Namibia Embassy Berlin -
Regierungsmitteilungen
Statement by H.E. Dr. Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of the Republic of Namibia on the occasion of the opening of the 7th Session of the 50th Parliament, 12 February 2013, Windhoek
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We are gathered in this Chamber to witness the official opening of the Seventh Session of the Fifth Parliament of our Republic.
Before I continue with my statement, I kindly request you all to rise and to observe a minute of silence in remembrance of Dr Abraham Iyambo, our late Minister of Education and Member of this House, who passed on last week. [I thank you. Please be seated.]
Honourable Speaker,
Honourable Chairperson,
It is, indeed, a great pleasure and honour for me to be in the Chamber of the National Assembly to officially open the Seventh Session of the Fifth Parliament. Our Parliament is the citadel of Namibian democracy.Its contribution to the process of democratization has, in a profound manner, shaped the political aspirations of the Namibian people.
After 22 years of independence, there is no doubt that democracy has become a hallmark of Namibian society. We cherish the privilege that we have to live in the new democratic dispensation. The wheels of democracy that we set in motion at independence continue to turn.
They have become the force that drives our existence as a nation. It is, therefore, our collective duty to continue consolidating the democratic organs and institutions in our country, and to make them more accessible and meaningful to our people.In this light, the deepening of our Parliamentary multi-party democracy to date, speaks volumes about not only the political will, but also about the moral conviction and determination of the Namibian people to live in a society that is characterized by the principles of order, peace and justice.We should be proud that the consolidation of democracy in post-colonial Namibia has been a success. In the relatively short period of 22 years, we have managed to put in place a system of governance that has proven to be stable, workable and sustainable.Parliamentary debates have not only continued unimpeded over the past 22 years, but have also assumed a pleasing degree of maturity. (more...)
Carrying the late Dr Iyambo’s portrait is Hileni Amukana, inspector of education assigned to the late minister’s office, followed by Minister of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, Jerry Ekandjo, who walked in front of the soldiers carrying the coffin.
National mourning for Dr Iyambo
08 Feb 2013 - Story by Paulus Paulus
WINDHOEK – The presidential aircraft carrying the remains of the late Minister of Education Dr Abraham Iyambo touched down at Eros Airport at 20:00 last night, on a direct flight from Heathrow Airport, London in the United Kingdom.
The late Dr Iyambo passed away last Saturday, February 02, his birthday, while on official duty in the UK.
It was a sombre mood as President Hifikepunye Pohamba, First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba, Founding Father of the Namibian Nation Dr Sam Nujoma, Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Theo Ben-Gurirab, Chief Justice Peter Shivute, government ministers and family observed in silence the unloading of the casket by the Namibia Defence Force.
Draped in the Namibian flag it was then carried over a red carpet before being loaded into a hearse. The national flag flew at half-mast. President Pohamba has declared three days of national mourning for Dr Iyambo, which started yesterday and will end on Saturday when his state funeral will take place in Windhoek.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana yesterday said Dr Iyambo would be accorded a 17-gun salute on Saturday at Gammams cemetery in Windhoek and not Pionierspark cemetery as earlier announced.
This afternoon the body of Dr Iyambo will be moved to Parliament Gardens for a memorial service that will start at 14h00.
The casket will lay in state today until Saturday and members of the general public will have the opportunity to view the body throughout the night and to pay their last respects to the late education minister whose death caused an outpouring of grief.
Ua-Ndjarakana appealed to households in the vicinity of Gammams Cemetery to keep their domesticated animals under good care, so that they are not panicked by the sounds of the 17-gun salute.
He further called on those wanting to pay their last respects to the late Dr Iyambo at Parliament Gardens to “organise themselves and not to do it in an irresponsible manner”. Public transport will be provided to and from the funeral.
The late Dr Iyambo passed away last Saturday, February 02, his birthday, while on official duty in the UK.
It was a sombre mood as President Hifikepunye Pohamba, First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba, Founding Father of the Namibian Nation Dr Sam Nujoma, Prime Minister Dr Hage Geingob, Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Theo Ben-Gurirab, Chief Justice Peter Shivute, government ministers and family observed in silence the unloading of the casket by the Namibia Defence Force.
Draped in the Namibian flag it was then carried over a red carpet before being loaded into a hearse. The national flag flew at half-mast. President Pohamba has declared three days of national mourning for Dr Iyambo, which started yesterday and will end on Saturday when his state funeral will take place in Windhoek.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana yesterday said Dr Iyambo would be accorded a 17-gun salute on Saturday at Gammams cemetery in Windhoek and not Pionierspark cemetery as earlier announced.
This afternoon the body of Dr Iyambo will be moved to Parliament Gardens for a memorial service that will start at 14h00.
The casket will lay in state today until Saturday and members of the general public will have the opportunity to view the body throughout the night and to pay their last respects to the late education minister whose death caused an outpouring of grief.
Ua-Ndjarakana appealed to households in the vicinity of Gammams Cemetery to keep their domesticated animals under good care, so that they are not panicked by the sounds of the 17-gun salute.
He further called on those wanting to pay their last respects to the late Dr Iyambo at Parliament Gardens to “organise themselves and not to do it in an irresponsible manner”. Public transport will be provided to and from the funeral.
PM wants open debate on reparations
New Era, 06 Feb 2013 - Story by Paulus Paulus
… ‘Special Initiative foisted on people’
WINDHOEK - Prime Minster Dr Hage Geingob says neither Germany nor the Namibian government can stop the people from talking about reparations for atrocities committed by Imperial Germany against Namibians during the colonial era.
“In a democracy, we cannot stop people from talking about reparations. It is painful because people died,” Geingob told German Ambassador to Namibia, Onno Huckmann, during a meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday.
Geingob said as much as reparations are a sensitive issue, and the relationship between Germany and Namibia is good, people should not be prevented from talking about reparations.
“You cannot stop them from talking and let them throw stones. It is just that Photo: NBC it should be done in an orderly way,” he said, suggesting that the discussion can be discussed further in parliament.
Geingob said for people to truly reconcile, there is a need to admit wrongdoing on the part of Germany. He said even though people appear to have reconciled, there is still the lack of reconciliation, especially in the economy, which is aggravated by the land issue.
“Those that are well off should take care of those that are not well off,” said the prime minister. In reply Huckmann said Germany through its parliament has expressed deep regret over the atrocities committed against Namibians by Germans, and therefore cannot neglect its historical responsibilities.
He said since independence, Germany has spent some N$7 billion in development aid to Namibia. He also mentioned the support under the Namibia-German Special Initiative, as well as the investment in the Ohorongo cement factory, which has created employment for hundreds of Namibians.
However, according to Geingob the Namibia-German Special Initiative is being foisted on the people, adding that there is a need for dialogue to ensure that the outcomes are of mutual interest and benefit.
“It (Special Initiative) was a unilateral decision by Germany, it could have been better if there was a Namibian narrative to it,” he said.
The courtesy call by the German ambassador was followed by visits from the ambassadors of the United States of America (USA) and Turkey. All the ambassadors offered messages of condolence to Namibia and its people, and the family of Dr Abraham Iyambo who passed away on Saturday in London, UK.
US Ambassador Wanda Nesbitt briefed Geingob on the programmes that the USA carries out in Namibia through several agencies, which includes the work done by Peace Corps volunteers. She said a group of 100 to 120 volunteers come to Namibia every year, and two thirds of them volunteer in the education sector as teachers.
The next batch of volunteers will come to Namibia in March, she said. Nesbitt further said her country is playing a role in the agriculture, education and tourism sectors, through the Millennium Challenge Account Namibia (MCA-N).
She told Geingob that over a million cattle have been tagged in northern Namibia through the MCA-N. The ambassador said that in education, they have been providing textbooks and have also built several schools across the country and that they are in the process of building regional libraries.
Meanwhile, Turkish Ambassador Murat Yoruk said topping his agenda in Namibia are relations in trade and economic development. He told the Prime Minister that Turkey and Namibia are about to finalise an agreement on air transportation that could soon see the Turkish airline flying to Namibia.
WINDHOEK - Prime Minster Dr Hage Geingob says neither Germany nor the Namibian government can stop the people from talking about reparations for atrocities committed by Imperial Germany against Namibians during the colonial era.“In a democracy, we cannot stop people from talking about reparations. It is painful because people died,” Geingob told German Ambassador to Namibia, Onno Huckmann, during a meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday.
Geingob said as much as reparations are a sensitive issue, and the relationship between Germany and Namibia is good, people should not be prevented from talking about reparations.
“You cannot stop them from talking and let them throw stones. It is just that Photo: NBC it should be done in an orderly way,” he said, suggesting that the discussion can be discussed further in parliament.
Geingob said for people to truly reconcile, there is a need to admit wrongdoing on the part of Germany. He said even though people appear to have reconciled, there is still the lack of reconciliation, especially in the economy, which is aggravated by the land issue.
“Those that are well off should take care of those that are not well off,” said the prime minister. In reply Huckmann said Germany through its parliament has expressed deep regret over the atrocities committed against Namibians by Germans, and therefore cannot neglect its historical responsibilities.
He said since independence, Germany has spent some N$7 billion in development aid to Namibia. He also mentioned the support under the Namibia-German Special Initiative, as well as the investment in the Ohorongo cement factory, which has created employment for hundreds of Namibians.
However, according to Geingob the Namibia-German Special Initiative is being foisted on the people, adding that there is a need for dialogue to ensure that the outcomes are of mutual interest and benefit.
“It (Special Initiative) was a unilateral decision by Germany, it could have been better if there was a Namibian narrative to it,” he said.
The courtesy call by the German ambassador was followed by visits from the ambassadors of the United States of America (USA) and Turkey. All the ambassadors offered messages of condolence to Namibia and its people, and the family of Dr Abraham Iyambo who passed away on Saturday in London, UK.
US Ambassador Wanda Nesbitt briefed Geingob on the programmes that the USA carries out in Namibia through several agencies, which includes the work done by Peace Corps volunteers. She said a group of 100 to 120 volunteers come to Namibia every year, and two thirds of them volunteer in the education sector as teachers.
The next batch of volunteers will come to Namibia in March, she said. Nesbitt further said her country is playing a role in the agriculture, education and tourism sectors, through the Millennium Challenge Account Namibia (MCA-N).
She told Geingob that over a million cattle have been tagged in northern Namibia through the MCA-N. The ambassador said that in education, they have been providing textbooks and have also built several schools across the country and that they are in the process of building regional libraries.
Meanwhile, Turkish Ambassador Murat Yoruk said topping his agenda in Namibia are relations in trade and economic development. He told the Prime Minister that Turkey and Namibia are about to finalise an agreement on air transportation that could soon see the Turkish airline flying to Namibia.
Nation mourns Dr Iyambo
New Era, 05 Feb 2013 - Story by Albertina Nakale
… messages of sympathy from far and wide
WINDHOEK- Mourners from all corners of the country continue sending condolence messages in the aftermath of the sudden and untimely death of the Minister of Education Dr Abraham Iyambo who died on Saturday in the United Kingdom.
Namibians from all walks of life have received the news about Iyambo’s tragic and unexpected demise with great shock and sadness. Iyambo (52) died on his birthday on February 2 in London in his hotel room where he was staying while on official government business. On Sunday President Hifikepunye Pohamba opened a book of condolences at the late Dr Iyambo’s residence in the Hochland Park suburb of Windhoek.
When New Era visited the late minister’s house yesterday, grief-stricken relatives, close friends, Cabinet ministers among them the Minister of Labour and Social Services, Doreen Sioka, as well as the Swapo Youth League wing streamed into the late minister’s home to convey their condolences.
One by one the mourners, touched by the sudden death, signed the book of condolences. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Andrew Ndishishi, who is the late Iyambo’s brother-in-law spoke on behalf of the bereaved family. Ndishishi’s late wife Cecilia, who was Iyambo’s sister, predeceased the minister on February 6 last year. Read more...
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Namibia mourns the untimely demise of Hon Dr. Iyambo, Minister of Education of the Republic of Namibia.
Namibia trauert um den frühzeitigen Tod von Dr. Iyambo, Bildungsminister der Republik Namibia.
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New Era, 04 Feb 2013 - Story by Paulus Paulus
WINDHOEK – Namibia is in shock following the untimely demise of the Minister of Education, Dr Abraham Iyambo, who died on his birthday on February 02 in London in the United Kingdom (UK) where he was on official duty.
In a statement issued late on Saturday, President Hifikepunye Pohamba announced the death of the education minister.
“It is with great sadness and shock that I announce the untimely passing on of one of my senior Cabinet ministers, Dr Abraham Iyambo, Minister of Education,” the President announced. His death is seen as a big loss to Namibia and the Swapo Party in particular since he was among the hardest working ministers, frequently in touch with teachers and learners since he took over the education portfolio.
Pohamba said Namibia has lost one of its brightest, most committed and hardworking senior ministers. “The huge gap that he has left behind will be difficult to fill,” said the president.
“On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Namibia, the Cabinet and indeed on my own behalf, I extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Dr Iyambo,” he said.
The Minister of Information and Communication Technology (MICT), Joel Kaapanda said Iyambo’s death is a big blow to the country and the education sector.
“He devoted his energy and commitment to his work. He wanted to make a tangible change in terms of improving the quality of education, infrastructure and availability of resources at schools. His dream was to see Namibia succeed in education,” he said.
Read more...