Windhoek – The government will soon launch public consultations on whether to do away with the practice of winter and summer time, which requires changing the clock twice a year.
The practice is in accordance with the Namibian Time Act, Act No. 3 of 1994 that regulates winter and summer time.
Information and Communication Technology Minister Tjekero Tweya announced this yesterday when he briefed the media on the outcomes of Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.
He said the Minister of Home and Affairs and Immigration Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana made the request for authorisation to hold public consultations on the Namibian Time Act, 1994 (No. 3 of 1994). Cabinet authorised the request.
The Act states that Namibia shall during the summer period, be two hours in advance of Greenwich Mean Time, and during the winter period, be one hour in advance of Greenwich Mean Time.
It further stipulates that Namibia enters winter time at 02:00 on the first Sunday of April annually and reverts back to summer time at the same time on the first Sunday of September annually.
“Whenever the time changes to winter time some parts of the country remain with the old time, like Zambezi, and this creates some uneasiness because if you change the time then the lives of the people change,” said Tweya.
Coupled with complaints from individuals, Tweya said, business people have on some occasions also complained that the time change results in unproductivity because it affects operating hours as well as flying time.
“Since it is already dark at 17h00 during winter time, some people have indicated that the situation presents security concerns because it is unsafe when people come from work. Because of all this, government decided to allow the public to decide on the way forward. These issues were raised and we must listen to the people, regardless who champions it,” said Tweya.
Namibians usually turn their clocks back one hour to enter winter time on every first Sunday of April.
by Mathias Haufiku