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namib times
SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6904 FRIDAY 12 MARCH 2021 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net
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Sewer system troubles:
Ourselves to blame! Walvis Bay is steering towards a disaster with its sewer system, and a considerable part of the problem lies with the behaviour of the harbour town's inhabitants. Not the ageing system itself. Shocking statistics were released by the Walvis Bay municipality this week showing a steady increase yearly in the number of reported drain blockages and overflows. In 2018 there were 8046 incidents of blockages and overflows and almost double in 2019 with 15 033 incidents reported by the public. In 2020, a total of 18 960 incidents were reported, according to media statement. Although not denying the town's sewer system is aged and in need of a massive upgrade, the municipality of Walvis Bay states in the statement residents must do their part by not dumping unwanted items in the sewer system. From sheep heads, fly traps, tires, pipes, heavy duty ropes, fishing nets, clothing items and old camping chairs were found to be responsible for many of these blockages and overflows. People simply don't care and use the sewer system to get rid of these unwanted items. Little do they realise they are the cause of many of these smelly and messy blockages and overflows. Apart from causing their own discomfort and that of their families, friends Continues on page 2
NAC welcomes new air operator’s to its airports
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Port of Walvis Bay’s importance to Zambia’s copper mining sector Eileen van der Schyff The port of Walvis Bay continues to raise the bar as logistics hub for import and export flows between world markets and landlocked Southern African nations. The dry bulk vessel, Dynamic Striker, recently called at Walvis Bay to discharge 30 000 tons of granulated bulk sulphur, destined for the copper Continues on page 2
South African Covid-19 strain has firm foothold in Namibia As many as 20 percent of Namibians who contracted Covid-19 could have been infected by the new South African strain, also known by the scientific name of 501Y.V2.
The new strain was first detected in Namibia in October 2020 and February 2021. The same time the new strain was detected in the South African population, according to Namibia's health minister Dr Kalumbi Shangu-
la. Although the new strain was only detected in ten of the country's fourteen regions, chances are not ruled out that 501Y.V2 is present in people in the remaining four regions. In a statement on Wed-
nesday, Dr Shangula announced Namibia's health authority collaborated with its South African counterpart to determine to what extent is the new Covid19 strain present in the two countries' people. Samples were drawn from specimens of peo-
ple that tested positive for Covid-19. A total of 105 samples were drawn from stored samples at the National Institute for Pathology (81 samples); Pathcare (12 samples) and the University of Namibia (12 samples). These samples were taken during August 2020 and last month and were all from patients who
tested positive for the Coronavirus (Covid19). Of these 105 samples sent to South Africa, 81 could be successfully sequenced and analysed in a process known as “genomic sequencing”. Out of these 81 samples, 16 were from the new South African strain.
“Based on these results, we now know that the variant identified in South Africa is present in Namibia”, Dr Shangula says in the statement. Adding this new variant was also detected in the hu-man populations of Botswana and Zambia. Dr Shangula assured Namibians that the Continues on page 2
Statement by U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson in Recognition of International Women's Day on March 8
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FNB donates N$100 000 to Mondesa Youth Opportunities
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Sports News Page 16