Day: April 19, 2024

WINDHOEK: Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (MIRCO), Peya Mushulenga, stated on Thursday that his ministry, along with the Ministry of Justice, is actively working to rectify the injustice meted out against Junias Shomwele.

He said this in Parliament in response to questions posed by Popular Democratic Movement Member of Parliament, Maximillient Katjimune, concerning the compensation of Shomwele, a Namibian citizen who was wrongfully taken into custody in Zambia on the allegation that he threw a stone on the road, causing former Sioma district commissioner, Mutomena Mubiana’s vehicle to experience a burst tyre in 2014. He was detained from 2014 to 2017 and since his release in 2017, he has made several requests from the government to aid in his search for restitution.

‘The ministry has taken considerable steps over the years to facilitate and engage the relevant authorities in line with its mandate as far as the case of Mr. Shomwele is concerned,’ stated Mushulenga.

He further noted that
legal aid was provided by the Ministry of Justice to Shomwele in 2018 for the execution of the judgement and that they are still awaiting a response for their request for mutual legal assistance.

‘A request for Mutual Legal Assistance was also received from the Ministry of Justice on 24 July 2023 to assist in the matter of Shomwele receiving compensation from the Zambian government for his time spent in prison, which we transmitted via diplomatic channels to the Zambian authorities. The request has been received by the Central Authority of Zambia. This was confirmed by the Zambian High Commission in a meeting convened on 27 October 2023,’ said Mushulenga.

Furthermore, he stated that MIRCO is still waiting on a response in this matter, adding, ‘once received we will transmit the same to the Ministry of Justice which is the right custodian to deal with the matter.’

Mushulenga said that MIRCO continues to carry out its mandate by transmitting requests for mutual legal assistance through diplomatic channels as
guided by Article 96 of the Namibian Constitution.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

The Ovaherero community in the Tsumkwe Constituency who were repatriated from Botswana to Namibia on 28 April 1993, will host the 31st anniversary of their repatriation day at Gam settlement in the Otjozondjupa Region.

Organiser of the event, Ernst Muraranganda in an interview with Nampa on Friday said the main day for the Ovaherero returnees is on 28 April 2024 at Gam, and prior to it on 26 and 27 April several cultural entertainment activities will take place at the community hall and sports field.

‘We have prepared to host Miss Gam Returnee for 2024 on 26 April followed by a music bash and sports games like football, netball and volleyball on 27 April,’ said Muraranganda.

A horse racing tournament, dancing competition, tug-of-war and a five-kilometre run competition will also take place on 27 April.

Muraranganda explained that the main event on Sunday will feature several speeches from traditional leaders and government officials, especially on challenges being faced by Gam community members and discu
ssions.

Gam has nearly 6 000 direct community descendants of the Ovaherero warriors who fought in the war of resistance against the German colonial forces from 1904 to 1908.

‘Our forefathers crossed to Botswana when the war of resistance inside the country had intensified, and most of the attendees of this event on 28 April this year, are those who were born in Botswana and are Namibians by registration,’ he said.

In 1993, a total of 7 000 Herero descendants that now live in the Gam area, had crossed over to Namibia through the Muhembo border post, Muraranganda said.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

The late liberation struggle veteran, Ida Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros has been hailed for her commitment to the fight to liberate Namibians.

Speaking during a memorial service held at farm Snipriver on Friday, Swapo Party secretary general, Sophia Shaningwa said the late Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros was one of the daughters of the soil who played an instrumental role in mobilising Namibians against the apartheid administration, citing that she had an unwavering commitment towards addressing the plight of her fellow oppressed workers during the apartheid era.

‘Her life epitomises a self-sacrificing daughter of the Namibian soil who despite all odds, undertook to either die or else liberate her motherland. Her name shall forever be embedded in the history of our country and on the good side of those who sacrificed their lives for our eternal freedom. To the Swapo Party and the people of Namibia, she embodied and exemplified everything we hope the future generation can emulate,’ Shaningwa said.

Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros was imprisoned several
times, her first imprisonment was in 1979 at Gobabis prison, where she was in prison with her one-year-old son, Natangwe Jimmy for five months. After she was released she was placed under house arrest for one year. Again between 1980 to 1985, Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros was in prison for speaking in public saying, ‘Comrades, give the Swapo freedom fighters food and water, they are our sons, brothers and husbands.’

In a speech read on his behalf, Founding President Sam Nujoma said the late Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros despite the persecution, remained an epitome of grace and dignity and did not let bitterness engulf her heart but remained focused on the mission of achieving freedom and justice for her people.

