Category: Finance

WINDHOEK: Namibia’s Vice President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, on Wednesday urged leaders of her ruling Swapo Party to refrain from politicising the government’s food aid programme in light of the impending drought.

Addressing the party’s workshop for delegates from 121 districts, in preparation for the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections set for November, Nandi-Ndaitwah cautioned them not to discriminate against non-Swapo members when it comes to providing drought relief.

‘Therefore, as leaders, you are expected to know the needs of your communities irrespective of their political affiliations. We need all Namibians to survive, and that’s why as your vice president, I am saying we should not politicise the drought relief programme.

It is for all of us because as the elected party in this government, we are to take care of all Namibians wherever they are, and you cannot deny people food,’ said Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also Swapo’s vice president.

Namibia and other countries in southern Africa are currently experiencing a severe drought caused by a significant decrease in rainfall in the region.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform estimates a poor harvest in all crop-producing regions in the communal areas. In its crop prospects, food security, and drought situation report for March 2024, the ministry noted weakening household food security in the seven northern regions.

This is due to reduced agricultural production recorded in the 2022/2023 season. The ministry noted that many households in the main crop-producing regions are reported to have used up their food reserves from the previous season. As a result, they are now relying on the market and drought relief food for their sustenance.

Additionally, the food security situation in southern, eastern, western, and central Namibia is also dire due to the prevailing drought conditions.

These areas are predominantly inhabited by livestock farmers who depend on livestock farming as their main source of income.

However, the pasture in these regions is insufficient and of poor quality, making it difficult to adequately sustain their livestock, the report indicated.

Nandi-Ndaitwah informed the party’s district coordinators and district mobilizers that government has therefore put in place measures to ensure that all Namibians in need of food assistance are catered for.

However, she appealed to those in a position to assist themselves not to take advantage of the food relief program. ‘That’s why we say those with an income, please meet your government halfway by taking care of yourself and let the government take care of the others,’ she said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The ruling Swapo Party activated its election campaign machinery on Wednesday by convening a preparatory workshop in the capital for all its district coordinators and mobilisers.

The party gathered its functionaries from all 121 districts across the country in preparation for the Presidential and National Assembly elections set for November this year.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Swapo Vice-President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said the event is organised to empower the party functionaries with essential campaign tools.

‘We are here to prepare ourselves for the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly elections. As we gear up for those elections, we must get prepared in such a manner that we leave no stone unturned.

‘Our ultimate goal is to ensure that we bring back the Swapo Party to its glory, by reclaiming what we have lost in the last elections.

‘It is therefore my great pleasure to officiate at this very important workshop as we activate the campaign and mobilisation machinery of the Swapo Party for the Presidential and National Assembly elections,’ she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, who will be the Swapo presidential candidate, noted that the elections scheduled for 27 November 2024 demand extraordinary efforts and dedication from party members.

‘This means the structures of our party at all levels must be ready to ensure full mobilisation of our members, supporters, and sympathisers to vote for the Swapo Party come election day,’ she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah told the participants that the election campaigns have already started since the Electoral Commission of Namibia released its electoral calendar.

‘With the launch of the election calendar by the ECN, that has signaled the opening of the campaign and we have seen increased political activities in the area,’ she said, while commending the party’s regional leaders about the recruitment drive efforts.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also informed the delegates that the party is finalising its 2024 election manifesto and the unveiling of the party’s candidates for the National Assembly elections.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Twenty cyclists riding for the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) initiative on Tuesday entered Namibia from Botswana through the Trans-Kalahari-Mamuno Border Post in a challenge that started earlier this month in Rustenburg, South Africa.

The cycling event was initiated to raise awareness of the TKC regionally and internationally, with the objective of securing the three member states’ commitment to economic progress through spatial development initiatives along the corridor.

The initiative also aims to promote road safety on the corridor, reduce delays along the route, address security concerns, and commemorate the 20th anniversary of the TKC, among others.

The Namibian Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa receiving the cyclists from his Botswana counterpart, Eric Molale, highlighted the importance of connection between countries and how the initiative will improve the economy of the three member states.

‘I want to highlight how transport infrastructure are vital for development, thus, it is clear that since independence of our country, Namibia has improved drastically on road infrastructure, that has given birth to initiatives of this magnitude between our countries with the aim of also expanding this initiative to other countries in Africa,’ Mutorwa indicated.

Mutorwa urged those along the route of the cyclists in the country to give them good hospitality and welcome them in their towns and villages.

Handing over the cyclists to Mutorwa, Molale, the Botswana Minister of Transport and Public Works touched more on the relationship between the three member states, and assured his Namibian counterpart that his country is committed to the initiative, and wished the cyclists well as they continue with their journey through Namibia.

‘I am here to hand over the cyclists that I have been taking care of for the last seven days, who are carrying along the pledge of the TKC that entails that we must be a united people, we must be allowed to move freely across our region, we must harmonise our processes and protocols that facilitate free movement, and we must invest along the corridor,’ Molale highlighted.

The cyclists are expected to reach their final destination Walvis Bay later this month and the Namibian route will feature seven public engagements with various stakeholders.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Officials of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in the Otjozondjupa Region on Tuesday held an information sharing meeting with a group of different political party representatives at Otjiwarongo.

Political party members that attended the meeting are from Swapo, the United Democratic Front (UDF) and Landless People’s Movement (LPM).

Various church organisations, the regional directorate of education, arts and culture, government garage, regional council officials and members of the Namibian Police Force also attended.

ECN Otjozondjupa Regional Electoral Officer, Victoria Amutenya introduced to the meeting the seven constituency supervisors of voter card registrations for Otjiwarongo, Otavi, Grootfontein, Tsumkwe, Okahandja, Omatako and Okakarara.

Amutenya further shared the voter education calendar dates for each constituency, saying the voter education officials are now busy disseminating information in the Otjiwarongo Constituency until 27 April 2024.

Okahandja is next, followed by Omatako, Okakarara, Otavi and Tsumkwe last on 20 June this year, said Amutenya.

‘We therefore urge everyone present to this meeting to go out and share the information about the voter card registrations which will start on 03 June to 01 August 2024. Since there will be no supplementary registrations, all Namibians above 18 years should acquire their voter cards within 03 June and 01 August this year, besides that they will not be allowed to participate in the elections,’ she said.

Amutenya further called on the political parties themselves to also mobilise their members to go and register for the voter cards.

She concluded by telling the meeting that all eligible Namibians on 27 November 2024 will be expected to cast their votes using ballot papers in the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia has been intensifying diplomacy to connect the nation’s economy with the global market, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Foreign Affairs State Minister Mesganu Arga said that Ethiopia has embarked on rigorous economic reforms aimed at opening up and connecting it with the global economy.

‘As part of the Homegrown Economic Reform Program, Ethiopia is now liberalizing and connecting our economy with the global economy.’

The Ethiopian Investment Board has recently issued a new directive outlining that foreign investors can engage in specific trade investments and in the previously reserved businesses including export, import, wholesale and retail trade investments.

According to the state minister, these economic reforms and initiatives have a paramount importance to opening up the economy and linking it with regional markets such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA.)

He added that Ethiopia is also gearing up to be part of the
World Trade Organization (WTO). The process being expedited is imperative to Ethiopia in order to access global trade opportunities.

The Ethiopian government has been currently implementing a new economic reform blueprint, dubbed Homegrown Economic Reform, with a major aspiration to unlock the country’s development potentials.

Following the reform program, Mesganu noted that promoting economic opportunities and investment potential has become at the heart of Ethiopia’s diplomacy.

‘We have realized that investment promotion and confidence building for global economic activities are pretty much imperative to our diplomacy. In this regard, attracting foreign direct investment and connecting our economy with the global market are important steps carried out.’

To realize these economic endeavors, trade and investment promotion activities have been conducted by foreign missions, consulates and diplomats, it was learned.

Looking for additional markets globally, attracting more investments, as well as promoting
domestic tourism potentials are at the epicenter of the economic diplomacy.

The state minster pointed out that Ethiopia’s foreign policy is anchored on strengthening partnership with neighboring countries, and the policy essentially prioritizes economic integration to achieve joint regional development.

Further elaborating on the country’s economy, Mesganu said that it has shown significant resilience amidst global challenges.

‘Our GDP has redoubled and our economy has registered a fast growing record. Thus, this has been encouraging us to reinforce the economic foreign policy missions in the region and beyond. We are really working hard as a country to bring about development and achieve growth internally and also sharing achievement to the neighboring countries.’

Moreover, he reaffirmed the commitment of Ethiopia to connecting with its neighboring nations in terms of infrastructure as well as sharing its development ambition and integration agenda through road and railway.

For the state minister, those
agendas are quite important and they are the main focus for our foreign policy since the economic dividend is for mutual benefits.

For the economic ambition of the country to come to fruition, Mesganu underlined that Ethiopia always seeks jointly and collaboratively working with the global community and with the neighboring countries.

In this respect, he explained that Ethiopia is committed to the securitization, joint development, and economic integration of the region.

‘So our agenda is peace, economic development, integration, trade promotion and large infrastructure connectivity between the neighboring countries,’ the state minister stressed.

Furthermore, Mesganu called on the neighboring countries to genuinely understand Ethiopia’s quest for access to sea.

‘Our right to have seaport access is based on rational ground,’ he noted, adding that there will also be opportunities for neighboring countries in the expanding economic activity and the large economy of Ethiopia.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia has been intensifying diplomacy to connect the nation’s economy with the global market, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, Foreign Affairs State Minister Mesganu Arga said that Ethiopia has embarked on rigorous economic reforms aimed at opening up and connecting it with the global economy.

‘As part of the Homegrown Economic Reform Program, Ethiopia is now liberalizing and connecting our economy with the global economy.’

The Ethiopian Investment Board has recently issued a new directive outlining that foreign investors can engage in specific trade investments and in the previously reserved businesses including export, import, wholesale and retail trade investments.

According to the state minister, these economic reforms and initiatives have a paramount importance to opening up the economy and linking it with regional markets such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA.)

He added that Ethiopia is also gearing up to be part of the
World Trade Organization (WTO). The process being expedited is imperative to Ethiopia in order to access global trade opportunities.

The Ethiopian government has been currently implementing a new economic reform blueprint, dubbed Homegrown Economic Reform, with a major aspiration to unlock the country’s development potentials.

Following the reform program, Mesganu noted that promoting economic opportunities and investment potential has become at the heart of Ethiopia’s diplomacy.

‘We have realized that investment promotion and confidence building for global economic activities are pretty much imperative to our diplomacy. In this regard, attracting foreign direct investment and connecting our economy with the global market are important steps carried out.’

To realize these economic endeavors, trade and investment promotion activities have been conducted by foreign missions, consulates and diplomats, it was learned.

Looking for additional markets globally, attracting more investments, as well as promoting
domestic tourism potentials are at the epicenter of the economic diplomacy.

The state minster pointed out that Ethiopia’s foreign policy is anchored on strengthening partnership with neighboring countries, and the policy essentially prioritizes economic integration to achieve joint regional development.

Further elaborating on the country’s economy, Mesganu said that it has shown significant resilience amidst global challenges.

‘Our GDP has redoubled and our economy has registered a fast growing record. Thus, this has been encouraging us to reinforce the economic foreign policy missions in the region and beyond. We are really working hard as a country to bring about development and achieve growth internally and also sharing achievement to the neighboring countries.’

Moreover, he reaffirmed the commitment of Ethiopia to connecting with its neighboring nations in terms of infrastructure as well as sharing its development ambition and integration agenda through road and railway.

For the state minister, those
agendas are quite important and they are the main focus for our foreign policy since the economic dividend is for mutual benefits.

For the economic ambition of the country to come to fruition, Mesganu underlined that Ethiopia always seeks jointly and collaboratively working with the global community and with the neighboring countries.

In this respect, he explained that Ethiopia is committed to the securitization, joint development, and economic integration of the region.

‘So our agenda is peace, economic development, integration, trade promotion and large infrastructure connectivity between the neighboring countries,’ the state minister stressed.

Furthermore, Mesganu called on the neighboring countries to genuinely understand Ethiopia’s quest for access to sea.

‘Our right to have seaport access is based on rational ground,’ he noted, adding that there will also be opportunities for neighboring countries in the expanding economic activity and the large economy of Ethiopia.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency