Debmarine to spend N$7bn on new vessel

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Debmarine to spend N$7bn on new vessel Debmarine has announced that it will invest N$7 billion in a new vessel, which would contribute N$2 billion a year to the economy.

The diamond miner said this would be its biggest single investment to date, and the most expensive and modern vessel it has ever bought.

The vessel will be called the AMV3. The announcement was made by Debmarine CEO Otto Shikongo, who said the board had approved the planned acquisition.

The vessel is expected to add 500 000 carats to Debmarine Namibia's diamond production, which marks an increase of about 35%.

The acquisition also marks the most significant investment made in the local diamond industry in its almost 100-year history, Shikongo said.

According to Shikongo, the vessel will be the most advanced diamond-mining vessel in the world when it commences operation in 2022.

It will incorporate the most advanced marine technologies that will drive improved safety performance while optimising efficiency and utilisation rates.

The vessel, which will be built in Romania, will be 107 metres long, will have a displacement of 29 000 tonnes and will accommodate 106 people.

“It will be the biggest vessel in terms of accommodation. Accommodation has always been a challenge for us when vocational training centres asked us to attach some of their trainees,” said Shikongo.

The new vessel is expected to create more than 160 jobs to add to Debmarine's current workforce of 975 employees.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Guibeb in debt scandal

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Guibeb in debt scandal JEMIMA BEUKES
A German newspaper has accused the Namibian ambassador to Germany, Andreas Guibeb, of abusing his diplomatic status and running up debts of about 80 000 euros (N$1.2 million).
According to an article published in the online edition of the newspaper Bild, a warrant for Guibeb’s arrest has been issued.
The newspaper reported that Guibeb had failed to account for 34 500 euros that formed part of a research contract that he had entered into with the Friedrich Schiller University in 2016 as representative of the organisation Friends of Namibia.
Guibeb is also accused of failing to pay a communications firm called Diskurs Communication 46 410 euros owed for media work and the maintenance of the embassy’s website.
According to the newspaper, no one from the embassy has responded to the matter since the summer of 2016, and Diskurs Communication incurred legal costs of 2 465 euros because of Guibeb’s diplomatic immunity.
The newspaper quoted an attorney and member of parliament, Olav Gutting, who is trying to assist the aggrieved parties, as saying: “A person who does not remotely understand the principle of pacta sunt servanda, or in layman’s terms, ‘agreements need to be adhered to’, for sure cannot expect German enterprise to invest in Namibia.”
Namibian Sun could not get hold of Guibeb but managed to speak to Brendan Kambuku, the first secretary at the Namibian embassy in Germany.
“I spoke to him. He told me there will be a press release issued in the afternoon in which he will give his side of the story,” Kambuku said.
State House press secretary Alfredo Hengari also said they would respond to the report in due course.

Grootfontein transfers N$150k to fraudsters

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Grootfontein transfers N$150k to fraudsters The Otjozondjupa police are investigating a case of fraud after the Grootfontein municipality transferred about N$150 000 to fraudsters.

This was confirmed by Grootfontein acting CEO, Arnold Ameb, who refused to shed more light on the matter as it is being investigated by the police.

Namibian Sun understands the money was paid into a Standard Bank account created by the fraudsters, who provided the municipality with letters claiming that Rubicon Security had changed its banking details.

According to copies of proof of payment slips seen by Namibian Sun, Ameb and chief accountant Martha Hamunyela authorised the payment requests submitted by the town's accountant Serah Hialulwa.

The payments were reportedly made while the municipality's finance executive Ileni Hainghumbi, who was recently reinstated, was on suspension.

The first payment of N$74 923.23 was authorised on 29 January, while a second payment of the same amount was authorised on 27 February.

The fraud came to light when Rubicon Security enquired in March why it had not received payments for January and February. Ameb approached the Grootfontein police on 6 March and opened a case of fraud.

Rubicon Security director Christo Groenewald said they noticed that the municipality had not made payments into their bank account.

When they made enquiries, they learnt the money was paid into another account.

Groenewald said they never instructed the Grootfontein municipality to change the company's banking details.

He added Rubicon Security's headquarters is in Tsumeb, while the fraudsters' letterheads said Henties Bay, which he says should have sounded alarm bells for the municipality.

“So many people are trying their luck by informing your specific debtor that your banking details have changed; we see that a lot in the industry,” he said.

“When you receive such a letter, you should phone that office and make sure you speak to a person you know, to confirm whether the banking details have changed.”

He added it is very strange how the fraudsters got away with the money, as financial institutions are very strict when one opens a bank account these days.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Timber impounded, no arrests made

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Timber impounded, no arrests madePublic the eyes and ears of the police All new applications for environmental clearance certificates were rejected in early April. Police in Kavango West have impounded timber believed to have been harvested illegally, but no arrests have been made.

The regional police commander, Commissioner Josephat Abel, on Wednesday confirmed the confiscation of large amounts of timber but said investigations were needed before any arrests could be considered.

Asked why no arrests had been made, Abel said the Forestry Act had loopholes that did not allow “direct arrests”. “Every case is treated on merit. Once we have impounded timber, we have two options: either to fine or arrest,” Abel said.

He said the police relied on information from the public.

“Whoever has information must give us the information. We just need to know where illegal timber activities are taking place,” Abel said. The acting regional commander in Kavango East, Deputy Commissioner Andreas Sanjahi, said no arrests had been made in that region because the police had not found anyone with timber.

He said those found transporting timber had “legal documents” allowing them to do so.

“We did do some inspections and found some timber but there was no one there,” Sanjahi said.

The Zambezi regional commander, Commissioner Karl Theron, said as far as he knew all timber harvesting in the region had stopped.

Theron said he was only aware of timber being transported through the Venela border post from Zambia to Walvis Bay for export purposes.

“We will know if any illegal timber harvesting is still taking place. The members of the community are mobilised and will come to us if they see any illegal activities,” Theron said.

Theron said “some time back” 14 Namibian-registered trucks carrying timber from Zambia had been impounded by the Roads Authority for overloading.



Environment ministry

The ministry of environment and tourism said any remaining commercial harvesting of timber was being done without the requisite environmental clearance certificates.

A joint report compiled by the environment and agriculture ministries in April said the commercial harvesting of timber posed a “major threat” to the environment.

Another concern was that no local value addition was being done.

The species that are being illegally harvested and exported have been identified as wild syringa, teak, silver terminalia, African rosewood and kiaat. These are all valuable hardwood species which should not be allowed to leave Namibia without some sort of value addition, the report stated.

It said most harvested trees take years to regrow and admitted that the harvesting was unsustainable.



Licences

A total of 390 harvesting licences had been issued by the agriculture and forestry ministry in Kavango East, and 42 in Kavango West. None of the licence holders had applied for environmental clearance certificates.

After the suspension of the licences, the environment ministry received only 231 applications for environmental clearance, all of which were rejected.

The agriculture ministry was informed of this decision in early April.

Of the 231 applications, only 147 were accompanied by recommendations from the agriculture ministry.

If these had been issued, it would have meant the harvesting of 47 857 trees per year, and 195 551 over a five-year period.

If N$500 were to be paid per tree, it would mean an income of about N$24 million per year for local farmers.

The report said it was difficult to determine the value from exports, and did not venture an estimate.



No new harvesting cases

The report stated that since 31 March, inspection teams on the ground had not found new cases of harvesting.

It acknowledged that the teams could not access many of the more remote areas because of a shortage of manpower and vehicles.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Tackle voter apathy first

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Tackle voter apathy first The upcoming Ondangwa Urban by-election has been enjoying prominent coverage in the mainstream media, with Swapo loyalists and those supporting an independent candidate ruffling each other's feathers.

We have always argued for a new political narrative that broadens participation and holds those in power to account. It is true that we have not yet seen a growing trend of young people showing much interest in politics. But this seems to be changing with the times. It appears that young people, who have for many years been actively excluded from the domain of politics, are now succeeding at shaping the political landscape, including through engaging in pro-democracy movements and pressure groups. However, there is a lingering problem that is a cause for concern. With the general elections due towards the end of the year, one expected both political parties and the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) to go into overdrive and champion the cause of voter education. Voter apathy is a global problem and is not only limited to Namibia or South Africa, where a 65% voter turnout was recorded in last week's general election. In the 2014 presidential elections, about 890 000 Namibians voted out of a registered 1.2 million eligible voters. This means that 310 000 people stayed away from the polling stations on election day. This is a pity and it just shows how important stakeholders don't value the importance of voting and educating the masses out there. The task of getting people to the voting booth is largely left to the ECN in this country and this should not be the case. Political parties, civil society and even the media must pull up their socks and equally promote civic education to teach, especially young people, the significance of participating in elections.

They must play their part in ensuring that effective campaigns are run in terms of the voter registration period. and that voters are energised and ready to cast their ballots on election day.

Tjivikua spills the beans

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Tjivikua spills the beansAccuses Kandjii-Murangi of political interference The former Nust vice-chancellor claims the institution will “slide into the abyss with no one standing ready to rescue the situation”. Former Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) vice-chancellor, Professor Tjama Tjivikua, has accused higher education Itah Kandjii-Murangi of gross interference in the running of the institution.

Tjivikua made this and a number of other accusations in a letter to current Nust council chairperson Esi Schimming-Chase, dated 1 March. He left Nust on 31 March.

Tjivikua, who is the founding vice-chancellor of the institution, also warned of the demise of the institution, saying the situation on the ground was deteriorating.

Tjivikua also claimed that certain staff members were unfairly siding with council members to enhance their own interests.

According to him, a direct link in the line of work between staff members and council members was undesirable and harmful to the university.

“We should be concerned about the minister's involvement and interference in the governance and management of the university. This has clearly happened in various forms since 2015. Similarly, we should also be concerned about the council and staff relations,” he said.





“It is a sure way of undermining the professionalism and authority of the council, as well as the CEO's authority and the management processes,” he added.

Tjivikua also accused council members of willingly dancing to Kandjii-Murangi's tune.

“Some have sided with staff members to the detriment of university management. A case in point is the matter of unresolved grievances and pending disciplinary hearings, whose delay was caused by the minster's directive to suspend all disciplinary actions against members associated to her during my extended tenure,” he said.

Kandjii-Murangi, Tjivikua claimed, had also gone beyond her call of duty to protect staff members that were related to her.

“In a similar way, the council should be concerned about the minister's direct links to staff members. She has issued directives, ultra vires, to the chairperson and the VC [Tjivikua at the time], to blatantly protect or shield certain staff members and promote her relatives' interests,” he said.

Kandjii-Murangi's actions, he said, corroded the trust amongst roleplayers involved with the institution and empowered certain staff members to act with impunity.

“Thus non-performing and delinquent staff members have formed a lobby group enjoying the minister's support. They are now poised to take over the university and purge it of those seen associated to me,” he said.

Tjivikua said that Nust would “slide into abyss with no one standing ready to rescue the situation”, as a result of Kandjii-Murangi's and certain council members' actions.

Kandjii-Murangi did not respond when called and sent text messages.

Schimming-Chase confirmed the authenticity of the letter and said she would attend to the concerns raised.

A well-placed source claimed there was a deliberate attempt to get rid of Tjivikua, in part because of a planned disciplinary action against the institution's spokesperson, Kaitira Kandjii who is related to the minister.

The source further alleged there was gross interference in the running of Nust, as alleged by Tjivikua in his letter, and called the situation a difficult matter.

A council member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed it was in the institution's best interests to end Tjivikua's tenure as vice-chancellor.

“Remember that Nust comes from a very complex history and even the previous council was removed, wholesale. It is a very delicate balancing act to make that institution work, but it is not going to be very easy,” the source said.

“The place was really marred by an over-the-top type of Machiavellian ruler... too many things to fix and too many interests to unhinge.”

OGONE TLHAGE

Moms up in arms

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Moms up in arms Throngs of desperate mothers claim they are being turned away daily from the Rehoboth Maintenance Court, despite the lofty service delivery goals set by the justice ministry under minister Sacky Shanghala.

The women also claim that the lax conduct of maintenance court officials has resulted in child support not being paid on time, or often not at all.

A Namibian Sun investigation found that mothers waited until just before 09:40 on Tuesday to be assisted by chief legal clerk Jennifer Steyn.

Some of the women told Namibian Sun they were returning for the third time, because they had not been previously assisted. Steyn told Namibian Sun she opens the office daily at 09:00 and closes it at 13:00. However, most of the mothers claimed she already leaves the office at 12:00.

Steyn also said she only assists 15 people per day.

One of the mothers, Angela de Klerk, claims Steyn told her that the court does not have the time to look for her father's child.

“But she sends the police every month to come and pick up my husband, who also had a child before our marriage; but my child's father is not treated the same way,” she said.

De Klerk also claimed that Steyn told her they are now very strict and issue warrants of arrests for fathers who are over

N$5 000 in default with maintenance payments.

“But my child's father is in arrears of N$10 800. When I asked her why he is not arrested, she said they cannot find him. So the police can go out of their way to find my husband, but they cannot find a man who works here in Rehoboth at a barbershop near the maintenance court?” De Klerk asked.





Anna de Koe, who is a single mother, said her child's father is also in arrears with more than N$5 000 and he still walks around with no care in the world.

“There are people who I know personally who owe more than N$9 000 in child support, but they walk around, and Steyn cannot explain why they are not arrested,” she said.

De Koe also said Steyn had told her that the court does not have time to look for absent fathers.

“I had to call the sheriff who is responsible for the town where my child's father is living, myself,” she said.

De Koe told Namibian Sun she went to the maintenance court last Tuesday and was told that Steyn was not in, as she was attending to official matters at the town council.

Last Thursday she went to the maintenance court again and was informed by the chief of administration, Jakobus Markus, that Steyn was not in.

“But one of the ladies stood in front of the door and saw that Steyn had locked herself in the office. We then demanded from Markus to come and call her to open the door. He then came and saw her and suddenly told us that she is not well and must go home,” said De Koe.

She added that Steyn allegedly told the women: “I will not help people now. You can go and report me. Call the ombudsman.”

Markus, who spoke on behalf of Steyn, confirmed that she had a personal problem last week.

He denied that she comes late on most days and insisted she is a diligent worker.

When asked to explain why people were only assisted at 09:40 on Tuesday, he said Steyn had several meetings with the prosecutor and other staff in their respective offices.

“The reason we only open the office for the public at 09:00 is because she must prepare charge sheets and court documents in the hour before that. Normally, if a complainant comes to see her then a court date is communicated to them on the same date,” Markus said.

He added the challenge remains that they have no control over summonses.

“But we do call the sheriffs of different towns to confirm with them and then we inform the complainants,” Markus said.

He also said he is not aware that Steyn closes the office at 13:00 every day.

“I have never had a complaint of this nature. My office is just down the way and I can see when she comes in and when she leaves; so I am not aware that she leaves early or comes late,” he said.

Office of the Judiciary spokesperson Ockert Jansen explained that maintenance courts have to schedule their services, depending on which days these services are more in demand.

He explained that they cannot respond to the allegations that Steyn arrives late at the office carrying shopping bags.

“That can probably be hearsay, as we cannot establish that. The issue reported about Thursday was certainly an isolated matter,” he said. Jansen, however, added that their staff are often overcommitted at times, because of the shortage of employees.

According to him Steyn herself has a lot on her plate and must deal with estate claims, liquor licences, the solemnising of marriages, as well as home affairs and reconciliation matters.

Namibian Sun reported in 2018 that nearly half of all active maintenance cases in Namibia's 33 magistrate courts are cases where parents, mostly fathers, have failed to honour court ordered child support payments.

A summary provided by the Office of the Judiciary to Namibian Sun showed that out of 31 104 active maintenance cases before 33 Namibian courts, 15 097 are default cases. Statistics reported show that of the 599 active maintenance cases in Rehoboth alone, 308 involve defaulters.

In Windhoek, 8 290 default cases are before the maintenance court out of a total of 11 479 active cases.

The Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court is dealing with 1 895 default cases out of a total of 2 432 active cases.

In Rundu, of the 1 954 cases,

1 409 involve maintenance defaulters.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Together everyone achieves more!

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Together everyone achieves more!Education ministry hosts 12th annual sports event The education ministry hosted its annual sports event in Windhoek from 6 to 9 May under the theme, ‘Together everyone achieves more’. Ester Kamati





The education ministry’s annual sports event, which took place in Windhoek from 6 to 9 May, saw regional teams, head office staff and non-teaching staff from the various regions, participate in netball, soccer and volleyball.

The teams where hosted at the Windhoek Technical High School and Academia Secondary School in Windhoek, where the sports events took place.

Centred on team building and wellness among education stakeholders, the event also served as a platform for them to socialise and create work-related networks.

Staff members at regional offices, head office, the National Institute for Educational Development (NIED) and non-teaching staff in schools and hostels got the chance to learn each other’s cultures and practices, while simultaneously keeping their bodies and minds fit.

In addition, there was a Miss Education pageant that took place on 7 May, where Sinte Mathe from the Zambezi Region emerged as the winner.

Annely Shigwedha from Ohangwena was the first princess and Wilmary Gowases from //Karas was the second princess.

Enid Deku, the public relations officer of the ministry’s social club, said the pageant was merely for team building and recreation, and thus no expectations are placed on the winner.

The tournament has gained popularity over the years as all regional directorates are now represented at the sports event.

In the first year only nine teams participated. Deku said the professional and fair officiating by match officials was commendable.

Khomas won the soccer tournament, with Kavango East ending second and Kavango West third.

Khomas also scooped gold in the netball competition, while Omaheke won silver and Kavango West bronze. In volleyball, Zambezi emerged as the winners, with Oshikoto second and the Great Kunene team in third place.

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Omuhoko Trust invests in youth

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Omuhoko Trust invests in youthALIVE programme boasts first graduates Twenty-three high school learners from Windhoek attended a weeklong accounting and mathematics course at PwC to improve their grades. Evany van Wyk

The Omuhoko Trust to which all PricewaterhouseCoopers employees contribute to on a monthly basis, and whose contributions the firm matches, wanted to contribute to the development of young Namibians through a leadership programme.

This has resulted in learners being mentored through the PwC ALIVE programme. ALIVE stands for academics, leadership, innovation and inspiration, vision and excellence.

The planning for the ALIVE programme started a few months ago and it officially commenced on 6 May. It is focused on helping learners from different schools in Windhoek improve their mathematics and accounting marks by providing curriculum-focused classes.

On 10 May, 23 learners received their certificates of completion at the PwC headquarters in Windhoek.

Omuhoko Trust spokesperson Lisa Matomola had the honour of welcoming the guests at the graduation. She made everyone feel welcome with her friendliness.

At PwC their goal is to make a difference in the communities they work in, by sharing their time and knowledge.

One of the graduates, Lunza Ndala, who is a grade 12 learner at Windhoek High School, told The Zone about her experience during the summer school.

According to her the best part of the ALIVE programme was the study techniques that they were taught.

“The ways of how to summarise your work, like using mind maps, were made so much clearer,” says Ndala.

This helped her realise the importance of goalsetting in order to focus all one’s energy on becoming a successful, well-rounded person.

The learners also had the honour of having professionals from different departments address them during the course of the programme.

A grade 12 learner from Hochland High School, Tjipee Katjinaani, told The Zone about the most important thing she learnt during the programme. “I have definitely learned a lot about decision- making and what it takes to actually choose a career path,” Katjinaani said.

The learners sacrificed some of their holiday time to be able to attend the course. They now seem more than ready to start their second term with their newfound knowledge of accounting and mathematics.

Senior education officer in Khomas, Mabeline Izaks, shared her thoughts on the programme. According to her this initiative was a great idea on the part of PwC.

“Not all our learners are fortunate to have such opportunities and PwC made it possible for them,” said Izaks.

Omuhoko Trust committee member, Jacques van Zyl, said: “We felt the need to invest in the youth of today, for the wellbeing of the Namibia of tomorrow.”

Going forward, PwC aims to run the ALIVE programme on an annual basis, and aims to attract learners from different schools across the country.

A mutual love for kapana

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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A mutual love for kapana2019 Nedbank Kapana Cook-off launched The fifth Nedbank Kapana Cook-off was launched on 10 May with a media competition. Ester Kamati

The 2019 edition of the Nedbank Kapana Cook-off was launched on 10 May.

The launch was hosted by Matthew Kapofi and included demonstrations by kapana vendors who have been in the business for years.

Wanaheda bus stop kapana vendor Jonathan Bock shared his technique with the audience.

He said key is making a lovely salsa to go with the kapana.

Various media teams, who competed on the day, were judged on elements such as flavour and hygiene during their preparation processes.

They were judged by members of the Namibia Chefs Association. All the ingredients were provided by the various sponsors, including Namib Mills and Pick ‘n Pay, with the meat being provided by MeatMa, a subsidiary of Meatco.

The three categories for the launch were best-dressed, which was awarded to Base FM, best team spirit, scooped by the Namibia Press Agency (Nampa), and the overall winner was Touch FM.

Marycent Kashuwa, a radio presenter at Touch FM, said the win meant a lot to the team, considering they are a new radio station.

She mentioned they had a secret ingredient in their salsa which made it stand out. They also served their kapana with pap, making it a full meal.

“I think the judges really liked the creativity and authenticity behind the idea. The presentation was also aimed at giving individuals that feeling of home and comfort”, she said.

Nedbank head of marketing and communication, Gernot de Klerk, said the main aim when the competition was initially introduced was to ensure that kapana transcends the negative societal barriers commonly associated with it, and to ensure that it makes its way onto the menus of the best restaurants and hotels in the country.

“It’s about making sure that kapana gets its deserved place as part of the Namibian fabric,” De Klerk said.

The competition will kick off with preliminary rounds in northern Namibia on 15 June. Thereafter, the central rounds will commence in Windhoek on 29 June, followed by the coastal rounds in Walvis Bay on 13 July. Gobabis, which was only added last year, is scheduled to host the eastern preliminary rounds on 27 July. De Klerk said there are plans to take the competition to the south in the future, to ensure inclusivity.

The finals are scheduled to take place in Ongwediva for the first time in the history of the competition on 24 August. The Nedbank Kapana Cook-off competition entry forms are available at all Nedbank branches for anybody who believes that they can be the next champion.

Driven to do the best

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Driven to do the bestLetting experience to be her guide Ursula Mwatire ‘Mwati’ Uyumba is a human capital practitioner at Namibia Wildlife Resorts. Justicia Shipena





Hailing from down south in Lüderitz, Ursula Mwatire ‘Mwati’ Uyumba is a human capital practitioner at Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR).

She is touches “a little bit of everywhere” through her department.

She describes herself as an outdoors person, with a love for adventure and sport, and considers herself to be an introvert.

Speaking to Careers, Uyumba said that work is not exciting if one is not faced with challenges. She says challenges are new opportunities, dressed in work clothes, which help her with her growth.

She said in her line of work, you are faced with a lot of challenges, with one not being more significant than the other; and mind you, there are always solutions.

Her accomplishments include completing short courses that add weight to her degree, managing conflict - both at work and her personal life – and promoting a healthy attitude at work, through encouraging her co-workers to participate in good initiatives, at work and in their communities.

A typical day in the office sees her deal with a lot of administration work, and answering and advising on queries brought to her.

“It’s not as dull as it sounds, because every day you're faced with new cases, each having its own merits,” she said.

She said last year in April the human capital department had a teambuilding exercise, with one of the tasks being to hold a piece of paper behind your back. People then wrote down bullet points to highlight what kind of person they think you are.

“This is what they said about me: Steadfast, confident, good entertainer, honest, helpful, team player, bold, good communicator and passionate; and this is what makes me unique,” she said.

Uyumba grew up in a family with strong religious beliefs and this has helped strengthen her faith.

Her number-one cheerleaders and advisors are her family and close friends, who she considers family, as they are her support system.

“I am inspired by the little things in life, from the beautiful nature our country has to offer, to inspirational books, motivational talks and the music I listen, and even the smallest gestures of respect and kindness we show to each other,” she said.

Her advice to young people out there is: “Dream it. Love it. Live it”

She added that people always ask her what this means. She explained that we all dream of what we want to do, be or achieve, and once you dream about it, you develop a love for it, while developing faith and working hard towards your dream, causing you to live it in the end.

Quoting Pablo Picasso, she said: “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”

She says this helps her to work hard towards her dreams.

Her future plans are to enrol for her master of business administration (MBA) degree and to get involved in social projects that are aimed at helping the youth reach their full potential.

She wants to cheer youth on in the same way that her support system does for her.

Meet the NeXtGen_Board members

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Meet the NeXtGen_Board members Capricorn Group officially introduced its maiden NeXtGen_Board in March.

Chaired by Bank Windhoek chief financial officer James Chapman, the NeXtGen_Board members comprise a group of 12 employees, mandated to contribute to the Capricorn Group strategy.

The NeXtGen_Board will serve as a formal body where millennials and Generation Zs (GenZs) will engage with the group’s executive management and give inputs that lead to creating an organisation for the future. Below are short interviews with the 12 NeXtGen_Board members.

Name and surname: Morné Labuschagne

Job title: Credit portfolio manager

Age: 30

Qualifications: ND entrepreneurship, Bachelor Economics, CFA Level 2 candidate

Who inspires you? My lovely wife.

Which three words describe you? 1. Saved, 2. Changed by 3. Christ.

How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? I will inspire the younger generation through breaking the stereotype of what millennials are perceived to be. Being a disciplined, curious and respectful young professional carries with it a lot of weight at the workplace. For example, I have disciplined myself to wake up at 04:00 on weekdays in order to cope with the demands of a full-time job, demanding studies, being husband and a NeXtGen_Board member. The following truism from Proverbs 22:29 hits the nail on the head: “Do you see a man skilful and experienced in his work, he will stand in honour before kings.”

My end goal is to be an ambassador of Jesus Christ, being a genuine individual who shines the light not on himself but on the one who loved him first.

Name and surname: Vincent Shikomba

Job title: Software developer

Age: 24

Qualifications: Degree in IT: software engineering

Who inspires you? Muhammad Ali.

Which three words describe you? Sanguine, content and observant.

How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? It is important that we realise that the future is entirely up to us, since it depends on what we do today. Bringing millennials and GenZs to this realisation will inspire them to get up and work towards taking ownership of the future.

Name and surname: Fenni Endresen

Job Title: Business risk officer

Age: 36

Qualifications:

· BSc. mathematical statistics (from UCT, South Africa);

· MPP financial markets and regulation; international macroeconomic policy (from KDI, South Korea);

· Diploma: Treasury and international banking (from Unisa, South Africa); and

· International certificate: risk management (from IRM, United Kingdom).

Who inspires you? People from different lifestyles inspire me. They usually exhibit courage, intelligence, humour, are daring and influence the world, their communities or families as a result. I am lucky to be inspired by my friends, my family, my colleagues and strangers - both fiction and non-fiction. A specific example would be my late mother.

Which three words describe you? Optimist, curious and happy.

How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? We inspire through our words and actions. I hope to inspire others through the very acts of kindness and openness to our diversity, and being an ally in working together to bring impact to passion.

Name and surname: Taamba Nangolo

Title: Branch administrator: Ongwediva branch

Age: 32

Qualifications: International diploma - logistics and transport management - from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), through the German Institute of Logistics.

Current: Certificate - MDP with Stellenbosch University; and

B- Tech: Business management final year at Nust.

Who inspires you? Women, especially those who aim to make a difference in others’ lives namely Michelle Obama, Isabel dos Santos and our very own Baronice Hans, inspire me.

Which three words describe you? Motivated, go-getter and humble

How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? I inspire them to have a positive attitude towards life, to seek knowledge and pursue further studies to make a meaningful contribution in growing the country’s economy, in general, and to contribute to the bottom-line of the bank, in particular. I believe young people should be given opportunities to unleash their potential and should have a ‘let-us-do-it’ attitude in order to accomplish their objectives in any organisation; therefore concerted effort supported by a true paradigm shift will be my area of concentration, to inspire the millennials/GenZs.

Name and surname: Glory Indongo

Title: Capricorn head of corporate reporting

Age: 28

Qualifications: CA (Namibia), B.Com (accounting)

Who inspires you? My parents. They made many sacrifices for my siblings and me.

Which three words describe you? Perseverance, analytical and funny.

How do/will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? By pushing through preconceived notions of how to conduct business in Namibia and showing what is possible in our country with hard work and perseverance.

Name and surname: Daniela Main

Title: Manager: management accounting

Age: 33

Qualifications: BCOMT with articles and certificate in CIMA

Who inspires you? Michelle Obama. She is very intelligent, supportive and humble.

Which three words describe you? Driven, compassionate and focused.

How do/will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? I believe in encouraging individuals and making them feel comfortable and unjudged. The power to make a change lies within people and I believe that all should be offered an equal chance to express themselves. I aim to be that platform and channel.

Name and surname: Ruan Bestbier

Title: Treasury sales and sustainability analyst, Bank Windhoek treasury department

Age: 30

Qualifications:

· Master of Science (agricultural economics);

· International trade economics and applied econometrics - Stellenbosch University;

· Bachelor of Science (agricultural economic analysis and management);

· Agricultural economics, financial economics and financial management - Stellenbosch University; and

· ACI - dealing certificate - The Financial Markets Association.

Who inspires you? My late father-in-law. He was a man of great wisdom and always, said: ‘Any intelligent fool can complicate a matter; it takes a touch of genius to simplify it.’

Which three words describe you? Economical, pedantic and millennial.

How do/will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? Action speaks louder than words; I intend to inspire, by highlighting how banking and a passion for sustainability can assist in transforming the economy to build a sustainable future for people and the planet.

Name and surname: Madelaine Opperman

Job Title: Wealth manager

Age: 26

Qualifications: B.Com Law (writing my last two subject in May 2019)

Who inspires you? Elon Musk.

Which three words describe you? Insightful, logical and persistent.

How do/will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? In all aspects in life to realise that you should stop comparing yourself to others and setting goals based on that; as you are unique, and not everyone fits into the same box. Maybe you are meant to fit in a glass. The only person you should compare yourself to, is to the person you were and to build on that.

Name and surname: Joel Eelu

Title: Senior systems analyst

Age: 32

Qualifications: Bachelor IT (honours): computer networks

Who inspires you? The hardest working person I have ever met, my father.

Which three words describe you? Fortunate, optimistic and curious.

How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? As millennials, we have to embrace our uniqueness and change the world to meet our demands in a sustainable manner. As a Chinese proverb says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time to plant a tree is now.”

Name and surname: Marizelle Pienaar

Title: Head: analytics and financial risk

Age: 31

Qualifications: Master’s degree in applied mathematics, teaching diploma

Who inspires you? Individuals who care for the wellness of others, and make time for others, irrespective of their own circumstances.

Which three words describe you? Energetic, motivated and positive.

How do/will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? I aim to live in such a way that I inspire the next generations in everything I do. I hope to teach others that they should make the most of every opportunity. By placing importance on relationships with friends and colleagues, I hope to inspire others to do better and make a difference, because they are comfortable to be themselves.

Name and surname: Carmen-Rae Bridgens

Title: Head: Brand marketing

Age: 30

Qualifications: B.Com (marketing management), BPhil (transport and logistics) and B.Com honours (marketing management)

Who inspires you? My eldest sister, Hedwig, inspires me. She is an incredibly hardworking individual whose life and positive impact in her field, community and family has been exemplary.

Which three words describe you? Goal-achiever, curious and creative.

How will you inspire millennials/GenZs to make a difference? I intend to inspire others through my actions. By being an example of how a difference can be achieved, through vision and perseverance.

Finding a niche in justice

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Finding a niche in justice Sophia Kashuupulwa is a legal officer at the justice ministry and her job entails examining liquidation and distribution accounts, issuing query sheets and assessing and appointing executors. Michelle Mushonga

She completed her LLB honours degree at the University of Namibia (Unam) in 2017 and is currently enrolled at the Justice Training Centre for admission as a legal practitioner.

On 22 March, Kashuupulwa started work at the justice ministry.

She previously worked for a private company that focused on project management, fundraising and much more. She also drafted many agreements and letters for the company. Kashuupulwa says her experience there was overwhelming and exhilarating.

She acquired many skills from the people she worked with, such as efficiency, multitasking and working under pressure.

Kashuupulwa faces a lot of challenges in her workplace. Some of these challenges include time management and the pressure to urge to absorb and master everything timeously.

Planning a day before, while ensuring that she has made provision for any miscellaneous and team work, helps her tackle these challenges head-on. To maintain patience, Kashuupulwa reminds herself that ‘Rome was also not built in one day’.

Kashuupulwa’s plans for the master of the high court directorate are to ensure that she carries out the mandate and objectives of the ministry, as well as the directorate, accordingly.

She also hopes to make a positive impact. She hopes to achieve this through hard work, team work, work advancements and constantly improving herself.

When she is not in office, Kashuupulwa spends much of her free time either at the gym, basketball court or playing mini-tennis at the Windhoek Central Hospital.

She advices young people to stay in school, because knowledge is power. “Keep pushing and remember you are the key to your future,” she added.

Writing your own story

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Writing your own storySmall town girl making waves Octavia Hermien Tsibes, the project coordinator of My Zone, the youth brand of Namibia Media Holdings, believes in following your passion, hard work and always staying true to who you are. Mariselle Stofberg

Octavia Tsibes was born and raised in Otjiwarongo.

Her family has always been interested in writing, and this passion is evident in this humble and hardworking journalist at Namibia Media Holdings (NMH), who is extremely passionate about the work she does.

Her family bought a computer when Tsibes was in grade 3 and this further deepened her journalistic and writing skills.

“My sister and I would use this computer to educate ourselves and to gain more knowledge about technology and the impact it can have on one’s life. This is where my love for writing further grew,” she said.

The curiousness that is so part of Tsibes’ nature encouraged her to read newspapers after her parents were finished, and this opened a new world to the aspiring writer and journalist.

“This is how I was introduced to an ad in Republikein which urged young people to contribute to the school pages of the newspaper, by writing school and community news.” Her first story was published while she was in grade 10 and kick-started her career.

Tsibes continued to contribute to the school pages throughout her school years and was employed as an intern at Republikein in 2016.

In 2018 she was employed as a junior journalist. She then applied to study accounting and auditing at the University of Namibia (Unam), but decided to move courses and institutions after a year to study business communication at Southern Business School (SBS) to allow her more time to devote to her career. She was then appointed as the coordinating journalist, focusing on Careers, one of the publications produced by NMH, and the project coordinator at My Zone, the youth brand of NMH.

Tsibes is responsible for coordinating the weekly Careers publication, gathering stories, meeting deadlines, engaging key clients, reporting for The Zone, managing projects of My Zone and so much more.

“I love the beat that I have as a journalist, because I love working with kids every day. I love how they continue to teach you so much, and they force you to not only adapt to technological advancements, but to stay youthful and energetic. I would never want to trade this for anything.”

Tsibes still believes she has a long journey ahead of her to continue to develop and build this beloved brand of NMH. She was present during the creation of the My Zone brand and would give her everything to ensure this adored brand continues to grow and reaches even bigger highs. “This brand is extremely dear to my heart and I want to be a part of the amazing journey we still have ahead.”

Tsibes believes is working hard to create a product that one can continue to be proud of. “Someone that is humble, willing to learn and accommodative towards others is something that truly inspires me. I don’t live for recognition, but rather working towards creating a product I can be proud of; making sure the job is done and it is done well is what makes me happy.”

Fun facts about Octavia

· She does not tend to panic or stress, but relives her stress with colouring.

· She is low-key OCD.

· She can eat 1 000 hot dogs if she wanted to.

· She’s not a movie person and would rather read books. Her favourite author Myles Munroe.

· Khorixas is very dear to her heart, having grown up on a farm near the town.

· She hates bats and any crawling creatures.

Hard work makes the dream work

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Hard work makes the dream workPwC adrenaline junkie is dedicated and motivated Zenneth Oosthuizen is a senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers, who enjoys adventures and trying new things. He firmly believes that hard work and dedication will help you to achieve your dreams. Mariselle Stofberg



Zenneth Oosthuizen is a senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) who enjoys adventure and new opportunities.

“I would describe myself as a quiet and a reserved person - an introvert - but once I get comfortable around people you wouldn't say that. I am friendly and adventurous and I love trying out new things - you could say I am a bit of an adrenaline junky.”

Oosthuizen likes to see the best in others and strives to be a good motivator.

“My younger brother and I were raised by a single parent in Walvis Bay, where I completed my school years. I started my career with PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2016 after completing my honours degree at the University of Stellenbosch.”

She worked in the audit department as a trainee clerk for three years. She completed her articles on 31 January 2019. “I got exposure to different clients and different industries through providing external audit services.”

Once she completed her articles she moved to the Windhoek office to the accounting department. “Accounting is a passion of mine and a subject I always enjoyed at school and varsity and therefore I decided to transfer to this department.”

She is still transitioning to this department, while getting exposure by providing accounting services, preparing financial statements and getting clients “audit ready”.

“We focus on providing quality services to our clients and making a difference.”

Her biggest challenges in the past was to stay confident and remain motivated, even after she did not reach her goals such as school achievements and passing her second board exam the first time around.

“Once I started to work, the challenge was to obtain that balance between work, study and social life. It does feel good to have my studies completed and to now focus on future career goals.”

Oosthuizen says her biggest achievements so far are obtaining her honours degree at Stellenbosch, becoming a Golden Key Society member and achieving her chartered accountant qualification.

A typical day at the office for Oosthuizen is quite busy, as PwC provides a range of services. She is faced with many challenges and opportunities. “We work together in our teams to complete the assignments at hand. We are quite a young and energetic bunch and I enjoy being a team player.”

Her mom is her biggest inspiration and role model. “She is such a strong woman and I have a lot of respect for her for raising my brother and me on her own. I always strive to make her proud. Accomplishing my goals gives me a confidence boost and builds my self-esteem as an independent woman.”

Oosthuizen wants to encourage aspiring young people to never give up on their dreams and goals. She believes you have dreams for a reason and you should always remind yourself why you have them when you go through tough times. “The road to success is not a smooth ride and consists of bumps and humps, but the late nights and tears will all be worth it in the end, once you have that big smile and warm feeling in your heart. Most importantly you are not alone; our Heavenly Father is with you every step of the way. You got this!”

Oosthuizen plans to continue working at PwC in the future. “With the guidance of God I hope to start my own business in the hospitality industry, which will be focused on providing entertainment to the youth to keep them off the streets and out of trouble.”

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From teacher to humble CEO

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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From teacher to humble CEOCircumstances should not define who you are The incoming NAC CEO has built a sterling reputation over the years, crafted from humble beginnings. Leandrea Louw



Bisey Uirab, the former CEO of the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport), will be heading to the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) in the next phase of his life.

Born in a hut, with Mopani trees providing shade in Fransfontein - a village in the Kunene Region - Uirab continues to stay the course and has built up a sterling reputation.

He grew up with his maternal grandmother along with 13 other siblings.

“She laid down the ground rules for me, such as respecting your fellow human beings and being a useful member of society,” he said.

He started his schooling in Fransfontein and later moved to Welwitschia Secondary School in Khorixas for his grade 7.

In his grade 7 year he applied to Martin Luther High School, but his application initially failed.

“I applied again at Martin Luther High, but I had to repeat grade 8. Here I joined a different community. I got involved in various student activities and was named as the head boy in my grade 9 year and got involved in the national students' platform.”

Uirab played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso).

“After my grade 12 year, I was working at Nanso on a volunteer basis, for no fee. I was then invited back to Martin Luther High to teach maths and science with only my grade 12 certificate.”

During his years after school he also joined the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) as a paralegal to help simplify laws and translate them into other languages.

“I later on decided to further my studies in Swaziland and got my teaching degree, I then rejoined the LAC as their head of administration and office manager.

“Through my work at the LAC, I got to meet a lot of people; one of them being Nahas Angula. One day I decided to pay him a visit and he told me about the British Council scholarships and asked if I would be interested.

“Of course I said yes. I was accepted and I spent 14 months in the United Kingdom, where I pursued my Master's degree in business administration,” Uirab said.

After acquiring his Master's he joined the Bank of Namibia as their training and human resources manager.

“During my tenure at Bank of Namibia I was contacted by a recruitment agent, but at the time I had no intention of leaving the bank as I was happy.

“The recruitment agent was persistent and I handed in my CV and was called in by MTC. After a few discussions I joined MTC as the general manager of human resources. It was a wonderful experience since this was a new environment for me. I picked up valuable corporate leadership skills,” he said.

During his time at MTC, Uirab was invited along with other international experts to Somaliland to establish a telecommunication corporation.

“I said: Why not? Thinking about it, who would have thought that a person from Fransfontein would end up in Somaliland? It was an experience I value to this day. The year that I spent there has helped me understand the dynamics of the Middle East. I initially thought I would bring my family with, but I realised when I was there it is not a family environment and decided maybe I should just go home.”

It was during this time that Namport was looking for a CEO.

“Someone sent me the advertisement but I was not interested. When they re-advertised I decided to apply and give it a try. The longing to come home was immense. I went through the interviews and the assessments, and it was not easy, as I knew nothing about the transport or maritime sector.”

He secured the position as Namport CEO and has spearheaded the company for the past 10 years.

“It was a wonderful time at Namport, working with the board, the staff, the port users, the business community, the fishing industry as well as the mayors - past and present - and the governors - past and present. It was a blessing to be here the past 10 years.”

He advises that positions of power should never be used to undermine and abuse other people.

“Today you might be the boss, tomorrow you become a subordinate. We need each other.”

He advised the younger generation that their circumstances should not define them and that there is always hope.

“Faith is believing in something you cannot see or touch. People must have hope and faith. You need to have some ground rules in your life, to appreciate that each one of us has a role to play in society, as well as making a meaningful contribution, and no one should undermine their background, circumstances or role.

“No one is too good to be bad and no one is too bad to be good. Each individual needs to understand that there are societal norms that we need to adhere to.

“To progress, you need to understand what society wants and expects from you. We need to respect ourselves as individuals; believe in yourself and feel comfortable in your own skin.

“All of us have shortcomings, but that should not make you feel inferior to the next person,” Uirab said.

He said at first he was hesitant to accept the NAC CEO position, but then he thought it may be a calling.

“I felt I could make a difference there and that's why I went for the opportunity. We all make mistakes, and as you make mistakes you learn from them. Make a conscious decision to develop yourself academically. Study hard and study in those fields where you can make a difference in Namibia.

“Don't let your failures distract you from your goal. All of us have our challenges, but we should remain focused.”

Uirab said his biggest highlight at Namport is the construction of the new container terminal, which is set to be commissioned in August. “To date it is this is the biggest investment the country has made at N$4 billion.”

Get your SME 'finance ready'

May 16, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Get your SME 'finance ready' Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute up to 60% of all employment and as much as 40% of GDP in emerging economies, according to the World Bank.

As such, it is vital for the SME sector in Africa to flourish in order to bolster job-creation and contribute to the GDP.

However, Gerschwyne van Wyk, country manager at Business Partners International, points out that the biggest hurdle faced by SME business owners across Africa is access to finance, despite there being various institutions with finance specifically earmarked for small and medium businesses.

This signals a disconnect between the financiers with adequate funding available and the businesses seeking access to this business finance, he says.

“A key reason for this disconnect is because, while access to finance is a challenge for many business owners, sometimes SME owners create additional challenges for themselves by overlooking the clearly stated requirements of financiers, which may hinder or delay the funding process,” he said.

As such, Van Wyk lists five key steps that SME business owners can take to get their business ready for finance:



Know the numbers

Being able to accurately account for your company's current financial position is a critical component of being “finance ready”. It is also a good idea to conduct two different forecasts with as accurate figures as possible to provide realistic reflections: forecast for the worst- and best-case scenarios.



Refine your story

Prepare and sharpen a concise business story that contains only the essential elements that will interest an investor - marketability, sustainability and your own passion for the project. To do this, you need to ensure that you know all the aspects of your business, as well as its market and industry.



Have a detailed business plan ready

Not only will it help to give you the knowledge mentioned in the previous point, but the fact that you will immediately be able to send or present your plan if someone wants to have a closer look, will help to convince potential investors of your readiness.



Polish your public image

It is almost guaranteed nowadays that an investor who becomes interested in your idea will do a background search on not only the business, but also you, on the internet. It helps to have a good website and a strong presence on social media in which your successes are highlighted, not only in your current business but in previous ventures and jobs.



Ensure the business meets potential financiers' funding requirements

Too often, business owners approach a financier without having determined whether they are in fact the best fit for their business. For instance, the funding requirement may be outside the financier's funding threshold, or the business may be in a sector that is not of interest to them.

It pays off to do your research on all potential financiers in order to determine not only whether the business matches the specific criteria of the investor and speaks to their investment parameters, but also that the proposed business finance agreement ensures a fair deal for both the business owner and investor.

Tributes pour in for Iyambo

May 19, 2019, 4:19 am

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Tributes pour in for Iyambo As news of the passing of former Vice-President Dr Nickey Iyambo broke, tributes began pouring in. According to the Presidency, Iyambo died in the early morning hours of today. He was due to celebrate his 83rd birthday tomorrow. “Dr Nickey Iyambo, who passed away this morning, leaves behind a rich legacy of loyal service to the Namibian people. Our nation has indeed lost a freedom fighter and a leader with deep humane values,” said President Hage Geingob. Iyambo, who was a trained medical doctor, was appointed vice-president in 2015. He served in that position until his retirement in February last year due to ill-health. Many Namibians took to social media this morning to pay tribute to the Swapo veteran. Businessman Leake Hangala tweeted that he has lost a long-standing friend, comrade and confidante. “Dr Iyambo was one of the humblest, dedicated and reliable person I know. He served his party Swapo and country with dedication and commitment in all those many assignment given to him. Go well my friend!” Chairperson of the National Council Margaret Mensah-Williams said the late Iyambo was a great statesman. “He was a true statesman, a revolutionary and a remarkable human being. My condolences go out to his bereaved wife, family and friends, to H.E Dr. Hage Geingob, Swapo and the entire nation,” she said. Dr Iyambo was born on 20 May 1936 at Onayena in the Oshikoto Region. He joined the liberation struggle in 1960 and left for exile in 1964, served the liberation movement in different capacities, including as Swapo representative to the Nordic countries from 1966-1971. With a Master’s Degree in political science from the University of Helsinki, Finland, Dr Iyambo, a medical doctor, also completed his degree in medicine at the same University. In the 1980’s, he served as Swapo Head of Military Medical Service and numerous capacities.
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Historic treble for City

May 19, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Historic treble for CityDomestic laurels better than Champions League for Guardiola Manchester City rounded off an outstanding season by crushing Watford at Wembley to clinch a historic domestic treble. Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City's feat of claiming the first-ever domestic treble in English football as a bigger achievement than winning the Champions League, after an emphatic 6-0 thrashing of Watford at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus each scored twice, while David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne netted to cap a glorious campaign with the biggest margin of victory in a FA Cup final since 1903.

City also lifted the Community Shield in August for a clean sweep of domestic silverware, but again missed out on the Champions League as Tottenham edged their quarterfinal tie on away goals.

Winning the European Cup for the first time in the club's history remains the Holy Grail for Guardiola, but he believes his side have raised the bar in England for consistent brilliance.

“It means being consistent every three days during 10 months,” said Guardiola. “I love the Champions League but doing a treble is more difficult than winning the Champions League.”

Watford's wait to win their first-ever major piece of silverware continues; after going behind they had little answer to Guardiola's relentless champions.

It could have been very different for the Hornets had Roberto Pereyra not missed the first big chance of the game, when he fired too close to Ederson with just the City goalkeeper to beat.

“You have to score that chance if you want some chance to win the game,” admitted Watford boss Javi Gracia.

Gracia's men also played a big part in their own downfall in the opening goal on 26 minutes from which City never looked back.

The diminutive figures of David Silva and Sterling both won headers against taller defenders, before the ball broke for the Spaniard to fire across Heurelho Gomes.

City's control then turned into total dominance, as a gloriously crafted second gave Watford a mountain to climb.

Bernardo Silva's curling cross picked out Jesus at the back post and the Brazilian was finally credited with the goal after the match, despite Sterling making sure by smashing the ball into the net.

Gerard Deulofeu had been Watford's star of a remarkable semi-final comeback from 0-2 down against Wolves and had the chance to spark the game back into life just before the hour mark, but scuffed his shot wide.

And again Watford's profligacy was quickly punished.

City's strength in depth was in evidence as Guardiola could afford the luxury of leaving Sergio Aguero on the bench for Jesus and introduce De Bruyne 10 minutes into the second half. Jesus' unselfishness allowed the Belgian, who won man-of-the-match despite not starting, to end an injury-ravaged season on a high by rounding Gomes to fire in City's third into an empty net.

And the roles were reversed 22 minutes from time when De Bruyne's pass released Jesus in behind to get the goal his performance deserved.

Sterling then rubbed more salt into Watford's wounds in the final 10 minutes as he converted Bernardo Silva's low cross and then fired home at the second attempt three minutes from time.

“I grew up here and saw this stadium get built. It's a massive dream come true to win trophies here,” said Sterling.”

City has now won all 11 meetings between these two sides by a combined score of 38-6 since the club's Abu Dhabi takeover a decade ago.

Questions will continue to be asked of the legitimacy of how City amassed such a great side with Uefa, Fifa and FA investigations pending into City's conduct off the field.

“We are not guilty until proven,” added Guardiola. “That money helps to buy incredible players we have, after that we wait.

“If we are punished we will accept it. But I listen (to) my chairman, my CEO. They gave me the arguments why we are investigated and I trust them.”

But on the field, the status of the side Guardiola has moulded as one of England's greatest is now secure.

NAMPA/AFP

Unity above all

May 19, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Unity above allBA coach shares NPL title secrets BA coach Paulus Shipanga says the key to their success this season was doing everything together. Jubilant Black Africa coach Paulus Shipanga says the secret to winning the 2018/19 Namibia Premier League (NPL) title was team unity above anything else.

BA clinched the title last Thursday after beating arch-rivals Orlando Pirates 3-0 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.

Shipanga said he always emphasised during training that his players should remain united, respect one another and remain dedicated to the course; and that eventually won them with the trophy.

“I have a young team of players. We all know how young players get out of hand, so I had to be a bit stern. Everything we did, we did together. Whenever we travelled away for matches, I took all my 23 players with me so that no one feels left out. Whoever was not picked had to encourage the rest on the field,” Shipanga said.

“This was to make sure that players don't envy each other.'

BA's goals against Pirates, who are now staring firmly down the relegation barrel, came from McCartney Nawaseb, Derl Goagoseb and Salomo Kamulilo.

BA stood on 61 points after their clash against Pirates, which is a bridge to far for their chasing rivals African Stars to cross.

Shipanga left Tura Magic in November 2017 after joining the club in 2015. He was then called up to lead BA in 2018 and has not looked back.

Shipanga is the youngest coach thus far in the history of the NPL to win the coveted league title.

BA last won the league in 2014, when the side coached by Brian Isaacs won the last of their four consecutive titles. Shipanga is assisted by former footballers Alfeus Ndyenge and Arnold Seibeb.

The BA coach is a former Brave Warriors player, who also featured for club sides Blue Waters, Eleven Arrows, Bidvest Wits and Malaysian-based outfit Sabah Football Club during his heyday. His experience has now paid off for his team, who walk away with a cheque of N$1 million for winning the league.

Second-placed African Stars still need to play two matches before the league concludes - one on Monday against Tigers in Windhoek and another on Wednesday against Okahandja United. Tura Magic is currently in third place.





LIMBA MUPETAMI