Preparations for the 2024 general registration of voters, to be held from June 3 to August 1, are in full swing in the Zambezi Region. 

The Supervisor for Registration of Voters in Sibbinda Constituency and Acting Chairperson of the Supervisors of Voters, Ben Luponjani, made this assurance during a stakeholder engagement meeting.

The meeting brought together various stakeholders, including representatives of political parties. 

According to Luponjani, teams have already been deployed in the region for voter education purposes. 

Eleven trail-awaiting prisoners carried out a daring midnight jailbreak at the Katima Mulilo Police station.

Three of the escapees have been re-arrested so far, while the police in the Zambezi Region have launched a manhunt for the rest.

Details of the escape emerged late today when police officials revealed that the group escaped after cutting an opening in the roof of the cell, through which they made their way out around one o'clock on Monday morning. 

The body of a villager from Nongozi was retrieved from a swamp in the Nkasa-Rupara National Park in the Zambezi Region on Tuesday. 

The 29-year-old  Samupwa Lubinda's body was already in a state of early decomposition when it was retrieved. 

According to a police report, Lubinda drowned during a fishing excursion with two other men in the park on Sunday.

It is alleged that when they were busy removing fish from the nets, they saw anti-poaching officials and jumped into the water.

Since January of this year, residents of Brendan Kangongolo Simbwaye Village in Malindi, Zambezi Region, have faced challenges in accessing potable water. 

The difficulties began following the collapse of a 10,000-litre water tank that served the community.

Residents claim that they do not have water for daily use and are appealing to the government to come to their aid.

Bernard Simbwaye, a resident of the village, says children have been going to school without bathing as they try to use water sparingly.

The World Food Programme (WFP), in collaboration with the Namibian Agronomic Board, recently handed over essential farming equipment to two small-scale farmers in the Zambezi Region. This initiative aims to support and enhance agricultural productivity in the area.

One of the farmers, Regina Mayumbelo, received equipment valued at N$250,000, which included fencing material, a shade net with irrigation, seeds, and continued technical support.

The second farmer, Vincent Siliye, whose equipment included solar panels, was funded at N$350,000.

The civil registration for birth certificates and identity cards in the Zambezi Region is progressing well and has yielded positive results, especially for those who would not have any other means to reach the offices.

The civil registration outreach programme started in February and will continue until June unless there is a need to revisit certain areas that were not fully covered.

Dorothy Mubiana, the Civil Registration Deputy Director, explains the exercise:

President Nangolo Mbumba is in Katima Mulilo, Zambezi Region, to join the masses in the celebration of the country's 34th Independence Day.

Dr. Mbumba is accompanied by Prime Minister Saara Kugongelwa-Amadhila, Minister in the Presidency Christina ||Hoebes, and Minister of Defence Frans Kapofi.

Before undertaking any other official responsibilities, Dr. Mbumba met with four traditional authorities in the region to introduce himself to them as leaders of the community and custodians of the land and seek their wisdom.

The Namibian Defence Force (NDF) will be holding a parade as part of Namibia's 34th Independence Anniversary at Katima Mulilo, Zambezi Region.

In preparation for the parade, the public may observe the unfamiliar movement of soldiers and armoured vehicles from March 17–22.

The ceremony's highlights will include a 21-gun salute, an aircraft fly-pass, and free-fall parachuting.

The demonstration of military precision and dedication aims to honour the nation's sovereignty and pay homage to those who have sacrificed for its defence.

Police in the Zambezi Region held a community outreach programme to educate and sensitise the public on the dangers of explosive ordinances.

The intervention follows the recent explosion of a hand grenade, which resulted in the deaths of three children in Mpancha when they brought it home.

The outreach programme at Kongola featured dramas and a showcase of different explosive devices found.

Zambezi Police Commander Andreas Shilelo cautioned the public to be aware of their surroundings, urging elders to educate young children about the dangers of explosives.

The Zambezi Regional Head of Immigration, Daisy Musweu, has cautioned residents of Kongola to be more vigilant against human trafficking.

Musweu issued the warning during a community outreach programme by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety, and Security aimed at educating the public on issues of human trafficking, gender-based violence, and the dangers of explosive ordinances.