Day: April 5, 2024

A 14-year-old boy reportedly committed suicide by hanging at Ohailombo village in the Oshikoto Region on Thursday.

According to the Namibian Police Force crime investigations coordinator for the region, Deputy Commissioner Titus Ekandjo on Friday, the incident happened on Thursday around 21h00.

The deceased was identified as Pandulomwene Itamalo, a Grade 4 learner.

‘It is alleged that the 14-year-old Namibian boy was at home busy preparing dinner with his siblings, then later on he left to his sleeping room,’ reported Ekandjo.

After the siblings finished cooking they went to call him to come eat, but he was not found in his sleeping room.

‘He was then found hanging from a pole (at the house) with a piece of cloth around his neck. No suicide note was left behind nor foul play is suspected,’ Ekandjo added.

The deceased body was transported to Omuthiya Police Station mortuary for an autopsy to be conducted while investigations continue.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The former chief executive officer of the Namibia Institute of Pathology (NIP), Augustinus Katiti scored a victory in the Windhoek High Court on Friday, after the NIP was ordered to pay him N.dollars 2 494 328.

Katiti was initially suing the parastatal for N.dollars 3.8 million after his employment contract was terminated in 2018. He was accused of corruption, amongst others. According to him, the agreement between him and the NIP was that in the event his employment is terminated, he was entitled to a once-off payout, to bar him from working for competitors of the NIP for a period of two years.

Katiti was employed as the NIP CEO since 2014 and earned an annual salary of N.dollars 1 500 000. At the time of his suspension, the amount had increased to N.dollars 1 918 714.

Presiding Judge Hannelie Prinsloo also ordered that NIP pays Katiti’s legal fees.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

A nine-year-old child died instantly on Thursday afternoon after being electrocuted by an electric fence at New Reception in Ongwediva.

The deceased was identified as Anna Ndakolute, a learner at International Primary School-Ongwediva.

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Oshana’s Community Policing Sub-Division Inspector, Frida Shikole, said the incident occurred around 13h00 on Thursday.

‘It is alleged that the deceased was coming from school with fellow learners and as they were walking, she touched the stay wire that supports the electrical line and she got shocked to death,’ she said.

She added that the deceased was declared dead at the scene and that her remains were taken to the Oshana Police Mortuary.

Police investigations into the matter continues.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

Addis Ababa: The Ethiopian Meteorology Institute (EMI) has predicted that there will be a higher probability of rainfall in the upcoming April to May 2024, across most parts of the country.

Briefing the media today, EMI Director General Fetene Teshome emphasized that the upcoming two months might witness substantial rainfall.

Stressing the need for paying due diligence, Fetene highlighted the anticipated heavy rainfall and the potential risk of flooding across various regions of the country.

The Belg which is considered Ethiopia’s short rainy season, is expected to experience better rainfall across various regions of the country during April and May, he elaborated.

According to him, these anticipated rainfalls are expected to benefit much of the seasonal rain-dependent regions of Ethiopia.

Fetene also believed that the expected enhanced rainfall is likely to positively impact on Ethiopia’s agriculture, water resources, and overall livelihoods.

However, the director general warned the weather condition w
ould lead to normal to above-normal rainfall, adding that the EMI cautions about the higher risk of flash floods in vulnerable areas.

These areas, including city administrations and regions of Ethiopia with unprecedented past flooding experience are urged to take necessary preparation.

The Ethiopian Meteorology Institute emphasizes the importance of staying informed about weather forecasts and taking necessary steps to prepare for the anticipated conditions.

Fetene further explained that by staying vigilant and implementing appropriate measures, individuals, communities, and authorities can minimize the potential risks associated with heavy rainfall and flash floods.

On his part, Early Warning Division Deputy Director General Asaminew Teshome shed light on the contributing factors, stating that a combination of the Neutral-IOD (Indian Ocean Dipole) and ENSO-El Nino episode is expected.

These two significant climate phenomena could lead to heavy rainfall and the possibility of flash floods.

He also ment
ioned some of the areas that would benefit from these Belg season rainfalls.

As a result, south, south east and north east parts of the country dominated under moderately wet to extremely wet weather, he said, thus, the rainfall performance has been suitable for agriculture and water sectors.

