The United Democratic Front Youth League (UDFYL) has elected Reinhold Goseb as its new Secretary General at the 2nd elective congress for the youth wing in 15 years.

The elective congress in Swakopmund was a crucial event for one of Namibia's oldest political parties.

Although the United Democratic Front is 35 years old, the party's youth league has been dormant since holding its first congress in 2009.

An interim committee was established in 2018, and outgoing Secretary General Michael Skini ran the youth leagues' affairs.

Former Governor of the Erongo Region, Samuel Nuuyoma, says the Swapo Party is determined and ready to improve the living conditions of Namibians because that is the reason the party fought and sacrificed to liberate the country.

Nuuyoma made the remarks at a mini rally at Swakopmund, where he handed over cards to new members.

According to him, Swapo's plan for a better Namibia is not lost because the party will use available resources to realise that dream.

Popular Democratic Movement leader McHenry Venaani says Namibia's current and future oil deals need to be renegotiated for Namibians to also benefit from these resources to provide fair jobs and better working conditions for Namibians.

Venaani joined workers at Walvis Bay in a march on May Day.

The PDM leader emphasised the high unemployment rate among young Namibians and said there are not many reasons to celebrate Workers' Day.

Namibia and Belgium have made history by inaugurating the first green hydrogen fuel station and production plant near Walvis Bay.

President Nangolo Mbumba and the King of Belgium lauded the Cleanergy Solutions initiative, which has positioned Namibia as a frontrunner in the global green hydrogen economy.

Cleanergy Solutions Namibia is a joint venture between local companies Ohlthaver and List Group and Belgian CMB Tech.

Six months ago, when the late President Hage Geingob visited the site, there was slight progress.

Administrators of the Walvis Bay Municipality say negotiations with Red Force will commence following the official termination of the contract on Wednesday.

Red Force, however, says the latest development is disturbing and comical because it violates the agreement between the two parties.

Over the past four weeks, Walvis Bay residents and all local authority councillors have ganged up on Red Force, which was appointed six months ago to collect more than N$300 million owed by residents in outstanding water debts.

About 70% to 80% of ministries have decentralised their functions to the regions since the adoption of the Decentralisation Policy in 1997.

This is according to the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development officials, who have called on those lagging behind to improve.

To empower local and regional governments, the Decentralisation Policy was adopted in 1997 so that residents could make their own decisions.

By implementing the policy, communities can shape their own destiny and address challenges unique to them.

Pressure is mounting against the Walvis Bay Municipality administration to remove Red Force as a debt collector.

Councillor Ephraim Shozi, at a community meeting last night (Wednesday), said he will table a motion at the next council meeting for the removal of Red Force as a debt collector.

Other councillors, including Ryan Gordon, Albertina Nkoshi, Paulus Kauhondamwa, and Ronald Bramwell, supported the decision.

Last month, residents marched to the municipality to demand the removal of Red Force as a debt collector at Walvis Bay.

The introduction of visas upon arrival at Walvis Bay Harbour is expected to create a stress-free experience for cruise liner tourists.

The cruise passenger liner industry previously expressed concern about the immigration process, which they described as lengthy.

Because the vessels did not often dock at the Walvis Bay harbour for a day, the lengthy process delayed tourists, who booked activities with local operators.

A member of the Erongo Tourism Forum, Kenneth Kapitako, says immigration authorities have been improving their performance in recent months.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration is convinced that the Ministry of Mines and Energy is hiding information and documentation on diamond deposits and mining operations in Skeleton Coast Park.

In a report, the committee has recommended that the ministry not renew any mining and exploration licences within the park.

The committee went on an oversight visit to Skeleton Coast Park in August 2023. That mission was tasked with assessing and determining whether there are existing diamond deposits or mining operations taking place.

Namport has clinched a deal that will see six passenger cruise liners spend more days at Walvis Bay in October to boost tourism.

Normally, these cruise liners dock at the harbour for less than a day, spending less money on the local economy.

The Erongo Tourism Forum is making deliberate efforts to boost passenger cruise liner tourism.

In the past, Namport targeted 25 passenger cruise liners to dock at the harbour annually.

This number has, however, increased since the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the industry.