Shack fire death blamed on govt

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Shack fire death blamed on govt The United People's Movement (UPM) has blamed the death of a two-year-old child in a Rehoboth shack fire on the government's failure to provide decent housing.

The crime investigations coordinator for the Hardap Region, Eric Clay, confirmed the incident. According to him the baby's mother and aunt left her sleeping in the shack with a burning candle.

He added that another child, who was watching television at the neighbour's house, alerted the adults who tried in vain to extinguish the fire.

In a statement issued on Sunday, UPM member of parliament Jan van Wyk said this death was one too many.

He blamed the shack fire on an alleged decision by the Rehoboth town council to bar residents with outstanding municipal debts from buying electricity.

“Service delivery has not improved after the suspension of the elected leadership in Rehoboth as some of the management and staff who were involved in mismanagement and corruption at the Rehoboth town council will not be called to order,” Van Wyk said.

The council rejected his assertions, saying it was not stopping people from buying electricity at all.

Nathalia /Goagoses, the ministerial representative in the Rehoboth town council, told Namibian Sun that it was unfortunate that a life was lost in the shack fire.

She added that the council had embarked upon an educational programme to educate residents on fire hazards and how to protect themselves from fires.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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SA rare earths mine hopes for boost from US-China feud

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

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SA rare earths mine hopes for boost from US-China feudTech mineral haven The rare earth sector in South Africa is largely undeveloped and no mines currently operate in the country. That is an extraordinarily high grade and we don't know anything like it on the planet. - Trevor Blench, Chairman: Steenkampskraal Susan Njanji - It's old, doesn't look like much and is located well out the way in an arid part of western South Africa.

But the Steenkampskraal Mine may be about to become piping hot mining property thanks to some of the world's highest-grade deposits of rare earth metals.

"Steenkampskraal will become a very important source of rare earths for the global industry," Trevor Blench, chairman of Steenkampskraal Holdings Limited, said during a recent tour.

The mine, located about 350 km north of Cape Town, used to produce thorium, a component of nuclear fuel, in the 1950s and 60s.

But now it's been found to also have monazite ore which contains extremely high grade rare earth minerals including neodymium and praseodymium - elements vital to cutting-edge industries.

Manufacturing uses range from tinted welding goggles to industrial magnets, strong alloys for aircraft engines, military hardware, hybrid cars, consumer electronic devices, medical equipment and even the flints in cigarette lighters.

Trade war

China produces the largest share of so-called "tech minerals", with a domestic output of 120 000 tonnes in 2018.

That's vastly more than the United States, which relies on China for about 80% of its rare-earth imports.

But now Beijing has threatened to cut off the supply as trade frictions mount, prompting US president Donald Trump on 22 July to give the Pentagon an executive order to find other sources of the crucial elements.

Rare earth elements are a group of 17 minerals unique for their magnetic, catalytic and electrochemical properties.

For the first time since 1985, China last year became a net importer of some rare earths for its industrial needs, while the government cracked down on illegal exploration and production.

Global sales of electric cars, which need the minerals, jumped by 68% in 2018 to 5.12 million, with China selling over a million vehicles, according to the International Energy Agency.

"China may, as a result of its own requirements, just export less and less to the rest of the world," Blench said.

Enters Steenkampskraal

Steenkampskraal Mine could just be the answer to growing demand, he suggested.

"About 14% of this rock is rare earths. That is an extraordinarily high grade and we don't know anything like it on the planet," Blench said, holding a small but heavy reddish brown rock.

Worldwide, many mines have around 6% or less rare earths in their ore.

No mines for rare earth elements currently operate in South Africa, but the government confirms the presence of yet-to-be tapped tech minerals.

"South Africa is certainly on par with any other country that would lay a claim to being able to supply rare earths elements to meet this increasing demand," said mineralogist Deshenthree Chetty at Mintek, a government mineral and metallurgy research department.

She added that it would be "a great deal for our country to be able to supply, and we are in a position to do so, as long as those markets are favourable."

"We have an abundance of rocks in which rare earth elements are found," Mosa Mabuza, CEO of the Council for GeoScience, which surveys mineral deposits, told AFP.

Steenkampskraal has secured all the licences required to start mining. It plans an initial production of 2 700 tonnes a year once funding of US$50 million has been secured, with further plans to expand.

Rocky road

But the road to global success risks being rocky for the South Africans, cautioned Diego Oliva-Velez, a commodities analyst with Fitch Solutions in London.

The rare earth sector in South Africa is largely undeveloped, and could easily fall behind the US, Australia, India, Russia and Vietnam which all have "significantly larger proven reserves of rare earths", he said.

Steenkampskraal's reserves are also mostly so-called "light rare earths", which are comparatively abundant.

"Steenkampskraal will have to compete with many other producers in this area globally," said Oliva-Velez. – Nampa/Reuters

Contested ground between superpowers

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Contested ground between superpowers Louis Torres Tailfer - Vital for smartphone screens, electric vehicle batteries and wind turbines alike, rare earths are highly sought after.

These metals and elements have become indispensable for many advanced industries, but why are they so important?

And what is their geopolitical role when China and the United States are at loggerheads on trade?

Rare earth elements (REEs) are 17 metals that are actually not that hard to find, with some as abundant in the planet's crust as lead or copper.

Their "rarity" is a result of it being hard to find deposits that are commercially viable. The metals are only found in small quantities within various ores and are often hard to extract.

The United States Geological Survey regularly searches for deposits that can be exploited commercially without damaging the environment.

"Most of the REEs are hosted by minerals that have complex chemical formulas; this presents more challenges to process and extract the REEs," says the USGS.

Rare earths have a particular atomic structure that gives them unique physical properties.

Europium, for example, has a red luminescence used in television screens. Neodymium, which is naturally magnetic, is used to make powerful mini-magnets.

Lanthanum is used in rechargeable batteries found in many electric and hybrid cars.

Vital role

According to a report published by the British Geological Survey, "REEs are used in the widest range of consumer products of any group of elements".

"REEs play a vital role in environmental protection, improving energy efficiency and enabling digital technology," it added.

According to the USGS, China has the world's largest rare earth deposits, with 44 million tonnes of reserves.

Vietnam and Brazil have 22 million tonnes each.

China has two advantages. Its ores are buried in clay deposits - unusual but favourable, as it makes them easier to extract, says the USGS.

Chinese environmental standards are also less strict than in the United States, the institute says.

In contrast, difficulties with US deposits twice forced the closure of the only US mine, in Mountain Pass, California.

"Production at Mountain Pass has resumed in the first quarter of 2018," noted commodity specialists Cyclope in a report, before adding that "a large part was destined for export to China."

Main player

"There's no refining capacity in the world outside of China," James Litinsky, co-chairman of the Mountain Pass mine, told US business news TV channel CNBC, though he believes the facility will be self-sufficient from China and able to produce its own separated rare earth products from 2020.

The lack of processing sites outside China, plus its production capacity, makes Beijing the main player in the rare earths market.

China's pre-eminence in the supply chain of these metals is a nightmare for the US, as its high-tech companies, both civilian and military, rely heavily on rare earths.

The situation is further strained by the trade conflict between Washington and Beijing.

The issue hardened at the end of May, when Chinese president Xi Jinping visited a rare earth factory, dangling the threat of cutting exports to the United States as a counter-strike in the trade war.

China has used the tactic in the past, as in 2010 when Beijing abruptly halted rare earth exports to Japan in retaliation for a territorial dispute. – Nampa/APF

Seven arrested for wildlife crimes

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Seven arrested for wildlife crimes ELLANIE SMIT



Seven suspects were arrested in connection with wildlife crimes last week.

According to statistics provided by the Intelligence Unit in the environment ministry and the Protected Resources Division in the safety and security ministry, three new cases were registered from 19 to 25 August.

Four of the suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching and trafficking. Two Namibian suspects were arrested for the poaching of a rhino at a farm in the Omitara area on 12 August, with a third arrest in the case following on 20 August.

Police also arrested three suspects for possession of a live pangolin at Omaruru on 21 August.

At Osire three suspects were arrested on 22 August for possession of two hunting rifles. They were charged with conspiracy to poach specially protected game and contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act.

Furthermore, 24 suspects appeared in court last week in connection with eight cases of wildlife crime.

Get tougher on drunk drivers

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Get tougher on drunk drivers Almost every second month the Motor Vehicle Accident (Fund) releases frightening statistics related to car crashes on Namibian roads. According to statistics by the 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. On Sunday teenagers Jacques Venter and Angela Maiba became one of those statistics after the hired bus taking them on a school trip overturned outside Kalkrand. Information later trickled in that a drunken driver may have caused this tragedy, which saw a number of Windhoek Gymnasium pupils hospitalised with an assortment of injuries. The 33-year-old bus driver was arrested after testing positive for alcohol at the accident scene and appeared in court yesterday. However, even if the accused is found guilty and receives a stiff sentence, that will not bring back little Angela and Jacques. They are not the only ones. Too many lives have been cut short and too many families have been devastated by irrational and uncalled for behaviour. The scale of emotional, social and economic devastation caused by road accidents is huge as we continue to be robbed of not only our loved ones, but productive citizens who could have contributed immensely to our country’s development. In most cases it is the economically productive people aged between 16 and 35 that make up over 40% of the fatalities. It goes without saying that alcohol-related crashes are on the increase, highlighting a serious problem of drinking and driving. We can no longer look on with folded arms. The time is now to challenge the menace of drunk driving, including imposing serious penalties and enforcing a rigorous traffic programme to combat this scourge. We must stop the loss of innocent lives on our roads. One life lost is one too many.

Nepotism erodes social fabric

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Nepotism erodes social fabricGIPF millions blamed on nepotism Swanu has accused the ruling party of corruptly appointing incompetent people to top positions. JEMIMA BEUKES



Appointing competent and open-minded Namibians in senior positions, coupled with a thorough empowerment process of the Namibian youth, is necessary to fast-track equality and counter patronage, nepotism, corruption and incompetence.

These are the sentiments of South West Africa National Union (Swanu) president Tangeni Iijambo, who believes that the social fabric of our society is being eroded by the policies and practices of those in power.

“The tendency of the ruling party corruptly employing their incompetent and incapable kind at the expense of capable others directly violates the notion of ‘One Namibia, One Nation’.

“Nepotism and tribalism ensue. Praise singing and banking desks as well as kind of blindly supporting each other while the evidence is crystal clear about African failed states and or poor governance due to benefitting from the status quo are not and will never be in the interest of the majority suffering Namibians, or Africans for that matter,” he said.

Iijambo said this in response to the recent announcement by Prosecutor-General Martha Imalwa that over N$600 million had been lost by the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF)

Imalwa said although the GIPF case had been opened as far back as 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.

Making job evaluation/job grading fun and easier

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Making job evaluation/job grading fun and easierBuy-in key When embarking on a job evaluation project, it is important to plan it properly. Resistance normally happens when people don’t understand what job evaluation is all about. Lisa Matomola - Job evaluation is one of the emerging issues in many Namibian organisations - an issue organisations delay, but has tremendous consequences on business operations.

I believe job evaluation is fun. The only reason it becomes daunting is because it is not done properly. What can we do to make job evaluation fun and easier in organisations?

Planning

When embarking on a job evaluation project, it is important to plan it properly.

Like any other project in the organisation, job evaluation requires thorough planning. Planning should include commencement dates, stakeholders, duration, anticipated risks and possible solutions, deadlines, communication and most importantly, the budget. These are some of the factors to be considered.

Leadership involvement

CEOs and executives need to realise that if they don’t get involved in job evaluation projects, it will not be taken seriously by anyone in the organisation.

The moment there is that communication from top management, employees will realise that the project is important and thus requires full attention from everyone.

Stakeholder involvement

A lot of job evaluation exercises fail because they are conducted in isolation.

If you want your job evaluation exercise to be a success, you need to consult and involve every party. This includes leadership, employees, unions and all the relevant key stakeholders in the organisation. They have to be involved and realise the transparency in the process. Buy-in is key.

Train line managers and supervisors on job evaluation principles so that they understand what job evaluation is and what it is not. Resistance normally happens when people don’t understand what job evaluation is all about.

Your employees need to provide input when reviewing job descriptions.

HR as business partner

A missing gap in some human resources (HR) functions is that they do not really play the strategic partner in the business.

HR doesn’t need to know every detail of the role, but they need to understand the function of each department. This will mean less debates in sessions on responsibilities.

Timelines

Fact is, job evaluation is time consuming. It can take several months to years before implementing results.

What causes that? A lack of timelines and proper planning.

If the above are followed, job evaluation will be fun and easier, it will make you learn a lot about your own organisation.

Our job evaluation services (24/7;365 days)

The REMeasure Job Evaluation System is an online system which is based on Paterson principles and grading reports can be correlated to any job evaluation system.

Lisa Matomola is a manager responsible for job evaluation projects at PwC Namibia, including job evaluation principles training and evaluation/grading.

For any job evaluation needs please contact her at lisa.matomola@pwc.com

Fatal bus crash driver denied bail

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Fatal bus crash driver denied bail ELLANIE SMIT



The driver of the bus in which two Windhoek Gymnasium learners died on Sunday made his first court appearance before Magistrate Anna Kruger in the Mariental Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Uasora Uanivi (33) is charged with culpable homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol.

He was not granted bail and the case was postponed to 31 October.

The bus overturned about 30 km south of Kalkrand on Sunday morning at about 09:00.

It was transporting Windhoek Gymnasium pupils on a school trip to the Orange River.

Angela Maiba and Jacques Venter, both 13 years old, died in the accident and scores of other children were injured.

The group of more than 120 learners and teachers were travelling in two buses belonging to Sunshine Tours.

Uanivi, who is an employee of Sunshine Tours, was arrested after testing positive for alcohol at the accident scene. Alcohol was found on the scene.

All the uninjured children and teachers were taken back to Windhoek after the crash, while the injured were transported to several local hospitals.

Besides issuing a brief statement of condolence on Facebook, Sunshine Tours has not commented on the crash.

A candlelight ceremony was held on Monday evening at the Windhoek Gymnasium school, where parents and students gathered in memory of the two students who died in the crash.

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Peacemaker stoned to death

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Peacemaker stoned to death ELLANIE SMIT



A man who tried to stop a fight was stoned to death at Gibeon on Friday.

According to the police Johannes Frederik (58), another man and a woman were drinking in a riverbed when a quarrel erupted between the suspect and the woman.

When Frederik intervened, the suspect threw three rocks at his head, killing him instantly. The suspect has been arrested.

A 36-year-old woman allegedly stabbed her boyfriend to death with a knife during a quarrel at Mondesa in Swakopmund on Saturday.

According to the police Fillipus Mateus was stabbed in the chest, shoulder and neck. The woman handed herself over to the police at Mondesa and was arrested.

In another stabbing on Friday, a 56-year-old man allegedly stabbed his 33-year-old girlfriend with an okapi knife at the Bloedrivier location at Koës.

The woman was stabbed in the right shoulder and in her breast and sustained two deep wounds. The suspect was arrested.

At Otjiuapehuri village a woman was raped on Saturday by a man who assaulted her boyfriend and relatives who tried to help her.

It is alleged that the woman was sleeping outside her house when her boyfriend arrived with the suspect. The suspect apparently woke her up and chatted with her for a while. He then suddenly grabbed her and dragged her into the bushes where he raped her twice in view of her boyfriend and family members. The suspect allegedly beat up the boyfriend and family members who came to her rescue. The man has been arrested.

On Monday a 23-year-old man allegedly raped a 36-year-old woman at Aroab.

The suspect had allegedly invited the woman to his house to enjoy a drink with him. After that he demanded sex and raped her.

In another incident at Onambango village in the Oshikoto Region, a 26-year-old man attempted to rape a 65-year-old woman. The suspect has been arrested.

In a separate incident at Kuisebmond on Friday, a 46-year-old man was allegedly stabbed with a kitchen knife by his landlord. He was admitted to the Walvis Bay State Hospital in a serious but stable condition. The 60-year-old suspect was arrested.

A 47-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were arrested at Mariental for possession of drugs to the value of N$27 360. According to the police 228 Mandrax tablets were found on the female suspect when she was searched. Further police investigations led to the arrest of the man.

A 33-year-old police officer attached to the Very Important Persons Protection Directorate (VIPPD) in the Khomas Region was arrested for drug possession at Mondesa. He was found with five grams of cannabis valued at N$50.

A 30-year-old man was arrested at Omehenene village in the Onesi constituency on Saturday after he was found in possession of 690 grams of dagga, valued at N$6 900, and counterfeit money with a face value of N$400.

Funds are milking govt

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Funds are milking govt ‘Creating jobs for the well-connected’ Questions have been raised over the value of independent entities established within ministries. CATHERINE SASMAN



Members of the parliamentary committee on public accounts held several hearings last week and repeatedly expressed puzzlement over the existence of funds embedded in ministries but proclaimed in law as separate, independent entities.

“The government is channelling money to institutions that do not make sense,” said the chairperson of the committee, RDP MP Mike Kavekotora, adding that funds are “milking” the government, which then has to cut back on other social programmes.

“Some institutions were established to create jobs for the well-connected. Everything we do has an impact on the ability to do something else. We channel money to institutions that do not make sense,” Kavekotora commented.

Last Thursday the reason for the existence of the Diamond Valuation Fund (DVF) also came under the spotlight.

The DVF was established in terms of the Diamond Act of 1999 to defray the cost of valuation of unpolished diamonds, and its income is derived mainly from duties charged on the exports of unpolished diamonds.

It functions as a separate entity within the ministry of mines and energy, which led parliamentary committee members to question its existence since it has not been capacitated with properly skilled staff since its inception.

“What skills have been accrued to the fund since its establishment since everything is seconded to other staff in the ministry?” Kavekotora asked.

“What is the value for money in the creation of the DVF? Considering government’s scare resources, would it not have been prudent to keep the fund [DVF] just as a function within the ministry?”

The parliamentary committee members also questioned the Fund’s reason for existence since the establishment of Namibia Desert Diamonds (Pty) Ltd (Namdia).

Paying for others

In 2017, the DVF allocated N$46.3 million to Namdia as start-up capital at the instruction of the treasury. It has also had to pay close to N$3 million for offices rented by Namdia, and paid close to N$50 000 for the ceremony where Namdia’s sales and marketing agreement was signed.

Although Namdia was created to valuate Namibian diamonds, it has outsourced this function to C-Sixty Investments (Pty) Ltd, for which DVF paid close to N$13 million in 2017.

In the 2017 financial year DVF also paid N$2.7 million to the African Diamond Producers Association, which is an intergovernmental organisation that seeks to strengthen the level of influence African diamond-producing countries have on the world diamond market.

It also paid N$7.6 million to Namgem Diamond Manufacturing Company, a private diamond sorting company.

Adverse audit opinion

DVF was given an adverse audit opinion for the financial year ending in December 2017, partly because of a N$1.9 million understatement of debtors and because there were no supporting documents for travel and accommodation allowances amounting to N$105 668.

Maria Moses, director of administrative services in the DVF, said as far as the debtors value was concerned, the mines ministry had done its own analysis, which found that the outstanding amount was not N$1.9 million but N$10.7 million. This was reflected in the revised audited financial statement.

Moses said this mistake crept in because the money, which belongs to the DVF, was “wrongly” paid into the account of the Diamond Board.

Similarly, she said the debtors were not recognised due to the antiquated accounting systems used until recently.

Moreover, she said the bank had processed the N$105 668 as “various payments”, but that this transaction was reversed because no such payment vouchers exist. She said the correct payment amount was in fact N$105 940, which was rectified and processed under the correct payees’ names.

Lack of capacity

Moses said the DVF intends to take corrective measures to deal with its lack of capacity by migrating from a manual-based accounting system to the computerised Pastel system.

As a temporary arrangement, she said the DVF has been “sourcing” skills from the Diamond Board to “clean up” its systems.

“Our biggest challenge is that the structure is not very clear. The DVF structure is managed within the directorate of diamond affairs where there are no accountants,” Moses said.

According to the 1999 Diamond Act, the executive director [formerly the permanent secretary] is responsible for the full administration of the DVF, and yet the ministerial staff are not allowed to audit the books of the DVF.

Mining for hope

August 27, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Mining for hopeUranium to put boom back in economy A new report by Fitch Solutions expects uranium to power economic growth in Namibia in the coming years. We believe increased mining sector activity and exports of uranium to countries such as China … will see the mining sector continue to outperform the rest of the economy. – Fitch Solutions Jo-Maré Duddy – Namibia’s mining sector – propelled by uranium and in particular Husab – is forecast to become one of the main drivers of the economy in the coming years with its growth likely to outperform relative to regional peers.

This is the opinion of Fitch Solutions Macro Research as expressed in its latest Africa Monitor, released last month.

Although much rosier than that of the forecast of the Bank of Namibia (BoN), the central bank and Fitch Solutions agree about the mining sector’s potential to help kick-start economic growth in the country.

The BoN’s latest economic growth forecast, released in April, pegs expected growth in the local mining sector at 4.9% in 2020. If accurate, this will make mining the best performing sector in the economy. Fitch Solutions currently estimates annual growth of 9.7% in mining next year.

The main driver of growth will be Namibia's uranium sector, which will primarily be boosted by rising production at Husab, Fitch Solutions says.

“We believe increased mining sector activity and exports of uranium to countries such as China, where demand for nuclear power is strong, will see the mining sector continue to outperform the rest of the economy,” Fitch Solutions said in a report in April.

In the BoN’s latest forecast, the central banks says the uranium mining industry is expected to remain under pressure due to low international prices for uranium.

“While the Husab mine is expected to continue ramping up production during 2019 and 2020, there is high uncertainty about production from other uranium mines as the uranium price is expected to remain depressed for some time. The assumption is that both Husab and Rössing Uranium mines will increase production at least until the year 2020,” the BoN says.

The BoN expects the uranium sector to grow by 8.2% this year, followed by 14.2% in 2020.

Big bang

Mining and quarrying in 2018 had its best year since 2012 and boasted with annual growth of 22%.

At current prices, the sector pumped nearly N$27 billion into the economy, contributing 14% to Namibia’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018.

At constant 2010 prices, adjusted for inflation, mining last year contributed nearly N$12.4 billion to Namibia’s GDP of around N$108.9 billion.

Annual growth was significantly up from the 13.3% of 2017, according to the latest preliminary national accounts released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).

The performance in the sector is attributed to diamond, uranium and other mining and quarrying subsectors that recorded strong growth of 13.7%, 64.8% and 54.1% respectively, the NSA said.

Despite low demand and depressed uranium price, uranium subsector is estimated to have registered a robust growth in real value added of 64.8% in 2018, compared to 23.4% recorded in 2017, the NSA said.

“This performance was reflected in the increase in the production volume of uranium due additional mine [Husab] reaching its full potential,” the agency said.

Emerging giant

The Husab mine, majority owned by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGNPC) through its subsidiary Swakop Uranium, has had a significant impact on Namibia's mining sector since coming online in 2017, Fitch Solutions says.

Following annual growth of 13.6% in 2016, the uranium sector expanded by 23.4% in 2017.

Husab is one of the largest uranium mines in the world, with indicated reserves of about 140 kilotonnes (kt) of uranium and an expected life of 20 years, Fitch Solutions points out.

Swakop Uranium, owners of the Husab mine, last year was the biggest mine employer in the country, the latest figures of the Chamber of Mines in Namibia show. Its permanent labour force at the end of 2018 was 1 582 and 40 temporary staff was employed. In addition, Swakop Uranium employed 720 contractors last year.

Global player

The Husab mine currently produces approximately 3kt per year of uranium while the aim of CGNPC is to ramp this up to 5.5kt of uranium this year, which would be the mine's expected full capacity, Fitch Solutions says.

“However, we believe this figure is more likely to be reached in 2020 given the company track record of not meeting announced targets before as well as ongoing operational problems at the site,” it adds.

Fitch Solutions explains: “As an example, in February 2019, up to 500 employees stopped working due to concerns that unchecked explosives and detonators were at the mining site. The mine's executive committee itself announced late last year that they expect the mine to produce only 5.0kt of uranium this year, which is slightly below full capacity of 5.5kt.”

“This delay of full production from this year to next year is something we have included in our forecast assumptions and is reflected on our uranium production growth rates for Namibia,” Fitch Solutions says.

Once the mine does reach full production it will reinforce its place as the second largest uranium producing mine in the world, only behind the McArthur River mine in Canada. It will also propel Namibia above Niger and Australia to become the world's third-largest uranium producer, Fitch Solutions says.

Aside from Husab, Namibia has a number of other projects in the pipeline, the research group points out.

One of these is the Etango mine owned by Australian miner Bannerman Resources. As of February 2019, the company is progressing the updated definitive feasibility study for the project.

“Bannerman has confirmed viability of an open pit and heap leach operation with expected production of over 3kt of uranium for the first five years. However, the company has yet to set a date for commercial operations to begin,” Fitch Solutions says.

Project pipeline

Another driver of growth for Namibia's mining sector over the coming years will be the country's strong project pipeline across a number of minerals, Fitch Solutions says.

“Namibia ties with Botswana in the Southern African region in terms of new mining projects currently in the pipeline with 14 new projects, according to our projects database.”

Fitch Solutions says half of these new projects will be copper-based, with the Haib deposit owned by Deep South Resources as one of the more important developments currently in the works.

“However, we do note that most of these projects are all either in exploration or in the feasibility or pre-feasibility stage and such are not yet guaranteed to be reach full development and production, despite our positive price outlook for base metals over the coming years, which should increase economic incentives for project development.”

Fitch Solutions highlights that the discovery of battery metal deposits in the country present another potential future growth opportunity for Namibia's mining sector, “as demand for these metals from the electric vehicle industry and other battery storage purposes booms”.

“So far various small players have already shown interest in this regard. One example is Montero Mining and Exploration which acquired a lithium exploration license on March 5 2018, on the Omaruru Lineament. Furthermore, Australian company Celsius made the first cobalt discovery in the country in early 2019, declaring that it intends to bring the mine, located in the northwest of the country, into production by 2020.”

Losing shine

“On the less positive side, the country's diamond industry – traditionally the backbone of the country's mining sector – will continue to witness depleting ore reserves and high operating costs, leading to a deceleration in new projects,” Fitch Solutions says.

Namdeb has announced that it plans to close four mines by 2022 for these reasons.

“While this paints a bleak outlook for the sector we believe that offshore mining will continue to drive production slightly higher over the coming years, even if not at levels seen in the past,” Fitch Solutions says.

“Namdeb estimates that 95% of its diamonds will come from the Namibian seabed in the future and the company currently operates five mining vessels - the Debmar Atlantic, the Debmar Pacific, Gariep, Grand Banks (put back in operation in 2015) and Mafuta.”

Attractive

“We believe that Namibia's favourable business and political environment will continue to spur investment and therefore growth in the country's mining sector over the coming years,” Fitch Solutions says.

With a score of 50.5, Namibia ranks as one of the best performing countries in Sub-Sahara Africa on Fitch Solutions’ Mining Risk/Reward Index, considerably above the regional average of 38.3.

“From a mining perspective Namibia is broadly seen as a safe and business friendly jurisdiction by mining companies due to a clear mining code modelled on the Australian and Canadian frameworks and relative low royalties and taxes compared to regional peers.”

Fitch Solutions says government's decision to scrap a clause that mandated businesses to sell a 25% stake to previously disadvantaged Namibians as part of the New Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework (NEEEF), is an added tailwind” that will be seen as positive by mining investors.

Labour tension

“Despite this positive outlook we do note that labour tensions in the industry will present ongoing downside risks to our growth forecasts over the coming years.

“An example of this was the aforementioned recent incident at the Husab mine where allegations of poor safety measures by employees led to work stoppages. As another example, also in February, employees at Basil Read Mining's Tsumeb Zinc operations decided to strike citing unfair labour practices and the payment of wages based on race.

“While this is not something that has yet become widespread, we do believe it could become a broader problem for the country's mining sector if left unaddressed,” Fitch Solutions says.

Oryx Properties expects profit boost

August 28, 2019, 3:57 am

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Oryx Properties expects profit boost Locally-listed Oryx Properties this morning released a trading statement on the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX), saying it expects earnings per share (EPS) and profit for the financial year ended 30 June 2019 to be “substantially higher” than its previous book-year.
Substantially higher means more than 30%, Oryx indicated.
Headline earnings and distributions, however, are likely to be less than 10% lower, the company said.
Oryx’s latest set of financials is expected on or about 30 August.
The company closed at N$20.40 per share on the Local Index of the NSX on Tuesday. Oryx’s share price has gained 0.94% since the end of 2018.
With a total market capitalisation of N$1.783 billion, Oryx is the fourth biggest company on the Local Index.

Eiseb, Simon victorious in Oshana Cycle Challenge

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Eiseb, Simon victorious in Oshana Cycle Challenge Cyclist Marckernzy Eiseb was crowned the champion of the first Nedbank Oshana Cycle Challenge after winning the 100 km race in Oshakati on Saturday in a time of two hours, fourteen minutes and forty-six seconds (2:14:46).

Chiponeni 'Fiffy' Kashululu, who was beaten to the finish line, finished in second place in a time of two hours, thirty minutes and thirty-six seconds (2:30:36), while Jafet Amukushu came third with a time of two hours, sixteen minutes and eight seconds (2:16:08).

“The race was a preparation for Windhoek Pedal Power which will take place this weekend as well as the Tour de Windhoek in September.

“It was a great race. The course was flat, that's why the race was fast. Kashululu and I broke away from the start, but 30 km from the hotspot I went hard and finished solo as he couldn't catch up,” said Eiseb.

Sofia Simon was the only woman to compete in the 100 km race and finished in a time of two hours, fifty minutes and forty-eight seconds (2:50:48).

The race took cyclists from the starting point at the Game Shopping Centre and carried on along the newly constructed Okatana/Endola road to the town of Helao Nafidi and back.

The 60 km category was won by Melki Hamukoto with a time of one hour, thirteen minutes and six seconds (1:13:06) followed by Joe-Joe Hamunyela with a time of one hour, thirteen minutes and ten seconds (1:13:10) and Fonseca Bernardino Camenhe coming in third place in a time of one hour, thirteen minutes and forty seconds (1:13:40).

The women's 25 km race was won by Julanda Mbako with a time of fifty minutes and forty seconds (0:50:40), with Teolidis Nepembe in second place in one hour, seven minutes and forty seconds (1:07:40) and Lovisa Shiningayamwe in third place with a time of one hour, twenty-six minutes and forty-seven seconds (1:26:47).

Nembia Wilibard, Lisias Nashumba and Essar Mathews finished first, second and third respectively in the men's 25 km race.

The event was sponsored by Nedbank Namibia and organised by Oshana Cycles.

“We believe that the event gave an opportunity for local cycling talent to be recognised,” said organiser and avid cyclist Lucky Mbako.

“There has been very little support given to the sport of cycling in the north and we hope that the Oshana Cycle Challenge will continue to open other opportunities for the cycling community here,” he added.

The Oshana Cycle Challenge aims to develop cycling in the northern regions by providing the cycling community in that area with an opportunity to compete in a professional cycling event.

Other sponsors included Coca-Cola, Auas Motors, Newmed, Hotel Destiny, Cymot and the Atlantic Training Institute.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Cold feet or blatant denial by NPL

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Cold feet or blatant denial by NPLDenies putting out fixtures NPL's Andre Gariseb yesterday said the league leadership never made public announcements or statements regarding the number of clubs to compete in the MTC Premiership for 2019/20 season. Andre Gariseb, the spokesperson for the Namibia Premier League (NPL), was responding to questions regarding the directive from the Fifa Normalisation Committee (NC) to retract public statements or announcements made earlier this month regarding the league kick-off date in September, or the number of clubs to take part in the league, or to face action.

Gariseb said they don't have anything to retract because NPL never announced the number of teams for the league to start the weekend of 13 September.

This despite Gariseb sharing information with media early in August about the draft fixtures and also despite the fact that NPL chief executive officer Harald Fuller acknowledged in an article published on 14 August (Read the constitution - Basson-Namundjebo) knowing about the fixtures and still insisted that they would start the league with 13 clubs. This after the NC instructed them to read the NFA constitution which did not give them the power to make such decisions.

Fuller had also said that an NPL executive meeting that took place in early August had resolved that the 2019/20 league season would kick off in the second week of September - despite ongoing fights among some members.

Gariseb however said having had the interest of footballers and their wellbeing in mind, and for collective engagement, the league took the logical decision to share 'draft' fixtures indicating the envisaged kick-off date only for the member clubs to peruse for inputs.

“The information that was released and published was done by someone else, at their own discretion and not NPL.

“Hence, the NC's directive on this point is based on assumptions and not facts,” Gariseb continued to argue.

“The league's genuine intention and goal is to get the ball rolling as soon as possible so that players can do what they enjoy and for fans to come and support them,” Gariseb further stated. Gariseb further said that they would look at different aspects to discuss at the annual general meeting (AGM) this weekend. These aspects include the league kick-off, which he said the exco would pronounce themselves on.

NPL had until yesterday to make a decision regarding the way forward with the league, as the NC last week Monday wrote to the domestic league leadership, giving them five days to retract the statements and to stop undermining NFA's statutes and decisions which the NC makes as a committee.

In the statement sent to NPL, the NC expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which NPL decided to declare a national dispute with the association as well as the league unilaterally announcing kick-off dates and announcing that the upcoming football season will consist of only 13 clubs as opposed to the traditional 16 teams.

The statement said that NPL's recent resolutions are in direct contravention of Article 67, which states that: “The NPL will organise competitions [the NPL championships and the NPL cup] between members and other clubs as approved by the NFA, which competitions will be regulated by this constitution and other rules which shall comply with the NFA Manual on Rules and Regulations.

“We thus place you in terms that no Arbitration Tribunal has been installed or recognised as envisaged in Article 63 of the NFA (1), in any event, the impugned decision made by the NFA executive committee is final and binding.

“The NFA executive committee thus places you on terms that it never delegated such authority [to declare dispute, announce kick-off dates and the number of teams for the new season], neither expressively nor impliedly,” reads part of the committee's letter.

“We are waiting for a response from them. If they don't respond we are ready to take further steps as directed by Fifa,” Hilda Basson-Namundjebo, chairperson of the NC, said yesterday.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Gargo notes lessons learnt in Caf exit

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Gargo notes lessons learnt in Caf exitBetter preparation next time to propel team African Stars head coach Mohammed Gargo believes the players learned enough valuable lessons in their failed Caf Champions League campaign to serve them well in the future. African Stars will have to wait a bit longer to put a star on their crest after crashing out of the Caf Champions League in the group stage on Friday at Star Times Stadium in Kampala, as they were beaten 2-0 by Uganda's Kampala's Capital City Authority (KCCA) in their second-leg match.

Stars beat KCCA in Namibia at Sam Nujoma Stadium 3-2 in the first leg but that was not enough to advance to the next stage as the aggregate after the last match was 4-3.

Gargo said it was unfortunate that they bowed out of the competition but that he was impressed with the effort the players made.

He said the inefficient finishing in front of goal was what they lacked and that with better preparation they would do better in the future.

“From the beginning we realised that we would have a problem, hence the team grouping. Also, we have new players and some of them couldn't feature in the match because their documents were not ready on time.”

Gargo further said that they could have returned with more goals, thus allowing them to go through, but Lady Luck was not on their side.

He also mentioned that he didn't want to push the players too hard, knowing their stamina and fitness levels were not on par.

“I didn't want to break them down so I didn't want to put too much pressure on them. But I applaud their effort,” he added.

“The coach said they would now go back to the drawing board to work on fitness levels and look forward to the domestic league kicking off.

“We know where we lack and will work on that,” Gargo said.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

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First Bank Windhoek NVF Cup tourney goes to Otjiwarongo

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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First Bank Windhoek NVF Cup tourney goes to Otjiwarongo Otjiwarongo will for the first time host this year's Bank Windhoek Namibia Volleyball Federation (NVF) Cup on Saturday and Sunday at the town's C'est Si Bon municipal courts.

With kick-off scheduled for 08:30, the two-day contest will see 24 teams, comprising of the best two male and female teams from each of the participating six regional volleyball associations, compete for bragging rights.

“It will be an action-packed weekend of volleyball. Thus, we call upon the community of Otjozondjupa Region to come in numbers and witness Namibia's top volleyball battles,” said NVF president Hillary Imbuwa.

Participants and spectators can look forward to rubbing shoulders with some of Namibia's top volleyball teams, such as the 2018 NVF Cup champions in the male category, Khomas Nampol Volleyball Club, and the women's champions, Revivals Volleyball Club.

The top-performing teams will secure one of the four available places per category, who will compete in the final round on Saturday.

“Our main focus is to keep developing the sport of volleyball across the country and create better opportunities for our young players to showcase their volleyball talent,” said Imbuwa.

He added that the NVF appreciated Bank Windhoek's support over the years.

“The bank is one of our most valuable and trusted partners in volleyball development in the country,” Imbuwa said.

SPORTS REPORTER

Omuhingi gwombesa a tindilwa omboloha

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Omuhingi gwombesa a tindilwa omboloha ELLANIE SMIT

Omuhingi gwombesa moka mwa sile aanaskola yaali yomoskola yoWindhoek Gymnasium mOsoondaha okwa holoka komeho yompangu yamangestrata, Anna Kruger moMariental mEtiyali.



Uasora Uanivi (33) ota tamanekele oshipotha shedhipago lyaashi lyoshiningilawina oshowo okuhinga a longitha iikolwitha.

Ina pewa omboloha pethimbo a holoka mompangu noshipotha she osha undilulwa komasiku 31 gaKotomba.

Oshiponga shoka osha holoka oshinano shookilometa 30 mUumbugantu waKalkrand ongula yOsoondaha lwopotundi onti 09:00.

Ombesa oya li tayi fala kotuula aanona yondondo onti 7 yoskola yaWindhoek Gymnasium kOrange River.

Angela Maiba oshowo Jacques Venter, ayehe yomimvo 13 oya hulithila moshiponga shoka omanga aanona oyendji yeehamekwa.

Ongundu yaanaskola ya thika po 120 opamwe naalongi oya li momambesa gaali gehangano lyoSunshine Tours.

Uanivi, ngoka e li omuniilonga gwehangano lyoSunshine Tours, okwa tulwa miipandeko konima sho a fudhilithwamo na okwa monika kutya okwa longitha iikolitha. Pehala lyoshiponga opwa adhika wo omalovu.

Aanona ayehe mboka inaya ehamekelwa moshiponga pamwe naalongi yawo oya shunwa kOvenduka konima yoshiponga omanga mboka yeehamekwa ya falwa miipangelo ya yooloka.

Kakele kokugandja omahekeleko omolwa oshiponga shoka kepandja lyawo lyoFacebook, ehangano lyoSunshine Tours inali popya sha kombinga yoshiponga.

Okwa ningwa oshituthi shokutema uulehita poskola yaWindhoek Gymnasium, ongulohi yOmaandaha moka aavali naanaskola ya gongala okudhimbuluka aanaskola yaali mboka ya hulithile moshiponga.

A dhipagwa nomamanya

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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A dhipagwa nomamanya ELLANIE SMIT

Omulumentu ngoka a kambadhala okuhulitha po olugodhi okwa dhipagwa nomamanya sha ningilwa moGibeon mEtitano.



Olopota yopolisi oya holola kutya, Johannes Frederik (58), omulumentu gumwe oshowo omukiintu oya li taya nwine omalovu momulamba sho oontamanana dha tukula pokati komufekelwa nomukiintu.

Sho Frederik a kambadhala okwiidhopamo omufekelwa okwe mu umbu nomamanya gatatu ngoka ge mu dhenge komutse nokumudhipaga. Omufekelwa okwa tulwa miipandeko.

Omukiintu gwoomvula 36 okwa tsu nombele sigo omeso, omumati gwe sha ningilwa moMondesa moSwakopmund mOlyomakaya.

Palopota yopolisi, Fillipus Mateus okwa tsuwa nombele montulo, mepepe nothingo. Omukiintu ngoka okwiigandja ye mwene kopolisi yaMondesa na okwa tulwa miipandeko.

Moshiningwanima shimwe sha holoka natango mEtitano, omulumentu gwoomvula 56 okwa tsu nombele yokapi omukadhona gwe gwoomvula 33, sha ningilwa molukanda lwaBloedrivier moKoës.

Omukiintu ngoka okwa tsuwa mepepe lyokolulyo, megundji na okwa ningwa iilalo iyali inene. Omufekelwa okwa tulwa miipandeko.



Momukunda Otjiuapehuri omukiintu okwa lopotwa a kwatwa onkonga komulumentu ngoka a dhenge omumati gwe oshowo aakwanezimo ye yaali mboka ya kambadhala okumukwathela.

Otaku hokololwa kutya omukiintu okwa li a lala pondje yegumbo lye sho omumati gwe ye yapo nomufekelwa. Omufekelwa aniwa okwe mu pendula na okwa kala ta popi naye okathimbo okashona. Konima okwe mu kwata nokumunanena miihwa moka e mu kwata onkonga miipathi yomumati gwe oshowo aakwanezimo yaali.

Omufekelwa okwa dhenge aniwa omumati gwomukiintu ngoka oshowo aakwanezimo ye yaali. Omufekelwa okwa tulwa miipandeko.

Momaandaha, omulumentu gwoomvula 23 okwa lopotwa a kwata onkonga omukiintu gwoomvula 36 moAroab.

Omulumentu ngoka okwa hiya aniwa omukiintu ngoka kegumbo lye opo ya kanwe pamwe, konima omulumentu okwa kala ta pula iihulo momukiintu ngoka nokonima okwe mu kwata onkonga.

Momukunda Onambango moshitopolwa shaShikoto, omulumentu gwoomvula 26 okwa kambadhala okukwata okonga oukokele gwoomvula 65. Omufekelwa okwa tulwa miipandeko.

Moshiningwanima shimwe natango moKuisebmond mEtitano, omulumentu gwoomvula 46 okwa tsuwa nombele kumwene gwehala mpoka ha hiila. Okwa taambelelwa moshipangelo shaMbaye a li monkalo yanayipala. Omufekewa gwoomvula 60 okwa tulwa miipandeko.

Omulumentu gwoomvula 47 oshowo omukiintu gwoomvula 21 oya tulwa miipandeko moMariental sho ya adhika niingangamithi yongushu yoN$27 360. Palopota yopolisi, omukiintu ngoka okwa adhika noopela dhoMandrax 228 nomakonaakono gopolisi oga fala metulo miipandeko lyomulumentu.

Omunambelewa gwopolisi ha longele oshikondo shoVery Important Persons Protection Directorate (VIPPD) moshitopolwa shaKhomas, gwoomvula 33 okwa adhika niingangamithi moMondesa, na okwa tulwa miipandeko.

Omulumentu ngoka okwa adhika noograma ntano dhocannabis dhongushu yooN$50.

Omulumentu gwoomvula 30 okwa tulwa miipandeko momukunda Omehenene moshikandjohogololo Onesi Olyomakaya konima sho a adhika noograma 690 dhiingangamithi yongushu yooN$6 900, oshowo iimaliwa yiikengeleka yooN$400.

Geingob a pulwa iidhope moshikumungu shoGIPF

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Geingob a pulwa iidhope moshikumungu shoGIPF RDP a hala omakonaakono gomupresidende mekano lyoomiliyona dhaGIPF Omuleli gwongundu yoRDP okwa pula opo ku ningwe omakonaakono omolwa iimaliwa yoshiketha shoopenzela dhaaniilonga yepangelo mbyoka ya kana. CATHERINE SASMAN

Omuleli gwongundu yoRally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) Mike Kavekotora okwa pula Omupresidende Hage Geingob uulike uuleli wo nokukutha miilonga Omupanguli-Ndjai Martha Imalwa, ngoka a popi kutya ita vulu okupangula omahangano ge li 18 yomomahangano 20 ngoka taga fekelelwa ekuthombinga mekano lyoomiliyona dhoGIPF.

“Kungame mpoka opo Omupresidende Geingob e na okuulika uuleli we. Okwa pumbwa okuninga omakonaakono gamwe a mone kutya omolwashike omupanguli-ndjai a ningi omapopyo geli ngaaka. Olye e li oshinima shoka monima?” Kavekotora a popi mEtitanp.

Kavekotora okwa popi kutya ota fekele aanapolotika naanenentu ya kwatakanithwa nepangelo oyo yeli konima yetokolo lyaImalwa opo ka pangule.

“Ngele omupresidende okwa hala oshigwana shi mu inekele nena okwa pumbwa okuholola uuleli nokutidha miilonga omupanguli-ndjai,” Kavekotora a popi.

Imalwa oshiwike sha piti okwa ningi etseyitho lyopashigwana kombinga yomaumbangi miimaliwa mbyoka ya kana.

Omukomeho gwopolisi Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga okwa li a popi oomvula dha piti kutya omakonaakono mekano lyiimaliwa yoGIPF oge li pokumanithwa.

Kavekotora okwa popi kutya RDP otaka shangela omupresidende omukanda opo a katuke oonkatu moshinima shoka, nongele ina katuka oonkatu nena RDP otaka ninga oonkundathana noshigwaa opo shi ninge ehololomadhilaadho omolwa elelo lye.

Kavekotora kwa popi kutya omapopyo gaImalwa oga e ta omapulo ogendji pehala lyomayamukulo.

“Omolwashike ina pula oACC [Anti-Corruption Commission] yi konaakone nenge opolisi yi ye pekota lyoshinima shoka? Nenge okwa tulwa ponkatu mpoka a gamene aantu yamwe?”

German minister visits Namibia

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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German minister visits Namibia The German minister for economic cooperation and development, Gerd Müller, is expected to arrive in Namibia today for a five-day visit.

According to the German embassy Müller will kick off his visit with a meeting with the Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi.

This will be followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and the minister of finance, Calle Schlettwein.

Müller will also visit programmes supported under German development cooperation.

“He will visit projects in Katutura aimed at improving the living conditions in the informal settlements and will meet Namibian start-up companies at the Bokamoso Entrepreneurial Centre.

“Afterwards, Minister Müller and his delegation will travel to the north of Namibia where he will visit a training farm for climate adaptation strategies in agriculture in Mashare,” the statement reads.

Müller will officiate at the official opening of the newly equipped Buffalo park station in the Bwabwata National Park, which was funded with German support.

He will also meet with representatives of conservancies, the ministry of environment and tourism and non-governmental organisations.

According to the embassy Müller will also visit the port of Walvis Bay as well as a research project on the Benguela Current – supported by the German ministry for environment - before departing for South Africa on 2 September. Namibia and Germany have a longstanding relationship and development cooperation is an integral part of the relationship between the two countries.

The focal areas of the bilateral development cooperation are the promotion of sustainable economic development, the management of natural resources and the development of the transport sector.

In the current framework of bilateral technical and financial cooperation, programmes to the volume of 400 million euro (N$6.4 billion) are being implemented together with the Namibian government.

JEMIMA BEUKES