June 15, 2023

IGAD Summit Fruitful, Says Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The 14th Ordinary Summit of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has concluded with impactful outcomes, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During a biweekly press briefing today, Ministry Spokesperson Meles Alem told journalists that the summit was concluded with impactful outcomes at Djibouti, the seat of the regional organization.

Heads of State and Government, including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, attended the summit which adopted IGAD Treaty and issued a timely joint communique on regional matters that seek cooperation and due attention. he said.

According to the spokesperson, the election of Workneh Gebeyehu for a second term in light of his contributions to transforming IGAD and championing regional peace and stability is an outcome with far reaching impact.

Moreover, the return of Eritrea to the regional body after such a long time also signifies the transformational potential of member states to bring about change that could significantly benefit the people, he added.

The spokesman further elaborated on the concerted regional efforts, including those of Ethiopia, to bring about peace in the Sudan by bringing the conflicting parties closer to find amicable solutions.

At the presser, Meles also reaffirmed the continued commitment of Ethiopia, together with other member states, to expedite regional integration, share economic development as well as durable peace and stability, on top of combating transnational crimes, including terrorism.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

June 15, 2023

Sandwich Dune Tours to run Dune 7 facilities

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has announced the awarding of the Dune 7 concession to Sandwich Dune Tours and Safari as the operator for the tourist attraction inside Dorob National Park.

The ministry’s decision to run the tourist attraction through a concession company follows public critique on the state of the popular recreational area’s infrastructure, which to date, was renovated by and upgraded by MEFT.

The decision was considered as a long-term solution, to ensure that Dune 7 is maintained on behalf of the ministry, for its visitors and a tender was then advertised in November 2022.

A media statement issued by MEFT spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda on Thursday noted that 18 companies applied for the tender, from which Sandwich Dune Tours and Safari emerged as the successful bidder due to the strength of their proposal.

The company is expected to take over the management of Dune 7 soon and it is expected that the company will employ at least 45 workers as part of its operations.

“To further enhance visitor experience, the company will offer various adventure activities at the spot including paragliding, dune climbing, stargazing as well as tours to Walvis Bay. Sandwich Dune Tours and Safari will also develop a restaurant that is open daily and can host special events like weddings or corporate functions,” Muyunda noted.

He added that the restaurant will include a swimming pool and a bar that will be open until late and visitors to the area will also have the convenience of overnighting at the spot as the company plans to construct 10 luxury chalets.

Muyunda noted that while entrance to the restaurant will be free, the company will charge different levies to visitors for other Dune 7 activities, which will be communicated once the company starts operating.

The MEFT has also given the company the optional right to erect and operate a tethered hot air balloon.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

June 15, 2023

Minor dies in accident at Otjiwarongo dumpsite

Seven-year-old Otta Ameb died instantly in a car incident at the Otjiwarongo dumping site on Wednesday.

A crime report issued by the Namibian Police Force on Wednesday said Ameb, who was a learner at Orwetoveni Primary School in Otjiwarongo, died when he and a group of other minors tried to jump onto the back of a moving vehicle.

It is alleged that Ameb and another group of boys jumped onto a Namib Mills truck which was busy reversing to offload waste at the dumping site.

It is suspected that the boy fell off the vehicle and died instantly.

The driver of the vehicle was a licensed 39-year-old Namibian male.

The deceased’s next of kin have been informed and police investigations continue.

In a separate occurrence, Tenete Uohiva, a 68-year-old pensioner, drowned in the Epalela water canal at Ontoko village in the Omusati Region on Wednesday.

According to the Namibian Police, the deceased fell into the canal and drowned while crossing the canal bridge from Epalela location to Omakuva village.

The body was positively identified by family members and police investigation continues.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

June 15, 2023

MEFT offers 40 crocodiles for public sale

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) is offering 40 crocodiles for public sale in its efforts to mitigate the impact of crocodile conflict on communities.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, MEFT announced the public sale of 40 crocodiles in their efforts to minimise human-wildlife conflicts that have been occurring in the north eastern regions of Kavango East and West and the Zambezi Region, where crocodile conflict has been a concern over the past few years.

“The regions of Kavango East, Kavango West and Zambezi continue to experience crocodile attacks on people and their livestock,” said MEFT Chief Public Relations Officer, Romeo Muyunda.

He explained that the ministry has paid offset amounts of over N.dollars 2.3 million for losses caused by crocodiles since 2019.

He said that the crocodiles will be sold through a tender where written financial offers by those interested should be submitted to MEFT in sealed envelopes, including the price per individual animal.

Muyunda concluded that the sale of the 40 crocodiles are in line with the recommendations made at the recently ended conference on human-wildlife conflict management.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

June 15, 2023

Swakopmund prioritising residents’ water and sanitation

The Swakopmund Municipality has ramped up its budget for water and sanitation infrastructure over the past years in order to carry out the type of critical infrastructure work that is unique to the town.

At a recent council budget tabling meeting, chairperson of the Swakopmund Council management committee Wilfried Groenewald said the capital budget for water and sanitation for the 2023/24 financial year is N.dollars 40 million, which they intend to keep on increasing for the future.

This is part of the council’s N.dollars 685 million overall budget, which includes an operating budget of over N.dollars 527 million and a capital expenditure budget of N.dollars 158 million.

“Council has budgeted N.dollars 5 million for a new sewerage rising main, N.dollars 2 million for a sewer pump station and N.dollars 8.7 million for extra cleaning of drains and flooding prevention. However, we must be honest about where we stand as too many of our pump stations are run until they fail, some of our wastewater works can’t handle the load and spills are still far too prevalent,” he noted.

Groenewald added that of all the ways to spend a town’s revenue, investment in water and sanitation infrastructure is arguably the most crucial, therefore the only way to carry on the encouraging improvements seen now is to increase investment even further and for that investment to happen, it must be funded.

An estimated N.dollars 79 million will be budgeted in the next financial year (2024/25) for infrastructure projects, the bulk of which will go towards upgrading and expanding water and sanitation infrastructure across the town.

“We are investing to get ahead and stay ahead as we gear up for the Swakopmund of the future. We will not allow the decay and neglect that has gripped so many other towns and cities in Namibia to take hold in Swakopmund,” the chairperson expressed.

The municipality has also boosted the road maintenance budget with an extra N.dollars 34.6 million for the current financial year.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency