Category: General

Namibia – The Namibian government is preparing to expand a food voucher system to all 14 regions following its successful pilot in the Oshana Region. This initiative is part of the Commodity and Beneficiary Management Information System, a pilot project by the Office of the Prime Minister for alternative drought relief delivery.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah announced on Monday that the system automates the food relief beneficiary process, allowing beneficiaries to use vouchers to redeem food items at local retail shops. The successful pilot in the Okatana Constituency involved 1,200 drought-affected households, with each receiving a voucher valued at N.dollars 450. Beneficiaries have successfully redeemed their food parcels at local markets, paving the way for a nationwide rollout.

Nandi-Ndaitwah’s announcement came during a report on the government’s drought and disaster risk management efforts this year at State House. She revealed that the Cabinet has decided to implement a comprehensive drought relief program from October 2023 to the end of June 2024, in response to a 2023 vulnerable assessment report indicating that around 693,000 people, or 1,750 households, are food insecure and require assistance.

The deputy prime minister also cautioned against the misuse of the drought relief program, urging proper registration of those genuinely in need. With an additional N.dollars 643 million allocated in the mid-term budget to supplement the drought relief program, the government emphasizes the importance of accurately identifying and assisting those most affected by food insecurity.

Windhoek – The new U.S. Embassy in Namibia, valued at USD 287 million (approximately NAD 5.412 billion), is scheduled for inauguration next week, according to Randy Berry, the American Ambassador to Namibia. Berry made this announcement during a media tour of the embassy on Wednesday, highlighting the project’s significant contribution to the local economy.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), Berry noted that the construction of the embassy, which began on September 29, 2019, and concluded on November 27, 2023, employed around 2,000 Namibians, including 200 women. The embassy is set to become operational in January 2024.

The new embassy building features a gym, a basketball court, and over 4,000 native plants, including 300 trees, representing 33 different species native to Namibia. These plants are designed to require no irrigation. Scott Stables, the Construction Manager of Overseas Building Operations (OBO), highlighted that over six million hours were dedicated to constructing the building without any loss-of-time incidents or injuries.

Stables also pointed out that the embassy’s construction involved social responsibility initiatives, such as hosting over 200 students from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the University of Namibia (UNAM) in the engineering and architecture departments.

The embassy complex includes ground parking spaces, a consular arrival court, managed scrublands, a green roof, terraced gardens, an undisturbed floodplain, and solar panels that provide over 400 kWp, powering 50 percent of the chancery’s needs. The U.S. government’s investment in the new compound has injected approximately USD 17 million into the Namibian economy.

RUNDU, President Hage Geingob of Namibia has announced a State Funeral for the late Gosbert Sikerete Mandema, a prominent figure in the country’s liberation struggle, who passed away on November 18, 2023. The President’s office released a statement on Wednesday, paying tribute to Mandema’s significant contributions.

According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), Geingob recognized Mandema as a pioneering veteran who played a crucial role in the political mobilization of Namibians in the Kavango and Zambezi regions during the early 1960s. Mandema’s efforts included facilitating communication through the Botswana Post Office to bypass postal scrutiny from Namibia, an action that significantly aided the liberation movement.

Mandema, who was detained for 21 days in the 1970s due to his liberation activities, also served as the Mayor of Rundu from 2007 to 2011. President Geingob extended his heartfelt condolences to Mandema’s widow, Elizabeth Shamuhembo, their children, and the entire family, honoring the late leader’s legacy and contribution to Namibia’s struggle for independence.

OMUSATI – A 46-year-old Angolan man was arrested in Iihanguti village, Omusati Region, for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl, resulting in her pregnancy. Deputy Commissioner Moses Simaho, the crime investigations coordinator of the Namibian Police Force in Omusati, confirmed the arrest on Tuesday.
According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), the incident occurred between February and June of this year, with the suspect allegedly coercing the victim into sexual intercourse multiple times before she became pregnant. The victim, a Grade 6 learner residing in the same village as the suspect, reported the matter to the police through her 46-year-old uncle. The police are continuing their investigation into the matter.

LUSAKA – Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila revealed that the Namibian government currently employs 1,600 Community Health Workers (CHWs). Speaking at the third international conference on public health in Africa in Lusaka, Zambia, she stated that the government-funded CHW Programme, initiated in 2012, aligns with the African Union’s goal of deploying two million CHWs across the continent.
According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), this program has contributed significantly to Namibia achieving the UNAIDS 92-98-94 target, drastically reducing HIV/AIDS morbidity and mortality. She also mentioned that 85% of healthcare services in Namibia are domestically financed. Additionally, the Prime Minister highlighted Namibia’s success in integrating COVID-19 vaccines into its routine vaccination program and underscored the country’s commitment to building robust and sustainable health systems, in accordance with the Sustainable Development Goal 3 and the African Union Agenda 2063. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also discussed the implementation of the One Health Approach in Namibia, which involves collaboration across human, animal, plant, and environmental health sectors. This approach is being formalized through the development of a National One Health Strategy, aiming to enhance public health emergency preparedness and response.

AUSSENKEHR – A fire at Aussenkehr farm in the ||Kharas Region tragically claimed the life of a 27-year-old man and destroyed 30 reed houses on Tuesday. Deputy Commissioner Nikodemus Mbango, the Namibian Police Force’s crime investigations coordinator for the region, identified the deceased as Willem Shiyoleni. The fire, which reportedly originated from Shiyoleni’s house, broke out around 01h30. The cause of the fire has not yet been established. Community members responded quickly, managing to extinguish the flames, but not before the destruction of numerous homes.
According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), In a separate incident in Karasburg, a 28-year-old man, Jujean Bradley Jager, was found deceased in his room in an apparent suicide. According to Mbango, Jager’s body was discovered by his niece in the Westerkim residential area on Monday, around 12h45. He had returned home from work and was later found by his niece after asking for his room key. The families of both Shiyoleni and Jager have been notified of their losses. The police are continuing investigations into both cases to determine the circumstances surrounding these tragic events.