Category: Politics

MPs at the Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP), held a plenary session, on Tuesday afternoon, during which they discussed the draft law on grating exceptional authorization to the BCT to grant facilities to Tunisia's Treasury amounting to 7 billion dinars. This amount of money will be used to finance part of the budget deficit for the 2024 financial year. It will be repayable over a period of 10 years without interest, and with a grace period of three years, the ARP said. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

WINDHOEK: The Inspector General (IG) of the Namibian Police Force, Lieutenant General Joseph Shikongo has said there have not been any security threats since the swearing in of former Vice President Nangolo Mbumba as President of Namibia. Mbumba was sworn in as the fourth President of Namibia, following the death of President Hage Geingob early on Sunday. International Relations Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as Vice President. Shikongo in an interview with Nampa on Monday said Namibia is not at risk of security threats as the country is known for its democratic system. 'I don't think any Namibian is thinking of a change of government by unconstitutional means. As inspector general I am in constant communication with my colleagues, the Chief of Defence, the Commissioner General of the Namibian Correctional Service, and the Director of the Namibia Central Intelligence Service. As of now, there's no need for panic,' he said. Other countries, he said, are commending Namibia for not allowing a l eadership vacuum, saying that in some countries people would be fighting, resulting in impairment in the security sector. 'The beefing up of security is automatic as the current president is entitled to security, as well as the vice president. Our visiting dignitaries have nothing to worry about, we are ready to serve them and we are monitoring every situation,' he said. Shikongo went on to reveal that he was also appointed to serve on the preparatory committee for the funeral arrangements, chaired by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, and gave his assurance that the police are prepared to receive and protect international dignitaries travelling to Namibia for the funeral of the late Geingob. A directive to senior executives in the police force, including regional commanders to not apply for leave until after Geingob's funeral, has also been issued. 'Those are the only activities put on hold, otherwise our operations are still going on. Members who are transporting food for inmates to different to wns are still travelling, regional operations are not suspended,' he noted. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Ya-Na Abukari II has commended former President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, flagbearers of National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) for their clean campaign so far. He said just as he admonished Vice President Bawumia when he visited his palace last year, he would give the same message to former President. He said campaigning in opposite directions should not make them enemies, but proponents of different development opinions. Ya-Na Abukari II gave the commendation when Former President Mahama called on him at the Gbewaa Palace as part of his Build Ghana tour in parts of the northern region. Ya-Na urged the former President to leave a legacy that would make his children, family and Ghana proud when he leaves the political scene adding that the leadership was between him and Bawumia, and it was therefore incumbent on them to come out with winnable messages that could change the fortunes of Ghanaians. Former President Mahama expressed his appr eciation to the Ya-Na for peace in Dagbon and promised to strengthen the structures that would ensure everlasting peace. He promised providing roads, electricity, water and other amenities and to upgrade the Yendi hospital to referral hospital so that cases from the eastern corridor would be referred there and promised tight security to reduce robbery to the barest minimum. He commended Ya-Na for forming a local task force to assist the security to combat the criminals. The former President later held a townhall meeting met black smiths, smock weavers, Electricians, Television repairers, Professional nurses, local kente weavers, hair dressers, nursing training, and associations to acquaint himself with their challenges. He later visited Gushegu Municipality and Mion district. Source: Ghana News Agency A small cabinet meeting, held Tuesday, in Kasbah, approved the implementation of a set of projects including the construction of a new air terminal as part of the extension project of Tunis-Carthage airport. The new terminal will be extended over a covered area of nearly 80,000 m2 and will have a capacity to accommodate 8 million travelers per year. As a result, the airport's capacity will be increased to 13 million passengers per year, reads a statement of the Prime Ministry, The extension project also provides for the expansion of the airport viaduct, the construction of a new control tower, the establishment of a railway line linking the airport to the city center and a second fast rail line, linking Tunis-Carthage airport to Enfidha-Hammamet airport, in addition to the construction of a metro line linking Lake Tunis to Bhar Lazreg. Chairing the small cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani underlined the importance of this extension project in reviving the national economy and boosting the countr y's development. The meeting was attended by the ministers of Finance, Economy and Planning, Transport and Equipment and Housing. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

GOBABIS: Former Mayor of Gobabis, Elvira Theron, has said the late President Hage Geingob is still making history even after his passing as leaders all over the world remember him. 'What is amazing is the international community rising up all over the world to celebrate our president, a small nation like Namibia is on the map. Dr Hage is making history once again even in the time of his death as he is lifting up the beacon of Namibia,' Theron said after signing a book of condolences at the Omaheke governor's office here on Tuesday. The former mayor said Geingob was a leader of note. 'You can see the work that he did for us, there we had a very smooth transitional leadership at its best. I want to say this is the time where we must realise that the seed must be put in the ground in order for more fruit to come,' she added. Governor of the Omaheke Region, Pijoo Nganate said the late president is the one who elevated him when everyone rejected him. Nganate said he remembers Geingob not only as his leader, bu t also a personal friend. 'When he appointed me to this position he said, 'You went down with me and I am on my feet and I want you to be on your feet again. I am appointing you to the region that has rejected you so that you can serve them, and serve them diligently.' I can still echo those words,' Nganate said. The governor said he remembers Geingob not only as president but also as a friend, 'a person with whom I sat alongside fire and had stories to tell. A person who shared so much wisdom, so much hardship himself and so many successes.' Omaheke Regional Council chairperson Ignatius Kariseb meanwhile said he remembers a man who always preached inclusivity and unity amongst Namibians. 'As a regional leader I am urging fellow regional leaders to commit ourselves to undertake that we will serve the region to the best of our abilities as it was expected by the late President Geingob,' he said. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The defence committee will reveal during a press conference to be held, on Wednesday, «new facts and data» regarding the assassination of Chokri Belaid, lawyer Abdennaceur Aouini said. He pointed out that the hearings held, on Tuesday, at the Tunis Court of First Instance were devoted to the hearing of the accused who appeared before the judge, adding that their hearing will still take time before the defence committee of Chokri martyr Belaïd. Today's hearings were attended by Belaid's family members as well as lawyers who are members of the martyr's defence committee. Journalists were not allowed to enter the hearing room to ensure media coverage. The court also rejected the defendants' defence committee's request to postpone the hearing. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse