High HIV infection and transmission in the Kavango East Region has prompted the new health director in the region to urge the community to offer love and support to the affected and infected.

During the commemoration of the belated World AIDS Day held at Mazana Village in Rundu Rural Kavango East, Health Director Idah Mendai explained that community infection is a grave concern.

The Office of the Governor of the Kavango East Region, in cooperation with the Watjako Foundation, held an early Christmas party for the people with leprosy at Muroro Village.

Most people with leprosy settled in Muroro Village, in the Mashare Constituency, mostly because of the hospital that was here as well as the center, which closed in 1980.
 
At the time of its existence, the hospital accommodated thousands of leprosy patients from Namibia, Botswana, and Angola.

The governor of Kavango East Region says the region's leadership is determined to fight criminal activities there.

Bonifatius Wakudumo made the commitment during the leadership's meeting with Police Inspector General Joseph Shikongo.

About two months ago, residents of Kavango East gathered in numbers to express concerns about the high crime rate in the region. 

Soon thereafter, resolutions were taken, which led to the establishment of a regional crime prevention forum.

The Acting Regional Commander of Kavango East says law enforcement officers who are drowning in debt find it difficult to perform official duties.

Deputy Commissioner Eino Nambahu says the recent promotions come with salary adjustments and advises those promoted to avoid debt traps and live within their means. 

147 members of the police force were promoted in Kavango East, consisting of 93 males and 54 females.

The promotions also came with a word of advice from the acting regional commander.

Civil servants in the Kavango East Region are unhappy with the proposed Financial Institutions and Markets Act (FIMA) regulation of 75% preservation from their pension fund.

The regulation only allows 25% access to the pension fund upon retirement.

Civil servants raised their concerns at a consultation meeting with the Ministry of Finance.

The government explained that the 75% preservation fund aims to protect people so they can still live a better life after retirement, as research indicates that many people suffer after retirement.

The Vice President of the Namibian Public Passenger Transport Association (NPPT) in the Kavango East Region, Tobias Katembo, says the money collected from taxi drivers is used to pay for the administration of all functions, such as the issuing of yellow stickers.

"The yellow sticker was agreed upon by the owner because we came together with the owners and the association to agree on what we could do so that at least our business would go forward, and when we came to an agreement that no, we needed to put me.

Taxi drivers in the Kavango East Region want the Namibia Public Passenger Transport Association (NPPTA) to stop operating in the region.

They held a demonstration in Rundu, claiming the NPPTA office collects charges from them, but they do not see what the money is used for.

The demonstration was prompted by what they deemed to be excessive fees for a driver's registration certificate and the N$360 fee for a yellow sticker that is paid at the NPPTA regional headquarters.

A number of people in Namibia are expected to experience food insecurity. The Kavango East Region alone fears for the livelihoods of about 15 000 households.

An office building that was constructed five years ago to accommodate staff members of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in the Kavango East Region's Mukwe Constituency is yet to be occupied.

The building is now dilapidated.

The office was constructed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reform before it was transferred to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

The staff for whom the building was constructed are currently accommodated at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Office in Divundu.

The All People’s Party (APP) has elected Augustinus Shindimba Djami as the Regional Chairperson for the Kavango East Region for the next three years.

APP acting Secretary General, Venitus Goraseb, said in a statement on Wednesday that the party held its regional conference on Saturday, where it elected Djami as the Regional Chairperson.

The conference also elected Johannes Mpande to deputise Djami, while Mariane Simon was elected as the Regional Secretary.