Engombe a mono omeya

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Engombe a mono omeya Aanafaalama yomomudhingoloko gUuvudhiya mboka ya kala yataalela enota enene, oya mono ekwatho sho omeya ngoka ga pombwa okuza mOndama yaLushandja moshitopolwa shaMusati, ga thiki komudhingoloko gwawo opo ga vule okuhupitha iimuna yawo mbyoka ya kala tayi si kenota.

Ehangano lyokuyandjakaneka omeya lyaNamWater olya tseyitha omasiku ga piti kutya otali longitha oshimaliwa shoomiliyona 2 mokupombela omeya momulonga gwaPonona moshikandjohogololo Uuvudhiya moshitopolwa shaShana okuza kOlushandja.

Omeya ngoka okwa lopotwa ga thika nale momudhingoloko gwa Engombe naamboka ye li popepi nomulonga gwaPonona otaya ka tegelela uule wethimbo kashona omanga omeya inaga thika momudhingolokoo gwawo. Kansela gwoshikandjohogololo shUuvudhiya, Amutenya Ndahafa okwa lombwele oshifokundaneki shoNamibian Sun kutya omeya othika puEngombe, mpoka iilonga yokuwapaleka okanala kaNamWater ya hulila. Pahapu dhaNdahafa oshimaliwa shoomiliyona 2 shoka sha longithwa mokupomba omeya okuza mOlushandja osha gwana owala sigo Engombe ihe inashi gwana okuthikitha omeya kOponona nOmadhiya.

“Onda nyanyukwa mokuuva kutya aanafaalama oya tameke nale okufala iimuna yawo kokanala komeya. NamWater okwa longa oshilonga oshinene sho a yamukula konkugo yaanafaalama opo a pombele omeya okuza mOlushandja moshitopolwa shaMusati okuya mUuvudhiya, opo iimuna yi vule okuhupa,” kansela a popi.

“Oondama odhindji dhomevi popepi odha uva omeya na otu na omukumo kutya otatu kala nomeya ethimbo ele, naashoka otashi ti omwiidhi popepi nokanala otagu ka koka, shoka tashi kala oshinima oshiwanawa kiimuna. Engombe okokule natango hoka ku na uulithilo uuwanawa niimuna omayovi oko yili. Ehalo lyetu omeya gathike sigo omomulonga gwaPonona nOmadhiya, ihe otuuvite kutya iimaliwa mbyoka oyali ya gwana owala sigo Engombe. Otwa lombwelwa kutya okwa ningululwa omayalulo gamwe ngoka ga nuninwa okukonga iiyemo yokupombitha omeya okuza mEngombe sigo Oponona ndjoka yi li oshinano shookilometa 30.”

Omunambelewa omupopiliko gwaNamWater, Johannes Shigwedha ina vula okumonika a tye sha mehuliloshiwike.

ILENI NANDJATO

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Epangelo itali vulu okugwedhela aaniilonga

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Epangelo itali vulu okugwedhela aaniilongaOnkalo yeliko yanayipala, ookwahena iilonga noshikukuta oyimwe yomomatompelo ga gandjwa kepangelo Epangelo otali ka pumbwa oshimaliwa sha thika poobiliyona 9.5 mokugwedhela oondjambi dhaaniilonga mwakwatelwa iifuta yoomwedhi dhokonima ngaashi tashi pulwa komahangano omakalelipo gaaniilonga yepangelo. Amushanga gwokabinete kaNamibia, George Simataa okwa popi kutya epangelo kali na oshimaliwa shi thike mpoka.

Uuna epangelo lya zimine iifuta mbyoka nena otayi ka e ta iifuta yoondjambi dhaaniilonga yepangelo yi kale poobiliyona 39.4 okuza poobiliyona 30.

Ehangano lyoNamibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) oshowo Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) otaya pula opo oondjambi dhaaniilonga yepangelo dhi gwedhelwe noopresenda 8 momvula ya piti oshowo oopresenda 9 nuumvo, nokweetitha iifuta mbyoka yi kale poobiliyona 44.4. momvula twa taalela. Oya hala aaniilonga ya gwedhelwe noopresenda 10, nokweetitha iifuta mbyoka yi kale poobiliyona 3.03.

Simataa okwa popi kutya kashi li mondjila epangelo li gwedhele oondjambi dhaantu mboka ye na nale iiyemo pethimbo ndyoka tali pula ooshali shoopresenda 2 okuza kaaniilonga konima sho onkalo yoshikukuta moshilongo, ya tseyithwa kutya oya ninga onkalo yopaulumomhumbwe.

Nonando ngaaka Simataa okwa popi kutya epangelo oliitulamo mokukundathana kombinga yomauwanawa nonkalo dhiilonga yaaniilonga yawo.

Okwa tumbula onkalo yopaliko yanayipala, okwaahena iilonga mokati kaanyasha, ompumbwe yomayambidhidho giiyemo kaailongi, ompumbwe yiikwathitholongo mooskola, oshikukuta oshowo omukundu gomwaalu omunene gwiifuta yoondjambi ngoka gu li po nale onga yimwe yomwaambyoka tayi yi moshipala epangelo opo li zimine omagwedhello gaaniilonga.

Simataa okwa tsikile kutya kashi li mondjila sho oondjambi dhaaniilonga yepangelo tadhi kutha po oopresenda 45 dhomwaalu aguhe gwelongitho lyiimaliwa yepangelo, sho oobiliyona 30 dhomoobiliyona 66.5 dhiimaliwa mbyoka hayi longithwa kepangelo komvula yuuka koondjambi dhaaniilonga.

Omahangano gaaniilonga otaga pula opo omauwanawa giifuta yomagumbo goopresenda 10, oopresenda 12 dhomauwanawa gomalweendo naashoka otashi ka pula oomiliyona 100.

Natango otaga pula woo oopresenda 12 dhomauwanawa giiyenditho shoka tashi ka pula epangelo oomiliyona 23, omanga epangelo tali ka futa oomiliyona 31 okuza miifuta yooN$6 mokilometa kehe.

Simataa okwa popi ta yamukula ngaaka komaindilo ngoka taga ningwa koNapwu oshowo Nantu. Omahangano ngoka oga ningi woo oshipotha nOmbelewa yaKomufala gwAaniilonga, sho omaindilo gawo gomagwedhelo goondjambi dhaaniilonga yepangelo gagwile momakutsi ga thita.

Omahangano ngoka gaali ogali ga ningi omaindilo natango momvula yo 2018 ngoka gali ga kwatela mo omagwedhelo noopresenda 8 no 9 moshikakomvula sho 2018/19 oshowo 2019/20.

Natango oyali woo ya pula omagwedhelo noopresenda 10 moshikakomvula sho 2020/21.

Nonando okuuvite onkugo yaaniilonga, omunongononi gwonkalo yopaliko, Omu Kakujaha-Matundu okwa kunkilile kutya epangelo kali li pankatu yokukonga oondjo opo yi vule okugandja shoka tashi pulwa kaaniilonga.

Okwa popi kutya epangelo itali ti inali hala okutala komakemo gaaniilonga ihe kali na sha. Okwa gandja omayele komahangano ga gwanenwe naashoka shi li po manga.

“Oshihwepo okukala na sha shi vulithe okukala kape na sha. Ngele otaya tsikile epangelo nali ninge omatokolo omanene. Shoka otashi ti oli na okukutha miilonga aantu yamwe po shoka tashi ka kala tashi luluma noonkondo shi vulithe omagwedhelo,” Kakujaha-Matundu.



JEMIMA BEUKES

Aanuuvu yuulepela natango taya tongolwa moshigwana

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Aanuuvu yuulepela natango taya tongolwa moshigwana Oshinano shookilometa 50 muuzilo waRundu, otamu adhika omukunda Mashare moka tamu lumbu aakwashigwana ye na omukithi gwuulepela ya thika po 74.

Omukithi ngoka ohagu gumu oshipa shomuntu nokweetitha onkalo yiitumbuka ndjoka hayi fala muulema.

Namibian Sun okwa talelepo omukunda ngoka oshiwike sha piti, nokuya moonkundathana naEster Magano Alupe (70). Alupe okwa monika omukithi gwuulepela momvula yo 1975. Nonando ngashiingeyi okwa aluka, omukithi ogwa yonagulwa iikaha ye oshowo oompadhi dhe.

Alupe okwa zile momukunda Onyaanya moshitopolwa shaShikoto ihe okwa kala moMashare hoka kwali ku na oshipangelo sha tungwa sha nuninwa aakwashigwana mboka taya lumbu nomukithi ngoka.

Oshipangelo shoka osha li sha patwa moomvula dho 1980 sho aakwiita yaSouth Afrika ya tokola okuninga po oshipangelo shoka okamba yaakwiita.

Pethimbo ndyoka aapangwa oya thiminikwa nokushuna komikunda dhawo hoka ya zile, ihe Alupe okwa tindi okugalukila kegumbo nuutile kutya otaka ningilwa okatongo, na okwa tokola okukala moMashare.

Ohazi pamwe nomusamane gwe, Erickson Uusiku (83), aatekulu oshowo aatekulululwa.

Alupe okwa aluka okuza komukithi ngoka na inegu taandelitha mofamili.

Alupe ngoka e li mokomitiye yaantu mboka taya kalelepo aapangwa yuulepela, okwa popi kutya onkalo oya nayipala ngele tashi ya komayambidhidho nomakwatho gaamboka ya aluka okuza komukithi ngoka, nenge mboka taya lumbu nomukithi ngoka natango.

Okwa popi kutya omwaalu omunene gwaantu mboka yali pamwe naye mendiki ndyoka ogwa hulitha omolwa esiloshisho ndyoka kali po.

“Aantu mboka taya lumbu nomukithi gwuulepele otaya mono iihuna moMashare,” Alupe a popi.

“Emono lyiihuna olya londa unene nuumvo sho mboka yali haye tu sile ohenda nayo taya dhengwa koshikukuta, na kaye na shoka taya vulu okugandja.

“Ngashiingeyi otwa tegelela owala tu mone aasamalia aanamutimahenda ya gandje omagano goondya kombelewa yakansela.”

Omwedhi gwa piti, Omaru Fishing onga oshitopolwa shawo sheyambidhidho moshigwana oya gandja omagano giipakete yoondooha dhoohi, noohi ndhoka odha topolelwa po aakwashigwana mboka taya lumbu nomukithi guulepela.

“Tse yamwe otu na elago molwaashoka otu li poofamili dhetu ndhoka dhetu taambako, ihe ope na mboka yaana esiloshisho na oya ethiwa owala yase.

“Otaya lumbu nomaulema gomeho, uulema mboka wa yi moshipala omainyengo gawo na itaya vulu okwiikwathela sigo ya hulitha,” Alupe a popi.

Okwa popi woo kombinga yeyakulo ndyoka haya mono miipangelo ta popi kutya ihaya pewa epango lyashewa ngaashi nale pethimbo ya li ye na endiki ndyoka. Okwa popi kutya uuna ya talele po iipangelo ohaya pewa owala omiti dhopanado ndhoka hadhi nayipalitha omukithi, pahapu dhe.

Okwa tsikile ko kutya nonando ongaaka okatongo hoka haka ningilwa aantu mboka kake shi we okanene okuyeleka nonkalo nale, ta gwedhapo kutya aantu ngashiingeyi otaya hala okutaambako aanuumvu mboka.

Oonkambadhala okumona uuyelele okuza komukomeho guundjolowele miitopolwa yaKavango, Timea Ngwira, odha hulile muunyengwi, ihe sho kwa ningwa ekwatathano nomugandjimayele gwowina muundjolowele kombelewa yomupeha presidende, Omundohotola Bernard Haufiku, okwa popi kutya kape na ompumbwe yokuningila omatongo aantu mboka.

Sho a popi kombinga yetalelepo lye moMashare, Haufiku okwa popi kutya okwa nongele kutya aantu oyendji oya aluka okuza komukithi ngoka, ta popi kutya uulema mboka hawu holoka poo owo unene hawu etitha okatongo, ta popi kutya shoka inashi pumbiwa molwaashoka omuntu ota vulu okuminika nenge okulya pamwe nomuntu ngoka aaluka okuza komukithi ngoka.

Haufiku okwa dhenge omuthindo kutya uuna omuntu a tulwa kepango lyomukithi ngoka ihe vulu we okutaandelitha omukithi.



KENYA KAMBOWE

From humble beginnings

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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From humble beginnings Fearless sacrifices drive Kahupi’s success Inamutila Kahupi has not allowed his disadvantaged background to hold him back.

Inamutila Kahupi

I am the second youngest of nine siblings. My uneducated parents could not afford to pay for my studies, but through my hard work and dedication, I have managed to pursue my engineering dream through successfully being awarded scholarships to complete my studies.

Today I have two degrees behind my name and I am pursuing a third - remarkably all through scholarships. My aspiring nature to continuously improve and develop myself was what drove me from a young age. I got that from my parents.

The Namibian education system was the foundation for my love of engineering and academics, and my passion for learning.

After matriculating from Canisianum Roman Catholic High School as one of the top students, I was awarded a scholarship to study environmental engineering in Beijing, China by the Namibian government and the Chinese Scholarship Council. I graduated and returned to Namibia to work at Namdeb and NamWater.

During my time at NamWater, South Africa and Namibia experienced one of the harshest drought periods and this led to scholarships being awarded to Namibians, in order to understand the water challenges by working with Namibian institutions to studying water engineering programmes. I am proud to have been the first Namibian student to study water resource engineering at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust). During this time, one of my professors for hydraulic structures, Dr Bruce Gehrig, who was a visiting professor at the time from North Carolina in the United States, shared his Fulbright Scholarship experiences in Namibia with me.

This is how I ended up applying for the Fulbright Scholarship programme. My Fulbright award was to study in the US for a master of engineering: sustainable systems at one of the best universities (the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York). I was humbled to become a Fulbright scholar due to the fact that 37 Fulbright alumni have served as heads of state or government, 60 Fulbright alumni have been awarded the Nobel Prize, 72 Fulbright alumni are MacArthur Foundation fellows and 86 Fulbright alumni have received Pulitzer Prizes.

I am the first Namibian to study at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and this has pushed me to persevere even more and keep my country’s flag flying high. Studying at RIT has been the best experience of my entire academic journey. Being on campus from 09:00 to O2:00 has become the norm. However, the hard work has pushed me to want to achieve more.

This is why in addition to my studies I have been fortunate to have been able to take on different roles at RIT and at the Golisano Institute for Sustainability. I am current serving as the graduate student ambassador for the college, the vice-president of the Fulbright students at RIT, the sustainability chair of the Global Health Association at RIT and the marketing and communications assistant for the college.

My studies are one aspect of my experience, however, it would not be complete if I did not mention the networks, friendships and cultural experiences that play an important role in shaping me.

In March this year, I had the opportunity to attend the African Development Conference at the Kennedy School, which was hosted by Harvard University. This conference brought together various leaders across different sectors from Africa and the entire continent. Namibia was also represented.

During April, I took part in the Imagine RIT: Innovation and Creativity Festival hosted by the university. This was hugely inspirational because it is a campus-wide event that showcases the innovative and creative spirit of RIT students, the faculty and staff. It included interactive presentations, hands-on demonstrations, exhibitions and research projects set up throughout the campus.

I have lived in another country before, when I lived in China for almost six years. However the cultural differences are always different. Adapting to another country requires one to maintain your identity, but at the same time one must remain open-minded, focused on your goals and make the most of the experiences.

In addition to the time difference (it is about six hours) it can become extremely lonely and at times one can becomes homesick. Fortunately, I have a lot of family support and there is social media, which means that I can speak to loved ones or be informed of everything that is happening at home relatively quickly and easily. I also believe in making the most of my experiences, so one of the aspects that has helped to me to adapt is to learn as well as explore as much as I can about the country I am in, whenever it is possible. Fortunately, the language spoken is English, so I did not struggle to adapt as much as I struggled in China, because everything was in Mandarin, which meant I had to study it first. I am also much older and more mature in comparison to the time when I was in China. I remember using shampoo as body lotion and taking costly decisions when it came to supermarkets and malls in China.

Therefore, living in the US is definitely easier in comparison to the Chinese experience, but it comes with a lot of responsibilities. I learnt to be self-motivated and work many hours of the day to achieve my targets.

I am a Namibian at heart and home is where the heart is. There are indeed differences and the US has many things that we can learn from. However, it is a developed country and it would not be fair to compare. I therefore choose to apply my learnings of what is good and what is not so good, so that I can develop myself and my country.

The US education system is the most difficult one that I have ever experienced. I remember thinking this is why the university is ranked as one of the best in the world, because it requires so much work and deadlines for deliverables. Self-discipline is also an important quality, and everything depends on relationship-building and hard work.

When you think of many young people in Namibia, we wait for graduation before finding employment, which in most cases becomes difficult for students to transform themselves in such a short period. In the US, most students, even as young as 21, have had years of part-time work experience, and in most cases use those earnings to live on. The youth need to be pushed more and much harder in Namibia; I wish I was pushed harder back then. Life is really about survival of the fittest in large economies and when things are given to the youth without working hard for them, it cheats the youth of that work ethic and motivation that is required to maintain a high level of quality work and self-discipline.

Did you know?

Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) was named one of the greenest universities in 2018 by the Princeton Review.

Facts about Kahupi:

· What you see is not what you get.

· He has strong family values and principles.

· He believes in a healthy body and healthy mind, therefore exercise is important.

· He has a passion for art (drawing/painting).

· He is energised by the unknown.

· If he believes in something, he stands his ground.

Poll fever kicks off in Oshakati East

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Poll fever kicks off in Oshakati East Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) returning officer for Oshakati East, Efraim Iiyambo, says different political formations have shown an interest in registering their candidates for the upcoming constituency by-election.

The deadline for candidate registration is this coming Monday.

Swapo, the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), the All People's Party and an independent candidate have all confirmed to Namibian Sun that they will take part in the by-election scheduled for 24 August.

“So far only one candidate has been registered, but different political movements have approached our office to pick up the registration forms. The registration closing date is Monday at around 11:00,” said Iiyambo.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of Oshakati East constituency councillor Lotto Kuushomwa, who passed away on 27 May.

During supplementary voter registration that was conducted last month, 1 441 people registered, while over 17 000 people were already on the Oshakati East voters' roll, Iyambo said.

Pau Pau Kathanga of the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement said that they have already registered independent candidate, Fiina Kuutondokwa.

Kuutondokwa is a 41-year-old qualified artisan from Iikuku village and is employed as a fitter and turner at a mine in the south.

She confirmed she is standing as an independent candidate.

Oshana Swapo coordinator Samwel Nelongo said 64-year-old Abner Shikongo was elected by the district congress over the weekend and they are planning to register him tomorrow.

Kapolo said Shikongo is a teacher, who is a retired education inspector.

“Shikongo has been an active member of the Swapo Party for a very long time. He was a branch coordinator for the Amutenya Gwangwali branch. He also served as a member of the constituency development committee (CDC) during the late Kuushomwa's era. We believe he will bring much-needed development to the constituency,” Nelongo said.

The APP and PDM said they cannot provide the names of their candidates yet.

Congress of Democrats (CoD) acting president Elago Amuthenu said they still have to discuss whether they will be participating or not. “We would like to take a collective decision. I do not want us to repeat the same mistake we committed during the Ondangwa by-election, because someone was of the feeling that the EVMs will not reflect the true will of the people, while others just wanted to participate to give members the opportunity to demonstrate their democratic rights,” said Elago.

During the 2015 regional and local authority elections, out of 17 630 potential voters only 5 881 cast their votes in Oshakati East. The late Kuushomwa won the election by obtaining 5 559 votes, followed Daniel Andreas from the PDM with 241 votes.

Natangwe Shiwayu from the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) garnered 81 votes.

ILENI NANDJATO

Regional economic integration vital

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Regional economic integration vital President Hage Geingob said the creation of a continent-wide free-trade area is an initiative the Southern African Development Community (SADC) aligns itself with. He made the comments in Niamey, Niger at an African Union meeting.

“The Southern African Development Community fully aligns itself with the continental integration agenda as espoused in the 1991 Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community, whose objective, among others, is to promote economic, social and cultural development and the integration of African economies in order to realise the African Economic Community,” said Geingob.

According to him, the treaty further recognises that Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are the building blocks. “By making RECs the building blocks of the continental community, the union subscribes to the principle of subsidiarity that governs the division of powers and responsibilities between the African Union and RECs,” he said.

“I am confident that we will learn from each other, and be able to chart our way forward in positioning ourselves to meet the continental agenda,” he told those in attendance.

“We need to effectively bring on board the private sector as a critical partner to regional integration,” he added.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) aims to unite 1.3 billion people, creating a US$3.4 trillion economic bloc that could usher in a new era of development.

The members meeting at an African Union summit in Niamey agreed on mechanisms that will underpin the accord, including determining the rules of origin, a digital payment system, an online tool for listing products and tariffs, and a monitoring system to deal with non-trade barriers.

The African Free Trade Agreement commits the governments to greater economic integration, as the signatory states begin a multi-year process to remove trade barriers including tariffs on 90% of commodities. The duty-free movement of goods is expected to boost regional trade, while also helping countries move away from mainly exporting raw materials and build manufacturing capacity to attract foreign investment.

Interns placed at health facilities

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Interns placed at health facilitiesAt least 131 appointed to hospitals The suspension of the appointment of interns was lifted in June and the appointments kicked off at the start of this month. The health and social services ministry has confirmed the placement of a total of 144 professional interns who started at the beginning of July at various health facilities across the country, following the approval of a new policy framework on interns in the public service.

In a statement released yesterday, the ministry's executive director Ben Nangombe confirmed 131 medical interns were given a two-year internship and placed at Windhoek Central Hospital, Katutura State Hospital, and the intermediate hospital at Oshakati and at Onandjokwe. In addition, 11 dental interns, on a period of one year, were placed in Windhoek, Oshakati, Rundu, Eenhana and Keetmanshoop.

The ministry also approved the placement of two psychologist interns to the Windhoek Central Hospital for a period of one year.

Nangombe said the facilities where interns have been placed are all accredited by the Health Professions Council of Namibia (HPCNA).

The executive director noted that the placements followed the review on the placement of various categories of interns in the public service, which resulted in the introduction of a new overarching policy framework on internships.

The relevant framework is stipulated in a public service staff rule, which consolidates the facilitation of placement of interns in the public service, clearly demarcating the types of internship and describing the operational parameters that apply to the different types of internships and qualifying as well as functional training.

Nangombe yesterday extended congratulations to the interns, noting that professional interns “play an important role in complementing service delivery in our facilities, while they gain critical practical skills needed for them to achieve registration”.

He urged the interns to be guided by the values of dedication, compassion and hard work in all they do.

In May, Namibian Sun reported that Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila had directed the lifting of the internship programme suspensions in the public sector as from June.

In a notice the prime minister said all government institutions, including ministries, should start accepting students seeking internships from that date.

The temporary halt on internship appointments was issued in January this year.

In a statement released, the prime minister explained “the revision of the placement modality for professional interns and trainees to be trained on the level of public service have come with new changes that will be to appoint interns on a temporary fixed-term contract with a basic fixed allowance.”

Nampa reported Kuugongelwa-Amadhila added that government will abolish the automatic transition into entry functional levels after the interns complete the training and it will also remove the basis for salary recognition for professional interns and trainees.





JANA-MARI SMITH

LPM promises to 'empower' locals

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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LPM promises to 'empower' locals Once in power, the Landless People's Movement (LPM) will award tenders to locals rather than foreign nationals to empower Namibians to put food on their tables and benefit from their hard work.

This is according to the party's deputy leader, Henny Seibeb, in remarks at a meeting held in Kuvukiland in Rehoboth on Sunday, attended by approximately 100 people.

Seibeb said Namibians have been left out of getting tenders at the expense of friends of the political elite and that this will change once LPM comes into power after the 2019 general elections in November. He said LPM will make sure that Namibians benefit from the fruits of independence they have lost out on for almost 30 years, and also root out corruption.

“Once the alternative party comes into power, we will make sure that you benefit from our natural resources that are being plundered. We will reform state-owned enterprises or sell them to individuals and channel the money used for those SOEs to development programmes. Swapo has plundered our country's resources and the economy is in the state it is because of Swapo,” charged Seibeb.

Seibeb is of the opinion that two of the country's bulk utility suppliers NamWater and NamPower should be dissolved and shifted to the municipalities and that some government ministries should be merged.

“Water and electricity affairs should be shifted back to the municipalities and we need to merge some ministries as they are basically doing the same thing. These ministries are created to give jobs to comrades in a country with a small population compared to bigger and more developed countries in the world,” he added.

Seibeb said under LPM the country will be divided into provinces instead of regions and they will do away with governors as they are doing nothing remarkable and to the benefit of the nation. He called on eligible voters to use the supplementary voters' registration that started on Monday to register and vote in November.

“Go out, register and vote for LPM for a better Namibia for you and your future generation. Now is not the time to vote for a party that failed the electorate for about 30 years,” he said.

NAMPA

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Ellen Pakkies shares all

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Ellen Pakkies shares all“I just wanted to talk to him; ask him politely why he refuses to leave the drugs; that is all I intended to do that morning of 12 September 2007.”

These were the words of the 58-year-old South African mother, Ellen Pakkies, who strangled her son Adam to death after suffering abuse at his hands for many years due to his addiction to drugs.

The energetic and lively Pakkies, who is on tour at the coastal towns of Namibia, shared her story with a fully packed gathering at the ESK Church in Swakopmund last week.

She narrated how, although she is still hurt by the loss of her son nearly 15 years ago, she has learnt to move on and live a stress- and bitter-free life.

“I am also healing by sharing my story with people and I have just learnt to stop worrying about things and holding unnecessary grudges,” Pakkies told the congregation.

The Lavender Hill mother narrated the difficult life she experienced growing up, during which she was kidnapped, raped, molested and sodomised by close relatives, friends and acquaintances from the age of nine and running away from home at age 13.

“Although I grew up with both my biological parents and later stepfather, they were all alcoholics, so I basically raised myself all my life. I just wanted to be loved, to feel my mother's love and be supported. But I never experienced any of that, so I decided to run away from home and things just got worse from there,” elaborated Pakkies.

She described how she started using drugs while on the streets and became a sex worker to survive.

“All three of my children were addicted to Tik at some point and my older son, who was the first one to introduce the drug to my younger son (deceased), is still using drugs to this day.

Pakkies, who has dedicated her life to community work and fighting against drug use, noted that despite all the hardships she went through in life, she learnt to forgive people, dusted herself off and decided to make an honest and better life for herself. She urged people to face their problems, speak about them and find solutions to them instead of running away.

She further advised parents to talk to their children openly about drugs and other life problems and never to disregard anything suspicious that they think their children might be involved in.

“Also, stop protecting your children when they are in the wrong, this only enables them to think what they are doing is okay and it could lead them deeper into the wrong. Never tire to talk and listen to your children, consistency is key in raising children,” she urged.

Pakkies' visit was in response to an invitation by the Coastal Drug Awareness Campaign (CODAC), a programme established in 2016 and spearheaded by offenders and officers at the Walvis Bay Correctional Facility.

One of the campaign members, Fabian Langenhoven said the programme is aimed at encouraging pupils, parents, caregivers, teachers, health professionals, business owners and community leaders to help the youth to reject illegal drugs and underage alcohol and tobacco use.

- Nampa

Isabel Bento

Making a difference

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Making a differenceAfriYan Namibia makes giants strides AfriYan Namibia is commonly known for its values of innovation, accountability, effectiveness and integrity. AfriYan Namibia is an African youth network on population and development that is in the forefront of Africa’s development. AfriYan Namibia was officially launched in 2012 during National Youth Week.

The chapter recognises the importance of fulfilling its mandate by enhancing youth participation and involvement in development and the implementation of programmes related to HIV, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender and youth development.

It also strengths networking and partnerships among youth-led or youth-serving organisations. The network was established because of the urgency to create a body that enables Namibian youth and adolescent organisations to have a consultation framework that has legitimacy at a national, regional and international level.

It also gather ideas, which means it has the know-how to set up and implement strategies likely to create changes in behaviour that are favourable to youth and adolescents at all levels.

It openly and actively debates problems related to development, poverty control and the fight against gender-related inequities, and advocates for young people in terms of SRHR, as well as developmental and gender issues.

AfriYan’s vision is to be the strongest network implementing policies, programmes and projects by young people, for young people, through collaborations with government to influence inclusive and effective change in sexual reproductive health and rights, gender and social development.

The initiative’s vision is to have a membership base of 200 youth organisations as members in Namibia and to empower member organisations through diversified training and advocacy. It also aims to create and maintain innovative and sustainable solutions for the challenges facing youth and adolescents in the area of its mandate.

It sets up a programme of action that gives young people a platform to have one voice, in order to harness creative ideas by youth-led organisations that will effectively contribute towards the development of Namibia.

AfriYan is commonly known for its values of innovation, accountability, effectiveness and integrity.

Meet the AfriYan Namibia team

President: Klaivert P Mwandingi holds a bachelor’s degree in common law, a diploma in sales and marketing management and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications. His love and passion for advocacy started in 2005 and has carried him into various leadership positions, which allowed him to learn and contribute to the fight for SRHR, inclusivity and employment.

Vice-president: Ndahafa Waimine is an industrial psychologist whose aim is to achieve the best possible performance to help the nation attain its goals. She is hardworking, competent and keen to learn, and is always ready to do her best.

Secretary-general: Luciano Kampala is a bachelor of accounting graduate from the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust). He also holds a diploma in accounting and finance from the same university. He has a history in student and youth leadership and has served in different capacities in different organisations. He also has vast experience in accounting and finance.

Head of communications: Margareth-Rose Kangootui is a young professional, working towards attaining a bachelor’s degree in communications at the University of Namibia (Unam). She specialises in public relations and possesses effective communication skills. She is very creative and hardworking. She enjoys being involved in social issues where she can foster change.

Head of finance: Emma Theofelus is a recent LLB (honours) graduate from Unam with qualifications in African feminism and gender studies, as well as business management. She is an experienced public speaker and has hosted professional events and moderated panels.

Head of health: Nakushe Shaanika is final-year student at Unam’s Rundu campus and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in education. She believes in accepting challenges and the power of unity. Health is the most essential aspect in life and her objectives are to reduce and prevent TB, hepatitis, HIV/Aids and yellow fever infections.

National coordinator: Cynthia Sitali completed her grade 12 in 2017 and is a volunteer at SCORE Namibia, a facilitator at the Financial Literacy Initiative, a member of the Ohang­wena SRHR taskforce and a regional computer, science and engineering (CSE) facilitator in the region.

Head of gender: Hakusembe Leander is a fourth-year student at Unam’s Rundu campus and is pursuing a bachelor degree in education. He is a highly principled and motivated man. He is interested in continuous learning and enjoys taking on new challenges.

Youth and development officer: David Nghifikwa is a first-year student studying community-based work with children and youth at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He volunteers at the Ohangwena SRHR youth club and is a youth representative of the Ohangwena youth health taskforce.

Head of logistics: Jao Mosuri is a fourth-year bachelor of education student, majoring in social science and Rukwangali at Unam’s Rundu campus and serves as the SRC secretary for recreation at the campus. He is the chairperson of the Kavango East CSE group and is an active member of the

Namibia Planned Parenthood Association

(NAPPA) youth volunteer group.

Oshigambo waits for donations

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Oshigambo waits for donationsHostel needs urgent rehabilitation Oshigambo High School is waiting on those who promised to assist them in upgrading and fixing the hostel, to make good on those promises. The privately owned Oshigambo High School has urged all those who pledged donations for its hostel project to make good on their promises.

The school has finalised the design and planning for the project.

Oshigambo is among the best-performing schools in the country but its hostel is on the verge of collapse and the school has no money to renovate it.

The principal, Pinehas Ekongo, says the school needs over N$1 million for the construction of a new girls' hostel and N$50 000 for the renovation of boys' hostel.

“To be honest, at the moment we do not have a hostel. All we have are squatter camps for the learners but they are in a sorry state,” Ekongo says. He says when reports on the state of the hostel were published earlier this year many people pledged support.

“They requested us to come up with our task plan before they make money available to us. Now we are done and we would like to invite them to come on board,” Ekongo says.

“Girls are accommodated in facilities outside the school on the other side of the river. We are now planning to bring them into the school premises by constructing a new hostel consisting of 10 rooms.

“We plan to renovate the boys' hostel in case we do not get enough money for two hostel buildings.”

The school is owned by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) which reportedly does not to have funds to renovate the property. The school was established in 1960 by the Finnish mission in Namibia. Most of the buildings were constructed of mud bricks and are falling apart.

“Since our building plan is complete, we plan to inform the parents about it during a parents' meeting scheduled for 13 July. We are looking forward to the parents offering us the best advice on the way forward,” Ekongo says.

In March this year, Vice-president Nangolo Mbumba, who is a former pupil of the school, and his Chinese friend Vicky Yang donated N$20 000 each to the school. The class of 2001 donated N$40 000, while the class of 2008 sponsored awards for the top learners.

ILENI NANDJATO

One continent, two countries

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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One continent, two countries Inspiring through practical experiences A group of 20 students from the International Training College Lingua left on 28 June for Europe. The students will travel to two countries with the first stop being in Frankfurt, Germany and the second in Paris, France. Justicia Shipena





The trip aims to broaden the scope of travel and tourism and business students at the college.

The students will familiarise themselves with the many tourism and business opportunities that exist beyond the borders of Namibia. Their flight tickets were sponsored by Air Namibia.

Ingrid Kloppers-Mettler, founder and managing director of Lingua, said their tourism department is a vibrant unit that exposes students to local and international tours, fieldwork, career exhibitions and much more.

“Through this we ensure that theory meets practice,” she said.

Kloppers-Mettler thanked Air Namibia for coming on board and helping them again, as last year the college received the same assistance.

She urged the students to be open-minded and have a willingness to accept new cultures.

“If you keep your eyes and mind open, you will bring home something of lasting value, which cannot be bought by money,” she said.

Speaking at the sending off ceremony, Alwina Kavenamuwa Rijarua, a reservations and ticketing manager at Air Namibia, said as part of the airline’s socio-economic responsibilities, it saw the need to assist the youth to achieve affordable air travel to explore the world.

She added that Air Namibia would like to encourage parents and guardians to invest in student travel, as it is equally as vital as investing in formal education.

“There are three skills that one can gain from travel for personal use, for the rest of your life: Tolerance, self-sufficiency and resourcefulness,” Rijarua added.

Creative minds

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Creative minds72 graduate from Cota The College of the Arts has produced another 72 graduates. Justicia Shipena



The College of the Arts (Cota) held its 14th graduation ceremony on 4 July at the National Theatre of Namibia (NTN).

A total of 72 students graduated with diplomas and certificates in television production, radio production, new media design, fashion design, visual art, performing arts and sound technology, after completing their three-year practical courses. Alumni from the college also shared their experiences at Cota.

Deputy higher education minister Dr Becky Ndjoze-Ojo shared her story of how she kept on studying until she was admitted into college, before eventually becoming a professor. She urged graduates to remain trustworthy.

“How people trust an idea; there is nothing tangible to hold onto and you are talking to this person and the person believes that your idea is credible and there nothing as encouraging as being trusted,” she said.

She added that the college should hold onto its uniqueness and niche.

“Don’t change yourself beyond the recognition of your founding mantra,” she said.

Ndjoze-Ojo stressed that the graduates should go out and make a difference in their communities.

Cota rector Angelika Schroeder congratulated the graduates.

She said they now had the pathways to express who they are and what is meaningful to them, as they prepare for a future that matters to them, and the world at large.

Edulution inspires

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Edulution inspiresExtra-curricular programme boosts performance Edulution is an extra-curricular programme that caters for primary school learners. Justicia Shipena





On 2 July the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group launched the Edulution Mobile Learning Centre at Havana Primary School in Windhoek.

Edulution offers a platform to assist learners from vulnerable communities with new ways of learning mathematics across grades 4 to 6 through the use of various information and communications technology (ICT) tools.

This digital platform runs afterschool numeracy and literacy programmes in Zambia and recently numeracy programmes in Katutura. Since its inception in 2015 it has provided foundational learning to over 12 000 children and achieved impressive results due to its unique combination of technology, exciting content, effective coaching and comprehensive performance measurement system.

In Zambia, Edulution grade 7 learners are outperforming their peers by 25% in the national maths exams. The Edulution programme caters for grades 3 to 7 in groups of 30 to 40 learners.

Head of marketing and communications at Edulution, Michael Clarke, said they have opened six centres in Katutura in the last three months and are now reaching in excess of 1 600 learners.

“We are opening another three centres in the near future in Windhoek and will expand into the rural Khomas district in 2020; we are planning on doubling our learner volume again,” he said.

Clarke added that the model uses a unique mix of technology, enterprising coaches and evidence-based analytics that enable learners to revise and master essential foundation numeracy, which also enables teachers to deliver on their curriculum objectives.

“Edulution is founded on empowering values that are lived every day. Indeed these values fuel all we do,” Clarke said.

Education executive director Sanet Steenkamp said there has been an improvement in the performance of learners in national standardised achievement tests in English, mathematics and science for grade 7 by 15%.

Steenkamp also stressed there has been an increase in access to primary education by 0.2% and educational institutions with access to ICT by 35%.

“The African Union’s Agenda 2063 has a goal to produce well-educated citizens and a skills revolution underpinned by science, technology and innovation, hence countries are expected to work in that line,” she said.

She further said the ministry introduced early grade reading assessments (EGRA), literacy programmes for the parents of learners in grade 1, as well as a reading period at all levels of schooling in formal education.

Steenkamp said the inclusion of learners with special needs in Edulution programmes must not be overlooked in efforts to change the performance of learners.

Speaking at the event, O&L Group executive chairman Sven Thieme said they are inspired to play a part in education and skills development.

“We must therefore put the necessary resources behind education and skills development, so that our people are empowered and equipped to fill the skills gap we are faced with,” he said.

Thieme urged the learners to step outside their comfort zones and never stop stretching their boundaries.

Grootfontein infighting escalates

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Grootfontein infighting escalates The infighting between acting Grootfontein CEO Arnold Ameb and the municipality's finance executive Ileni Hainghumbi has reached new depths.

Hainghumbi has accused his boss of alleged illicit transactions amounting to over N$300 000 during the time he (Hainghumbi) was on suspension.

In a letter seen by Namibian Sun, dated 3 July, Hainghumbi reported to Grootfontein mayor Abisai Haimene that Ameb authorised alleged illicit transactions that were contrary to municipal policies and regulations.

“The afore-referred transactions were committed between the period of 31 January and 17 April 2019. I am also informed that during my illegal suspension, some finance members were subjected to harassment and directed to perform unprocedural office duties,” Hainghumbi wrote.

He accused Ameb of authorising a payment of N$149 846 into a “fake” bank account. The payment was to have been for services rendered by Rubicon Security Services.

“On 17 April he made an illicit transaction by authorising a set of nine payments to the amount of N$88 032, without verifying with the payment voucher which was in my position (sic). He also misled the council to make the private law firm to carry out investigation on me and the council has to pay N$73 414, while it is contrary to the personnel rule no 36(20) of 2010, which prohibit the council from appointing a private law film to investigate officials (sic).”

“Such unnecessary costs were incurred despite that the council has contracted a private labour consultant which (is) paid N$5 810 a month and the municipality did not get value for the money paid (sic).”

Hainghumbi said the unnecessary costs were incurred notwithstanding that there is a standing rule from the line ministry that all local authorities are directed to make use of the office of the attorney-general, at no cost.

Hainghumbi said while he was on suspension, Ameb instructed chief accountant Martha Hamunyela to issue a fitness certificate to a property company, while it owes the council for services rendered.

“Such instruction to issue the fitness certificate to the client, while they owe the council, does not only defeat the council's debt-control measures, but it is also a deception and high level (of) corruption committed,” Hainghumbi wrote.

When contacted for comment, Hainghumbi confirmed he authored the letter to the mayor.

He said Haimene needs to do something, because what Ameb has done is very harmful to the municipality.

Ameb said his main focus is to serve the Grootfontein community and all the allegations are nothing but simple attempts to defame his character and bring his good name into disrepute.

“Tell your sources to refrain from telling lies about me in their diabolic attempts to defame my character and bring my good name down. On the issue of the property company, there is a clear council resolution which the finance executive has failed to implement, due to his incompetence and personal attacks on investors. Some of these matters are on the next council agenda and I find it strange that they again resorted to the media on pertinent issues. Like always, they will fail dismally,” said Ameb.

“I am here to serve the community by implementing council resolutions and whether the finance executive is in or on suspension, I am accountable to the council in my capacity as the acting accounting officer. There are internal structures available for them to report these so-called 'illicit' transactions. The outstanding debt is escalating on a monthly basis and is an issue of concern, and mind you, it is in a department that resorts under Hainghumbi.”

Haimene could not provide comment on the council's plan to resolve the infighting.

Hainghumbi was suspended in January for alleged misconduct, but his suspension was lifted in April without him being charged.

A charge sheet dated 9 May, issued by Ameb, revealed that Hainghumbi allegedly defied orders and made several payments amounting to N$768 500 to different accounts. Hainghumbi was given until 17 May to respond to the charges levelled against him by the municipality. However, he claims not to have seen the charge sheet until now.

ILENI NANDJATO

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Call for timber factories

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Call for timber factoriesValuable wood should not be sold cheaply The Muzokumwe Volunteers Association wants local timber to be processed locally. The Muzokumwe Volunteers Association (MVA) is calling for timber factories to be built in Namibia, as it is strongly opposed to the practice of selling centuries-old trees for peanuts.

MVA chairperson Paulus Mbangu said during a public lecture held in Rundu at the weekend that timber from the two Kavango regions should not be sold cheaply.

He called on timber factories to be built that create employment for local youth.

Youth unemployment in Kavango East stands at about 63%, while in Kavango West it is currently at about 47%.

“We have timber, a lot of timber that can enable us to come up with timber factories, unlike the tendency that we just picked up that there are some who want to sell timber like vetkoek at a price of N$300,” Mbangu said.

“Muzokumwe does not support that; we destroy our natural resources for N$300, while the Chinese are selling it for N$12 000. We do not support that. Our timber must be used by creating timber factories within the region and providing employment for the youth.”

Mbangu's comments come at a time when farmers in both Kavango regions are desperately calling on government to lift the moratorium on timber-harvesting activities that was effected from March this year.

The forestry ministry suspended all timber-harvesting permits, after the environment ministry stepped in using the Environmental Management Act of 2007.

The Act mandates the ministry to preserve the country's natural resources from exploitation, as it requires one to be in possession of an environmental clearance certificate when it comes to activities such as timber-harvesting.

This has hit farmers in the timber business very hard. Harvested timber is currently rotting on farms, resulting in employees not being paid, while those who took loans from financial institutions are not able to pay them. Last month the Kavango East Regional Farmers Union (KERFU) had the opportunity to engage Vice-president Nangolo Mbumba in Rundu on the matter.

They expressed their dissatisfaction and called for the ban on timber-harvesting to be lifted.

They also informed Mbumba about their challenges.

As it stands no one is allowed to harvest timber in Namibia until they have received an environmental clearance certificate.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Three children raped over weekend

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Three children raped over weekend Three girls aged 10, 13 and 16 are among at least five victims of rape in cases reported to the Namibian police across the country since last Thursday.

On Thursday last week, a 24-year-old man was arrested and charged with rape after he allegedly attacked a 10-year-old girl at Omena village in the Oshikoto Region.

It is alleged the girl was grabbed at around 09:30 on Thursday morning after she and two boys were sent home from school for coming late. The suspect has been arrested.

Two men, aged 20 and 21, were arrested at Aranos at the weekend for allegedly raping 13-year-old girl. It is alleged the incident took place at Nuwerus location on Saturday evening. The two men allegedly kidnapped the girl at knifepoint while she was playing with friends. Both have been arrested.

Gibeon police on Sunday arrested a 21-year-old suspect who is accused of kidnapping and raping a 16-year-old girl at knifepoint on Saturday night.

The girl was walking alongside her twin sister and two younger cousins to festivities being held at the town when the man appeared wielding a knife and forced her to accompany her. Her family immediately informed the police, who were unable to locate her.

She returned home later and told her mother she had been raped. The suspect has been arrested.

Police at Aussenkehr are still searching for a suspect who is accused of raping a 21-year-old woman early on Sunday morning.

Police at Eenawa village in the Omusati Region are investigating a rape charge against a 19-year-old boy accused of raping an 18-year-old girl who was on her way home from school.

A one-year-old boy burnt to death in a shack at Otjiwarongo on Friday night.

The police said according to witnesses, the parents were drinking at a nearby house when they heard screams that their shack was on fire. The cause of the fire is unknown.

Another shack fire claimed the life of a 35-year-old man at Okahandja.



Poaching

A 51-year-old Namibian Defence Force (NDF) colonel and a 55-year-old teacher are expected to appear before the Tsumeb Magistrate's Court today on charges of illegal hunting.

The charges relate to their arrest on early Monday morning at a police checkpoint near Tsintsabis in the farming area north of Tsumeb. Law-enforcement officers discovered the carcasses of two duikers, two rabbits, two springhares and one antelope in the bakkie they were travelling in.

Investigators also found a shotgun, allegedly belonging to the NDF colonel, in the vehicle. The men are currently in custody.

Omaruru police arrested a 49-year-old man and are looking for two more suspects in connection with a poaching incident in which two gemsbok were illegally killed on a farm in the Omaruru district last week.

Two police reservists came across the accused poachers on Thursday and were promptly attacked with stones by the fleeing trio. After the reservists had fired several warning shots, one of the suspects was hit in the leg. He was taken to the Omaruru hospital and remains there under police guard.

The other two suspects are still on the run. Indonesian tourists staying at a lodge near Khorixas were robbed of items valued at nearly N$300 000 on Thursday night while they were sleeping. The police are investigating the theft but no arrests or recoveries have been made to date.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Being perfect isn’t worth it

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Being perfect isn’t worth it Change how you see you Thin. Fat. Big. Small. Tall. Short. Pretty. Ugly. Useless. Loser. Hero. Hated. Loved.

The power and impact of just one word. One word can make or break a person. One label assigned to someone can define them. As society we have attached certain meanings to words and we use these words to create an impact, whether this impact is positive or negative. Without even thinking twice, we judge a person based on what we see. What you see becomes the defining factor of a person. We make jokes and we say we are just kidding. At some point in time we started to feel that using the excuse of just joking justifies what we say. We forget that our words can create scars that might never heal. We forget that our words are powerful beyond measure.

Those imperfections and insecurities we have are buried and kept hidden out of fear that someone might use them against us. Those slightly bigger feet, crooked nose, funny laugh, weight issues, low self-esteem and depression are regarded as our own dirty little secrets. We try to keep them hidden, but anyone who has ever had a secret knows it is almost impossible to keep it. It starts eating away at you and the pressure keeps on building. We would go to any lengths possible to strive to meet those standards. To be more popular, we are willing to sacrifice a piece of ourselves and rather stay quiet than voice our opinions. We adapt and change our mannerisms to copy those around us, just in order to fit in. To be prettier and thinner we exercise more, we eat less and we become so focused on our appearance that we lose ourselves in this striving towards perfection.

People would rather suffer in silence than speak about their issues, because these issues need to stay buried as deep as possible. We judge others based on their imperfections, but we are blind to our own. I’ll be the first to say that I am most definitely not perfect. I have serious road rage, I love eating way too much, I trust way too easily and I place a ridiculous amount of pressure on myself. But I love my imperfections, because they are a part of what makes me unique. They set me apart. We need to make a serious mind-shift from our idea of perfection, because let’s be real. Flawless does not exist and striving towards this diluted idea of perfection causes more harm than good.

The change starts with how you see yourself. Your perception of you is what matters, not the yearning we have of acceptance from others. Self-love and inner-happiness are infectious. Your courage and bravery to embrace your differences are what makes you human. Your bravery will inspire someone else to do the same. This is definitely not an easy task, and surely easier said than done, but it is not impossible. Start with giving yourself some credit and live to make the moments you have count. You are wonderfully made and it is your responsibility to stay true to yourself and your heart.

I would much rather be an original than a copy.

An accountability test

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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An accountability test President Hage Geingob is arguably facing his toughest accountability test, following the conviction of education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa yesterday in the Windhoek High Court. Hanse-Himarwa was found guilty of corruptly using her former position as Hardap governor for gratification. The corruption trial related to Mass Housing beneficiaries being removed from a list, to the benefit of the minister’s relatives. She was implicated by State witnesses of having issued a directive to remove two Mass Housing beneficiaries - Regina Kuhlman and Piet Fransman - from the beneficiary list because of their political affiliation. They were replaced by Hanse-Himarwa's relatives Justine Gowases and Lorraine Hanse. Having christened 2019 as ‘the year of accountability’, Geingob faces pressure to deal decisively with corruption and hold those in his cabinet and government responsible for their actions. The head of state is now sitting in a scenario in which not only a senior cabinet minister, but one of his closest allies, has been found guilty of corruption. It is difficult and rare to come up with any recent example of a Namibian cabinet minister resigning on principle. In an ideal world, the education minister would have tendered her resignation the very moment she was implicated in this corruption scandal. Yes, we are aware of article 47 that deals with the disqualification of MPs. According to the constitution, a politician can only be disqualified from being an MP if they are sentenced to jail for longer than 12 months, without an option of a fine. Imagine sitting with a National Assembly filled with convicted fraudsters, who simply paid their fines. It paints a very bad picture of a government that is supposedly committed to combatting corruption, which has become a political and moral crisis in our society. The education minister will hear her sentencing fate very soon, but the damage is already done. She has lost the moral high ground and should not be allowed to continue with her critical role as education minister.

Jessné struts her stuff

July 8, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Jessné struts her stuffTen-year-old model impresses scouts on cruise Jessné Swart, a grade 5 learner at Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool, has just returned from a cruise, where she competed in a wide range of modelling competitions and impressed scouts with her talent and beauty. Mariselle Stofberg



Even though Jessné Swart is only in grade 5, she has already made a name for herself in the modelling industry.

Her love for the camera started at the age of three and since then she has already built up an impressive portfolio, while gaining the interest of scouts from as far afield as the United States and Hong Kong.

In March, Jessné had the opportunity to board the MSC Musica, which hosted a range of modelling competitions. Three of the competitions took place in front of the camera, with models participating in additional competitions for swimwear, jean-wear, high-fashion and on the red carpet. “Every aspect of the trip and competition was amazing and the excitement had my heart beating so fast. The best part was being able to have my family along for the trip,” she said.

Jessné’s mother, Adeliné, believes the trip contributed to her daughter’s self-confidence.

“Her confidence and self-image has greatly improved since this trip. She made new friends and had the opportunity to experience the hard work that comes with modelling first-hand,” the proud mom said.

Jessné, her mother and father, Dirk, moved to Namibia when she was seven years old. Jessné was born on 23 December 2009 in Oudtshoorn, South Arica, but sees herself as a Namibian, through and through.

Her younger sister Edené was born in 2017 and Jessné was there for the birth.

“It was so special and I love my little sister very much,” she said.

Apart from her modelling, Jessné also enjoys dancing and gymnastics.

“Being a model would be my first choice for a career, but I would also like to become a medical or forensic investigator.”

Jessné did not use the trip as an excuse to neglect her homework, because her exams started right after they came back. “I did homework on the plane and used some mornings and evenings on the boat to study. At least I had a nice view while working,” she added.

Even though the modelling industry might present some dangers, especially to young children, Adeliné believes that your choice of agency plays a critical role. “You need to trust the people working with your children 100%. Our agency, Figures Models, always puts their models and their well-being first.”

Adeliné advises parents to always support their children. “Just support them in whatever they want to pursue and do not place to much pressure on them, because too much pressure may lead to them making the wrong choices, just to impress you.”



Fun facts about Jessné

She adores her sister.

She’s a very compassionate person.

Her favourite animals are dogs and cats.

Her favourite colour is teal.

She puts all her trust in Jesus