Category: General

Windhoek, Namibia – Swapo party member Queen Kamati has been elected as the new Mayor of the City of Windhoek (CoW). The election took place on Friday in the capital for the office bearers of the 2023/24 term.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), During the election, presided over by Windhoek district court magistrate Jurina/Hoxobes, Kamati was chosen to lead the city. She is joined by former city mayor Joseph Uapingene from the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo), who will serve as deputy mayor.

The management committee saw the election of three councillors from the Swapo party: Fransina Kahungu, Sam Nujoma, and Austin Kwenani. Two additional members of the committee are yet to be elected due to the absence of further nominations. The next election for these positions is scheduled for January 18, 2024.

Acting senior health programme officer for the Directorate of Health and Social Services in the ||Kharas Region, Serolda Golley said at least 111 children between the ages of 0 and 19 in the Keetmanshoop district are living with HIV/AIDS.

Keetmanshoop district includes Keetmanshoop town, Bethanie, Berseba, Tses, Aroab and Koës and surrounding areas. The district consists of one hospital, two health centres and five clinics serving a population of over 38 000.

Golley revealed these statistics here on Friday during the commemoration of World AIDS Day organised by the Keetmanshoop Municipality under the theme ‘Awareness of stigma against children living with HIV/AIDS’.

She said out of the 111 children, 27 are 9 years and above and they know their HIV status and know why they are taking their medications.

Golley said the region has come a long way in reducing HIV among children, however the ministry faces challenges and needs assistance from parents, guardians, caregivers, life skills teachers, stakeholders,
hostel matrons and the community at large.

She further said such assistance from the community include reducing stigma and discrimination against children living with HIV, providing psychosocial support, involving life skills teachers at local schools, involving community leaders in management of children living with HIV and breaking cultural barriers.

‘The ball and responsibility fall in our hands to make our living environment safe for our children, free of stigma and discrimination, we as the health ministry cannot achieve this alone and need your support to attain a stigma-free world,’ she urged.

Chairperson of the management committee of the Keetmanshoop Municipality, Johannes Vries said knowledge is the most potent weapon in the battle against HIV/AIDS, adding that awareness empowers people to break down barriers, encourage early detection and ultimately save lives.

‘As a community, we must champion education, promote inclusivity, and offer unwavering support to those affected. Let us not forget the
power of compassion, in our pursuit of awareness, let empathy guide our actions, by doing so, we not only uplift individuals living with HIV/AIDS but also contribute to the creation of a society where judgment is replaced by understanding,’ said Vries.

He said everyone within the community has a role to play in the fight against HIV whether it’s through advocacy, education or support, while collective efforts can make a difference.

‘Together, let us embark on this journey towards a world where compassion prevails, stigma crumbles, and HIV/AIDS is no longer a barrier to a life of dignity and fulfilment,’ he said.

Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)

President Hage Geingob said Namibia has established a world’s first blended finance infrastructure fund that is ready to receive climate financing ‘today’ to facilitate the necessary action.

Geingob was speaking at the High-Level Segment of the Twenty-Eighth Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Friday.

According to Geingob, the sixth report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change identifies Namibia as one of the most vulnerable nations in sub-Saharan Africa, with rising temperatures, increased evaporation, and rainfall variability posing significant challenges.

Therefore, he said for a drought-prone country like Namibia, climate change stands as a formidable obstacle to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Moreover, Geingob indicated that the estimated cost for implementing the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions is US.dollars 15 billion by 2030, with 90 per cent of it contingent on fina
ncial support from the Multilateral Funding Windows under the UNFCCC.

‘COP28 provides a platform for nations to strengthen partnerships, share knowledge, and collectively tackle the global challenges posed by climate change,’ he said.

He added that solidarity, ambition, equity and cooperation are essential if they are serious about fixing climate finance and placing livelihoods at the heart of climate action.

‘Let us seize this moment at COP28 to avert a climate catastrophe. Let us seize this moment by taking bold decisions that will protect our planet for generations to come,’ he added.

Further, Geingob stated that as part of the efforts to build green industrial clusters in Namibia, the country is developing more than nine hydrogen projects.

To do so successfully, he indicated that they must deploy more than US.dollars 20 billion to give future generations a fighting chance against a warming planet.

Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)

Namibia Revenue Agency (NamRA) Commissioner Sam Shivute has called on the formation of partnerships that will enable the speedy implementation of recommendations in the Time Release Study (TRS) Report.

Launched in Walvis Bay on Friday, the report is a result of a study conducted by the Customs and Excise Department through the National Technical Working Group and serves as a tool for Government and stakeholders.

The TRS contains finding and recommendations from the Port of Walvis Bay conducted from February to July 2023.

According to Shivute during the launch, in order to place Namibia as one of SADC and the world’s best transport and logistics hubs, there is a need to identify and address bottlenecks in the clearance of goods at Walvis Bay particularly in order to promote legitimate trade and increase the port’s Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU).

‘We do know that although we await for Cabinet’s directive on the approval of this report, we know the positions we were appointed in and we already know our m
andate as far as trade facilitation is concerned. We already know the Namibia we want and what we need to improve for our competitiveness in order to create a conducive environment for businesses and really to facilitate trade, therefore we need to start doing things now,’ he urged.

Shivute said the report gives a clear understanding of trade facilitation and releasing and also the challenges experienced within the space of facilitation in Namibia and the recommendations.

Head of Customs and Excise Willbroad Poniso noted that once implemented, the TRS will enable faster turnaround times which will impact expedited movement of goods.

‘It will also improve reliability, therefore enabling accurate and predictable timelines for cargo release and enhanced planning capabilities. Furthermore, an enhanced trade competitiveness will also be a benefit, therefore positioning Walvis Bay as a more competitive trade gateway and then attracting more shipping lines,’ he expressed.

Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)

The construction of the Windhoek to Hosea Kutako International Airport freeway, a project critical for Namibia’s infrastructure, is encountering delays attributed to various challenges.

The entire road is now set to be opened either in November 2024 or January 2025.

The multi-phased project was initiated, with the first phase covered 10 kilometres and fully funded by the Namibian government. Phase 2A commenced in 2019 and Phase 2B commenced in May 2021, with both phases facing hurdles that impacted their timelines.

During a site visit on Thursday, Chief Executive Officer of the Roads Authority, Conrad Lutombi provided insights into the project’s current status. He said Phase 2A, spanning 19.5 kilometres from Auasblick to the Dordabis interchange and funded by the African Development Bank, is at 78 per cent completion.

‘By February, the link to Sam Nujoma Drive should be ready, with the interchange from Finkenstein Estate to follow later,’ said Lutombi.

The originally targeted completion date of November
has been extended to July 2024 for Phase 2A. Lutombi revealed that the contractor is injecting an additional US.dollars 3 million to compensate for low rates, leading to a situation where profitability for the contractor is compromised.

‘The project is costing us about N.dollars 994 million and so far we are still within the budget, but unfortunately what happened is that the contractor got it very wrong. So now they have a serious problem with the cash flow,’ Lutombi said.

Turning attention to Phase 2B, spanning 21.5 kilometres from the Dordabis Interchange to the airport and funded by a N.dollars 1 billion grant from the People’s Republic of China, Lutombi outlined challenges including negotiations with landowners, water shortages and alignment issues with a NamPower line. These challenges have contributed to a 50 per cent production rate as of the current stage.

Lutombi underscored the commitment to utilising local labour, with 370 Namibians actively engaged on the site.

Source: Namibia Press Agency
(NAMPA)

A 25-year-old man died on Thursday at Matjwa village in the Kavango East Region after he was bitten by a snake in the forest.

The Namibian Police Force crime investigations coordinator in the region, Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu told Nampa on Friday that the incident happened at around 08h00.

It is alleged that the deceased who has been identified as Tjingereshu Tjitumbo went alone in the forest to go cut poles for his house when a snake bit him.

He reportedly ran to his uncle’s house screaming out for help, but the uncle was not home.

The people in the village then called the State ambulance from Rundu, however on the ambulance arrival, the deceased was declared dead at the scene by the nurse.

His next of kin have been informed and police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA)