Category: General

IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu will participate in high-level bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening partnerships and fostering sustainable development in the IGAD region during his stay in New York to attend the upcoming 78th Session of the UN General Assembly.

His engagements will focus on opportunities for collaboration and the sharing of best practices in the face of global challenges in line with IGAD’s mission to promote regional cooperation and sustainable growth, according to a press release of the authority.

The executive secretary “will also call for support for regional initiatives for peace and security and mediation efforts in the IGAD region,” the release added.

During his visit, Gebeyehu will also participate in high-level bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening partnerships and fostering sustainable development in the IGAD region.

Besides, he will address side events on climate change and peace and security in which the executive secretary is expected to underscore the urgent need for international cooperation to address the escalating climate crisis and its implications for food security and livelihoods.

The 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78) is scheduled to begin on Tuesday 19th September 2023.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Namibian Police Force are urging the public to surrender all illegal firearms, ammunition, armaments and all unwanted firearms at any police station countrywide.

Deputy Commissioner Mathew Nakadhilu of the Oshikoto Regional Police Headquarters stated this in an interview with Nampa on Friday.

Nakadhilu stated that as part of the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps for Silencing of Guns in Africa by the Year 2020 and its recent extension to the year 2030, Member States are encouraged to undertake activities on the surrender and collection of illegal weapons during September 2023.

“In this regard, the Cabinet had already approved the extension and granting of the amnesty every month of September,” reported Nakadhilu.

He said Africa Amnesty Month had been launched before its commencement at the end of August, paving the way for the African Amnesty Month to take place from 01-30 September.

“The recently held Senior Command Conference Resolution 7 directed regional commanders to sensitise the community on the silencing of guns and African Amnesty Month in September during the community awareness campaign,” said Nakadhilu.

Nakadhilu reported that they recovered 22 rifles, 14 shotguns, 11 pistols, five air guns, three AK47s and 1 482 rounds of ammunition in September 2021 and 1 200 rifles and four pistols last year September.

He stated that it is important to note that no person will be persecuted during the amnesty period of 01-30 September 2023.

“Do not miss this period, once the amnesty period has expired those that are found in possession of unlicensed firearms, armaments or ammunition will face the full wrath of the law. Please make the right choice to surrender firearms and make Namibia safe,” urged Nakadhilu.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Keetmanshoop residents on Friday joined the town’s municipality in its two-day clean-up campaign.

The residents started cleaning extension 7 informal settlement and along the B1 road.

Speaking to the media here, Sherina Witbooi, a municipality employee and one of the organisers of the campaign, said the aim of cleaning up along the highway is to ensure that it is clean as it tarnishes the town’s image if it is dirty.

“We will have other clean-up dates, we need to make it a regular event so that the community is aware of the importance of cleaning their surroundings and to have a healthy environment. We need to stay in a clean environment for us and our children to be healthy and we as residents have the responsibility to keep our environment clean,” she said.

A community member, Thusnelde ||Guruses who resides in one of the informal settlements in the town, said she decided to join the campaign to show her children the importance of keeping their surroundings clean.

“My children have to know while they are still young that their surroundings should be clean for hygiene purposes, that’s why I brought them to be part of this and as residents, we should do this on a daily basis to keep our homes clean,” she added.

Silvanus Kock, a student at the University of Namibia southern campus, said “We are currently having an environmental assignment at school on how the environment can be polluted and I deemed it necessary to participate. I am encouraging everybody not to litter because we have to keep the environment clean as there are a lot of things, we gain from the environment such as oxygen, so let us not pollute it.”

Members of the Namibian Defence Force, and employees of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism also joined the municipality and the residents in the clean-up campaign while businesses provided meals to the participants.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer was celebrated at Gobabis on Friday.

International ozone layer day is celebrated on 16 September every year, as designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1994, and it has been celebrated in Namibia since 1996.

During the event, Omaheke Region Governor Pijoo Nganate thanked the stakeholders for being part of ensuring that Namibia remains compliant to international protocol by observing such important days.

“I wish to commend all stakeholders for their unwavering support and concerted efforts in making this protocol a success. I also would like to extend our gratitude to all our Customs and Excise officers within and across our borders for their efforts in combatting illegal trade of ozone layer-depleting substances and ensuring that our country remains compliant to their protocol obligations,” he said.

Nganate further acknowledged vocational training centres for their effort in imparting alternative technological knowledge to the informal and formal industries respectively.

Ruben Fransisco, Acting General Manager of Information Communication Technology at the Namibian Training Authority, in his speech highlighted the importance of reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions to safeguard the ozone layers.

“It serves as a reminder of the challenges that persist and the responsibilities we bear to secure a sustainable future for our planet. The collaboration between technical institution the Gobabis Vocational Training Centre and the heating, ventilation, and cooling industry is a testimony to our commitment to innovation and sustainable practices,” he said.

Fransisco furthermore said when different institutions work together they can harness the power of technology, research and education to drive positive changes.

“Our shared mission is to develop and implement environmentally-friendly heating, ventilation and cooling solutions that not only enhance human comfort but also minimise the depletion of the ozone layer and reduce our carbon footprint,” he indicated.

Fransisco emphasised the importance of education and awareness, as their institution’s role of research and development and beyond.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

A newborn who was thrown into a drainage in the Bepanda-Bonabo neighborhood in Douala on Thursday, September 14, 2023, was saved by a passerby who heard cries from the baby wrapped in plastic.

“I was sitting by the drainage system when I heard the cry of a baby. I saw a plastic bag. Immediately, I went down and got it.” Armand explained

After removing the baby from the plastic bag, he rushed her to the hospital.

“I first took the baby to the Deido District Hospital where I was referred to the Laquintinie hospital. While there, the nurses took absolute care of her and gave me feedback she was out of danger.”

Armand said he hopes to adopt the baby but may face difficulties doing so

“When I asked the personnel if I can settle the bills and take the baby home and bring her up as her father, they told me I will have to take the engagement at the social affairs.” Armand recounted.

In the meantime, the child is still in the care of medics at the Douala Laquintinie Hospital.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Buea subdivision hit the headlines again on Friday, September 15, 2023, after gunmen suspected to be Separatist fighters opened fire on a private car heading to the heart of the subdivision.

“It happened just now in Mile 16, those two guys were going to Buea, it is Ambazonians who attacked them like that and killed them, they said that no movements until Saturday,” someone who had knowledge of the incident said.

The two victims came from Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon.

They were heading to Buea until they were sent to their early graves when Separatists came out of the bushes and fired shots at them. They died on the spot.

The incident happened days after three men were killed in Muea, a district in Buea. The men who said they were forces from Fako Mountain Lions, said they were enforcing a lockdown that was initiated by the Diaspora Separatists to thwart school resumption.

Incidents also happened in Kumba 3 where a kill was killed by a stray bullet while in Limbe, a biker was killed by an explosion this September.

Two drivers were killed in Ikiliwindi this week and their car was set on fire. A survivor escaped by struck of luck.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

A woman called Malapa Anne Josianne in her early 30s was detained at the Mabanda police district in the Douala 4 subdivision for showering her ex-boyfriend with bleached oil on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

Sympathizers rushed the man to the hospital, at the time of this report, he was still under intense medical care. He however managed to talk to CNA.

” I was locking my shop to meet a friend for something urgent. All of a sudden Malapa appeared from nowhere and began her usual trouble. She picked up my phone and went to her house with it. When I locked the shop I didn’t find the phone, so went to her house to get it. She resisted but ended up handing over the phone to me. When I turned to go away, she asked me to see. I turned not knowing she was carrying bleached oil. She poured it on my face. It burnt my face, chest, and hands as I tried to block.” Explained the victim.

Even Malapa incurred some burns on her face as her ex-boyfriend tried to push away the pot. Some splashed on her face.

Malapa, held by the population confessed her action was out of anger.

“I am deeply sorry for what I did. It was out of anger. I love him so much. He owes me some money I gave him to fix me a bed. He never did. I asked if he was happy seeing me sleep on the floor but he said nothing. He also owes me a phone he took from me. The reason why I took his phone.” Malapa gave her own version of the story.

The man had also explained that Malapa disappeared with his FCFA 1.5 million three years ago. She moved on with another man and bore him a child. He had to move on as well with another woman. Malapa lost her man and kid in an accident.

Now solitary, Malapa returned to Douala and rented in the same quarter her ex-boyfriend was living. She reportedly began her troubles when she noticed her ex was married to another woman.

But an attempt to frustrate their union has instead landed her in detention.

Source: Cameroon News Agency