Day: December 7, 2023

Gaborone – In a closely contested final, Namibia’s senior national women’s netball team, the Debmarine Desert Jewels, narrowly lost to Zambia with a score of 55-57 at the African Netball Cup. The 13th edition of the tournament was hosted at the University of Botswana in Gaborone from November 28 to December 6, 2023.

The Namibian team, having previously lost to Zambia 42-52 in the group stages, advanced to the final to face them again in a thrilling match. The initial quarter saw a strong performance from Namibia, who led 13-11 after capitalizing on turnover balls.

Zambia, however, made a comeback in the second quarter, levelling the score at 23-23 by outscoring Namibia. The third quarter continued with Zambia’s dominance, ending with a score of 33-35 in their favor.

In the fourth quarter, despite Zambia forcing errors, Namibia managed to tie the game at 43-43. The match then proceeded to extra time, where Zambia gained a slight advantage by scoring 14 points against Namibia’s 12, resulting in a final scoreline of 55-57.

Omusati – Flash floods have affected parts of the Omusati Region following heavy rainfall, causing a rise in the water level of the Ogongo stream. Leonard Hango, the Senior Hydrologist for the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, provided insights into the current situation.

In an interview with the Namibian Press Agency (Nampa), Hango noted that areas like Ogongo and Okalongo experienced flash floods due to recent heavy rains in northern Namibia. He explained that these regions, typically dry for extended periods, are susceptible to sudden floods under heavy rainfall conditions.

The rising waters in the Ogongo stream have led to the partial inundation of nearby houses and business establishments. Residents in these areas have begun preparations to deal with potential impacts. Hango emphasized the unpredictability and potential danger of flash floods, stating that while the water usually passes through, continuous heavy rainfall could lead to more severe flooding.

Oshana – The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in the Oshana Region has announced the promotion of 460 officers to various ranks. Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, the Regional Commander of NamPol in Oshana, shared details of this significant personnel development on Thursday.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), the promotions reflect a gender-balanced approach, with 229 male and 231 female officers, accounting for 50.3 percent female representation. He described this as the first round of promotions, mentioning that higher ranks will be included in the subsequent round.

Despite efforts to accommodate deserving personnel, Sakaria noted that 60 members were not considered for promotion, and an appeal has been made regarding their cases. He encouraged those not promoted to continue working diligently and maintain discipline for future opportunities.

Sakaria also addressed challenges related to conduct and discipline within the force, particularly among lower-ranked officers. He highlighted the delays in resolving disciplinary and criminal cases due to non-cooperation in investigations. Upon assuming his role as regional commander, Sakaria prioritized addressing a backlog of cases pending decisions or investigations, leading to substantial progress in a short time.

Oshana – The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) in the Oshana Region has announced the promotion of 460 officers to various ranks. Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, the Regional Commander of NamPol in Oshana, shared details of this significant personnel development on Thursday.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), the promotions reflect a gender-balanced approach, with 229 male and 231 female officers, accounting for 50.3 percent female representation. He described this as the first round of promotions, mentioning that higher ranks will be included in the subsequent round.

Despite efforts to accommodate deserving personnel, Sakaria noted that 60 members were not considered for promotion, and an appeal has been made regarding their cases. He encouraged those not promoted to continue working diligently and maintain discipline for future opportunities.

Sakaria also addressed challenges related to conduct and discipline within the force, particularly among lower-ranked officers. He highlighted the delays in resolving disciplinary and criminal cases due to non-cooperation in investigations. Upon assuming his role as regional commander, Sakaria prioritized addressing a backlog of cases pending decisions or investigations, leading to substantial progress in a short time.

Windhoek – Erastus Uutoni, the Minister of Urban and Rural Development, has emphasized the need for local authorities, including the City of Windhoek, to rely more on their permanent employees instead of outsourcing municipal functions to external agencies. This call was made amidst concerns over the management of municipal duties.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Speaking on Tuesday, Uutoni highlighted the prevalent practice among municipalities, such as contracting debt collection agencies, which has led to dissatisfaction among residents. He questioned the reliance on agencies when municipal councils like Windhoek have sufficient manpower. Uutoni’s comments came during a ceremony where he handed over 53 new houses in Windhoek’s Greenwell Matongo area under the Informal Settlement Upgrading Project.

Additionally, the minister expressed concern over the repossession of houses built under the project, attributing this partly to the impatience of debt collectors. Nestor Kalola, Samora Machel Councillor, confirmed that some homeowners are facing repossession due to repayment challenges.

In response, Moses Matyayi, CEO of the City of Windhoek, acknowledged the minister’s points but noted the complexities involved in local government operations, stressing the balancing act required in service delivery.

Windhoek – Lukas Muha, Chairperson of the National Council, announced the completion of the 10th session of the sixth National Council in Namibia. The session, which began on November 20, 2023, focused on regional and national issues in line with the Namibian Constitution.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), In a statement, Muha reported that the session was productive, with significant progress in parliamentary conduct. The council reviewed and passed several bills, including the Magistrate Court Amendment Bill (Bill 17-2023), the Electoral Amendment Bill (Bill 20-2023), and the Appropriation Amendment Bill (Bill 21-2023). Two additional bills, the High Court Amendment Bill (Bill 18-2023) and the Vehicle Mass Bill (Bill 19-2023), were deferred to the next session.

The session also saw the tabling of three motions, with two referred to standing committees and one postponed to a subsequent session. Muha commended the committees and delegations that submitted their reports promptly and encouraged timely submissions in future sessions.

Highlighting future legislative developments, Muha revealed that the Regional and Constituency Development Fund Bill, previously known as the Constituency Development Fund Bill, is expected to be tabled in the National Assembly early next year. He urged Parliament members to engage efficiently in the upcoming discussions on the bill to avoid delays.

Epukiro – The much-anticipated annual Epukiro Football and Netball tournament is set to commence this Saturday at the Okovimburu sports fields. Renowned as a key festive event in rural Otjozondjupa and Omaheke, the tournament is a highlight for sports enthusiasts in the region.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Ngatuuane Hange, the event’s marketing manager, shared with the Namibian Press Agency (Nampa) on Thursday that the tournament, established in 1985, has been instrumental in developing sports talent in the Epukiro district and across Namibia. It is slated to conclude on December 17th.

Hange emphasized the tournament’s role in nurturing sports at the grassroots level, contributing significantly to the regional and national sports scenes. The tournament is known for producing a high percentage of players who advance to the regional leagues and the Namibia Premier League. This year’s event has attracted 35 netball and 55 football teams, reflecting its growing prominence in the holiday sports calendar.

The tournament will distribute a total of N.dollars 60,000 in prizes, with N.dollars 40,000 allocated for football and N.dollars 20,000 for netball. Participation fees are set at N.dollars 2,000 per team. The netball category winners will receive N.dollars 10,000 and a trophy, while the runners-up will get N.dollars 5,000. The football champions will be awarded N.dollars 20,000 and a trophy, with the runners-up receiving N.dollars 10,000.

Last year, the Otjijere Football Club and the Easter Swallows netball team triumphed in their respective divisions.

Windhoek – In an effort to enhance environmental sustainability, Melania Ndjago, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, has recommended the rehabilitation of old waste dumps in Namibia. This recommendation was presented during a National Council report on the 10th Nevsky Ecological Congress held in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Ndjago emphasized the need for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) to support and encourage local authorities in revamping old dump sites. She proposed the creation and reinforcement of legal frameworks to foster green and sustainable practices among organizations, individuals, and businesses.

During the congress, Viktoria Abramchenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, highlighted critical environmental challenges including freshwater scarcity, land pollution, soil degradation, biodiversity loss, and atmospheric damage due to human activities. Ndjago, reflecting on the congress discussions, suggested that MEFT should promote biodiversity preservation in Namibia, especially in forest-rich areas, and support reforestation efforts by providing planting materials.

The 2023 Nevsky International Ecology Congress, an important global environmental platform, saw participation from over 1,500 delegates, including ministers, international organization representatives, parliamentary heads, and diplomats. The congress was jointly organized by the Russian government, the Russian Federation Council, the Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS member nations, and Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Onyaanya, Oshikoto Region – Anna Nghipondoka, the Minister of Education, Arts and Culture of Namibia, has called for increased efficiency in the use of learners’ books by school principals and teachers nationwide. This appeal was made during the handover of a N.dollars 4,000 donation from Vice President Nangolo Mbumba to Ihongo Senior Secondary School.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Minister Nghipondoka expressed concern over the underutilization of educational resources in schools. She highlighted the issue of learners discarding partially used exercise books, a practice that has attracted numerous complaints from parents and guardians. Nghipondoka urged principals to ensure that each learner’s exercise book is fully utilized before issuing new ones. She emphasized the importance of internal efficiency in schools, citing that a significant portion of exercise books remains unused.

The minister also addressed the problem of insufficient exercises being given to learners, leading to poor academic performance. She suggested that teachers should fully utilize the pages in exercise books to enhance learning efficiency.

Furthermore, Nghipondoka encouraged school principals to adopt innovative approaches for sustaining their schools. She proposed the utilization of unused classrooms as laboratories and shared her experience from her tenure as MoEAC director in the Omusati Region, where she initiated the ‘Groom a Scientist’ project, leading to the creation of laboratories.

In addition to these educational strategies, Nghipondoka advised parents to support schools when necessary, while also noting that the Ministry provides many resources. She emphasized the importance of schools communicating their needs to parents without overburdening them.

Windhoek – In a significant push towards digital inclusion, Namibian Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Peya Mushelenga, highlighted the country’s current status of internet accessibility. This announcement was made in Windhoek on Thursday, commemorating the African Telecommunications/ICT Day.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), only 56 per cent of Namibians currently have internet access. This figure underscores the need for concerted efforts to achieve full connectivity across the nation. The minister called for increased collaboration between local and international stakeholders and mobile operators to expand network tower installations, especially in remote regions.

Mushelenga pointed out that approximately 72 per cent of the African population lacks access to mobile internet, an issue impacting almost 200 million people in areas without mobile broadband network coverage. In response, the Namibian Government plans to allocate funds in the upcoming financial year to establish network towers in regions that are commercially challenging for mobile operators. The minister also noted that 90 per cent of the Namibian population is now covered by broadband infrastructure.

Windhoek – Samuel Shivute, the chairperson of the Oshikoto regional council, is urging people to become more knowledgeable about their rights, especially in the context of managing debt and avoiding financial distress. During the Oshikoto regional consumer credit bill consultations held in Omuthiya on Thursday, Shivute emphasized the challenges faced by many who are burdened with expensive loans and insurance due to insufficient information about how these financial instruments operate.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), a significant issue in Namibia is the lack of awareness among consumers about where to turn when their rights are infringed upon, leaving many feeling helpless. He stressed the importance of understanding consumer rights, highlighting the critical role consumers play in the business ecosystem. The consumer credit bill, as outlined by Shivute, is designed to educate people about making informed financial decisions with the right information at the right time.

Joanette Eises, a corporate communications practitioner at the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA), further explained the bill’s objectives. She stated that the bill seeks to foster fair, transparent, and responsible conduct in the consumer credit market. It aims to protect credit consumers by ensuring they are treated fairly and provided with complete and transparent information.

Eises elaborated that the bill encompasses all types of credit, including loans for education, small business development, or low-income housing. Key features of the bill include transparency, full disclosure of information, improved reporting of consumer credit information, and regulation and supervision of services provided by credit providers, credit bureaus, and debt collectors. The bill is also geared towards promoting high standards of business conduct and reducing financial crimes.

Additionally, Eises highlighted the rights the proposed bill would grant to consumers, such as the right to understand why credit is refused, to receive information in plain language, and to have confidential treatment of their information. Other rights include the opportunity to read and understand credit agreement terms, the right to refuse signing incomplete documents, and the prohibition against retention of personal documents and bank credentials.

NAMFISA is spearheading this initiative in collaboration with representatives from various entities, including the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises, the Bank of Namibia, the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, and the Financial Literacy Initiative, to address legislative challenges through the Consumer Credit Bill.

Windhoek – Moses Matyayi, the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Windhoek, has confirmed the availability of adequate land in Windhoek to support low-cost housing projects. This initiative is part of a broader effort to formalize informal settlements within the nation’s capital.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Matyayi’s statement came during a ceremony for the handover of 58 houses in the Greenwell Matongo informal settlement. The Informal Settlement Upgrading Project (ISUP), launched in August 2020, is a collaborative effort between the Windhoek municipality, the National Housing Enterprise (NHE), and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development. This project has enabled numerous low-income earners to acquire formal housing.

Matyayi highlighted the adequacy of existing land resources to substantially address the needs of residents in informal settlements. He emphasized the integrated approach of the project, which begins with land servicing followed by construction of housing. The initiative receives financial support from the Government through the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.

The NHE, serving as the implementation agency for the ISUP, has developed 652 houses under the project at a cost of N.dollars 124 million. Toska Sem, the chairperson of the housing enterprise, reported that the cost of building and processing each unit was below N.dollars 200,000. Sem reaffirmed the NHE’s commitment to providing quality, affordable housing for Namibians.

Further progress includes plans to launch a new project in Otjomuise, Windhoek, aiming to develop over 600 housing units at an estimated cost of N.dollars 150 million.

Windhoek – Moses Matyayi, the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Windhoek, has confirmed the availability of adequate land in Windhoek to support low-cost housing projects. This initiative is part of a broader effort to formalize informal settlements within the nation’s capital.

According to Namibian Press Agency (NAMPA), Matyayi’s statement came during a ceremony for the handover of 58 houses in the Greenwell Matongo informal settlement. The Informal Settlement Upgrading Project (ISUP), launched in August 2020, is a collaborative effort between the Windhoek municipality, the National Housing Enterprise (NHE), and the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development. This project has enabled numerous low-income earners to acquire formal housing.

Matyayi highlighted the adequacy of existing land resources to substantially address the needs of residents in informal settlements. He emphasized the integrated approach of the project, which begins with land servicing followed by construction of housing. The initiative receives financial support from the Government through the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development.

The NHE, serving as the implementation agency for the ISUP, has developed 652 houses under the project at a cost of N.dollars 124 million. Toska Sem, the chairperson of the housing enterprise, reported that the cost of building and processing each unit was below N.dollars 200,000. Sem reaffirmed the NHE’s commitment to providing quality, affordable housing for Namibians.

Further progress includes plans to launch a new project in Otjomuise, Windhoek, aiming to develop over 600 housing units at an estimated cost of N.dollars 150 million.