Namibia’s weather services receive a boost

THE World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) is implementing a number of plans that will benefit Namibia, the South African Development Community (SADC) and Africa as a whole, says a senior WMO official.

Stephen Njoroge said these included increasing the meteorological observation network, using new technology to improve the exchange of meteorological and environmental data and the procurement, manufacture, maintenance, repair and calibration of facilities in Africa. Njoroge said that the WMO had also made proposals related to strengthening and re-organising the Namibia Meteorological Service.These would embrace the development of legal instruments for the establishment of a National Meteorological Services Agency in Namibia.He said he was pleased to see that since Namibia joined the WMO on June 2 1991, the country had become an active member of WMO.”The strengthening of its capabilities should enable it to contribute further to the programmes and activities of the WMO and benefit more fully from them,” said Njoroge.The WMO official was speaking at the inauguration of the headquarters of the Meteorological Services in Windhoek on Friday.Namibia is participating in the WMO SADC Hydrological Cycle Observing System (SADC-HYCOS) project which is aimed at enhancing the collection of hydro-meteorological data for use in water resource management.He said despite the country being far away from the Indian Ocean, the impact of severe tropical cyclones in the South West Indian Ocean affected the weather behaviour in Namibia.That was why Namibia was also a member of the WMO Tropical Cyclone Committee for the South West Indian Ocean.Boitshoko Sekwati from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for East and Southern Africa said the construction of new offices for the Namibia Meteorological Service was a clear demonstration of the Namibian Government’s recognition of the importance of meteorology in the socio-economic development of the country.Officially inaugurating the building, Transport and Works Minister Moses Amweelo said the new headquarters was a milestone in the improvement and strengthening of meteorological services in Namibia.The Minister said these efforts were aimed at improving the future of the institution, particularly in terms of capacity for service delivery.”Recognising the need for meteorological information to support the activities of many user sectors, the Government of Namibia has now included the strengthening of meteorological services in national development plans.This head office building and the facilities on these premises are a result of this vision,” said Amweelo.At Independence, Namibia had only six full-time weather stations.Amweelo said Government wanted to have at least 20 stations as Namibia was a vast country.He said two stations were opened last year – one at Katima Mulilo and the other at Ondangwa.He added that the opening of a station at Eros Airport to cater for the needs of aviation had reached an advanced stage.Njoroge said that the WMO had also made proposals related to strengthening and re-organising the Namibia Meteorological Service.These would embrace the development of legal instruments for the establishment of a National Meteorological Services Agency in Namibia.He said he was pleased to see that since Namibia joined the WMO on June 2 1991, the country had become an active member of WMO.”The strengthening of its capabilities should enable it to contribute further to the programmes and activities of the WMO and benefit more fully from them,” said Njoroge.The WMO official was speaking at the inauguration of the headquarters of the Meteorological Services in Windhoek on Friday.Namibia is participating in the WMO SADC Hydrological Cycle Observing System (SADC-HYCOS) project which is aimed at enhancing the collection of hydro-meteorological data for use in water resource management.He said despite the country being far away from the Indian Ocean, the impact of severe tropical cyclones in the South West Indian Ocean affected the weather behaviour in Namibia.That was why Namibia was also a member of the WMO Tropical Cyclone Committee for the South West Indian Ocean.Boitshoko Sekwati from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) for East and Southern Africa said the construction of new offices for the Namibia Meteorological Service was a clear demonstration of the Namibian Government’s recognition of the importance of meteorology in the socio-economic development of the country.Officially inaugurating the building, Transport and Works Minister Moses Amweelo said the new headquarters was a milestone in the improvement and strengthening of meteorological services in Namibia.The Minister said these efforts were aimed at improving the future of the institution, particularly in terms of capacity for service delivery.”Recognising the need for meteorological information to support the activities of many user sectors, the Government of Namibia has now included the strengthening of meteorological services in national development plans.This head office building and the facilities on these premises are a result of this vision,” said Amweelo.At Independence, Namibia had only six full-time weather stations.Amweelo said Government wanted to have at least 20 stations as Namibia was a vast country.He said two stations were opened last year – one at Katima Mulilo and the other at Ondangwa.He added that the opening of a station at Eros Airport to cater for the needs of aviation had reached an advanced stage.