🇳🇦NamibiaSouthern Africa
Namibian police and farmer organizations sign 10-year agreement to combat stock theft
via The Namibian1 min read
The Namibian police and four farmer organizations, including the Namibia Agricultural Union NAU, the Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers’ Union NECFU, the Namibia National Farmers’ Union NNFU, and the Previously Disadvantaged Namibians’ Farmers’ Union PDNFU, have signed a 10-year agreement to enhance efforts against stock theft and other crimes affecting farmers. The agreement, signed in Windhoek, establishes a framework for preventing, detecting, and reducing crimes, particularly stock theft. This new pact replaces a previous agreement between the police and the NAU that concluded in March 2024. Acting Inspector General Anne-Marie Nainda noted that the prior agreement improved cooperation and communication between law enforcement and the farming community through the national rural safety strategy. Nainda highlighted that crimes in rural areas, such as stock theft, illegal grazing, poaching, and infrastructure vandalism, continue to challenge farmers and the national economy. She also acknowledged the Joint Crime Prevention Forum, established in 2018 by the NAU and NECFU, for strengthening farmer-police cooperation, advising on rural safety, supporting regional initiatives, and facilitating dialogue.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has urged traditional authorities to partner with universities, schools, historians, museums, and research institutions to document and preserve diverse cultural heritages. Speaking at the annual Masubia Cultural Festival in Bukalo, Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized that such collaboration would ensure the preservation of languages, customs, traditions, leadership history, indigenous knowledge, and cultural practices. She highlighted that this undertaking would provide educational resources, deepen understanding of Namibia's heritage, and strengthen national unity. The President also noted the importance of cultural festivals in equipping youth with conflict resolution skills, urging them to learn from elders. Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed concern over succession disputes being handled in civil courts rather than through customary laws, stating that this dilutes cultural norms. She welcomed the recent coronation of Hompa Bartholomeus Aruita Kayoka, chief of the VaGcriku Traditional Authority.
Mentor, life, and business coach Sidney Boois encouraged men to speak up about their mental health challenges during an awareness event at Eros Primary School. Boois stated that speaking is the initial step towards addressing mental health and that good mental health involves learning to respond to problems rather than avoiding them. He also urged men to support each other and recognize when someone close to them is struggling. This call for open dialogue comes as Namibia faces high suicide rates, with 1,474 Namibians dying by suicide last year, according to the Ministry of Health and Social Services and the World Health Organisation. Soccer coach Costa Khaiseb believes open conversations can help break the silence surrounding mental health and encourage individuals to seek support. Hockey player Berthwell Sabisa emphasized that people should not feel they have to face difficult moments alone. The article also included a separate anecdote from single mother Annalize Tjipanga about how a letter from her son altered her parenting approach, making her realize she had placed excessive pressure on him.
Olympic gold medallist Noah Lyles secured his third US 100m title on Friday at the US athletics championships, clocking a world-leading time of 9.79 seconds. Lyles, who was trailing early in the race, surged in the final 30 meters to win convincingly. Veteran Ronnie Baker finished second, and Kenny Bednarek took third, both with a time of 9.88 seconds. Former world champion Christian Coleman placed fourth in 9.93 seconds. Lyles's performance matched his personal best from the 2024 Paris Olympics and surpassed the previous world-leading time of 9.82 seconds set by Oblique Seville in June. In the women's 100m, Sha'Carri Richardson, the 2023 world champion and 2024 Olympic silver medallist, won her third national title with a time of 10.77 seconds. Kayla White was second in 10.90 seconds, and Tamari Davis finished third in 11.00 seconds. Lyles is scheduled to compete in the 200m heats on Saturday. In other events, 17-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus advanced to the men's 800m final, winning his heat in 1:45.83. Quincy Hall, the 2024 Paris Olympics 400m gold medallist, did not advance from his heats.