Day: June 7, 2023

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) have arrested 124 suspects for allegedly dealing with drugs valued over N.dollars three million in May 2023.

A crime report issued by NamPol on Wednesday said the suspects were arrested for allegedly dealing with various types of substances worth N.dollars 3 244 293, involving 119 Namibians, two Congolese nationals, one Angolan national, a Zimbabwean national and a Zambian national.

The report said the drugs seized include; Cannabis valued at N.dollars 2 882 572; Mandarx tablets worth N.dollars 174 720; Cocaine powder at N.dollars 172 000 and Crack Cocaine worth N.dollars 14 400, as well as MDMA valuing N.dollars 500.

Source: NAMPA

Namibia’s National Plan of Action for Small Scale Fisheries (NPOA-SSF), launched in June 2022 to boost socio-economic growth, faces hurdles due to insufficient funding.

This is according to Johannes Hamukwaya, Deputy Director of Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries at the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, who was speaking to the media at Swakopmund on Tuesday on the side-lines of a workshop on developing a resource mobilisation strategy for the NOPA-SSF for 2022 to 2026.

The plan of action recognises the important role the small scale fisheries sector plays in socio-economic growth and economic transformation.

Hamukwaya said there is a need for the ministry to mobilise resources in order to implement the plan.

“We do not want to have a plan that cannot be implemented due to a lack of resources. However, we do know that there are many development partners, especially within the natural resources department, involved in conservation and the use of natural resources as well as climate change and resilience activities, under which small scale fisheries falls,” he said.

Hamukwaya stressed that the funding needed is not for small activities, as the ministry has already worked at the sectorial level. These funds are necessary to scale up projects, such as improving fish preservation, benefiting communities.

“Fish is a perishable commodity, and it only lasts for a very short period of time. If not preserved correctly, it could spoil quickly and become inedible. So, we are exploring ways to assist these small-scale fishers in this regard, such as providing cold storage facilities, among others, so that they can still sell their fish in good condition.”

The objectives of the workshop are for the ministry, partners, and stakeholders to strategise and identify potential development partners who can contribute funding towards the implementation of the National Plan of Action.

The workshop, attended by representatives of the Ministry of Fisheries, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, and small-scale fisheries, will end on Friday.

Source: NAMPA

A 50-year-old trial awaiting inmate on Tuesday allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a police holding cell at Coblenz in the Okakarara Constituency.

The Namibian Police Force’s (NamPol) Head of Community Affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha told Nampa the deceased left behind a suicide note.

“It is alleged that he tore a piece of cloth from his bed sheet and went into the toilet, where he climbed on to the wall to reach a small window. He tied the cloth to the burglar bars and hanged himself,” said Mbeha.

The deceased was alone in the cell during the time of the incident as other inmates were booked out for court appearances, she said.

The inmate was in custody for two separate cases of rape which allegedly took place at Okamatapati in 2022 and in April this year.

His next of kin were yet to be informed of his death and no foul play is suspected.

Source: NAMPA

Two female suspects were arrested in Oshakati on Tuesday for the alleged rape of a 22-year-old man.

According to a crime report issued by the Namibian Police Force on Tuesday, two women aged 29 and 33 were arrested for the alleged rape of the 22-year-old man, who is mentally disabled, at Omeege village.

It is suspected that the women lured the victim from various shops to their house to engage in sexual acts with him on different occasions. The report indicated that the incidents allegedly occurred earlier this year, but there is uncertainty around the specific dates when it happened.

The complaint was made by the victim’s 58-year-old aunt. The suspects have been arrested and are expected to appear before the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court on 08 June.

Source: NAMPA