Day: June 5, 2023

The Regional Disaster Risk Management Committee (RDRMC) in the Kavango East Region is calling on Government to declare a state of emergency on drought in the region.

This is one of the recommendations the RDRMC made in a report submitted by the chairperson, Damian Maghambayi, to the Office of the Prime Minister on Sunday following the death of 16 people due to reported food poisoning at Kayova village last Saturday.

A total of 24 family members at Kayova village in the Ndiyona Constituency ate porridge made from the flour of mahangu millet residue from traditional beer, known as mundevere.

“The region is currently facing serious drought due to lack of rain during the last rainy season, causing hunger among the majority of rural households who depend on agricultural crop farming,” Maghambayi told Nampa on Monday.

He informed this news agency that the Namibia Vulnerable Assessment of 2023 did not target the primary affected areas, adding that the Ndiyona Constituency where the incident happened was not part of the primary sampling unit, resulting in the Kavango East findings not being accurate.

The Namibia Vulnerable Assessment is an annual assessment coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister under the auspices of Namibia Vulnerable Assessment Committee (NAMVAC).

NAMVAC was established in 2012 to collect and analyse livelihood and food security data to inform policy decision making on an annual basis.

Maghambayi said the RDRMC in its report also recommended the urgent need for two ambulances at the Nyangana District Hospital.

He explained that the Nyangana District Hospital, where the food poisoning victims were taken, only has one ambulance which is old and always has mechanical problems.

The chairperson further stated that Sambyu Health Centre, which is 95 kilometres away from Nyangana District Hospital, as well as the Rundu State Hospital which is 107 kilometres to Nyangana, had to assist in transporting the victims.

The RDRMC also recommended the urgent need for a well-equipped intensive care unit, stating that if the district hospital was properly equipped it could perhaps have saved the lives of some food poisoning patients.

Meanwhile, Maghambayi said a memorial for the 16 people who died will be held on Friday and the burial on Saturday.

The government, through the Office of the Prime Minister, has indicated that it would cover the funeral costs of all the victims and provide the bereaved family with food.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Hannelie Prinsloo and Esi Schimming-Chase were on Monday sworn in as acting judges of Namibia’s Supreme Court, becoming the first Namibian female judges to be appointed to the Supreme Court.

Their tenure runs from 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony in the capital on Monday, Chief Justice Peter Shivute stated that it was the first time in Namibia’s judiciary history that two Namibian women were sworn in as acting Supreme Court judges.

‘’Lady Justice Prinsloo and Lady Justice Schimming-Chase, I congratulate you on your appointments and wish you all the success at the Supreme Court. Allow me also to express my gratitude on behalf of the Supreme Court for your gracious acceptance of your appointments,” he said.

Shivute said given their vast experience, the duo would serve as a positive addition to the Supreme Court bench.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) and Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre of the University of Namibia (UNAM) are collaborating on a national survey to determine the per capita fish consumption at both regional and national levels.

The survey’s main objectives include determining Namibia’s per capita fish consumption; evaluating the value of fish consumed locally on an annual basis; identifying regional fish consumption patterns in each region; and determining the preferred type of fish at the regional level.

NFCPT Chief Executive Officer, Victor Pea, at a press conference on Monday said the trust’s strategic position is aligned with its mission to accelerate fish consumption locally, thereby contributing to poverty eradication and building a healthy Namibian workforce as it forges ahead with its national goals.

He said the current fish consumption per capita stands at 16.59 kilogrammes (kg), an improvement from 11.4 kg in 2018, but still below the world average of 20.4 kg.

“We anticipate a significant increase after the completion of the survey, as required by our line ministry. Achieving our target of 20.4kg of fish consumption per person per year necessitates the consumption of approximately 51 000 MT of fish, valued at around N.dollars 787 million, within various towns in Namibia,” he said.

UNAM Vice Chancellor Kenneth Matengu said the Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre, in collaboration with the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust, is well-equipped and capable of conducting this survey.

“The University of Namibia has a strong research pedigree and our expertise in marine and coastal studies will ensure the collection of accurate and valuable data for informed decision-making regarding fish consumption in Namibia,” he said.

The administrative aspect of the survey began in April 2023, and fieldwork is scheduled to commence later this month. The project, valued at N.dollars 3 million, is expected to conclude in September 2023.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Former Erongo Red Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Fessor Mbango on Monday officially joined the Central North Regional Electricity Distributor (Cenored) as its new CEO on a five-year employment contract.

The 48-year-old Mbango signed his contract at the Cenored offices in Otjiwarongo, where its board chairperson Moses Matyayi announced his appointment.

“We are excited to announce and introduce Mr Mbango to the general public as the new Cenored CEO, with effect from today,” said Matyayi.

Mbango was the technical executive for ErongoRed before becoming CEO at the same company in 2017 in the Erongo Region.

On his part, Mbango said he was joining Cenored with a happy heart.

Cenored distributes electricity to the entire Otjozondjupa Region, Kunene, Omaheke rural and parts of the Oshikoto Region.

The company, with a staff complement of 212 employees, had been without a permanent CEO since the departure of Robert Kahimise who took up a similar position at the Electricity Control Board (ECB) in April this year.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

India’s Minister of External Affairs, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, said countries of the global south need to stand by each other when it comes to the energy sector, saying India is keenly interested in Namibia’s envisioned green hydrogen sector.

Speaking during a courtesy visit at State House to President Hage Geingob on Monday, Jaishankar said India’s both state and private companies are interested to invest in Namibia, especially in the energy sector, as India is currently the world’s third-largest energy consumer.

“I do believe there is a call for cooperation amongst us… because we countries of the south really need to stand by each other when it comes to the energy sector. In the next 50 years probably more than half of the world’s energy demand will come from India, the new demands,” he noted.

At the same event, Geingob replied that countries of the south have no choice but to stand together, saying that Namibia is open for business.

“We listen more to old friends that have more experience and we are opening our doors to all countries. We went through a very difficult period of drought, economic downturns and the COVID-19 pandemic… now we are seeing the way forward is going to be okay. We went through the worst part and something good must come out,” said Geingob.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency