Day: September 9, 2023

The situation regarding the protection and defence of human rights in Angola and actions to achieve the goals of the AU Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals/2030 were addressed Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Luanda – The situation regarding the protection and defence of human rights in Angola and actions to achieve the goals of the AU Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals/2030 were addressed Friday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The national situation was presented by the Secretary of State for Human Rights and Citizenship, Ana Celeste Januário, at the high-level consultation meeting on the “Right to Development as a Tool for Transformation and the Relationship between Peace and Security in Africa”, organised by the African Union Commission.

According to a press release from the Angolan diplomatic representation to the African Union (AU), the minister spoke about the National Human Rights Strategy, an essential document for the process of participatory construction of public policies in the respective area and conceived on the basis of the International Human Rights System.

Ana Celeste Januário emphasised the natural and intrinsic nature of human rights to human existence, stressing that their universality arises from the fact that they belong to humanity and are applicable to all its members, without exception or distinction.

Accompanied by the Angolan ambassador to Ethiopia and permanent representative to the AU and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Miguel Bembe, the leader took part in the four interactive sessions surrounding the meeting, moderated by ambassador Salah Hammad, head of the African Governance Architecture (AGA) of the AU Commission’s Political Affairs, Peace and Security department.

The event, which was attended by several speakers, including Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Tur and the representative of the UN Regional Office for Human Rights in East Africa Marcel Clemente Akpovo, took place ahead of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “Initiative75”.

The Forum aimed to create a platform for dialogue and reflection on the progress made by the Member States of the African Union in the process of promoting human rights on the continent since the adoption of the Universal Declaration in 1945.

Among the conclusions of the interactive sessions, include the full alignment for the effective implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s Agenda 2030, which contribute to the realisation of human rights, good governance, the rule of law, security and stability, and the recognition of the leading role of human rights bodies in the process of operationalising the Right to Development, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade till 52.3 per cent, as a means of providing the resources for countries to reduce poverty and increasingly promote peace and security, the Right to Development and respect for human rights.

The planning and implementation of national strategies aimed at consolidating the culture and practice of human rights as determining factors for improving the complementarity of the nexus of development, peace, security and human rights completed the picture

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Construction work on the Viana General Hospital is at 82 per cent and could be finished by December of this year.

This was announced Saturday during a working visit by the President of the Republic João Lourenço to the infrastructure, during which he received explanations about the progress of the work.

When it is completed, the reference hospital unit in this district will have capacity for 356 beds, including 34 cots, according to data from the Ministry of Health’s Studies and Planning Office, to which ANGOP had access.

Estimated at 125.5 million euros, the hospital unit will be able to employ 1,200 staff, including doctors, nurses, imaging and laboratory technicians.

The project, located in the urban district of Zango, in the municipality of Viana, is at 86 per cent complete.

Under construction since August 2021, the facility is being built on an area of 25,000 square metres and will have five operating theatres, eight inpatient wards, a centralised diagnostic centre, among other services.

The emergency service will include obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, orthopedics and general medicine.

Outpatient consultations will include general medicine, cardiology, neurology, ENT, ophthalmology, orthopaedics/traumatology, gynaecology/obstetrics, stomatology, urology, general surgery, anaesthesiology and oncology.

The Viana General Hospital will also have an endoscopy service, laboratories, imaging, dialysis, an operating theatre and rehabilitation and therapy.

With more than two million inhabitants, Viana is one of the most populous municipalities in Luanda province and has the greatest shortage of health facilities

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Omaheke Governor Pijoo Nganate on Friday said the region is working hard to ensure that there are no more cases of malnutrition reported, with only one such case reported in August.

Nganate made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the parliamentary standing committee on gender equality, social development and family affairs, led by its Chairperson Godhard Kasuto.

He said the problem of malnutrition in the region is under control, noting that it is contributed by unemployment and hunger among the communities.

“The issue of malnutrition was also attributed to cold. They said children are dying for two reasons one is hunger and the other one is cold. Even our hospital does not have heaters or enough blankets for children”, he said.

Meanwhile, the Omaheke malnutrition technical working committee chairperson Reree Kaune who was part of the delegation that visited the governor’s office, said the committee has achieved a lot and is working hard to completely change the situation, although they too are challenged by other factors.

“We have a very well-coordinated functional multi-sectoral committee. This committee looks at previous meeting resolutions as they come in and if there are new cases reported, to respond as soon as possible. Another achievement is that the communication and referral system is strengthened,” she alluded.

Kaune further said the number of soup kitchens aimed to address the problem has increased from three to ten, and most of these are in informal settlements to cater for the majority of people.

The Omaheke malnutrition technical working committee consist of more than 30 experts from different line ministries, private organizations and individuals to deal with any malnutrition issues in the region.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The National Commission on Research, Science, and Technology (NCRST) on Friday, held a one-day awareness workshop on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) at Opuwo in the Kunene Region.

The workshop aimed to offer an overview of the Biosafety regulatory framework, Procedures and Guidelines to stakeholders of the NCRST, was also designed to look at the advantages of GMOs, the importance of environmental safety, food safety, and economic factors relevant to GMOs and GMO products.

Kunene regional governor Maruis Sheya in a speech read on his behalf at the workshop, noted that the advent of contemporary science and technology gives significant prospects for enhancing the well-being of people and the environment.

“I’ve been told that biotechnology is one of these advanced sciences in which living systems and organisms are used to create products that benefit human society. Although this is true, there are always risks associated with any new technology or invention,” he said.

Sheya further mentioned that the creation of GMOs has been one of the most contested and discussed aspects of biotechnology and therefore care must be taken to ensure that all levels of society are informed of the benefits, potential impacts, and processes associated with these technologies or innovations.

NCRST Senior biosafety inspector Hilde Amputu in her remarks, emphasized that, despite the fact that Namibians consume GMO products, there are no GMO producers in the nation, despite the presence of GMO seeds.

Amputu also said despite the fact that the introduction of GMOs in Namibia has been riddled with controversy, each new genetically modified crop, food, and feed product is subjected to rigorous testing to determine whether the new gene has the potential to cause harm.

“While there is no technology available to provide evidence of long-term effects on human health, animals, or the environment, every activity involved in the production of GMOs undergoes a scientific risk assessment,” she noted.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

A 16-year-old girl was allegedly stabbed in the chest and died at a hospital in Okahandja in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Namibian Police Force (NamPol) head of community affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha in an interview with Nampa said the deceased was identified by her mother as Clara Frederick.

According to Mbeha, the incident happened at approximately 01h50 on Saturday at the Nau-Aib informal area.

It is alleged that the deceased was coming from a bar and as she approached her mother’s house in Oshetu no. 3, she was attacked by unknown suspects who stabbed her in the upper left chest with an unknown sharp object, said Mbeha.

“Frederick screamed out loud and her mother came outside and found her daughter lying unconscious in a pool of blood.

Upon hearing Frederick’s mother coming out of the house, the suspects ran away and this made it impossible for her to establish how many suspects had attacked her daughter,” said Mbeha.

The deceased was transported to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Swapo Party Women’s Council (SPWC) leadership from the 14 regions are gathered at Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa Region for a two-day training workshop on enhancing gender justice discourse, which commenced on Saturday.

In his opening remarks, Otjozondjupa Regional Swapo Party Coordinator, Immanuel Namaseb said the workshop is aimed to ensure that the leadership of the SPWC receives training on what it should achieve in recruiting young women in the country who should become active members of the party before the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“It is at this workshop where we should introspect on whether we have the recruitment drive, and a positive attitude to achieve our political objective as well as the public awareness capacity that would impact change,” he said.

One of the facilitators of the training, Sylvia Mundjindi on her part said the 28 members who are attending the workshop will be trained on topics related to promoting democracy in the country, the women’s voice, roles of women in Swapo and on issues of scale of balance between them and men.

“We all know that we are the majority in this country as women, but are we paid the same as our male counterparts at our workplaces. Do we have equal rights to inherit land in the country or equal access to employment opportunities?” asked Mundjindi.

The workshop is also being attended by the SPWC Secretary, Fransina Kahungu and her deputy Maria Tusi.

The majority of the attendees consist of SPWC regional secretaries and their mobilisation officers.

It ends on Sunday.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

An adult male pedestrian succumbed to his injuries on Saturday, at Okakarara after he was reportedly hit by a vehicle while crossing the C22 tar road.

According to the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) head of community affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha in an interview with Nampa on Saturday, the incident happened on Friday, when the deceased whose age is unknown was hit by a seven-seater vehicle, while alone, at about 22h00.

“The deceased who is yet to be identified succumbed to his injuries at the Okakarara State Hospital where he was taken shortly after the accident,” she said, adding that his body is now kept at the Okakarara State Hospital mortuary pending autopsy.

A culpable homicide docket has been opened at the Okakarara Police Station against the 27-year-old male driver of the seven-seater vehicle, Mbeha said.

Police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

A 26-year-old farmworker died instantly on Friday, after he lost control of the pick-up vehicle he was driving, and overturned on Okorusengo Farm No. 279 in the Hochfeld area of the Okahandja district.

Namibian Police Force (NamPol) head of community affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha told Nampa on Saturday that the deceased was identified by his close relatives as Johannes Katjivi.

“Katjivi was a farmworker at a commercial farm in the Hochfeld area where he allegedly lost control of a vehicle he was driving inside the farm, causing it to overturn and killing him instantly,” said Mbeha.

Another 39-year-old male farmworker who was with him escaped the accident with some minor injuries, and he was taken to the Okahandja State Hospital in a stable condition.

Police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The police in the Oshana Region are investigating a case of robbery with aggravating circumstances after four victims were reportedly robbed of N.dollars 10 000 and other valuable items at Ongwediva, on Friday.

According to the Oshana Community Affairs Officer Inspector Thomas Aiyambo on Saturday, the incident occurred at a house near the Gabriel Taapopi Secondary School at around 23h00, when the victims were returning from their place of business where they sell raw and cooked meat.

“It is alleged that the victims aged 20, 26, 29 and 34, were ambushed by three unknown suspects who were hiding inside the yard and attacked them while they were opening the door. They then threatened them with two pistols, forced them into the house and demanded money,” he said.

The robbers got away with a cash amount of N.dollars 10,000, a television set and four cellphones, he said.

No arrest has been made and the stolen items were not recovered.

Police investigation into the matter continues.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

A foetus estimated to be between two to three months, was discovered in a riverbed at the Rocky Crest residential area on Friday.

According to the Namibian Police Force’s daily incident report, the foetus was discovered at 09h20 in a lunch box by members of the public who went searching for food in wheelie bins and informed a security guard, who then informed the police immediately.

The foetus was taken to the police mortuary for storage and police investigations continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has expressed appreciation to the people of the state and the State Executive Council for supporting him while he acted in place of Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Akure by his

Press Secretary, Mr Kenneth Odusola-Stevenson in Akure.

Aiyedatiwa described the return of Akeredolu as a dedication to the mandate of the people of the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akeredolu proceeded on medical leave for about three months and resumed on Friday.

The deputy governor, who had acted for the period said that he was in constant touch with him throughout the period.

He said, “This shows my concern for the welfare of the people of the state and I am grateful to the Almighty God for granting our governor an improved health and a safe trip back home.

“Like I had said on a number of occasions, Mr governor was in touch with us throughout that period and that was why we continued to assure the people of the state that there was no cause for alarm over his health.

“That he has resumed duties immediately after returning to the country is a testament to his commitment to the mandate given to him twice by the people of Ondo State.

“His swift resumption also shows his determination to work for them till the last day of his administration,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa acknowledged the prayers of the people of the state for Akeredolu in the last three months and thanked them for showing their love.

“I want to also thank them for the support given me as acting governor during the absence of the governor. I am indeed grateful for the show of love for this administration.

“As we all welcome back Mr. Governor to office, I pray that God Almighty will continue to protect, guide and grant him strength as he continues to lead the good people of Ondo State towards transformational development,” Aiyedatiwa said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Management of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has expressed regret over the power outage being experienced by its customers in Awada, Anambra and other locations.

This is contained in a statement by the Head, Corporate Communications of the Company, Mr Emeka Ezeh, in Onitsha on Saturday.

He said, “EEDC wishes to inform its customers that the fault at Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Awada station, which was the reason for the blackout being experienced for some days now, is receiving attention.

“Currently, the TCN engineers are transferring our 3-3, Obosi, and Ossamala 33KV feeders from the faulty TR11, 60MVA 132/33KV power transformer, to the newly commissioned 100MVA power transfomer in Awada TCN station.

“In order to create a safe working space for the engineers, the TR13 60MVA and Mobitra 40MVA 132/33KV power transformers are switched off, thereby affecting Niccus, Nnewi-Oba, Nnewi Industrial, Awada 2 and Army Barracks 33KV feeders.

“All customers that receive electricity supply from these feeders are currently out of supply.”

Ezeh said that the company regrets any inconveniences the development has caused its customers and assured them that once the maintenance is completed, supply will be restored.

He noted that EEDC remains committed to providing improved service delivery.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria