Category: Politics

RUNDU: Vice President (VP) Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said institutions of higher learning in the country including the entire education system should understand the needs of the labour market.

Nandi-Ndaitwah when she delivered her keynote address during the 2024 University of Namibia Rundu Campus graduation ceremony here on Tuesday said that students should be trained to meet the needs of the market.

‘It is a challenge when the education sector and the market are not talking to each other. Institutions of higher learning should not train for the streets,’ she said.

The VP said Namibia is now positioned to become one of the centres of renewable energy, oil and gas.

‘The question now is, to what extent is our education and training system prepared to supply those emerging industries with human power,’ she asked.

The education sector must be ready to feed the market with appropriate skills, hence the importance of vocational training that should be seen as a critical sector for sustainable development to be re
alised.

Nandi-Ndaitwah added that Namibia should not be a rich country with poor people.

‘We must be prepared to work together as Namibians as it is the only way we can create the Namibia we want,’ she noted.

She said it is important that the country prepares itself to benefit from its resources while it continues to be relevant in the international arena.

About 654 students graduated in different disciplines such as Education, Nursing and Public Health and Business Administration.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Civil servants’ remuneration stood at N.dollars 33.6 billion during the 2022/2023 financial year, Public Service Commission (PSC) Commissioner, Nashilongo Shivute has announced.

Proving a statistical overview for the 2022/2023 financial year during a courtesy visit to President Nangolo Mbumba here on Tuesday, Shivute explained that the remuneration has increased from N.dollars 2.6 billion to N.dollars 2.8 billion a month as a result of the 2023/2024 general salary adjustment.

She indicated that the personnel expenditure budget increased from 43 per cent to 45.5 per cent.

During the reporting period the PSC recommended the appointment of 23 staff members in the management cadre of which 11 representing 48 per cent were men, and 12 accounting for 52 per cent were women, she said.

Shivute further noted that a total of 753 staff members were appointed in posts below the management cadre of which 82 per cent were appointed in the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), of which 32 per cent we
re men and 68 per cent, women.

Eighty-nine staff members were promoted to management of which 64 per cent represented men and 36 per cent were women, with the MoHSS employing a total of 33 (37 per cent) staff members compared to the rest of Offices/Ministries and Agencies (OMA).

‘A total of 77 staff members were promoted to posts below management of which 56 (73 per cent) were promoted to the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture and the rest to OMA,’ she said.

Shivute further indicated that during the reporting period, PSC recommended 108 deviations on the financial assistance of which 104 were in life-threatening conditions such as cancer, kidney failures and heart, while four were for re-registration of dependents older than 25 years old who are full-time students at recognised tertiary institutions or mentally or physical disabled.

She also noted that 36 complaints were dealt with of which six were supported, while 18 appeals were dealt with of which one was supported. Twenty-one reinstatement cases
were dealt with of which 12 were supported due to non-compliance by OMAs with relevant laws.

In March 2023, the commission reported that civil servants stood at 105 265.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Otjozondjupa Region Governor, James Uerikua on Tuesday rubbished accusations from the Otjiwarongo Municipality, accusing him of interfering in its development projects and activities.

Uerikua in the presence of several political leaders from the region explained to Mayor Gottlieb Shivute shortly after a meeting that his appointment is higher than that of the mayor as he represents the president in the region.

‘I am therefore not interfering in anything, but as the regional head of Otjozondjupa, I have the right to advise the local authorities,’ the governor said.

The Otjiwarongo Municipality’s political leadership last Friday issued a media statement accusing Uerikua of interfering in its development activities and claiming that he wants to create the impression that he initiated projects that were actually conceptualised by the municipality.

These include the recent resuscitation of the Biomass Industrial Park, which Uerikua visited along with a delegation of biomass specialists from Germany on 08 April
this year.

Shivute also expressed dismay over remarks Uerikua and the Otjiwarongo Constituency Councillor Marlayn Mbakera made at a media briefing on 04 April, where the governor tasked the municipality to urgently rename Lothar Von Trotha Street and accused them of not prioritising the renaming.

Mbakera at the time also lashed out at the municipality councillors on potholes which she said are visible in every street in the town and has become a major concern to all road users.

She described the situation as an injustice to Otjiwarongo residents and said the local authority should serve the community with dedication.

This, according to Shivute, is aimed at portraying the councillors as visionless leaders who are incapable of running the affairs of the town.

Mbakera on her part on Tuesday said she is empowered by the Regional Council Act of 1992 which states that she can assist any local authority council in performing its powers, duties and functions.

Mbakera is also the Otjozondjupa Regional Council ch
airperson.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare has spent a total of N.dollars 3.4 billion on old age, disability, orphans and vulnerable children grants during the 2023/2024 financial year.

Giving an update on the ministerial performance for the 2023/2024 financial year here on Monday, line minister Doreen Sioka said the grants led to a total coverage of 208 170 old age beneficiaries, 53 835 disability grants and 377 743 Orphans and vulnerable children.

She further highlighted that the ministry has successfully converted the food bank programme from an in-kind food parcel into a cash transfer in April 2022, to what is known as a Conditional Basic Income grant of which a total of 8 907 households have benefitted to a total expenditure of N.dollars 81.3 million.

‘The goal of this programme is to contribute to Namibians’ social and economic upliftment while eliminating poverty through adequate and durable safety nets,’ she said.

Sioka further highlighted that 2 835 marginal
ised community learners were successfully transported to and from hostels in all 10 regions where marginalized communities are found, while 308 marginalised students have access to institutions of higher learning through the ministry’s interventions and 287 were paid living allowance.

Equally, she noted the ministry provided support to 265 students with disabilities to cover their tuition accommodation, transport and other needs to the tune of N.dollars 7.5 million, while 800 persons with severe disabilities from various regions were assisted with diapers, formula milk and portable toilets amounting to N.dollars 4 million.

Sioka indicated that the ministry provided psychosocial support services to 1 200 children hosted at the Namibian Children’s Home and After School Centres in Windhoek, while at the regional level, 3 200 children received psychosocial support.

Equally, she noted the ministry provided food supplements to 29 000 households across the 10 regions where marginalised communities live.

‘The min
istry remains committed to ensure that it implements and strengthens the programme under its mandate,’ she said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Addis Ababa: Rwandan President Paul Kagame has extended his appreciation to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for serving as a young peacekeeper in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide.

In 1995, Abiy served as a United Nations (UN) peacekeeper in Rwanda following the Rwandan genocide.

Speaking at the commemorations to mark 30 year anniversary of genocide, President Kagame has also recognized the leadership of different countries for supporting Rwanda’s rebuilding at the time.

‘I want to recognize a few while also asking for forgiveness not being able to mention or who deserves it.

For example, Uganda, which carried the burden of Rwanda……The leadership and people of Ethiopia and Eritrea helped us in starting to rebuild at that time,’ he said.

‘Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who is here (now for official visit,) even served as the young peacekeeper in the immediate aftermath of the genocide,’ the president said.

Rwanda paid tribute to genocide victims after 30 years today.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: A high-level Ethiopia’s delegation held discussions with authorities of Saudi Arabia, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The delegation led by State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Birtukan Ayano met with its Saudi counterpart led by Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali Al-Yousef in Riyadh and exchanged views on ways to repatriate illegal Ethiopian migrants from Saudi Arabia and enhance the bilateral relations of the two countries.

In his media briefing last week, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Nebiyu Tedla said that Ethiopia would start repatriation of its 70,000 citizens from Saudi Arabia.

He also stressed the government’s commitment to assisting Ethiopians who are in difficult situations abroad.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that Ethiopia stands with the people of Rwanda as you commemorate ‘Kwibuka30’.

Rwanda today has paid solemn tribute to genocide victims after 30 years, it was indicated.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency