The minister of environment and tourism has appointed an interim or caretaker managing director for Namibia Wildlife Resorts until the recruitment process for this position has been completed. The ministry announced this was done on request from the board of directors of the NWR, and in consultation with Prime Minister Angula. The person assigned with this responsibility is the deputy permanent secretary of the tourism ministry, Ambassador William Amagulu. He took up the assignment on 1 October 2005. Another 4 senior staff members of the same ministry were assigned to assist the interim MD also from 1 October to address organizational problems within the NWR.

"It is generally known that NWR is experiencing considerable problems to improve its infrastructure and services due to financial and managerial constraints. This is a matter of serious concern to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and Government as a whole, and negotiations are underway to determine a lasting solution for these problems", the ministry said in a statement last week. The previous MD, Anna Nikodemus, re-applied for the post, after her 5-year term expired, but she was unsuccessful to have her contract renewed.

The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) has contracted the Namibia Training Authority (NTA) to develop unit standards in the tourism sector, according to the requirements of the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA), as well as modular curricula and training materials for Level 1 of the Hospitality and Tourism Industry. They will form the basis of future hospitality and tourism training programmes in Namibia. Unit standards and modular curricula have now been drafted for the front office, housekeeping, Food and beverage service, food preparation, lodges, camps and guesthouses, safari and Tour Operators and tour guiding. The NTB and NTA are now conducting national consultations on the draft unit standards and curriculum. For this purpose, all interested persons (employers, training providers, employees, etc) are invited to a National Consultative Workshop this Saturday, 22 October from 8h30 to 17h30, in the conference hall of the NTA headquarters (former Rössing Foundation site in Rand street, Khomasdal). Interested parties can study the content of the Unit Standards and Curricula by downloading them from the NTA’s website: www.nta.com.na. Those who will not attend can submit comments by 8 November 2005 to Ms. Linette Smit at linette.smit@nta.com.na.