Windhoek
Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana yesterday announced during a press briefing that Namibians have until February 29 to make submissions regarding the winter time change.
Iivula-Ithana said more than 450 submissions have already been received by her office. She, however, did not want to divulge how many were for and against the time change, which occurs every year on the first Sunday of April and in September.
She mentioned that much of the criticism of the time change came from business people who complained that they miss out on business opportunities.
“The ministry has been inundated with concerns from the public and stakeholders that the change of time impacts adversely on their activities: be they commercial, leisure or academic,” she told the press at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration.
Iivula-Ithana said the business sector has raised concerns over the time difference with countries Namibia does business with on a daily basis, especially neighbouring countries. Similarly the fitness and wellness sector expressed concerns that they lose business during winter time when a large portion of their clients find it difficult to walk to and from the centres, as darkness sets in early.
The minister further indicated that they received complaints from the border posts, as travellers have to wait at least one hour until the border posts open due to the time difference between Namibia and her neighbours.
She also mentioned the Zambezi Region, which does not change to winter time, leaving the region completely cut off when the rest of the country shifts to winter time. She said: “This fact has been used by those with secessionist motives to propagate that the region belongs somewhere else than Namibia.”
While the minister said it is not a voting process and the ministry will not consider the statistics in terms of who are for or against the time change, but will critically analyse the “substantive views submitted and the effects that each time period will have on the daily operations of the Namibian people,” she did say the public response to the issue will be the deciding factor.
She, however, did not elaborate on a question from this reporter on whether the responses received so far are for or against the time change, saying only that the “overwhelming response will determine the issue”.
Namibians that still want to have their say on the issue can do so via email by writing to legal.division@mha.gov.na or by post to Private Bag 13200, Windhoek, or any Home Affairs office countrywide.