HistoryMatters

Cabinet took the following decisions at its 18th ordinary meeting held on 30 September 2008.

1. REPATRIATION OF THE REMAINS OF NAMIBIANS WHO WERE VICTIMS OF THE GERMAN WAR OF EXTERMINATION FROM GERMANY TO NAMIBIA

During the Anti-Colonial War of Resistance many Namibians were murdered by German colonial troops. German doctor Eugene Fisher ordered that the heads of the deceased be sent to Germany for research purposes to proof the superiority of European brains over those of Africans. His research strengthened the ideology of Nazism, which eventually led to the holocaust.

It is estimated that more than 40 head remains of Namibians are held in various laboratories in Germany. The Traditional Leaders of the Nama and Ovaherero requested the Government to facilitate the return of the remains to Namibia.

Cabinet, therefore, designated the National Monuments Council as the competent authority to deal with the matter. Cabinet also wants Germany to pay for the repatriation of the remains and all related costs. Once in Namibia, Cabinet ordered that the remains be accorded a heroes burial at the Heroes Acre.

Further information can be obtained from the Office of the Prime Minister at telephone number 2879111.

2. REPORT ON THE NATIONAL RESPONSE TO THE 2008 FLOOD DISASTER

The national response to the flood disaster in the North and North Eastern regions was implemented between February and May 2008 to assist affected communities after H.E. President Hifikepunye Pohamba declared a state of emergency in the area.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Regional, Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, assisted by three staff members from the Office of the Prime Minister and assisted by regional Governors were appointed to oversee the operations in the five affected northern regions. The Namibian Defence Force, the Namibian Police and staff members from several line ministries were involved during the whole operation.
The donations received covered most of the expenses during the flood emergency operation. The N$5 million the Government availed to the Directorate Emergency Management in the Office of the Prime Minister was used to buy 450 new tents from South Africa.

Cabinet noted and approved the final report on the implementation of the flood emergency in the North/North Eastern regions of Namibia and also approved the following:
- That the Namibian Red Cross Society (NRCS) work closely with the Government on the preparedness activities as well as response in times of emergencies;
- As part of the rehabilitation process, the NRCS assists the flood affected people in the rural areas with the construction of houses in term of assisting with construction material;
- Regarding the food security aspect, seeds and agricultural tools must be provided to the relocated households in the affected areas. The NRCS will also coordinate the establishment of effective community based early warning systems with all relevant stakeholders involved to minimize the risk of damage to property and loss of live in future floods;
- That the Roads Authority work closely with the Ministry of Works and Transport to repair the roads and bridges that were affected by the flood;
- That NamWater immediately start with the repair of the water canal for human and livestock consumption; and
- That NamWater will serve as an active member of the National Hydrology Committee to be set up by the Department of Water Affairs. The purpose of the Committee is to conduct hydrology studies, as well as an environmental impact assessment with the aim of looking into the possibilities of deepening the rivers upper stream from Oshakati and widening the culverts at the bridges in the four northern regions to allow more water outflow.

Further information can be obtained from the Office of the Prime Minister at telephone number 2879111.

3. CONSTRUCTION OF OFFICES FOR THE FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA

The Ministry of Works and Transport, on the advice of the Tender Board, approached the Cabinet Committee on Defence and Security regarding the adjudication of the tender for the construction of offices for the Founding President of the Republic of Namibia. The Cabinet Committee on Defence and Security, under the chairpersonship of the Rt. Hon. Nahas Angula, Prime Minister, advised that Cabinet should be approached on the matter to direct the Cabinet Committee in its decision. The Ministry of Works and Transport wants the tender to be awarded to the lowest tendered of the three vetted contractors.

An amount of N$21 676 623.39 will be spent on the construction of offices for the Founding President if the tender is awarded to the lowest of the three vetted contractors.

In the light of the above, Cabinet directed the Cabinet Committee on Defence and Security to award the tender to the lowest of the three vetted contractors for an amount of N$21 676 623.39.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Works and Transport at telephone number 2088111.

4. WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION SECTOR POLICY (WASP) REVIEW

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry approached Cabinet to endorse the implementation of its revised Water Supply and Sanitation Policy (WSASP-2008).

While great strides have been made to achieve accessibility to safe water for the rural population, the same cannot be said for sanitation. Accessibility to safe water for the rural population increased from 43% in 1991 to 80% in 2001, but providing adequate sanitation increased only from 16% in 1992 to 18.9% in 2000.

Namibia under-performed in the sanitation area and because of this under-performance, it is unlikely that the country will achieve the Millennium Development Goals, specifically goals 7 and 10, which aims at halving by 2015 the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

For Namibia to meet the basic sanitation needs of the population, it is important that all policies are relevant to address the current challenges. Given the fact that WASP was approved in 1993 and is currently 15 years old, as well as the increased demand and organisational and structural changes that have taken place, there was a need to review the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Policy of 1993.

The reviewed policy aims at harmonising all existing policy instruments, clarifying the roles and responsibilities of key players and proposes modalities as to how policies can be effectively implemented to address the needs of the current and future water supply and sanitation in Namibia.

Human resource development will be an essential component of the implementation of the revised WASP to cover the entire range from community mobilisation, management skills, technical training and health and hygiene education for the policy to succeed. A strategic plan on sanitation will also have to be drafted and budgeted for by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry in collaboration with the Ministries of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development and Health and Social Services.

Cabinet, therefore, endorsed the implementation of the Revised Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Policy, WSASP-2008 and approved that the provision of sanitation services in rural communal areas be transferred from the Ministry of Health and Social Services to the Directorate of Rural Water Supply in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry. Cabinet also approved the proposed Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) to provide overall coordination, regional advisory functions, inspection and monitoring functions related to sanitation services. Cabinet, furthermore, directed local authorities and regional councils to take full responsibility for the supply of water and provision of sanitation services to urban areas under their areas of jurisdiction. Cabinet also approved the development of sector strategies and action plans for the implementation of WSASP-2008 and its budgetary implications. Cabinet directed that public health and user health education campaigns will remain the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Social Services with local authorities and regional councils taking part in these functions in their areas.

Cabinet directed that the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement will remain responsible for the establishment of water supply and sanitation on resettlement farms, while resettled farmers will be responsible for the operation, maintenance and replacement of these facilities. Cabinet instructed that responsible ministries must budget and provide water supply and sanitation facilities at government centres, such as rural schools, clinics and border posts. Cabinet also directed owners of private land to take care of all water supply and sanitation facilities on their land, while the Directorate of Water Supply and Sanitation Coordination will provide information, as well as assume responsibility for functions related to coordination, inspection and monitoring. The Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development will be responsible for the construction and provision of sanitation facilities in unproclaimed settlements, while the overall water resource inventory, monitoring, control and management will remain the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry. Cabinet further directed that if individual local authorities cannot handle the supply of bulk water, they may approach NamWater or any other person willing to construct the necessary infrastructure to do so on condition that the responsible Minister gives his consent.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry at telephone number 2087643.

5. APPOINTMENT OF THREE NEW DIRECTORS FOR NAMZIM NEWSPAPERS (PTY) LTD FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS

The three year term of Namibian Board Members of NamZim Newspapers (Pty) Ltd, a joint venture between Namibia and Zimbabwe, expired in July 2008 and the Minister of Information and Communication Technology approached Cabinet to appoint three new Namibian Board Members to the NamZim Board of Directors for a period of three years.

Cabinet, therefore, approved the appointment of Mr. Matthew Gowaseb, Dr. Ben Mulongeni and Ms. Bernadette Menyah-Artivor to the Board of Directors of NamZim Newspapers for three years. Cabinet also endorsed the appointment of Mr. Matthew Gowaseb as chairperson of the Board.

Mr. Gowaseb is the Knowledge Management Expert in the Cabinet Office, while Dr. Mulongeni is the Director Planning and Development Services at the Khomas Regional Council. Mrs. Menyah-Artivor is the Under-Secretary of the Namibia Investment Centre in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The three appointees replace Mr. Vilbard Usiku, Ms. Chuma Mayumbelo and Mr. Rachel Nathaniel on the NamZim Board of Directors.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology at telephone number 2389111.

6. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE NAMIBIAN ESTATE AGENTS BOARD

Cabinet approved the appointment of the following people to the Namibian Estate Agents Board for a period of three years:
Persons nominated by the Namibian Estate Agents Board:
- Mr. Slysken Sekiso Makando, a legal practitioner;
- Mrs. Elliot Jacqueline Hoff, an estate agent;
- Mr. Peter Tilo Rust, an estate agent/property developer; and
- Mrs. Tjizembua Hongonekua, a legal practitioner.

Persons nominated by the Minister of Trade and Industry:
- Mr. Agostinho Thigipo Victor, re-appointed;
- Mr. Phillip Namundjembo, an industrial sites and premises developer/manager;
- Mr. Dawson Big-Don Tangi Kondunda, involved in construction, quantity surveying and estate agency management.

Their appointment came into effect on 1 October 2008.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Trade and Industry at telephone number 2837111.

MBEUTA UA-NDJARAKANA
PERMANENT SECRETARY