Category: Politics

WINDHOEK: Namibia’s Vice President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, on Wednesday urged leaders of her ruling Swapo Party to refrain from politicising the government’s food aid programme in light of the impending drought.

Addressing the party’s workshop for delegates from 121 districts, in preparation for the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections set for November, Nandi-Ndaitwah cautioned them not to discriminate against non-Swapo members when it comes to providing drought relief.

‘Therefore, as leaders, you are expected to know the needs of your communities irrespective of their political affiliations. We need all Namibians to survive, and that’s why as your vice president, I am saying we should not politicise the drought relief programme.

It is for all of us because as the elected party in this government, we are to take care of all Namibians wherever they are, and you cannot deny people food,’ said Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also Swapo’s vice president.

Namibia and other countries in southern Africa are
currently experiencing a severe drought caused by a significant decrease in rainfall in the region.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform estimates a poor harvest in all crop-producing regions in the communal areas. In its crop prospects, food security, and drought situation report for March 2024, the ministry noted weakening household food security in the seven northern regions.

This is due to reduced agricultural production recorded in the 2022/2023 season. The ministry noted that many households in the main crop-producing regions are reported to have used up their food reserves from the previous season. As a result, they are now relying on the market and drought relief food for their sustenance.

Additionally, the food security situation in southern, eastern, western, and central Namibia is also dire due to the prevailing drought conditions.

These areas are predominantly inhabited by livestock farmers who depend on livestock farming as their main source of income.

However, the pasture in
these regions is insufficient and of poor quality, making it difficult to adequately sustain their livestock, the report indicated.

Nandi-Ndaitwah informed the party’s district coordinators and district mobilizers that government has therefore put in place measures to ensure that all Namibians in need of food assistance are catered for.

However, she appealed to those in a position to assist themselves not to take advantage of the food relief program. ‘That’s why we say those with an income, please meet your government halfway by taking care of yourself and let the government take care of the others,’ she said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The ruling Swapo Party activated its election campaign machinery on Wednesday by convening a preparatory workshop in the capital for all its district coordinators and mobilisers.

The party gathered its functionaries from all 121 districts across the country in preparation for the Presidential and National Assembly elections set for November this year.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Swapo Vice-President, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, said the event is organised to empower the party functionaries with essential campaign tools.

‘We are here to prepare ourselves for the upcoming Presidential and National Assembly elections. As we gear up for those elections, we must get prepared in such a manner that we leave no stone unturned.

‘Our ultimate goal is to ensure that we bring back the Swapo Party to its glory, by reclaiming what we have lost in the last elections.

‘It is therefore my great pleasure to officiate at this very important workshop as we activate the campaign and mobilisation machinery
of the Swapo Party for the Presidential and National Assembly elections,’ she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah, who will be the Swapo presidential candidate, noted that the elections scheduled for 27 November 2024 demand extraordinary efforts and dedication from party members.

‘This means the structures of our party at all levels must be ready to ensure full mobilisation of our members, supporters, and sympathisers to vote for the Swapo Party come election day,’ she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah told the participants that the election campaigns have already started since the Electoral Commission of Namibia released its electoral calendar.

‘With the launch of the election calendar by the ECN, that has signaled the opening of the campaign and we have seen increased political activities in the area,’ she said, while commending the party’s regional leaders about the recruitment drive efforts.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also informed the delegates that the party is finalising its 2024 election manifesto and the unveiling of the party’s candi
dates for the National Assembly elections.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Twenty cyclists riding for the Trans Kalahari Corridor (TKC) initiative on Tuesday entered Namibia from Botswana through the Trans-Kalahari-Mamuno Border Post in a challenge that started earlier this month in Rustenburg, South Africa.

The cycling event was initiated to raise awareness of the TKC regionally and internationally, with the objective of securing the three member states’ commitment to economic progress through spatial development initiatives along the corridor.

The initiative also aims to promote road safety on the corridor, reduce delays along the route, address security concerns, and commemorate the 20th anniversary of the TKC, among others.

The Namibian Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa receiving the cyclists from his Botswana counterpart, Eric Molale, highlighted the importance of connection between countries and how the initiative will improve the economy of the three member states.

‘I want to highlight how transport infrastructure are vital for development, thus, it is clear t
hat since independence of our country, Namibia has improved drastically on road infrastructure, that has given birth to initiatives of this magnitude between our countries with the aim of also expanding this initiative to other countries in Africa,’ Mutorwa indicated.

Mutorwa urged those along the route of the cyclists in the country to give them good hospitality and welcome them in their towns and villages.

Handing over the cyclists to Mutorwa, Molale, the Botswana Minister of Transport and Public Works touched more on the relationship between the three member states, and assured his Namibian counterpart that his country is committed to the initiative, and wished the cyclists well as they continue with their journey through Namibia.

‘I am here to hand over the cyclists that I have been taking care of for the last seven days, who are carrying along the pledge of the TKC that entails that we must be a united people, we must be allowed to move freely across our region, we must harmonise our processes and pro
tocols that facilitate free movement, and we must invest along the corridor,’ Molale highlighted.

The cyclists are expected to reach their final destination Walvis Bay later this month and the Namibian route will feature seven public engagements with various stakeholders.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Officials of the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) in the Otjozondjupa Region on Tuesday held an information sharing meeting with a group of different political party representatives at Otjiwarongo.

Political party members that attended the meeting are from Swapo, the United Democratic Front (UDF) and Landless People’s Movement (LPM).

Various church organisations, the regional directorate of education, arts and culture, government garage, regional council officials and members of the Namibian Police Force also attended.

ECN Otjozondjupa Regional Electoral Officer, Victoria Amutenya introduced to the meeting the seven constituency supervisors of voter card registrations for Otjiwarongo, Otavi, Grootfontein, Tsumkwe, Okahandja, Omatako and Okakarara.

Amutenya further shared the voter education calendar dates for each constituency, saying the voter education officials are now busy disseminating information in the Otjiwarongo Constituency until 27 April 2024.

Okahandja is next, followed by Omatako, Okaka
rara, Otavi and Tsumkwe last on 20 June this year, said Amutenya.

‘We therefore urge everyone present to this meeting to go out and share the information about the voter card registrations which will start on 03 June to 01 August 2024. Since there will be no supplementary registrations, all Namibians above 18 years should acquire their voter cards within 03 June and 01 August this year, besides that they will not be allowed to participate in the elections,’ she said.

Amutenya further called on the political parties themselves to also mobilise their members to go and register for the voter cards.

She concluded by telling the meeting that all eligible Namibians on 27 November 2024 will be expected to cast their votes using ballot papers in the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Gender equality, poverty eradication and social welfare Deputy Minister, Bernadette Jagger, called for a strong collaboration between all stakeholders to ensure that grants are used for their intended purpose, which is to uplift the most vulnerable out of extreme poverty.

Jagger, while launching a sensitisation campaign on the misuse of social grants at Omitara in the Omaheke region on Monday, called on traditional leaders, churches, regional leadership, the ministry’s staff and the Namibian Police Force to, as community representatives start policing social grants.

‘It is important to understand that the provision of social protection services is a fundamental human right, therefore policing the usage of social grants borders towards the abuse of these rights. No law prohibits or directs how social grant beneficiaries should disperse their money’, Jagger said.

Due to the lack of laws or policies to prohibit the misuse of grants, there is thus a need to have constant awareness campaigns and monitoring from
those close to beneficiaries.

In his remarks, Omaheke regional chairperson Igantius Kariseb who initiated the campaign said the initiative was prompted by complaints and concerns from the communities around the region and the whole of Namibia on how beneficiaries are misusing the little they are getting from the government, citing alcohol abuse as one of the main contributing factors to the misuse.

‘The situation on the ground in terms of social grants is disheartening, the government is trying its best for our people to at least get a social grant to improve their livelihood but by the look of things what we see in the region is not the optimal utilisation of these grants, therefore as regional leadership we came up with this initiative to sensitise our people’, Kariseb indicated.

The campaign, which kicked off on Monday, will reach all corners of the Omaheke region before it concludes on Saturday.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

RUNDU: The president of the Landless People’s Movement (LPM) Bernadus Swartbooi said his party fires those in leadership roles when they are involved in corrupt practices, unlike the ruling party, Swapo.

Swartbooi made these statements during a rally the party held at Ndama in Rundu on Sunday.

‘In the areas the party is governing, when any of our leaders are involved in corrupt practices, we fire them immediately. People say we are an unstable party for doing so. However, we said if we do what Swapo is doing then we are not an honest party,’ he said.

LPM will not allow corruption by its leaders whether from local or regional authorities, he said.

When leaders misbehave they are either told to improve or leave the party.

‘In LPM, if you want to be corrupt, there is another party. Go to that party,’ he stated.

Swartbooi also mentioned that since the last elections in 2020, it has put young people (20 to 35-year-olds) in leadership roles, giving them the necessary attention through training to develop them
into responsible leaders of society.

‘We have said that we cannot postpone the tomorrow for young people. We must take young people without experience and develop society with them,’ he said.

His party, he noted has also developed close relationships with traditional authorities in order to understand the issues in traditional communities.

‘LPM has changed the politics of just wanting votes and each and every ethnic group is a core principle in the party. We have to develop proper leaders that must lead society. If we send leaders into society who do not have love for the people, then they will treat some people better and others not so good,’ he said.

Loving all Namibians equally keeps a leader humble, the party leader said, adding that no leader can come to people that they do not love and serve them honestly.

‘A loving leader will have sleepless nights if his people are hungry, jobless or without housing. He or she will work hard to find solutions to these problems because he or she loves his people.
This message of love is not just for the church but it’s of humanity,’ Swartbooi said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency