Ministry of Environment – Windhoek Observer

17 Aug

Rehabilitation of Etosha Roads urgently required

ObserverNational Newsand Tourism, Forestry, Ministry of Environment, Rehabilitation of Etosha Roads urgently required

Hertta-Maria Amutenja Executive Director at the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, Teofilus Nghitila, revealed yesterday that rehabilitation work is needed for the roads within Etosha National Park. Nghitila made this announcement during the launch of the Tourist Statistical Report for 2020. “The Ministry requires additional support for road maintenance and we call upon all stakeholders,” Nghitila stated. He however expressed gratitude to the Roads Authority for their work on the roads leading to Uis, deeming them to be in excellent condition. This statement comes in contrast to the ministry’s s earlier denial of allegations and widespread perceptions that Etosha…

04 Aug

Poaching in national parks decrease

ObserverNational News24 black rhinos and 9 white rhinos, 33 rhinos poached in Namibia, Forestry and Tourism, Ministry of Environment, Romeo Muyunda

Staff Wrter The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has noted that since strengthening its wildlife protection strategies in National Parks, poaching has decreased there. However, spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said that poachers appears to have shifted their focus to custodianship farms and private farms with white rhinos. “To date we have a recorded 33 rhinos poached in Namibia, 24 black rhinos and 9 white rhinos. This year’s poaching cases include nine (9) rhinos poached in custodianship farms, another 9 on private farms and 15 in the Etosha National Park. Namibia has recorded 44 rhinos poached in 2021, 42 in 2020,…

07 Jun

N$97 million for human-wildlife conflict mitigation

ObserverNational News'Integrated Approach to Proactive Management of Human-Wildlife Conflict and Wildlife Crime, 96-million-766-thousanda-308 dollars, Ministry of Environment

Obrein Simasiku The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has received financial boost amounting to millions of dollars to prevent, mitigate and respond to rising cases related to human-wildlife conflicts as well as poaching in communal areas, conservancies and national parks. An amount of 96-million-766-thousanda-308 dollars, was made available through a sponsorship by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) to sustain the five-year project, ending in 2027. The project, dubbed, the 'Integrated Approach to Proactive Management of Human-Wildlife Conflict and Wildlife Crime in Hotspot Landscapes in Namibia,’ was launched today in Windhoek, by the MEFT in collaboration with GEF and…

28 Nov

Man killed by elephant, GRN to pay N$100 000

ObserverObserver MoneyForestry and Tourism, Ministry of Environment, Romeo Muyunda

Eba Kandovazu THE family of Matala Mafuta, aged 71, who was instantly killed by an elephant yesterday in the Bwabwata National Park, will be paid N$ 100 000 by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. Mafuta, according to the ministry Spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, was attacked and killed by the elephant around 9h30. He hails from Omega 3 village. Muyunda explains that the incident occurred in the area of the village, which is within the park and is zoned as Management Resource Use Zone, Zambezi region. Investigations found that the victim was on his way to his nearby crop field…

11 Nov

New lotteries board inaugurated

ObserverObserver MoneyForestry and Tourism, lotteries, Ministry of Environment

Tujoromajo Kasuto NEW lotteries board members were inaugurated today at a brief press conference at the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and for three years from 1 July, 2021 to 30 June, 2024. The board is chaired by Michael Mutonga with Tabitha Mbome as his deputy and other members are Herlinde Paulino Alcock, Immanuel !Hanabeb, Charlotte N. Kapose and Wycliff Shililifa. A new Lotteries Act, Act no. 13 of 2017 was passed by Parliament and signed into law by the President of the Republic of Namibia in December 2017. This law will create a new regulatory environment in the…

14 Oct

Etosha National Park on fire since Monday

ObserverObserver MoneyEtosha National Park, Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry

Eba Kandovazu A FIRE that started on a neighboring farm near Okaukuejo in the Etosha National Park since this Monday is still raging on, although staff members from the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry have been dispatched to contain it. Romeo Muyunda, Spokesperson of the ministry, says the fire is burning west of Okaukuejo. It’s cause, he says is not known yet although it entered the park on Monday, from a farm. No animals have been reported dead as a result of the fire yet. Namibia has seen the prevalence of fires in recent months. Just last weekend, two…

11 Oct

Farmer confesses to poisoning lions for killing seven of his goats

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Environment, Romeo Muyunda, Tourism and Forestry

Eba Kandovazu THE discovery of four lion and two hyena carcasses last weekend has led to the arrest of a 50-year-old man, who police say confessed to the poisoning of the animals. Preliminary investigations found that the lions and hyenas killed the suspect's seven goats before they were trapped and poisoned. Kunene Commander, Commissioner James Nderura, says a second suspect is yet to be arrested, adding that the four collared lions killed were worth N$260 000. The suspect, who cannot be named until he appears in the Opuwo Magistrate's Court tomorrow, reportedly confessed to the poisoning. Ministry of Environment, Tourism…

08 Oct

Man accidentally shot in hope of getting buffalo meat

ObserverObserver MoneyMinistry of Environment, Romeo Muyunda, Tourism and Forestry

Eba Kandovazu THE Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Forestry, says a 38- year-old man who was accidentally shot on Wednesday while officials were trying to put down a stray and aggressive buffalo, was most likely hoping to be one of the first public members to get meat once the buffalo was put down. According to the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, the incident happened at Mbwata village in the Ndiyona constituency of the Kavango East region. He says officials from the ministry, and Namibia Defense Force Anti-poaching operation officials, were hunting down the buffalo, which he says was wounded. "Community members…

29 Oct

Government to re-look at COVID-19 measures …as second wave of pandemic hits Europe

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Forestry and Tourism, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS)

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has said it is monitoring the second COVID-19 wave currently occurring in Europe and will amend current measures as the situation on the ground unfolds. Chair of the Tourism Revival Initiative (TRI) within the Tourism Ministry, Seimy Christoph-Shidute told Windhoek Observer that the ministry is on alert and concerned by the developments in Europe and elsewhere. “Together with Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) we are making sure that in addition to the negative SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests that every tourist must provide, further health screening is done on arrival at…

26 Aug

Tourism revival measures announced

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Forestry and Tourism, Immigration, Minister of Health and Social Services, Minister of Home Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Safety and Security

Staff Writer The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has announced protocols guiding the international tourism revival initiative which comes into effect next month. The initiative is a government plan aimed at providing a lifeline to the country’s tourism sector which is on the verge of collapse due to the closure of the borders as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. This announcement comes after two failed attempts by government to open the borders to international tourist arrivals due to increases in infection rates in different parts of the country. In addition, the working group of the…