Category: General

The Opuwo Town Council has implemented a pre-paid water meter system to improve revenue collection and take control of the amount of water consumed by its clients.

According to Opuwo’s interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Karui Rikambura in an interview, households owe the town council between N.dollars 40 million and N.dollars 50 million in water bills.

This, he said is as a result of Government’s directive to all local authorities and municipalities to have water reconnected during the COVID-19 outbreak, noting that the move had a significant impact on municipal revenue collection, increasing what they owe to their suppliers.

“As a council, we visited other councils, including Okakarara and Omaruru, to see how they dealt with debt collection and how pre-paid meters could help, and we are now in the course of installing these meters,” he said.

Rikambura said around 500 pre-paid water meters have been put in the Otuzemba, Onduunye and Schneider areas thus far.

Rikambura also indicated that the council debts have been idle since the installation of the pre-paid water meters, a method he described as the “most easy” in revenue recovery and collection.

“From here henceforth, the residents will now be able to purchase water on their own, and from that amount, a certain percentage will go to the council for debt settlement,” he pointed out.

He further revealed that currently, the council owes NamWater less than what its clients owe it (council), adding that despite the debts of residents, Council was able to pay the NamWater debts, with an amount of between N.dollars 20 million and N.dollars 25 million still outstanding.

He went on to say that the council has identified three boreholes to operate its own water system in the near future and split from NamWater.

Also speaking to Nampa was the chairperson of the management committee, Lucius Kaare Mupya, who stated that the pre-paid method has benefited the council’s financial flow and that the council predicts clean audit reports in two years if every household obtains its own water meter.

“I must add that this system has been a relief on the council revenues; during COVID-19, people were relaxed and silent on payments, but now we can see that there is a change,” concluded Mupya.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Two rhino poaching suspects are expected in court this week on charges of conspiracy to hunt specially protected game after they were arrested on a private game lodge on Sunday.

Namibian Police Force head of community affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha on Thursday said the suspects who are Namibian males are aged 27 and 31 years.

Mbeha said between 13 July and 16 July 2023, four unknown poachers allegedly entered the lodge outside Otjiwarongo with the intention to hunt a rhino.

She said it was on 16 July when the four different strange footprints were detected on the farm.

A quick response team of police officers joined by officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism were informed and launched an operation, she said.

Their one-day special operation led to the arrest of two male suspects on the game farm, while the two other accomplices fled with the hunting rifles and tools, she said.

“A rhino they had pursued around the farm survived their hunt unharmed,” Mbeha said.

A search for the suspects who fled is still ongoing, while the two suspects in police custody are expected in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday or Friday on charges of conspiracy to illegally hunt a rhino and on trespassing.

Police investigations in the matter continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The 33rd Heroes’ Day commemoration will take place at Omuthiya in the Oshikoto Region under the theme ‘Honouring our Martyrs (Heroes and Heroines)’.

This is contained in a media statement availed here by the Executive Director in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), Audrin Mathe who stated that the Heroes’ Day, observed on 26 August, will commemorate the Namibian war for liberation where the first shots were fired at Omugulugwombashe on 26 August 1966.

“The day will also be held to honour the sons and daughters of this nation who tirelessly fought for the liberation of the country,” he added.

The Heroes’ Day commemoration is held in the regions on a rotational basis, and the last commemoration main event was held in Mariental, Hardap Region in 2022, Mathe stated.

“Preparations are underway for this year’s commemoration and the government wishes to invite Namibians from all parts of the country to come together and commemorate the selfless acts of sacrifices whilst reaffirming Namibia’s patriotism that fosters pride and duty towards our nation,” he said

Moreover, the event will be livestreamed on the MICT Facebook page, Mathe added.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The distributor of Senior national football team’s kit supplier, BEE Group has debunked allegations made by the supplier, One All Sports on Wednesday July 19, 2023.

In a release made public by the communication team of BEE Group, the distributor says no financial obligation exists between the two parties, (Bee Group and One All Sports) and that no contract links the company (Bee Group) to the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT.

BEE Group in the release affirms that on September 2, 2022, they officially became distributors of products from One All Sports, notably jersey of the Cameroonian national football team.

This release is in reaction to One All Sports’ accusations earlier on the same day, which accused BEE Group of owning them over 1 million Euros (FCFA 655,957,000) for neither making payments into FECAFOOT’s nor One All Sports’s accounts.

The supplier also said she was terminating her contract with and launching a legal procedure against BEE Group.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The North West Region of Cameroon has emerged overall best nationwide in the 2023 General Baccalauréat exams in the French subsystem of education according to results published on Wednesday, July 19 2023.

According to statistics from the Baccalauréat board, the crisis-hit region dominated the exams this year with a 94, 08% success rate. The region wins seven places as compared to the 2022 session when it occupied the 8th position. The West region on its part, goes from the first position it occupied last year to the second position this year with a success rate of 80,34%. The Centre region scored 80,14% and occupies the third spot,same as last year. The South West region also maintained its fourth position.

The North regions tails the rankings this year just behind the Adamawa and Far North regions.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

For close to three weeks, civilian cars cannot cross over between Ndop and Bamessing, in Ngoketundjia division, North West region.

A faction of separatists under Ambazonia Restoration Forces are said to have banned the circulation of cars , threatening to take actions against defaulters.

Travelers intending to reach other parts of Ngoketundjia, Donga Mantung, Bui and Bamenda, have to pass through Bafoussam then Foumbam from Bamenda while those going to Bamenda will use the same road.

CNA learned that these roads are degraded forcing travellers to spend hours during mud-tight situations.

Parks are empty

The Ndop park at Mobile Nkwen in Bamenda has been almost empty for two weeks now as the usual loading and offloading is gradually dying down.

Buses and small vehicles used to play the Bamenda-Ndop stretch are packed. Many just heat their engines to see that the cars are in good shape. No one dares to use the normal road which cost 1500-2000frs “I am afraid to go down through the usual road because these armed men can burn my car and it is my only source of income” a driver told CNA reporter.

Faced with the road block, drivers have opted to go round. That is leaving the North West, passing through the West before getting back into the North West “ we are now forced to go through Koupa-Matapit in the Noun division of the West before entering into Babessi in the North West then we continue our journey… This is very tiring and costly; about 10000-25000frs” another driver explained.

Adding to the increase in kilometres covered, bad roads and constant breakdowns. Divine a driver plying the road says “I have just resorted to petty jobs in the quarter because my car is old. It cannot stand the long distance and also the roads are bad”

These drivers tabled their plights to the regional president of the transporters syndicate in the North West Kingsley Ayafor who disclosed efforts are being made to assist them ” this is not the first time the Bamenda-Ndop stretch is blocked by armed men. It has been like this every summer holiday… We took the matter to the SDO who provided military convoy but no one dares follow them because some drivers complained of being threatened and attacked thereafter “

The road block has according to the SDO for Ngoketunjia division in the North West region Handerson Quetong Kongeh, slowed down economic activities “crops harvested cannot get into neighbouring divisions. Farmers are stranded, transporters too and this is bad” Nonetheless more stringent security measures have been announced to address the issue “In the days ahead, we will launch a manhunt into neighbourhoods to catch these armed men and also patrols will intensify on the road to ensure that vehicles are not attacked. We are equally thinking of using private vehicles to transport people in and out of the division”

Handerson Quetong adds, the road into Bamessing village is open but the fear syndrome has taken hold of the people.

In the wait of a lasting solution, Ngoketunjia division in the North West is suffering the effects of the crisis.

Meanwhile the government forces have been using this raod without being attacked.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The diplomatic cooperation between Africa and Russia is moving into a new phase, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Russia, Cham Ugala said.

The Africa- Russia exhibit that depicts the historical and natural attractions of the African continent has been opened in Russia.

African diplomats, journalists and educational institutions that work on the relations between Africa and Russia were present during the opening ceremony of two-week exhibition.

Ambassador Cham Ugala, who spoke with ENA about the importance of the exhibition, said that the diplomatic cooperation between Africa and Russia is moving into a new phase.

He stressed the need to disseminate information on the realities in Africa to the global community to correct the wrong narrative about the continent by strengthening cooperation between Africa and Russia in the media sector.

The ambassador mentioned that the relationship between Africa and Russia has a long history, recalling that Russia was a major ally of Africa during the anti-colonial struggle.

He appreciated the efforts being carried out by Sputnik media in providing professional training to African journalists with a view to strengthening the relationship between Africa and Russia in the field of media and communication.

Ambassador Cham announced that Sputnik is in the process of opening a branch in Addis Ababa, which is a good opportunity for the whole of Africa.

In related news, the Former President of South Africa and renowned freedom fighter Nelson Mandela’s Day was celebrated at the Russian Center for Foreign Literature.

The event was held in the presence of ambassadors of various African countries, including South Africa’s ambassador to Russia, Jeff Mzuvukile Maqetuka.

Ambassador Jeff Mzuvukile, in his message on the occasion pointed out that Mandela’s principle of struggle has a universal concept.

The ambassador underlined that the efforts made by Nelson Mandela to bring a better world should be maintained in order to realize the values of freedom, equality and justice.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency