Day: June 18, 2023

Chinese ambassador to Namibia, Zhao Weiping has clarified that Namibia and China are discussing an agreement to grant mutual visa exemption to all passport holders for both their citizens in an effort to promote tourism and people exchange.

This follows recent media reports that Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Minister, Albert Kawana has proposed a visa exemption for Chinese nationals arriving in Namibia for a period of 30 days, which sparked a public uproar that it would not be fair if the same privilege is not extended to Namibian citizens arriving in China.

Weiping, during a recent media briefing, revealed that the two governments begin consultative talks on a mutual visa exemption granting agreement in 2019 to promote Chinese and Namibia tourism and people exchange, however, the discussions were halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

By February 2023, China has signed visa agreements with 152 countries of which 134 have signed mutual visa exemptions for diplomatic or official passport holders, 18 have agreed on visa exemption for all passport holders and 17 have signed unilateral visa exemptions for all Chinese citizens, he said, noting that 40 countries have granted Chinese citizens landing visa treatment.

“The purpose of the relevant countries which grant visas to Chinese citizens is to attract Chinese tourists and promote the exchange of people. For Namibia, it is a mutual granting, while on the Chinese side, we are also granting Namibian citizens visa exemption for all passport holders. Every Namibian that wants to visit China, no visa will be required once we have signed this agreement,” he said.

Weiping equally criticised some Namibian politicians for their remarks on the matter, saying they might be exploiting the situation for their own political gain by making statements that lack factual basis.

He further highlighted that both China and African countries are developing countries, therefore China’s President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI), aimed at offering solutions and inclusive universal security and common prosperity, especially for African countries.

“As for China, we wish and hope for the agreement to be signed as soon as possible,” he said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

President Hage Geingob will host Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, and Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, for a Joint Working Visit to Namibia on Monday.

In a statement availed here Saturday, the Presidency said the joint Working Visit by the Prime Ministers of Denmark and the Netherlands will provide the three countries with an excellent opportunity to strengthen dialogue on global challenges and opportunities, as well as to broaden and deepen coordinated and genuine partnerships between the three countries and their people.

The visit will benefit all countries because the Netherlands and Denmark share common visions and aspirations with Namibians in terms of international cooperation, economic development, and the green transition, it said.

It further read: “The discovery of oil and the promotion of green hydrogen as part of the energy transition have drawn the world’s attention to Namibia. Namibia looks forward to working with Denmark, whose strategy pushes for the production and use of green hydrogen in sectors like shipping and aviation, as well as heavy transport and industry.”

Therefore, this occasion presents an opportune moment for Namibia to engage in a constructive dialogue on energy.

Namibia and the Netherlands, it said, continue to strengthen their bilateral relations as cooperation in various sectors such as tourism, trade, energy, and infrastructure has been increasing. Namibia has also seen projects initiated by the Netherlands to support Namibia’s green economy, in addition to science, technology, innovation and education projects.

“President Geingob, who has had several exchanges with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, including on the margins of COP 27 in 2023, looks forward to consolidating joint efforts and coordination in the delivery of a just energy transition,” the statement concluded.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Swapo Party Central Committee on Saturday directed that government immediately take executive and legislative steps aimed to introduce a Namibian law-compliant definition of the word ‘spouse’ into the Immigration Control Act.

This comes after the Party’s Central Committee discussed the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage, which recognises same-sex marriages involving Namibians conducted overseas.

Pronouncing the party’s stance on the supreme court’s ruling in the capital, Swapo’s Secretary for Information and Mobilisation, Hilma Nikanor said the proposed legislative steps will inevitably modify (not repeal) the common law principle applied by the Supreme Court only for purposes of section 2(1)(c) of the Act.

“Over the last 33 years, the Swapo party had notably, through its government taken necessary steps in order not only to make new laws but also to repeal and modify existing laws that do not serve the public interest’” Nikanor said.

She added that having carefully considered and reflected on the matter, the party expressed grave concern and disappointment over the judgement and its effect on society, noting that the Swapo party strongly condemns and repudiates all kinds of immoral and indecent acts and other associated acts that are either inconsistent with Namibian laws or against public policy.

“In this respect, the Swapo party directs its government to enforce all laws in force that are aimed at preventing and combatting such acts,” she said.

Nikanor reiterated and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to the constitutional provisions under Article 78(3), that is, non-interference with the Judiciary and the protection of the dignity and effectiveness of Courts.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Namibia’s track and field athlete Finamekeni Hamutenya ran a personal best record to finish second in the men’s 1500 metres (m) heats at the 2023 Berlin Special Olympics World Games underway in Berlin, Germany.

The Special Olympics World Games are the world’s largest inclusive sporting event. At this year’s championships over 6,500 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners (those athletes without intellectual disabilities) from 176 delegations unite in taking the Special Olympics oath promising, ‘Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.’

On Sunday afternoon, Hamutenya became the first Namibian to take to the track in the Level A 1500 metre (m) heat three of the quarterfinals at the Hanns-Braun Stadium in Berlin.

With his impressive run of 4:12.79 seconds, the Namibian athlete finished second behind Kenyan runner Daniel Mutiso who completed the three laps in a time of 4:11.90 seconds.

Hamutenya’s previous record was 4:28.00 seconds.

In an interview with Nampa after the race, Hamutenya said he was excited to set a new personal best.

“I enjoyed the race, I am looking forward to the final. It felt good, and my hard work at training helped in this race well,” Hamutenya said.

Meanwhile, Julien Garises the team Chef de Mission for this game told this agency that it feels great to see athletes giving it their all.

“Germany has welcomed us well, and we keep on talking to the athletes about their readiness for the games. At the moment, I am happy with their readiness and focus,” she said.

Garises added that the Namibian athletes at the games are well-behaved and are looking forward to making their nation proud.

“Coming early to Germany gave us time to acclimatize to the weather while at the same time giving the athletes enough time to put in the extra work at training,” she said, adding that credit should be given to the Namibian government for making all this possible.

The Special Olympics World Games are being held from 18 to 25 June 2023 in Berlin. Namibia is represented in three sports codes, namely athletics, cycling and 3×3 basketball.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Presidency on Sunday expressed gratitude to President Hage Geingob for exceptional leadership remembering how on this day in history 18 June 1989, Geingob brought back the flag of the liberation movement Swapo to Namibia.

Press Secretary in the Presidency Dr Alfredo Hengari in a media statement issued on Sunday said, after 27 years in exile fighting for the liberation of Namibia, Geingob brought the flag of the liberation movement Swapo back home, when he led the first group of senior Swapo freedom fighters, who would play a pivotal role in the transition of Namibia to independence in 1990.

“The Presidency wishes to thank President Geingob for his steadfast, inclusive and visionary leadership as Chairman of the Constituent Assembly, Founding Prime Minister and third President of the country,” he stated.

The exemplary and exceptional service of Geingob he said, shall continue to inspire current and future generations.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency