Day: November 25, 2023

Landless People’s Movement (LPM) councillor Maria Veldskoen on Friday was re-elected as Karasburg mayor.

In her acceptance speech, Veldskoen said it is important that her fellow councillors remember that they took an oath to serve the residents of the town and should serve those who put them into power with pride and loyalty.

‘The price that comes with our positions is serving the inhabitants of this town promptly and with due diligence, it is obvious that our residents have reasonable expectations in regard to service delivery and we ought to deliver on those expectations,’ urged the mayor.

Veldskoen cautioned that it is a breach of contract by councillors when they fail to deliver essential services in terms of section 10 of the Local Authorities Act No. 23 of 1992, terming it as the highest form of betrayal to the inhabitants.

‘A work in which we shall restore the dignity of our people so that they can live a dignified life and with all my heart I accept this position to be the number one servant,’ sh
e added.

Members of the management committee are LPM councillors Franciskus Skeyer, Josef Witbooi and Gregorius Ruhl with Skeyer serving as the chairperson of the management committee.

Ordinary council members are Swapo party councillors Elias Hauwanga and Frieda Hamutenya and Independent Patriots for Change councillor Nesimus Mupiya.

The proceedings were presided by Magistrate, Melissa Mungunda.

Source: NAMPA

The Omaheke Region is the only region that has achieved 100 per cent for implementing the Health Promoting Schools Initiative (HPSI) as they covered all 47 schools in the region.

For this the schools in the region, which include all public and private schools from primary to secondary, were recognised on Friday for improving health standards through this initiative.

During the award ceremony at Gobabis, Omaheke Region Governor Pijoo Nganate said health and education are key elements of socio-economic development of any country on their quest of achieving their visions.

‘Good health is a prerequisite for national development, in our quest for the achievement of Vision 2030 health and education are fundamental. In this regard it has to be appreciated that effective learning and engaged participation in important school activities depend on good health of every school going Namibian,’ he said.

Nganate said as spaces where the majority of Namibian children and young people spend the better part of their year
, schools create a unique opportunity to improve both the education and health status of learners throughout the nation.

He stressed that the Omaheke Region now is celebrating 100 per cent coverage of the HPSI, the first region to have achieved this status, adding it is evident that the region’s joint multi-sectoral response to this initiative is reaping good results.

‘I urge everyone involved in the programme not to be a ‘weak link’ in the process but continue to play the critical role they are playing in the HPSI to maintain the momentum of 100 per cent coverage in the whole region,’ Nganate said.

Representing the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Regional Director Jeremia Shikulo said the Health Promoting Schools Initiative plays a significant role in ensuring that schools strengthen their capacity to create a healthy setting for living, learning and working.

‘The Ministry of Health and Social Services has noticed that the school health programme has achieved more milestones through the Health Pr
omoting Schools Initiative,’ Shikulo indicated.

Six schools scooped bronze awards, 11 schools got silver, 12 received gold awards whilst 19 schools from the region each obtained the first ever platinum award. The platinum award is only an initiative of the Omaheke Region, introduced to positively uplift health standards in schools.

Source: NAMPA

Several farmers in the Omaheke Region on Thursday took to the streets of Gobabis, opposing bail to individuals forming part of an alleged stock theft ‘syndicate’.

The concerned farmers, along with the Community Against Stock Theft Organisation, delivered a petition to the public prosecutor’s office, objecting the granting of bail to the accused citing the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1978, sections 436 and 437.

Accused Silver Samuel Nakanyala, Paulus Gun-Gun Tjiposa and Silvernus Karukukutu Katjiutua appeared in court on Thursday. The three were arrested last week after allegedly being found with seven heads of cattle from Otjombinde and Epukiro.

Chairperson of the Community Against Stock Theft Organisation Issy Nanda Murangi reading the petition said that this crime is mostly targeted against communal farmers in Omaheke and it has become of serious concern to farmers in the region.

‘Stock theft has become a serious concern in recent years in Omaheke, especially the communal farmers of Epukiro, Otjinene,
Aminuis and Okorukambe. Daily, cattle are being stolen and slaughtered in weird manners and transported to the urban areas during odd hours,’ he read.

According to the farmers’ petition the accused are well known repeat offenders who have been granted bails on numerous occasions, which they used to continue committing the same delinquency.

‘The suspects have numerous ongoing reported cases, yet they receive bail time and again and it allows them to commit the same crime once released. The suspects are part of a known syndicate bombarding and terrorising the Omaheke farmers with stock theft,’ the farmers charged.

‘The stock theft is grave on the livelihood of the Omaheke farmers, more seriously the communal farmers and the Namibian economy in general,’ they continued.

Receiving the petition from the farmers, State prosecutor Gift Mulenamaswe said it was good hearing from those who are on the ground and promised farmers that they were going to work on the submitted petition and give them feedback.

‘We will
look at the facts of each and every case and we will make an informed decision based on the criminal procedures, there is a certain procedure that we need to follow. But we will also consider your submission as a public and the people that are on the ground that are informing us about these types of situations,’ he said.

Source: NAMPA

President Hage Geingob on Saturday joined Namibians and the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

In a statement issued by the Presidency, Geingob noted that Namibia has made significant progress in addressing violence against women and girls through the Combating of Domestic Violence Act and the Affirmative Action Act.

‘These laws aim to protect victims, promote gender equality and ensure women’s representation in decision-making. The government has also raised awareness through campaigns, workshops and educational programmes and developed a national action plan on gender-based violence to expand support services and improve data collection,’ he said.

Geingob said that the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, along with various stakeholders, continue to spearhead initiatives aimed at preventing violence against women and girls.

‘We have established specialised units within the Namibian Police Force to deal
with gender-based violence. Therefore, we must stand united in our efforts to create a world where women can live free from fear, discrimination and violence,’ the president said.

Source: NAMPA

An 11-month-old baby boy identified as Isac Linus, died after he was accidentally run over by a 48-year-old man at Oshandumbala village in the Oshana Region.

Oshana Namibian Police Force community affairs officer, Inspector Thomas Aiyambo confirmed this on Saturday, saying the incident occurred Thursday evening and a case of culpable homicide is being investigated.

‘It is alleged that the suspect was reversing a motor vehicle with Windhoek registration, a metallic grey Toyota pick-up, when his 12-year-old son screamed telling him that there’s a baby behind the vehicle. He immediately stopped and picked up the baby,’ Aiyambo said.

The baby was rushed to Oshakati Intermediate Hospital but declared dead upon arrival at the health facility.

Source: NAMPA

The Karasburg Galz and Goals on Saturday held the FIFA Grassroots Galz and Goals Festival for girls under the age of 13.

About 140 girls from Gabis, Ariamsvlei, Warmbad and Karasburg participated in the one-day event held under the theme ‘Young girls can change lives’.

Speaking to this news agency, Karasburg Galz and Goals coordinator Sophie Simbayia said the festival aims to expose the participants to football and start the process of grooming them for the women’s senior team.

‘We want to keep young girls off the streets, we educate them on the importance of sports, promotion of healthy lifestyles and on ways to change their livelihood through sports. Such activities also keep them not just physically fit but mentally healthy,’ said Simbayia.

One of the participants Roxandre Mutero said football has taught her to have respect, be motivated and and optimistic in achieving her goals.

‘One day one can go far with football, even if you are not good in school football can do it for you, you can even travel
the world,’ she said.

Mutero who dreams to play for the women national team added: ‘We thank the organisers of this event, it is really a needed event for us because it exposes us the players, and coaches can scout for players and we can learn from other players also and coaches. It is good that importance is given to the grassroots level because everyone starts here before they go up as for me personally, I dream to play for the national team.’

National women’s team player, Joana-lee Simboyia who grew up in the dusty town of ‘Dakaza’ (Karasburg) urged the girls to take football seriously, citing that they can make a career out of this and improve their lives.

‘We all started here, you cannot reach the top of the ladder without starting at the bottom, I started playing football at the age of seven and I realised that it was who I was and I took it very seriously and it built me up and now I am at the national level, and you can all do that. This is not just a festival; use it as a platform to discover your
self, your skills and talent,’ she said.

Other activities of the event included a healthy lifestyle boot camp and fun games for the participants.

Source: NAMPA

A seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 57-year-old man at Ontanda village in the Omusati Region.

Omusati Regional Police Commander, Commissioner Ismael Basson on Saturday said the incident occurred Thursday evening and a case of rape has been opened.

According to Basson, the suspect works as a domestic worker, and the child and her family reside at a neighbouring house.

‘It is alleged he took the victim from her parents’ house at that time and went with the minor to his room where he raped her,’ Basson said.

The matter was reported by the victim’s biological mother.

Basson indicated that the suspect who is on bail on the same offence has been arrested and will appear before court next week.

Police investigation into the matter continues.

Source: NAMPA