Day: May 28, 2023

President Hage Geingob has asked Namibians to support the much-anticipated green hydrogen project in the Tsau ?Khaeb National Park, emphasising its potential to uplift southern Namibia.

Speaking during the signing of the feasibility and implementation agreement between government and Hyphen Hydrogen Energy here on Friday, Geingob said Namibians should allow the project to progress.

He stressed that valuable lessons had been learned from local interferences during the construction of the Epupa Hydropower Scheme in the Kunene Region, which had the potential to improve the quality of life of impoverished communities.

Geingob highlighted the prevalent poverty in the south of Namibia and said the green hydrogen project has the potential to develop and uplift the local communities’ livelihood, as well as Namibia at large.

At the same occasion, National Planning Commission Director General Obeth Kandjoze said the N.dollars 10 billion project will create employment for up to 15 000 people, including 3 000 permanent jobs.

Ninety per cent of the jobs will be sourced locally, mostly targeting the youth.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

President Hage Geingob has asked Namibians to support the much-anticipated green hydrogen project in the Tsau ?Khaeb National Park, emphasising its potential to uplift southern Namibia.

Speaking during the signing of the feasibility and implementation agreement between government and Hyphen Hydrogen Energy here on Friday, Geingob said Namibians should allow the project to progress. He stressed that valuable lessons had been learned from local interferences during the construction of the Epupa Hydropower Scheme in the Kunene Region, which had the potential to improve the quality of life of impoverished communities.

“Let us not regret the undue interferences and leave the areas poor. Give us a chance to work on this project which is so promising. The Epupa hydropower dam could have changed the face of that area but because of interference from local people, that project died and therefore the area is still poor,” he said.

Geingob highlighted the prevalent poverty in the south of Namibia and said the green hydrogen project has the potential to develop and uplift the local communities’ livelihood, as well as Namibia at large.

“When we are not creating jobs, the government is accused. We are now taking steps to create jobs, so allow us to do that mandate. This is not a legacy programme as some of them are saying, I will be gone in a few months. It’s not my project, so give this beautiful idea a chance,” the president said.

At the same occasion, National Planning Commission Director General Obeth Kandjoze said the N.dollars 10 billion project will create employment for up to 15 000 people, including 3 000 permanent jobs. Ninety per cent of the jobs will be sourced locally, mostly targeting the youth.

He further noted that the project will source up to 30 per cent of its procurement of goods, services and materials during the construction and operational phases from local SMEs and business.

Kandjoze also noted that the project will contribute significantly to the Namibian economy through the payment of land rentals, royalties on project revenues, and taxes.

“The government also has an opportunity to be a co-investor in the project with the right to take up to a 24 per cent equity interest at cost,” he said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Descendants of the victims of the 1904-1908 genocide gathered in Windhoek on Sunday for a remembrance event in honour of the thousands of people who perished during the conflict.

Former Member of Parliament (MP) Usutuaije Maamberua addressed the crowd and noted that they had gathered to demonstrate their fervent support for the declaration of 28 May as a national genocide remembrance day.

Maamberua was instrumental in introducing the motion for the establishment of a genocide remembrance day in parliament in 2016.

“While the government is preparing itself to officially designate the day, the descendants and people here are wholeheartedly welcoming the event ahead of the government’s formal declaration,” he stated.

The former MP noted that his 2016 motion received unwavering support, which led to a national consensus on selecting 28 May as Genocide Remembrance Day.

“It is a significant occasion to remember the lives that were lost, to stand in solidarity with the victims’ heirs, and to demonstrate unity aimed at ensuring that genocide never occurs again in Namibia, Africa, or elsewhere,” he said.

Maamberua called on the government to explain why there is no national holiday honouring the victims of the genocide for all Namibians and the descendants of those who perished in the atrocity.

Speaking on behalf of the Ovaherero and Ovambanderu Chiefs Assembly, Sam Kambazombi stated that the issues of genocide, apology, and reparations, along with anticipated UN intervention, have reached a critical point. He said the traditional chiefs have already signed the Okandjoze Memorandum of Understanding, in which they committed to advocate for reparations and to resist being divided.

“We hereby reiterate to both our Namibian government and its German counterpart that they will implement the joint declaration over our dead bodies, and if necessary, over the dead bodies of our future generations and generations after,” said Kambazombi.

The 1904-1908 genocide involved a series of mass killings, atrocities, and forced labour inflicted upon the Herero and Nama people by German colonial forces, which led to the deaths of over 100 000 people.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency