Geingob draws Kavango fire

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Geingob draws Kavango fireDTA vote comment irks residents, PDM Kavango politics seems to have become a minefield for President Hage Geingob. KENYA KAMBOWE and ELLANIE SMIT



President Hage Geingob has come under fire following comments he made during this week’s town hall meeting in Kunene, where he reportedly claimed Kavangos had voted overwhelmingly for the DTA during the country’s first democratic elections in 1989.

“We googled; we like to do research and just to look at the first elections, the results for the Kavango who claim they voted for Swapo, it’s not true, it was terrible. We lost Kavango basically, terribly,” Geingob reportedly said.

However, the election results in Kavango showed that 27 256 people had voted for Swapo, while 22 046 had cast their ballots for the DTA.

Geingob’s comments have not been well received by both a Kavango-based pressure group calling themselves the Muzokumwe Volunteers Organisation (MVO) as well as the rebranded DTA, now known as the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM).

The MVO’s Paulus Mbangu explained that DTA performed well in Kavango during the 1989 elections because the area was a war zone and an apartheid regime stronghold.

He further alleged the DTA and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita) had worked together and used people from Angola to participate in the elections.

“Ironically the DTA was at the time under the leadership of his close friends whom he now rubs shoulders with in his version of Swapo. The fact is that the DTA's numbers were a bit high because of the well-documented role that Unita and the DTA militia men played in ferrying Angolan voters to vote in Kavango.”

Mbangu further argued that during the 1992 local and regional government elections DTA was defeated at the regional elections and did not scoop any constituency.

“In the 1992 local and regional elections all doubts were removed when DTA could not win a single constituency in the whole region. In the contrary and ironically, Khorixas where this statement was made was a United Democratic Front (UDF) stronghold since before independence until the last elections. What research is that which was done?” Mbangu asked.

PDM leader McHenry Venaani also blasted Geingob at a media conference yesterday, saying the head of state was using ethnicity to play Namibians up against each other. He also threatened to start a process to impeach Geingob in parliament.

A fuming Venaani said Geingob, who was chairperson of the committee that drafted the country’s constitution, should know better.

“He is acting like a man that is a constitutional delinquent.” According to him, the remarks made by Geingob are unacceptable, unconstitutional and punishable.

“He is denying rights to the people of the Kavango because they voted for the DTA. How dare you? You are in direct conflict with the constitution, because if you vote for the opposition you are denied rights and development. We will push for a motion in parliament to impeach the president,” said Venaani. Local commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah described Geingob’s sentiments as an insult.

“The remarks that came from the head of state are a little bit of an insult,” Kamwanyah said.

“I also think for the president, especially when we find ourselves in an election year, to just come up with such a sweeping statement and generalising, he has to know that those who are asking the questions might not represent the entire Kavango regions, so for him to resort to saying that they voted for DTA, I think it is an unwise statement from the head of state and the president of the Swapo Party.”

Another political commentator Hoze Riruako said Geingob had emphasised unity and reconciliation when he made the statement.

“The president would be best suited to explain it himself but I think in the spirit of national reconciliation and unity and for Swapo to campaign vehemently, so now getting more supporters and new people to the party it is very important that the president’s opinion should be preaching more about unity especially as it is an election year,” Riruako said.

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118 arrested for drugs

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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118 arrested for drugsHalf a million dollars' worth of narcotics seized The bulk of the illicit drugs confiscated by the police last month consisted of dagga. A total of 118 suspects were arrested for possession and dealing in illegal drugs last month, while the police seized drugs with a street value of N$531 320.

According to the spokesperson of the police, Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi, among the arrested suspects were 106 Namibians.

The other suspects were three Angolans, an Ethiopian, six Congolese, a South African and a Tanzanian.

The drugs seized included 33.16 kg of cannabis valued at N$331 600, 102 grams of cocaine powder valued at N$51 000 and 214 Mandrax tablets valued at N$25 680.

Crack cocaine to the value of N$14 000 and cannabis plants to the value of N$4 040 were also seized.

Furthermore, 21 boxes of smuggled cigarettes to the value of N$105 000 were confiscated by the police during July.

In June the police seized drugs worth more than N$1.3 million and arrested 117 suspects.

Among those arrested in June were 97 Namibians nationals, six Angolans and three Burundians. Police also arrested eight Congolese, one Tanzanian and two Zambian nationals.



ELLANIE SMIT

Who hurt you, Mr President?

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Who hurt you, Mr President? Our president seems angry. This has come to the fore more often than not during his town hall meetings, where his remarks have betrayed a simmering annoyance, displeasure and hostility.

This has manifested in personal attacks on an academic and roughshod comments about who the Kavangos voted for during the 1989 elections, among others.

And after spinning rainbows and promises that these meetings were not political and an attempt to campaign for Swapo at taxpayers' expense, complaining about Kavangos voting for the DTA has detonated a suicide bomb in his spindoctor camp. Far from asking Namibians why they are angry, Geingob should be asking himself that question.

But if that kind of introspection is beyond a man of his stature, then let's rather ask: Who hurt you Mr President? In Oshikoto you accepted an apology from Swapo regional coordinator Armas Amukwiyu for daring to stand against your faction at the 2017 ruling party congress.

Who else do you think owes you an apology? Maybe you should draw up a list so that we can start organising mass meetings where these errant humans can pay homage.

Mr President, in all seriousness, we want you to calm down. You don't wear vexation well. We want more focus on the pressing issues of the day.

Why do we still care who voted for whom in 1989? There are bigger fish to fry, Mr President.

We need you operating at full throttle, while tackling our joblessness, our hunger and our hopelessness. Just this week a report came out that said 39% of your people are severely food insecure. We can't eat the votes from 1989 Mr President! Calm down and tackle our plight.

Don't use government platforms to fight your personal and political battles.

That does not sit well with your image as a constitutionalist who should know about the separation between party, state and a shebeen brawl.

You are still our president and we need you to focus calmly on what you promised us.

New plot saga at Omuthiya

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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New plot saga at Omuthiya Omuthiya deputy mayor Hisikiel Nanyeni, who previously served as the town's mayor, is being accused of allocating himself a residential plot at Extension Five in 2013 without paying for it.

According to documents seen by Namibian Sun on 8 July this year, Nanyeni belatedly applied to the council and was given the green light to pay N$273 700 towards the plot he has since built flats on and where he generates money from tenants.

According to sources at the council and documents, the erf in question is 2 796 square metres in size and the plot number is 1 295.

This is the latest in a string of allegations being made against the town's top four councillors.

It has previously been reported that outgoing town CEO Samuel Mbango had written a letter to urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga on 10 June, in which he listed alleged irregularities committed by mayor Katrina Uusiku, Nanyeni, management committee chairperson Beata Nashongo and committee member Enos Shipahu.

