Pathetic turnout at Oshakati East

August 26, 2019, 4:00 pm

≪ Previous: Namibia can't sell N$125m ivory stockpile

Only 3 413 of the 18 000 registered voters for the Oshakati East by-election cast their votes on Saturday.

Swapo scored a landslide victory, with Abner Shikongo being elected as the new constituency councillor.

Shikongo obtained 2 935 votes, while independent candidate Fiina Kuutondokwa received 234 votes.

Kamati Theofelus of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) received 185 votes. The Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters' (NEFF) candidate Damamomwene Shaduva garnered 32 votes, while Elia Iyambo of the Congress of Democrats (CoD) received 17 votes. Swanu's Rebbeka Kambayi received a paltry 10 votes. The by-election was necessitated by the death of Oshakati East constituency councillor Lotto Kuushomwa, who passed away on 27 May. During the 2015 regional and local authority elections, out of 17 630 potential voters, only 5 881 cast their votes in Oshakati East. The late Kuushomwa won the election by garnering 5 559 votes, followed Daniel Andreas from the PDM with 241 votes. Natangwe Shiwayu from the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) received 81 votes at the time. Some voters were turned away on Saturday, because their names did not appear on the voters' roll.

“We were not sensitised on when to register if we wanted to vote during the Oshakati East by-election.

After we failed to register during the Oshakati East by-election supplementary voter registration in June, we at least managed to register during the 2019 supplementary registration of voters (for the general election) in July. No voter education was conducted, and to our surprise we were turned away on election day,” one resident complained.

Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) chief electoral officer Theo Mujoro confirmed that some voters were turned away.

He said they were not on the voters' roll for the by-election, because they failed to register on-time.

“The Oshakati East by-election supplementary voter registration was conducted in June; all eligible voters were documented on a voters' roll that we used during the by-election. The July supplementary registration of voters is for the general election scheduled for November. Therefore, if voters registered in July, they are not appearing on the voters' roll we used (for the by-election),” Mujoro said.

The by-election went ahead after a bid by the All People's Party (APP) to halt the poll failed. Oshakati Magistrate Leopold Hangalo dismissed the matter, citing a lack of legal grounds.

ILENI NANDJATO

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United in grief

August 26, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Stars fall in Uganda

≪ Previous: Pathetic turnout at Oshakati East

United in griefNation mourns with Gymnasium after horror bus crash There has been a massive outpouring of grief over a school bus crash in which two grade 7s died and several others were injured.

The general public and local school community are reeling with shock and grief after two teenagers died tragically in a bus accident on Sunday morning near Kalkrand.

The bus driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Messages of condolence and support from across the nation have been pouring in on social media since the accident in which Angela Maiba and Jacques Venter, both 13, died. Yesterday morning several students gathered at Windhoek Gymnasium Private School, where they lit candles and laid wreaths in memory of their fellow learners.

A candlelight ceremony was also organised yesterday evening, in memory of the two Grade 7 learners.

According to the police the fatal accident happened about 30 kilometres south of Kalkrand on the B1 road, when a hired bus transporting Windhoek Gymnasium pupils on a school trip to the Orange River left the road and overturned at about 09:00 on Sunday.

Apart from the two fatalities, scores of pupils sustained serious to light injuries.

Police spokesperson Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi confirmed to Namibian Sun that cases of culpable homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol and negligent driving were opened against the bus driver.

The 33-year-old driver was arrested after testing positive for alcohol at the accident scene. Alcohol was also found at the scene.

The bus driver is expected to appear in court this week. He was not injured and is being kept in the Mariental police holding cells.

A group of more than 120 learners and teachers were travelling in two separate buses hired from Sunshine Tours. However, only one of the buses was involved in the accident.

All the uninjured children and teachers were taken back to Windhoek, after the tour was cancelled.

The injured were transported to several local hospitals.

There was speculation of social media over the weekend that indicated the Sunshine Tours buses were also spotted at an earlier accident on Sunday, at about 01:00, when a truck travelling on the Hosea Kutako International Airport road overturned about 10 kilometres from Windhoek with its load of beer.

The truck driver was taken to hospital. In the early hours of Sunday morning, the two Sunshine Tours buses were said to have passed the truck accident scene. According to eyewitnesses the bus drivers allegedly took some of the beers at the scene, which were lying on the ground near the wreckage.

It was claimed further that the buses then proceeded to Windhoek, where they loaded the learners and teachers from Windhoek Gymnasium for their tour to the Orange River.

The police were unable to confirm this at the time of going to print.

In a statement issued by the executive head of Curro Holdings, Colette Rieckert, she confirmed the death of the two learners from Windhoek Gymnasium.

“Curro Holdings confirms that a bus transporting learners to a Grade 7 camp was involved in a serious accident outside Mariental. The accident resulted in the loss of life of two of our learners and serious injuries to others.”

She said the injured learners were taken to hospital and transport was arranged to fetch the other children and return them to Windhoek.

“We are shocked and saddened by this tragedy and are doing everything we can to assist and support learners, staff and families.”

According to Rieckert, the safety of their learners and staff is their top priority, and therefore they are taking every possible measure to ensure the strictest safety standards are applied and adhered to at all times.

She said the learners were transported by an external service provider, Sunshine Tours, and added that the bus driver was not an employee of Windhoek Gymnasium or Curro.

Referring to the case of driving under the influence of alcohol that has been opened against the driver, Rieckert said they view these allegations in an extremely serious light and will leave no stone unturned to assist the police in their investigation.

Sunshine Tours confirmed in a short statement on Facebook that one of their buses that was en route to the Orange River was involved in a most “unfortunate incident”.

The company said they were deeply saddened by the crash, especially the loss of young lives and the injuries sustained.

“Therefore, we wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and their loved ones. We also wish a quick recovery to those who have been injured. We offer our full support and prayers in this very difficult time to all.”

The company said a formal statement will be released once they have more information.

Other crashes

In other accidents that occurred over the Heroes' Day weekend, four women died on Thursday in two separate accidents, after the vehicles they were travelling in overturned several times on the B1 near Otavi in the Otjozondjupa Region.

A mother and her eight-month-old baby boy also died on Thursday night at Kambumbu village in Kavango West, after they were run over by an unlicensed driver.

Two people also died after the vehicle they were travelling in overturned 20 kilometres outside Bethanie in the //Karas Region on Thursday night.

According to statistics by the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund, an average of 66 people lost their lives in 376 road crashes, while 635 were injured over a five-year cycle in the month of August.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Stars fall in Uganda

August 26, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Shonena punishes Dong

≪ Previous: United in grief

Stars fall in Uganda

MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL) outfit African Stars failed to advance to the next stage of the African Champions League, following a 2-0 defeat to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in Uganda on Friday.

African Stars FC coach Muhammad Gargo said he was disappointed by the fact that his team is out of the Champions League.

“We played well in the first half, but made some mistakes later that cost us,” Gargo said.

African Stars went into the match brimming with confidence, after winning the first leg 3-2 in Windhoek. It was still 0-0 by the 70th minute mark in the second leg, with the home team knocking on African Stars doors.

It all went wrong in 81st minute, when KCCA's Mustafa Kizza broke the deadlock with a free-kick.

Stars could still have clinched the overall win with a goal, with 10 minutes remaining in the match. But it was KCCA who had the last laugh, via a second goal from Allan Okello in the dying minutes.

Their 2-0 victory at home meant that KCCA advance to the next round with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

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Shonena punishes Dong

August 26, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Driver in fatal school bus crash appears in court

≪ Previous: Stars fall in Uganda

Shonena punishes DongNamibian now closer to world title fight Mikka Shonena is a step closer to fighting for the world title, following his victory over China's Youli Dong at the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair.

World Boxing Organisation (WBO) African welterweight champion Mikka Shonena says he is delighted after winning a difficult clash against a resilient Youli Dong.

The Namibian won the fight by unanimous decision.

He became the WBO international welterweight champion, after the two boxers put their WBO Asia and Africa welterweight titles on the line.

It was one of Shonena's toughest fights to date, but the boxer prevailed following an early knockout scare.

“It was a very tough battle, but I am happy that I managed to win it, because he was not an easy fighter.

“I believe that the camp prepared very well for this fight and so did Dong's camp, making it a very interesting and hard fight,” Shonena said.

Dong started the fight on a lively note and had his opponent on the canvas, following a counter-punch, but Shonena beat the referee's count. The first rounds were very close, with both fighters exchanging fierce blows.

Shonena, however, grew stronger as the bout progressed, and produced a series of jabs that rattled Dong's head. The Chinese fighter later on hanged on for dear life, as Shonena continued with his forceful jabs into the 12th round.

Nestor 'Sunshine' Tobias, of the MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy, hailed Shonena.

Tobias is adamant that Shonena's victory has placed the boxer in a good space and that he could challenge for the world title soon.

The boxing bonanza also witnessed nine other bouts, which had the crowd on their feet.

Harry Simon Jr continued with his incredible form, defeating Philip Musariri of Zimbabwe.

Paulinus Paulinus was victorious against Malawi's Roy Yudha in their eight-round bout, while Michael Bernard defeated Duminicus Weyulu on points.

The other winners were Sebastian Nathaniel (junior lightweight), Emmanuel Mungandjela (welterweight), Edison Nghipondoka (junior middleweight), Philipus Nghitumbwa (super bantamweight) and Paulus Amavila (lightweight).

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

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Driver in fatal school bus crash appears in court

August 27, 2019, 4:51 am

≫ Next: Recession to hit even harder

≪ Previous: Shonena punishes Dong

Driver in fatal school bus crash appears in court

The bus driver involved in the deadly Windhoek Gymnasium tour tragedy appeared in the Mariental Magistrate’s Court this morning. The 33-year-old Uasora Uanivi was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. He was not granted bail and his case was postponed to 31 October to allow for further investigations and to allow him to obtain legal representation. He has been charged with culpable homicide and driving under the influence of excessive alcohol. According to the police the fatal accident happened about 30 km south of Kalkrand on the B1 road when a bus transporting Windhoek Gymnasium pupils on a school trip to the Orange River left the road and overturned at about 09:00 on Sunday. Angela Maiba and Jacques Venter, both 13-year-old, died in the accident and scores of other children were also injured. The group of more than 120 learners and teachers were travelling in two separate buses from Sunshine Tours. However, only one of the buses was involved in the accident.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Recession to hit even harder

August 27, 2019, 9:10 am

≫ Next: Wolves defeat Rebels in basketball league

≪ Previous: Driver in fatal school bus crash appears in court

Recession to hit even harder

Namibia is likely to spend its third consecutive year in recession in 2019, with the economic contraction worse than the previous two years.
In its latest Economic Outlook released this afternoon, the Bank of Namibia (BoN) forecasts growth of -1.7% for 2019. Last year, the contraction was -0.1% and in 2017 it was -0.9%.
In April this year, the central bank still expected Namibia to exit the recession. Its growth forecast at the time was 0.3%.

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Wolves defeat Rebels in basketball league

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: 'I believe in my ability', says defiant Sharapova

≪ Previous: Recession to hit even harder

Wolves defeat Rebels in basketball leagueBasketball remains relevant University of Namibia (Unam) had to scrap for points in their victory against Rebels.

University of Namibia (Unam) Wolves Basketball team defeated local rival Unam Rebels by 90-74 points in an action-packed match played on Friday evening at the University's Gym Hall.

The matches were played under the Khomas Basketball Federation Premier League competitions' week 15 fixtures.

Sorte Florino top scored for Wolves with 20 points while ever green Peter 'Spiderman' Parker contributed 19 points as they came back from a 24-14 first quarter deficit to win the game convincingly.

Rebels, who started off brightly, lost concentration at crucial times of the match and lost their lead in the third quarter after being outscored by 22 to 28 points between the second and third quarter.

Ellen Ernest top scored for the Rebels with 23 points while Raphael Paulus chipped in with 20.

Wolves dominated all aspects of the match, scoring more points from the turnovers, fast break points, and bench points.

In the two women's teams match played on the same day, Unam Sparks outplayed their local rivals Unam Cats by 70-26 points as Sarah Serverus scored 21 points for Sparks.

Operi Tjingaete top scored for Cats with eight points.

The other game saw the Namibia University of Science and Technology Dodgers losing embarrassingly to BAS Falcons by 105-24 in a one sided match.

Jacobina Ushona scored 27 points and was assisted by Petrina Aron and Hileni Nambundunga who both contributed 23 points apiece to lead Falcons into an emphatic victory.

On Sunday, two more matches were played with Team Allies beating The Bulldogs by 62 points to 50.

Unam Wolves were back in the court to face Tsumeb Titans and won the match by 109-61 points.

Basketball action continues with several lower leagues and the women's top league matches scheduled for Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Unam Gym hall.

NAMPA

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'I believe in my ability', says defiant Sharapova

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Xavi's Al Sadd beaten in quarter-final first leg

≪ Previous: Wolves defeat Rebels in basketball league

'I believe in my ability', says defiant Sharapova

Maria Sharapova said she remains confident in her ability to compete with the best despite Monday's crushing defeat by old foe Serena Williams in the first round of the US Open.

Five-time Grand Slam winner Sharapova was ruthlessly dumped out in just 59 minutes as Williams beat the Russian for the 19th time in a row to improve her record in the rivalry to 20-2.

“Bottom line is I believe in my ability,” said Sharapova, who has slipped to 87th in the world rankings after another season marred by injury.

“You can write me off. There are many people that can write me off, especially after going down 6-1, 6-1 in the first round of the US Open. As long as it's not the person that's inside of you, you'll be OK.”

The 32-year-old had missed more than four months in the wake of right shoulder surgery when she returned for the grass court season this year. She was then forced out of Wimbledon by a left forearm injury.

The 2006 US Open winner last won a Slam at the 2014 French Open and served a one-year ban following a failed test at the 2016 Australian Open.

Sharapova upset Simona Halep in the first round here two years ago but could not revive that magic in the showcase opening-night match in the year's final Grand Slam tournament.

“I don't think of it as setback or traction. I have to keep going. There's no other way. There's no easy road about it,” she said.

“That's the stage that you play for. That's where I played as a teenager. That's where I fortunately get to play like tonight. I mean, you work hard, we all do, in order to get to that stage, because that's where the finals are. That's where you want to be.”

For Sharapova, who suffered early exits this month in Toronto and Cincinnati, it was her first opening-round loss in 13 appearances in New York.

She has won just one title, the 2017 Tianjin Open, in the past four years and admitted it had been a “long journey” just to reach the hardcourt season.

“It's not an easy road. It has never been. But I went through a shoulder procedure about four months ago. To find myself playing at a night match at the US Open with people excited about the matchup, it's a pretty big deal,” said Sharapova.

“I'm fortunate to be a part of that. It's easy to be discouraged after a match like this. But if I'm personally discouraged, I wake up tomorrow, I don't feel like I want to go out, train, be better, that's more discouraging than the result.”

“Just getting the routines back and being back in the draws is ... it's tough to talk about after a defeat, but it's a long road,” she continued.

“It's facing an opponent that's at her stature is extremely difficult in the first round of a Slam, coming in with the fact that I haven't played that much. But those are the situations that I have to keep putting myself in and coming out of them.”

NAMPA/AFP

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Xavi's Al Sadd beaten in quarter-final first leg

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: NFA congress to be postponed

≪ Previous: 'I believe in my ability', says defiant Sharapova

Xavi's Al Sadd beaten in quarter-final first leg Xavi's Al Sadd face an uphill task after a 2-1 defeat in their AFC quarter-final first leg against Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr on Monday.

Al Nassr, who qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time, missed star striker Abdelrazzaq Hamdallah through injury.

But nevertheless they made most of their chances to clinch the win in front of a huge crowd at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh.

The hosts enjoyed the upper hand early in the match and came close to scoring in the 14th minute when Abdulrahman al-Dawsari broke free and passed to Saleh al-Abbas, whose shot hit the upright.

With the pace picking up, Al Sadd began to make inroads and broke the stalemate in the 21st minute.

Abdelkarim Hassan's pass from the left was fumbled by Hassan al-Haydos but the ball fortuitously fell to Ali Asadalla, who scored with a measured shot from the right into the top of the net.

The hosts kept looking for openings and built up pressure, finding the equaliser a minute before half-time, thanks to a defensive lapse.

Giuliano's corner caught Al Sadd napping and al-Dawasri was quick to pounce on the ball and shoot home from close range.

Al Nassr could have gone ahead immediately after played started in the second half but Al Sadd goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb brought off a fine reflex save off a powerful shot from Fahad bin Jumayah.

While the Al Sadd attack led by Akram Afif did cause jitters for the hosts, they couldn't find a way to get past the defence.

Al Nassr found the winning goal in the 72nd minute, this time Giuliano turning from provider to scorer.

Moroccan Nordin Amarabat instigated the move, crossing from the left for Feras al-Biraikan, who in turn headed the ball towards Giuliano.

The Brazilian made no mistake with a header of his own, his sixth goal of the tournament.

Al Sadd will now meet Al Nassr in the second leg on September 16 in Doha, hoping their away goal will stand them in good stead as they chase a second straight semi-final spot.

NAMPA/AFP

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NFA congress to be postponed

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: National finals for electronic gamers

≪ Previous: Xavi's Al Sadd beaten in quarter-final first leg

NFA congress to be postponedFootball House not yet in order The NFA congress scheduled for 31 August will probably be postponed.

The Fifa Normalisation Committee might ask for more time to iron out all pending football issues, chairperson Hilda Basson-Namundjebo has revealed.

She insists that the Namibia Football Association (NFA) must be transformed from a “charitable organisation” to a business-oriented one.

The committee further admitted that they will not be ready to host the NFA congress as scheduled because of the many things they still have to do. The NFA is still believed to be a disorganised organisation and the committee will not leave before that has changed.

It is believed that there are still some regions with issues that need to be ironed out before anything else can happen.

“To be honest with you, I do not believe that the congress will take place as scheduled because of the work that we still have,” Basson-Namundjebo said.

“Some people have a perception that we want to prolong our stay here but that is not the case because we want to finish this as soon we can.

“One of our focus areas is to get a secretary-general who is business oriented and can focus on developing the football house with profits,” she said.

The committee believes that the only way to rescue Namibian football is to appoint an executive with a business background, she indicated.

“Yes, we did advertise that there will be positions out but it takes time to get something done. You have to get things done by doing the right thing and not because you want things to start.

“As we stand here, we are determined to leave this organisation in the structure that it needs to be in.”

Basson-Namundjebo said the NC was trying to stabilise the regions.

“We have held a few congresses in the regions and there are still more to be held. The NC and its members has been working tirelessly towards committing to a better football nation. People right now could question our stay but I believe that it will yield results.”

Speaking about the coaching matter, the chairperson said the posts of business executive and technical director are the priorities.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

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National finals for electronic gamers

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Oyendji inaya hogolola momahogololo guukansela mOshakati East

≪ Previous: NFA congress to be postponed

National finals for electronic gamers

The Namibian Electronic Sports Association (NESA) will be hosting a two-in-one event at Hotel Thule in Windhoek on 31 August.

The event will feature the national final competitions for Defense of the Ancients 2 (DotA2) and Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) and will also serve to introduce NESA's very first female tournament for Tekken7.

The DotA2 and CS: GO finals will start at 08:00 on Saturday morning as Namibia's best gamers compete for places on the national teams for these two titles.

This event follows the National Qualifiers Tournament that was hosted online from 12 July to 18 August.

Based on their performances in these competitions, the top ten finalists have been invited to compete in the finals for the national team selections for 2019.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

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Oyendji inaya hogolola momahogololo guukansela mOshakati East

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Aanaskola yaali ya hulithile moshiponga oshinyanyaleki

≪ Previous: National finals for electronic gamers

Oyendji inaya hogolola momahogololo guukansela mOshakati East

Aahogololi owala 3 413 yomaahogololi 18 000 mboka yiishangitha okuhogolola oyo ya kutha ombinga momahogololo guukansela ngoka ga ningwa Olyomakaya ga piti moshikandjohogololo Oshakati East.

Swapo oye a sindanapo omahogololo ngoka , sho okandindate ke, Abner Shikongo oye a hogololwa nokuninga kansela omupe gwoshikandjohogololo.

Shikongo owa mono omawi ge li po 2 935 omanga omuhogololwa iithikamena, Fiina Kuutondokwa a mono omawi 234.

Kamati Theofelus gwoPopular Democratic (PDM) okwa mono omawi 185. Damamomwene Shaduva gwoNamibian Economic Freedom Fighters' (NEFF) okwa mono omawi 32 omanga Elia Iyambo gwoCongress of Democrats (CoD) a mono omawi 17. Rebbeka Kambayi gwoSwanu okwa mono omawi 10. Omahogololo ngoka oga ningwa sha landula eso lyakansela gwoshikandjohogololo shoka nale, Lotto Kuushomwa, ngoka a hulitha momasiku 27 gaMei nuumvoa.

Ethimbo lyomahogololo ngoka ga ningwa momvula yo 2015, mokati kaamboka yiishangitha okukahogolola ye li 17 630, 5 881 oyo owala ya hogolola. Kuushomwa okwa li a sindana nomawi ge li 5 559, a landulwa kuDaniel Andreas gwoPDM ngoka a mono omawi 241. Natangwe Shiwayu gwoRally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) okwa mono 81.

Aahogololi yamwe ya shunithwa ko mOlyomakaya na inaya vula okuhogolola molwaashoka omadhina gawo kage mo momusholondondo gwaahogololi.

Omunambelewa omukomeho gwomahogololo moElectoral Commission of Namibia (ECN), Theo Mujoro okwa kolele kutya aahogololi yamwe oya shunithwako molwaashoka omadhina gawo kage mo momusholondondo gwaahogololi sho ya ndopa okwiishangitha pethimbo.

Omahogololo ngoka oga pula komeho sha landula oompangela dha ningwa kongundu yoAll People's Party (APP) opo andola ga kalekwe dha ponyo. Mangestrata mompangulilo yaShakati okwa ekelehi eindilo ndyoka lya li lya tulwamo koAPP.

ILENI NANDJATO

ILENI NANDJATO

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Aanaskola yaali ya hulithile moshiponga oshinyanyaleki

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: 16 road deaths mar long weekend

≪ Previous: Oyendji inaya hogolola momahogololo guukansela mOshakati East

Aanaskola yaali ya hulithile moshiponga oshinyanyaleki Oshigwana osha holola uukwawo wanankali nokugandja omahekeleko sha landula oshiponga shombesa shoka sha faalela oomwenyo dhaanaskola yaali yondondo onti 7 nokweehameka oyendji. Oshiponga shoka osha holoka ongula yOsoondaha popepi noKalkrand nomuhingi gwombesa okwa tulwa miipandeko omolwa okuhinga e li kohi yodhungo.

Omatumwalaka gomahekeleko okuza moshigwana oga gandjwa unene okupitila komapandja gomakwatathano gopamalungula, sha landula oshiponga shoka sha faalele omwenyo gwa Angela Maiba oshowo Jacques Venter, ayehe yoomvula 13.

Ongula yOmaandaha, aanaskola yamwe oya gongala poskola yoWindhoek Gymnasium Private School, mpoka ya tenteke oongala oshowo okutema uulehita mokudhimbuluka aanaskola yakwawo. Pauyelele mboka wa gandjwa kopolisi, oshiponga shoka oshinyanyaleki osha holoka konyala ookilometa 30 mUumbugantu waKalkrand mondjila yo B1 sho ombesa ya hiilwa opo yi vule okufala aanaskola yoskola yaWindhoek Gymnasium molweendo lwotula okuya ko Orange River ya thigi po ondjila nokugalangata lwopotundi onti 09:00 mOsoondaha.

Kakele kaanaskola mboka ya hulitha oyendji oya ehamekwa noonkondo.

Omupopiliko gwOpolisi, Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi okwa koleke koNamibian Sun kutya okwa patululwa oshipotha shedhipago lyaashi lyaashi lyoshiningilawina, okuhinga omuntu a longitha iikolwitha oshowo okuhinga nuuhasha.

Omuhingi ngoka e li omunamivo 33 okwa tulwa miipandeko, konima sho a fudhilidhwamo na okwa adhika a longitha iikolitha, nopehala lyoshiponga opwa adhika woo iikolitha.

Omuhingi gwombesa okwa tegelelwa a holoke mompangu oshiwike shika, na ina ehamekelwa moshiponga na okwa edhililwa moondjeedhililo yopolisi yaMalinda.

Ongundu yaanaskola ye li pe 120 oshowo aalongi oya li molweendo moombesa mbali dha hiilwa kehangano lyoSunshine Tours.

Aanaskola ayehe oshowo aalongi oya shunwa kOvenduka konima sho olweendo lwawo lwa kalekwa sha landula oshiponga.

Omapopyo gamwe inaga kolekwa komapandja gomakwatathano gopamalungula oga holola kutya omambesa ngoka gaali goSunshine Tours oga li ga monika ga thikama poshiponga shoka sha holoka koogulasha dhOsoondaha lwopotundi onti 01:00 sho eloli ndyoka lya li lyuuka kokapale kaHosea Kutako International Airport lya gu oshinano shookilometa 10 okuza mOvenduka.

Eloli ndyoka olya li lya humbata oobiila.

Otaku popiwa kutya aahingi yomambesa ngoka oya monika taya kutha oobiila nomambesa ngoka oga yi kOvenduka hoka gaka londeka aanaskola oshowo aalongi okuza poskola yaWindhoek Gymnasium okuya molweendo lwawo kOrange River.

