Ref: 13/6/26
21 April 2008

MEDIA BRIEFING FROM CABINET CHAMBERS

Cabinet took the following decisions at its 7th ordinary meeting held on 15 April 2008.

The international community recognised the trade in conflict diamonds as a serious concern, since it was linked directly to the fuelling of armed conflicts, and illicit trafficking in and proliferation of armaments, especially small arms and light weapons in the past.

Against that backdrop, urgent international action was deemed necessary to prevent the problem of conflict diamonds from negatively affecting the trade in legitimate diamonds.

In May 2000, a process started in Kimberley, South Africa, to certify rough diamond exports and imports to ensure that conflict diamonds are eliminated from the legitimate trade, while clean diamonds are promoted. This process culminated in the adoption of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) by 37 countries and the European Community in November 2002 in Switzerland.

Namibia’s participation and leadership role in the KPCS was widely recognised in the international diamond fraternity. This led to the election of Namibia as Vice-Chair for 2008 and Chair for 2009 of the KPCS in November 2007 in Brussels, Belgium.
Cabinet, therefore, noted Namibia’s election to the position of Vice-Chair (2008) and Chair (2009) of the KPCS and also noted the important role that Namibia will play as a leading diamond producer, manufacturer, importer and exporters of rough diamonds and the prestige and positive image that will be associated with this role for our diamond industry. Cabinet, furthermore, directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance to give the necessary assistance to the Ministry of Mines and Energy to carry out its duties as Chair of the Kimberley Process in 2009.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Mines and Energy at telephone number 2848308.


2. HOSTING OF THE COMMONWEALTH SOUTHERN AND EAST AFRICA COLLOQUIUM ON GENDER, CULTURE AND THE LAW

The Gender Section of the Social Transformation Programmes Division at the Commonwealth Secretariat in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare is organising a series of colloquia on gender, culture and law, as the issue has been identified for special action in the Commonwealth Plan of Action for Gender Equality 2005 – 2015.

Colloquia were already held in the West African region in 2006 and the Asian region in 2007. Next in line is the Southern and East Africa Colloquium to take place in Namibia from 21 to 23 May 2008.

The objective of the colloquium is to facilitate discussions among stakeholders on how the Judiciary, women’s rights advocates, traditional and religious leaders and national women’s machinery can help secure women’s rights through law and customary practices. Countries involved will be Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

The Commonwealth Secretariat will carry all cost related to the colloquium. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare made budgetary provision for local transport for this event.

Cabinet, therefore, gave permission to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare to host the Commonwealth Southern and East Africa Colloquium on Gender, Culture and Law in Namibia from 21 – 23 May 2008.

Further information can be obtained from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare at telephone number 2833111.


3. ANNUAL REPORTS:

2007 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NAMIBIAN POLICE
2006/07 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE NAMIBIAN AGRONOMIC BOARD
2006/2007 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE FISHERIES OBSERVER AGENCY
2007/2008 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
2006 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF GENDER EQUALITY AND CHILD WELFARE
2007 ANNUAL REPORT FOR NAMFISA
2007 ANNUAL REPORT FOR NAMIBRE
2004/05 AND 2005/06 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL

Cabinet noted the above-mentioned annual reports and financial statements and gave the green light to the respective responsible Ministers to table these reports in the National Assembly.

MBEUTA UA-NDJARAKANA
PERMANENT SECRETARY