Category: General

Ethiopia has never invaded any country and it will never do in the future, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said.

Speaking at the commemoration of the 116th National Army Day at Meskel Square today, Prime Minister Abiy said that the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) has been tirelessly working in safeguarding the peace and ensuring the prosperity of the country.

The action of ENDF practically befits its name; that is defending the sovereignty of the country, not launching attack on others, he said.

By showing its determination for peace and development in all its deployment in Africa, the ENDF has become the emblem of peace, Abiy pointed out.

The premier also said that through selfless sacrifice, the ENDF has sustained a peaceful Ethiopia.

He added that Ethiopia had never been defeated by any force and it will never.

Even when regimes change occurred in Ethiopia, the ENDF remained firm in protecting global peace by paying priceless sacrifice from the Korean Peninsula to Somalia, he added.

The ENDF as always will continue to be a global peacekeeping force with high conviction, the premier noted.

The reforms undertaken over the past couple of years have exponentially strengthened ENDF’s executing capability in various ways, Abiy said.

Following Ethiopia’s need for dialogue on some issues, rumors of invasion threat is being heard, Abiy said, and underscored that there will never be anything that Ethiopia wants to achieve its aspirations through force and invasion.

He stressed that Ethiopia will pursue to ensure mutual benefits and prosperity through peaceful means and won’t pull trigger on anyone.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Ethiopian 116th National Army Day is being celebrated with a variety of special events at Meskel Square.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, government officials, ambassadors and military leaders of various countries, senior leaders and members of the army, various sections of society, are attending the event.

The day is observed to renew commitment and dedication of the gallant army in ensuring peace and stability of the country and to demonstrate the military preparedness as well as sustain the legacy of the army.

It is also to commemorate those who have paid dearly in maintaining the peace and sovereignty the country.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

WALVIS BAY: Erongo Region Governor Neville Andre Itope has emphasised the crucial role integration plays in today’s globalised world, as it allows countries to tap into new markets, expand their reach and create mutually beneficial partnerships.

Itope noted that by integrating industries with regional and international markets, Namibia can leverage economies of scale, access new technologies, and enhance competitiveness.

“Integration also promotes knowledge transfer and fosters collaboration among businesses, leading to increased productivity and innovation. Additionally, investing in infrastructure development will improve connectivity within our region and beyond, enabling smoother trade flows,” he expressed.

The governor was speaking at the opening of the 15th edition of the Erongo Business and Tourism Exposition in Walvis Bay on Wednesday, which is being held under the theme ‘Integrate, Industrialise and Innovate’.

The four-day expo serves as a platform for all members of the economic value chain to discuss and explore ways to enhance industrialisation efforts, promote trade integration, and foster innovation in the region’s economy.

Walvis Bay Mayor Trevino Forbes said if properly managed and coordinated, expos of this nature can also mean the renewal of urban and rural areas and the preservation and promotion of natural resources and cultural heritage.

“I hope that the stimulation of our economy through events such as the Erongo Business and Tourism Expo will revive our tourism industry to what it used to be pre-COVID and other events that I will not mention here today, as well as create new business ideas and opportunities, especially for our SMEs,” he expressed.

There are 150 exhibitors at this year’s expo, an increase from last year, including international exhibitors from Kenya and Tanzania.

In addition to the trade and expo platform, the Erongo Business and Tourism Expo Symposium in conjunction with New Era Publication Corporation, Namibia Training Authority and the Social Security Commission will host plenary sessions on 26 and 27 October.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Namibian lightweight boxer Jeremia ‘Low Key’ Nakathila is ready to fight Ernesto Mercado on his fourth trip to the United States of America (USA) on 11 November 2023.

The fight will take place on 11 November 2023 at the LumColor Phoenix Centre in Ontario, California.

The Namibian, who is a former holder of the World Boxing Organisation Global Super Featherweight title, has a record of 26 fights and 23 wins with 19 of them being knockouts, and three losses.

In an interview with Nampa on Wednesday, Nakathila said the goal he has set for himself is to win his second fight in the USA.

“Training has been tough but it’s going well. This will be my fourth fight in America, and I am looking forward to making a statement when I step into the ring,” Nakathila said.

His competitor Mercado has a record of 12 fights and 12 wins, with 11 of them being knockouts.

Nakathila said he is well aware of his capabilities and is preparing properly for the fight.

“I have been watching some videos of him (Mercado) and he is a good boxer, but I am also equally preparing well to face him,” he said, adding that his opponent comes from a boxing family as his father was a former world champion but that does not interfere with his plans of making a statement in America.

Nakathila mentioned that he lost his previous fight in America, and he does not want to repeat that experience.

“The last time I was in America I lost my fight, and I am not going to give the referee any chance to decide my fate in that fight like they did the last time when Raymond Muratalla knocked me out,” the boxer stated.

His coach Nicky Natangwe will be travelling to the States with him this time.

“I am still under MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Promotions but the trip this time around will not have many people. I hope the change in approach will help me win the fight – it will make it my second win in America,” said Nakathila.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Namibia Local Businesses Association (Naloba) on Wednesday hosted a conference to discuss the collapse of local businesses and how the local economy can be revitalised.

In his keynote speech read on his behalf at the event in Windhoek, President Hage Geingob said the conference serves as an essential platform to discuss the revitalisation and sustainability of Namibia’s businesses and economy.

“This is especially critical given the global economic downturns, the severe drought that has recently affected our country and economy, and the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated the challenges we were already facing,” the president said.

Geingob emphasised Government’s commitment to delivering social and economic progress for citizens, adding that one of the post-pandemic economy recovery measures is the finalisation of the Namibia Investment Promotion Act. The policy framework, he stressed, will unlock opportunities for local investors.

He further called on the private sector and the general public to engage in business, propose interventions, and suggest changes to policies and laws meant to shape the economy, improve the ease of doing business, and consequently create much-needed industries and jobs.

Naloba vice president Peter Amadhila said the conference, a first of its kind, would identify strategies and mechanisms for the government to provide financial assistance to businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Information and Communication Technology Minister Peya Mushelenga on Wednesday commended Namibia for winning the African Champion of Press Freedom award, saying it confirms the government’s commitment to freedom of expression and the press.

Namibia was named the African Champion of Press Freedom during the 10th International Festival of Freedom of Expression and the Press held in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou, last week.

Mushelenga said in the National Assembly that the award underscores the country’s dedication to the ethos of freedom of expression and that of the press, which the government has guaranteed over the past years.

“Namibia’s steadfast support for open communication and a free press has not only strengthened our nation’s democracy, but also positioned it as a model for many countries in Africa and beyond. Namibia recognises the media as an essential component of democracy, ensuring that Namibia remains a beacon of media freedom in Africa,” said the minister, who also reiterated the country’s subscription to media self-regulation.

Mushelenga explained that “although self-regulation is typically less robust and formalised than external regulation, it is still a significant part of the regulation process. It is left up to the media to voluntarily establish and abide by goals, guidelines, and ethical principles.”

In a time where media freedom is increasingly under threat globally, Mushelenga said Namibia’s exemplary leadership is a beacon of hope for those who believe in the fundamental importance of free and responsible media in society.

“The government of Namibia reaffirms its pledge to protect media freedom as enshrined in the Constitution. It renews its commitment to fostering a positive and enabling environment for freedom of expression and access to information,” he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Chief Executive Officer of the Social Security Commission (SSC), Milka Mungunda, has urged members of parliament to assist in amending the Social Security Act of 1994, which she said will greatly benefit the informal economic sector.

Speaking here on Wednesday before the Parliamentary Committee on Economic and Public Affairs, Mungunda said the SSC’s ability to assist people in the informal sector in the same way as those in the formal sector is restricted by the existing legislation.

She said they have been working on the Social Security Amendment Bill for the last six years to amend the Social Security Act of 1994.

“I am glad that we are talking to you as we really want you to help us table that bill because we are coming up with a robust proposal for the amendment of this act. Once the bill goes through as an act, it is going to solve a lot of problems, not just for the informal sector,” she said.

Mungunda made the call before the committee during a public hearing on the social protection of the informal economic sector in Namibia.

“If you are in the informal sector, you don’t exactly know where to go. Must you go to the Ministry of Trade, must you go to BIPA, must you go to Social Security, and if you need funding, must you go to FNB? If you are in the informal sector, you don’t have those kinds of avenues because you are not exposed. And I think that as legislators, I would really want to look at how to consolidate some of these things,” she said.

The committee chairperson, Natangwe Iithete, noted that the parliamentary committee is holding public meetings with various stakeholders on the motion that was tabled by Swapo Party legislator Agnes Kafula, to look into the plight of informal traders.

“The main issue is to assist the traders in how to conduct their business, the issue of taxes, and the issues of being moved left, right and centre, sometimes not necessarily by Social Security, but sometimes even by the municipality, and so on,” he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency