Category: Government Policy

WINDHOEK – President Hage Geingob, in his annual press briefing at State House, responded to media criticism regarding his and his ministers’ international travels, emphasizing the importance of focusing on substantive issues. Geingob clarified that international travel is a part of his mandate to serve the Namibian nation, not motivated by monetary benefits. He refuted allegations suggesting that he and his cabinet members travel to gain from travel and subsistence allowances, underscoring his commitment to public service.
According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), The president also addressed recent media reports about the government’s purchase of luxury vehicles for the Prime Minister and her deputy, arguing that such expenditures are necessary for effective service delivery. He urged the media to concentrate on more significant topics rather than reducing government activities to trivial matters like travel and vehicles. During the briefing, President Geingob reviewed the year’s progress, highlighting his state visit to South Africa in April. The visit aimed to enhance bilateral relations, focusing on regional, continental, and international concerns, and exploring new areas of cooperation in sectors like green hydrogen and oil and gas.

OSHIIKUKU – Julia Endjambi has been re-elected as the mayor of Oshikuku during the town council’s interim elections held on Tuesday. Petrus Petrus will serve as the deputy mayor, while Linus Mingeli, Veronica Mwenyo, and Williams Sheende retain their positions on the management committee. Petrus Nambinga and Rosalia Kalimbo continue as ordinary council members. In her acceptance speech, Endjambi emphasized the importance of serving the Oshikuku community with equality, commitment, and dedication.
According to Namibia Press Agency (NAMPA), She highlighted the significant tasks ahead, particularly the expectations set by the community in relation to the 2023/24 budget. Endjambi stressed the council’s responsibility to deliver services and tangible development impartially. She called for unity among council members to effectively address the needs and challenges of the residents. Endjambi also encouraged council members and staff to be well-prepared for meetings, aiming to contribute meaningfully to the town’s development.

Interior Cabinet Secretary, Prof Kithure Kindiki has revealed plans by the executive to introduce new legislation to empower the National Authority for the Campaign Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse (NACADA) to repress illicit alcohol and drug supply chain. According to Prof. Kindiki, under the new legislations, NACADA will for the first time, have powers to deal with the manufacturers and suppliers of the killer brews and those involved in the distribution of drugs at source. Currently, the authority’s sole mandate is limited to undertaking public education and awareness campaign against alcohol and drug abuse in schools, workplaces, colleges, universities, technical institutions, county governments, ministries, parastatals, national government administrative offices, faith-based institutions, Community Based Organizations, Non-governmental Organisations. ‘We have brought legislation to strengthen the powers of NACADA to make sure we empower the entity to not only suppress the demand for drugs and alcohol, but also to increasingly suppress the supply chain. And therefore we want to destroy the manufacture and supply chain of alcohol and drugs as much as we are dealing with the demand for it. That legislation will go a long way in strengthening the fight against drug and alcohol abuse,’ he said. The Interior CS was speaking at the Ihururu rehabilitation and treatment centre in Tetu Nyeri County during the handing over ceremony of the accreditation certificate to the facility. The 90 bed capacity facility opened its doors in September this year after an assessment by NACADA to ensure that it met all the set requirements to offer treatment for addiction. The centre is the only public facility in the county that is offering treatment for drugs and alcohol addiction. Currently, a total of 14 patients are admitted at the facility. During the event, the CS was accompanied by the Central Regional Commissioner, Fredrick Shisia, Nyeri Deputy Governor, Warui Kinaniri, Nyeri county commissioner, Pius Murugu, NACADA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anthony Omerikwa and a host of NACADA board members. Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof. Kithure Kindiki joins NACADA officials and County government officials during a facility tour of the Ihururu rehabilitation and treatment centre in Tetu, Nyeri county. The CS also noted that his ministry had identified drug abuse and illicit brews as the third biggest threat to the country’s security and called for partnership between county governments, NACADA and the national government to eradicate the vice. Further, Prof. Kindiki championed the establishment of rehabilitation and treatment facilities in each of the 47 counties as one of the strategies of rescuing drug and alcohol addicts. ‘We have mapped the National Security threats that are facing the country today and we have established, the order of priority, that terrorism remains the greatest threat to our country’s existence followed by armed banditry and thirdly, the sale and consumption of drugs, illicit alcohol and psychotropic substances which is threatening to wipe out an entire generation and will affect national security if we do not tackle it. That tells you that this institution is helping us resolve a very serious national security issue,’ he said. ‘I want to urge all other counties to follow the footsteps of Nyeri County because our goal as a government is to ensure that we have rehabilitation and treatment facilities in every county so that we can rescue our youth,’ Kindiki added. Additionally, the CS also pledged to continue improving the state of rehabilitation centre across the country, while also directing NACADA to set up post treatment support programmes, which he said would equip the recovered addicts with technical and business skills before they reintegrated into the society. ‘I have instructed NACADA to partner with county governments to follow up recovered addicts from such facilities so that we help them and ensure they do not relapse to addiction. Also, going forward, we will ensure that those who undergo treatment from such facilities should be supported to acquire skills as a way of helping them support themselves economically after their treatment,’ said Prof. Kindiki.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Nakuru County government has prioritized improved sanitation at all markets in a bid to advance cleanliness, well-being of the traders, and the health and hygiene of market goers. The County’s Trade Chief Officer Samwel Ndegwa said adequate toilet facilities enhance overall sanitation and hygiene in the markets, and it reduces the risk of diseases for the traders and their customers. He was speaking today during the handing-over ceremony at the Kiamaina ward in Bahati Sub-county. Traders and county officials touring the sanitation He noted that access to clean and well-maintained toilets provides individuals with dignity and privacy, which is particularly important to women, children, and people with specific needs, ensuring that they can address their basic hygiene needs comfortably. Additionally, the officer said inadequate sanitation can lead to contamination of food and water sources, posing significant health risks to both vendors and customers. Hence more toilets can help mitigate these risks, ensuring safer food handling and consumption. While commending the county government, the MCA for the area Paul Waweru said markets are essential economic hubs where people buy and sell goods and services. And, by improving sanitation through more toilets, markets can attract more customers, leading to increased revenue for local businesses and higher tax revenue for the government. He further said clean and well-maintained markets with adequate toilet facilities can attract tourists, hence boosting the local tourism industry and the overall economy of the county. The traders lauded the county management for the improved sanitation and promised to maintain proper waste disposal for environmental sustainability. They noted that the facility will also be a source of employment opportunities, especially for area youths who will be managing the toilet as well as the Curio shops. Proper sanitation management in markets has always been an issue of health concern in the county since most traders spread their goods on the ground and during the rainy season, the entire area becomes inaccessible.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Ambassador to Djibouti Birhanu Tsagaye affirmed that the long-standing diplomatic relations between the two countries continue to strengthen in all spheres.

Ambassador Birhanu characterized the Ethio-Djibouti ties as an inseparable, mutual friendship that has endured through the ages.

He told ENA that the two countries have been working in partnership and based on mutual benefits in the areas of water, roads, railways, electric power, ports and other vital development sectors.

The countries are enjoying encouraging cooperation in the areas of political, economic, trade and infrastructure based on mutual trust, the ambassador indicated.

He said the people of Ethiopia and Djibouti are strongly interlinked with culture, language and other social bandages.

Regarding infrastructure, the Ambassador noted collaborative efforts are being underway to improve road conditions from Djibouti to Ethiopia.

The countries are also working to address complaints about Djibouti’s customs services and expedite imports at Djibouti’s ports.

Ambassador Birhanu highlighted joint initiatives like transporting fertilizer at a rate of 5-6 tons per day.

He also highlighted how the two countries implemented Green Legacy Initiative by importing seedlings from Ethiopia.

The ambassador reaffirmed the commitment of the countries to supporting each other and overcoming challenges together.

The two countries have started diplomatic ties in 1984, building on a long history of cultural, linguistic and social bonds

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

WINDHOEK: The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) will as of 17 November this year, undertake a special Festive Season Crime Prevention Operation and Road Safety Campaign, to preserve road safety on national roads and prevent crime.

This was announced by the Inspector-General (IG) of NamPol, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo while addressing the 2023/24 festive season crime prevention and road safety operations preparatory meeting for all 14 regional commanders, here Tuesday.

Shikongo said the countrywide operation will run until 16 January, and that all police officers will participate in the operation with only a few to be left in the offices to attend to administrative matters.

“The majority of members should be deployed in the streets, location, hot spots and other critical areas. The operation is aimed at saving lives and the protection of properties,” Shikongo said.

He further said the operation will target identified hot spot areas, increase police visibility, improve response time, target alcohol and drug abuse, target excessive speed and drunk driving, road unworthiness vehicles and increase the number of fixed and mobile roadblocks.

“In order to achieve the objectives of the operation, there should be multiple intelligence-driven and heightened police visibility at all identified areas such as hot spots, areas where large numbers of our communities gather during holidays, the beaches, and tourist destinations; these include regular vehicular and foot patrols, sporadic roadblocks, search and tracing of wanted suspects,”Shikongo said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency