Month: May 2023

The Namibian Association of Differently Abled Women (NADAWO) is having a two-day workshop in the capital to design measures on how persons with disabilities can be involved in the Sustainable Development Goals.

NADAWO is looking at Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8, 11 and 13, which are about making cities more inclusive, promoting employment and economic growth, and limiting the effects climate change could have on health and education.

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare (MGEPESW), Alexia Manombe-Ncube, said the SDGs are there to achieve a more sustainable future for all.

“The word sustainability speaks to me and refers to continuing developments even long after we have left this earth. Our children’s children will still taste and enjoy the fruit of their mothers and grandmothers,” said Manombe-Ncube.

She added that one of the most pressing issues in Namibia is unemployment among people with disabilities.

“Change should start with us and I am glad to report that more people with disabilities are employed with MGEPESW than before,” the deputy minister noted, explaining the need for the ministry to show other ministries that they have to employ people with disabilities as there is an increasing number of graduates who are not employed.

Manombe-Ncube encouraged the youth to not just study what they are passionate about, because it does not help to pursue a career that does not have job opportunities.

She also urged the churches to fight for the rights of people with disabilities with the same fire they are fighting the Supreme Court with its ruling on recognising same-sex marriages.

“In the same way that they are fighting the Supreme Court, they should also fight for disabled persons’ accessibility. Are our bibles made in braille? Do our churches have sign language interpreters?” Ncube asked.

Source: NAMPA

Environment and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta has emphasised the importance of African youth contributing to innovative development programmes that are compatible to the Sustainable Development Goals and regional tourism programmes.

Shifeta at the opening of the African Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge at Swakopmund on Wednesday said young people should aim to become transformational industry change-makers and future leaders of the tourism sector.

“The youth of Africa and all industry players should collaborate and form partnerships to place African brands/destinations at the centre of the global dialogue, displaying and expressing the love and warmth of the African people, diverse culture, abundant wildlife and rich history of the continent in your engagements with friends across the globe,” he expressed.

The Namibian Government, he said, is a member state of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), which enables it to subscribe to and support its agenda of Africa that positions tourism at the centre stage for inclusive growth in order to optimise the sector’s contribution to sustainable development of Africa at large.

“This African agenda for inclusive development can only be achieved with the inclusion of the youth and women in the tourism ecosystem. I therefore urge you all to embrace innovation, digital disruptive change and harness your potential to succeed in the tourism sector and your participation at this summit is of utmost crucial and surely indicates your passion and love for the industry,” he said.

The summit is a pan-African youth initiative which was established in 2019 in South Africa.

It serves as a voice for the youth and emerging enterprises in tourism, travel, hospitality, aviation and all related industries with the sole objective to among others; connect, innovate and grow themselves, their businesses and the entire travel & tourism economy of the African countries.

The four-day event aims to harmonise and influence government policies, introduce strategies and adopt new technologies that support the development and growth of the Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises, tourism businesses and create market access for youth entrepreneurship.

It is being attended both in-person and virtually by about 2 000 attendees from 38 African countries.

Source: NAMPA

President Hage Geingob said the high unemployment rate, especially amongst the youth, can disrupt peace and stability, therefore Namibia is open to business by foreign investors in an effort to combat the unemployment crisis.

Geingob during a courtesy visit to State House by a delegation of 11 investors from India on Wednesday, said although Namibia has political peace, the high unemployment rate especially amongst the youth is not a good thing and can disrupt the peace.

“Politically we are peaceful but unemployment, youth unemployment is not a good thing to have, it can disrupt peace. While we can boast that we are a peaceful country, we have basic problems of unemployment. We have really been suffering since I took over office from the economic downturn, severe drought and COVID-19, but now we are very optimistic and Namibia is open to do business,” he said.

At the same occasion, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the government has put in place a governance framework that supports investment accompanied by the rule of law.

“We have a youthful population and we prioritise our youth to ensure that we provide a skilled labour force to ensure productivity of labour competitiveness of companies for optimal benefit that we are hoping should be mutually shared between the investors and our country so that we can prosper together,” she noted.

Head of delegation, Honorary Consul of Namibia to India, Akkshye Tulsyan said India and Namibia share a longstanding relationship based on mutual respect, shared values and commitment to enhance cooperation across various domains, including economic, cultural and trade fields.

“Namibia’s effort to foster an environment conducive to international partnership has facilitated the growth of bilateral relations. Let us reaffirm our commitment to further deepening the bond between India and Namibia by harnessing the immense potential that exists between our bilateral relations. We can create a bright future for our nations and contribute to the wellbeing of the global community,” he noted.

The delegation included business investors in education, manufacturing of medical equipment, water treatment and technology amongst others.

Source: NAMPA