NIDA to clean up 'mess'

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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NIDA to clean up 'mess''Not even run like a cuca shop' The new board of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency says it will not tolerate corruption and will grow the entity for greater prosperity for all Namibians. The board of the Namibia Industrial Development Agency (NIDA) says it is unfairly portrayed in negative media reporting because it is in the process of “cleaning up the mess” left by the former managements of the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC) and the Offshore Development Corporation (ODC).

NIDA was established by an act of parliament in 2016 as an amalgamation of the NDC and ODC, which are being wound down.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Monday, the board agreed that the situation at the two entities was “shocking” and vowed that it is committed to make a complete turnaround.

“We remain shocked by the day as we move on, but we have decided not be distracted and we are determined to do the right thing,” said NIDA executive director Uparura Kuvare.

The chairperson of the board, Frans Kwala, even suggested that the NDC and ODC were worse run than a cuca shop.

By way of illustrating the “mess” at the entities, Kwala said the outgoing board of the ODC at its last meeting in November last year still insisted on pushing through a tender for a pharmaceutical plant at Okahandja.

The minister of industrialisation, trade and SME development, Tjekero Tweya, shortly thereafter dissolved the boards of the ODC and NDC.

Still, Kwala said, without having been properly informed, the new caretaker board of NIDA was confronted with tenders still being advertised in the newspapers.

“We had to rescue the situation because it was very, very bad,” Kwala said, charging that since the inception of the NDC and ODC nothing had happened “except personal interests”. The board reported that there were no management and accounting controls, nor sufficient policies in place when it came on board.

Kuvare reported that there were only three policies in place and that the board is now developing 32 governance instruments to drive the agenda as prescribed under the NIDA Act of 2016.

PDM MP Nico Smit said it is about time that executives and managers be held personally accountable for mismanaging ministries and parastatals.

“We cannot go on like this. One after the other parastatals and ministries just don't care how they spend taxpayers' money and nothing happens to them. They run the company or ministry into the ground, millions upon millions are lost and nobody is being held accountable,” Smit said.

The NIDA board said the effects of the clean-up are already being felt.

The former acting managing director of the NDC, Pieter de Wet, has resigned and four managers are currently on suspension.

“We had cases where we had to call in ambulances because of the queries we make; people collapse at work because we are getting to the right tone of things,” Kuvare said.

The board reported that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Namibian police are investigating “irregularities”, while internal investigations into alleged mismanagement, fraud and theft are also under way.

It reported having come across a number of “strange” and “irregular” practices at the two entities.

At the NDC, managers would get “as a gift” two cattle for their birthday, N$5 000 if they had to go to a funeral, and despite receiving car allowances were still using company cars and petrol cards.

There were reports of the livestock of the NDC not having been vaccinated, of grapevines planted on 25 hectares at the Naute Dam irrigation project being uprooted two or three years later because the wrong cultivars were planted, and of no auditing at harvest time.

The board has also terminated the long-standing contract with the marketer of the Naute Dam grapes because, according to Kuvare, neither the NDC nor NIDA benefited from it.

“As a board we have said zero tolerance of corruption will prevail, and that is what we are busy with. At the same time, we say Namibians need prosperity and that must be brought about by us growing those sustained industries,” Kuvare said.

“Namibians deserve better,” echoed Kwala.



NIDA Act to be reviewed

The board has suggested that the NIDA Act be reviewed to put it in a position to recruit new staff. The act currently states that the former NDC and OCD staff must be absorbed by the new entity.

The board said a new recruitment process is needed because the current workforce does not have sufficient capacity.

Of the current 271 permanent employees, 55 are over the age of 60. There is only one person with a master's degree. Of the eight young people employed, only one earns a salary of over N$5 000 per month. NIDA has about 230 part-time employees.

CATHERINE SASMAN

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Hyena killed after chasing residents

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Hyena killed after chasing residents A hyena was shot dead by police officers yesterday at Ekolyanaambo village in the Oshana Region.

According to Oshana police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Frieda Shikole-Ashiyana, the hyena had reportedly chased residents near New Reception in Ongwediva.

Police officers and nature conservation officials started tracking it, until it was put down at Ekolyanaambo, following unsuccessful attempts to tranquilise the animal.

“We do not know where the hyena came from; we just got a report via the Ongwediva police station before 08:00 in the morning that there was a hyena chasing people near the New Reception area. We chased it via Omatando until Omashekediva and then it was put down at Ekolyanaambo village,” Shikole-Ashiyana said.

“The police's aim was to assist the nature conservation officials to tranquilise it, but all their attempts failed. The police, therefore, decided to shoot it.”

Shikole-Ashiyana said there were no reports of animals being killed or people being harmed by the hyena.



Mysterious sheep killings at

Okathitukonkayi

Meanwhile, Nampa reports that Petrus Soni Kashau, a farmer at Okathitukonkayi near Okalongo in the Omusati Region, lost eight sheep that were killed under mysterious circumstances during the night between Saturday and Sunday.

Kashau suspects that unidentified wild animals killed his sheep by biting them in their necks.

The animals reportedly sucked the blood of the sheep and left without eating the meat.

According to Kashau, he also lost 15 sheep in a similar manner last year.

“Ten goats and a pig were killed by the same type of animals at the village earlier this year,” the farmer said.

Paw prints at the scene indicated there were two unidentified animals that fled the scene.

“My sheep have been attacked and killed at different spots near the crop field of my neighbour,” Kashau added.

-Additional reporting by Nampa

ILENI NANDJATO

Companies fail on health, safety

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Companies fail on health, safety The majority of companies inspected by the labour ministry in the first quarter of this year were not in compliance with occupational health and safety standards.

Only 23 of the 147 companies inspected were found to be compliant, the ministry says.

The highest number of inspections were conducted in the construction sector (47), representing 32% of the total inspections, followed by the manufacturing and food sector with 15 inspections (10%).

The target was to do occupational health and safety inspections at 285 companies, but only 147 inspections were done, mainly because three positions for inspectors at Tsumeb, Windhoek and Lüderitz were vacant during the reporting period.

Furthermore, the Grootfontein, Katima Mulilo, Otjiwarongo, Oshakati, Mariental and Swakopmund regional offices faced logistical and operational challenges.

“From a total of 147 inspected workplaces, only 23 (16%) were found to be in good compliance with occupational safety and health regulations key selected priority areas. Average and poor compliance level ratings for the remaining workplaces were recorded at 31% and 54% respectively,” the ministry reports.

The highest number of workplaces which received good compliance ratings were recorded in Windhoek, followed by Swakopmund and Keetmanshoop.

The ministry received 10 complaints related to occupational safety and health, most of them from the construction industry, during the period under review.

This is according to a report released by the labour ministry regarding its activities during the first quarter of 2019/20. According to the report the ministry received five major accident notifications from the general engineering, electrical repairs, food and manufacturing, and state-owned enterprises sectors at various regional offices.

Four of the five reported accidents took place in June and are still being investigated.

The ministry also conducted 79 dangerous machinery inspections, exceeding the set target of 50 inspections.

Additionally, the ministry inspected 517 companies in the agriculture, domestic and mining sector and found 161 companies to be non-compliant with conditions of employment.

It said the compliance levels in these three sectors were acceptable. The agriculture sector recorded 70% compliance, the domestic sector 66% and the mining sector recorded 100% compliance.

“Non-compliance was mostly observed in terms of non-payment for overtime, work done on Sundays and public holidays, night work, not keeping records, employees not registered with the Social Security Commission for benefits and non-payment of the minimum wage as per collective agreements.”

According to the report some employers were reluctant to cooperate with labour inspectors.

ELLANIE SMIT

Infighting hinders progress

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Infighting hinders progress Our traditional leaders, with all due respect, have been hogging the headlines for some time now, and mostly for the wrong reasons.

Unnecessary infighting among traditional leaders has become the norm, leading to needless tension within communities. It is indeed sad to see our traditional authorities, which are expected to be true beacons of wisdom, hope and inspiration to their subjects, engaged in repeated fights, especially when dealing with succession battles. The same leaders who are supposed to be at the forefront of resolving disagreements within their areas of jurisdiction are now turning on each other, amid bitter struggles for power. This is unsustainable and we agree with President Hage Geingob’s assessment during the Council of Traditional Leaders annual gathering this week, where he aired his dissatisfaction about the manner in which some traditional authorities are going about their business. “It is therefore worrisome for me to continue to witness instances of factionalism and ongoing leadership succession disputes between communities and their leaders,” Geingob was quoted as saying. He couldn't have said it any better. As custodians of culture and tradition, there is a massive weight of expectation on traditional leaders to focus on promoting sustainable rural development, including speedily resolving longstanding leadership disputes and factional fights. We expect our traditional seniors to be at the forefront of robust public discourse, in terms of the moral decay that is bedevilling our society. It also requires the wisdom of our traditional leaders to help combat other evils, such as rural poverty, disease, high crime levels and other challenges facing our communities. Lastly, traditional leaders must channel their energies into advising on matters relevant to tradition, including promoting a fair, efficient and effective land allocation system, in the best interest of their respective communities, and those they have sworn to serve. This is of paramount importance to those who fall under their jurisdiction and who yearn for a better life, amid the unfolding challenges and struggles of life.

N$600m down the drain

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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N$600m down the drainGIPF funds lost forever The country's top prosecutor says it is regrettable that N$600 million has been lost to the country. Any hopes of Namibia recovering the over N$600 million lost in the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) scandal have been dashed.

Prosecutor-General Martha Imalwa confirmed yesterday the money lost two decades ago was unrecoverable and has been lost to the country for good.

She was speaking at a media conference yesterday where she dealt with several high-profile matters, including the GIPF saga and the SME Bank scandal in which millions were also spirited out of the country.

“It is regrettable what happened in the GIPF matter. It is a regrettable situation. More than N$600 million got lost in the process. To trace where the money went proved problematic for the investigation,” she said.

Imalwa said there has been mounting criticism over the years that she has been covering for “political heavyweights” reportedly implicated in these cases.

She stressed a decision to prosecute is based on evidence and the applicable laws, and after a docket has been analysed diligently.

Imalwa said although the GIPF case was already opened in 2009, investigations into the matter only started in early 2012.

Over N$600 million was swindled from the GIPF via loans granted through its defunct Development Capital Portfolio (DCP) to several local companies, some of whom had little or no business track record.

The DCP operated from 1996 to 2006.

Despite writing off over N$600 million as bad debt, the GIPF was reportedly able to make a profit of N$146 million from the portfolio.

According to Imalwa, the investigations focused on 20 companies and her office declined to prosecute 18 firms that had been implicated.

However, Imalwa said they have decided to prosecute the 19th company, but that this relates to incidences in which the firm was under liquidation and hid its property from the liquidator.

An individual will, therefore, be charged with fraud and alternatively for contravening the Insolvency Act.





Imalwa said the individual cannot be named as the person has not appeared in court, but was due to appear in the Oshakati Regional Court on 3 October this year.

According to her the 20th matter is still under investigation.

Commenting on reports that implied that the GIPF dockets have been on her table for 10 years, Imalwa said: “The investigation started in 2012. How can that be 10 years? Please come out and tell the truth.”

She clarified that the police had brought dockets to her office and she had directed them what was still needed to strengthen them.

“The last docket after the investigations were finalised was only submitted last year.”

Imalwa stressed the matter contains a lot of documentation made up of 195 archlever files.

“The decision is not made by one person and our decision has to be credible,” she added.

She further elaborated on the challenges they were faced with during the GIPF investigations, saying that the fund started to invest in unlisted investments in the 1990s.

“Evidence indicates that the first investment was in 1996. Now imagine tracing from that time until the 2000s.”

In terms of the law, documentary evidence must be kept up to five years, unless there is an ongoing investigation or otherwise specified, Imalwa told journalists yesterday.

“Due to the period that lapsed when the loans were applied for and granted, most documents could not be traced. There were also challenges because of changes in staff.”

'Insufficient evidence'

Imalwa said those involved with the approval of the loans indicated that because of the absence of documentation they had no recollection of what transpired at the time.

Some have also since died.

“Most of the decisions not to prosecute were because of insufficient evidence.”

Imalwa said investigators were finding it difficult, as officials had appointed attorneys.



SME Bank

The prosecutor-general also touched on the SME Bank saga, saying the matter was still under investigation.

“It has not even been brought to my office to take a decision. This docket is not at my office. It is still under investigation.”

The now defunct SME Bank closed down after the Bank of Namibia successfully applied to the High Court to have its doors closed, following the disappearance of about N$200 million, which was reportedly channelled to various South African institutions. Liquidators are currently hunting for the funds.

Imalwa defended her record, saying accusations that she was protecting high-level politicians and officials were unfounded.

“I am not above the law; I too can be prosecuted. Why should I live above the law if I have done something wrong? Let me be prosecuted. Prove your case. I have taken an oath to serve my country without fear or prejudice.”

She said she will not prosecute people based on public pressure.

“I will not protect anybody if there is credible information that they have done something wrong. I will never prosecute without a prima facie case being established against an individual, just to satisfy the public,” she said.





ELLANIE SMIT

Power cut at education offices

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Power cut at education offices The Ohangwena education directorate's offices at Eenhana have been left without electricity, after Nored cut the power due to non-payment on Tuesday.

According to sources, the directorate failed to pay N$1.8 million for its power consumption last month.

Ohangwena education director Isak Hamatwi confirmed the power cut yesterday.

“It is true the power is cut off, but we just got N$5 million from head office; we are busy processing the payment,” Hamatwi said.





With the July electricity consumption at N$1.8 million and the office rent at N$400 000 per month, Namibian Sun could not establish the exact amount government is spending on the premises without having knowledge of the water costs.

Nored spokesperson Simon Lukas also confirmed the power had been cut because of non-payment.

“However, we are unable to dwell much on the amounts owed and the state of reconnection, due to the confidentiality that we have with our customers,” Lukas said.

Earlier this month, the City of Windhoek cut the water and electricity supply to some schools in the capital due to outstanding water bills.

The Ohangwena education directorate is reportedly spending millions a year to rent office space at Eenhana, after relocating its headquarters from Ondangwa to the town. The Ohangwena regional council is, however, unhappy with the situation that sees the education directorate spending N$395 000 a month on renting a total office space of 3 176.26 square metres, which consists of 60 offices, while the construction of its N$60 million office complex has stalled with only 20% of the work completed.

“It should be noted that it was not that the contractor abandoned the site, but the contract was terminated by the ministry of works and transport due to poor workmanship.

“Hence, as to what the plans are with regard to the construction, the works ministry will be in a better position to respond to that. The obvious is that the tendering process will be restarted,” Hamatwi said recently.

“The education ministry, the Ohangwena directorate in particular, is just a user that is merely waiting for the keys of the office complex to be handed over to them to move in. The termination of the contract means that the directorate's stay at the current rented office complex has been prolonged further, for an indefinite period.”

ILENI NANDJATO

A family SUV par excellance

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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A family SUV par excellance7-seater Isuzu mu-X Modern families can rely on this stylish SUV to take them places. Ronelle Rademeyer - Most women with children have different expectations of a family vehicle than their husbands have.

Where it comes to Isuzu’s latest masterpiece, the mu-X, husband and wife are on the same page though. Whether your rendezvouz is city-sleek or off the beaten track, it will lives up to your expectations.

This full size 7-seater SUV has the macho specs and traits men are looking for in a car, while the comfort, safety and roominess appeal to women. Not to mention the practical plusses like USB charge ports in the front and rear, and the three handy glove compartments in the front.

The mu-X is Isuzu’s SUV version of the KB. Its name is an acronym derived from the claim that the car “Makes U eXciting”. It was first introduced in Thailand in 2013.

Isuzu engineered this sports utility vehicle to safely “traverse the toughest of terrains, and gracing the landscapes of Africa with presence and power”, reads the introduction on its website.“The Isuzu mu-X has a proven, proud history of performance behind it and an even longer road filled with adventure in front.”

Isuzu’s historic portfolio of sedans, bakkies, trucks and buses are indeed testimony to the above claim by the manufacturer.

My experience when test-driving it in Windhoek and out on the open road in the Khomas Hochland was: Wow, what a comfy ride!

I later read that unlike the bakkie versions which have rear leaf spring suspension made for load hauling, the SUVs have a solid axle coil spring suspension in the rear and this evident in its passenger-biased comfy ride.

The mu-X is powered by Isuzu’s proven 3-litre diesel engine, a feature that excites my husband.

Famous for its durability, reliability and fuel economy, the Isuzu 3.0L turbo diesel engine provides abundant power and torque to make light work of any load.

The versatile second and third row seats mean that you’ll always be able to find a way to accommodate your passengers and anything else you need to take with you, without compromising on space and comfort. This is a big plus for mothers who often have to drive not only their own kids to school/sports/play dates, but the whole neighbourhood’s.

Dads are more interesting in the “terrain command” 4WD select dial (2WD-high and 4WD-low) for when he and his blokes are taking on Namibia’s rough terrain.

“The high-pressure common rail fuel injection system minimises the amount of fuel needed in the combustion process, providing superior fuel economy. The intercooled Variable Geometry System turbocharger provides excellent response over the engine’s entire rev range.” Now this is a feature appealing to both mom and dad.

The body is constructed from high-tensile steel, giving it outstanding strenght and rigidity.

The reverse camera on the infotainment console helps avoiding tricky spots.

The cleverly split rear seats in both the second and third rows fold in to give you the versatility of several seating configurations, as well as a generous cargo area when you have a sizeable load to carry.

One thing is certain: The Isuzu mu-X effortlessly blurs the boundaries between the city and the bush, making it the ideal Namibian family vehicle.

*Since August is Women’s Month, female buyers have until the end of next week to qualify for the special offer on the 4X4. See Auas Motors’ advertisement below for the details, or phone sales executive Jaco Jacobs at 081 170 5989.

Company news in brief

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Company news in brief Zambia’s Lungu won’t meet Vedanta

Zambian president Edgar Lungu, on a visit to India this week, has no plans to meet anyone from Mumbai-listed Vedanta Resources whose copper firm faces expulsion from Zambia for allegedly failing to pay taxes, his office said Tuesday.

Vedanta said in a statement earlier Tuesday that it was looking "forward to engaging with President Lungu and his team in India this week and to building on the discussions held last week in Lusaka".

London-based Vedanta is the majority owner of Zambia's largest copper mining firm, Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), which has been at the centre of a standoff with the government. The state-owned ZCCM-IH is a minority shareholder in KCM.

Lungu last week met Vedanta chairman Argawal at the request of the investor but vowed to dissolve the firm, accusing KCM of violating its operational licence and not paying all its taxes. Vedanta has denied the allegations and is locked in a legal battle with the government. – Nampa/AFP

BHP chief to 'stick up for globalisation'

The head of the world's biggest miner BHP said he will "stick up for globalisation" and is more worried about the damage trade tensions are inflicting on the world economy than their impact on demand for the commodities BHP produces.

CEO Andrew Mackenzie told reporters in London protectionism was an act of economic self-harm.

"Economically this is causing disruption and the partial unravelling of global supply chains," Mackenzie said. "We're not completely immune to some form of downturn and that's why we're nervous."

Asked whether commodity cycles had peaked, he said he did not know, adding the company was "anxious but ready".

Prices of iron ore, which represents nearly 50% of BHP's core earnings, have fallen as the impact eases of supply disruption at the start of the year caused by a dam disaster in Brazil and extreme weather in Australia. – Nampa/Reuters

Alibaba postpones Hong Kong listing

China's biggest e-commerce company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd has delayed its up to US$15 billion listing in Hong Kong amid growing political unrest in the Asian financial hub, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

Alibaba held a board meeting before its latest quarterly earnings release last week, during which the board decided to postpone the Hong Kong listing which was set to take place in late August, one of the people said.

The decision was made on the lack of financial and political stability in Hong Kong amid more than 11 weeks of pro-democracy demonstrations which have become increasingly violent and plunged the city into turmoil, the people added.

