The Kunene Vocational Training Centre is expected to open for its first intake in June.

This was announced by the Namibia Training Authority's TVET Standards Manager, Amon Haufiku, during a consultative meeting with the community at Khorixas.

Although construction at the centre is not yet fully completed, Haufiku said about 100 trainees and staff members are expected to occupy different workshops and classrooms in June.

Construction of the centre started in 2018, but it was delayed by the challenges brought by the outbreak of COVID-19.

B2Gold has committed N$19 million towards the completion of Ombili Primary School at Ombili Informal Settlement in Otjiwarongo to meet the government halfway in ensuring access to education.

B2GOLD Country Manager John Roos says N$3 million has already been spent since 2021 for 24 classrooms and two blocks for grade 1 and 2 learners.

Roos says the mining company decided to construct eight additional classrooms to address overcrowding in classes.

The company will also construct a library and a science lab, while the sports field will be completed in 2025.

In an effort to bring health services closer to the people, an N$6 million clinic will be constructed in Otjiwarongo's Ombili informal settlement.

The funds have been secured from B2 Gold Namibia to upgrade the health centre in which they are currently operating into a fully-fledged clinic.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of the centre upgrade, Health and Social Services Ministry Executive Director Ben Nangombe said the initiative will relieve pressure on the Otjiwarongo Hospital as well as Orwetoveni Clinic.

Otjozondjupa Regional Governor, James Uerikua, has reiterated a call for a referral hospital at Otjiwarongo because of the many accidents happening on the B1 road.

Uerikua was speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Ombili Clinic at Otjiwarongo.

Otjiwarongo has a population of 220,000 inhabitants, of which 62,000 depend on health services from the Otjiwarongo State Hospital.

The Otjiwarongo Municipality has approved the renaming of Von Trotha Street, among a list of streets to be rechristened in the Otjiwarongo informal settlements.

This was confirmed by Town Mayor Gottlieb Shivute, who said the council has been hard at work since October 2023, through its council resolutions, to have streets renamed in the town. 

Otjozondjupa Governor James Uerikua says the completion of the biomass project at Otjiwarongo would help address developmental hindrances such as drought.

Uerikua says amidst the current drought spells affecting the nation, biomass will assist in the bush encroachment that is affecting grazing lands or harvesting fields.

Uerikua said that farmers across the region have been battling with diminishing grazing lands. 

Major progress is taking shape in setting up the Otjiwarongo Biomass Power Plant.

This was confirmed by Otjiwarongo Municipality's Economic Development Manager, Petros Kuteeue, during a courtesy call to Otjozondjupa Regional Governor, James Uerikua, with the German delegation on biomass and renewable energy.

Kuteeue says despite previous delays, progress has been made ahead of the commissioning at the 93-hectare Biomass Industrial Park, where tonnes of wood chips, charcoal, char briquettes, biofuel, and biochar will be produced.

Ahead of the national elections in November, Popular Democratic Movement President McHenry Venaani says his party is ready to set up a coalition government to govern the country.

Venaani made the remarks at a packed rally at Okakarara.

Venaani described this year's upcoming Presidential and National Assembly Elections as highly contested, urging the youth to vote for young leaders like him to occupy the highest office in the land.

Two people have died from injuries sustained in separate car accidents along the B1 road in the Otjozondjupa region. These accidents occurred as the Easter long weekend came to an end. In addition, a total of 32 people survived with minor injuries in separate minibus accidents in the region.

According to NamPol's Inspector Maureen Mbeha, the community affairs officer for the Otjozondjupa Region both accidents were caused by tire bursts, which resulted in the drivers losing control and the vehicles overturning multiple times.

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia has cautioned election officials to maintain integrity in the voter registration process and to avoid actions that could raise doubts about the credibility of the upcoming elections.

Dr. Elsie Nghikembua made this plea during the closing of a 14-day training program for election officials in Otjiwarongo, in preparation for the national elections in November.

The 156 officials have been trained in various roles and responsibilities related to managing and overseeing all processes according to the Electoral Act.