Taking music to the people

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Taking music to the peopleMusicians team up for a national tour Tour de Augustus promises to be nostalgic and electrifying. The first edition of the tour will conclude at Gobabis and Rehoboth this weekend. “We are performing in Gobabis at Boksie's Carwash on Friday (today) and in Rehoboth at Club Quantum on Saturday, 31 August,” shared PhredGot1.

Tour de Augustus is an initiative started by Adora, PhredGot1, Mulberry, Tulisan and FutureIsGiggz. It was initiated with the purpose of being an annual tour slated for the month of August where a group of artists tour Namibia.

“Our focus is to bring together fans who love local music as our line-up is made up of artists from various music genres including kwaito, Afro-pop, hip-hop, and township disco,” said PhredGot1.

Speaking to tjil, Adora Kisting mentioned that as usual her team tries to slot in new and fresh elements into their sets. “As a performer I like to take my crowd on a journey. It is going to be nostalgic so be prepared to be taken down memory lane.

“People should also expect the usual dance and groove vibes,” said Adora Kisting. Another artist on the line-up FutureIsGiggz who recently lost all his music after robbers broke into his house on Sunday, but he promised to deliver a spectacular performance.

“I almost lost my life so from now on whatever that I am going to do, I am going to give it my all and do it like it is my last time,” said FutureIsGiggz.



MICHAEL KAYUNDE

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Music for houses

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Music for housesAll set for Buy-a-Brick a cappella music fest tomorrow Performers consist of a Cappella groups from Namibia and neighbouring countries. The Buy-a-Brick A Cappella Music Festival will take place on Saturday, 31 August at Vegkop, Windhoek High School, sports field.

Addressing journalists at a press briefing yesterday in Windhoek, Standard Bank Namibia's communications manager Isack Hamata announced that until the close of business today ticket prices have been reduced to the following: general: N$100 and golden circle N$200.

Ticket prices will revert to N$150 and N$350 respectively after 17:00 today. VIP tickets remain the same at N$750.

“Let us all go and have some fun at the a cappella festival while also contributing to the struggle for better housing conditions for our people,” said Hamata.

Performers include VMSIX, Broken Metronomes, Vox Vitae, Soweto Gospel Choir, The Soil, Collective Singers and Focus A Cappella. Media personality Paul Da Prince will be the host of the event.

“The headline acts for the show are The Soweto Gospel Choir and The Soil from South Africa,” announced Hamata.

Hamata added that Standard Bank Namibia is calling on all Namibians to rally behind this effort to help the neediest members of our society.

He disclosed that through this initiative 200 houses have been built across the country, thanks to the generous support of corporate entities as well as Standard Bank staff. “Our target is to start building a thousand houses every year and we can only do this with the support from the public and corporate Namibia.

“Living in shacks strips people of their dignity. It is a human right to live in a decent housing structure.

“That is one of the biggest social challenges that the Buy-a-Brick Initiative wants to address since its establishment in 2014,” said Hamata.

MICHAEL KAYUNDE

Re-invention is the key says Lize

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Re-invention is the key says LizeTelling stories from her perspective through music Songbird Lize Ehlers describes her sixth body of work as 'seasoned'. Pull quote: “I wanted this to be an adult album, where mothers, fathers and people who have to 'adult' all the time can identify with the realities in the lyrics.” – Lize Ehlers In boxing, the bolo punch is essentially a long swinging uppercut.

But because of the fact that such a long drawing action will obviously be spotted by your opponent before you land the blow (boxing is a very quick sport), the move capitalises on distraction.

The back hand is dropped to give your opponent the impression that a heavy hook is coming up, while you use your lead hand to land the actual powerful blow. Where am I going with this? Oh yes, Lize Ehlers gave us the impression that she was occupied with other music projects like Song Night. But while we were busy supporting her role on that platform, she dropped Lize Live on us - a 10-track album, with lyrical content that is a lot more impactful than previous material she has released. She is one of the busiest women in the music industry with three nominations at this year's Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs).

Her latest album Lize Live was launched last weekend at her hometown Mariental. The album is full of very personal songs about the past, the present and the future. “It is about love, loss, family and friendship. All the music was recorded live with Imms Nicolau on guitar or keyboard with various live instrumentation in post-production with the support of DJ Chronic,” she shared.

