Cabinet approves Ya Toivo Airport
The cabinet has approved the renaming of the airport at Ondangwa to honour Swapo stalwart Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo.
The Ondangwa Airport will in the future be known as the Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo Airport after cabinet gave its approval for the renaming.
Works minister John Mutorwa confirmed cabinet's green light to Namibian Sun, which had been given on Tuesday.
“From a policy aspect it has been completed,” he said, referring to the renaming of the airport.
Mutorwa said the branding of the airport is still to be done and would be officially unveiled at a later stage.
The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) yesterday called for expressions of interest in local newspapers for the renaming and branding of airport.
This will focus on conceptualisation, as well as a bust and biography of the late Ya Toivo in a designated area inside the airport terminal building.
The bidding process closes on 22 June.
NAC acting CEO Albertus Aochamub said the company has just started the process of public procurement for the renaming and branding and was therefore unsure what the costs would be.
“Other than that, this was a presidential directive that we have to comply with and it will be completed this year. Family consultations and discussions with other key role-players are still ongoing, but all are aligned so far.”
Last year at a memorial service for Ya Toivo, President Hage Geingob mooted the renaming of the airport in honour of the fallen struggle icon. The renaming, however, still had to be approved by cabinet.
Geingob's suggestion followed calls from the public and politicians, including the country's second president Hifikepunye Pohamba, to rename the airport after Ya Toivo.
The revered former Robben Island prisoner died at the age of 92 on June 9 last year, bringing the curtain down on one of the most celebrated Namibian struggle stalwarts, who was renowned for his humility.
He died of a suspected heart attack at his home in Klein Windhoek.
Ya Toivo was a prominent Namibian anti-apartheid activist, political prisoner and one of the co-founders of Swapo in 1960, as well as its predecessor the Ovamboland People's Organisation. He served in several ministerial positions after independence.
ELLANIE SMIT
Works minister John Mutorwa confirmed cabinet's green light to Namibian Sun, which had been given on Tuesday.
“From a policy aspect it has been completed,” he said, referring to the renaming of the airport.
Mutorwa said the branding of the airport is still to be done and would be officially unveiled at a later stage.
The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) yesterday called for expressions of interest in local newspapers for the renaming and branding of airport.
This will focus on conceptualisation, as well as a bust and biography of the late Ya Toivo in a designated area inside the airport terminal building.
The bidding process closes on 22 June.
NAC acting CEO Albertus Aochamub said the company has just started the process of public procurement for the renaming and branding and was therefore unsure what the costs would be.
“Other than that, this was a presidential directive that we have to comply with and it will be completed this year. Family consultations and discussions with other key role-players are still ongoing, but all are aligned so far.”
Last year at a memorial service for Ya Toivo, President Hage Geingob mooted the renaming of the airport in honour of the fallen struggle icon. The renaming, however, still had to be approved by cabinet.
Geingob's suggestion followed calls from the public and politicians, including the country's second president Hifikepunye Pohamba, to rename the airport after Ya Toivo.
The revered former Robben Island prisoner died at the age of 92 on June 9 last year, bringing the curtain down on one of the most celebrated Namibian struggle stalwarts, who was renowned for his humility.
He died of a suspected heart attack at his home in Klein Windhoek.
Ya Toivo was a prominent Namibian anti-apartheid activist, political prisoner and one of the co-founders of Swapo in 1960, as well as its predecessor the Ovamboland People's Organisation. He served in several ministerial positions after independence.
ELLANIE SMIT
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