The EMI will continue to monitor the weather patterns closely and provide regular updates to keep the public informed, Asaminew reaffirmed.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: There is enormous economic opportunity for Ethiopia to benefit from digital payments, Better Than Cash Alliance Africa Regional Lead Oswell Kahonde told ENA.

Speaking to the Ethiopian News Agency on the sidelines of Ethiopia Digital Payment Conference held today, Kahonde said digital payments really help to bring many people into the formal economy and that’s the most important thing.

At the moment, Ethiopia has a formal economy with 90 million mobile money accounts, an increase like what we’ve not seen before, he noted, adding that financial inclusion is also growing in Ethiopia.

A few years ago, financial inclusion was around 20 percent in the country, and now we’re talking of almost 50 percent, Kahonde added.

‘What this means is that there’s also still another 50 percent of the population that is outside the former banking system.’

According to him, digital payments help to fast track and accelerate the inclusion agenda that the government is pursuing.

The advantage that Ethiopia has is
it’s coming right to the end, if you compare it with other countries, Kahonde stated.

‘There is no country in Africa that has ever experienced such exponential growth in digital payments, adoption or digital wallets adoption, 90 million in the space of four or five years. It’s a great number.’

The demography of Ethiopia is also very encouraging. Over 60 percent of the population is youth, and when you introduce digital they are more likely to adopt digital instruments and digital channels than older people, he elaborated.

So, there is a huge opportunity economically for Ethiopia to benefit from digital payments.

Kahonde further said that the United Nations Better Than Cash Alliance has been working with Ethiopia, one of the members, since 2016.

‘We have been working with the Government of Ethiopia to drive digitalization of payments, which has culminated to this exciting conference that we’re having here,’ the lead pointed out.

National Bank Governor Mamo Mihretu said on his part the numbers of mobile m
oney, and credit card users have reached 90 million and 42 million, respectively, over the past five years.

The digital payment service of cash transactions across the country has also been significantly increasing and seeing more and more growth.

According to him, laying foundation for digital payment in terms of strategies and fostering the overall ecosystem has been recognized by the government and National Bank of Ethiopia.

For this reason, the National Bank of Ethiopia launched Ethiopia’s first ever National Digital Payment Strategy several years ago in order to provide framework for how responsible digital systems and payments can drive greater economic efficiency, transparency, financial inclusion and sustained inclusive growth.

‘The coming together of supportive policies, digital infrastructure and ecosystem players has in the past led tremendous explosion of the use of digital payments,’ the Governor said.

He revealed that the Bank projects to close the financial year at more than six trillion B
irr in value transacted through existing financial channels.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: The Second generation of Ethiopian diaspora under second round homecoming arrived at Bole International Airport today.

Recall that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on second-generation Ethiopians to reconnect with their ancestral root and contribute to the nation’s vibrant growth.

Following the national call, members of the second-generation of Ethiopians living in different parts of the world have started coming to their beloved nation.

Upon arrival at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, members of the second round homecoming of second generation of Ethiopian diaspora were warmly welcomed by Minister of Tourism Nasise Chali, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Birtukan Ayano and other senior officials.

The second round homecoming motto is dubbed “Connect to Your Historical Roots.”

The call has taken into consideration seasonal breaks and holidays to create favorable conditions and encourage the second-generation Ethiopians to come to their homeland.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

By Hans Ngala

Tatah Gaston is a taxi driver based in Bamenda, NWR who had fled from his hometown of Kumbo about 2 hours’ drive from Bamenda.

A few weeks ago, he was kidnapped from Mobile Nkwen, Bamenda as he was loading passengers into his taxi at about 6:30PM and taken into the bush by armed gunmen.

‘I still have no idea if they were Amba ( those fighting for independence) or just thieves who wanted some money but they demanded that I should give them all my money and I gave them the 35, 000Frs I had worked for that day’ Tatah says.

‘I was in the bush where they took me for hours and when I asked them what I had done, what of them hit my left eye with the butt of a rifle and burst it. I now have just one eye’ he told CNA.

Tatah will now have to get an artificial eye and has already started contemplating whether to leave Bamenda.

He says he is not sure who did this to him and why but says he has no problems with anyone and only wishes to live his life in peace as he wants no problems with anyone.

He h
as already undergone a lot of mental and physical trauma.

Source: Cameroon News Agency