N$4
namib times
SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6899 FRIDAY 29 JANUARY 2021 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net
Walvis Bay’s water supply not in any danger at the moment
Wanted
Kuiseb’s flow level dropped significantly in the last 48-hours. No flood danger to water infrastructure The Kuiseb River’s flow has significantly dropped in the last 48-hours, thereby eliminating any immediate threat to Walvis Bay’s water supply. Namibia’s water utility, NamWater, confirmed yesterday that the river’s level was at 30cm deep at the Gobabeb Desert Research Station at 09:00 yesterday, from a flow depth of 1,23 meters a day earlier on Wednesday morning at 09:00. “The Kuiseb’s flow subsided significantly since Wednesday morning. If there is no further rains in the catchment areas the flow will stop entirely”, a NamWater source confirmed. NamWater measures the river’s flow at several locations, but the measuring point at Gobabeb is the most important one to indicate the River’s strength once it reaches the bulk water infrastructure downstream in the Rooibank and Swartbank areas.
The majority of NamWater’s bulk water supply infrastructure, supplying Walvis Bay with potable water,, is located in the Kuiseb River. When the river is in full flow, due to rains in its catchment area in the Khomas Hochland, some of the water supply infrastructure can be flooded or washed away. When the infrastructure is damaged, NamWater cannot supply bulk water to Walvis Bay’s municipal reservoir at Mile 7. The town then suffers water shortages, often for days on end. NamWater however, made significant investments since 2011 to mitigate the effect of the periodic flooding of the Kuiseb. That included stabilising power pylons with concrete foun-
inside Walvis Bay boasts its first brickpaving intersection
Page 3
Tobias Iyambo (Gabes)
Several drug arrests across Erongo
Continues on page 2
Schools open
Page 4
School closes after only two days Covid-case Simon Shapaka
The Namibian Police in Erongo has launched a manhunt for two armed robbers, Simon Fillipus Shapaka and Tobias Iyambo (also known as Gabes). Schools across Namibia started the 2021 academic year in full-swing on Tuesday. Erongo Region is no exception. Thousands of learners were happy to be back at school after the Covid-19 pandemic turned the 2020 academic year upside down. Although social distancing and masks are compulsory to ensure learners are protected against the spread of the Coronavirus, children were happy to be back at schools for contact teaching, to see their friends and teachers again and just to feel normality slowly but surely returning to Namibian society. For many this is their first year at school, starting Grade 1. On the picture: Mrs Mahua of the Namib Primary School with her Grade 1 pupils.
They overpowered a foreign national in Walvis Bay’s Theo-Ben Gurirab Street last Friday, threatened him with a knife, and robbed him of N$30 000 in cash, a bank card and a passport. The thugs used a taxi as a getaway car. The Police in the meantime made a breakthrough and arrested the taxi driver. That led to the identification of Shapaka and Continues on page 2
Page 6
Sports News Page 16