May 29, 2023

MTC to continue collecting biometric data despite CRAN directive

Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) on Monday said it will continue collecting customers’ biometric data as part of its ‘Verifi’ procedure as an enhanced security measure against cyber theft.

This despite a directive issued Friday by the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) that the gathering of biometric data for the purpose of SIM card registration is no longer required.

CRAN stated that the decision was based on complaints from the public and members of the media regarding the practice of some mobile operators requesting biometric data during the SIM card registration process in the absence of a data protection legislative framework.

The Communications Regulatory Authority indicated that operators will only need the information specified in the regulations, which includes the customer’s name, regular dwelling address, and Namibian ID, passport, or any other official identity document issued by a government of any nation.

Customers who voluntarily desire to share their biometric data, on the other hand, are welcome to do so, CRAN stated.

In a press release, MTC’s Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer Tim Ekandjo said MTC is considering the notice issued by CRAN, adding that while MTC agrees with CRAN’s viewpoints, it will continue to offer its biometric process as a condition of service to its customers.

“Verifi is done as part of the biometric data gathering process with the purpose of delivering additional protection, which would then help battle fraud and crime – and offer consumer simplicity when it comes to their profiles with MTC,” he stated.

“Thus far, MTC is pleased with the public’s ongoing response to the registration process, particularly with regard to biometrics – for the majority comprehend the security benefits that come with it,” he stated.

Mandatory SIM card registration began on 01 January 2023 in accordance with Section 77 of the Communications Act (No. 8 of 2009) and associated regulations. Telecommunications service providers were given 12 months to complete the registration of all existing subscribers.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

May 29, 2023

Government hard at work to complete mass housing: Uutoni

Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, has said the government is hard at work to ensure the completion of the mass housing project, with 111 houses expected to be completed by July 2023.

In an interview with Nampa recently, Uutoni said the ministry appointed a contractor, New Era Investment, in November 2022 to complete the 505 houses in Swakopmund in the Erongo Region. Sixty-four of these houses have been completed and are ready for handing over, whilst 111 are expected to be completed in July 2023 and 319 in early 2024.

The mass housing project was the brainchild of former president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, to address Namibia’s housing crisis, with a promise to build 148 000 houses by 2030. So far, 4 130 houses have been handed over to beneficiaries, while 891 houses remained unoccupied due to incompletion, including 24 in Opuwo, 505 in Swakopmund and 362 in Windhoek.

“Government is hard at work to ensure that what has not been completed commences and is ratified. The instruction by the government is that the ministry should take up that responsibility. We are busy… and very soon the completed houses will be handed over to the beneficiaries,” Uutoni noted.

He added that the project’s abrupt stop in 2015 was due to legal disputes and underperformance by contractors.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

May 29, 2023

Team Namibia wins 18 medals at Nottwill Grand Prix

Namibian athletes with disabilities showcased their talents at the just-ended World Para Athletics (WPA) 2023 Nottwil Grand Prix in Switzerland, securing a total of 18 podium places.

The final round of the WPA Grand Prix was held at the Sport Arena Nottwil, located at the Schweizer Paraplegic Centre and formed part of the 10th anniversary of the WPA Grand Prix.

On the last day of the competition, T44 athlete Denzel Namene led the way with a gold for Team Namibia in the 100 metre (m) sprint, with a time of 12.23 seconds. Namene was the only athlete in his category and was made to compete in a mixed-race event alongside T46, T11, T36 and T38 sprinters. Based on the Raza scoring system, he walked away with gold.

Another gold medal for Team Namibia on the last day of the championships came from T11 athlete, Ananias Shikongo, guided by Even Tjiuiju. Shikongo won gold in the 100m sprint, while Chris Kinda and his guide Riwaldo Goagoseb settled for a bronze.

Kinda and German sprinter Marcel Boettger crossed the finish line at the same time of 11.43 seconds to take third place. Shikongo ran a seasonal best of 11.32 seconds, while Minyang Kang of China took the second place with a time of 11.39 seconds.

Another T11 sprinter, Immanue Alfredo Bernardo, and his guide Hatago Murere, clocked 11.78 seconds and finished seventh overall.

Nambala won bronze in the 100m with a time of 10.98 seconds, while Norwegian sprinter Ageze Salum Kashafali ran a world record time of 10.45 seconds, but his record could not stand as it was wind aided.

T46 sprinter Bradley Murere won a silver medal after clocking 11.03 seconds. His record, which would have been his personal best, could also not stand as it was also wind aided times. Lithuanian sprinter Danas Sodaitis won the race with a time of 11.02 seconds.

Petrus Karuli a T37 athlete, won a silver medal with a time of 12.67 seconds. Valentin Bertrand of France clocked 12.52 seconds to win gold.

Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Lahja Ishitile and her guide Sem Shimanda won a silver medal with an impressive seasonal best record of 12.40 seconds, while Guohua Zhou of China won the gold with a time of 11.91 seconds.

In the T12 category, Lahja Ipinge and her guide Fillipus Kotokeni Paulus won a bronze medal with a personal best of 13.00 seconds. Dominica Republic sprinter Darlenys Severino de la Cruz took gold with her time of 12.03 seconds.

After three days of competition, Team Namibia won 18 medals – (four gold, 10 silver and four bronze).

The team is expected to return home from their European tour on Monday.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

May 29, 2023

PM Abiy Congratulates President Erdogan For Election Victory

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed congratulated President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his election victory.

“Congratulations to President Erdogan on your election victory. I look forward to further strengthening the relations between our two countries,” Abiy twitted.

President Erdogan while delivering remarks regarding the election results said: “we are not the only winners. Türkiye is the winner. Our nation with all its segments is the winner. Our democracy is the winner.”

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

May 29, 2023

African E-Trade Group Says Working To Enhance Digital Intra, Inter Trade in Africa

The African E-Trade Group ((Ae Trade) is working to enhance intra-and inter-trade in Africa.

The African E-Trade Group (AeTrade) is a multi-stakeholder group of African professionals and business people with a vision to develop and implement e-empowerment program that will enhance intra-and inter-African trade.

AeTrade Group organized a sensitization forum on Africa job creation today at the UNECA, under the theme ‘Accelerating Job Creation, Digital and Financial Inclusion in the implementation of the AfCFTA’.

Speaking on the occasion, AeTrade CEO, Mulualem Syoum, said the group brings together the public and private sector partners to develop projects that leverage the power of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the benefit of Africa’s present and future entrepreneurs.

Following the AU decision to accelerate digital and financial inclusions and work together with all stakeholders, the Africa diaspora initiative is helping to create one Africa market, he said.

He also said that digitalization is one of the fast tracking for growth as well us to boost intra African trade as well us to be part of the global trade.

Therefore, in partnership with the AU, AeT launched a digital market place, https://sokokuu.africa/ in 2020 , he said.

According to him, the website is designed to enable African producers throughout the continent to display and sell their produce online and boost intra African trade.

In less than seven years from now, some 95 percent of the global trade will be undertaken digitally, he said.

Therefore, the group will provide support to member states, and enable African SMEs to trade in digital platforms, he pointed out.

Trade is going to be knowledge based in the near future, he said, adding its platform will create enabling environment for SMEs where they can be able to know about the place of the surplus, and the shortage.

Creating affordable finance is also the goal of the group, he said, adding that doing all with partners and affiliates, within the next 15 years, our target is to create between 80 to 225 million jobs.

Speaking on his part, State Minister of Labor and Skills, Nigussu Tilahun, said the government of Ethiopia supports job creative initiative.

According to him, Ethiopia is making effort to create jobs for the young people.

‘We develop a national plan of action for job creations and commit ourselves to its implementation ‘ he said.

As part of our effort, we undertook two national job summits where we provide actors in the labor market the ecosystem and a platform to come together discuss the challenges and provide innovative solution and celebrate successes, he said.

Acting Secretary General of the UNECA, Anthony Pedro, said that in 2035, the number of productive human resources in Africa will reach 450 million.

Therefore, countries should respond to the rapidly growing number of job seekers by formulating strategies and using job creation options in the continent.

He pointed out that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) is one of the great opportunities that governments should work with determination for its realization.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency