Category: Politics

WINDHOEK: Namibia’s Vice President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, on Wednesday urged leaders of her ruling Swapo Party to refrain from politicising the government’s food aid programme in light of the impending drought.

Addressing the party’s workshop for delegates from 121 districts, in preparation for the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections set for November, Nandi-Ndaitwah cautioned them not to discriminate against non-Swapo members when it comes to providing drought relief.

‘Therefore, as leaders, you are expected to know the needs of your communities irrespective of their political affiliations. We need all Namibians to survive, and that’s why as your vice president, I am saying we should not politicise the drought relief programme.

It is for all of us because as the elected party in this government, we are to take care of all Namibians wherever they are, and you cannot deny people food,’ said Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also Swapo’s vice president.

Namibia and other countries in southern Africa are
currently experiencing a severe drought caused by a significant decrease in rainfall in the region.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform estimates a poor harvest in all crop-producing regions in the communal areas. In its crop prospects, food security, and drought situation report for March 2024, the ministry noted weakening household food security in the seven northern regions.

This is due to reduced agricultural production recorded in the 2022/2023 season. The ministry noted that many households in the main crop-producing regions are reported to have used up their food reserves from the previous season. As a result, they are now relying on the market and drought relief food for their sustenance.

Additionally, the food security situation in southern, eastern, western, and central Namibia is also dire due to the prevailing drought conditions.

These areas are predominantly inhabited by livestock farmers who depend on livestock farming as their main source of income.

However, the pasture in
these regions is insufficient and of poor quality, making it difficult to adequately sustain their livestock, the report indicated.

Nandi-Ndaitwah informed the party’s district coordinators and district mobilizers that government has therefore put in place measures to ensure that all Namibians in need of food assistance are catered for.

However, she appealed to those in a position to assist themselves not to take advantage of the food relief program. ‘That’s why we say those with an income, please meet your government halfway by taking care of yourself and let the government take care of the others,’ she said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Twenty cyclists riding for the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) initiative on Tuesday entered Namibia from Botswana through the Trans-Kalahari-Mamuno Border Post in a challenge that started earlier this month in Rustenburg, South Africa.

The cycling event was initiated to raise awareness of the TKC regionally and internationally, with the objective of securing the three member states’ commitment to economic progress through spatial development initiatives along the corridor.

The initiative also aims to promote road safety on the corridor, reduce delays along the route, address security concerns, and commemorate the 20th anniversary of the TKC, among others.

The Namibian Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa receiving the cyclists from his Botswana counterpart, Eric Molale, highlighted the importance of connection between countries and how the initiative will improve the economy of the three member states.

‘I want to highlight how transport infrastructure are vital for development, thus, it is clear t
hat since independence of our country, Namibia has improved drastically on road infrastructure, that has given birth to initiatives of this magnitude between our countries with the aim of also expanding this initiative to other countries in Africa,’ Mutorwa indicated.

Mutorwa urged those along the route of the cyclists in the country to give them good hospitality and welcome them in their towns and villages.

Handing over the cyclists to Mutorwa, Molale, the Botswana Minister of Transport and Public Works touched more on the relationship between the three member states, and assured his Namibian counterpart that his country is committed to the initiative, and wished the cyclists well as they continue with their journey through Namibia.

‘I am here to hand over the cyclists that I have been taking care of for the last seven days, who are carrying along the pledge of the TKC that entails that we must be a united people, we must be allowed to move freely across our region, we must harmonise our processes and pro
tocols that facilitate free movement, and we must invest along the corridor,’ Molale highlighted.

The cyclists are expected to reach their final destination Walvis Bay later this month and the Namibian route will feature seven public engagements with various stakeholders.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Addis Ababa: The 15th Sultan of Afar, Ahmed Alimirah has arrived in Addis Ababa today.

The Sultan was warmly welcomed up on arrival at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by high ranking government officials including Deputy Speaker of House of Federation, Zehara humed.

Ahmed Alimirah is the son of renowned Sultan Alimirah, who was the spiritual leader of people of Afar.

Ahmed Alimirah becomes the 15 Sultan of Afar people last year following the pass away his brother, Hanfare Alimirah.

Accordingly, the Sulatan returned home today after staying abroad.

The Sultans of Afar people have been hailed for their contribution in resolving social and political challenges through cultural mechanisms

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa: Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Taye Atske Selassie had a fruitful discussion with Ramtane Lamamra, Personal Envoy of the United nations Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres for Sudan.

The two officials discussed on the importance of a coordinated and harmonized Sudanese-led and Africa-supported peace process to find solutions to the conflict in the Sudan.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

RUNDU: Landless People’s Movement (LPM) President Bernadus Swartbooi said his party is the only one that has publicly disagreed with the budget that is given to towns such as Rundu.

Swartbooi made the remarks during a rally by his party, at Ndama Sewerage Soccer Field at Rundu on Sunday.

‘As we speak, we are also the only party that has said that a new and better building must be constructed for the Rundu Town Council because the building it is currently operating from is dilapidated,’ he said.

Councillors in the Kavango East Region he said are just focused on how well they are dressed instead of finding solutions to the problems in the region.

‘Teachers are not employed and the region is starving as they talk about how expensive the shoe they are wearing is,’ he said.

Swartbooi said in towns where his party is governing, LPM has brought electricity to areas and people that need it most.

The party leader further boasted about the party having the youngest councillors, and mayors in the country.

‘The pa
rty is also making sure that we are bringing women up and we are re-equipping and re-tooling them,’ he said.

He accused a certain political party of receiving funds from the Europeans for paying people N.dollars 200 to join them and then doing nothing for the people afterwards.

Swartbooi encouraged the gathering to take money or food given to them by other political parties but urged them to vote for LPM on 27 November 2024.

‘If the government gives you food, take the food. If they give you money from any other party, take the money and then go vote for LPM,’ he said

The LPM leader called on Namibians in the two Kavango regions to start making a change by exercising their power and voting for a different political party such as LPM.

‘Go and register on 03 June but before that make sure you have your identification card to get a new voters card,’ Swartbooi said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare Deputy Minister, Bernadette Jagger, called for a strong collaboration between all stakeholders to ensure that grants are used for their intended purpose, which is to uplift the most vulnerable out of extreme poverty.

Jagger, while launching a sensitisation campaign on the misuse of social grants at Omitara in the Omaheke region on Monday, called on traditional leaders, churches, regional leadership, the ministry’s staff and the Namibian Police Force to, as community representatives start policing social grants.

‘It is important to understand that the provision of social protection services is a fundamental human right, therefore policing the usage of social grants borders towards the abuse of these rights. No law prohibits or directs how social grant beneficiaries should disperse their money’, Jagger said.

Due to the lack of laws or policies to prohibit the misuse of grants, there is thus a need to have constant awareness campaigns and monitoring from
those close to beneficiaries.

In his remarks, Omaheke regional chairperson Igantius Kariseb who initiated the campaign said the initiative was prompted by complaints and concerns from the communities around the region and the whole of Namibia on how beneficiaries are misusing the little they are getting from the government, citing alcohol abuse as one of the main contributing factors to the misuse.

‘The situation on the ground in terms of social grants is disheartening, the government is trying its best for our people to at least get a social grant to improve their livelihood but by the look of things what we see in the region is not the optimal utilisation of these grants, therefore as regional leadership we came up with this initiative to sensitise our people’, Kariseb indicated.

The campaign, which kicked off on Monday, will reach all corners of the Omaheke region before it concludes on Saturday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

RUNDU: The president of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) Bernadus Swartbooi said his party fires those in leadership roles when they are involved in corrupt practices, unlike the ruling party, Swapo.

Swartbooi made these statements during a rally the party held at Ndama in Rundu on Sunday.

‘In the areas the party is governing, when any of our leaders are involved in corrupt practices, we fire them immediately. People say we are an unstable party for doing so. However, we said if we do what Swapo is doing then we are not an honest party,’ he said.

LPM will not allow corruption by its leaders whether from local or regional authorities, he said.

When leaders misbehave they are either told to improve or leave the party.

‘In LPM, if you want to be corrupt, there is another party. Go to that party,’ he stated.

Swartbooi also mentioned that since the last elections in 2020, it has put young people (20 to 35-year-olds) in leadership roles, giving them the necessary attention through training to develop them
into responsible leaders of society.

‘We have said that we cannot postpone the tomorrow for young people. We must take young people without experience and develop society with them,’ he said.

His party, he noted has also developed close relationships with traditional authorities in order to understand the issues in traditional communities.

‘LPM has changed the politics of just wanting votes and each and every ethnic group is a core principle in the party. We have to develop proper leaders that must lead society. If we send leaders into society who do not have love for the people, then they will treat some people better and others not so good,’ he said.

Loving all Namibians equally keeps a leader humble, the party leader said, adding that no leader can come to people that they do not love and serve them honestly.

‘A loving leader will have sleepless nights if his people are hungry, jobless or without housing. He or she will work hard to find solutions to these problems because he or she loves his people.
This message of love is not just for the church but it’s of humanity,’ Swartbooi said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency