Staff Reporter
THE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy, Natangwe Iithete, emphasised the vital role of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in promoting international peace and security, reaffirming Namibia’s strong commitment to fulfilling its obligations under the treaty.
“As Member States to the Convention, we all have a collective responsibility to uphold the international norm against the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons established under the Convention. Signing and ratifying the CWC commits countries to the verified destruction of all stockpiles of chemical weapons,” he said.
Iithete made these remarks during a two-day Regional Conference on Advancing National Implementation Legislation for the CWC, held in Windhoek. He noted that full implementation of the Convention is not only a global responsibility but also essential to Namibia’s national security, public safety, and sustainable socio-economic progress.
Scenes from the Regional Conference on Advancing National Implementation Legislation for the CWC. Photos: Ministry of Mines, Energy and Industry.
The conference, organised by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), aimed to strengthen collaboration with the OPCW Technical Secretariat and support the development of robust legal frameworks for effective Convention implementation across the region.
The event convened representatives from 27 African States Parties working to adopt comprehensive national implementing legislation. It served as a platform for sharing experiences, addressing common challenges, and exchanging best practices, with the support of regional and international experts and organisations.
OPCW Deputy Director-General, Ambassador Odette Melono, highlighted the presence of senior African officials at the conference as evidence of their countries’ commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention.
“The States Parties represented here share a mutual understanding that a world free of chemical weapons can only be achieved if all countries implement the Convention and fulfil their obligations,” Melono added.
