Day: February 3, 2024

WINDHOEK: Namibian President Hage Geingob has been admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) at a Windhoek hospital as part of his cancer treatment, Vice President Nangolo Mbumba announced on Saturday. ‘Following his recent return from the United States of America, where he received medical treatment as a prelude to him undergoing chemotherapy treatment in the country, the president was admitted to an intensive care unit at a hospital in Windhoek,’ Mbumba said in a statement issued to Nampa. Following a briefing from the president’s medical staff Saturday afternoon, Mbumba assured the nation that the Head of State would continue receiving intensive medical treatment and care. ‘The president’s medical team has observed some signs of improvement since his return to the country; that notwithstanding, his condition remains critical but stable,’ he said. President Geingob returned to Namibia on Wednesday after a seven-day specialised cancer treatment in the United States. Geingob last month informed the nation that cancerous cells were detected in his body by his medical team following biopsy exams. The presidency last week said Geingob travelled to the United States on invitation by leading scientists and medical professionals in Los Angeles, California, to undergo novel therapy for cancerous cells. Mbumba, who is the acting Head of State, said ‘the government continues to do everything necessary to ensure that the President receives the best medical care, support, and treatment. This will be done while continuing to give regular updates on the president’s condition.’

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

RUNDU: A total of 87 police officers were promoted during the second round of promotions for the 2023/24 financial year in the Kavango East and West regions on Friday. Twenty-five police officers were promoted in the Kavango West Region while 62 were promoted in the Kavango East Region. Of the 62 officers in the Kavango East Region, 33 were promoted to warrant officers, 20 to inspectors and nine to senior inspectors. Last year, the region promoted 150 junior officers from constables to warrant officers. Speaking at the occasion, the acting regional commander of the Kavango East Region, Deputy Commissioner Eino Nambahu said the rank of a warrant officer in all uniform setups is a very crucial rank as that is where supervision starts. ‘On the other hand, commissioning starts from the rank of an inspector,’ Nambahu said. Meanwhile in the Kavango West Region, of the 25 police officers being promoted four were female and 21 male. The police officers were promoted to inspector, senior inspector, and chief inspector ranks respectively. Kavango West Regional Commander, Commissioner Julia Sakuwa said it takes a lot of commitment, loyalty, resilience and dedication for a police officer to deliver on their national duties. She also highlighted that members of the force are promoted in recognition of their commitment and dedication to national duties, and thus a promotion should not be seen as a mere decoration, or just a reward to an officer or a member; ‘it comes with huge responsibilities’.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Airlines Group, the largest Pan-African aviation group has announced today the expansion of daily flights to Toronto starting from 1st April 2024. “With two additional flights added to our schedule, exploring Toronto’s vibrant culture is easier than ever,” the Ethiopian shared on its social media page. Ethiopian Airlines Group is the fastest growing Airline in Africa. In its close to eight decades of operation, Ethiopian has also become the continent’s leading carrier, unrivalled in efficiency and operational success.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The African Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition, the largest coffee platform in Africa, would create great opportunity to link Ethiopian farmers and exporters with international traders, AFCA Ethiopia representative said. The 20th African Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition and the First African Coffee Week will take place in Addis Ababa from February 6th to 10th, 2024. African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) Ethiopian Chapter representative Feven Genene told ENA that the conference and exhibition is the largest platform in Africa as a lot of coffee buyers, producers, and farmers from different countries are going to attend the event. Along with the conference are organized coffee field trips for international buyers and other producer countries to go and visit coffee areas, she added. Hosting this event gives a great opportunity to link farmers and exporters with international traders, the representative said, adding that it is a big opportunity for farmers and traders to get access to market. It also gives the opportunity to show that Ethiopian farmers and exporters are really working hard to improve quality of coffee and also succeeding in that respect to traders, that we are really working hard and improving quality of coffee, Feven pointed out. Highlighting that Ethiopia produces a very unique and special coffee, she said there are works I believe still need to be done in improving quality; so such exposure will give a great opportunity to get better in the sector. Ethiopian Coffee Association President Dessalegn Jena said the conference is very important as coffee is an international commodity. There are also different international coffee producer, buyer, and roaster organizations across the globe that meet and discuss about coffee business, he elaborated. Likewise, AFCA is a crucial organization to pinpoint or identify different Ethiopian coffee qualities from different corners of the country and from those coffee growing countries, the president said. Buyers from different part of the world will come to the conference and visit coffee farms. So, it is really a crucial event. For the president, the conference also creates opportunity to further promote Ethiopian coffee and to expand the market or the destination. Coffee is an important sector for Ethiopia’s economy as the country is home of Coffee Arabica and contains nearly a fifth of all coffee farms around the world. The annual conference is expected to bring together around 2,000 regional and international coffee roasters, traders, producers, buyers, and professionals under one roof to discuss to policies, sustainability, and access to finance, coffee competitions and other actions, it was learned

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Senior Divisional Officer of the Mfoundi, in the Centre region, Emmanuel Mariet, has alerted the entire Divisional administrators to watch out for those who will want to protest the hikes in fuel prices. High cost of living and hike in prices might lead some youths, Unionists and groups to take advantage and state protests across streets in the Capital City, a message attributed to the SDO read. The civil administrator also warned that no authorisation to protest should be granted to anyone by the Divisional Officers.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Cameroonian songwriter, singer, and Knight of the Order of Valor, Adèle Ruffine Ngono, known by her stage name Lady Ponce, sent a cryptic message to Cameroonians, after complaining about eh falling standards and living conditions in Cameroon. The Queen of Bikutsi music lamented for the poor, saying that she understands they are going through a lot. Her frustration emanated from the intermittent power cuts across the country. Electricity supply has been epileptic in the nation’s political capital. Ponce said since she return to Cameroon, she has been using her Generator to have electricity but she feels for those without an option. The Bikutsi music singer further urged Cameroonians to take their destinies into their own hands and demand for better future. ‘Cameroonian people it is up to you to change things our long posts on social networks cannot change anything as long as you do not show you are fed up,’ she said in a social media post. One reader commented, ‘Bimami, take the lead and we’ll follow. English Cameroon teachers and lawyers started and today see where the English part of the country is facing and where they are. Show us the road and believe me you’ll be surprised by the massive support you’ll get.’

Source: Cameroon News Agency