Andjaba to act in Katrina's place

July 10, 2019, 8:09 am

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Andjaba to act in Katrina's place The Namibian Presidency, by way of its press secretary Alfredo Hengari, has announced that Martin Andjaba, currently minister of presidential affairs in the Presidency, has been appointed as the acting education minister, following Katrina Hanse-Himarwa's resignation yesterday.
"With seven months before the end of the term of the current government, President Hage Geingob has decided not to appoint a new education minister.
Andjaba will assume all the statutory functions of the education minister, the Presidency said.

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Swimmers off to South Korea

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Swimmers off to South Korea LIMBA MUPETAMI



Three swimmers will represent Namibia at the 18th FINA World Championships from 12 to 28 July in Gwangju, South Korea.

Alexander Skinner, Ronan Wantenaar and Phillip Seidler are in fine form to take on competitors at the championships that will see over 2 600 swimmers representing 194 nations.

Skinner will be competing in the 50m and 100m freestyle events.

Wantenaar will compete in the 100m breaststroke and 200m individual medley. Seidler, who is an open-water swimmer, will be competing at the Yeosu EXPO Ocean Park, in the 10km open-water swim.

Skinner and Wantenaar will be joined by their coach Ryan Skinner and Seidler will be accompanied by his coach, Helmut Seidler. Sonja Skinner is the team manager and will also be South Korea.

Seidler is already in South Korea and is acclimatising to the rainy weather.

With the swimmer being a Jetty Mile expert, his coach is adamant the conditions will work in his favour.

His mom, Nadja, added: “The rougher the weather, the better for the swimmer.”

The world champs comprise of six different aquatic events - synchronised swimming, swimming, open-water swimming, water polo, diving and high diving.

Namibia Swimming Union (NASU) exco member Nicky McNamara said the athletes trained hard and are mentally ready for the opportunity.

“NASU wishes you well on your adventure. Make yourselves proud. Over the weekend we will also hold the third short course swimming gala.

“Our swimming galas are definitely growing. The last short course gala increased by approximately 75 swimmers. We also had three records broken by Jose Canjulo and one by Corné Le Roux.

“We are proud that swimming is on the increase; it is a fantastic sport for body and mind,” McNamara added.

Their time to shine

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Their time to shineWomen Super League to honour top performers The country's top female footballers and officials are set to scoop awards tomorrow night. The Namibia Football Association (NFA) Skorpion Zinc Women Super League will reward its top performers for the 2018/19 season tomorrow night at the NamPower Convention Centre in Windhoek.

There are a total of 11 categories, with Anna-Marie Shikusho, who netted 29 goals during the season, having already bagged the top-scorer award.

The player of the season award will be contested by Tura Magic's Emma Naris, Khomas Nampol's Ndapewa Katuta and Galz & Goals' Beverly Uueziua.

The same players will also compete for the players' player of the season award.

Uueziua has also been nominated for the best young player of the season award, alongside Julia Rutjindo of Galz & Goals and Selma Enkali of Namib Daughters.

The best goalkeeper category will see Susanna Eises of Khomas Nampol vying for the award against Melissa Matheus of Tura Magic and Lydia Eixas from Galz & Goals.

Thuba Sibanda, head coach of Unam Bokkies, is in running for coach of the season, alongside Mamie Kasaona (Galz & Goals) and Shammah Gure (Tura Magic).

Team of the season will be contested between Namib Daughters, Khomas Nampol and Tura Magic.

The team manager of the season category will see Maria Kasheeta from Galz & Goals competing against Antoinette Tsuses from Namib Daughters and Alina Karlos from Unam Bokkies.

The award for best match official will be between Paulina Joel (assistant referee), Vistoria Shangula (referee) and Ismael Tjirimuje (assistant referee).

There will also be a best chairperson award given on the night.

This reporter, together with Strauss Lunyangwe of New Era and Helge Schultz of The Namibian have also been nominated for the journalist of the season award.

The event will start at 18:00.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Rundu to host hearing-impaired tourney

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Rundu to host hearing-impaired tourney Maria Mwengere Secondary School, located on the outskirts of Rundu in Kavango East, is hosting the Winter Deaf School Sports Tournament this year.

The tournament, held annually, invites schools with hearing-impaired learners from all over the country to compete for top honours in three sport categories.

The schools will be competing in football, volleyball and netball from today until Saturday.

A member of the organising committee and teacher at Maria Mwengere Secondary School, Erna Muronga, told Nampa on Tuesday that the tournament encourages learners with hearing difficulties to take part in sport.

“Some of them will be selected to be part of the regional and national sport teams of people with disabilities,” she said.

Muronga said there will be a lot of activities during the tournament, including a beauty pageant to crown Mr and Miss Winter Deaf School Sports Tournament that will take place at the school.

“We call on members of the public to come in their numbers to support these special learners, the tournament as well as the beauty pageant,” she said. People should come to support the learners and witness for themselves how these learners with hearing difficulties can play sport, Muronga added.

Maria Mwengere Secondary School won the tournament last year, which was hosted by Eluwa Special School in the Ohangwena Region.

NAMPA

Madagascar tackle Tunisia

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Madagascar tackle Tunisia Before the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) kicked off in Egypt last month, Madagascar were best known for the tongue-twisting surnames of their players such as Anicet Andrianantenaina and Charles Andriamahitsinoro.

