30 oct namib times e-edition

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N$4

namib times

SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6887 FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER 2020 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net

Swakopmund interchange- Stoning of a bridge now officially open passing vehicle Staff Reporter The coast's road transport infrastructure reached an historic milestone on Wednesday, with the official opening of the Swakopmund-Walvis Bay dual carriage way (MR44 behind the dune belt), the Swakopmund interchange bridge on the B2 highway as well as the newly constructed Swakopmund-Henties Bay road. The opening of the two roads and the interchange bridge follows after several years of construction work and several billion Namibian Dollar pumped into the projects. For both the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Roads Authority (RA) the official opening comes as a major moment of pride and accomplishment. According to the Chief Executive Officer of RA, Conrad Lutombi, the Swakopmund-Walvis Bay dual carriage only has another 15km of construction to complete. That is the last stretch of road before the dual carriage way connects with the C14 (Airport Road) near Walvis Bay. The Swakopmund-Henties Bay road is also nearing completion with some 20km remaining. Several delegates however, who attended the opening were sceptic of the opening ceremony taking place before the projects were fully completed. Some ,attributed that to political window dressing by the Swapo-led Namibian Government so close before the November 25th regional councils and

local authority elections. Adding motorists are using these roads daily, and that a proper opening later next year would have been more suitable. “We could have had an official opening of the completed roads some time next year, but the event was rescheduled to this week, for political reasons I guess”, one delegate speculated on the side line when asked about the timing of the opening. He said more shared his opinion and that it actually degrades the grand scale of these projects as well as the billions of taxpayers’ funds that went into these projects. With politics aside, he explained once all road infrastructure projects are completed, the Erongo Region will be boasting an advanced road transport network. The crown jewel would be the uninterrupted blacktop road link from Walvis Bay to Ruacana through Western Namibia (Walvis Bay-Henties Bay-Uis-Khorixas-Kamanjab-Ruacana).

Jan Myburgh at Arandis....... wants to come *************** Man with mental health clean disorder behind the incident - not robbers

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Polling stations at coast and Arandis

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Namibia needs to end the scourge of Gender-based violence “very urgently” Rudi Bowe A total of 5 961 cases of gender-based violence (GBV) cases were reported in Namibia between September 2019 and September 2020. A total of 3 119 suspects in these cases were arrested of which 2 595 accused face prosecution. A total of 712 suspects were prosecuted in criminal courts throughout the country. The commanding officer of the Namibian Police's newly established SGBV-unit, Deputy Commissioner Johanna Situde, in a recent statement expressed grave concern over the status of SGBV in Namibia. She said a national effort, involving not only the authorities but the public at large, is needed to put an end to the scourge. Adding SGBV cases are most often very complex to detect, to investigate and to prosecute, as the crime is perpetrated behind

closed doors within family units. According to Situde, Khomas Region has the highest rate of SGBV crimes (2 531 cases of the 6 900 cases), Oshana Region (560 cases), Ohangwena Region (533) Hardap Region (502) and Omusati Region 336 cases. According to Deputy Commissioner Situde, the situation around SGBV is further aggravated by the fact that there is a severe shortage of shelters for victims of these crimes. Continues on page 2

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Arandis now has its own numberplate

N1A Page 4 The driver of a vehicle on the B2 highway near Arandis got the fright of his life earlier this week, when a man threw a stone at his moving vehicle. The stone entered the vehicle’s windscreen, narrowly missing the man behind the steering wheel. Significant damage was caused and the victim is thankful he could retain control of the vehicle. Soon rumours started to circulate warning Continues on page 2

Sports News

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