets to pay for future and outstanding legal fees . T
he money was to be paid into the Metcalfe Beukes Attorneys ‘ account . Judge Chinhengo has scheduled the hearing for 13 September 2024 .

Source: The Namibia News Agency