Now, 20 days into the biennial tournament, the Indian Ocean islanders have stunned three-time champions Nigeria and are preparing to face Tunisia tonight a quarterfinal clash.

While French-born coach Nicolas Dupuis insists “the team is the star”, midfielder Andrianantenaina and forward Andriamahitsinoro have caught the eye.

Bulgaria-based Andrianantenaina was among the 11 footballers chosen by a Confederation of African Football (CAF) panel as the best in the 36-match group phase.

Andriamahitsinoro, who plays for a Saudi Arabian club, made the substitutes' list in the group 'dream team', and his two goals have put him in contention for the golden boot award.

“The coach is correct to say the team is the star and sometimes an individual will stand out when we need him to. That is our strength,” explained Andriamahitsinoro.

He stands out on the field because he has blond-dyed hair and is tall in a squad of mostly medium-height footballers.

Tunisia coach Alain Giresse says his first target of a last-eight place has been achieved, adding: “We are capable of lifting the trophy 15 years after doing so for the first time.”

Here, AFP Sport looks at today's last-eight matches as Algeria face the Ivory Coast in a clash of former champions, before Madagascar meet 2004 winners Tunisia.

The countries have met competitively only twice, with Tunisia winning 1-0 at home and 2-0 away in their 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Since then, Tunisia hosted and won a Cup of Nations, while Madagascar became so weak that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) went to Antananarivo three years ago and won a qualifier 6-1.

But while unimpressive Tunisia reached the quarterfinals with three draws and a penalty shootout win over Ghana, Madagascar have blossomed.

Apart from the 2-0 triumph over African powerhouse Nigeria, they defeated fellow debutants Burundi and held Guinea and DR Congo playing eye-pleasing football.

Should Madagascar eliminate the vastly more experienced Tunisia, they will become the first Cup of Nations debutants since South Africa in 1996 to reach the semi-finals.

Tonight's other quarterfinal clash extends one of the great rivalries in the tournament, with the Ivorian Elephants winning three and the Algerian Desert Foxes two of their seven previous meetings.

When they last met, in a 2015 quarterfinal, Ivory Coast triumphed 3-1, with Serey Die a part of the winning team, while the losing line-up included Riyad Mahrez.

The midfielders, who have contrasting roles, with Die primarily a destroyer and Mahrez a creator, captain the teams in Suez four years later.

Algeria coach Djamel Belmadi believes his team, the only survivors with a 100% record in Egypt, can go all the way, saying: “It does not cost anything to be ambitious.”

Rival coach Ibrahim Kamara is saying little during this Cup of Nations, while a side boasting star attackers like Nicolas Pepe, Jonathan Kodjia and Wilfried Zaha are yet to sparkle.

NAMPA/AFP

Kazapua joins Baroka FC

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Kazapua joins Baroka FCKeeper cashes in on Afcon performances Several Namibian players are on the move following their sterling performances at Afcon 2019. Brave Warriors goalkeeper and star performer at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), Loydt Kazapua has joined South African premier league club Baroka FC.

The keeper announced on social media that he is now a Baroka FC player, following a season with South African first division club Maccabi FC.

“I want to thank my family, friends and fans for the support. Thank you all for your prayers. Let's continue and I am grateful for the opportunity to play for a team of Baroka FC's calibre,” Kazapua said.

The Namibian goalkeeper was one of the stars of team at Afcon 2019.

He made a series of crucial saves that kept his side in the running, despite them bowing out of the competition at the group stage.

It was the 30-year-old's first Afcon, but his ability to command the penalty area was something that many admired at the tournament.

The Baroka FC goalkeeper made his national team debut on 4 January 2014 in a friendly against Ghana.

In 2018 Kazapua made the first-11 for the group stages of the African Nations Championship (Chan). He made some great saves at the tournament in Morocco.

Kazapua joins national teammate Ananias Gebhardt at Baroka FC.

He becomes the second Namibian player in just a few days to make a move, after Tiberius Lombard signed for Sensational Zanaco FC in the Zambian premier league.

It is also expected that other Namibian players will be on their way to new clubs after Afcon 2019.

Speculation is rife that several clubs in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) are also after the signature of former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper and Bafana international Virgil Vries.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Elongo tali hiila ombelewa koshimaliwa shooN$400 000 komwedhi

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Elongo tali hiila ombelewa koshimaliwa shooN$400 000 komwedhiNgoloneya kuuvitile ombili elongitho lyiimaliwa yi thike mpoka mohiila Uuministeli welongo moshitopolwa shaHangwena otawu futu oshimaliwa shoomiliyona komvula mokuhiila oombelewa omanga iilonga yetungo lyoombelewa dhawo ya kalekwa omolwa iilonga yankundipala. Elelo lyoshitopolwa shaHangwena inali nyanyukilwa onkalo moka uuministeli welongo hawu futu oshimaliwa shooN$400 000 komwedhi onga ohiila yoombelewa mEenhana.

Oshikondo shelongo moHangwena osha tembuka okuza kOndangwa muKotomba gwomvula yo 2012, na osha kala tashi hiila moGreywall Complex.

Momvula yo 2016 uuministeli wa tameke etungo lyoombelewa yongushu yoomiliyona 57 mEenhana ndyoka kwa tegelelwa li kale lya pwa nuumvo, ihe opoloyeka ndjoka oya kankama manga, niilonga oya manithwa owala noopresenda 20.

Pethimbo lyoshipopiwa she shopashitopolwa shoka sha leshwa pehala lye komunashipundi gwelelo lyoshitopolwa shaHangwena, Ericsson Ndawanifa, Ngoloneya gwoshitopolwa shaHangwena, Usko Nghaamwa okwa holola okuuva nayi kwe omolwa omatungo goombelewa dhelongo oshowo okapangelogona kaNanghulo, ngoka taga ende kashona.

“Opoloyeka ndhoka mbali otashi hepeke iimaliwa yepangelo oyindji, unene oshikondo shelongo shoka tashi hiila kondando yi li pombanda unene. Nonando ongaaka etungo olya ethiwa manga na inashi yela kutya iilonga otayi tameke unake.”

Omukomeho gwelongo moshitopolwa shaHangwena, Isak Hamatwi okwa popi kutya ohaya futu oshimaliwa shooN$395 905.05 onga ohiila.

Okwa popi kutya okondalaka yiilonga mbyoka oya kalekwa kuuministeli wiilonga pakundathana nomutungi, ta popi kutya opoloyeka inayi ethiwa owala.

Okwa popi kutya ehulithepo lyiilonga olya hwahwamekwa kiilonga ya nkundipala mbyoka ya longwa popoloyeka ndjoka.

Omunambelewa gwOhangwena chief regional officer, Fellep Shilongo okwa popi kutya oombelewa dhuuministeli welongo odhili opoloyeka yepangelo onkene oshitopolwa itashi vulu okutya sha kombinga yopoloyeka ndjoka.

ILENI NANDJATO

Omaumbangi medhipago lyaakomeho yaNIMT

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Omaumbangi medhipago lyaakomeho yaNIMT Ernst Lichtenstrasser, ngoka ta pangulilwa oshipotha shedhipago lyomunambelewa omukomeho gwoshiputudhilo shoNamibia Institute of Mining Technology (NIMT), Eckhart Mueller pamwe nomupeha gwe Heimo Hellwig kali a ningilwa omatilitho nokuthiminikwa kopolisi a zimine omadhipago ngoka.

Pahapu dhomunambelewa omukomaakoni moshipotha shoka Inspector Reinhardt Maletzky, okwa popi kutya Lichtenstrasser okwa li ta dhilaadhila nawa pethimbo a zimine omadhipago ngoka na okwe shi ningwe ye mwene pakwiiyamba.

Maletzky okwa popi ngaaka ta gandja uumbangi we, pethimbo kwa pulakenwa eindilo lyomboloha yaLichtenstrasser mOmpangulilo yaMangetrata gwaSwakopmund, ndyoka lya kwatelwa komeho kOmukalelipo gwepangelo Antonia Verhoef.

Omunambelewa omukonaakoni gwoshipotha okwa gandja uumbangi wu na oonkondo moshipotha shoka tashi pangululwa Lichtenstrasser. Maletzky, ngoka a longa onga omunambelewa gwopolisi mOkahandja uule woomvula 32, okwa popi kutya ye pamwe niilyo iikwawo yi li o 10 oya konaakona omadhipago ngoka ga ningilwa moNIMT. Lichtenstrasser, ngoka a li kohi yetonatelo enene lyopolisi ota tamanekelwa edhipago lyaMueller oshowo Hellwig mboka ya yahwa okusa muApilili nuumvo pendiki lyoNIMT moArandis.

Lichtenstrasser okwa popi pethimbo lyepwaakeno lyeindilo lye lyomboloha kutya okwa zimine komadhipago ngoka molwaashoka opolisi oye mu ningile omatilitho gokutula miipandeko omukulukadhi gwe.

“Onda li dha hala okugamena omukulukadhi gwandje na osha thiminikendje ndi zimine komadhipago ngoka,” omunamimvo 58 omvalele yaAustria ya popi.

Maletzky okwa lombwele ompangu kutya omakonaakono moshipotha shoka ogeli pondondo moka aantu yendji tashi vulika ya katulwe miipandeko.

Okwa tsikile kutya ondjembo ndjoka ya longithwa oya adhika ya holekwa mombuga, niikuti mbyoka ya adhika pehala lyoshiningwanima otayi faathanithwa niikuti ya adhika pehala mpoka hapu idheulile Lichtenstrasser mokuumba ondjembo popepi nOutjo oshowo pehala lye lyokuza mOtavi.

Maletzky okwa popi kutya Lichtenstrasser okwa li a ningile Mueller omatilitho omanga omadhipago ngoka inaga ningwa, sho e mu lombwele opo a kale ta lala a tonata.

Omufali gwiihokolola mompangu moshipotha shaLichtenstrasser, Verhoef okwa gandja omatompelo gatano kutya omolwashike ita vulu okupewa omboloha.

Lichtenstrasser okwa kalelwa po kuhahende gwe, Trevor Brockerhoff. Omufekelwa okwa zimine kutya okuli oshitopolwa shongundu ndjoka ya li tayi nyana nokuningila omapulo elelo lyaNIMT, kohi yelelo lyaMueller.

Okwa popi kutya iilyo ayihe oyali yi na uupyakadhi naMueller, na ha ye owala. Nonando okwa tindi omalundilo, okwa zimine kutya okwa li momudhingoloko gwaArandis mombuga, momasiku 15 gaApilili.

Okwa popi kutya okwa li a nyenyeta nomukulukadhi gwe moTsumeb na okwe mu lombwele kutya otayi kuJason omuniilonga nale gwaNIMT, ngoka ha kala moSwakop. Okwa yi moshiketha she shokupungula na okwa pakele ondjembo ye pamwe niikuti.

Omolwa uuwehame wepepe, okwa nu oopela dhokudhenga po uuwehame na okwa kotha popepi nondjila pokati kaUsakos nArandis.

Okwa popi kutya okwa penduka a ngwangwana ongula yOmaandaha esiku ndyoka kwa ningwa omadhipago ngoka, na okwa li a yi mombuga.

Metiyali okwa tokola oku shuna koTsumeb ihe mondjila okwa uvu kombinga yomadhipago ngoka moradio, na okwa tulwa miipandeko moKaribib.

Mangestrata Conchita Olivier okwa undulile oshipotha shoka koamsiku 24 gaJuli nuumvo.





ERWIN LEUSCHNER

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RDP ita popile omashina gokuhogolola

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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RDP ita popile omashina gokuhogolola Ongundu yoRally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) itayi ka dhilaadhila lwaali mokunyana omahogololo gopashigwana ngoka taga ningwa moshilongo ngele otaku longithwa omashina gokuhogolola goelectronic voting machines (EVMs).

Pethimbo lyomutumba gwiikundaneki ngoka gwa ningwa mOmaandaha, amushanga omupe gwongundu ndjoka Brunhilde Cornelius okwa pula Aanamibia ayehe unene aanyasha opo ya kwashilipaleke kutya oyiishangitha okukutha ombinga momahogololo.

Cornelius okwa popi kutya ongundu yawo kayi na einekelo momashina goEVMs, taya popi kutya kage na uuyuki noshili. Nonando oshigwana oshi na omalimbililo momashina ngoka osha lombwelwa kutya omashina ngoka otaga vulu okwiinekelwa na ohaga endelele mokuyalula omawi gaahogololi.

Okwa popi kutya nongundu yoSwapo, ndjoka yi li mwene gwokomisi yomahogololo, oya tindi okulongitha omashina ngoka pethimbo lyomutumba gwomahogololo giilyo yelelo lyongundu ndjoka momvula yo 2017, molwaashoka omashina ngoka itaga vulu okwiinekelwa, na oge na ompito onene mekengelelo.

Cornelius okwa popi kutya RDP, itaka thiga emanya lya londa kekwawo mokuhulitha po elongitho lyomashina ngoka moNamibia, pethimbo lyomahogololo unene sho itaga longithwa nomusholondondo gwaahogololi pambaapila.

Omunambelewa ngoka okwa pula iilyo yawo oshowo AaNamibia ayehe ya kwashilipaleke kutya oya longitha ompito yomaishangitho gokuhogololo ndjoka ya tulwa po, nokutsa omuthindo kutya omalunduluko otage ya po owala okupitila mokuhogolola.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Foreign traditional healer nabbed

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Foreign traditional healer nabbed A 30-year-old foreign national was arrested by the police in Okahandja on Monday for allegedly illegally entering the country and operating as a traditional healer.

The suspect, a Tanzanian national, is charged by immigration for being in the country without a passport as well as theft under false pretences by the police for allegedly working as a traditional healer.

The man was arrested during a police intelligence-led operation at his flat in the central business district in the town, which was led by Chief Inspector Christina van Dunem Fonsech of the police, and immigration officers.

He was set to appear in the Okahandja Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Speaking to the media at the flat, Fonsech noted that the suspect does not have any documents to stay in the country and is an illegal immigrant, nor does he have a permit to operate or is recognised by a traditional authority as a traditional healer. Fonsech said clients have reported paying a lot of money for so-called treatments that could put their health at risk.

The suspect informed the police and immigration officers that the “medicine” and an ATM card found in the flat did not belong to him but were left by a fellow traditional healer.

“I then started using the medicine, I am a traditional healer helping people, those who have been having bad luck,” said the suspect.

Fonsech expressed concern with foreign nationals who illegally operate in the country, fail to pay tax and export their earnings while the country is in an economic crisis.

She called on the health, finance and trade ministries to intervene as law enforcement agencies are only there to bring law and order and cannot solve such cases without the assistance of stakeholders.

NAMPA

At own risk

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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At own riskRundu women live off dumpsite The Rundu town council says the women collecting items from a local dumpsite to sell are doing so at their risk. High levels of poverty and joblessness in Rundu have forced impoverished women at the town to make a living from collecting recyclable materials at a local dumpsite.

For some, this has been their life for the past 20 years.

They visit the dumpsite on a daily basis, in search of recyclable materials, which they sell in order to support their families.

Namibian Sun spent a day at the dumpsite on the outskirts of Rundu earlier this week and engaged the women, who shared how they make a living.

The women (Namibian Sun counted a group of 33) are from various informal settlements at Rundu.

They did not shy away from revealing the harsh realities they face each day and said it is no secret that the majority of people in the two Kavango regions are enduring poor living conditions.

Their day starts at 07:00 and they gather discarded items until 17:00.

They collect recyclable items such as glass, plastic, tins and other metal objects, and sell them to recycling companies.

The women, however, revealed they are sometimes only paid after three months, which is a source of great unhappiness.

This is because buyers apparently have to sell the items before the women are paid. Some receive N$500, while others get as little as N$50 or N$100, depending on what has been collected and how hard one works.

They last received their payments in May, which means they have been living off next to nothing since then.The women also said their situation has worsened this year because of the drought.

“This has been our lifestyle for many years; some of us have been here for about 20 years, living off the trash in order to feed our families,” one of the women said, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“This year it is tough for us because we cannot even leave this job to go and work at our mahangu fields at the villages. The fields are clear because of the drought and we now look forward to the next rainy season. For now we will just struggle here, hoping that we collect items and that our buyers come forth to pay us.”



Not an option

The women said sitting at home and doing nothing is not an option for them.

When asked whether they have looked for other jobs at the town, the women replied “no”.

They explained the only employment opportunity available is doing odd jobs in households, which always ends with employers failing to pay for their services.

“Some of us have tried working in houses around the town, but things don't turn out well. You will clean their houses and wash and iron their clothes, but when it comes to the end of the month, the owner will come up with excuses or sometimes they pay you less money than what you initially agreed upon. This is why some of us decided to come to the dumpsite,” one of the women said.



IDs out of reach

Namibian Sun also established that the majority of the women do not have national documents; something they said is a priority for them.

When asked why they do not have these documents, they explained that whenever they visit the home affairs office at Rundu, they are informed they need to present their parents' documents in order to get an ID.

They said their parents do not have national documents.

The issue of people not having national documents, especially in the two Kavango regions, is a serious concern, as citizens do not have access to certain services and benefits offered by the state.

The women questioned why it is easy for them to register as voters, yet they cannot get government IDs.

Rundu acting strategic executive for community services, Ladislaus Shikerete, said the town council is aware of the presence of the women at the dumpsite.

Shikerete said the women are at the site at their own risk, as they are not employed by the council.

He said the council is tolerant of the women because they are making a living from the waste.

“We know they are there and we know how it impacts their lives, but in terms of the safety and hazard aspect, it is not the council's responsibility,” Shikerete said.

He added the council manages the site through a council employee, who is stationed at the dumpsite, as well as through a security guard who maintains law and order.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Asset register still a work in progress

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Asset register still a work in progress The ministry of works is still working on an asset register that will enable it to see how much property the government owns and what the total value is.

Works minister John Mutorwa said upon his appointment in April 2018 that he wanted a complete list of government assets and urged officials to expedite the process.

Asked for an update this week, ministry spokesperson Julius Ngweda said the register had not been completed yet.

“We are still in the process of compiling the register,” he said.

Mutorwa said last year that he wanted to be ready to brief President Hage Geingob in case he was asked to give a report on state property.

“I am not sure whether the government is sure how many assets it has… I don't know whether the asset register is updated,” he said.

“There are reports that government houses have ended up in private hands. I am waiting for a report and that report will give me an answer about these things,” Mutorwa added.

The minister instructed the ministry's housing committee to submit a report by 30 April 2018 on the number of houses owned by the government, as well as their location and value.

During a management meeting held on 29 January, the ministry's executive director, Willem Goeiemann, said the report had not been properly done and the ministry had forwarded its data to a consultant for completion.

The Patriot newspaper quoted Goeiemann as saying that compiling the report was not an easy matter. The ministry had started in Windhoek and was verifying reports from the regions.

“We are still busy. It is not an easy thing to do, given the limited resources. I had to send people all over the 14 regions to verify. We have decided to start with government flats and now we are busy with government houses,” Goeiemann said at the time.



OGONE TLHAGE

'Our land is our land'

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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'Our land is our land' While they will not submit any land claims to what they term a “dubious” ancestral land commission, the Ovaherero and Nama insist that “every inch of the soil” of what used to be Hereroland and Namaqualand, before colonisation, is their ancestral land.

They also emphasised that ancestral land loss should not include those who did not lose land under colonial rule. The Ovaherero and Nama leadership, who also boycotted the country's second national land conference last year, said the commission is nothing but a political gimmick and costly public relations exercise by the Namibian government.

During a media briefing, Ovaherero paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro said government is treating the land question as a political football, and has no intention of giving restitution for an inch of stolen land. Rukoro added they have advised their regional traditional chiefs and communities not to appear before the ancestral land commission's public hearings.

“It will be a platform of contradictory and multiple claims by all sorts of people and entities, including dodgy ones who will be and have been set up specifically for the purpose. The end result will be that the powers that be will say, 'You see, I told you so already'. There are so many conflicting and contradictory claims about the same piece of land by various tribes, clans and individuals that this thing is not going to work. The only solution is to preserve the status quo as agreed at the 1991 land conference',” he said.

Rukoro added that for the Nama and Ovaherero communities ancestral land can only be discussed in the context of the genocide committed by Germany.

He added when ancestral land claims become a free licence for any and all who want a piece of land to be included, then the commission is a waste of resources and time.

“Our position is that every inch of the soil of what used to be an independent sovereign state of Hereroland and Namaqualand before colonisation would be our claim for ancestral land, just like any other independent sovereign states would do or are entitled to do under international law,” Rukoro added.

JEMIMA BEUKES

NDF colonel and teacher granted bail

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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NDF colonel and teacher granted bail A colonel in the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) and a vocational teacher, accused of poaching a number of animals on a farm near Tsumeb, have been granted bail of N$5 000.

Colonel Tobais Ipangelwa Nujoma (51) is the commanding officer of the Engineering Regiment based at Otavi, while Samuel Mumbala is an instructor employed at the Valombola Vocational Training College at Ongwediva.

The two men were arrested on Monday morning at around 01:00 near Tsutsab Farm in the Tsintsabis area of the Oshikoto Region.

The police said they were found in possession of illegally hunted game, including two duikers, two rabbits, two springhares and one antelope.

The poaching was discovered after the farm owner had been woken by gunshots. He investigated and spotted vehicle lights. He then notified officers at the nearby Bravo police checkpoint, who arrested the suspects when they arrived in a double-cab bakkie.

A shotgun with one live round, allegedly owned by Nujoma, was confiscated in addition to the meat.

Tsumeb magistrate Ruben Mutuku granted the two men bail on Monday and postponed the matter to 19 August 2019.

FRANCOISE STEYNBERG

1 000 schoolgirls receive pads

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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1 000 schoolgirls receive pads A local organisation that produces washable and affordable sanitary pads distributed packs consisting of six pads each in varying sizes to 1 000 girls in June.

A pack consists of six washable pads and lasts up to four years, keeping Namibian girls behind their school desks.

Ann Pads founder Hermine Bertolini says her organisation, with the help of numerous sponsors, distributed the sanitary pads to four schools in Kavango West, two schools in the Kavango East and three schools in the Zambezi Region during the month of June.

She said during the handing over of the washable pads, the “excitement seen of their faces of the girls was heart-warming”.

Thousands of vulnerable Namibian girls, notably in remote rural areas of the country, struggle each month to access safe sanitary products.

Earlier this year, the Office of the Ombudsman and the education ministry hosted a 'keeping our girls in school' forum, alongside Ann Pads.

The forum underlined that thousands of Namibian girls are forced to “use any available cloth like old T-shirts, socks and even old newspapers, which is very unhygienic”.

As a result, many girls refuse to go to school when they menstruate.

If a girl stays away from school one week every month, for one trimester she misses a whole month of school compared to her male competitor.



A sense of dignity

Bertolini said Ann Pads was launched as a social entrepreneurship project, and designed to give girls and women their dignity back.

They are especially created for those who are unable to afford a costly pack of disposable sanitary pads each cycle.

A pack consisting of six washable pads costs N$120 and can last up to four years. The pads are created to provide optimal moisture management and absorbency and are environmentally friendly.

Bertolini launched Ann Pads from her home in Khomasdal in August 2018 after retiring from nearly 30 years in the textile industry.

She says her background in textiles, including a degree, provided an ideal launch pad for Ann Pads, coupled with the fact that over the years she had noted the crucial need for the issue to be addressed.

“I wanted to do something meaningful, and I knew this was a problem.”

Since the launch of the project in August 2018, nearly 3 000 sanitary pad packs have been distributed at schools.

Bertolini emphasised that providing safe sanitary pads not only ensures young girls can attend school at all times, but it also ensures dignity.



Big problem

In June last year, Namibian Sun reported that as many as 150 000 Namibian schoolgirls could be struggling to access safe sanitary products every month.

Earlier this year, the gender equality and child welfare minister told the National Assembly that only about 17% of girls living in rural areas have access to improved sanitary services.

“Girls who lack resources to buy sanitary products have been silently suffering heart-rending humiliation and academic disadvantages during their menstrual period,” the minister said.

Many have supported calls for providing schoolgirls with free sanitary products to ensure menstruation does not present an obstacle to education.

Last year, Sister Namibia pointed out that most girls begin their menses at an age when they are economically dependent on others. If they are not able to access sanitary products, due to financial constraints of lack of availability, they often “substitute products with traditional or home-based alternatives, which may be unhygienic or even unhealthy.”

The non-profit advocacy group also warned that while some girls stay at home, others find “harmful ways”, including sugar daddies, to afford sanitary products.

JANA-MARI SMITH

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San, Hambukushu claim Bwabwata

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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San, Hambukushu claim Bwabwata The Hambukushu Traditional Authority says the Bwabwata National Park belongs to them, while an ancestral land claim in this regard has also been made by the Kwee San, who are currently residing in the park.

The Hambukushu staked their claim yesterday at an ancestral land commission meeting that took place in Rundu.

The country's second national land conference that took place last year adopted 169 resolutions. Among these was a resolution on the issue of ancestral land claims and restitution, which resulted in the commission being established.

The Hambukushu argue they have the necessary maps to demonstrate that the national park belongs to them, which they will present to the commission.

They further argued they have been trying to address the matter with the environment ministry for years, but the parties never got a chance to sit down together.

“We have been writing to the ministry of environment for years that the park belongs to the Hambukushu, but up until today they did not come forth for a sitting. Bwabwata is ours and we have the maps from the Germans, which will show that the borders have been shifted,” the Hambukushu Traditional Authority said.

This was the second time this week that the Hambukushu claimed ownership of the national park, after doing the same during a similar platform at Mukwe.

This follows the Kwee San community claiming the Bwabwata National Park as theirs during a meeting at Omega in the Mukwe constituency.

The park was first proclaimed as the Caprivi Game Reserve in 1966 and upgraded to the Caprivi Game Park in 1968. It was gazetted as the Bwabwata National Park in 2007 and incorporated into the former Mahango Game Reserve.

Meanwhile, traditional authorities in the two Kavango regions have expressed concern over the trend of people settling wherever they want, without following customary law procedures. Hambukushu, Sambyu, Mbunza and Uukwangali traditional authority leaders said they are faced with a number of issues, especially the illegal settling of people in their areas of jurisdiction.

“People are now settling wherever they want, without following the procedures that are there, as per the customary law of our traditional authorities, something which is of great concern, and we want it to be addressed,” the traditional leaders said collectively.

The traditional authorities said they are threatened with court action when they approach those settling on their land without following the procedures.

“People talk of the freedom of settling wherever they want, and when we tell them they have to follow the procedures, they refuse to listen or they threaten to take you to court. We are not against the settling of people in our traditional authorities, but they must just follow the procedures that have been there,” they said.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Katrina is in pain – Shaningwa

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Katrina is in pain – ShaningwaAnalysts comment on resignation Swapo has refused to take a stand on the disgraced former education minister's future despite political analysts insisting that it needs to do so. Swapo will not entertain any questions relating to the political future of former education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, the party's secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa said yesterday.

Hanse-Himarwa quit President Hage Geingob's cabinet on Tuesday, a day after she was found guilty of corruption by the Windhoek High Court.

The former Hardap governor was found guilty by High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg on Monday. She will be sentenced on 24 July.

“Listen here, I really want to tell you that at this time honourable Katrina Hanse-Himarwa is going through too many things. And it is also painful, wherever she is. I do not want to discuss with anyone of you about those issues of honourable Katrina. I do not enjoy the downfall of anybody, it is not my culture. Do not ask me and do not call me anymore,” Shaningwa said yesterday.

This is despite political analysts saying the party must take a stand, in line with the principles of accountability and transparency.

Political analyst Henning Melber said he thinks Hanse-Himarwa was well-advised to resign before being unceremoniously dismissed.

According to him - given Monday's verdict - State House hardly had any other option, especially a few months ahead of the 2019 general election.

“The move has for the time being brought a temporary interim solution and took the pressure from President Geingob and the party. It is now of interest to wait for the final judgment (if Hanse-Himarwa appeals) and the justification for the verdict. Then it must be discussed if a convicted office-bearer, who abused her position in (regional) government, is still an acceptable member of the party's central committee and can be tolerated as a MP,” he said.

Melber added it will also be interesting to see if these latest developments will affect support for Hanse-Himarwa at the upcoming Swapo electoral college.

“It would be a much welcome new trend if such conduct would face the consequences it deserves; seeing is believing. After all, she was a reliable and loyal supporter of Team Hage and might be rewarded for this in some other way. The public will certainly watch and follow her further career, if there is one.”

Local analyst Ndumba Kamwanyah said he would hope the party has guidelines for a time such as this.

“It is difficult, but the ruling party must take a stand, in line with what the president did,” he said.

He added that Hanse-Himarwa's decision to step down sets a good precedent, adding that she must be commended for the decision.

“We hope other politicians who are shrouded in controversy and other issues will follow soon,” he said.

Political commentator Frederico Links agrees that the party must certainly make a statement, given that it is an election year.

“This is a serious socio-economic issue and people are talking about it. If you look at the governance weaknesses across the state sector, and you have some people in some local authorities protesting against corruption at local authority level, and specifically pointing to ruling party and local authority councillors, then yes, the party must take a stand,” he said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

It’s time to smell the coffee

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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It’s time to smell the coffee In December 2015, then Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) director of elections, Paul Isaak, told Nampa in an interview the commission would be using electronic voting machines (EVMs) with a voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) in all elections as from 2017.

Isaak said at the time that to address the credibility of the EVMs, the ECN, political parties and other stakeholders would meet in 2016 to discuss the modalities on how to include a VVPAT.

Fast-forward to 2019, barely months before a general election, and this has not materialised.

In January this year, ECN chief electoral officer Theo Mujoro said the commission is sticking with its position that a VVPAT is out of the question for this year's general election.

He said it will cost Namibia N$160 million to acquire VVPAT functionality for the country’s Indian-manufactured EVMs.

Mujoro added it will not be possible to acquire the technology before the 2019 general election because the Indian company that provided the EVMs will be busy with the Indian elections.

The 2019 Indian general election was held in seven phases from 11 April to 19 May to constitute the 17th Lok Sabha.

In November 2014, days before the general election that year, the Windhoek High Court dismissed an urgent application brought by three opposition parties asking it to postpone the parliamentary and presidential polls.

“The applicants were in possession of documents about the issues brought before the court by 20 October, but brought them here a month later, no reasons were given why they did not file the application earlier, no case was made for urgency,” Judge Kobus Miller said in his ruling.

We are now just months away from the 2019 polls. Will opposition parties be waking up at the last minute again to run to the courts or have they fully engaged the ECN and exhausted all avenues before turning to the courts this time? It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee!

Nekundi at the centre of candidate mess

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Nekundi at the centre of candidate mess A lack of proper communication between Swapo's Oshana leadership and national leaders assigned to the region has resulted in storm gathering around the party ahead of the Oshakati East by-election slated for 24 August.

Swapo was planning to register 64-year-old Abner Shikongo as its candidate for the by-election.

He was elected by a district conference over the weekend, but his registration at the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) has been postponed. On Tuesday, the chairperson of the national leaders assigned to Oshana, Veiko Nekundi, wrote a letter to Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa informing her about allegations of illegalities that happened during the vetting process and that they were being investigated.

According to Swapo's Oshana coordinator Samuel Nelongo, 163 delegates attended the district conference. Shikongo obtained 93 votes, followed Gabriel Eelu Kamwanka with 53 votes, Ndilimeke Mavulu with 13 votes and Rauha Ndilula with four votes. There was one spoilt ballot.

“Due to serious allegations in the Oshana Region, which among others include the nominations for the Oshakati East constituency by-election, we as national leaders assigned to that region resolve to urgently investigate and finalise all complaints by 11 July (today),” Nekundi wrote to Shaningwa.





“It is critical to state and inform your good office that prior to the district conference to elect a final candidate, we have communicated to the regional coordinator to not proceed with the said conference, pending the investigation of the nominations, and unfortunately such (a) call was not adhered to. However, in upholding the value and principle of the Swapo Party constitution, we cannot ignore members' complaints.”

Nekundi requested Shaningwa not to go ahead with the planned launch of the by-election campaign.

He confirmed he authored the letter that went viral on social media.

Nelongo confirmed that Nekundi wrote to Shaningwa, who in turn will delay the process of registering their candidate for the by-election.

A meeting will be held today to resolve the issue.

“It was just a misunderstanding and we will solve it today. I understand that two comrades complained about the vetting process and they complained to the national leaders assigned to the region. The national leaders did not inform me about the complaints, but they only enquired about them and I briefed them. It is also not true that they informed me not to go ahead with the conference.”

Nekundi also confirmed he authored another letter to Shaningwa on the same day in which he apologised for the miscommunication between the national leaders assigned to the region and Nelongo.

He said Nelongo was never told to stop the district conference.

With candidate registration ending on Monday morning, Nelongo said they will register their candidate on Friday, because today's meeting will not change anything.

ILENI NANDJATO

'Tinder rapist' pleads guilty

July 10, 2019, 4:00 pm

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'Tinder rapist' pleads guilty Jona Shitaleni Paulus (33), a Namibian registered as a graduate student at Iowa State University, is serving 90 days in prison after pleading guilty to a lesser charge of sexual assault.

Paulus pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit sexual abuse before the Story County District Court in Iowa on 17 June.

According to the court documents, Paulus will be registered as a sex offender for life and had to pay a US$700 fine. This charge pertained to a woman he allegedly forced to have sex with him in his apartment, holding her down by the wrists.

He had met her on the dating site Tinder.

He was set to appear in court on Tuesday this week but, the plea deal cancelled that appearance.





But Paulus' legal woes have only just begun.

New charges that were brought early in May after police searched his cellphone will be now heard in a federal court, not the Iowa state court.

Both charges - sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of footage of a minor depicting a sexual act - are regarded as felonies, or serious crimes.

A federal court's jurisdiction in the United States covers crimes that contravene laws passed by Congress and matters that contravene the American constitution.

Consequently, the Story County District Court has dismissed the two charges as the matter will now be transferred to a federal court. According to Pate & Johnson, a law firm that specialises in federal cases involving child pornography and sexual exploitation of a minor, Paulus could face 25 years in prison if convicted on both charges.

“Under federal law, child pornography is any 'visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct'. A visual depiction is basically a picture, video or digital image. A minor is anyone under 18 years old.

“A conviction for a federal child pornography offence can carry a substantial amount of prison time. A person who is convicted of knowingly possessing child pornography can be sentenced up to 10 years in prison,” the law firm writes. The charge of sexual exploitation of a minor is defined as “a person who attempts to induce, persuade or entice a minor to engage in a sexual act for the purpose of making a video, picture or other image”.

“The penalties for sexual exploitation under federal law are incredibly severe. The mandatory minimum sentence is 15 years and the maximum is 30 years.”

The sexual exploitation count came after police searched Paulus's phone while investigating the third-degree sexual abuse charge, according to a criminal complaint filed by campus police. Investigators said the phone contained sexual images and a sexual video depicting a girl who repeatedly told him she was 16 years old.

During their conversation Paulus apparently solicited naked pictures and a video of a prohibited sexual act from the girl.

In the conversations that took place between 1 April and 5 April, the minor identified herself as a 16-year-old multiple times during the chats, it was reported. Police interviewed the girl on 30 April and she confirmed that it was her in the pictures and video sent to Paulus.

While the matter will be heard in federal court, it is reported that the Iowa state prosecutor has reserved the right to try the case after the federal prosecution ends.

Some online news sites report that Paulus has been denied entry to the university campus.

The Des Moines Register reports that Michelle K. Wolf, the public defender assigned to Paulus, could not provide any information on whether Paulus plans to remain enrolled at the university. She confirmed that she would not be representing him in federal court.

YANNA SMITH