About 80% of the beneficiaries who received hippo water rollers in Otjiwarongo's informal settlement last year have started backyard gardens.

Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy Kornelia Shilunga says while significant oil investment is expected to flow into Namibia, it is not a given that prosperity will follow.

Shilunga was speaking at the Copper Festival in Tsumeb, held under the theme 'Empowering Entrepreneurship in a Sustainable Namibia'.

The Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, has appealed to financial institutions to provide low-income earners with loans to build houses.

Uutoni was speaking at the handover of serviced plots at the MTC Land Delivery Ground-breaking Ceremony at Okakarara.

The Otjiwarongo municipality has assured the residents that the planned explosives factory northwest of the town will pose no danger to residents as it is located in an area where there are no plans for current or future developments.

The Minister of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) has encouraged learners to familiarise themselves with the country's national symbols, as they are more than just words and images.

A total of over N$600,000 was raised in pledges at the launch of this year's Copper Festival in Tsumeb.

The festival is slated for the 1st to the 4th of November.

Tsumeb vendors say they will not move to the newly constructed fruit and vegetable hub as it does not meet their requirements.

The Tsumeb Open Market was officially opened by Urban and Rural Development Minister Erastus Uutoni about two months ago.

The University of Namibia's Associate Professor, Dr. Michael Backes, says many Namibians do not have appreciation for the night skies.

However, many tourists travel from as far as Europe to have the opportunity to experience the beauty of Namibia's clear skies.

Residents of Tsumeb are advised to continue boiling water for consumption.

This was said by the town's chief executive officer, Victoria Kapenda.

Since last year, Tsumeb residents have been having serious water issues as a result of underground water contamination.

The Otjiwarongo Municipality is gearing up for an ambitious wastewater treatment plant and waste-to-energy project, a venture that demands more waste input than the town currently produces.