Otjozondjupa Region Governor James Uerikua is calling for the inclusion of the agricultural sector in the Public Finance Management Bill.

The governor made this call during a stakeholder consultation meeting with the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises on the bill. 

Namibia is said to be lagging behind compared to other African countries that have implemented several public finance management laws.

The proposed bill aims to replace the State Finance Act, which has been in operation for over three decades.

595 people have registered for the Conditional Basic Income Grant at Otavi. 

The Otavi Constituency Office is compiling a report for consideration by the Ministry of Gender, Poverty Eradication, and Social Welfare. 

Okahandja and Otjiwarongo have already started with the grant as part of the pilot project.

Otavi Constituency Councillor George !Garab also wants Otavi residents who are unable to sustain themselves to benefit from the grant.

The Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) in the Otjozondjupa Region has condemned the Grootfontein municipality's decision to appoint a debt collector.

The council appointed Red Force Debt Management to trace businesses and residents with outstanding accounts.

In a media release, the Otjozondjupa SPYL Regional Secretary, Alfeus Kamati, says Red Force disregards the welfare of residents and only considers the interests of those who hired it. 

Outjo residents have appealed for strict enforcement of the law to minimise criminality and alcohol and drug abuse within their community.

They expressed their needs during a meeting with authorities organised by the European Union (EU) in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

The Kunene residents believe that most of the social evils encountered in their community have their origins in alcohol and drug abuse.

Shebeens are mainly found in the informal settlement, which the municipality says was designated for residential purposes. 

The Grootfontein Municipality has appointed Red Force Debt Collectors to collect more than N$200 million owed to it by businesses and individuals.

The Grootfontein Municipality Acting Chief Executive Officer, Indileni Lungameni, says debtors still have time to settle their bills before the agent assumes operations next month.

Residents are advised to engage directly with Redforce regarding the settlement of their accounts.

Following the deaths of two children out of 12 diagnosed with malnutrition in Otavi earlier this year, the town's mayor, Isaac !Hoaeb, together with the Namibia Housing Action Group, started training residents of the Kap-en-Bou housing project on gardening and nutritional values.

Kap-en-Bou has 705 plots with more than 2,000 residents.

The idea is for each resident of Kap-en-Bou to have a small garden at home, while a large community garden will also be established.

Environment, Forestry, and Tourism Executive Director Teofilus Nghitila says they are working on making Namibia attractive again for international conferences and other meetings.

Nghitila made these remarks at the ministry's planning session for their quarter review and compilation of the Annual Management Plan for 2024–2025.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism still needs to revive the tourism sector despite encouraging statistics from the sector.

Street vendors in Grootfontein are calling on their municipality to fast-track the construction of an open market to allow them to flourish in their businesses.

The vendors of Grootfontein have been in desperate need of an open market for years, as selling on the streets is not conducive.

From time to time, the municipality would move them from the CBD but have stopped doing so and rather charges the vendors for selling at undesignated places around town.

Vendors were also asked to move to a fenced-off municipal place for the town to look organised.

The Councillor of the Sesfontein Constituency, Hendrick Gaobaeb, says development in the constituency is noticeable; however, more needs to be done to upgrade the road network. 

Sesfontein has developed significantly over the years, as the settlement did not have communication infrastructure or electricity, and there were no radio or television receptions until 2004.

The settlement now prides itself on having all these services, including those of the Ministries of Gender, Agriculture, and Works and a settlement office.

The Chairperson of the National Disability Council of Namibia, Charlie Matengu, says senseless acts towards people with disabilities must be condemned, and Namibians should work towards creating a more compassionate and understanding community.

Matengu made the remarks following the killing of a man with disabilities after an alleged assault by two farmers.

30-year-old Benedict Swartbooi was killed on March 14 in the Maltahohe district.