While no new timetable has been formally set, Alibaba could launch the Hong Kong deal as early as in October, seeking to raise US$10-US$15 billion, when political tensions ease and market conditions become favourable again, said the other source.

Alibaba declined to comment on the deal. – Nampa/Reuters

Glencore, BP stuck with tainted Russian crude

BP and Glencore are struggling to sell around 600 000 tonnes of tainted Russian oil more than three months after the contamination was discovered, according to six trading sources.

Russia's oil industry was plunged into a crisis in April after about 5 million tonnes of oil for export was found to be contaminated with organic chloride, a chemical used to help boost oil extraction but which can damage refining equipment.

Exports through the Druzhba pipeline that transports oil to Germany, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Belarus were halted. The Baltic port of Ust Luga loaded some 15 cargoes or 1.5 million tonnes of the contaminated oil for Western buyers.

At least 6 cargoes that sailed from Ust Luga remain unsold, according the trading sources. Glencore is stuck with 500 000 tonnes in one very large crude carrier (VLCC) Amyntas and two smaller tankers - Searanger and Searuby, according to the sources and Refinitiv Eikon vessel tracking system.

BP has tried to sell its cargo Fsl Shanghai at a tender earlier this month but failed, according to the same traders. BP and Glencore both bought the oil from Russian state oil major Rosneft.

BP and Glencore declined to comment. Rosneft did not respond to a Reuters request to comment. – Nampa/Reuters

Volkswagen faces fines over 'illicit' emissions devices

South Korea said Tuesday it will issue fines and file criminal complaints against Volkswagen and Porsche for installing "illicit devices" that helped multiple diesel vehicles cheat pollution standards.

The environment ministry said over 10 000 vehicles sold in South Korea by Volkswagen and Porsche from May 2015 to January 2018 were fitted with the devices, resulting in 10 times more nitrogen oxide emissions than standard levels.

The certifications for eight models - including Audi A6, Volkswagen Touareg, and Porsche Cayenne - will be revoked and the carmakers will face an estimated fine of 11.5 billion won (US$9.5 million), the ministry said.

The announcement comes just weeks after former Audi chief executive Rupert Stadler was charged in Germany with fraud and illegal advertising amid Volkwagen's deepening emissions scandal that broke out four years ago.

The charges against Stadler are linked to over 434 000 Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche cars fitted with "defeat devices" to fool regulators' emissions tests. – Nampa/Reuters

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Water pollution an 'invisible threat' to global goals

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Water pollution an 'invisible threat' to global goals Kim Harrisberg – Water pollution threatens nearly all the globally agreed development goals to end environmental destruction, poverty and suffering by 2030, economists warned in a report on Tuesday, citing the largest-ever database on the world's water quality.

The World Bank report warned of the ripple effects of water pollution on the health, economies, education and agriculture of rich and poor countries alike.

"This study was a huge wake-up call to us about the quality of water worldwide," said Richard Damania, World Bank economist and one of the study's authors.

"The world tends to focus on water quantity such as floods and droughts, but this report focuses on the more invisible threats - the effects of pollutants impacting global water quality," Damania said.

The 193 United Nations member states agreed on 25 September 2015 to a lofty 15-year agenda of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with 169 targets aimed at helping everyone live healthier, more prosperous lives on a cleaner planet.

SDG 6 refers to clean water and sanitation for all, but the UN World Water Development Report found about three out of 10 people - 2.1 billion - did not have access to safely managed drinking water at home in 2015.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, coverage was only 25%.

Chemical cocktail

"Chemical contamination such as arsenic in Bangladesh, mercury in Maputo and fluoride in parts of Kenya are major concerns," said Neil Jeffery, the CEO of water rights group Water Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP).

"Clean water brings dignity. Entire communities are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, with a lack of basic water and sanitation impacting health, school attendance and livelihoods," Jeffery told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The World Bank report used satellite data and artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse nitrogen, salt and oxygen levels - water health markers - of water globally.

"Pollution affects countries both rich and poor. It is just the cocktails of chemicals that change," Damania said.

"Plastics and pharmaceutical contaminants are problems everywhere."

Ripple effects

Ripple effects of consuming pollutants include childhood stunting, infant mortality, lowered economic activity and food production.

"Information is the first step," said Damania, in league with water rights groups.

By way of example, Jeffery cited that "informed consumers can make decisions to keep rubbish out of waterways."

And they can pressure corporations and government "to take the challenge seriously," said Javier Mateo-Sagasta, senior researcher at the Water Management Institute (WMI).

The report said that the scale of the problem meant there is 'no silver bullet' but Damania remains optimistic that "social movements, political and corporate will and new technologies" could still save the threatened resource. – Nampa/Reuters

OATF attracts 25 international exhibitors

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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OATF attracts 25 international exhibitorsInnovation central at Ongwediva Exhibitors from as far as Japan to America will participate in this year’s Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair. The event serves as an important platform for entrepreneurs to exhibit unique products and services. – Jackson Muma, Spokesperson: Ongwediva town council ONGWEDIVA – The 2019 Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF), which starts tomorrow, has attracted 451 exhibitors, 5.5% of which are international.

A total of 450 exhibitors and 84 858 visitors participated in the 2018 OATF.

Addressing a media briefing here on Tuesday, the corporate communications officer at Ongwediva town council, Jackson Muma, said international exhibitors are from countries such as Zimbabwe, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Botswana, Japan, Germany, America and Indonesia.

This 20th annual trade fair will take place under the theme, “Fostering Economic Growth through Innovation”.

“The event serves as an important platform for entrepreneurs to exhibit unique products and services,” Muma told journalists, adding that it is expected of all stakeholders to ensure that innovation is central during this year’s show.

The OATF also provides an opportunity for both local and international investors to meet and partner up.

President Hage Geingob has been invited to officially open the nine-day 2019 OATF on Saturday, the same day the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) international fight between Mikka Shonena and Youli Dong from China will be hosted at the show grounds by the MTC Nestor Sunshine Boxing and Fitness Academy.

According to Muma, the boxing event titled, “The battle: Namibia vs China”, as well as the Indongo Ford-organised 4x4 trading (test driving), will make the 2019 OATF unique. - Nampa

SA inflation dips as growth slows

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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SA inflation dips as growth slows South Africa's inflation last month dipped to 4.0%, its lowest level since January, the statistics agency said yesterday. In June, inflation was 4.5%.

The decline was attributed to prices of food and transport slowing down.

The central bank's target for annual inflation is between 3% and 6%.

"The latest inflation figures from South Africa are certainly good news for the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the economy as a whole," said Lukman Otunuga, analyst at FXTM, in a note.

Africa's most industrialised economy has been slowing, with a GDP growth forecast of just 0.6% this year.

The economy has hit trouble, with gross domestic product (GDP) contracting by 3.2% in the first three months of 2019 and unemployment at an 11-year record high of 29%.

Last month the SARB cut key interest rate for the first time since March 2018 in a bid to boost the contracting economy. – Nampa/AFP

First vegan investment fund coming to NYSE

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First vegan investment fund coming to NYSE Sebastien Malo – An investment fund designed for animal rights advocates and environmentalists, the first of its kind according to financial experts, is set to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) next month.

VEGN, as it will show on the NYSE's floor, enters the fray of hundreds of funds that consider environmental, social or governance (ESG) factors in their investment decisions but will be unique in going animal cruelty-free, experts said.

US assets under management that follow ESG principles have been surging, representing one in four US dollars last year, up from one in five in 2016, according to The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment, a Washington-based non-profit.

Holding such investments is a way to pressure companies to change their behaviour in order not to miss investors, said Tensie Whelan, who heads the New York University's Centre for Sustainable Business.

‘Interesting offering’

"It's an interesting offering because it's the only one of its kind," she said in a telephone interview.

VEGN, the ticker symbol for the exchange-traded fund (ETF), whose full name is US Vegan Climate Exchange Traded ETF, will exclude stocks among the 500 largest US companies that "rely on animal exploitation", said its creator Beyond Investing.

Selecting companies whose businesses do not test products on animals, or use animal-derived products, fossil fuels, plastic or agrochemicals, has meant tossing out 43% of the top 500 companies, said Claire Smith, the Switzerland based chief executive of Beyond Investing.

The fund's portfolio guidelines mean it doesn't include many pharmaceuticals, materials and consumer-sector stocks, said Smith. – Nampa/Reuters

Solar-irrigated farms face hungry elephants

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Solar-irrigated farms face hungry elephantsUnexpected threat in Zim According to ZimParks data, the country can accommodate about 55 000 elephants but now has about 85 000. Every night we make bonfires on the edge of our fields, shine torches and rev a tractor all night, hoping that might scare the elephants. - Daniel Nyathi, Farmer: Mashaba Lungelo Ndhlovu - When one of Zimbabwe's first solar mini-grid systems was installed in this drought-prone village near the Botswana border in 2016, residents thought their problems were solved.

Cheap, clean power ran irrigation pumps that kept the community's wheat, maize and vegetable fields a sea of green even as climate change-fueled droughts parched the surrounding landscape.

But the verdant fields have attracted a new problem to Mashaba: herds of hungry elephants.

As drought makes grass and other fodder harder to find, elephants have begun invading the village's tempting irrigated fields, destroying crops and irrigation canals and exasperating farmers.

"We have to stand guard in our fields all night from 6:30 pm till 3:30 in the morning. We beat pots, tins, pans, drums or anything that makes noise to chase away elephants,” Daniel Nyathi, a farmer in Mashaba, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

As well, “every night we make bonfires on the edge of our fields, shine torches and rev a tractor all night, hoping that might scare the elephants,” said Nyathi who heads the 42-hectare Rustlers Gorge irrigation project, which serves 2 800 local households.

Food source

According to Mashaba residents, up to 60 elephants now appear to see the village's irrigated fields as one of their main sources of food.

Elephants have been an occasional problem in the village's fields, especially since 2017, as conditions have grown drier, they said. But the invasions have intensified dramatically as the solar irrigation project has taken off, they said.

Win Sibanda, one of the Mashaba village leaders, said he feared the near-daily elephant invasions into the community's fields mean farmers won't get much of a harvest next month if the problem isn't addressed.

Right now, “the only practical solution is for the farmers to keep guard and chase them out", he said.

"If the elephants number less than five, villagers can easily deal with them. But the challenge is when the whole herd enters the field. No one dares provoke them because that is more dangerous,” he said.

Less rain, more fights

As worsening droughts lead to more challenging conditions for farmers and wildlife in Southern Africa, such confrontations are expected to become more problematic as irrigation projects pop up to help communities adapt to drier conditions.

Sithokozile Nyathi, 36, whose farm with her husband Daniel lies within the Rustlers Gorge irrigation project, said the village had been transformed into a "green belt" with the introduction of the solar mini-grid.

The US$3.2 million solar project was funded by the European Union in conjunction with the OPEC Fund for International Development and Global Environment Facility as part of efforts to promote universal access to modern energy in rural areas.

The grid's 400 solar panels power several irrigation projects, Mashaba's primary school, a local clinic and a small business centre with four shops and an energy kiosk, said Shepherd Masuka, a project officer with Practical Action, a development charity that supervised the project's construction.

Sithokozile Nyathi said the system has allowed farmers to earn a steady income from their crops, rather than simply depending on increasingly unreliable rainfall.

“Each morning we walk 2 miles from our homesteads to the irrigation scheme to work the whole day in the fields,” she said.

But now farmers are having to work nights as well, just to try to keep elephants away, she said.

Looking for solutions

To try to find a solution, residents are working with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), which oversees the country's wildlife.

Kwanele Manungo, who helps manage work by the authority in southern Zimbabwe, said a team of game rangers were dispatched to Mashaba in July to address the elephant problem.

The rangers advised digging one-metre-deep trenches around the irrigated fields and using a traditional technique of putting piles of smouldering cow dung along their perimeter.

Manungo said the team, which was in the area for a month, "ended up leaving the place because elephants did not come back". Community members were advised to call again if they had further problems.

"In the worst scenario, we shoot down a leader of the menacing elephants or scare them off using firecrackers," she said.

Money

But Practical Action officials said more "lasting solutions" to elephant invasions of irrigated farmland needed to be worked out.

Tinashe Farawo, a spokesman for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, said the authority sometimes runs short of government funding for its wildlife management programmes and is forced to self-fund.

That can mean farmers seeking help have to spend their own money to transport and feed game rangers, he confirmed.

Zimbabwe made US$2.7 million selling 90 elephants to China and Dubai between 2012 and 2018, in an effort to reduce the numbers and earn income, Farawo said.

"We believe in sustainable utilisation of our resources, and these elephants must pay for their upkeep," he said in a telephone interview with the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

According to ZimParks data, the country can accommodate about 55 000 elephants but now has about 85 000. The rising numbers are likely one driver of the increasing farm invasions, officials said.

Farawo said conflicts between people and animals had led to 200 people losing their lives in Zimbabwe over the past five years.

At a May elephant summit in Botswana, Southern African countries whose land is part of the Kavango-Zambezi transfrontier conservation area – which includes parts of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Zambia - said their countries are home to the largest population of African elephants.

Officials at the summit said they would coordinate efforts to survey elephant populations to monitor them.

They noted that as elephant numbers grow in the region, conflicts between the animals and people are increasing as a result of climate change pressures and increasing competition for limited resources. – Nampa/Reuters

Xi’s bad year clouds China's celebrations

August 21, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Xi’s bad year clouds China's celebrations70 years of Communism Despite the hurdles facing Xi Jinping, the embattled leader's hold on China remains firm - for now. The Xi Jinping of Davos 2017 … is unrecognisable today. - Eleanor Olcott, Policy analyst: TS Lombard. Helen Roxburgh - It was meant to be an unabashed celebration of the triumph of Communism in China, and of president Xi Jinping's authority as the country's undisputed leader for years to come.

But as the People's Republic of China approaches its 70th anniversary on 1 October, Xi finds himself battling threats on multiple fronts.

From a biting US trade war to relentless protests in Hong Kong challenging his rule and international condemnation over Beijing's treatment of Uighur minorities in Xinjiang, Xi is having a very bad year, analysts say.

Furthermore, the crises have left him with limited room to act and simultaneously shore up support at home.

"Xi Jinping has had the toughest year since he came to power", said Eleanor Olcott, China policy analyst at research firm TS Lombard.

"Not only is he facing unrest on China's peripheries in Hong Kong and Xinjiang but the trade war is weighing on an already slowing domestic economy."

Unexpected turn

Few expected things to turn out this way.

In Davos in 2017, just weeks after the inauguration of protectionist Donald Trump as US president, Xi was at pains to portray himself as a champion of globalisation, outlining a role for China as a world leader.

Some even hoped he would open the door to further reform. But those expectations have now sunk.

"The Xi Jinping of Davos 2017, who emerged on the world stage as defender of the liberal global economic order, is unrecognisable today," said Olcott.

By the time he secured his second term as the Communist Party's general secretary in October 2017, Xi was at the centre of a cult of personality built by the state.

Last year, he enshrined "Xi Jinping Thought" in China's constitution and, in a shock move, removed term limits on individuals - overturning an orderly system of succession put in place to prevent the return of another all-powerful strongman like Mao Zedong.

Xi has used crackdowns on corruption and calls for a revitalised party to become the most powerful Chinese leader in decades, and the constitutional changes mean he can rule for as long as he wishes.

Headwinds

But stamping his personal brand on the government means Xi's leadership is directly intertwined with the current headwinds.

An unexpected and festering trade war with the United States has eroded confidence and hit the economy hard.

Furthermore, his signature Belt and Road (BRI) global infrastructure initiative has faced setbacks, with critics saying the plan is designed to boost Beijing's influence, lacks transparency and will saddle partner governments with debt.

The crackdown on Uighurs in Xinjiang - a region deemed crucial to the BRI's success - has come under heavy international condemnation for reportedly placing an estimated one million mostly Muslim ethnic minorities in internment camps in the name of counterterrorism.

"Xi largely created the problems that are now major challenges for him and for China," said Steve Tsang, a China-Taiwan relations expert at the School of Oriental and African Studies.

"They are all products of Xi's policies."

Hong Kong

But the biggest challenge to Xi's authority has come from the semi-autonomous hub of Hong Kong and it appears to have caught him off-guard.

Dramatic images of mostly young pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong facing riot police amid clouds of tear gas have dominated global newspapers and websites for weeks, as a movement calling for universal suffrage gathers pace.

Hong Kong, which was handed back by Britain to China in 1997, is ruled under a "one country, two systems" policy which gives citizens liberties unseen on the mainland.

Protesters say those rights have been steadily eroded and have openly criticised an increasingly assertive Beijing - provoking fears China will resort to a heavy-handed intervention to quash the unrest, unleashing disastrous consequences.

In charge

Despite the hurdles facing him, however, the embattled leader's hold on China remains firm - for now.

"None of the challenges has 'blown up' sufficiently for anyone within the top leadership to openly challenge him. As long as they stay in the shadow, Xi remains in charge," said Tsang.

And while international criticism mounts, analysts say Xi and the Communist Party can potentially exploit the attacks on him to serve Beijing's broader ideological needs.

"The CCP media machine has successfully framed the trade war and Hong Kong protests as a result of unfair foreign intervention that seeks to perturb China's rise," said Olcott.

"Xi will play up this narrative at the 70th anniversary celebrations, and stress that China must forge its own development path according to the Chairman's guiding ideology."– Nampa/AFP

I sacrificed my youth for this country - Imalwa

August 22, 2019, 8:45 am

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I sacrificed my youth for this country - Imalwa Prosecutor-General Martha Imalwa sacrificed her youth for the independence of Namibia and has appealed for an end to ‘a deliberate crusade to discredit her’.
Despite not enjoying her youth due to her participation in the liberation struggle, what Namibians have rewarded her with for her service is ‘psychological torture’ she has said.
The PG made this emotional account at a media conference in the capital on Wednesday.
According to Imalwa, she is considered by many Namibians as “the chief of corruption”, a term that has epitomised her as the most corrupt person in the country, she said.
“If I am corrupt, why have I not been persecuted?” she asked, adding that she is not above the law.
Imalwa was first appointed as PG in 2003 for a duration of 10 years before her mandate was renewed in 2013 when she was given a second term, this time for seven years.
“I succeeded. That is how I got the post, and because of my performance, my term was extended,” she reiterated.
Imalwa is Namibia's second prosecutor general, having succeeded, the late Hans Heyman, who served from March 1990 to November 2002.
On her 16 years at the helm of Namibia prosecuting agency, Imalwa expressed shock that her term is being questioned.
“I don’t know why you are saying I have overstayed. Is it because of Imalwa? There are judges who were appointed before I came in this post [who] are still on the bench,” she said.
“There is something sinister against Imalwa. Is it because I am a woman? Is it because I came from an unknown family?” she questioned.
The PG further dismissed claims that she has been shielding prominent politicians and their cronies from prosecution and that she allows them to disregard the country's laws with impunity.
“I don’t even know what is happening there [in Swapo]. I don’t sit in Swapo meetings. I supported Swapo when I was in exile….[but] being in exile doesn’t that you are a politician. We were fighting for the independence of this country and it doesn’t mean if you were there then you cannot do your work independently,” she said.

NAMPA

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Acid test for Stars

August 22, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Acid test for StarsTitanic African safari clash expected in Uganda African Stars and Kampala Capital City Authority FC will battle it out for a place in the next preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. African Stars face a titanic battle today against Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) FC in the second leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary match in Uganda.

The match will kick off at 16:00 and Stars can expect a hostile reception at the Phillip Omondi Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.

In their favour is the fact that they are leading 3-2 after the first leg played in Windhoek, but it will surely be an uphill battle to keep their opponents at bay.

Stars are aware of what is at stake - a place in the next stage of the competition.

A 0-0 stalemate or victory will be enough to clinch this, while they will have to score enough away goals, in the event of a draw, to eliminate KCCA.

A win for the home team and no away goals for Stars will send them packing,

The teams will go into extra-time if the Ugandan side manages to beat stars 3-2, as both teams would have an aggregate of five goals, with the same number of away goals.

African Stars coach Mohamed Gargo is confident of securing a famous victory away from home.

“I have a good feeling that African Stars will win this match, because the boys have prepared well.

“We came here to this town to play a good match and obtain a positive result,” Gargo said.

The 2019 Standard Bank Top 8 Cup champions appointed the former Tura Magic coach and Ghanaian international in July as their coach, replacing Bobby Samaria.

African Stars finished as runners-up for the 2018/19 premier league season, with arch-rivals Black Africa being crowned champions.

Black Africa failed to raise the required funds for their African safari, which is why African Stars decided to participate in the CAF club competition for the second consecutive time.

Last year African Stars lost 0-1 on aggregate to Orlando Pirates in the first round of the CAF African Champions League.

The team then went on to compete in the CAF Confederation Cup playoffs, losing 1-2 to Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca over two legs.

KCCA FC participated in the CAF Champions League last season, but failed to advance out of their group.

The team then played in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they bowed out during the playoffs to Congo-Brazzaville's Otoho d'oyo FC.

Stars will be expected to play on the counter-attack, while the Ugandan side are likely to control possession in today's match.



The Stars squad is as follows: Ratanda Mbazuvara, Mbemutjiua Mata, Dennis Tjetjinda, Tjiuana Tja Tjatindi, Ivan Kamberipa, Pat-Nevin Uanivi, Edmund Kambanda, Obrey Amseb, Youssouf Ibroihim, Ronald Ketjijere, Marcel Papama, Alfeus Handura, Gustav Isaak, Treasure Kauapirura, Gabriel Kapopo, Chrispen Mbewe, Deon Tjizumaue and Kaejarukapo Katjimune.



Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Skorpion fever

August 22, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Skorpion fever The Skorpion Zinc Under-17 Cup takes centre stage today at the Sam Nujoma Stadium.

The popular cup competition will see all 14 regions compete against each other for the title.

Skorpion Zinc corporate affairs and sustainability manager, Nora Ndopu, said preparations for most of the regions taking part in competition started well before the launch in July.

She said the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and its partners have been in touch with regional organisers, thus keeping track of the preparations.

“We want to believe that no region waited until the launch in July to start preparing, because they will be putting their young players at a disadvantage,” Ndopu said.

She explained the tournament has a positive influence on the players, as it provides a platform for them to socialise.

“We believe that sport is one of the aspects that promote youth and community development. The ultimate benefit is that the values transferred through sport involvement are not only localised to the sport environment, but may be replicated in other areas,” she said.

Ndopu added an individual's pride, when selected to represent their region, cannot be underestimated.

“For a young one, they take this as a serious duty, and become very competitive, so the region can be victorious.

“Every region looks forward to winning the competition. Ever since its inception, there has not been a region that decided not to participate. That is how prestigious the cup is.

“These young ones are our future players in the premier league and in the national team. They can only think of taking football further if they are encouraged and supported.

“We hope the parents and nearby communities will come in their big numbers to come and support the games, in order for these young players to be motivated,” Ndopu added.

//Karas are the defending champions. They beat Omaheke 3-1 on penalties in Grootfontein in August last year.

This year they are in Group B with Oshana, Omaheke, Hardap and Kavango East.

Kunene, Erongo, Zambezi, Otjozondjupa and Khomas are in Group A, while Kavango West, Ohangwena, Omusati and Oshikoto are in Group C.

The action will kick off at 09:00 today, with Erongo and Otjozondjupa playing each other, followed by Zambezi against Kunene.

//Karas will then meet Kavango East, with nine matches in total taking place today.

Tomorrow, Oshana and Kavango East will open the action at 08:00, before Omusati and Ohangwena renew their rivalry once again.

Eight games will take place tomorrow to decide who goes through to the semi-finals, and ultimately the final match.

In the semi-finals, the winner of Group A will face the winners of Group C at 09:00, while the second semi-final match will see the Group B winner taking on the best runners-up from groups A or B.

Khomas won the maiden edition of the tournament in Keetmanshoop in 2013, while Omusati collected the trophy in 2014, 2015 and 2017. There was no tournament in 2018.

Erongo, Otjozondjupa and Oshana may surprise this time around. Entrance to the matches is free.



LIMBA MUPETAMI

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Stiff Dong test for Shonena

August 22, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Stiff Dong test for Shonena World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Africa welterweight champion Mikka 'Silent Assassin' Shonena and China's Youli Dong will set the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) on fire during The Battle: Namibia vs China boxing bonanza tomorrow.

The clinical 31-year-old Shonena boasts an undefeated record of 14 fights.

He is coming up against a boxer who also has a great record of 15 fights, 13 wins, one loss and a draw, despite Dong being seven years his junior.

“I have studied his videos. People must understand that I'm not only fighting for myself, but for the whole of Namibia. I will definitely not allow Namibia to get beaten by China,” Shonena said.

“It is my first time coming to Namibia and I'm coming here to win the fight. I'm still young, but ready to put up a great fight against a strong Namibian boxer,” the 24-year-old Dong said.

Nine undercard fights are also lined up, including that of Harry Simon Jr, who is due to fight Phillip Musariri from Zimbabwe.

Standard tickets are selling for N$100, while VIP tables that seat 10 people cost N$10 000.

Tickets are available at Computicket at Shoprite and Checkers outlets countrywide, and will also be on sale at the venue. The fight will be broadcast live in Namibia and China.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

First medals for Team Namibia

August 22, 2019, 4:00 pm

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First medals for Team NamibiaCyclists set the pace at African Games The Namibian duo of Tristan de Lange and Alex Miller have won gold and silver medals, respectively, at the ongoing Africa Games. Tristan de Lange and Alex Miller on Wednesday won the first medals for Team Namibia at the African Games underway in Morocco.

Team Namibia had four riders competing in the men's cross-country final, which had seven loops of five kilometres each at the VTT Sports Centre in Benslimane.

De Lange and Miller broke away from the rest of the group early on in the race.

The Namibian duo kept a very high pace and had a big gap at the end of lap three, despite De Lange crashing at the start of lap one and having to chase from the back.

The duo created a gap of 30 seconds ahead the chasing pack that included teammate Xavier Papo and Tunisian rider Maher Habouria, at the end of the second lap.

With three laps to go, the Namibian riders were in a league of their own, as they extended their lead to one minute and 20 seconds, but it was De Lange who got the better of Miller, who is the national road race and mountain bike champion.

De Lange continued with his attack during the last lap of the race, creating a gap of more than one minute between them, to cross the line first to be crowned the African mountain bike champion.

De Lange completed the seven loops, which spanned over 35 kilometres, in one hour, 24 minutes and 45 seconds (1:24:45), while Miller came second in a time of 1:25:31.

Habouria finished third, almost six minutes behind the winner, in a time of 1:29:52, while Xavier came fourth, seven minutes behind the victor, in a time of 1:31:44.

Another Namibian rider, Danzel de Koe, finished 13th out of the 28 riders that competed in the event on the day. He was two laps behind De Lange when he crossed the line.

Team coach Hans du Toit said he was happy with their performance at the championship.

“We had 11 countries competing at this competition, but we have two medals for cycling and Namibia. This shows why we are here. Tristan had a crash at the start and had to race from the back, but not giving up after the crash paid off; and Papo also cycled very well, which shows how he continues to improve as an athlete,” Du Toit added.

NAMPA

Oomiliyona dhaGIPF 600, dha kana thilu thilu

August 22, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Oomiliyona dhaGIPF 600, dha kana thilu thiluKape na aniwa omaumbangi Omupanguli-Ndjai gwaNamibia okwa popi kutya iimaliwa mbyoka ya kana mehangano lyoGovernment Institutions Pension Fund, tali fupipikwa GIPF, oya kanenena na itayi vulu okulandulwa. Einekelo okumona oshimaliwa shoomiliyona 600 shoka sha kana mehangano lyoGovernment Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) olya kana.

Shoka osha landula sho Omupanguli-Ndjai, Martha Imalwa a koleke kiikundaneki mEtitatu lyoshiwike shika, kutya iimaliwa mbyoka oya kanene.

Imalwa okwa li ta popi pethimbo lyomutumba gwiikundaneki ngoka a ningi moshilandopangelo, moka a popi kombinga yiipotha iinene moshilongo yi na sha nekano lyiimaliwa ngaashi GIPF, ombaanga yoSME Bank moka iimaliwa ya kana nokuyakwamo moshilongo.

Okwa popi kutya omakonaakono gokumona kutya iimaliwa mbyoka oyuuka peni, oga ningila aakonaakoni oshidhigu, ta dhenge omuthindo kutya omatokolo gokupangula ogwiikwatelela kuumbangi mboka wu li po.

Imalwa okwa popi kutya nonando oshipotha shoka shoGIPF osha patululwa momvula yo 2009, omakonaakono moshipotha shoka oga tameke owala momvula yo 2012.

Oshimaliwa sha thika poomiliyona 600 odsha kuthwa mo mehangano lyoGIPF nokugandjwa po momukalo goongunga okupitila moDevelopment Capital Portfolio (DCP) na osha pewa omahangano ga yooloka ngoka gamwepo kage na niikoti yongeshefa.

DCP okwa longa pokati komvula yo1996 no 2006.

Nonando okwa shanga momambo ge oongunga dhoomiliyona 600 dhoka itadhi vulu we okumonika, GIPF okwe shi pondola okuninga iiyemo ya thika poomiliyona 146 okuza momapungulilo ge. Pahapu dhaImalwa, omakonaakono oga tala komahangano geli po 20 nombelewa ye oya tindi okupangula omahangano ge li 18 ngoka taga kwatakanithwa nekano lyiimaliwa mbyoka.

Nonando aniwa oya tokola okupangula andola ehangano eti 19, olya mbangalota nokutulamo eindilo lyembangoloto, na otaku ka landulwa oohandimwe.

Nonando ongaaka ina popya omadhina molwaashoka omuntu ngoka ina holoka natango mompangu, sho kwa li tegelelwa a holoke mompangu yopashitopolwa mOshakati momasiku ga 3 ga Kotomba nuumvo.

Pahapu dhe ehangano e ti 20 natango otali konaakonwa.

Imalwa okwa popi kutya omapeko moshipotha shoka oga pewa ombelewa ye kopolisi nepeko lya hugunina olya gandjwa omvula ya piti, nonando oshipotha shoka osha tulwa momvula yo 2012.

Okwa popi kutya oshipotha shoka oshi na oombaapila odhindji sho shi na omapeko ga thika po195. Okwa popi kutya etokolo ihali ningwa komuntu gumwe, na oli na okukala li li mondjila.

Okwa yelitha woo komaupyakadhi ngoka ya kala ya taalele pethimbo taya ningi omakonaakono moshiptha shoGIPF, ta popi kutya oshiputudhilo osha tameke tashi pungula momahangano kage li momusholondondo gwomahangano gokupungula moomvula dho 1990.

“Uumbangi owa holola kutya epungulo lyotango olya ningwa momvula yo 1996, ngashiingeyi dhilaadhila nduno to konaakona okuza momvula ndjoka sigo oomvula dho 2000.”

Paveta aniwa oondokumende otashi uthwa dhi pungulwe uule woomvula ntano, shapo ongele pe na omakonaakono taga ningwa, Imalwa a lombwele iikundaneki.

“Omolwa ethimbo ndyoka lya pitipo sho kwa ningwa omaindilo gomikuli naasho kwa gandjwa, oondokumende dhimwe itadhi vulu okumonika. Ope na woo uupyakadhi welunduluko lyaaniilonga.”

Imalwa okwa popi kutya mboka ya gandja omikuli oya holola kutya omolwa oondokumende dhoka kadhi po itaya dhimbuluka kutya oshike sha hooka po, yamwe oya hulitha woo.

Imalwa okwa popi kutya omatokolo ogendji kutya omolwashike itaku vulu okupangulwa, omolwa ompumbwe yomaumbangi, naakonaakoni oshe ya ningila oshidhigu, sho aanambelewa mboka ye na woo oohahende dhawo dhopaumwene.



SME Bank

Omupanguli-ndjai okwa gumu woo kombinga yoshikumungu shombaanga yoSME Bank ta popi kutya oshipotha shoka natango otashi konaakonwa.

Okwa popi kutya oshipotha shoka inaga gandjwa natango kombelewa ye opo a ninge etokolo molwaashoka inashi manithwa okukonaakonwa.

Ombaanga ndjoka oya patwa, konima sho ombaanga onene moshilongo, Bank of Namibia ya ningi eindilo mOmpangu yoPombanda opo ombaanga ndjoka yi patwe sha landula ekano lyiimaliwa ya thika konyala poomiliyona 200, mbyoka kwa lopotwa ya gandjwa kiiputudhilo yaSouth Afrika ya yooloka.

Imalwa okwiipopile kutya omapopyo taga ningwa kutya ota gamene aanenentu naanapolotika mboka ye na mo olunyala mekano lyiimaliwa mbyoka kage shi goshili. Okwa popi kutya ye ita vulu okugamena omuntu ngele oku na shoka a ninga sha puka, molwaashoka naye ota vulu okupangulwa.

ELLANIE SMIT