Kharas Region Governor, Aletha Frederick said the police have arrested 38 suspects reportedly involved in the illegal mining of Blue Lace Agate minerals at Farm Ysterputz, in the Noordoewer district.

Frederick, who revealed this during her fifth State of the Region Address here on Tuesday, said the police seized Blue Lace Agate minerals valued at about N.dollars 8.3 million.

She also reported that the Namibian Police successfully arrested several members of the notorious ‘Hosh Hosh’ gang at Keetmanshoop on multiple drug-related charges including their alleged kingpin, a Tanzanian national.

In relation to these cases, authorities confiscated a significant quantity of pure cannabis (4 002 grams), 17 kilogrammes of skunk cannabis, and 72 Mandrax tablets with an estimated value of N.dollars 880 000.

‘I applaud the police for the work they are doing in protecting children by keeping the drugs from reaching our streets,’ Frederick said.

She said during the 2023/2024 financial year, 99 stock theft cases were re
corded. Among these, 22 cattle were stolen valued at N.dollars 138 000, while 501 small livestock were reported stolen valued at N.dollars 900 000. In relation to these stock theft incidents, 102 suspects have been arrested.

‘I urge the community to refrain from buying stolen goods as it fuels the pockets of criminals to destroy the livelihoods of your loved ones, friends and colleagues,’ urged Frederick.

The governor said the directorate of lands received a total of 22 farm offers, encompassing an extensive area of 190 000 hectares. She said the government was however unable to proceed with the acquisition of any farms due to a lack of sufficient funding.

Frederick also revealed that in 2023/2024, the total expenditure related to utility bills for State schools and hostels stood at N.dollars 48 million of which close to N.dollars 27 million was specifically allocated for catering services to hostels.

Additionally, N.dollars 2.7 million was invested in the school feeding programme for primary schools in t
he region, while the directorate of education dedicated N.dollars 4.4 million tow the procurement of essential furniture for hostels. An amount of N.dollars 1.7 million was utilised for acquiring textbooks necessary for learners’ education.

||Kharas has a total of 25 865 learners admitted across 46 State schools and 12 private schools.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency