June 5, 2023

Ambassador Sied Presents His Credentials to Kuwait Foreign Minister

Ethiopian Ambassador to Kuwait, Sied Muhumed presented his copy of credentials to the Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.

On the occasion, Ambassador Sied conveyed the good wishes of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen to the Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait.

He lauded the historical relationship between the two countries underscoring the need to further scale it up with renewed engagements.

Moreover, Ambassador Sied expressed confidence that the Government of Kuwait would extend the necessary support for his endeavors to further strengthen the bilateral relationships between the two countries.

Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah expressed gratitude for the goodwill wishes of the Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and stated that Kuwait will continue to strengthen its bilateral and multilateral relations with Ethiopia.

The Foreign Minister reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the Ambassador’s endeavors during his stay in Kuwait.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

June 5, 2023

Ethiopia, Brazil Vow to Elevate Bilateral & Multilateral Diplomatic Ties

Ethiopia and Brazil have reaffirmed the respective commitments of their governments to further enhance the longstanding diplomatic relations, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen, earlier today received Brazilian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mauro Vieira at his office.

During the occasion, Demeke stressed that it is high time to elevate Ethio-Brazilian relations as the opening of Ethiopian Embassy in Brasilia is aimed at bolstering relations between the two countries.

The deputy prime minister and foreign minister also thanked the Government of Brazil for supporting sustainable forest management, cotton productivity, and soil protection projects in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia and Brazil could further cooperate in the areas of investment, aviation, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, environmental protection, mining and renewable energy, Demeke noted.

Brazilian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Mauro Vieira for his part expressed his government’s readiness to support sports and other sectors parallel to advanced mutual interests in bilateral and multilateral venues.

Accordingly, the dignitaries have also agreed to conduct political consultations subsequently.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

June 5, 2023

Namibia and India to continue strengthening economic ties

Namibia and India will continue to strengthen cooperation in the fields of trade and investment; agriculture; capacity building and health, in order to enhance the two countries’ bilateral relations.

This was according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, during the inaugural session of the Joint Ministerial Commission between Namibia and India in Windhoek on Monday.

“Our shared goal and vision are to see real change in our peoples’ livelihoods. We want to see our youth educated, trained and developed to become responsible citizens of our nations; to bring women into the fold so that they have full participation in our economies; as well as to create sustainable jobs that ensure that our people are independent and self-sustained,” she noted.

Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasised her sentiments during the 17th Exim-Bank Conclave on India-Africa Growth Partnership India in July 2022, where she noted that trade data shows that something needs to be done to improve the two countries’ trade balance and create collaboration between companies in different sectors of their economies.

“In this regard, I am pleased that we have welcomed within a short time span two business delegations from India, some who are still in our country. I wish to compliment both our high commissioners and Namibian honorary consul for that. I can only reiterate that it is essential that mutually beneficial economic ties and investment flows grow between our two countries as these will be the foundations for mutual benefit,” she said.

The Indian delegation, led by Minister of External Affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, is on a three-day visit to Namibia, with the purpose of further strengthening India’s bilateral relations with Namibia.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

June 5, 2023

Kavango East RDRMC wants GRN to declare state of emergency on drought

The Regional Disaster Risk Management Committee (RDRMC) in the Kavango East Region is calling on Government to declare a state of emergency on drought in the region.

This is one of the recommendations the RDRMC made in a report submitted by the chairperson, Damian Maghambayi, to the Office of the Prime Minister on Sunday following the death of 16 people due to reported food poisoning at Kayova village last Saturday.

A total of 24 family members at Kayova village in the Ndiyona Constituency ate porridge made from the flour of mahangu millet residue from traditional beer, known as mundevere.

“The region is currently facing serious drought due to lack of rain during the last rainy season, causing hunger among the majority of rural households who depend on agricultural crop farming,” Maghambayi told Nampa on Monday.

He informed this news agency that the Namibia Vulnerable Assessment of 2023 did not target the primary affected areas, adding that the Ndiyona Constituency where the incident happened was not part of the primary sampling unit, resulting in the Kavango East findings not being accurate.

The Namibia Vulnerable Assessment is an annual assessment coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister under the auspices of Namibia Vulnerable Assessment Committee (NAMVAC).

NAMVAC was established in 2012 to collect and analyse livelihood and food security data to inform policy decision making on an annual basis.

Maghambayi said the RDRMC in its report also recommended the urgent need for two ambulances at the Nyangana District Hospital.

He explained that the Nyangana District Hospital, where the food poisoning victims were taken, only has one ambulance which is old and always has mechanical problems.

The chairperson further stated that Sambyu Health Centre, which is 95 kilometres away from Nyangana District Hospital, as well as the Rundu State Hospital which is 107 kilometres to Nyangana, had to assist in transporting the victims.

The RDRMC also recommended the urgent need for a well-equipped intensive care unit, stating that if the district hospital was properly equipped it could perhaps have saved the lives of some food poisoning patients.

Meanwhile, Maghambayi said a memorial for the 16 people who died will be held on Friday and the burial on Saturday.

The government, through the Office of the Prime Minister, has indicated that it would cover the funeral costs of all the victims and provide the bereaved family with food.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

June 5, 2023

Mental Health bill at advanced stage: Shangula

Health and Social Services Minister, Dr Kalumbi Shangula has said the proposed Mental Health Bill is at an advanced stage and should reach Parliament for debate by the end of this year.

Briefing the media on Namibia’s participation in the 76th World Health Assembly on 30 May 2023 in Geneva, Switzerland here on Monday, Shangula said the bill has passed through various consultations and is at the final stage before it is tabled in Parliament.

Shangula explained that the assembly acknowledged the need for member states to reorient their health systems towards addressing mental health issues, particularly amongst youth, noting that globally, post-COVID-19 mental health issues have escalated.

“The bill is now at the preparation stage and we expect it to be introduced in the National Assembly when all the nitty gritty details have been completed. We still hope that maybe by the end of this year, it will be in the National Assembly, but of course, it depends on the other bills which are also there and the limited capacity of the Ministry of Justice to get through,” he noted.

According to statistics released by MoHSS, Namibia’s suicide rate between January 2021 and May 2022 stood at 679, comprising 559 men, 91 women, and 29 children (18 boys and 11 girls).

The Omusati, Ohangwena and Khomas regions recorded the highest suicide rates in the country at 105, 100, and 80, respectively.

The assembly, Shangula said, highlighted the need for member states to ensure and promote mental health in the workplace to improve productivity, rehabilitation programmes, addressing violence, providing psychological care post-trauma, and promoting physical activities and medical treatment.

The bill is aimed at regulating mental health care in Namibia in order to promote the dignity, autonomy, human rights and the optimal mental, social and physical well-being of persons living with mental disabilities; to provide for the care and treatment of persons who are living with mental or intellectual disabilities, amongst others.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

June 5, 2023

UNAM and NFCPT to conduct national fish consumption survey

The Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust (NFCPT) and Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre of the University of Namibia (UNAM) are collaborating on a national survey to determine the per capita fish consumption at both regional and national levels.

The survey’s main objectives include determining Namibia’s per capita fish consumption; evaluating the value of fish consumed locally on an annual basis; identifying regional fish consumption patterns in each region; and determining the preferred type of fish at the regional level.

NFCPT Chief Executive Officer, Victor Pea, at a press conference on Monday said the trust’s strategic position is aligned with its mission to accelerate fish consumption locally, thereby contributing to poverty eradication and building a healthy Namibian workforce as it forges ahead with its national goals.

He said the current fish consumption per capita stands at 16.59 kilogrammes (kg), an improvement from 11.4 kg in 2018, but still below the world average of 20.4 kg.

“We anticipate a significant increase after the completion of the survey, as required by our line ministry. Achieving our target of 20.4kg of fish consumption per person per year necessitates the consumption of approximately 51 000 MT of fish, valued at around N.dollars 787 million, within various towns in Namibia,” he said.

UNAM Vice Chancellor Kenneth Matengu said the Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre, in collaboration with the Namibia Fish Consumption Promotion Trust, is well-equipped and capable of conducting this survey.

“The University of Namibia has a strong research pedigree and our expertise in marine and coastal studies will ensure the collection of accurate and valuable data for informed decision-making regarding fish consumption in Namibia,” he said.

The administrative aspect of the survey began in April 2023, and fieldwork is scheduled to commence later this month. The project, valued at N.dollars 3 million, is expected to conclude in September 2023.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency