Day: February 4, 2024

WINDHOEK: The Presidency has announced that President Hage Geingob died in a Windhoek hospital at 00h04 on Sunday. More to follow. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Ballot for the run-off local council elections started under normal conditions and no irregularities were reported," underscored on Sunday Secretary General of the Organisation for the Defence of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ODDPH) Bouraouia Agrebi. The run-off local elections recorded the participation of 4 candidates through direct voting, Agrebi told TAP, pointing out that a total of 279 seats are reserved for people with disabilities. The ODDH has deployed 28 young people to collect data across the country and 197 observers to monitor the elections, he specified. Bouraouia Agrebi voiced wish that the turnout in the run-off local elections would increase, indicating that the organisation will hold a press conference on Sunday at 7 p.m. to present the results collected in the polling centres. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

WINDHOEK: Daily evening devotions will be held at the residence of the late President Hage Geingob in Windhoek, local lawyer and family spokesperson Sisa Namandje has announced. Speaking to mourners at the Geingob residence on Sunday, Namandje said it is not yet clear how long the daily devotions will be conducted for as the government is yet to pronounce itself on the funeral proceedings. 'He always enjoyed having a lot of people in his house… There's always a new group of people in this house,' Namandje added. The evening devotions will take place at 18h00 every day until the president is laid to rest. Namandje said the late president always encouraged the building of the Namibian house, hence mourners from all walks of life, including from opposition parties, started gathering at the late president's home to pay their respects. 'There is a constitutional transition because of the vacancy created by this situation… but you don't see army or police road blocks on the street because there's not any dange r. Everybody is rallying behind the family,' Namandje said. Geingob died in a Windhoek hospital early on Sunday. He had returned to Namibia on Wednesday after receiving cancer treatment in the United States of America. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Independent Power Generators, Ghana (IPGG) has cautioned that the implementation of the emission levy will cause an upward adjustment of electricity generation tariffs. The Chamber said the levy would lead to an upward adjustment in the cost build-up of the electricity generation and thus the corresponding increment in tariffs would cover for the increased operational costs induced by the imposition of the levy. In a statement signed by Dr Elikplim Kwabla Apetorgbor, Chief Executive Officer, IPGG, shared with the Ghana News Agency, the Chamber said the increment in generation tariff would ensure the operational sustainability of the power producers. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on February 1, 2024, announced the commencement of the implementation of the Emissions Levy Act 2023 (Act 112) which imposes a levy on carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from internal combustion engine vehicles. The law imposes a levy of GHS100 per tonne on carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from the electricity produce rs, as statutory incidence. The move, according to the government, aligns with its commitment to combat greenhouse gas emissions, with the aim of promoting eco-friendly technology and green energy, as well as enhancing environmental management. The IPGG said per the nature of the power purchasing agreements, the levy was a 'political risk' and thus the economic incidence would go to the end user. It said power plant management and operation was cost sensitive, adding that the levy would be added to the operational costs build-up of the power plants. 'In accordance with the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), this legislation is a political risk (an Increased Cost Event) mitigated by an Increased Costs clause in the Agreements, which suggests a pass-through mechanism, where the economic incidence goes to the end user. 'As a direct consequence of this statutory incidence on the power producers, there will be an upward adjustment in the cost build-up of the electricity generation,' it said. The Chamber added that the levy 'necessitates an equal measure of review of the electricity generation tariff, to ensure the predictability of the cash flow obligations of the power producers.' Source: Ghana News Agency

WINDHOEK: The Inner City Lutheran Church in Windhoek, which President Hage Geingob was a member of, has urged the public to mourn peacefully and uphold the former president's humility. Geingob, 82, passed away in Windhoek early Sunday morning due to complications from cancer. Urbanus Dax, chairperson of the congregation, in an interview with Nampa on Sunday said Geingob has been attending the church 'for over 30 years as a humble servant.' He said the public should emulate Geingob's humbleness by letting peace prevail while mourning him. 'Our president, a Christian who paid his dues like any other person, was a humble individual,' he remarked. Dax said Geingob's death is a significant loss to the congregation as he was a committed participant in church activities and lived an exemplary Christian lifestyle. 'We want to let him go and soar high like an eagle. His usual spot will always remind us of him,' said church founding member Nashilongo Shivute. Parishioners at Inner City Lutheran Church paid tribut e to Geingob during Sunday's service, and the seat he usually occupied was left empty in remembrance. Source: The Namibia Press Agency