Day: July 20, 2023

The newly appointed Ethiopian ambassador to Japan, Daba Debele, has presented his letter of credence to Emperor Naruhito of Japan, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the ceremony, the emperor has reaffirmed the commitment of the Japanese Government to take Japan-Ethiopia relations to a new height.

According to a press release sent by the ministry, Emperor Naruhito spoke about his memories of Abebe Bikila’s victory at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, and wished for the health and happiness of the president and the people of Ethiopia.

On his part, Ambassador Daba Debele said that he would work to bring the existing relationship between Ethiopia and Japan to a higher level.

The ambassador also conferred with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura who acknowledged the economic potential of Ethiopia.

In addition, the minister lauded the success of the Government of Ethiopia in settling peacefully the conflict with TPLF, and reaffirmed his commitment to strengthen the relations between the two countries in areas of trade, economy and industry.

On the occassion, Ambassador Daba reiterated his commitment to work together with the minister to strengthen the economic, trade and industry relationships between the two countries.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

The Roads Authority of Namibia (RA) has launched the first mobile vehicle testing station (MVTS) in Namibia valued at N.dollars 6 million, in Rehoboth, Hardap Region on Thursday.

This mobile testing station will travel across the country, reaching even the most remote areas, and providing a wide range of vehicle testing services, it said.

“We will commence with the Hardap and ||Kharas regions and the mobile unit will be used in these two regions for the next three months,” RA Chief Executive Officer Conrad Lutombi said during the launch, adding that one of the primary benefits of this MVTS is its versatility.

It is outfitted with cutting-edge technology and equipment, ensuring precise and efficient testing of numerous areas such as brakes, lights and overall safety compliance, according to him.

“This mobile unit satisfies all legal criteria under the Road Traffic and Transport Legislation. It will be operated by highly qualified and licensed Roads Authority personnel who are committed to providing dependable and professional services. They will not only conduct the necessary tests, but will also provide vehicle owners with advice and education on the need of regular maintenance and adherence to safety requirements,” he said.

Lutombi said the RA’s intention is to procure four more mobile vehicle testing stations to be used in various regions as funds become available and that the RA is currently busy to procure a truck which will be fully fitted with NaTIS equipment that will serve as a Mobile Registering Authority.

The truck will provide over-the-counter NaTIS services such as registration and licensing of vehicles, learner licence testing and renewal of driving licences, Lutombi said.

“Accordingly, after the ‘NaTIS on Wheels’ truck is acquired, it will operate with the MVTS to serve communities where no NaTIS services are available. This is also part of our strategy to counter the challenge of funding constraints of setting up fully-fledged NaTIS offices,” he said.

Hardap Governor Solomon April, on his part at the launch, encouraged the RA to remain in the Hardap Region and contribute to the tangible matters “that continue to empower the people of the region”.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Namibia is hosting the SADC 25th Ordinary Meeting of the Ministerial Committee of the Organ (MCO) on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation from 17 to 21 July in Windhoek.

Officially opening the meeting here Thursday, MCO chairperson Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said the organ is the main body for the promotion and protection of peace, security and stability in the SADC region.

“The meetings of the MCO are particularly to consider the security situation in the eastern DRC and northern Mozambique, where collectively we have made great strides towards strengthening the peace, security, and stability in the regions,” Nandi-Ndaitwah stated.

These, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, are critical ingredients for sustainable development, however, there are still some regions whose peace is challenged, such as the Eastern DRC.

“In this regard, our region has decided to deploy, by 30 September 2023, a SADC Standby Force Brigade Plus in support of the DRC to address the insecurity in the eastern part of the country,” the chairperson said.

Meanwhile, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the terrorists that had plagued the Northern Province of the Republic of Mozambique have been largely neutralised, and the livelihoods of internally displaced persons are being revived with the support of Friendly Forces and Humanitarian Partners.

Addressing the same meeting, SADC Executive Secretary, Elias Magosi said peace and security are the cornerstones of the regional integration agenda, on which the social and economic wellbeing of the people is premised.

“Our pursuit of a stable region is relentless, as evidenced by our continued efforts to devise and prioritise strategies and frameworks that should help us deliver on this noble obligation,” Magosi said.

Magosi further stated that this meeting will review progress on the implementation of programmes in support of regional peace, security and good governance and will receive updates and progress reports on efforts to consolidate peace, democracy and good governance.

This, he noted includes updates on migration, transnational organised crime, wildlife crime, anti-corruption, and corrections and prisons, which are areas that are equally important contributors to the peace and security architecture of the region.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency