May 22, 2023

Global Road Safety Week: NGO tasks drivers on zebra crossing sign

An international NGO, ‘Save the Children International (SCI)’, has called on Nigerian drivers to always obey zebra crossing sign to guarantee the safety of pedestrians.

Mr Peter Adomi, Head of Safety and Security, made the call during its road safety campaign at Junior Secondary School Life Camp, FCT, in commemoration of the Global Road Safety Week declared by UN.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the theme for the 2023 campaign was ‘Zebra crossing’.

Adomi said that Nigerian drivers always ignored the zebra crossing sign initiated to keep road users, especially children, safe from road crashes.

He said: “If the children have the knowledge about the zebra crossing sign and drivers respect it, it would be easier for children to use the road, thereby reducing the rate of road crashes.

“We are not only talking to the children but also talking to the drivers, other road users and commuters.”

According to Adomi, the organisation has also observed that the statistics and data of road transport crashes were mostly around the private schools.

“ This is because of the large traffic and the huge number of children attending the schools,” he added.

The Advocacy Campaign and Policy Manager, SCI, Edith Nankhiling, said it engaged different organisations through the week on advocacy and awareness creation.

She said: “We will continue to work with the FRSC and school management, to see how we can establish a road safety club.

“We will use such a platforms to engage the children consistently aimed at achieving better results.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that SCI organised a quiz with 10 students from each of the Secondary schools visited on safety rules and also awarded prizes to the winners.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

May 22, 2023

Taekwondo: Harun, Osagie win Poomsae event at President Cup

Usman Harun and Ruth Osagie on Friday, won the Poomsae event in the male and female categories of the ongoing National President Cup Open Championship.

The three-day event, organised by the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja, saw 34 athletes compete in the event, out of the 192 entries for the competition.

A total of 20 athletes took part in the male event while 14 competed in the women’s category.

The event which saw participants move from preliminary stages to quarter finals, semi finals and then finals, earned Harun, from Oyo, gold medal with 19 points.

His closest rival was Salaudeen Abdulhafeez from Lagos with 18 points to win the silver medal while the bronze medal was given to the duo of Eniola Aramide of Ondo and Stanley Osagie of Lagos, both with 16 points.

The women’s category saw Osagie of Bayelsa winning gold with 18 points while Kudirat Harun of Bayelsa as well claimed the silver medal with 17 points.

Harun’s sibling, Habibat, also representing Bayelsa, won bronze medal alongside Beauty Ditu of Lagos, both with 16 points.

Now, three Harun siblings won medals in the event with the older sibling, Usman, saying his motivation was his sisters.

“I am proud with what we have achieved today, although I believe that we can do better.

“My biggest motivation is my sisters because I am their coach and I want them to see me as a role model, so I try to put my best in whatever I’m doing,” Harun said.

Speaking on the competition, the black belt holder, said it was challenging competing with other athletes.

“I think that the standard of the game is high. Competing against other tough athletes can be challenging but I thank God I won.

“I had also undergone a few training and courses recently before I came for the competition, maybe that helped to put me ahead of my opponents,” he said.

On her part, Osagie, winner of the women’s event, was excited with her performance and hopeful of replicating same feat in future competitions.

The tournament continues on Sunday with para and kyrougi events.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

May 22, 2023

Schlettwein implores new NamWater board for timely implementation

Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Calle Schlettwein, has directed the newly appointed Namibia Water Corporation Ltd (NamWater) board members to ensure timely implementation of capital projects aimed at sustainable water supply for all Namibians.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony of the seven board members here on Monday, Schlettwein said they have a pivotal role to timely implement the government’s six key capital water projects under the Water Sector Support Programme (WSSP) during their three-year period of serving.

The projects include new purification plants in Rundu in the Kavango East Region, Katima Mulilo (Zambezi Region), and Oshakati in Oshana Region, plus rehabilitation work on the Omahenene to Oshakati Canal and rerouting of the canal around Oshikuku Settlement in Omusati Region.

Equally it includes the rehabilitation work on pipelines supplying rural communities, including the Ondangwa to Omutse Gwonime pipeline and Ogongo-Oshakati pipeline, the rehabilitation of the pipeline between Naute and Keetmanshoop in the ||Kharas Region as well as the rehabilitation of pipelines in the central coastal area.

‘NamWater has recently developed a new five-year strategy (2023-2028) to guide its operations and the Namibian Government has committed to supporting the water sector through the WSSP…In the last three years, progressive steps have been taken to adequately fund the sector, addressing ageing water infrastructure and developing new schemes to serve underserved areas,’ Schlettwein said.

The new board members are chairperson Luther Rukira, vice-chair Maenge Shipiki-Kali, Vivianne Kinyaga, Francis Heunis, Uda Nakamela, Fanuel Uugwanga and Matty Hauuanga.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

May 22, 2023

School of visually impaired gets new fencing from supporters

The School of the Visually Impaired in Khomasdal received donations on Monday from the African Group of Ambassadors in partnership with Standard Bank Namibia in celebration of the African Union (AU) 60th anniversary.

Dean of the African Heads of Mission, Jovelina Imperial e Costa said that the African Group of Ambassadors financed the fencing around the school while Standard Bank Namibia donated tables and chairs to the school.

She also confirmed that the African Group of Ambassadors will be donating scientific calculators, braille machines and will renovate the school hostel later in the year.

Deputy Prime Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah at the event highlighted that the school was left vulnerable without proper fencing.

‘They were living under fear and were vulnerable to the possibility that the little that they have might be taken by the selfish ones,’ said Nandi-Ndaitwah.

She concluded that the donations are just one step into bettering the lives and education of the African child.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

May 22, 2023

Vehicle sales surpass 1 000 units in April

New car sales totalled 1 004 units in April 2023, reflecting a 10 per cent year-on-year increase but an 18.1 per cent monthly decline.

This information was revealed by Cirrus Capital, a Namibian-owned financial services firm, in its vehicle sales report.

While this is fewer than the 1 226 units sold in March 2023 and the 1 103 units sold in February 2023, it is the third month in a row that new vehicle sales have surpassed 1 000 units, with commercial vehicle sales outnumbering passenger vehicle sales by 68 units.

It stated that for the second month in a row, commercial vehicles dominated new vehicle sales, which increased by 22.1 per cent year-on-year, but fell 17.7 per cent month-on-month.

Passenger vehicle sales increased little by 0.4 per cent year-on-year, but fell 18.6 per cent month-on-month.

It also reported that rental agencies purchased 52 units, a considerable decrease from the 113 units purchased in March, and that 37 of the 52 rental units were passenger vehicles, with the remaining 15 units being light commercial vehicles.

According to the report, new car sales are off to a great start this year, despite the challenges of much higher borrowing rates and continuous vehicle price increases. This, according to the report, is especially surprising given the difficulty consumers encounter in acquiring auto financing due to affordability issues.

‘With many disruptive public holidays in May (resulting in fewer trading days), this is likely to soften vehicle sales in May. Additionally, the severe Rand weakness in May could see the South African Reserve Bank hike more to protect the currency, placing further pressures on affordability for the remainder of the year,’ it said.

In April 2023, 536 commercial vehicles were sold, down from 651 units in March 2023 and 544 in February 2023. Nonetheless, this represents a 22.1 per cent increase year over year. Light commercial vehicles (LCVs) were sold in lower numbers, falling to 473 units in April 2023 from 580 in March 2023. According to the report, LCVs grew 20.7 per cent year-on-year but declined 18.4 per cent month-on-month.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

May 22, 2023

Outdated acts must be reformed: Ithete

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration Natangwe Ithete has emphasised the need to review and change Acts to suit current narratives.

Speaking on Monday at the opening of the Consultative and Oversight Workshop on the Financial Institutions and Markets Act (FIMA) taking place in Swakopmund, Ithete said there is nothing wrong with replacing Acts that no more serve a purpose.

Ithete was making reference to among others; the FIMA clause on pension preservation, which requires members to preserve 75 per cent of the minimum withdrawal benefit until age 55, which has sparked public outcry.

Gazetted in 2021, FIMA aimed to replace the outdated Pension Fund Act of 1956, with the aims to reform, consolidate and harmonise the laws that govern non-bank financial institutions, financial intermediaries and financial markets, while addressing flaws identified in the current outdated legislation.

‘We found ourselves sitting with a Pension Fund Act gazetted in 1956, an Act which we realised no longer suited the current economic situation and therefore tabled, discussed and then gazetted FIMA. However, following wide public debate and outcry, particularly on the sections in the Act dealing with preservation of pensions, we embarked on these consultation meetings to express the views of the public, whom we speak on behalf of and represent, hence the continuation of the consultations in Erongo,’ he said.

The workshop brings together representatives from various stakeholders such as the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa), finance ministry and pension funds.

The meeting will also provide a platform for members of Parliament and stakeholders to share their views, experiences and recommendations on the proposed pension preservation clause and other provisions of FIMA.

‘Furthermore, stakeholders will also be required to identify risks and challenges associated with the implementation of the FIMA and develop strategies to address them and evaluate the effectiveness of the FIMA in promoting financial stability and protecting the interest of consumers.’

According to Ithete, the outcomes of the three-day workshop will inform the economics committee of the National Assembly of Namibia on the way forward.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency