National News – Page 283

19 Feb

Swakopmund celebrates leap towards modern infrastructure

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Niël Terblanché The Swakopmund Municipality, in collaboration with Paul and Lucy Investment, unveiled the completion of Phase 1 of the Ondjamba Road upgrade. During the opening of the newly upgraded road, Mayor Dina Namubes, said the improved infrastructure is a crucial shift from a gravel path to a modern interlocked street that signifies a new era of progress and prosperity for the residents of Swakopmund. According to Namubes, the transformation of Ondjamba Road is more than just an infrastructural upgrade; it’s a testament to the community’s resilience, dedication, and collective effort towards enhancing the general welfare in a cost-effective manner.…

19 Feb

Urgent need for enhanced oncology service

info_e12wt4csNational NewsUrgent need for enhanced oncology service

Niël Terblanché As Namibia confronts daunting healthcare challenges, especially with an increased number of people diagnosed with cancer, enhanced oncology services become not just a matter of policy reform but a moral imperative to safeguard the health and well-being of people. The Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Association of Namibia, Rolf Hansen, has raised a pressing concern about the country’s escalating cancer rates and the urgent need for improved oncology services and care, especially for the financially vulnerable populations. This call to action comes in light of alarming statistics that show that Namibia currently has to deal with an…

16 Feb

Namibia to take the stand at ICJ against developments in Israel-Hamas conflict

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Niël Terblanché Namibia is set to present an oral statement before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel's military actions in Palestinian territories, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s ongoing conflict with Hamas. Scheduled for Friday, 23 February 2024, at the iconic Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, Namibia’s presentation aims to address the legal consequences of Israel's policies and practices in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Gaza, Rafah, and East Jerusalem. The Namibian Cabinet has officially designated the Ministry of Justice to represent the country, underlining the seriousness with which Namibia views the situation. The Cabinet has…

16 Feb

Parliament divided over street children selling wooden products

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Stefanus Nashama Professor Peter Katjavivi, the Speaker of the National Assembly struggled to control members of Parliament due to a heated debate yesterday concerning children roaming the streets selling wooden products and begging for money and food. A motion concerning the matter was brought before the National Assembly by Elma Dienda, a member of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM). The debate broke out among members, particularly between the Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare, Doreen Sioka and Dienda concerning the matter. According to Sioka, the matter is in the hands of the government, with a committee established…

16 Feb

Shiimi set to table new national budget

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Niël Terblanché As the end of February approaches, all eyes will be on the National Assembly, where the Minister of Finance and Public Enterprises, Iipumbu Shiimi's budget presentation will offer insights into Namibia's economic trajectory for the next year. Shiimi is set to table the national budget for the 2024/2025 financial year in the National Assembly on 28 February 2024. This current year's budget, themed 'Economic Revival and Caring for the Poor,' was aimed at striking a balance between stimulating economic growth and extending a helping hand to the nation's most vulnerable people The budget reflected the government's dual commitment…

16 Feb

ECN ramps up preparedness for voter registration

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Niël Terblanché In a significant step towards strengthening its democratic process, the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) is intensifying its preparations for the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for the end of November this year. An important point of these preparations is the General Registration of Voters, with the ECN currently conducting an essential voter registration exercise in the Khomas region. This effort is part of a broader initiative to ensure that every eligible Namibian voter is registered and able to participate in the democratic process. The voter registration exercise in Khomas marks the second phase of a…

16 Feb

Inceptus Energy secures funding for UNAM’s solar project

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Martin Endjala Inceptus Energy, a public-private partnership between Alensy Energy Solutions and Inceptus Holding, the business arm of the University of Namibia (UNAM), has announced that it has successfully secured an estimated N$65 million in funding from the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) and Old Mutual Namibia for a groundbreaking solar project at UNAM. The partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing sustainable energy utilization in Namibia, with the project boasting an installed solar Photovoltaic (PV) capacity of 3.68 MegaWatts (MW) along with a 657 Kilo-Volt Amperes (kVA) peak shaving solution. Developed by Alensy, the project showcases the fruitful collaboration…

16 Feb

NPC embarks on consultation tour to finalise NDP6

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Niël Terblanché Namibia's National Planning Commission (NPC) has taken a fundamental step forward in shaping the country's future with the initiation of regional consultations for the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6). Operating under the theme 'Fostering Recovery, Inclusiveness and Resilience for Quality and Sustainable Development,' the NPC aims to gather comprehensive insights from across the nation to inform the development and implementation of NDP6. This plan, set to unfold over the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 financial years, is a significant period of engagement and planning to ensure that the voices of Namibians are integrated with the country's developmental trajectory. The formulation…

16 Feb

Health ministry urged to embrace Kenyan model for enhanced maternal healthcare

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Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Standing Committee on Health, Social Welfare and Labour Affairs has recommended to the National Council that the Ministry of Health and Social Services should benchmark and adopt Kenya’s Linda Mama maternal healthcare model. This suggestion comes after a comprehensive study visit to the Parliament of the Republic of Kenya, where the committee gained profound insights into Kenya’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Chairperson of the committee, Hans Linekela Nambondi emphasised the potential impact in the report, stating, “The Committee recommends the Ministry of Health and Social Services benchmark and emulate the Linda Mama model to enhance…

16 Feb

SPYL outraged at member’s involvement in homosexual rape

info_e12wt4csNational NewsSPYL outraged at member’s involvement in homosexual rape

Niël Terblanché The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) has in the strongest terms repeated its resolute stance against homosexuality and all that the agenda of gender identity politics entails. Ephraim Nekongo, the Secretary of SPYL went as far as to call on the Namibian Government to strengthen the country’s legal instruments to combat the destructive agenda of gender identity politics. Nekongo’s outrage follows in the wake of the arrest of a Gobabis municipal councillors arrest in connection with the rape of a 17-year-old boy. The Namibian Police Force reported that the incident occurred on Tuesday when the victim visited the…