Mbango accused them of leasing plots to themselves without ministerial approval, amongst other allegations.

A source alleged this week that Nanyeni's plot was discussed on 16 July at a management committee attended by Nashongo and Shipahu.

“The two agreed that Nanyeni must get the green light to pay off the plot.

On 5 August, the matter was again discussed at a council meeting, which was only attended by the top four councillors - Uusiku, Nanyeni, Nashongo and Shipahu - and acting CEO Taimi Lungameni, the manager for finance, sidelining Joseph Kankunka, a member of the management committee, Susana Uukongo and Toivo Nghilalulwa,” the source said.

“The three other councillors were not invited.”





When it came to the discussion of Nanyeni's plot, he excused himself and only three councillors agreed to give him the green light to pay off his plot, without meeting a quorum.”



Nanyeni said these are all lies and “bitter efforts” by Mbango, after the council did not renew his contract.



“I am having the proof of a lease agreement that I pay for every month. If they are saying I occupied the land without council agreement, where was the town CEO all those years? As councillors we make decisions, but they are not final because the CEO is the accounting officer and has the final say,” Nanyeni said.



“Mbango must tell the truth and come out that he did not sign the lease agreements. I know we did not renew his contract, but we informed him that he can reapply.”



Nashongo questioned who is giving Namibian Sun the information.



“Who is the person feeding you with information? Ask that person to give you all the details,” she said.



During a council meeting on 3 June, the councillors resolved not to renew Mbango's contract. Mbango reported the matter to Mushelenga in his letter of 10 June.



In a letter dated 2 August, Mushelenga urged the councillors to provide him with a detailed report on their decision before 19 August.

ILENI NANDJATO

Facebook post leads to N$100 000 lawsuit

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Facebook post leads to N$100 000 lawsuit A public Facebook post criticising the professional conduct of a Mariental doctor is at the centre of a N$100 000 defamation suit filed at the Windhoek High Court this year.

Dr Berit David Platt is suing Arnoldus Sydney Apols following a public Facebook post on 6 November 2018, in which Apols alleged the doctor had rudely instructed a security guard to remove an elderly woman from his practice. This allegedly took place after the woman had complained of the effects of an injection the doctor had given her.

The post was made public, allowing anybody to view and comment on it, and could still be viewed yesterday. The post had attracted 44 comments, 53 reactions and was shared 131 times to date. Several people who commented made threats of violence against Dr Platt and agreed with the post's allegations of unprofessional behaviour by the doctor. The post includes an allegation that Apols had heard similar complaints “of your irrogance and lack of respect towards your clients (sic)” and concludes with the warning “For you and your security watch this space (sic).”

Dr Platt claims that the post caused grave injury to his name and reputation, in addition to his feelings and dignity.

His court documents state that he is widely known in Namibia and is “a respected general practitioner in a small town who takes great pride in his medical oath as a medical practitioner”. Platt argues that the post depicts him as “a person without any integrity as a medical practitioner and of questionable reputation, abusive/aggressive behaviour towards his patients, lack of honesty and integrity, and without any moral fibre.”

He further claims that the post was “wrongful and defamatory” and asks the court to award him damages of N$100 000.

Dr Platt's legal papers include printouts of Apols's Facebook post and some of the comments. Some commentators encouraged Apols to report the doctor to a medical body, while others said he should have assaulted the doctor. This week High Court Judge Hannelie Prinsloo was informed that settlement negotiations between the parties had failed. The parties asked the court to postpone the matter for three weeks.

Frieda Schulz of Neves Legal Practitioners is acting on behalf of Dr Platt, while Apols is represented by Hassan Engelbrecht of Brockerhoff & Associates Legal Practitioners.

Geingob blitzes Baumgartsbrunn

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Geingob blitzes BaumgartsbrunnPresident spends minutes with impoverished community When asked what will be done for the Baumgartsbrunn community and when, Geingob said: “Wait until we tell you. We do not discuss dreams.” The Christmas Eve-like excitement of the Baumgartsbrunn community was abruptly cut short yesterday when President Geingob spent minutes with them.

The purpose of this visit was to engage community members and assess the drought situation in the region. Although they say they understand that the president was in a rush, residents could not hide their disappointment over him spending only a few minutes with them to see how they are living.

Baumgartsbrunn is a humble settlement situated roughly 21 kilometres west of Windhoek. The majority of the community are from the |Khomanîn tribe and work for white farm owners in the vicinity.

They were really looking forward to President Geingob's visit.

Community member Absalom Gereseb said: “We have never seen a president here.”

Gereseb, who has lived on Baumgartsbrunn for the past 18 years, said he was overjoyed to see “my president with my own eyes”.





But he would have really appreciated it if the president visited their homes to see their living conditions.



Katrina Swartbooi said she did not feel good that he left so quickly.



“I am happy he came to see us, but not for five minutes,” she said, before scurrying off to catch the public bus to a town hall meeting at the Ramatex complex in Windhoek.



Farm owner Rida Jakobs said they had to sell 70% of their livestock because of the drought.



One of their boreholes has also dried up.



“We struggle with water here and our animals are getting fewer,” she said.







Impoverished



The poverty levels in the Baumgartsbrunn community are so bad that children almost fell into a fire as they scrambled for a bowl of free soup and vetkoek after the president left.

The soup was made by a local community leader Erna Kharuxas for residents who “have nothing”.



Nearly everyone queued up for soup and vetkoek.



According to Kharuxas the community last received drought relief five months ago and will only receive these food rations again next month.



“All these people are struggling. They do not always receive the drought relief,” she said.



Odile Auchas also queued up for soup and vetkoek and said some of them, this would be their only meal of the day.



“We receive no support from government,” she said.







Sad



Paul Kock said he is sad that the president stayed for such a short time, while some of the farmworkers had struggled to get approval from their bosses to meet him.



“My boss asked me how this meeting will help me. I am glad the president came, but he should have walked around to see how the people are living here,” he said.



He added that everyone in the community struggles financially.



“It is very difficult for us to live here. All this land is owned by white farmers, who are difficult people. We do not have land at all,” he said.



At Baumgartsbrunn an average shack houses more than five people, who are mainly sustained by old-age pension grants, because many of the youth are jobless.



Maria Rooinasie farms with goats and has already lost six of them to the drought.



“We have no water here. And look around, there is not a single leaf of grass. It is dry, dry.”



She too complained that they last received drought relief in March this year.







'We don't discuss dreams'



During his short time at Baumgartsbrunn Geingob said the land situation must be addressed urgently, because it is burdening the farm owners.



He informed residents that they are fortunate that the owner of Baumgartsbrunn is so tolerant to allow them to live there.



According to him other people are not so fortunate because when farmers bought the farms they chased away their workers and “they are left on the streets… I mean in the corridors”.



When Namibian Sun asked what will be done and when, Geingob said: “Wait until we tell you. We do not discuss dreams.”



He urged the community to invite him again for a meeting, during which they can discuss their plight.



“We can come anytime if we are invited. We are never invited. We are thanking the owner of the place (for) his tolerance. There are farmers who come and buy farms and just kick people out,” he said.



During the subsequent town hall meeting held at the Ramatex complex, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said the drought relief programme includes food for households, water facility rehabilitation and the provision of free or subsidised fodder.

Celebrating product excellence

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Celebrating product excellenceAnother milestone for local company Having served Namibians for almost 40 years, Taurus Maintenance Products has established itself as a household brand Sponsored content - Established in 1981, Taurus Maintenance Products has enjoyed steady growth over the almost four decades of conducting business in Namibia.

Boasting five branches– three in Windhoek and one each in Swakopmund and Oshakati – and a network of sales representatives countrywide, Taurus enjoys a reputation of delivering quality products to both large contract cleaners and Joe Soap.

Managing Director Georg Stadtherr ascribes their success to slow but steady expansion. “It’s thanks to the sturdy base that my father, Roland, created that we have a strong base today in spite of the challenging economic times.”

Early days

Georg says that Taurus Maintenance Products was established by Klaus Becker and Klaus Rottmann in 1981. “Two years later, during those infancy stages, my father along with a silent partner bought them out. Slowly but surely the business expanded. In that time we moved from a small warehouse to the property in Joule Street and in 2004 we opened our warehouse and outlet branch in Prosperita. We also opened a factory in the northern industrial area. In 2010 we could expand our footprint to Oshakati and in 2016 we opened a branch in Swakopmund that serves our clients along the coast,” Georg says.

These branches are served by a dedicated staff complement that undergo both in-house and external training regularly. “Besides bi-weekly sessions for sales staff and once-weekly sessions for production staff, we also rotate our staff between the branches regularly so they are exposed to experiences from elsewhere,” Georg says, adding that many have been with the company for more than 25 years.

In terms of products, Georg says what makes Taurus special is that all their cleaning products are manufactured locally following rigorous research and development. “It can take up to two years before a product is put on the shelf,” he says. He is also very proud of the fact that their products are eco-friendly, “and everything is bio-degradable.”

Besides their own wide range of detergents, Taurus is also the distributing agent for Kimberly-Clark and the Serra range, as well as other well-known brands like Wynn’s and Alcolin and Bostik. The latter two ranges are mainly available for local hardware stores countrywide.

Taurus also sells items like mops, brooms and useful cleaning equipment.

Looking ahead

Celebrating another milestone this Saturday, is the opening of their Kärcher Center Taurus with a showroom at the premises in Joule Street in Windhoek’s southern industrial area. For this special event, Taurus has invited their friends and clients to celebrate with specials on Kärcher products and prizes that can be won. The event takes place from 09:00 to 14:00, with the official opening slated for 11:00. Then visitors also get the chance to mingle with the two Miss Namibia princesses and other VIPs.

Having been involved with the Kärcher brand in Namibia since 1989, Georg says the opening of the new showroom is the result of 30 years of work. The Official service department or Workshop which serviced all the Kärcher equipment was started 1997. we started off with a container-sized office after which a couple of moves followed.”

Thus no surprise that the Taurus team is excited about this new addition.

Other future developments include major revamps for their head office along with extensions at their branches. This goes along with the newly completed renovation of the Kärcher showroom.

So, why use Taurus Maintenance Products?

“By buying from us, you’re supporting a local workforce and the local economy,” Georg says. “Along with that you’re buying products of a superior quality. And don’t forget that we deliver free of charge!”

Taurus Maintenance Products is open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:00, and closed during the lunch hour.

Urban Fair coming to Ongwediva

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Urban Fair coming to OngwedivaMaking history and providing opportunities Having entrepreneurs representing different industries in one location will create a great networking opportunity. On 7 September, Ongwediva will play host to the first-of-its-kind Urban Fair.

The event will take place in the Mayor’s Park, which will be transformed into a bustling marketplace.

The event will bring together aspiring and current entrepreneurs for a day of networking, brand building and youth empowerment.

The Urban Fair is the brainchild of Haven Investment CC under the creative direction of Dina Shipushu. The fair aims to elevate small businesses by providing them with a platform to showcase and sell their products and services to hundreds of potential customers, all in one space. The public also has a chance to find and buy unique products that may not be readily available in brick and mortar shops.

According to Shipushu, having entrepreneurs representing different industries in one location also creates a great networking opportunity.

“This is a platform created for individuals and businesses to express and share excellence. We’d like to see young and old coming together and learning from one another. That’s the kind of vibe we are trying to create - one of unity, support and togetherness - because there’s also a social aspect to it,” said Shipushu.

What sets the Urban Fair apart from other expos and fairs is firstly that it is a quarterly event, and is accessible and affordable to small business owners, which is evident in the low participation fee of only N$350 per stall. Although the inaugural event, Urban Fair Volume 1, will be held over one day, the organisers plan on increasing this to three days in future.

“The event is open to all business owners, regardless of what stage their business is at. We are therefore calling on all aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups and well-established businesses to sign-up and help us to promote youth entrepreneurship in Ongwediva. We’re also making history because this will be the first event of its kind to be held in our town,” Shipushu added.

The event caters for all types of businesses, including food, clothing, cosmetics, arts and crafts, décor services, homemade goods and many more. Whether your business is new or old, large or small, this event is for you.

Entrance to the Urban Fair will cost N$10 and is free for children up to the age of 10 who are accompanied by an adult. The organisers also made provision for entertainment for the little ones, with different activities lined up, including jumping castles, face painting and much more.

The deadline to book a stall is 20 August. Interested parties can contact the organisers at 081 293 8038 or send an email to urbanfairv2@gmail.com

The founder of the Urban Fair, Dina Shipushu.

Photo Contributed

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Bureau Veritas inspires

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Bureau Veritas inspires A powerful team of women leaders Bureau Veritas is an avid supporter of promoting women in the workplace. Bureau Veritas Southern Africa, the global leader in testing, inspection and certification, continues to spark interest in the southern African professional working environment.

The company is renowned for services and innovative solutions that ensure client products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations, in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

It has also notched up a few more points on the women’s empowerment and social responsibility agendas.

The company has, in recent months, under the direction of renowned leader Sal Govender, increased its female leadership gender dynamic considerably. Commenting during Women’s Month in South Africa, Govender, who is the vice-president of Bureau Veritas Southern Africa, said: “Increasing the number of women in leadership roles has been high on the Bureau Veritas agenda globally; and in Southern Africa, we are taking great strides to allow more women to show their mettle, both inside and outside of the boardroom.

“We now have an engaging team of men and women on our executive that complement each other beautifully, ensuring our company is run like a well-oiled machine! Everyone brings their uniqueness to the table, thereby super-powering the outcome.”

Women from various professional backgrounds, ethnicities and countries add intelligence and relevance to the engineering- and scientifically-driven testing, inspections and certification powerhouse. Govender herself was voted by Elle magazine in 2015 as one of South Africa’s top women to work for and is a strong advocate of community building through education and social upliftment initiatives.

Joanne Barton is the managing director of M&L Labs and has been with Bureau Veritas and M&L Labs for 18 years. A chemist by profession, Barton advises that technical people are often not sociable networkers and need courage to get “out there”.

With an engaging sense of humour, she believes in setting the bar high and manages to keep her work/life balance, despite being on call most of the time. The secret, she believes, lies in being passionate about her job. Her advice to other women who have ambitions to achieve a leadership role is: “Make sure you are always true to yourself, honest in your role and be clear about your goals, never let anyone make you do what you gut says is wrong - be bold and say ‘no’. Self-respect is of utmost importance.”

Neda Taghadosi, an electronics engineer with an MBA, has recently been promoted to industry and certification director and has been with the company for six years. She is a strong supporter of keeping employees motivated and ensuring the correct people are recruited for their respective roles. In the build-up to Women’s Month, an enthusiastic Taghadosi commented: “We are indeed in very exciting times and it’s encouraging to see the gender balance in the company.”

Her advice to other women who have ambitions to achieve a leadership role is: “Always thank your employees for going the extra mile, care about them because you cannot be successful without their support. Get a mentor, you can learn so much from them… and don’t ever feel embarrassed to apologise for a mistake you made!”

Grace Mabasa has been with Bureau Veritas for 16 years and is the company’s government services and international trade manager. Mabasa manages and plans the operational and commercial activities pertaining to government contracts. As a leader, she believes that encouraging diverse teams to work together motivates them to recognise the strengths of their combined talents, which in turn enhances the success of the organisation.

Time management and the setting of priorities help her maintain an effective work/life balance. Her advice to other women who have ambitions to achieve a leadership role is: “Work hard, strive for what you believe in and don’t give up on your dreams. Leave a legacy for tomorrow, as you are writing it daily.”

Emilie Bigot is the financial director of Bureau Veritas Southern Africa and enjoys a staff component of some 30 employees. Bigot is fully responsible for finance and purchasing for the company. Her biggest challenge is to ensure open communication channels between the various employees across the countries within her leadership ambit. She too has seen an increase in women in leadership since she joined the organisation five years ago. Her mid-management team are all women, which she is proud of. Her advice to other women who have ambitions to achieve a leadership role is: “Hard work is always rewarded, so believe in yourself. Too many women lack self-confidence, but have excellent skills; so I encourage you, make it happen!”

Beatrice Scharneck is the district human resources manager for Bureau Veritas Southern Africa and has been with the company for 10 years. Her goal is to ensure employees are inspired, collaborative and engaged; thereby ensuring the company’s sustained future. Scharneck is an avid supporter of communities and corporate societal marketing. She manages to strike a balance between work and family by remembering that family is of utmost importance, while still enjoying a fulfilling and rewarding career (and having fun in both). Her advice to other women who have ambitions to achieve a leadership role is: “Nothing is impossible, believe in yourself, take the bull by the horns and go for it! Keep your eye on the ball and remain focused on your dream; then strive to make it a reality.”

The executive leadership team of the company now enjoys a healthy gender and demographic balance, which has made a positive impact on the culture and employee morale. The company recently completed a month-long corporate societal campaign embracing community building and giving back to those less fortunate.

Mandela Day on 18 July formed an integral part of the weekly community activities around the country, while paying homage to the late Nelson Mandela for his inspiration and encouragement to make a difference. In 2020 the campaign will be rolled out into various African countries to further cement the culture of making a difference.

In June 2019, under Govender’s leadership, the company launched the Ithemba Trust, a women’s empowerment body involved in projects benefitting girls and young women in South Africa. Aligned to Bureau Veritas Southern Africa’s strong social awareness ethos, the trust focuses on empowering females from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, with a focus on education of young black women in the STEM disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. After graduation, the company will absorb the young ladies into the business and upskill them with soft skills on work readiness. Enterprise development assistance will be provided to those that wish to launch their own businesses and work will be subcontracted to them to ensure they can sustain their businesses and achieve success. The trust focuses on beneficiaries hailing from areas in which Bureau Veritas employees live and work. To date, the trust has provided two full bursaries for students Keletso Moekona and Sanelisiwe Mabaso to study a BEng Mining at the University of Johannesburg and a BSC Biological Sciences at Wits University, respectively.

Bureau Veritas is an avid supporter of promoting women in the workplace that will add value and gravitas to the brand and its success. Building communities and creating a sustainable future remain high on the company’s priority list.

“We are dedicated to creating legacies and ultimately building a nation. We are poised to improve the lives of women, the backbone of society, and thereby bringing a steady balance to communities and workplaces,” Govender added.

Chinese astronauts to visit Namibia

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Chinese astronauts to visit Namibia China’s first-ever female astronaut to be launched into space, Liu Yang, will be visiting Namibia from 19 to 23 August.

She will be accompanied by Chen Dong, another Chinese astronaut who spent 33 days in space in 2016.

On 16 June 2012, Liu, as one of the crew of Shenzhou-9, travelled to the Chinese space station Tiangong-1, becoming the first female Chinese astronaut to go into space. On 17 October 2016, Chen lifted off with Shenzhou-11 for a 33-day space mission to the Tiangong-2 space station as his first spaceflight. The crew landed successfully on 18 November 2016, marking China's longest manned space flight to date.

The visit aims to respond to the kind invitation extended by President Hage Geingob, which enhances communication and cooperation between China and Namibia. During his state visit to China last year, Geingob visited the China Space Centre, interacted with a couple of Chinese astronauts and invited them to visit Namibia someday.

Upon arriving in Namibia, the delegation will pay a courtesy call to Geingob, meet local middle school learners at the Space TT&C Station and communicate with students face-to-face at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) to talk mainly about astronautics.

In 2010, the first Chinese astronaut, Yang Liwei, visited Namibia. This will thus be the second visit of Chinese astronauts to Namibia, highlighting the special relationship between the two countries. China and Namibia have good cooperation in the field of aerospace, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. China's aerospace development cannot be separated from Namibia’s support.

Two giants come together

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Two giants come together Enhancing innovation and service delivery MTC and Nust are set to enhance innovation and service delivery through research and development. On 14 August, MTC and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) gathered at the Nust chambers to formally announce the signing of memorandum of understanding (MOU).

The MOU was signed earlier this year on 20 February and marked the official partnership between the two entities to collaborate in strategic areas that will enhance innovation and service delivery through research and development.

The MTC/Nust partnership will focus on various areas. These include emerging and disruptive technologies, ubiquitous and pervasive computing, electronic engineering and other engineering disciplines, marketing and communication, telecommunication products and services, cybersecurity and forensics, user experience, human/computer interaction computing and informatics.

Nust faculty of computing and informatics dean, Professor Anicia Peters, emphasised that MTC has long been the muscle behind Nust initiatives and that the areas scoped out are vital for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The partnership is expected to build capacity and assess the impact in the country.

“Our joint activities include internships, guest lectures, scholarships, joint activities, research, product development and innovation among others,” Peters said.

She added that Nust currently has 12 interns placed at MTC and has attached expert staff and students to big data projects and Cloud computing projects at the telecoms company.

Additional components of the MOU put an emphasis on harnessing academic and practical industrials resources, sharing innovative ideas and experiences, knowledge and skills.

MTC CEO Dr Licky Erastus said the event was the start of a journey aimed to enhance customer experience through innovative and creative products and services that are up-to-date with current trends.

He said MTC remains committed to being a part of a community where cutting-edge research starts to make living easier.

“While the institutions of higher learning and the industry remain at the centre of this practice, we need to educate and do research to innovate and provide the industry with knowledge and skills,” said Erastus.

The industry needs to be competitive by providing clients with innovative products and services in order to be profitable, he added.

The partnership seeks to tap into emerging and disruptive technologies, mobile app development solutions, telecommunication products and services and also cybersecurity as focus areas.

The partnership hopes to subsequently contribute to the overall development of ICT in Namibia, not only through MTC’s products and services, but also through education by having conferences and workshops.

“All the skills that will be shared and acquired are critical for building the national economy. The ministry of higher education believes that this initiative will elevate the university’s research and community services,” said Dr Lisho Mundia, the ministry’s director of research

The partnership is celebrating 10 years. The first time MTC funded the faculty of computing and informatics (the MTC Endowed Chair in ICT) was in 2009. This partnership is now renewed with financial and in-kind contributions, as well as internships, tech events and joint projects.

Photo Contributed:

MTC-NUST-Representatives from MTC and Nust at the official announcement of the partnership.

Crunching numbers

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Crunching numbers Janco Gous has been appointed as the new commercial sales specialist at First National Bank (FNB) Namibia and is excited about the possibility of learning new skills and pushing himself out of his comfort zone. In his new role, Gous will be responsible for looking after the non-financial sales in the commercial segment, mainly focusing on the SME segment. More specifically, he will focus on tracking and monitoring the current stance of the bank against its targets and bring new ideas to the table to achieve the set objectives for the year. This covers quite a wide variety of different areas like sales, marketing, cross-selling, training and strategising on a high level.

“I’m most excited about the opportunity to develop my skills to the next level. Being the commercial sales specialist is quite challenging, as you are faced with new challenges each day. People rely on you for answers in areas which sometimes you have no prior experience of. This, however, forces you to think on your feet and takes you out of your comfort zone. This excites me, because I will always be forced to adapt and develop my skills to accommodate the circumstances,” he said.

Gous holds an honours degree in business administration, majoring in banking and finance. He also has a higher certificate in economics and managerial sciences.

He is passionate about adventure, family and friends and loves history, specifically African history. “We have an amazing continent with a rich history; I would love to explore it one day like the great explorers David Livingstone, Sir Henry Morton Stanley and Richard Francis Burton.”

Gous loves sport and the outdoors and is an avid hunter and angler. He loves to camp and plays several musical instruments, including the guitar, drums and keyboard.

“I will drive innovation in the SME book, as FNB is the market leader when it comes to introducing new technologies to our client base, which our competitors have not yet been able to offer.

“In my opinion, consumers will flock to FNB for our comprehensive range of digital platforms, as they create a banking solution for our customers from the comfort of their own business premises. Our innovative approach has given us the ability to increase the loyalty of our customer base, which adds to the market share of FNB in the SME sector, whilst decreasing the market share of our competitors,” Gous said.

He will focus on strengthening customer relationships in the current book, in order to protect market share and prevent customers from jumping ship when competitors enter into the market with new offerings. “Emphasis should be put on service, as customers tend to frequently speak of a positive experience to friends and family, who then become attracted to joining the FNB family. This ultimately increases our market share and revenue via word of mouth, without increasing the cost of marketing.”

Gous aims to ultimately contribute to the growth of local entrepreneurship and provide employment opportunities in the country.

“My vision for FNB’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) growth segment is for it to become the leading institution in providing financial services to SMEs in Namibia, by growing FNB’s market share, responding to the needs of these enterprises and providing them with the necessary financial assistance and business support services for the short- and long-term,” Gous added.

Photo contributed:

Pic1-Janco Gous aims to contribute to the growth of local entrepreneurship.

Students vent over unpaid fees

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Students vent over unpaid feesNSFAF and Bank Windhoek respond Bank Windhoek says it expects the on-boarding of students to take place over a period of four months, countrywide. Justicia Shipena





Student leaders say there is a delay in the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) paying out tuition and non-tuition fees to students, who rely heavily on these monies, due to being from poverty-stricken backgrounds.

A meeting was held to find solutions this week.

The student leaders subsequently hosted a media conference and aired their concerns regarding the delay in NSFAF payments for continuing students, as well as the issuing of Bank Windhoek cards to students at various tertiary institutions.

Bank Windhoek was awarded the tender to issue student cards to NSFAF aid recipients last December, after Nam-mic Financial Services’ contract was terminated.

Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) SRC president Juno Angula said they have observed the slow pace at which NSFAF cards are being issued and that Bank Windhoek is only operating in the Khomas Region at Nust and the University of Namibia (Unam).

Angula said this led to the establishment of an ad hoc committee with the sole purpose of spearheading and resolving the continuous student challenges.

He said they have given NSFAF and Bank Windhoek until today to issue cards to all senior students and to commence with paying out the pending fees.

“We do not want to beg NSFAF, but the issues must be sorted out as soon as possible, as we do not want the next SRC leaders to fight for the same issues,” he said.

He added that according to NSFAF the cards will be loaded with non-tuition fees, but that has not been the case.

“Some of the students are being chased away from Bank Windhoek branches and told to go and get their cards at their institutions. Students from Triumphant have to come all the way from their school just to come here. It is not right. They even told us that the cards will be loaded with funds, but that is not true,” he said.

Institute of Technology SRC president, Gertrude Onesmus stressed that students are tired of waiting on NSFAF.

She said parents are worried about whether they will now be forced to pay their children’s tertiary fees.

Bank Windhoek executive officer for marketing and corporate communication services, Jacquiline Pack, said as communicated via media conferences, as well as through NSFAF and the student leadership, they envisage the on-boarding of students to take place over a period of four months, countrywide.

“In order to meet the specific needs and requirements of the student community Bank Windhoek developed a very specific offering, whilst adapting our client on-boarding processes and developing an instant card activation solution to speed up the on-boarding process and turnaround time,” she said.

Pack added that the current on-boarding time of less than 20 minutes per student on average is a significant achievement and as of Tuesday more than 1 300 students have successfully received their cards, while also being registered to utilise Bank Windhoek’s digital channel services such as cellphone banking and mobile app offerings.

“Bank Windhoek is currently considering expanding the number of on-boarding desks at campuses to on-board at least 250 students per working day,” she said.

Pack further said students are still able to go to any of the Bank Windhoek branches in Windhoek during this period, as well as after 30 August.

Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) vice-president Benhard Kavau said it’s unacceptable that since January until now NSFAF has not done any single payment of tuition and non-tuition fees.

Kavau said it is worrisome that there still pending tuition of last year and 2017.

“The concerns are serious as students are finding means of surviving. In a post on social media a student is looking for free accommodation in Dorado and she is willing to do all the household (chores) before and after classes and during weekends, without payment. This female student is trying to survive, while also funded by NSFAF,” he said.

Kavau said by 30 August the new intake of students should sign their contracts and stressed that they don’t want to fight about the same issues again next year.

He added that if Bank Windhoek does not have capacity it should stop, claiming the bank currently issues cards to 100 students per day.

“Unam has more than 16 000 students. How long will they take to finish before the students get their funding?” he asked.

NSFAF senior manager of marketing and communications, Percy Tjahere, said they settled last year’s tuition fees.

Tjahere added it takes a bit longer for students to obtain their cards, as they fail to complete the survey while waiting in line.

He added they started off in Windhoek, as the vast majority of students are located in the capital, while the experiences of the Windhoek exercise will then be extended and applied to the other towns thereafter.

“We plan to utilise events such as trade fairs outside of Windhoek for student on-boarding purposes, whilst also considering a presence at some of the campuses to further expedite the process,” he said.

He added that NSFAF is doing its best to help students obtain their cards and stressed that his team is hard at work to ensure that the 2019 tuition fees are paid.



Pic1-Students are worried about the payment of their fees by NSFAF.

Company news in brief

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Company news in brief Choppies plans to exit SA market

Botswanan budget retailer Choppies Enterprises said on Wednesday it planned to sell its stores in South Africa as growth stutters and unemployment soars in Africa's most advanced economy.

The company, whose stock is currently suspended from trading on its primary bourse in Botswana as well as on the Johannesburg stock exchange, operates 88 stores in South Africa.

Choppies, which operates in eight African countries, saw its shares plunge by more than 60% last September after announcing a delay to the publication of its financial statements.

The results were delayed after the company's external auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) raised concerns with the board in respect of the audit for the year ended 30 June 2018.

South Africa's economy is struggling for momentum. Although retail sales rose in June, data on Wednesday showed, the economy shrank in the first quarter, and data last month showed unemployment at its highest in over a decade.

Tencent cautious after surge in profit

China's Tencent Holdings, the world's largest gaming company by revenue, warned on Wednesday of a difficult economic environment even as it reported a better-than-expected 35% jump in quarterly profit.

Growth in the company's gaming business resumed in the second quarter after a long regulatory freeze in China and its fintech operations also generated sharply higher revenues.

However, Tencent saw a slowdown in online advertising revenue growth amid a slowing Chinese economy and Sino-US trade tensions, and expects conditions to remain tough.

Tencent made 24.14 billion yuan (US$3.4 billion) in net profit for the April-June quarter, beating an average estimate of 20.74 billion yuan from 13 analysts polled by Refinitiv.

The social media and gaming giant is restructuring in an attempt to find new revenue sources as its consumer business comes under pressure from slowing Chinese economic growth amid the Sino-US trade war. – Nampa/Reuters

Prudential to split by year-end

Britain's biggest insurer Prudential will complete a planned break-up of the company by the end of the year, with its UK-focused fund and insurance business set to list as M&G Plc.

The Asia and US-focused rump of the company will continue to trade as Prudential and be listed in the UK, but will be subject to the regulator in Hong Kong - where Prudential said it was "carefully monitoring" current violent protests in the city.

"We expect to complete the demerger of M&GPrudential in the fourth quarter of 2019, and preparations are complete for Prudential Plc's move to group-wide supervision by the Hong Kong Insurance Authority," chief executive Mike Wells said in a statement.

Prudential said last year it planned to split into two companies, a route followed by insurance and asset management peers including Old Mutual and Standard Life Aberdeen.

The split will enable the part of the group focused on Asia and the United States to be regulated in Hong Kong, where capital rules are considered less onerous. – Nampa/Reuters

Carlsberg H1 sales boosted by Asia

Carlsberg reported a 6.5% rise in half-year sales yesterday, as the Danish brewer sold more expensive beer and its operating margins improved despite continued challenges in Russia.

Sales in the first six months of the year came in at 32.99 billion Danish crowns (US$4.9 billion), the company said.

The brewer posted improved earnings but saw declining sales in Russia, its key market, due to tough competition and price hikes at the beginning of the year leading to a loss of market share. Total volume in Russia declined by 3%, the company said.

Asia, the brewer's fastest-growing market, delivered organic net revenue growth of 15%, lifted by 8.5% volume growth and increased sales of premium brands, even though the Chinese market declined slightly, the company said.

Carlsberg has shifted its focus from cost-cutting to revenue growth, especially by selling more of its pricier brands. – Nampa/Reuters

Lenovo warns of price hikes

China's Lenovo Group, the world's largest PC maker, warned it will have to raise product prices if US tariffs increase, sending its shares tumbling 6.5% to two-month lows.

Lenovo's warning amid mounting business uncertainty due to the US-China trade war cast doubt on its sales outlook and took the shine off forecast-beating quarterly results where robust PC sales helped the company more than double its profit.

The global PC market grew 1.5% in the June quarter after falling for two consecutive quarters, as threats of increased US tariffs on Chinese goods prompted some manufacturers to frontload shipments, industry analysts said.

Lenovo emerged as the biggest winner of the global PC market's surprise rebound in the second quarter. Citing industry data, the company said it had a record 25.1% market share in the quarter.

Lenovo said it was the fastest growing PC maker among the top five manufacturers and its improved product mix also helped the business' pre-tax profit margin rise to 5.4%, the highest margin ever attained in a fiscal first quarter. – Nampa/Reuters

Making brands matter

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Making brands matterOgilvy practices a culture of open-mindedness Since 1996, Ogilvy has been encouraging expressive creativity. Evany van Wyk



While sitting down with Ogilvy’s digital director and strategist Katrionae Madondo, chief operating director Megan Pritchard and managing director Rozanne van der Merwe, Careers got some insight into the 23-year-old advertising agency’s vision.

Ogilvy, a full-service advertising agency, forms part of WPP, one of the largest communication companies in the world. The agency currently employs 18 onsite employees and over 30 creatives are located offsite.

“We work with designers from Namibia, South Africa and even overseas,” said Van der Merwe. She feels that this allows the agency to always have new ideas and perspectives, to be able to stay up-to-date with the latest design and advertising trends.

“We empower 30-plus small businesses through our business model and it is something we are really proud of,” said Madondo.

They further elaborated on the culture at the agency and what it deems as important for clients and employees. “We celebrate a culture of open-mindedness. We can be fun, but also encourage ourselves to learn more,” Madondo said.

Ogilvy’s culture is one of its most important values. The father of modern advertising and also the inspiration for the company name, David Ogilvy, said there needs to be a cultural fit between clients and an agency.

“Not just clients, but also the employees. You need to feel at home when you step in here,” said Van der Merwe.

“The agency has embraced that people have different strengths and therefore allows each person to focus on something they are best at.”

According to Van der Merwe, Ogilvy understands the need for employees to grow, but at the same time, develop and master their strengths.

Ogilvy has over 120 offices worldwide. Since the agency’s work is in communications, they see it as the perfect way to market the Ogilvy brand. “Our job is the ultimate platform to market ourselves. The Ogilvy brand speaks for itself, because we are well-known internationally,” said Pritchard.

Ogilvy boasts a 95% female staff complement.

“Empowered women, empower women,” said Pritchard.

Social development schemes and pro bono work is also important to Ogilvy, and the positive change it can trigger inspires us the agency to do better.

“We are partnering with the Namibia Heart Foundation. They offer a holistic approach in physical and mental assistance to people who have had heart attacks or need transplants,” explained Pritchard.

Ogilvy has offered creative services and assistance in the design of their corporate branding, invitations, company profile etc. It’s clear that this agency is actively living a revolution that everyone is sure to be a part of.

“We make brands matter so that our clients are not just satisfied, but ultimately happy. We always make sure to go the extra mile. Without client a service, there would be no success,” Van der Merwe added. For more information on how to become part of this great cause, visit https://www.namheart.com/

O1- Ogilvy want clients and employees to feel at home when they step into their office space.

O2- Ogilvy has a 95% female staff complement.

O3- Ogilvy is an award-winning advertising agency.

Photos Evany van Wyk

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Celebrating Spanish culture

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Celebrating Spanish cultureEmbassy of Spain goes all out. The Spanish embassy in Windhoek is celebrating the 500th anniversary of the circumnavigation of the world with maritime exhibitions, a conference and a guitar concert. Evany van Wyk



The Embassy of Spain in Namibia, together with the Lüderitz Maritime Museum and the Scientific Society of Swakopmund, are commemorating the fifth centenary of the first circumnavigation of the world this month.

The Magellan and Elcano expedition sailed from Seville, Spain, in 1519 under the command of Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, in search of a maritime path to East Asia through the Americas and across the Pacific Ocean.

The celebration will be taking place in Windhoek and Swakopmund. Various objects related to the first circumnavigation of the world will be on display. According to Antonio Javier Romera Pintor, the ambassador of Sapin in Namibia, the main challenge was to organize the logistics of bringing to Windhoek the objects of the private collection of Dr. Tordesillas to be exhibited at the National Art Gallery of Namibia. “The collaboration of Dr. Jeremy Silvester from the Museums Association of Namibia (MAN) has been of the essence in organizing the exhibition of the "Àngel Tordesillas collection,” said Pintor.





These include maps, navigation tools from the 16th and 17th centuries, books, commemorative coins and medals. Five scale models of the Magellan and Elcano expedition ships will also feature in this exhibit.

No celebration is complete without entertainment and to this end, the Embassy of Spain organised a classical guitar concert by Spanish musician Rafael Serrallet. He will play pieces by the most famous Spanish composers, such as Enrique Granados, Joaquin Rodrigo and Julian Arcas. Serrallet’s career spans over 25 years and more than 80 countries, having performed in the world’s most prestigious concert halls, including New York’s Lincoln Center. One of the main tasks of my Embassy in Namibia is to promote a better understanding between our two peoples and respective governments. “In my view, to organize cultural acts which are open to the interaction with civil society actors and representatives, would indeed be instrumental to that objective,” said Pintor.

The exhibitions started on 12 August in Windhoek at the National Art Gallery of Namibia and will continue until 17 August. These events bear great importance in both the history of mankind scientific knowledge, and the development of safe trade sea lanes according to Pintor. “It might be worth having in mind that at the time, 16th century, no one amongst the scholars and learned public doubted that the earth was round, a sphere,” he added.

The first concert took place in Swakopmund at the Museum Lecture Hall on 14 August. At the same venue a conference is set to take place on 27 August from 18:00, after which the final exhibition will be open every day from 10:00 to 17:00 until 10 September.

T he conference will be led by Dr Angel Tordesillas, the chairman of the Lüderitz Waterfront Development Company and coordinator of the National Maritime Museum. “I would like to underline the excellent collaboration offered by the University of Namibia, the Museums Association of Namibia, the National Art Gallery of Namibia, the Scientific Society Swakopmund and the Swakopmund Museum,” Pintor concluded.



Entrance prices are as follows:

Adults: N$30

Students and pensioners: N$25

Children/students: N$10

Adult groups of 10: N$25 per person School groups: N$5 per student (one teacher gets free entry for every 10 paying students)

Caption1-Representatives of the Embassy of Spain in Namibia with classical guitarist Rafael Serrallet at the concert on 14 August.

Caption 2-Only one vessel, the “Victoria” was able to complete the first Circumnavigation of the Globe; after nearly 40 000 miles and it took 3 years.

Photo: Contributed

The friendly face at the Sat-Com reception desk

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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The friendly face at the Sat-Com reception deskRetaining customers from the first encounter Upon walking into the Sat-Com building, one is greeted with a warm smile and made to feel at ease. With this type of welcoming, an impeccable service can already be anticipated. ESTER KAMATI

Being the first person that customers encounter is a very important job and Dollina Nelumbu, the receptionist at Sat-Com, does not take this for granted. She listens attentively to all customer queries and needs and ensures that if they have to wait, they do so comfortably by offering them some refreshments. She loves meeting new customers every day because they always have something new to teach her.

Although she is fairly new in the job, having started in July, Nelumbu has wormed her way into the hearts of Sat-Com customers with her friendly and loving personality. Some of her best attributes are that she communicates effectively with customers as well as her colleagues and is great at multi-tasking.

“I love when I hear that we are doing well with some of our military products and knowing that our company is the only one that produces military products within the country,” says Nelumbu, who treasures hearing feedback from the customers.

Nelumbu is efficient, keen to learn and always ready to take on a new task. She holds a certificate in travel, tourism and hospitality from the International University of Management (IUM).

Nelumbu’s duties include managing the security logbooks filled in by visitors at reception. She also answers the company’s phone and deals with customer queries. When time allows, Nelumbu enjoys assisting her colleagues wherever they need an extra hand.

Sharing a joke with walk-in customers lifts Nelumbu’s spirits and helps to dissipate any work-related stress. She often discusses the company rules with customers and informs them about the products in the display cabinet. Before they leave, Nelumbu asks the customers how their experience was and invites them to visit again.

Being a good receptionist is more than just taking phone calls and answering questions; it is instilling confidence in the customers that the company has the capability of meeting their needs - and that is exactly what Nelumbu does.

Starting a new chapter

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Starting a new chapterEmbracing change and looking ahead Richard Parkhouse has started a new creativity journey at Weatherman & Co. Evany van Wyk





A new job marks a fresh start to your life. This is the time to chin up and mentally prepare yourself for new people and new challenges, and most of all, a new setting. Richard Parkhouse recently started his journey at Weathermen & Co as an account director and is excited about what lies ahead.

When starting any new job the most challenging part is getting used to the new processes in place.

“Once you have wrapped your head around the software, processes and new people, life becomes a lot easier,” Parkhouse advised.

Having heard about Weathermen & Co and the wonderful work they do from several friends and business acquaintances, he knew he wanted to be part of this agency, when he saw the vacancy.

“Not only is the work they produce amazing and boundary-breaking, but also the work environment is like a family that fuels creativity,” he says.

Relationships are what he deems most important in his current position.

“The key role of an account director is being able to forge and maintain good business relationships with the clients. This means that I am the mediator between client communication and the creative side of agency,” he explained.

Dealing with people is not in everyone’s comfort zone and adapting to it can be a very tough change to make. Being a natural introvert, Parkhouse had to really push himself to be able to stand out.

“Once the pushing is done, you are able to really see all the great things that you are capable of,” he said.

In Parkhouse’s first couple of days at Weathermen & Co he has enjoyed the work culture and environment the most.

“From day one, I felt at home and this is something very special to have.”

He had the opportunity to tackle challenges which made him excited to start this new chapter of his life. Rewriting client briefs into creative briefs, having client meetings and updates, brainstorming sessions with the studio on new work and challenges is what his day looks like.

At Weathermen & Co they strive to not only answer client briefs but also solve the business challenges of the client; this means doing research and producing real consumer insights in order to deliver the answer to the problem at hand.

Parkhouse completed his matric at Delta Secondary School in Windhoek and ended up working as a bartender in Germany.

After that, he was led to start his dream course - marketing and advertising - in Cape Town.

He successfully completed his bachelor of commerce in management marketing with a distinction, and his career path was paved.

It’s no secret that graduates struggle to find work after university. Parkhouse’s career so far has been built on internships and part-time work that I did during his studies.

“My view on tertiary education is that your degree will get you the interview, but your experience will get you the job,” he said. According to him the best advice he can give to any student or young graduate is to do internships. “Sacrifice that four-week holiday for an internship; even if it is an unpaid internship, it will pay off at a later stage,” Parkhouse said.

His best advice for starting a new job is to always be willing to learn, because it doesn’t matter how many degrees or years of experience you have, you can always learn more.

Commitment checkmate!

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Commitment checkmate! The Plastic Packaging handyman Going for his 24th year at Plastic Packaging, Simon Hangero is living his passion and, better yet, has found a family in the large team that he works with. ESTER KAMATI

For a 63-year-old, Hangero is quite an energetic man who always ensures that his work is done to the best of his ability. He started working at Plastic Packaging as a learner technician in 1995 following training in the auto-electrical field. Throughout the years, Hangero has gained experience doing all types of repairs and currently he is the handyman at the Plastic Packaging factory.

Although he is mainly required to do repairs in the factory, Hangero also attends to any repairs that may need to be done at the administration building.

“I enjoy working at Plastic Packaging and the reason why I have been working for so many years is because I love the people and we are one big, happy family,” he said.

Although no two days are ever the same, Hangero says his day usually begins with collecting parts that may be needed for repairs from different suppliers in Windhoek and then overseeing any maintenance task that needs to be done.

Hangero was recently rewarded for 20 years’ loyal service to the company, which he is proud of. “I am looking forward to my 25-year reward,” he exclaimed.

He was born at Upington in South Africa, and currently resides in Okahandja, from where he commutes to Windhoek every day.

“It makes me proud to be able to provide for my family,” he says. He takes pride in the work that he does and the fact that he has a house to his name, in which his family can lead a happy life.

The father of three and grandfather of four children describes his family as his pride and joy and says he spends as much time with them as he can. In addition, he enjoys watching soccer and playing chess in his free time.

Illegal fuel restricts local development

August 15, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Illegal fuel restricts local developmentCommodity not up to standard Illegal fuel does not meet the current specifications required in a modern world, the ministry of mines and energy says. Those who are most vocal in support of this illegal fuel misunderstand the whole concept of why this fuel is illegal. - Abednego Ekandjo, Acting economist: MME The ministry of mines and energy has warned motorists against refuelling their vehicles with “illegal fuel” as it hampers economic development.

The ministry’s acting economist in the directorate of petroleum affairs, Abednego Ekandjo, in a statement said local social media is awash with justifications for why people prefer to use the illegal fuel in their cars, ranging from affordability to supporting trade amongst African countries.

Fuel is a dangerous commodity. It must only be imported into Namibia, stored and distributed when those involved have met certain conditions such as operating a registered and licensed fuel wholesale or retail business, Ekandjo said.

“Those who are most vocal in support of this illegal fuel misunderstand the whole concept of why this fuel is illegal and why its use is being discouraged,” he said.

Ekandjo warned that the practice of going across borders to fill up vehicles affects Namibia negatively and contributes to retrenchments and unemployment, since the mainstream fuel industry employs thousands of Namibians.

Environment

The statement referred to road user charges as a case in point. Ekandjo said people drive on Namibian roads using illegal fuel on which a charge was not collected to keep the roads in good condition. Then they complain and blame the authorities for potholes or because a certain road is taking too long to be developed.

Namibia is a signatory to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and is dealing with the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions against other efforts to combat climate change. Namibia has therefore phased out leaded petrol and is in the process of phasing out high sulphur diesel as both are classified as harmful, said Ekandjo.

The fuel classified as illegal does not meet the current specifications required in a modern world, he added.

Building a modern refinery that can produce the right standard fuel will cost about US$10 billion, according to Ekandjo. “It is simply unaffordable for a developing country.”

“All in all, illegal fuel trading must therefore not be allowed to take a foothold in Namibia. The possible consequences will be too drastic to cope with,” Ekandjo warned. - Nampa