‘She suffered persecution, imprisonment and harassment by the security apparatus of the apartheid regime, but she never wavered. Her legacy demonstrates the critical role that women played in the liberation struggle, we therefore acknowledge their immense contribution and sacrifices for our freedom and genuine independence, for
this reason, her exemplary deeds shall be remembered by the present and future generations,’ said Nujoma.

Jimmy-!Ha-Eiros died on 03 April this year at the age of 79 after a long illness. She served among others, as Keetmanshoop Urban Constituency councillor, Swapo regional coordinator for ||Kharas between 1992 and 1998, as member of the Swapo politburo and central committee and Swapo head of elections as well as district coordinator for Lderitz.

She will be laid to rest at farm Snipriver on Saturday.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

The 48-year-old Francois Xoagub accused of the murder of his wife, at Grootfontein earlier this month, succumbed Friday afternoon to injuries he sustained in an alleged suicide attempt.

It is alleged that Xoagub murdered his wife, Lizelda Xoagus, 40, on 09 April 2024 at their house in Grootfontein’s Extension 5, where he stabbed her multiple times with a kitchen knife and poured acid on her body.

Xoagub thereafter, allegedly consumed some of the acid in an attempt to commit suicide.

At the time members of the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) arrived at the scene the same night, Xoagub was found in a critical condition and was taken to the Grootfontein State Hospital, from where he was later transferred to the Katutura Intermediate Hospital.

NamPol Commander for Community Affairs in the Otjozondjupa Region, Senior Inspector Maureen Mbeha on Friday said Xoagub died on Friday afternoon at the Windhoek Central Hospital under police guard.

His close relatives have been informed of his death.

Xoagub was self-e
mployed, while his wife was a radiographer at the Grootfontein State Hospital.

The couple leaves behind a minor daughter, Mbeha said.

Police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on waste management by Rundu and Opuwo last month, the two town councils reiterated their commitment to waste management with the launch of a ‘zero-waste’ campaign at Opuwo on Friday.

The initiative seeks to convert waste materials into valuable resources and eliminate trash, rendering Opuwo and Rundu the cleanest towns in Namibia while simultaneously reducing hunger in their communities.

The MoU was signed in Rundu on 07 March 2024, committing to ‘Go Zero Waste’ as a means of halting trash disposal into landfills.

Opuwo Mayor Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo at the launch said that the collaboration is critical to eliminating waste while emphasising and encouraging that trash should not be discarded but rather recycled as a means of eradicating hunger, which includes the sale of waste recycling enterprises for product manufacture.

‘I implore you to utilise the waste you collect in town to be able to give you profits and end hunger,’ she went on to say.

Ru
ndu Mayor Gabriel Kanyanga on his part, said the waste generated in towns may be converted into green pastures that will abolish hunger.

He stated that a board was formed to ensure that the campaign is realised. Kanyanga is the chairperson of the board, to be deputised by Mbinge-Tjeundo, while the chairpersons of the management committee of both town councils are the spokespersons, and their chief executive officers will serve as treasurers.

He said the board will not administer the programme; instead, the community will run it under the board’s oversight.

‘This board or these local authorities will not be the one running the campaign within our respective towns, instead the concept will be given to our communities and they will be the ones running the initiative,’ he said.

He also urged the Opuwo community to adapt and adjust to their duties.

‘We are so happy that the community of Opuwo stood up in numbers to come and listen to the launch to take up the ownership of the waste,’ he noted, adding that bot
h councils also decided to organise an extensive cleanup campaign on 17 May 2024.

Furthermore, the mayor challenged the community to devise creative methods to turn rubbish into usable products to generate cash.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

A 35-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly burning a five-year-old boy at Omaku village in the Tsandi constituency of the Omusati Region.

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Omusati’s Regional Crime Investigation Coordinator, Moses Simaho, confirmed to Nampa on Friday that the incident occurred on Wednesday at around 14h00 and a case of attempted murder has been opened.

According to Simaho, the victim is accused of breaking into the shebeen and stealing sugar.

‘It is alleged that the suspect burned the boy by lighting the grass on fire and applying it to the child’s body,’ he said.

Simaho indicated that the victim sustained serious injuries on both hands, feet, thighs and legs.

He noted that the victim is admitted at Tsandi hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment and is in a stable condition.

Meanwhile, the suspect has been arrested and charged.

Police investigations into the matter continues.

Source: Namibia Press Agency