NORED customers in the Oshana Region owe the electricity utility N$3.6 million.

Of this, N$734,000 has been outstanding for more than a year.

The information was shared during the hearing of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Human Resources and Development at Oshakati on the motion to write off historic electricity and water debts in the Oshana, Oshikoto, and Otjozondjupa Regions.

The motion was tabled by the Landless People's Movement's (LPM) MP, Henny Seibeb.

The German government has installed a solar PV plant at the Gobabis Vocational Training Centre to sustain the centre's electricity supply as part of the social-economic progression.

The solar plant project cost N$4.1 million.

The Director of Technical Vocational Education and Training in the Ministry of Higher Education, Innovation, and Technology, Muvatere Siririka, urged the centre to take care of the facility.

462 trainees received qualifications in various technical fields at Ongwediva during a joint graduation ceremony for the Valombola, Nakayale, and Eenhana vocational training centres.

The graduation ceremony not only recognised the hard work and dedication of the students but also highlighted the significant role technical education plays in shaping the future of the country.

The graduates, adorned in their caps and gowns, represented a diverse range of technical fields, from auto electrical, carpentry, refrigeration, plumbing, and hospitality, just to mention but a few.

The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Carl Schlettwein, says Namibia continues to make strides in the provision of clean drinking water, both in urban and rural areas.

These efforts are, however, impeded by damage to infrastructure.

Schlettwein was speaking at the launch of the first-ever regional water symposium in Namibia in the north-central regions at Ongwediva.

The water symposium brought together industry experts to deliberate on the best ways to supply and preserve water.

Offenders who took part in the National Skills Competition at Ongwediva are grateful for the opportunity to engage with the community and learn new skills. Four offenders from the Windhoek Correctional Facility competed in different skill trades at the just-ended National Skills Competition.

Elifas Tobias, who has been behind bars for more than 20 years, says that for him, it was not about winning the competition; it was a question of trust to take part in a national competition that is beyond prison walls. Tobias competed in the plumbing and heating section.

Residents of Onamutai in the Oshana Region's Ongwediva Constituency have become beneficiaries of a women's community open market.

The market provides a platform for community members, especially women, to sell their goods and generate income.

For three decades, the Onamutai community has been selling their produce under a tree to sustain themselves.

However, this is now something of the past with the construction of a women's community open market by EDDD Investment at a cost of N$111,000.

The residents of the four northern regions were also affected by the power outages initiated by NamPower yesterday.

The town of Ondangwa was the first to face the consequences of NamPower, as their electricity was disconnected shortly after 17h00. 

Subsequently, power cuts were implemented in Ongwediva, Oshikuku, Eenhana, Outapi, and other towns and villages.

The Ondangwa, Ongwediva, and Oshakati town councils accompanied Vice President Nangolo Mbumba during his visit to several projects, where he was provided with progress updates and information on challenges experienced.

The Vice President received a brief overview of developments at Ondangwa Town Council before he proceeded to Extension 26, where the council recently initiated the construction of houses.

A group of women from Elombe Village received a one-day jam-making training at Ongwediva offered by officials from the Urban and Rural Development Ministry.

The one-day jam-making process focused on value addition, where rural people are empowered to produce food from their local produce that is easily accessible to them.

This time around, they gathered under the tree to receive training on how to make jam from marula, a plentiful seasonal fruit accessible at almost every rural household in the north.

The water levels in flood-stricken villages of the Ohangwena and Oshana regions continue to subside, giving a bit of relief to the affected residents. 

It's been close to three months since the flood waters from Angola entered Oimbadalunga Village in the Ohangwena Region. 

The flood waters spread quickly to Oimbadalunga, Eeshoke, Ohaingu and Engela villages in the Engela Constituency. 

Many keenly followed the floods with bated breath and excitement in anticipation of what would come.