Opolisi inayi vula okukoleka omapopyo ngoka.

Omukanda gwa pitithwa komukomeho gwehangano lyoCurro Holdings, Colette Rieckert, ogwa koleke omaso gaanaskola yaali yoposkola yaWindhoek Gymnasium.

“Curro Holdings otaya koleke kutya ombesa ya li ya humbata aanaskola yondondo oti7 oya ningi oshiponga pondje yaMalinda. Oshiponga shoka osha faalela oomwenyo dhaanaskola yaali nokweehameka yalwe.”

“Otwa haluthwa koshiponga shika na otatu ningi kehe shoka tatu vulu opo tu gandje omayambidhidho nokusapota aanaskola, aaniilonga oshowo oofamili.”

Okwa tsikile kutya egameno lyaanaskola naalongi oshinima sha simana kuyo na otaya kwashilipaleke kutya okwa tulwa miilonga omilandu ndhoka tadhi kala aluhe nokulandulwa opo ku kalekwepo egameno.

Okwa tsikile kutya omuhingi gwombesa ndjoka kali omuniilonga gwoWindhoek Gymnasium nenge Curro. Kombinga yoshipotha shokuhinga omuntu a longitha iikolitha shoka sha patululilwa omuhingi ngoka, Rieckert okwa popi kutya itaya ka thiga emanya lya londa kekwawo, na otaya ka kwathela opolisi momakonaakono gawo. Ehangano lyoSunshine Tours olya koleke metumwala efupi kutya limwe lyomomambesa gawo ngoka gali molweendo okuya Orange River olya ningi oshiponga na oya uvithwa nayi noonkondo komaso gaanaskola mboka yaali oshowo yakwawo mboka ya ehamekwa.

Oya gandja omahekeleko gawo koofamili, nokuhalela eyaluko lyombala mboka yeehamekwa.

Iiponga yilwe

Miiponga yilwe mbyoka yaholoka mehuliloshiwike ele lyEsiku lyOmapendafule, aakiintu yane oya hulitha miiponga yopaali ya holoka mEtine, konima sho miihauto moka ya li ya gu nokugalangata mondjila yo B1 popepi nOtavi moshitopolwa shaTjozondjupa.

Omukiintu pamwe nokanona ke kokamati koomwedhi 8 oya hulitha mEtine kongulohi momukunda Kambumbu moKavango West, konima sho ya pumwa komuhingi keena ombaapila yokuhinga.

Aantu yaali oya hulitha sho ohauto moka ya li ya gu nokugalangata oshinano shookilometa 20 pondje mo //Karas Region ongulohi yEtine.

Pauyelele wa gandjwa kehangano lyoMotor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund, konyala aantu 66 oya kanitha oomwenyo dhawo miiponga yi li 376, omanga aantu 635 ya ehamekelwa miiponga momwedhi Aguste muule woomvula ntano dha piti.

ELLANIE SMIT

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16 road deaths mar long weekend

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Bullies have free rein at private schools

≪ Previous: Aanaskola yaali ya hulithile moshiponga oshinyanyaleki

16 road deaths mar long weekend ELLANIE SMIT

At least 16 people were killed in accidents on Namibia’s roads over the past long weekend, including two toddlers and the two teenagers that died in a bus crash near Kalkrand.

According to the police two people were killed in an accident about 20 km from Bethanie on Thursday. It is alleged that a white Ford Bantam with seven occupants was travelling from Bethanie to Kosis settlement when it overturned.

The deceased were identified as 25-year-old Brandon Wayl and 27-year-old Yolandy Fredericks. The other five occupants were seriously injured and were taken to the Keetmanshoop State Hospital for treatment.

In a separate accident on Thursday two women were killed in an accident about four kilometres from Otavi.

A red Volkswagen Golf was apparently travelling from Tsumeb to Otavi when it overturned, killing the two female passengers on the spot.

Three other occupants, including the driver, were slightly injured and rushed to Tsumeb hospital for treatment. The deceased were identified as 43-year-old Selma Hanamus and 18-year-old Immany Hanamus.

In another accident outside Otavi on Thursday, two women died when a silver VW Combi travelling from Otjiwarongo to Otavi overturned. The driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle while overtaking another car. Two female passengers died on the spot while five other people were injured. The driver escaped unhurt. The deceased were identified as Hulda Booys and Tanja Josob.

Another roll-over claimed the life of 45-year-old woman about 120 km from Keetmanshoop on Thursday. Four other passengers were injured.

In an accident at Kahenge on Thursday a silver Kia Rio sedan hit a woman who was crossing the road while carrying her baby on her back. The woman was killed on the spot and her eight-month-old baby died later at Nankudu Hospital.

The deceased were identified as Namukwata Theresia Mulyeni and Gotfried Hamunyera Matyayi. The driver was arrested.

Another female pedestrian was killed on Saturday on the main road between Ondangwa and Ongwediva. It is alleged that the unidentified woman was walking next to the road with a man who pushed her into the road and then ran away. Police investigations are continuing.

Two passengers were killed when a bakkie overturned about 10 km from Swakopmund on Saturday. Two others sustained slight to serious injuries.

In a separate accident on Sunday a three-year-old child was run over by a trailer at a house north of Oshivelo.

The trailer was apparently being pulled by a bakkie driven by the child’s father. The toddler, identified as Joevi Nambahu, was rushed to Oshivelo Clinic where he was pronounced dead.

Paulus Ndemwoongela Nghifinwa (24) died in an accident at the Eenyika cuca shops near Eenhana on Saturday. He was a passenger in a white Toyota Corolla that crashed into a tree.

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Bullies have free rein at private schools

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Gaining Momentum: Ten years in

≪ Previous: 16 road deaths mar long weekend

Bullies have free rein at private schools'Deplorable failure to apply the law' Learners at private schools are reportedly not protected against bullying under the Education Act.

CATHERINE SASMAN

The ministry of education, arts and culture has been accused of having done nothing to make a statutory code of conduct applicable to private schools.

This accusation was made after an alleged assault at the Walvis Bay Private High School (WBPHS) in October 2017.

Lawyer Eben de Klerk of ISG Namibia, who investigated and compiled a report on the incident at the request of the alleged victim’s father, says he suspects the ministry’s failure in this incident extends to most – if not all – other private schools in Namibia.

“Learners at state schools enjoy clear and well-formulated rights when they fall prey to bullies, when they are victims of racism, or when they are assaulted. Together with these rights, state schools and their management and teachers have clear and well-formulated duties to protect children under these circumstances,” De Klerk says.

Not so for private schools, where learners do not seem to enjoy such protection.

De Klerk observes that private-school learners are at the mercy of school boards and teachers who employ “substandard” disciplinary codes.

“Should a school favour a bully, for whatever reason, above the victim of bullying, or refuse to act in cases of alleged racism, they are free to do so without having to fear ministerial oversight in terms of the Education Act. This should be a matter of grave concern for all parents who have children in private schools in Namibia,” the lawyer comments.

The WBPHS ‘incident’

According to De Klerk’s report on the incident at Walvis Bay Private High School, a learner of Portuguese extraction was assaulted by one learner while eight others – including four school prefects – hurled racist taunts at him.

The learner, then 14 and in Grade 7, suffered several injuries, including a bruised hip, facial and head bruises and cuts, and a bloody nose. A subsequent psychological report concluded that he suffered from acute stress disorder as a result of the attack.

De Klerk reports that the school management treated the matter as a mere “playground fight” and told the victim’s parents a day after the incident that “discipline was taken accordingly”. However, the parents dug in their heels and insisted on a full disciplinary process.

After much toing and froing, a disciplinary hearing was held on 1 December 2017.

The alleged victim and his alleged assailant were both charged with assault because, as school principal Estelle Eigelaar put it, “it was unclear who had thrown the first punch”.

Before the hearing, De Klerk notes in his report, the school had advised the alleged victim’s parents to remove him and his sibling from the school. The school’s legal practitioner also advised that it would be “far better” to remove the children.

Eigelaar insisted that the school had “attempted to make all proceedings as friendly and informal as possible”, and concluded that the school had gone “above and beyond what is expected of it (or all other schools for that matter) in terms of the Education Act and its own disciplinary code”.

De Klerk disagrees.

“[It] is difficult to imagine a more draconian and hostile environment in which this matter could have been handled,” he comments, adding that the school provided “no protection” to the victim who had to “endure such trampling on his rights while he was the one being bullied”.

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Gaining Momentum: Ten years in

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Sierra Leone capital confronts water crisis

≪ Previous: Bullies have free rein at private schools

Gaining Momentum: Ten years in‘It's about the right fit’ The chief executive officer of Momentum Investments Namibia, Lesley Rukoro, talks about innovation, investment and customer satisfaction. It’s a very exciting space and an exciting time to be in. – Lesley Rukoro, CEO: Momentum Investments Namibia

Sponsored Content - “Momentum Namibia is celebrating ten years of doing business in Namibia this year. It came to be through a merger between Metropolitan and Momentum Asset Management. Our dedicated focus remains offering the best in financial services and providing financial wellness for all clients, big or small,” says the chief executive officer of Momentum Investments Namibia, Lesley Rukoro.

“With experience gained from working for various institutions, I believe I have personally grown in my career, and have developed, over the years, a passion for seeing others around me grow,” he says.

“I find myself at the helm of a ship that is progressing through challenging waters, but adapting to its current environment. We have a great team that is focused on getting the job done well, without compromise,” Rukoro says.

Exploring new ideas is vital to a business wishing to improve its services.

“What sets Momentum apart from the rest, is our big focus on offering innovative products,” Rukoro explains.

“A diverse portfolio opens up a lot of investment opportunities and partnering with the right people allows us to access these opportunities for our clients. It's about the right fit.

“In addition to this, the value for money offered is incomparable with businesses that offer the same service at the same level. Our attention to detail in offering great customer service is at the starting point of all we do,” Rukoro says.

Investment needs

“We understand individuals and corporations’ investment needs are unique and change as life circumstances change,” he says.

It is this emphasis on customer satisfaction that keeps the company ahead of its competitors.

“Whether you are looking for growth, income or capital preservation, Momentum has a promise - to meet your investment needs in a comprehensive, innovative and trusted manner. This all comes with increased choice and flexibility, an invaluable asset in the current financial climate in which we operate.”

Instead of following a specific standard model of doing business, Rukoro explores different strategies as required.

“By exploring different opportunities and investment possibilities, we are in a position to create and provide comprehensive products. We always aim to offer the best for our clients, regardless of their portfolio size or financial muscle,” he adds.

“We have developed from being an institution that only focuses on offering risk products alone. Our growth has driven us to take on new challenges and diversify our portfolio, allowing our clients access to a wider investment network.”

Market

In a hyper-competitive market, Momentum has managed to stay ahead of the curve and that is simply due to their ability to combine new methods of doing business and mixing that with the fundamentals of any good business: giving good service.

“Momentum’s offering is known to give value for money, and we are very well known for our good service in the industry.”

Having been in the investment management industry for close to 13 years - nine of those in his current position - Rukoro knows that one of the ways to success is to be a revenue generating powerhouse coupled with client satisfaction.

“At Momentum we try to offer financial wellness to our clients in all spheres of life. We try to partner with them to give them comprehensive products,” he adds.

Value

Momentum focuses on giving value.

Whether working on a major portfolio or working for individual customers, Momentum’s competence lies in delivering a comprehensive business model that aims at nor only growing the business but one that takes care of its customers too.

“We’ve just recently launched our Momentum Wealth and Momentum Collective Investment Businesses. This is an additional sphere to our Risk Offering, and our Funds at Work Offering. We aim to grow that side of the business and provide client satisfaction in that regard.”

The company is pushing for creativity in their internal processes and getting its people to challenge the way they work. Rukoro believes in streamlining the way the team works to be more agile and eliminating work that doesn’t add value.

In addition to offering Momentum risk and investment products, as well as umbrella fund management, Rukoro says there are also plans underway to expand this offering, making it more all-inclusive.

Next decade

“What is guiding us into the next ten years of Momentum is looking at offering solutions for different businesses, taking into account their specific investment objectives.”

What Momentum has been able to achieve in the past ten years is remarkable, considering its humble beginnings.

Rukoro emphasises that providing access to customised local and global Momentum investment and retirement solutions for individuals and entities is their main concern.

“This includes various types of portfolios, across a diverse product range that extends well beyond that of a conventional unit trust provider.”

Looking ahead, the company has distinct directives and aspirations.

“If the past ten years are anything to go by, we can clearly deduce the cause for this aspiration is to hasten Momentum’s reach and broaden scope.”

What do the next ten years look like for Momentum?

“We are going to continue providing clients with comprehensive financial wellness products based on their requirements. It’s a very exciting space and an exciting time to be in,” says Rukoro.

KASSIE:

CV

Lesley Rukoro graduated from the University of Namibia and thereafter joined the civil service for five years as a statistician. He was then offered the chance to further his studies at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. This opportunity led him to complete a post graduate diploma at the University of London. His scholarly journey led him to complete a master’s degree in commerce at the University of Western Cape.

He joined Momentum Asset Management in 2009. Since then he has risen through the ranks to lead the company to greater heights.

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Sierra Leone capital confronts water crisis

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Turning bush into opportunity

≪ Previous: Gaining Momentum: Ten years in

Sierra Leone capital confronts water crisisReservoirs at risk Freetown plans to set up a water fund in the next year that would pool investment for projects to improve water security. It's all about trying to shape the mentality of the community toward conservation. - Simon Okoth, Urban resilience manager: CRS

Nellie Peyton - Half the year, Iyatunde Kamara worries torrential rains will wash her house off its hillside and into the rivers of waste that flow through Sierra Leone's capital Freetown.

The other half, she rarely has enough water to fill a pot.

It is a problem faced by nearly everyone in the rundown city of 1.5 million, built at the foot of mountains rising out of the ocean on Africa's western coast.

"Water has always been a struggle," said Kamara, who like her neighbours has no plumbing and fetches water from a stream.

Abundant downpours during the rainy season bring deadly floods every year. In 2017, a mudslide killed more than 1 000 people and left thousands homeless.

Experts largely blamed the disaster on rapid urbanisation driving residents to claim trees and land to build new homes.

But officials and aid workers are increasingly worried about another trend: diminishing water reserves.

Freetown's water comes from reservoirs in the mountains, surrounded by forest. But as trees are cut to make room for construction, rain is draining off the hillsides rather than seeping through their roots into the soil and streams.

"Most of the water collected should be feeding into the dam, but for now it flows out of the area because of deforestation," said water minister Jonathan Tengbe.

"The dam itself is under threat at the moment and there is massive need for us to protect the watershed," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation, referring to the Guma Dam, the biggest in the former British colony.

Taking cues from Nairobi and Cape Town, Freetown plans to set up a water fund in the next year that would pool investment for projects to improve water security, such as planting trees.

But the challenges are massive as the crowded city grows, its proximity to the coast leaving it nowhere to expand but towards the forest.

Dry season

Water is so hard to obtain in the dry season that there is an expression, "water for water", which refers to girls trading sex for access to a tap where they can fill their buckets.

"We have a lot of girls impregnated because of this water business," said Yirah Conteh, head of the Federation of Urban and Rural Poor (FEDURP), a civil society group.

Freetown's water treatment plant and pipe system were built in the 1960s for a city about one third the size. Even people with houses on the grid have water only three times per week.

Others roam the streets with jerry cans, looking for a trickle from a broken pipe.

"It is very, very serious," said Conteh. "If the communities had water we could be free from a lot of disease."

Children are sent to stand in line in the morning and often miss school waiting their turn at water points, he said.

Girls also skip school when menstruating because they have no water to wash themselves, said minister Tengbe, estimating that 50% of the city's health problems could be solved by a more sustained water supply.

The issue goes beyond deforestation, but in some places its impact can be seen.

In one community overlooking the Tower Hill neighbourhood, people get water from a natural spring. The area was deforested years ago, but more recently a college re-planted trees.

"At first we didn't have water when they chopped down all the trees. This was dry," said local resident Fuaid Samura, standing by the spring. Now surrounded by vegetation, it is flowing again.

Shrinking forest

Some of Freetown's hilltops remain green, but the dirt-brown cityscape is creeping up.

The forest surrounding the reservoirs is a national park, home to chimpanzees and rare birds. But there is no fence around it, and the laws meant to regulate construction hold little sway.

People cut into the forest for charcoal and farming as well as building houses, Freetown's mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"It's all about trying to shape the mentality of the community toward conservation," said Simon Okoth, urban resilience manager for charity Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

CRS, which is spearheading the water fund, recently started working with residents at the top of the hills to reinforce the value of trees. It plans to plant 25 000 by next year.

The sense of urgency is not always shared by the people.

"In the community not everyone accepts our opinion," said Abdulai Allieu, a community organiser for FEDURP.

"Some welcome the idea [to plant trees], other say they need room to build," he said.

There are few trees left in this part of Freetown and in front of some houses, there are knee-high stumps. The trees were cut to provide a better view, he said.

Long-term plans

"I think the biggest challenge is a lack of appreciation of how quickly the deforestation is happening and how far-reaching the impact is," mayor Aki-Sawyerr said.

She wants to see the city plant a million trees next year, and said she is in discussions about environmental bylaws and new building codes that could help protect the forest.

While halting deforestation is a necessary step, it will not be enough to fix Freetown's water shortage, officials said.

The city's population is expected to reach 2 million people in a few years, said Tengbe, the water minister.

The capacity of the Guma dam, about 80 000 cubic metres per day, is little more than a quarter of what Tengbe estimated is needed to provide a reliable water supply for the city.

The government is doing a feasibility study to pipe water 60 kilometres to Freetown from the Rokel River, the country's biggest.

Critics say this would be prohibitively expensive and that the water is too polluted from mining and farming upstream.

At the Guma dam, just half an hour from the city, waterfalls flow past the treatment plant, an excess the current system is unable to catch.

The reservoir overflows for months every year, draining into the ocean. An employee at the water company said the obvious solution is another dam.

"There is a lot of opportunity," said Okoth of CRS, looking over the still-green valley from the dam. – Nampa/Reuters

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Turning bush into opportunity

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Geingob asked to act on GIPF matter

≪ Previous: Sierra Leone capital confronts water crisis

Turning bush into opportunitySustainable bush control for business A group of 36 trainees attended the first pilot training of trainers in topics such as bush control and biomass utilisation in Okahandja from 22 to 26 July.

STAFF REPORTER

Bush encroachment of farmland in Namibia is a growing reality with an adverse impact on land productivity and grazing capacity.

According to a statement by the De-bushing Advisory Service (DAS) efforts to reclaim land through bush-clearing activities using a variety of chemical, mechanical and biological methods are increasing.

“Where livestock farmers in general see bush encroachment as a stumbling block to profitable livestock production, an ever-increasing portion of them also see the sustainable harvesting of bush and bush products as a complementary income generation opportunity, putting Namibia at the dawn of a very dynamic and potentially lucrative bush utilisation industry,” says DAS.

Being an infant industry usually leaves a lot of room for malpractices that can negatively affect the natural environment and reduce the quality of products derived from bushes.

The statement says that one way to address this is to build the necessary capacity amongst the role players in the industry to not only apply sustainable bush control and harvesting practices, but also to ensure that bush utilisation is done in such a way that high quality bush products are produced for maximum profit over the long term.

With a mission to develop structured capacity development programmes empowering critical resource people such as trainers, farmers, workers, contractors and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to effectively implement sustainable bush control and biomass utilisation, DAS kicked off its first pilot capacity development project called Training of Trainers.

A group of 36 trainees, consisting of public and private extension officials, new university graduates and young professionals, attended the first pilot training of trainers in topics such as bush control and biomass utilisation in Okahandja from 22 to 26 July.

Facilitated by Agriconsult, the training focused on theoretical and practical aspects of bush encroachment, bush control, bush biomass utilisation, financing and certification of SMEs in the bush control and biomass sector.

A second round of the course took place from 12 to 16 August. Thereafter, trainees will be mentored over the next months to get hands-on practical experience and become trainers.

“The Training of Trainers course was an insightful opportunity for me. I appreciated that the content was detailed enough, and I now understand the processes through which value is added to biomass and why things are done the way they are done

“As a result of the training, I am even more confident to engage and advise farmers as well as potential entrepreneurs on the endless opportunities offered by the biomass sector,” says Klaudia Amutenya.

Bush biomass utilisation for charcoal or animal feed, for example, is a growing opportunity for the Namibian biomass industry. However, there is a lack of qualified adequate professionals. This is the gap the DAS wants to address.

“We are rolling out capacity development programmes for farmers, workers, contractors and SMEs,” says Progress Kashandula, general manager of DAS.

“We are hoping this will lead to a large pool of qualified trainers and workers.”

In addition, DAS is in the process of drafting three career qualifications in the format of national vocational certificates (NVCs) in line with the guidelines and frameworks of the Namibia Training Authority (NTA).

“We want people to be able to qualify in bush control, bush utilisation as well as SME management in the sector as this will contribute to better understanding and sustainable utilisation of available biomass resources. Our aim is to register these qualifications with the Namibia Training Authority,” Kashandula explains.

DAS serves as a national information platform and capacity development hub in the emerging bush biomass industry. It addresses knowledge and information needs of farmers interested in bush control on their farmland and connects them with operators of and investors in bush biomass processing machines and plants.

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Geingob asked to act on GIPF matter

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Namvet now a political player

≪ Previous: Turning bush into opportunity

Geingob asked to act on GIPF matter

Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) leader Mike Kavekotora has called on President Hage Geingob to “show leadership” and “repudiate” Prosecutor-General Martha Imalwa, who recently said she would not prosecute 18 of the 20 companies linked to the missing GIPF millions.

“To me this is where President Geingob has to show leadership. He should institute another investigation to find out what has prompted the PG to make such a statement. Who is behind this?” Kavekotora said on Friday.

Kavekotora said he suspected some “heavyweight, politically connected people linked to the government” were behind Imalwa's decision not to prosecute.

“If the president wants the nation to have trust in him and for him to regain credibility, the president has to take leadership; he should even fire the PG,” Kavekotora said.

“It is incumbent upon President Geingob to pronounce himself on the matter and to put in motion an investigation and curb unacceptable practices. He is bestowed with that responsibility. As it is now, the nation stands completely exposed if the PG believes she can act in this way. It means the judicial system is completely compromised.”

Imalwa last week caused a public outcry with her bombshell announcement that evidence had gone missing. Police Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga had said years ago that the investigation into the missing GIPF million was nearly complete.

Kavekotora said the RDP would write a formal letter to President Geingob to request him to act on the matter.

“If he does not act, the RDP will have to engage the public and demonstrate our disappointment in his leadership,” Kavekotora said.

Kavekotora said Imalwa's assertion raised more questions than answers, and was indicative that she did not believe in the integrity of police or the GIPF.

“Why does she not ask the ACC [Anti-Corruption Commission] or the police to get to the bottom of this? Or was she placed in that position to protect some people?” he asked.

CATHERINE SASMAN

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Namvet now a political player

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Shack fire death blamed on govt

≪ Previous: Geingob asked to act on GIPF matter

Namvet now a political playerSeeking representation Ex-soldiers say they will have to represent themselves if they want their demands heard.

Members of the Namibia War Veterans Trust (Namvet), an organisation of former SWATF and Koevoet soldiers, say they will throw their weight behind the National Patriotic Front (NPF) in the November general election.

The NPF, registered in 1989, has been all but dormant for years after the death of its former leader, Moses Katjiuongua, but the ex-soldiers believe with their input it is now reactivated and ready to contest elections.

Namvet said in a statement last week that the decision by the former soldiers to join a political formation was aimed at having a platform where they can amplify their demand to be recognised as military veterans.

“Radical behaviour has started to develop in the minds of the majority of ex-soldiers, something which can lead them to serious confrontation with the law-enforcement agencies. If we can engage the government politically, we can avoid serious, uncontrollable and unnecessary consequences,” the Namvet statement reads. Namvet states that Namibians should stop voting along tribal lines and party loyalties.

“Today the political parties that had political bonds with former soldiers are led by half-Swapo politicians or those who never say anything good about [the soldiers],” the statement reads.

It says some Swapo politicians are disrespectful of the Namibian constitution and suffocate democracy, adding: “Lack of representation by opposition politicians has inspired the former soldiers to start representing themselves politically.”

The leadership of Namvet says it has approached a former executive member of the NPF, a name it does not want to divulge “at this stage”, with whom they have engaged in discussions and came to an agreement.

“Some of us were branch members of the NPF. We believed in the party and decided that we cannot let the party die,” one preferring anonymity said.

Chief electoral and referenda officer of the ECN, Theo Mujoro, wrote a letter to Kesirua Hijamitambo, a former member of NPF and current member on 15 July in which Mujoro confirmed that the NPF was “reactivated” and “still registered as a political party and can operate as such”.

Expectations for March 2020

The ex-soldiers think they have a good chance of challenging Swapo's two-thirds majority in parliament, saying the NPF can become the next opposition party.

They vow to fight the “bondage of slavery and poverty” and to ensure fundamental human rights for all Namibians.

“Within six months all ex-soldiers [will be] accommodated in the Namibian house and have the same benefits like other veterans,” they say.

They say they will advocate for the amendment of the Veterans Act, and for the establishment of a department for military veterans that will cater to the needs of retired soldiers “who took part in combat since 1966 until today”.

The ex-soldiers also demand that the N$36 million earmarked for former SWATF and Koevoet combatants at independence must be paid out to these soldiers.

CATHERINE SASMAN

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