Billions for new power lines

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Billions for new power linesFour-year strategic plan launched NamPower has a host of projects over the next four years to secure power supply to Namibia.

As part of its new strategic plan, NamPower is expected to spend upward of N$1 billion on the construction of three new heavy-current power lines and several renewable-energy power stations.

The announcement was made at the launch of NamPower's strategic plan, which concludes in 2023.

Among the first projects is the construction of a 400-kilovolt (kV) line between the Auas and Gerus substations, NamPower MD Simson Haulofu said.

“The Auas–Gerus 400 kV line bid is with the Central Procurement Board (CPB), waiting to be issued.

“It must be understood that the 400 kV line forms part of the total project, which includes transmission substation extensions at both Gerus and Auas,” said Haulofu.

The cost of the Auas–Gerus project is estimated at N$900 million.

Haulofu explained that the project would provide security of power supply to the northern and north-eastern regions and reduce network losses on the overloaded 220 kV system.

It would also provide capacity for a wheeling path to Zambia via a high-voltage direct-current interconnector.

Tenders would be advertised in due course, Haulofu said.

This project will be followed by planned linkages between NamPower's Obib substation near Rosh Pinah in the south and Eskom's Oranjemond facility in South Africa.

“Once the first bid has been advertised, NamPower will align the other two bid contents accordingly. The next bid to be advertised will be the Obib–Oranjemond line. The third line, Auas–Kokerboom, will be issued at a later stage,” said Haulofu. According to him the total cost of the other two projects is over N$2.5 billion.

The 400 kV line between Obib and Oranjemond in South Africa would provide security of supply and network stability to the Eskom network. It would also reduce reliance upon Eskom's Aries substation while providing a network for the wheeling of energy between the two countries.

The Auas–Kokerboom 400 kV line, on the other hand, would provide security of supply, network stability and sufficient capacity during peak times. The line would also allow for maintenance and refurbishment opportunities on the existing line and associated equipment connected to the line.

NamPower is also waiting for a tender to be issued for the construction of the Omburu Photovoltaic (PV) power station.

“The NamPower 20 MW Omburu PV bid is with the CPB, waiting to be issued. The 20-megawatt (MW) Independent Power Producer (IPP) Photovoltaic (PV) bid will be issued soon,” Haulofu said.

NamPower is also expected to add a biomass and wind power station over the next four years.

STAFF REPORTER

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Onyaanya Swapo discontent

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Onyaanya Swapo discontent

Some members of the Onyaanya Swapo district in the Oshikoto Region are demanding that the results of the party's district conference held on Sunday be nullified and for another district conference to be convened.

The disgruntled members, who were delegates to the conference, have chosen to remain unnamed due to fear of victimisation.

“We will go public if we fail to get a positive answer from the regional leadership before Friday this week,” the members told Nampa on Tuesday.

They claimed that the serving top three, Nestor Iyambo (coordinator), Tresia Nangula-Shipanga (mobiliser) and Risto Antindi (treasurer) retained their positions after the election returning officer, Willem Amutenya, “dubiously prevented other interested candidates to stand for election”.

Abia Nambahu (coordinator), Sacky Kathindi (mobiliser) and Gideon Shikomba (treasurer) were the interested candidates who Amutenya allegedly declared ineligible to stand as candidates during the conference “for no apparent reason”.

“The returning officer declared Nambahu, Kathindi and Shikomba not eligible to stand, under false claims that the supervision role they played during section and branch conferences in the district disqualified them,” claimed the disgruntled members.

They went on to say the party's election procedures state that members shall not be eligible to stand as candidates only at the elections they are required to supervise and control.

“The three were not in charge of elections during the district conference, but were delegated from branch level to stand as candidates for district leadership positions,” argued the unhappy Swapo members.

They charged that Amutenya's conduct during the conference in question has led to disunity amongst party members in the district and that only a fresh and fair conference will reunify the members.

Approached by Nampa, Amutenya responded: “If they are true Swapo members, they are obliged to know that we have party procedures on how to raise issues concerning our conferences and not complaining through the media.”

He added that he was also not mandated by any party structure to discuss matters related to the said conference.

On his part, Swapo regional coordinator in the region, Armas Amukwiyu said “the electoral committee is independent and is free to execute its mandate autonomously”.

Amukwiyu said although his office is aware of the district conference held at Onyaanya on Sunday, but that it was not yet informed of any dispute.

NAMPA

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Ongwediva pushes development agenda

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Ongwediva pushes development agendaTown has abundant potential Development and housing, along with investment potential, are the prime focus points for the Ongwediva town council.

Although the Ongwediva town council spent over N$1 billion on housing infrastructure development between 1999 and 2015, there is still a high demand for serviced land for residential, commercial and industrial investments.

The council is close to finalising the formalisation process of Oshiko extensions one and two, as well as Efidi extension two.

According to council spokesperson Jackson Muma, this development process, which has created 973 plots zoned for residential, business and institutional use, is only waiting for approval by the township board.

Once this process has been completed, existing residents will have an opportunity to buy their properties and acquire ownership.

“The council appointed Stubenrauch Town Planning Consultants to spearhead this project that started in November last year and is expected to be finalised by the end of this year,” Muma said.

“The town council is determined and committed to the process of formalisation of all settlement areas within the borders of Ongwediva in the shortest possible time,” he added.

Muma said Ongwediva is a young and vibrant town. By virtue of its strategic location, excellent infrastructure and unique market to support any investment initiative, Ongwediva offers abundant business development potential.

He said this business development potential had, until recently, not been explored aggressively and the emphasis was primarily on housing development.

“This clearly defines Ongwediva as an undiscovered jewel of northern Namibia. Generally there is a high demand for serviced land for residential and commercial and industrial investments. In response to this demand, the town council has embarked on a number of capital projects to provide for these basic urban services.

“The council believes that capital investment in infrastructure development is a key ingredient for economic growth; and thus such development will attract capital investments in all sectors of the town's economy. And indeed it has,” said Muma.

“The current commercial and industrial areas could be adequate for present and future demand. The planning thereof made provision for future demand and hence, emphasis from the council is squarely on the improvement of the physical infrastructure. As for the commercial area, surfaced roads and complete electrical reticulation have been planned to meet the requirements of prospective investors.”

The council is planning the development of a public recreational park and a sport stadium. It is further engaging business investors to assist in the development of a museum, library and golf estate.

“The town council has, over the past five years, invested over N$100 million in infrastructure development projects. This investment is proof of the continuous efforts by the town council to live up to expectations and improve the living standard of its residents.

“The town council has been engaged in the renovation and upgrading of the town's water reservoirs in order to guarantee uninterrupted water distribution; surfacing of major arterial roads networks; complete electricity reticulation with street lighting for residential areas; and the upgrading of the wastewater disposal facilities,” Muma said.

ILENI NANDJATO

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Drought escalates livestock marketing

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Drought escalates livestock marketing11% more cattle slaughtered The increase in total marketing was mainly driven by increased slaughtering at export abattoirs due to drought conditions forcing farmers to reduce their herds.

Livestock marketing has escalated as a result of the drought in Namibia with approximately 11% more cattle marketed during the first half of the year as opposed to the same period in 2018.

Marketing increased from 221 530 cattle in the first half of 2018 to 245 706 in 2019.

“The increase in total marketing was mainly driven by increased slaughtering at export abattoirs due to drought conditions forcing farmers to bring their livestock herds to manageable levels,” says the Meat Board of Namibia.

Compared to the same period last year, export abattoirs slaughtered 56% more cattle than the 246 000 cattle that were marketed.

According to the Meat Board this is mainly because of the price initiative that was offered by the export abattoirs.

The average slaughter prices at export abattoirs increased with 9%, whereas export abattoirs on average pay N$7.38/kg more than the equivalent price in South Africa, Argentina and Brazil.

“Weaner prices have, for the reporting period however decreased with 28% on a year-to-year basis.”

On the other hand, an amount of 452 000 sheep were slaughtered during the first half of the year, which is a mere 0.6% more compared to the same period in 2018 when 449 545 sheep were marketed.

“The biggest shift took place regarding the export of sheep and especially animals that are not fit for slaughter and fat tails, as opposed to animals that were offered for local slaughter,” says the Meat Board.

During the first half of 2019, a total of 296 137 head of sheep were exported live, accounting for 65% of the market share. Sheep slaughtered at the export abattoirs accounted for 27% at 120 266 head while those that were slaughtered at the B and C class abattoirs accounted for 8% at 35 934 sheep.

Sheep prices fell 15.38% for the first half of the year on a year-to-year basis, while the price difference between Namibian export abattoirs and South African Northern Cape abattoirs was N$4.84/kg.

The Meat Board further said they have started negotiations to attain additional market access for bone-in beef and lamb to the European Union, China, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

“Except for the European Union, and to a lesser extent China, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates offer opportunities to import bone-in products produced north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence under certain conditions,” the Meat Board said.

It said that every potential importing country is measured according to the potential income Namibia could earn as well as import conditions set by the importing country and the costs to adhere to such conditions. China already imports a certain amount of Namibian beef.

According to the Meat Board indications are that globally, the meat industry has grown with 1.4% and the biggest contributors to this growth are beef, pork and poultry. Countries that mainly contributed to this growth are the EU, Russia and the USA, with additional contributions from Argentina, Australia, India and Mexico.

“The growth in the meat industry is mainly driven by improved productivity, whereas increased slaughter numbers due to the drought (Australia) are also a factor. There was a decrease in the production of pork in China as a result of the devastating impact of African swine fever.”

The Meat Board said that as for the South African market, it is predicted that the slaughter volumes will decline due to a herd building phase that will follow the drought period. Although normally associated with a price increase, it is also predicted that prices will be under pressure due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in South Africa.

“Meat that generally gets exported is now being locally canalised which results in an oversupply of beef while the buying power of the consumer has decreased because of the economic downturn.”

ELLANIE SMIT

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Call for second opinion on patient's death

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Call for second opinion on patient's death

The People's Litigation Centre has called on the medical board to investigate the death of a patient who was waiting to be assisted at the Robert Mugabe Clinic in Windhoek.

PLC director Umenee Matundu said in a statement that they welcomed the health ministry's probe into the death but believed the board must launch a separate impartial investigation.

Matundu said the PLC was alarmed by the alleged negligent conduct by guards and nurses at the clinic, adding that the incident was a gross violation of the deceased's rights.

“Despite the ongoing investigations into the matter, medical statistics in Namibia indicate that in our public healthcare system we have had several cases of negligence on the part of the public health servants. Some of these date back a few years ago and others are more recent.

This shows that medical negligence is still an ongoing problem in the Namibian public health sector,” Matundu said.

The health ministry has in the meantime appointed a four-member committee to conduct a preliminary investigation into the circumstances of Laimi Nandjebo's death.

According to a statement issued by the ministry's executive director, Ben Nangombe, the late Nandjebo had taken her child to the clinic for immunisation and did not inform the clinic staff that she needed medical attention. Neither did she show any signs of distress.

He added that Nandjebo was accompanied by a relative who informed the clinic staff that she had been complaining of chest pains since the morning.

Nangombe said the investigating team would include a senior medical officer, a chief health programme officer, a nursing service manager and a control administrative officer.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Rid the system of unnecessary funds

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Rid the system of unnecessary funds

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts has brought to the fore a number of accountability issues and concerns within government offices, ministries and agencies during its whirlwind tours around the country. One of the pertinent issues that cropped up during its oversight and monitoring meetings was the existence of so-called independent entities established within ministries. One such fund is the Land Acquisition and Development Fund, which committee chairperson Mike Kavekotora claimed was solely used to facilitate transactions for the government even though a finance system was already in place to purchase farms through the relevant ministry. Exorbitant amounts within the fund’s personnel expenses, under which the salaries are listed at N$1.2 million and N$5.3 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively, also raised the ire of MPs. Last week, those running the Diamond Valuation Fund were also hauled over the coals and asked to account to the standing committee after the auditor-general gave the fund an adverse audit opinion for the financial year ending December 2017. The DVF was established through an act of parliament of 1999 to, among others, defray the cost of unpolished diamonds. The DVF had played a leading role in the creation of Namdia, including allocating about N$46 million as start-up capital and paying N$3 million towards its rent, among others. Kavekotora likened the existence of some of these funds to a patronage system whereby jobs are created for the well-connected. For a government which is hamstrung by serious economic problems, one wonders why such “useless” funds are allowed to exist parallel to other government bodies that are equally capable. We have our priorities utterly misplaced here. As a parliamentary oversight body, the workings of the standing committee on public accounts play an important role towards greater budget transparency for improved accountability and governance. Therefore, its recommendations, including freeing the system of unnecessary funds and bodies, must be taken seriously by the powers that be, including other lawmakers as a collective.

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Coalition fever in the air

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Coalition fever in the airPDM, UPM join forces The official opposition and a smaller opposition party have formed an alliance to fight the November elections as a united front.

The official opposition Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has formed a last-minute alliance with a significantly smaller party, the United People's Movement (UPM), to strengthen its fight against the might of the ruling Swapo Party.

PDM leader McHenry Venaani yesterday emphasised that there has been no better time to break Swapo's two-thirds majority in parliament. Venaani also rejected talk from other political parties that his “top dog” mentality has cost him other political partnerships.

“I could not have insisted if I initiated the process to bring all on board. I was never part of the negotiations to have insisted. What we asked was synchronised manifestos of all parties, nothing came of it,” he said. This marks the first since independence that two political parties have formed a coalition. UPM president and former DTA member of parliament Piet Junius said it only made sense for political parties who share striking similarities to form coalitions.

“It is an exceptional highlight of my half-a-century-long career that political parties are uniting to fight against domination,” he said.

PDM leader McHenry Venaani yesterday said it is important for political parties to move beyond self-centred politics and instead clinch deals for the benefit of the Namibian nation.

“We have taken firm decisions. There is no perfect deal but we will stand as one party under one banner. We will field one presidential candidate and one list. PDM will be the leading party but the UPM will still exist,” he said.

He added that they have worked out a formula around the party funding as well as the parliamentary seats.

This coalition follows a visit by Venaani to Kenya to learn about coalition politics from that country's politicians, after which a group of Namibian opposition parties established a technical working committee to discuss and investigate the advantages and disadvantages of coalitions.

However, some smaller opposition parties opted out of these talks with PDM after they had reached a deadlock after Venaani reportedly insisted to be the overall leader of the coalition.

At the time Mike Kavekotora of the Rally for Progress and Democracy (RDP) told Namibian Sun that coalition formation was the right thing to do and opposition parties that are so fragmented and thinly spread won't work.

However Kavekotora yesterday said parties have realised that time is not on their side and that they would have to play fast.

“We are still mulling with the idea, in fact RDP is planning to have a press conference next week to announce something like this with some other political parties,” he said. In the past Kavekotora has said that there are no significant ideological differences between the various parties, with the exception with Swanu, which is a socialist party. At the time the secretary-general (SG) of the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo), Joseph Kauandenge, who represented his party on the technical working committee, also blamed PDM of dictating to other opposition parties.

“Because apparently he (Venaani) is the leader of the official opposition and should dictate, but if you come to a coalition agreement you set aside your titles and you discuss openly to determine who is better suited to become the leader of the coalition,” he said.

When Namibian Sun spoke to him yesterday, Kauandenge said there was no more time for parties to talk about coalition and his party certainly was not considering that now.

Status quo

The ruling party Swapo currently has 101 seats in parliament; the PDM, the official opposition, has six seats; followed by the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) and United Democratic Front (UDF), both with three seats.

The All People's Party (APP), National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) and the Workers' Revolutionary Party (WRP) each have two seats in parliament while the Republican Party (RP), South West Africa National Union (Swanu) and United People's Movement (UPM) have only one seat each.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Court to rule on massacre suspect’s mental status

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Court to rule on massacre suspect’s mental status

KENYA KAMBOWE

The Rundu Magistrate’s Court will decide next Wednesday whether Jesaya Gabriel Chuhunda, who stands accused of killing five members of his family, is fit to be tried.

Chuhunda’s mental observation report was submitted in court on Tuesday. Magistrate Barry Mufana then postponed the case to 3 September to study the report’s contents.

Chuhunda is charged with five counts of murder for allegedly killing his grandmother, Ndongo Ntumba (77), his mother, Ndara Elizabeth Mpande (46), and his three nephews, Musenge Petrus Muruti (6), Hausiku Daniel Kapumburu (4) and Musenge Elias Tjingelesu (3) in July 2018.

The incident happened at Rundu’s Ndama informal settlement.

Preliminary reports indicated that he went on the rampage when his sister refused to give him money.

The accused is alleged to have been an illegal drug user.

The case has been dragging on for almost a year because the court was waiting for the outcome of Chuhunda’s psychiatric evaluation.

The mental health centre at the Windhoek Central Hospital is the only facility in the country that provides forensic psychiatry.

The centre has an 80-bed capacity but only 16 of the beds are allocated to forensic patients.

In the wake of the Rundu massacre, two local police officers were demoted and fined N$1 500 after they were found guilty of negligence for failing to respond to the family’s pleas for help.

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Namibia drops rhino horn sale bombshell

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Namibia drops rhino horn sale bombshellSADC also moots CITES withdrawal Namibia is seriously considering dumping CITES because the organisation won't allow it to sell its ivory stockpile worth over N$125 million or relax restrictions on white rhino hunting and export.

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has announced that Namibia will consider withdrawing from the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

SADC countries have also indicated that the time has come to seriously reconsider whether there are any meaningful benefits from their membership to CITES.

Shifeta was speaking at the World Wildlife Conference - the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP18) to CITES - after countries voted last week to reject proposals to relax restrictions on hunting and exporting Namibia's white rhinos. Namibia, which has the second largest population of white rhinos after South Africa, wants to allow more trophy hunting of rhinos and export of live animals and argued that the funds raised would help it to protect the species.

However, countries that are party to CITES voted against downgrading Namibia's white rhinos from Appendix I, the list of species threatened with extinction, to Appendix II, a list of species with looser protections.

Shifeta said Namibia would convene a meeting with other SADC member states to consider withdrawing from CITES.

“We had several submissions from SADC for downlisting our white rhino from Appendix I to Appendix II, but there are some who feel that Namibia's population is still small and we contested that Namibia's population is the second largest in the world,” said Shifeta.

He said there are countries that are part of CITES that do not even have rhino populations, but they have the audacity to tell others how to manage their wildlife.

Namibia estimated its white rhino population at 1 037 in 2017/18. The white rhino populations of South Africa and eSwatini, formerly Swaziland, are already in Appendix II.

“If CITES does not really help us to conserve our wild animals but are frustrating those that are doing good, I think there is no need for us to stay in CITES,” said Shifeta.

Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli spoke on behalf of all SADC countries at the closing ceremony yesterday.

Magufuli expressed grave concern on behalf of SADC regarding the implementation of the Convention.

He said the way CITES was currently operating was contrary to its founding principles.

“Today CITES discards proven, working conservation models in favour of ideologically driven anti-use and anti-trade models,” he said.

Magufuli said such models are dictated by largely non-state actors who have no experience with, responsibility for, or ownership over wildlife resources.

“The result has been failure to adopt progressive, equitable, inclusive and science-based conservation strategies. We believe this failure has arisen from the domination of protectionist ideology over science decision-making within CITES.”

Magufuli said this anti-sustainable use and anti-trade ideology now dominated decisions made by many states that are party to CITES.

According to him states are increasingly influenced by protectionists whose ideological position has no basis in science or experience.

“This conservation model is based on entrenched and emotive rhetoric and discourse, backed up by intense lobbying, as opposed to science. Foremost amongst these ideas now dominating CITES is the unfounded belief that all trade fuels illegal, unsustainable trade, ignoring clear evidence to the contrary.”

Magufuli said examples of this are the attempts by others to impose new trade restrictions for species that are effectively conserved and utilised in SADC states, such as lions and giraffe, while the real threats in those states where such species are in decline are due to habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict that continue to go unattended.

“We are further concerned that the positions of some parties appear to be based on national political considerations aimed at catering to the interests of national, intensively lobbied constituencies, as opposed to proven, science-based conservation strategies. This undermines the SADC states, on whom the responsibility to manage species falls, and our ability to do so effectively.”

Magufuli said as CITES is currently implemented, it undermines the rights of people living in rural areas of SADC states to have access to and use in a sustainable manner the natural resources present in their communities.

“The consensus expressed through CITES by the majority of states undermines our region in our efforts to secure social and environmental justice through the sustainable use of our natural resources. In doing so it is compromising our ability to meet obligations and responsibilities to other multilateral agreements and to our peoples.”

According to him the populations of iconic African wildlife species in SADC illustrate the effectiveness of its conservation models.

“Those who bear no cost of protecting our wildlife, nor bear any consequence for decisions of CITES on our species, vote without any accountability against working conservation models in our countries. To this end, we have had to invoke measures such as announcing a dispute, the first time ever, in CITES.”

ELLANIE SMIT

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Two poachers shot dead

August 28, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Two poachers shot dead Two suspected poachers, believed to be Namibians, were shot dead by members of the Botswana Defence Force on Sunday.

According to reports emanating from Botswana, the two were killed while tracking a wounded rhino they had shot in the Moremi Game Reserve.

A spokesperson of the Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital confirmed to Namibian Sun that the facility's mortuary was keeping the bodies of the two suspected poachers but could not confirm their nationalities.

She referred Namibian Sun to the Maun police station where its acting chief Superintendent Samuel Kgomo was not reachable. Kgomo was, however, quoted telling the INK Centre for Investigative Journalism that the two poachers were killed on the spot by the BDF anti-poaching unit near Mombo Camp.

“As expected, poachers came chasing after the rhino. The BDF officers did not waste time as they killed the two poachers on the spot,” Kgomo was quoted as saying.

Zambezi police head, Karel Theron, when contacted for comment also confirmed hearing about the incident but was not sure about the nationalities of the suspects.

“That one I cannot give you any information because the incident happened in Botswana not in Namibia, I don't have any information on that one. I also just received a message last night through WhatsApp but it happened in Botswana not in Namibia. The only thing they said was apparently, they also don't know if they are Namibians. I have no idea,” Theron said.

Commenting on Botswana's shoot-to-kill-policy towards suspected poachers, spokesperson of the environment ministry, Romeo Muyunda, said it is unfortunate that Namibians continue to lose their lives at the hands of armed forces in Botswana.

He added, however, that Namibians keep risking their lives, knowing the strict policies that Botswana follows to shoot poachers on sight.

“We are sympathetic towards the loss of lives, but Namibians should refrain from crossing over the border and poaching. It is bad what happened. But it could have been avoided,” said Muyunda.

Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga confirmed that he was informed that about the incident in Botswana, but said that he had not received confirmation that the two poachers were indeed Namibians.

“The allegations are that suspected poachers opened fire on the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and they retaliated. In this incident it is therefore an exchange of fire and the BDF shot in self-defence,” said Ndeitunga.

Botswana's unwritten shoot-to-kill policy has claimed the lives of many suspected poachers from Namibia before. The INK Centre for Investigative Journalism also reported in 2016 that about 30 Namibians and at least 22 Zimbabweans have been killed in Botswana anti-poaching operations.

ELLANIE SMIT AND KENYA KAMBOWE

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Widow, ex-lover guilty of murder

August 29, 2019, 3:40 am

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Widow, ex-lover guilty of murder

Former lovers Ryno Ricardo du Preez and Rachel Rittmann who stand accused of killing Rittmann’s husband, Rudolf, and whose burnt remains were found in his car near the Windhoek-Gobabis road, have been found guilty of murder. In his judgement this morning, High Court Judge Christo Liebenberg also found the two guilty of a conspiracy to commit murder as well as defeating or obstructing the course of justice. Rachel, 48, and Du Preez, 36, were accused of killing Rudolf by stabbing him to death with a knife at his home in Gobabis on 23 August 2013. They allegedly thereafter drove the body in the deceased's own vehicle to an area near the Hosea Kutako International Airport, where they set the vehicle alight with the body of the victim inside. They were arrested days after the murder while in bed together. Read full story in tomorrow’s edition.

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Shalulile tipped for greatness

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Shalulile tipped for greatness

Many believe that in-form Highlands Park FC and Brave Warriors forward Peter Shalulile can be a force to be reckoned with this season.

The Namibian international, who scored seven goals during the 2018/19 season, has so far netted three goals in three matches for his South African club this season.

Shalulile's form comes at the right time when the national team plays Eritrea in the World Cup qualifiers preliminary round next month.

National teammates and coaches expressed joy over the work ethic of Shalulile.

Brave Warriors assistant coach Woody Jacobs said that the player is vital for the national team.

“Peter is a vital player for the Brave Warriors because he is a consistent performer for club and country. He has shown over the years that he can do great things and we just hope that he stays injury free and also bring his current form to the national team,” Jacobs said. But many want to see Shalulile bag more goals in national team colours and not just for his club.

“He is a hard worker and a guy who is disciplined on and off the field. Shalulile is definitely destined for great things because scoring three goals in three matches in the PSL is not an easy thing,” Golden Arrows goalkeeper Maximilian Mbaeva said.

Shalulile has been a prolific scorer for his club since the 2017/18 season when he shared the golden boot with Black Leopards' Mwape Musonda after scoring 15 goals for his club.

It was a season where he was also voted Players' Player of the Year in the First Division.

He has however faced several injury setbacks which often came when he was at his best form.

“Shalulile has the potential to become the best in the PSL because of his work ethic. He makes a good teammate because one can always rely on him when you need energy in the team,” Brave Warriors defender Tiberius Lombard said.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

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Netball fiesta comes to Windhoek

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Netball fiesta comes to WindhoekFinal championship to blow the roof The third and final edition of the Debmarine Namibia Senior Regional Netball Championship is expected to thrill at the Khomasdal netball courts as players have put in work to represent their regions.

Fourteen regions will be taking part in the championship which started in 2017 and was played in Windhoek that year.

Last year it was played in Swakopmund. The Khomas Region will get tough competition from the other regions as they are defending champions and have won the championship three times in a row.

The netball clashes will kick off today with the first match between Khomas and Erongo starting at 18:00.

That will be followed by a match between Omaheke and Otjozondjupa at 18:30. Hardap will play Kunene at 19:00; following which Kavango West will clash with Omaheke at 20:00.

Matches will then again take place on Saturday starting at 08:30, with the semi-finals and finals to be played in the evening.

Netball Namibia's (NN) public relations officer Rebekka Goagoses said they want to make a lasting impression with the championship and that regions have gone all out, with Kavango West even having a training camp in the coast to prepare for the weekend.

“Each one of us come from a region, so please come out and watch the matches and support your players,” she said.

The winner of the championship will receive N$30 000, gold medals and a floating trophy, while the second- and third-placed teams will walk away with N$15 000 and N$9 000, respectively.

The regional teams have been placed in two pools. Pool A consists of Hardap, Kavango East, Oshana, Kunene, Ohangwena, Zambezi and //Karas, while Pool B consists of Omusati, Khomas, Erongo, Otjozondjupa, Kavango West, Oshikoto and Omaheke.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

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Archers through to finals at African Games

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Archers through to finals at African Games

Namibia's recurve mixed team on Wednesday reached the finals of the African Games' archery competition after shrugging off stiff competition from South Africa and Ivory Coast at the Moulay Rachid National Sports Centre in Salé, Morocco.

Quinn Reddig and Adriaan Grobler are the two archers representing Namibia at the 2019 African Games.

Their impressive performance in the opening matches of the archery event on Tuesday earned them the second spot in the recurve mixed team events.

The high scores in the women and men's individual recurve gained the Namibian team a bye in the round of eight on Wednesday and they had to wait for the winner between their neighbours South Africa and Kenya.

South Africa crushed Kenya 6-0 for a spot in the quarter-finals, where 16-year-old Reddig and 19-year-old Grobler awaited them.

The Namibian archers outclassed their counterparts from South Africa with a 5-1 score and booked themselves a spot in the semi-finals where they met Ivory Coast. They beat Ivory Coast 6-2 for a spot in the final, where they will meet the continent's archery powerhouse, Egypt.

The two young athletes, who are making their first appearance at the African Games, are now guaranteed either a gold or silver medal depending on the outcome of their final play-off on today.

Ahead of today's final Reddig and Grobler were also expected to compete in the individual men and women recurve eliminations on yesterday, where they also stand a chance of qualifying for the finals in those events.

NAMPA

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Female relay team loses

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Ompangu tayi ka tokola ngele omufekelwa ota vulu okupangulwa

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Female relay team losesNo medal at AG Team Namibia put up an impressive performance with a seasonal best of 45.55 seconds during the 4x100-metre finals at the African Games on Wednesday.

Namibia's 4x100-metre women's relay team missed out on a bronze medal after finishing fourth in the final at the African Games in Morocco on Wednesday.

Tjipekapora Herunga, Jolene Jacobs, Beatrice Masilingi and Globine Mayova competed in the 4x100m for Team Namibia after reaching the finals in a time of 45.61 seconds in second place in their preliminary heats.

Nigeria were crowned African champions in that event after outclassing their competitors in a time of 44.16 seconds. South Africa took the silver with a time of 44.61 seconds, while Kenya came third in a time of 45.44 seconds.

Meanwhile in the 400m finals, Namibia's only representative Masilingi finished the event in seventh position. Despite putting up an impressive performance in the finals, the more experienced and seasonal athletes dominated the Namibian rookie.

Masilingi, who made her first appearance in the finals at a senior championship, ran a time of 52.56 seconds.

Galefele Mokoro of Botswana won the final in a time of 51.30 seconds, while Chikwuka Ofili of Nigeria came second in a time of 51.68 seconds and Grace Obour of Ghana came third in a time of 51.86 seconds.

In the boxing events Namibia's hopes of winning a gold medal at the African Games vanished as Commonwealth Games gold medallist Junias Jonas missed out on a spot in the finals of the boxing championships held on Thursday.

Jonas lost his 63 kilogram lightweight semi-final fight 2-3 against home favourite Abdelhaq Nadir at the Al Amal Indoor Sports Centre in Rabat. He will now have to settle for a bronze medal.

NAMPA

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Ompangu tayi ka tokola ngele omufekelwa ota vulu okupangulwa

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Oshikukuta sha londeke elanditho lyiimuna

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Ompangu tayi ka tokola ngele omufekelwa ota vulu okupangulwa

Ompangulilo yamangestrata moRundu otayi ka ninga etokolo mEtitatu lyoshiwike twa taalela, ngele Jesaya Gabriel Chuhunda, ngoka ta tamanekelwa edhipago lyaakwanezimo ye yatano ota vulu okupangulwa.

Olopota yomakonaakono gonkalo yopamadhilaadhilo yaChuhunda oya gandjwa mompangu mEtiyali.

Mangestrata Barry Mufana okwa undulile komeho oshipotha shoka sigo okomasiku gatatu gaSepetemba opo a vule okunongonona nawa olopota ndjoka. Chuhunda ota tamanekelwa edhipago yaakwanezimo ye yatano, yinakulu Ndongo Ntumba (77), yina, Ndara Elizabeth Mpande (46), oshowo aamwayinagona yatatu, Musenge Petrus Muruti (6), Hausiku Daniel Kapumburu (4) naMusenge Elias Tjingelesu (3), sha ningwa muJuli gwomvula yo2018. Oshiningwanima shoka osha ningilwa molukanda Ndama moRundu.

Oolopota dhopetameko odha holola kutya okwa longo omuyonena ngoka sha landula sho omumwayinakadhona e mu tindile iimaliwa.

Omufekelwa otaku popiwa woo kutya okwa kala ha longitha iingangamithi. Oshipotha shoka osha kala uule konyala womvula yimwe omolwa olopota yonkalo yopamadhilaadhilo yaChuhunda ndjoka ya kala ya tegelelwa. Endiki lyuundjolowele wopamadhilaadhilo moWindhoek Central Hospital olyo owala endiki moshilongo ndyoka hali gandja omayakulo ngoka.

Endiki ndyoka oli oombete dhi li 80 ihe oombete owala 16 odho hadhi gandjwa kwamboka taya ningilwa omakonaakono gopamadhilaadhilo.

Sha landula oshiningwanima shoka, aapolisi yaali oya kuthwa oombandi miilonga nokutulwa poonkatu dhopevi oshowo okufutithwa oshimaliwa shooN$1 500 kehe gumwe konima sho ya monika ondjo yuuhasha sho ya ndopa okuyamukula keindilo lyofamili ndjoka opo opolis yi yakwathele omanga omadhipago ngoka inaga ningwa.

KENYA KAMBOWE

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Oshikukuta sha londeke elanditho lyiimuna

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Omuthiya gwa yamukula Mushelenga

≪ Previous: Ompangu tayi ka tokola ngele omufekelwa ota vulu okupangulwa

Oshikukuta sha londeke elanditho lyiimunaKwa lopotwa e yo pombanda lyoopresenda 11 Elondo pombanda lyelanditho lyiimuna olya hwahwamekwa ke yo pombanda lyomwaalu giimuna tayi tomwa muutomeno omolwa oshikukuta shoka tashi thiminike aanafaalama opo ya shunithe pevi omwaalu gwawo gwiimuna.

Elanditho lyiimuna moNamibia okwa lopotwa lya londekwa pombanda konkalo yoshikukuta noopresenda 11 dha gwedhwapo metata lyotango lyomvula yonuumvo, okuyeleka nomvula yo 2018.

Omalanditho oga londo pombanda okuza poongombe 221 530 metata lyotango lyo 2018 okuya po 245 706 momvula yo 2019.

E yo pombanda ndyoka otaku popiwa lya hwahwamekwa konkalo yoshikukuta ndjoka ya taalela oshilongo naanafaalama otaya thiminikwa konkalo ndjoka opo ya landithe po iimuna yawo, palopota yoMeat Board of Namibia.

Okuyeleka nomvula ya piti, nuumvo uutomeno owa tomo oongombe odhindji noopresenda 56, okuya pombanda yomwaalu gwoongombe 246 000 dhoka dha li dha tengenekwa.

Olopota yomalanditho oya holola kutya oonzi dha thika po 452 000 odha dhipagwa metata lyotango lyomvula dha kalela po e yo pombanda noopresenda 0.6 okuyeleka nomvula ya piti, moka kwali kwa tengenekwa okudhipagwa oonzi 449 545.

Metata lyotango lyomvula yo 2019, oonzi dhili po 296 137 odha tumwa nomwenyo momalanditho gopondje yoshilongo.

Ondando yoonzi oya gu pevi noopresenda

15.38% metata lyotango lyomvula pokati komalanditho gaNamibia na South African muutomeno woNorthern Cape moka onyama yonzi tayi landwa koshimaliwa shooN$4.84 mokg.

Olutu lwoMeat Board olwa popi kutya olwa tameka oonkundathaa opo ku vule okutumwa onyama yonzi momalanditho giilongo yaEuropean Union, China, United Arab Emirates oshowo Saudi Arabia.

Meat Board oya holola kutya kalele kiilongo yaEuropean Union, China, Saudi Arabia oshowo United Arab Emirates oye na oompito dhomalanditho dha manguluka dhoka tadhi pitika etumo lyonyama ndjoka miilongo yawo.

Oya tsikile kutya ompito kehe yomalanditho ohayi talikila miiyemo mbyoka Namibia ta vulu okwiimonena okuza momalanditho ngoka oshowo oompango nomilandu dhoka dha tulwa po kiilongo mbyoka ngele tashi ya kokuyakula iilandithomwa okuza miilongo yopondje.

Pamiyalu dhoMeat Board oshikondo shonyama osha koko noopresenda 1.4, naashoka sha tula pombanda omiyalu dhoka unene onyama yongombe, oshingulu nondjuhwa.

Iilongo mbyoka ya kwathele me yo pombanda lyomalanditho ngoka unene ongaashi EU, Russia naUSA, oshowo Argentina, Australia, India oshowo Mexico.

Olutu lwoMeat Board otalu tengeneke kutya omalanditho ga South Africa otashi vulika gaka shune pevi omolwa onkalo yoshikukuta ndjoka ya taalela oshilongo shaandjetu, na okwa lopotwa natango kutya nondando otayi ka ya moshiponga omolwa etukuko lyomukithi gwekondo nelaka moSouth Africa.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Omuthiya gwa yamukula Mushelenga

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Omuthiya gwa yamukula Mushelenga

Ominista yeyambulepo lyoondoolopa niitopolwa, Peya Mushelenga okwa koleke koNamibian Sun kutya okwa yakula olopota okuza kelelo lyondoolopa yaMuthiya, tagu popile etokolo lyawo opo kaya lelepeke okondalaka yiilonga yomunambelewa omukuluntu gwondoolopa ndjoka, Samuel Mbango.

Mushelenga, ngoka momukanda gwa shangwa momasiku gaali gaAguste a li pula elelo lyondoolopa ndjoka opo li shange omukanda tagu popile kutya omolwashike inali hala okulelepeka okondalaka ndjoka, a pula opo a kale a mona omukanda ngoka omanga omasiku 19 gomwedhi nguka inaga thikana, okwa popi kutya itaka topola nokugandjaa uuyelele mboka wu li molopota ndjoka ya gandjwa.

Pethimbo lyomutumba gwelelo lyondoolopa ngoka gwa ningwa momasiku ga 3 gaJuni, okwa ningwa etokolo opo okondalaka yaMbango kayi lelepekwe.

Mbango okwa tokola okufala elelo lyondoolopa ndjoka kompangu yaaniilonga omolwa okwiihumbatelwa konayi.

“Onda yakula enyenyeto okuza komunambelewa omukuluntu gwondoolopa ndjoka omolwa okondalaka ye ndjoka itayi lelepekwa na onda pula elelo lyondoolopa kutya omolwashike inali yamukula kombaapila yandje. Ngoka omakwatathano gomeni pokati kuuministeli nelelo ndyoka,” Mushelenga a lombwele oNamibian Sun. Oonzo odha popi kutya olopota ndjoka oya ningwa owala kookansela yane omanga yatatu inaya kutha ombinga.

Elelo lyondoolopa ndjoka okwa lopotwa lya topoka sho ookansela yatatu taya popile Mbango omanga yane itaye mu popile.

Pethimbo lyomutumba gwelelo lyondoolopa ngoka gwa ningwa momasiku ga 3 gaJuni, okwa ningwa etokolo opo okondalaka yaMbango kayi lelepekwe.

Ookansela yane - mayola Katrina Uusiku, omupeha gweHeskiel Nanyeni, omunashipundi gwelelo lyondoolopa Beata Nashongo oshowo oshilyo shelelo Enos Shipahu – ayehe oya hogolola ye li ompinge nelelepeko lyokondalaka yaMbango,na oye tu pe omatompelo kutya ina halika koshigwana. Mbango ngoka a kala omukomeho gwondoolopa ndjoka konima nkene ya totwapo, okwa popi kutya okondalaka ye otayi thiki pehulilo lyomwedhi nguka na itayi lelepekwa.

Okwa popi kutya okwa lopota oshikumungu shoka kuMushelenga oshowo kompangu yaaniilonga, ihe okwa tindi okuya muule washo. Okwa lopotwa kutya Mbango momukanda ngoka a shangele Mushelenga momasiku 10 gaJuni okwa popi kutya otaku longwa uulingilingi kookansela yane melelo lyondoolopa ndjoka, ya tumbulwa kutya Uusiku, Nanyeni, Nashongo oshowo Shipahu – mboka a popi kutya otaya ihiilitha ooplota yoyene inashi pewa ezimino kuuministeli.

Onzo oya popi kutya oshipotha shaMbango osha pulakenwa mompangu yaaniilonga mOndangwa oshiwike sha piti, na osha undulilwa komwedhi twa taalela.

Okomisi yokulwitha uulingilingi nayo oya koleke kutya otayi konaakona omanyenyeto guulingilingi ngoka taga popilwa ondoolopa yaMuthiya.

ILENI NANDJATO

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Omuthiya responds to Mushelenga

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Omuthiya responds to Mushelenga

Urban and rural development minister Peya Mushelenga has confirmed to Namibian Sun that he has received a report from the Omuthiya town council motivating their decision to not renew the employment contract of town's CEO Samuel Mbango.

Mushelenga, who in a letter dated 2 August, instructed the councillors to provide him with a detailed report on their decision before 19 August, would not share any information contained in the report. During a council meeting on 3 June, the councillors resolved not to renew Mbango's contract. Mbango has taken the council to the labour court for unfair treatment.

“I have received a complaint from the CEO regarding the non-renewal of his term and I have enquired from the town council as to why and they have responded to my letter.

These are internal communications between the ministry and its local authority,” Mushelenga told Namibian Sun. Sources at the council said that the said report was compiled by the top four councillors alone, the remaining three not being involved.

The council is said to be divided, with three councillors in favour of Mbango's reappointment while the top four are opposed to it.

Namibian Sun earlier reported that during the 3 June council meeting, it was resolved to not renew Mbango's contract. The top four councillors include mayor Katrina Uusiku and her deputy Heskiel Nanyeni, management committee chairperson Beata Nashongo and committee member Enos Shipahu. Mbango, who has been at the helm since the town council was established, confirmed that his contract was expiring at the end of this month and would not be renewed.

He said he had reported the matter to Mushelenga as well as the labour commissioner, but declined to give any further information.

It has been reported that Mbango's letter to Mushelenga on 10 June listed alleged irregularities by the top four councillors – Uusiku, Nanyeni, Nashongo and Shipahu - whom he accused of leasing plots to themselves without ministerial approval.

A source in the council said Mbango's matter was heard by the labour court at Ondangwa this week and was postponed to next month. The ACC also confirmed they are investigating corruption allegations at Omuthiya.

ILENI NANDJATO

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Desalination plants coming

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Desalination plants comingGrünau and Bethanie to benefit Brackish groundwater will be treated for dehydrated southern villages.

NamWater plans to set up desalination plants for the small southern communities at Grünau and Bethanie, where groundwater supplies are too brackish for consumption.

Construction of the desalination plants at both settlements is envisaged to start early next year, with the plants expected to be in operation by the middle of 2020.

The desalination plants are intended to bring groundwater, which is high in salt concentration in the area, to drinking water quality that is in compliance with national quality standards. The two projects are sponsored through a grant from the Adaptation Fund, which is a US-based funding agency operating under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The plants will be implemented as pilot projects to test the technology, and to assess whether similar ones can be installed elsewhere.

According to the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) reports prepared by NamWater and KPM Environmental Consulting, the proposed desalination process is to pass the groundwater through a reverse osmosis membrane at high pressure to remove the fluorides and other elements from the water. Solar panels will be used to supply the plants with energy. The wastewater from the process will be high in salt concentration, but is not considered to be hazardous. Some of the wastewater will be recycled into the treatment system, and the final wastewater will be passed through pipes into evaporation ponds located next to the plants.

Tariff increase concerns

During the consultation processes at the settlements, where unemployment is high, communities expressed concern that the projects might bring about unaffordable tariff increases.

The ESIA reports indicate that the operational cost of treating the water at the proposed desalination plants will be more expensive than the existing water supply process.

However, such fears are allayed for now. The Adaptation Fund will sponsor the projects until mid-2020, during which time the tariffs will not increase “by more than the typical increases in tariffs across Namibia”.

After the middle of 2020, NamWater will work with the ministry of agriculture, water and forestry to plan tariff levels that include a system of subsidies.

The agriculture ministry is responsible for any tariff changes proposed by NamWater. Tariff levels are approved by cabinet.

CATHERINE SASMAN

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