Day: May 13, 2023

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SW Peace Forum: Gov’t to examine challenges and trace way forward

The Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s office Ebune Confiance Balungeli on behalf of the Prime Minister has said that the government is committed to the socio-economic development of the South West region.

He was speaking during the opening of the first-ever peace and development forum organized by the Southwest Regional Assembly.

The Minister’s representative cited ongoing efforts to revamp the two agro-industrial giants in the region.

According to him, such an initiative offers a veritable platform to harness local energy toward restoring sustainable peace and development in the region.

” This Forum has to do with examining the challenges of this region and tracing the way forward. For the next two days, they are going to discuss them. It shows the atomized importance of the fact that people can come together and discuss topical issues of this region. You all know that this region has been inflicted with many security challenges. Thank God things are getting better and better” he stated.

The PM’s representative continued, “The peace process is permanent.

I have come, I have listened and I am going back to report to the Prime Minister the enthusiasm of the people of South West region for peace and development. Their attachment to a state institution and to H.E president Paul Biyia”

“The South West region through this conference has shown that they have their destiny in their hands and that, they don’t depend on onlookers” he continued

The President of the South West Regional Assembly, Bakoma Zacheus Elango, said they intend to use the platform to gather ideas that will sustain the achievement registered since the start of their mandate over two years ago.

“We are aware of the certain challenges we face and therefore we have decided to convene this forum that we have named ” South West Peace and Development Forum” Bakoma stated in

an interview granted to the state broadcaster, CRTV.

The platform which ended on May 13 will provided an avenue for the population from the grassroots to ask questions and get clarification on varied subject matters that concern the region.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

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Stranded traders want demand indemnity and new market location

Close to 200 frustrated traders, victims of the Thursday May 11 massive demolition exercise at Marché de la Garè in New Bell Douala II sub-division say till present, authorities have said nothing about their highly expected indemnification.

“The common man has been feeding from his activities in this demolished market. The economy of the country is broken. No jobs. How will the traders be able to feed their families and take care of the school needs of their children? The situation is critical. We are still waiting to hear from the mayor of Douala II and government authorities.” A victim explained.

In order to meet their household needs, some of the victims have decided to squeeze themselves at along the road to market their goods in a bit to generate income.

“Presently we are selling on the road despite accident risks. We are compelled to take the risk because it is the sole option.”

On the site, agents (municipal police) of the Douala II council and security elements are present to ensure the caterpillar clears off the debris without any resistance from the traders.

Since Thursday, victims are still on the site trying to recover some items buried in the debris.

Other young persons stormed the place extracting iron rods, planks, aluminium and other important materials to sell.

According to the Douala II council authorities, the demolition of the Marché de la Garè falls within the council’s urban disorder fight plan.

What the traders now want is indemnity and a new market where they can continue their activities.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

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Youth and Civic Education Minister calls on youths to be resilient and hard-working

The Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Mounouna Fotsou has called on the youths of the North West Region to embrace peace, hard work, and resilience in order to build a brighter future for themselves and generations to come.

This was on May 12 at the campus of the University of Bamenda, while officially launching the civilian component of activities leading up to the National Day, on May 20. The theme of this year’s 20th May celebration is “Defense forces and Cameroon people in harmony to safeguard peace and national unity, bedrock to a strong and prosperous Cameroon”.

The Minister stated that “the theme of this year is based on that synergy, harmony between the defense forces and the Cameroonian people. This locality chosen is the testimony of living together and also national unity”

The event saw the presence of the Minister |Delegate at the Presidency in charge of the Supreme State Audit, Mrs. Mbah Acha Rose.

This was another opportunity for the minister to hand out government support to youths within the framework of President Paul Biya’s three years special youth plan, a program that has funded over 500 youth projects in this part of the country since 2017.

A symbolic number of youth biometric cards, National flags, and other national symbols, were also handed to youth groups and others in view of empowering the youth and sensitizing them on the laws of the nation and institutions.

It should be noted that this launching comes after the inauguration of two multipurpose youth empowerment centers in Baligham and Bamendakwe this Thursday, May 13.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

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NDF and BDF conclude Exercise Hanganee II planning phase

The Namibian Defence Force, in partnership with the Botswana Defence Force (BDF), on Friday concluded the planning phase for Exercise Hanganee II.

Addressing the media here, NDF Brigadier General, Fillemon Shafashike, said Exercise Hanganee II is a combined bilateral battalion level military training exercise between the NDF and BDF, based on peace support operations.

“The exercise emanates from the 22nd session of Namibia/Botswana joint permanent commission on defence and security held in Swakopmund in September 2021. It is designed to among others improve interoperability between the two defence forces,” he said .

Shafashike added that Exercise Hanganee II seeks to enhance military-to-military relations and evaluate the effectiveness of the two sister forces’ rapid deployment capability within the broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) peace and security architecture and in the context of stand-by force arrangements.

Exercise Hanganee II will be conducted in Gobabis, Omaheke Region, from 15 June 2023 to 30 June 2023.

Shafashike urged communities residing in the area not to panic as there will be movements of troops and military equipment; and that gunshots and explosives will be heard as the soldiers will be simulating different emergency situations.

“No live ammunition will be used during the exercises and caution will be taken not to cause harm to both the members of the public and the soldiers,” said Shafashike.

Approximately 1000 troops from Namibia and Botswana will temporarily be deployed to several locations in Omaheke Region during this time.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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Para-Athletes scoop 10 medals on the opening day of Jesolo Grand Prix

Namibian athletes with disabilities won 10 medals on the opening day of the World Para Athletics (WPA) 2023 Jesolo Grand Prix underway in Jesolo, Italy.

The fifth round of the WPA Grand Prix is being held at the Armando Picchi Stadium as Para-athletes celebrate the 10th anniversary of the WPA Grand Prix.

On the opening day of the championship on Friday evening, Namibia’s track and field athletes walked away with 10 medals (five gold, three silver and two bronze) from the 100 metres (m) and 400m events.

The first athlete to win a medal for Team Namibia was T11 female sprinter, Lahja Ishitile, who scooped a gold medal in the 400m sprint with a time of one minute, one second and 17 tenths of a second (01:01.17). Her second gold medal was in the 100m sprint with a time of 12.95 seconds.

Meanwhile, another female sprinter, Lahja Ipinge, who competes in the T12 category, was disqualified in the 400m race, while in the 100m race, she finished fifth with a time of 13.58 seconds. World record holder and Cuban sprinter Omara Elias Durand won the T12 100m race with a time of 12.11 seconds.

In the T11 100m men’s category, Namibian athletes dominated the track after occupying all three podium places. Ananias Shikongo won gold, while Chris Kinda and Alfredo Bernado came second and third respectively.

T13 sprinter, Johannes Nambala, added two more medals to team Namibia’s tally with a gold in the 400m sprint and a silver in the 100m. French sprinter Axel Zorzi took the gold in the 100m with 11.24 seconds while the Namibian was just behind in a photo finish with a time of 11.26 seconds.

The T11 400m category, saw Kinda taking a silver medal with a time of 53.49 seconds, while Shikongo took the bronze with a time of 54.01 seconds. Eduardo Man Novas Uceda of Spain walked away with a gold medal in a time of 53.42 seconds.

Bradley Murere braved the rainy conditions in the 100m sprint. The Namibian sprinter who competes in the T46 category clocked a time of 11.36 seconds to walk away with a gold medal.

Meanwhile, T37 sprinter, Petrus Karuli, had an impressive start to his 400m race but pulled a muscle with 120m to go, which saw him settling for a silver medal. Karuli was disqualified for a false start in the 100m sprint.

Nine athletes and five guides are representing Team Namibia at the championship.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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Otjozondjupa rewards best performing schools, teachers and learners

The Otjozondjupa Regional Directorate of Education on Friday recognised 144 teachers, 10 learners and six schools that performed exceptionally well during the 2022 academic year.

The teachers, learners and schools in the region were rewarded for their hard work in Grade 11 and Grade 12 ordinary and higher level exams.

Education Director Josephine Mutenda at the event also rewarded three schools she classified special after they obtained more A* symbols to a C in Grade 11, as well as them obtaining A* symbols to a D symbol in Grade 12.

Most of them earned awards in languages, commerce and technical subjects, followed by those in social science subjects and a handful teachers, schools and learners won in physical science, biology, mathematics and agriculture.

Mutenda rewarded them with trophies, cash ranging between N.dollars 450 and N.dollars 5 000, medals, boxes of printing paper and certificates.

“We are only gathered here for awards, not for blaming anyone, rather we should just motivate them too,” Mutenda said.

Out of the 21 schools with both Grade 11 and Grade 12 in the region, six schools that performed well are Berg-Op Academy, Otjiwarongo Senior Secondary School (SSS), Korab SSS, Edugate Academy, Grootfontein SSS and Karstveld Academy.

Edugate Academy was the overall best performer in both Grade 11 and Grade 12 levels, while Tsumkwe SSS performed the weakest in Otjozondjupa.

Mutenda also rewarded Grootfontein SSS, Donatus SSS, and Otjiwarongo SSS as the government special schools for the regional education directorate due to their consistency in performing well every year.

Otjozondjupa Governor, James Uerikua in a statement which was delivered on his behalf by the Otjozondjupa Chief Regional Officer, Agatha Mweti, said concerted efforts in enhancing quality education for all learners in the region will be celebrated, rewarded and acknowledged each year.

He further urged schools to continue producing more hardworking learners for them to enter university and for the education directorate to also produce more performing schools for the region to have patriotic future leaders.

Otjozondjupa has a total of 90 primary and secondary schools, 1 892 teachers and 56 542 learners in 2023.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

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South Korea invites Namibia for 2024 Korea-African summit

President Hage Geingob has been invited by South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol to attend the 2024 Korea-African Summit, aimed at strengthening ties on the blue economy and maritime issues.

Speaking during a courtesy visit at State House on Friday, Suk Yeol special convoy representative, Park Heong-joon said the visit also aimed to strengthen already existing cooperation and to seek Namibia’s support for South Korea to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan.

He further indicated that South Korea is interested in Namibia’s envisioned green hydrogen sector and tourism industry for investments aimed towards developing and promoting sustainable development for mutual benefit of both nations.

“South Korea and Namibia continue to cross heights since 1990, for years we have enjoyed a longstanding relationship based on rule of law and continue to wish for Namibia’s great success,” he said.

Speaking at the same occasion on behalf of President Hage Geingob, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said, Namibia’s technology ambitions can be potentially optimised through learning from South Korea’s advanced technological capabilities, especially in the socio-economic area.

“Namibia has massive natural resources but the bulk of our people are living under poverty conditions… So it is a commitment of the government to harness these resources and advance the country by drawing from lessons of other developed countries such as South Korea,” she said

Source: The Namibian Press Agency