The Electoral Commission of Namibia is in full swing with preparations for the General Registration of Voters and has commenced with a mock voters' registration exercise in the |Khomas Region.

Namibia will be heading to the polls in November this year for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

This is the second mock voter's registration undertaken by the electoral body.

In November last year, ECN covered five regions, to test the new technology it intends to use to register voters for the November polls.

The high unemployment rate among the youth continues to be a serious burden for the |Khomas Region.

The chairperson of the |Khomas Regional Council says the region's unemployment rate stands at 31.5%.

Shaalukeni Moonde says, despite various interventions by the council, unemployment in the region is showing little sign of abating.

Between April and September this year, 25,582 people tested for HIV/AIDS in the |Khomas Region, of which 496 results returned positive.

This was revealed by the Chairperson of the |Khomas Regional Council, John Moonde, at the |Khomas Regional Council World AIDS Day commemoration in Windhoek on Friday.

With 'linkage to care', Moonde revealed that out of the 496 positive cases, 435 individuals have been linked to care, resulting in an 88% linkage rate. 

The number of people diagnosed with diabetes has almost doubled, from over 6,000 last year to 10,802 this year.

However, these cases were only recorded at eight health facilities in the |Khomas Region, and the figures could be higher.

The figures were presented at the commemoration of World Diabetes Day in Windhoek.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has put up screening facilities at all health facilities across the country.

Health facilities in the |Khomas Region can no longer meet the demands of the ever-growing population.

The Chief Occupational Therapist in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Kirsten Muesee, says more health facilities are needed.

There are 12 health facilities in the |Khomas Region, serving a population of about 500,000 people.

Recently, B2Gold handed over N$2.5 million to the ministry, which will help in cushioning challenges thereto.

Learners at Chairman Mao Zedong High School are urged to take up careers in line with their passion and the availability of opportunities in the country.

These were the sentiments of Education Director Paulus Nghikembua at the |Khomas Region Career Fair.

The Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo, has appointed Commissioner Willem Steenkamp as the new Regional Commander for the |Khomas Region.

Commissioner Willem Steenkamp's appointment is effective as of the 1st of this month.

He takes over from Commissioner David Indongo, who has been appointed as the new Head of the Special Field Forces Directorate.

His appointment is also effective as of July 1 of this year.

Lieutenant General Shikongo also made some other key transfers.

The First National Bank, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises through the Bank of Namibia, has undertaken to address the longstanding financial issue for small and medium enterprises in the |Khomas Region.

This was revealed by the Governor of the |Khomas Region Laura Mcleod-Katjirua, at the re-launch of the SMEs Value Proposition and Credit Guarantee Scheme.

Easter weekend went by in relative peace and quiet in the |Khomas Region, with police reporting a decline in criminal activity compared to what is normally the case over the holidays.

The Namibian Police's Commander in |Khomas, Commissioner David Indongo commended residents for their good behaviour over the long weekend, describing the holidays as calm.

The nbc News team caught up with Commissioner Indongo at the Okapuka police checkpoint between Okahandja and Windhoek.

Anna Andimba, from the Otjozondjupa Region, has been elected as the Chairperson of the Junior National Council, deputized by Joseph Hamutenya from the |Khomas Region.

Juliah Tsowases, representing the Erongo Region, has been elected Chief Whip.

Addressing the junior MPs, the Chairperson of the National Council, Lukas Muha, congratulated the newly elected members.

He also reminded the current Junior National Council of their duties and to be watchful of unfolding events nationally and internationally.