National News

Government to roll out drought incentives for farmers

Government to roll out drought incentives for farmers

Martin Endjala The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform has announced the rollout of the 2024–25 drought support intervention for livestock farmers. The project has an estimated budget of N$130 million. This was announced by the ministry's executive director, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, in a document shared with titled Drought Support Interventions 2024/25 implementation modalities, seen by this publication, dated 31 May. Programmes such as livestock marketing incentives, subsidies for grazing leases, animal transportation to and from grazing, and animal feed purchasing will run from April 1 until 31 March 2025. Subsidy for fodder for farmers through ADCs and seed and…
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Mbumba advocates for quality education

Mbumba advocates for quality education

Niël Terblanché President Nangolo Mbumba joined the Namibian nation and people from all over the African continent in commemorating the Day of the African Child. Day of the African Child is observed on 16 June in memory of the 1976 student uprising in Soweto, South Africa, who stood against an oppressive education system of the Apartheid regime. President Mbumba highlighted the historic significance of the Soweto uprising, where young South Africans courageously protested against the imposition of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools, a policy aimed at undermining their cultural values and language. "On this day, more than…
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Mushelenga to attend Malawi vice president’s funeral

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Peya Mushelenga, will represent government at the state funeral of the late Saulos Klaus Chilima, Vice President of the Republic of Malawi. Chilima died on Monday, 10 June 2024 along with nine others when a plane they were traveling in crashed. He will be laid to rest on 17 June 2024. A media statement issued by the ministry on Sunday states that Mushelenga will be accompanied by Namibian Higher Commissioner to Malawi Siyave Haindongo. ‘’Both Hon. Minister and the late Vice President Chilima attended the Korea-Africa Summit held in Seoul at the beginning of…
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Justice minister shares strategic vision for the next five years

By: Niël Terblanché Yvonne Dausab, the Minister of Justice shared important milestones and strategic objectives for the first half of 2024. Speaking at the Government Information Centre on Friday, Dausab outlined the Ministry's commitment to upholding the rule of law, promoting human rights, and enhancing access to justice across the country. She said that the Ministry's multifaceted mandate includes providing state-funded legal aid, facilitating law reform, and supporting community courts. Dausab reiterated the Ministry's dedication to values of integrity, transparency, and people-centred service excellence. "We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring justice is accessible to all Namibians," she said. According to the minister, key achievements include…
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Children assessed for malnutrition

By: Niël Terblanché Namibia is currently undertaking a substantial country-wide initiative to assess and address malnutrition among children, as part of the ongoing Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis (VAA) campaign. The campaign, spearheaded by the Office of the Prime Minister, is a critical measure in response to increasing food and nutrition insecurity, which employs the Mid-Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC) method, a rapid and straightforward tool for identifying malnutrition in children. The MUAC method, as a tool, is a critical component in the global fight against child malnutrition. The World Health Organization (WHO) vouches for its effectiveness in identifying acute malnutrition in children…
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Namibia receives humanitarian support against hunger

Niël Terblanché The Government of the State of Qatar has donated 102 tons of food parcels to Namibia, aimed at alleviating the severe drought-induced food insecurity plaguing the country. The Office of the Prime Minister received the first consignment of 60 pallets, comprising of food packages of essential food items such as maize meal, rice, cooking oil, tinned fish, and tinned meat. Upon receiving the substantial humanitarian gesture Cabinet Secretary, George Simataa expressed heartfelt gratitude to Qatar for their swift response to President Nangolo Mbumba's appeal for international aid following the declaration of a State of Emergency on 22 May 2024.…
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Namibia and Botswana strengthen border security

Namibia and Botswana strengthen border security

Niël Terblanché Namibia and Botswana have jointly launched the Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) Plan to reinforce border security and combat illegal activities. The first part of the launch took place in Kasane, Botswana, and the second part in Katima Mulilo, Namibia. The CIMIC is a collaborative effort under the theme "Working Together to Ensure Peaceful Coexistence, Security, and Human Development." Namibia's Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Frans Kapofi, and Botswana's Defence and Security Minister, Thomas Mmusi, were present at the launch, reflecting the deep historical ties and commitment to peace between the two nations. Kapofi highlighted the importance of the…
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Welwitschia Health Training Centre transitions to university status

Welwitschia Health Training Centre transitions to university status

Niël Terblanché In a historic development, Welwitschia Health Training Centre has been elevated to university status, now operating as Welwitschia University. Monika Pendukeni, Chairperson of the Council and Co-Founder of Welwitschia University said this momentous milestone marks a new chapter for the institution, which is set to expand its academic programmes, strengthen research initiatives, and enhance collaborations with various sectors. She stressed that the name change and status upgrade were approved by the Registrar of Private Higher Education Institutions under Section 28(2)(a)(iii) of the Higher Education Act, 2003 (Act No. 26 of 2003). Pendukeni added that the registrar’s decision was…
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Ivermectin not for scabies treatment

Ivermectin not for scabies treatment

Stefanus Nashama Medical doctors say Ivermectin is not the prescribed medicine for treating scabies. Benhard Haufiku, a medical doctor and clinical practitioner, stated that a medication known as Permethrin treats scabies infections. Haufiku’s comments come after a recent report of a scabies outbreak in the overcrowded Ondandjaba police holding cells in the Omusati region, where 20 prisoners were reportedly receiving treatment. The facility has a capacity of 60 but currently houses more than 100 prisoners. “As far as I am aware, Ivermectin is not indicated or meant for treating scabies. It is intended to treat parasitic diseases. Ivermectin is an…
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Drought relief aid extended to informal settlements

Drought relief aid extended to informal settlements

Niël Terblanché The Otjozondjupa Regional Council has expanded its drought relief aid criteria to include households in informal settlements, a move that will bring much-needed assistance to thousands of vulnerable families. This change was announced by Marlene Mbakera, the chairperson of the Regional Council and the regional disaster risk management committee. The amendment will see an additional 5 000 households in informal settlements across the region's five major towns benefiting from the drought relief aid under the peri-urban programme. This is in addition to the 15 960 registered households already receiving support, significantly increasing the overall demand for aid. Mbakera…
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