Lize Ehlers believes that the acoustic sound will never die, adding that people love to hear and identify their feelings in the lyrical content, and that is what she wanted to do with Lize Live.

“I just wanted to pour out what is in my heart and know that people will relate.

“I wanted this to be an adult album, where mothers, fathers and people who have to 'adult' all the time can identify with the realities in the lyrics,” said Lize.

She continues that she wanted to feel free and light when she sang the songs and that is how the stories come across on the album.

With six albums under her belt, Lize Ehlers disclosed that re-invention is her key to longevity in the fickle entertainment scene. She constantly thinks out of the box and she does not stick to one genre as a form of expression. “There is no house, Afro-pop, Afrikaans or any popular genres on my latest album. It is just an easy listening piece of work.

“I have stayed in charge of my creativity and brand throughout and that has kept me authentic and relatable, according to my supporters,” she said.

Speaking on her 2019 Best House, Best Afrikaans and Best Female artist of the year nominations, the songbird expressed that she is excited about all the nominations. However, she noted that she is more excited about the Best Female Artist nomination.

“It feels like a positive affirmation. I really appreciate it. I love my work and I love the people I work with. Getting recognition inspires me to work harder for the people who support me and help me on this journey. “I have been in the industry for 10 years with six albums out and have been working tirelessly on my passion as a singer, songwriter and storyteller,” she said.

She revealed that she will be performing at the NAMAs and she is tasked to spread the message against gender-based violence (GBV) through her song Fantastic Sam.

“I want to be my theatrical and authentic self and give the audience a goosebump vocal and visual experience. Thank you to the team who is making this happen,” she said.

You can also catch her performing live at Otto Günther on Thursday, 12 September in Swakopmund and at Delta Secondary School on Saturday, 14 September in Windhoek. “It is all about supporting the various communities you are part of and this is what I am doing with these projects. Check out Lize Ehlers on Instagram or Facebook for my gig updates,” she announced.

MICHAEL KAYUNDE

Making use of local creatives

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Making use of local creativesNAMAs 2019 ropes in young fashion and beauty experts More announcements are made as the biggest night in Namibian music draws closer. The Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs) are the country's biggest local music event, honouring artistic excellence. On the side lines, the musical extravaganza has evolved into a celebration of fashion and all things beautiful. Namibians continue to go all out in a bid to turn heads while strutting their stuff on the NAMAs blue carpet.

This year, the NAMA organisers have assembled some of the best young talents in the country to transform the event's presenters into blue carpet royalty.

Armed with just their makeup brushes and sewing machines, these designers and makeup artists will play fairy godmother(s) behind the scenes - each offering a unique touch.

One such designer is Melisa Poulton, the brains and creativity behind House of Poulton. The 30-year-old Poulton hails from Windhoek and specialises in all aspects of fashion and design; from evening wear, bridal, sportswear, and African attire. House of Poulton already has two of Namibia's biggest stars as its brand ambassadors - songbirds Lize Ehlers and Oteya. Poulton has also dressed a number of presenters and performers for the NAMAs over the last five years.

She describes her signature style as unique with a bold and strong touch. “My designs are inspired by freedom, strength and independence,” said Poulton.

Joining Poulton in the transformation room is hair stylist Emma Shilongo. She describes herself as an efficient and organised salon owner with over 10 years' experience in the beauty industry. A graduate of the prestigious School of Cooperative Technical Education in New York, she says her goal is to help clients improve their personal appearance and self-confidence. As a professional hairdresser, Shilongo has a fine eye for anticipating her clients' needs, and thus is sharp at developing solutions and recommendations.

“I am fully licensed and equipped to design and implement a look that is customised for you. I am a hairdresser who does not stop with adequate, but rather I make it my goal to ensure that you are thrilled with your look. I am proficient in any number of styles, whether you desire your hair down, half up, or an up-do looking elegant, couture, or simply chic,” said Shilongo.

Also contributing towards creating the perfect look is top-grade Brazilian hair supplier, Getruda Malawi. She is the founder and owner of G M Fashion Namibia. This will be the second year Malawi is sponsoring hair for the NAMAs presenters.

No look is complete without daring nails, and ensuring that happens, the NAMA organisers have roped in Samuel Shimhanda. Known as Fantastic Sam, the nail technician is the founder of Fantastic Samuel Nails Perfection Salon.

Shimhanda has been in the industry for more than six years, and says that he is motivated by the idea of seeing everyone who sits in his chair leaving happy. Constantly abreast with what's happening on the beauty front, he always offers new trends and is often very experimental, with a bag full of creativity.

Also joining the NAMAs 2019 glam squad is Lumière – The Style Avenue. Lumière is the brain child of Vistorina Ilonga and means light in French. Ilonga says she started fashion as a hobby powered by a deep love for exquisite style and personal care. This led her to register and formalise the business in 2009 and officially establish the Lumière brand in 2014. Lumière started by retailing and marketing on social media and providing a pop-up shop concept.

Another creative joining the team is fashion designer Nicoleen Menjono. Menjono burst onto the fashion scene when she exhibited her work at Young Designers Fashion Show.

Adding a touch of experience to the mix, is veteran designer Dawn. The Mariental born fashion designer, whose real name is Donald Diergaardt, is a self-taught local fashion designer, who says he takes passion in making high-end clothing for ladies of all shapes and sizes. Founder of the brand, THE BREAK OF DAWN, Dawn has dressed former Miss Namibia contestants and winners. His list of high-profile clients include former Miss Universe Michelle McLean-Bailey.

The glam squad wouldn't be up and running without one of Namibia's most sought-after young fashion designers, Simeone Johannes. He founded synEDGY in February 2018. SynEDGY draws inspiration from sources outside the realm of fashion, particularly music, film, visual and performing arts as well as street wear.

Among those ensuring that the presenters' hair matches their look is hairstylist Merino Kandjii. A creative in her own right, Kandjii has a good eye for fashion, style and colour. “I pursued my career in hairdressing after cutting my friend's hair at school. I now have over 15 years' experience. I'm a real people's person and enjoy talking to my customers,” he explains.

And then, there is award-winning makeup artist, Hannah Nangula-Kolokwe. Nangula-Kolokwe has been breaking barriers; taking the local fashion industry by storm and establishing herself as a real trailblazer with her self-titled makeup range. With over nine years' experience, the makeup artist sets the benchmark for excellence in makeup. Dubbed 'queen of the brush', she is the founder of Hannah Nangula Cosmetics.

Completing the incredible NAMAs glam squad is Suoma Ndapandula Katshuna. She is a wife, mother and a certified makeup artist from Shadonai Beauty School and went on to advance with celebrity makeup artist Beez Glam in South Africa. She joined the makeup industry about two years ago and has since worked on various productions such as Miss Namibia 2017, the Windhoek Fashion Week 2017 as well as a number of NBC TV productions.

This year's Namibian Annual Music Awards will be held at The Dome in Swakopmund on Saturday, 7 September.

STAFF REPORTER

Classic film remade

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Classic film remadeNarrating human stories through film Classic literature told in a new light. Fiela se Kind, the film adaptation of the bestselling novel by Dalene Matthee, will be screened for the first time in Namibia on Friday, 6 September.

Actress Zenobia Kloppers, who hails from Khomasdal and plays the lead role of Fiela, will fly to Windhoek to attend the première and to meet local film lovers. The film will be screened in Namibia as from Friday, 13 September.

The novel was released in 1985 and is set in southern Africa in the 1880s. It tells the story of Fiela Komoetie, a hardworking coloured woman living in the Karoo, who takes in a lost white child and raises him as her own. Nine years later, Benjamin is removed from her care and forced to live in the Knysna forest with a family of woodcutters who claim that he is theirs. Separated by law and geography, Fiela and Benjamin spend the next decade trying to find each other while simultaneously coming to terms with their individual identities.

Written and directed by Brett Michael Innes, the movie was shot on location in the Knysna and the Karoo with cinematography by Tom Marais. Produced by Danie Bester from The Film Factory and Brett Michael Innes from Nostalgia Productions, the film will be distributed by Film Finity and will be screened in cinemas nationwide.

“The story of Fiela is both heart-breaking and profound,” says producer Bester.

“The novel carries a special place in the hearts of many South Africans and Namibians and, even though it was written in 1985, we believe that it has themes that still speak to us today.”

The novel was previously adapted into a film in 1988 by director Katinka Heyns and starred Shaleen Surtie-Richards in a performance that was as iconic as the character who inspired it.

“There will naturally be comparisons to the first adaptation,” says Innes, who also wrote the screenplay for the film. “We know that we cannot replace it and we're not trying to. Classic literature has a way of inspiring different artists to tell it in different ways and we believe that Fiela se Kind falls into this category. It is truly a timeless story.”

Fiela Komoetie will be brought to life by Zenobia Kloppers with the role of Benjamin Komoetie played by newcomers Luca Bornman and Wayne Smith. Drikus Volschenk and Cindy Swanepoel will appear in the roles of Elias and Barta van Rooyen with Melissa Willering, Andre Stoltz, Wayne van Rooyen and Stefan Erasmus are also attached to the project.

“It is a great honour to play this character on screen. Fiela se Kind has a way of melting even the hardest of hearts and her journey is one that reminds us all to be better people,” said Kloppers, who played the role in the 2007 stage production.

The première will be screened at the Grove Mall Ster Kinekor at 19:00 for 20:00 on Friday, 6 September. Tickets cost N$150 and can be purchased from Jonathan Sam at 081 128 0599 and Clement Kloppers at 081 635 271. The proceeds of the première will be donated to the Grace Welfare Project which cares for a large number of poor people in the community through the provision of, inter alia, food and medical services.



STAFF REPORTER

Read this!

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Read this! So I recently posted on my WhatsApp story the difference between an extended play (EP), long play (LP) and an album.

On that specific WhatsApp story I said “An EP has a five- to 18-minute running time (of the collective body), usually three to five songs, and an LP is above that but below 31 minutes. An album is anything above 31 minutes.” I also added that artists should know the difference and stop confusing kids by classifying their 14-track projects as EPs. That story was met with responses and comments like: 'I didn't know this', 'Thanks for schooling us, I always wondered what the difference is', 'you had to say it' and more, similar responses from people in the industry.

So I decided I would expand on that matter in this edition's column. The Namibian music scene is flooded with music projects that consist of seven songs and more, about 45 minutes long, and these compilations are called EPs. The term EP is used loosely in the Namibian music fraternity; there is too much confusion going on here.

I understand that sometimes because of the lack of resources, artists resort to releasing a body of work but not in the form of an album, as an album requires a big roll-out budget. They rather refer to such compilations as mixtapes not EPs. The culture of reading among young Namibians is not impressive so if we are not careful the next generation of music lovers are going to grow up thinking an EP is just a compilation of songs without knowing what really constitutes it.

According to Wikipedia, a mixtape is a compilation of music, typically from multiple sources, recorded onto a medium. With origins in the 1980s, the term normally describes a homemade compilation of music onto a cassette tape, CD, or digital playlist. A mixtape can also be described as a self-produced or independently released album issued free of charge to gain publicity or avoid possible copyright infringement, which is why I suggested that these compilations in our industry, usually made available for free on digital platforms, should just be referred to as mixtapes.

Other terms that are used loosely in the Namibian entertainment scene are 'music festival' and 'bash'. With the industry recording steady growth and people supporting Namibian arts more than ever before, event organisers have resorted to hosting a lot of events, which is fine as it is good for the growth of the industry. However, certain Namibian events with the suffix 'festival' do not meet the requirements to be referred to as festivals. A music festival is an organised event, typically lasting several days, featuring performances by various musicians, singers, and groups while a bash is basically a party.

Enough of these terms, I hope you go and read up on them. In this edition we exclusively bring you a piece on DJ Dreas who was invited to record at the Red Bull Music Studios in Cape Town. It is quite a big deal if you ask me. Singer Lize Ehlers released her latest album last week and tjil got an opportunity to catch up with her as well. This and more in this edition.



michael@namibiansun.com; @MichaelMKAY on Twitter

Cook-Off concludes

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Cook-Off concludesOshakati native crowned Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off champion 2019 champion shares how winning the competition is going to change her life. On Saturday, 24 August 2019, Oshakati native Emiliana Shoombe became the fifth winner of the Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off competition.

The final, which took place at the Game Shopping Centre in Oshakati, saw 13 finalists from the northern, coastal, eastern and central regions compete for the grand prize of a mobile food truck, with built-in electrical stove, freezer, fryer and grill to the value of N$100 000, a cash prize of N$10 000, a MeatMa shopping voucher to the value of N$5 000, a year’s supply of Bakpro vetkoek wheat flour, and SME development training.

Shoombe, who previously made an income by selling kapana from home, says that winning the competition will change her life, “I am so very excited and humbled, this is a life-changing prize. I will be able now be able to grow my business and really make a change in my life.”

Chef Bengina Amakoshi from the central region was accorded the honour of Kapana champion in the professional category along with a cash prize of N$10 000.

“On behalf of Nedbank Namibia and our esteemed partners, I would like to congratulate our finalists for having made it so far in the competition, and especially to our winners. Through the Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off, we have seen the top contestants demonstrate their passion and skill for the unique art of cooking a Namibian favourite, kapana,” said Gernot de Klerk, Nedbank’s communications manager.

“We look forward to seeing what this year’s kapana champion will do with their mobile food trailer, we anticipate seeing you create a lucrative brand for this Namibian dish and formalising your trade”, de Klerk continued.

The Nedbank Kapana Cook-Off attracted attention from participants across the country, preliminary rounds were held in the northern, eastern, coastal and central regions to determine the finalists.

“I would like to thank all the sponsors for giving me this opportunity; I am now going to look for an ideal spot to set up in Oshakati and start my business,” concluded Shoombe.

The Kapana Cook-Off is a Nedbank Namibia initiative hosted in proud partnership with MeatMa, Pick n Pay, Bakpro and the Namibia Chefs Association.

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Reaching for the stars

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Reaching for the starsRed Bull giving DJ Dreas wings Music producer shares his Red Bull Music Studios experience in Cape Town. Pull quote: “The creative space is surreal; it's like nothing I've ever experienced before in Namibia. I must say I'm in awe at the range of tools and equipment that were made available for me.” - DJ Dreas When you have not seen the door hinge of the famous Red Bull Music Studios in your entire life but you are invited and offered a chance to record after releasing your first project, there's a chance you might be in a wonderful dream. Or, this might be your reality and you might be DJ Dreas.

DJ Dreas real name, Ngula Andreas Nambambi, is currently in Cape Town at the Red Bull Music Studios where he was invited to record and produce music for this past week. Seeing that he is relatively new to the music scene, this invitation is a big deal and has the potential to catapult his career to great heights.

In the invitation letter seen by tjil, the facility is described as a musician's dream. The studio features the latest digital music technology, quality recording equipment as well as a choice selection of vintage analogue gear. The facility is comprised of a main recording studio with an adjacent live room as well as a smaller studio with attached vocal booth. “The space provides up and coming as well as established artists with the opportunity to bring their ideas to life.

“Established in 2008 and nestled in the heart of the mother city, the Red Bull Studios aims to be a platform for growth in the vibrant music scene,” read the invitation letter.

On how the invitation came about, DJ Dreas shared that he submitted his music last year, right before his project Pluto was released. He added that they reached out to him this year and expressed how much they liked his music and their wish to have him in studio. “The creative space is surreal; it's like nothing I've ever experienced before in Namibia. I must say I'm in awe at the range of tools and equipment that were made available for me,” added DJ Dreas.

During his stay there he is working on an extended play (EP) that is projected to be released early next year or possibly before then.

The last time tjil caught up with DJ Dreas a few months back, we discussed the reception to his body of work Pluto which he describes as a project that feels and sounds extraterrestrial to create an ambience that resembles the galaxies and stars. Bringing something new to the Namibian music scene and not understood by everyone, tjil asked if he feels underrated by certain gatekeepers in the industry.





He was not part of the Unam Cultural Festival 2019 and that sparked a bit of a debate on Twitter, with certain tweeps expressing disappointment that he was not booked.

“We all saw the outrage on social media, but my team and I are unbothered. It is just a gig,” said DJ Dreas.

Despite Pluto being received relatively well, one thing that DJ Dreas seems to be slacking on is complementing the music with visuals. In his defence, he told tjil that initially when he dropped the Pluto project he did not have plans for it beyond its release as he did not anticipate the overwhelming response it received. “My team and I are looking into making visuals part of the package but only for the forthcoming music as it will be of higher quality and will represent DJ Dreas to a greater degree. Pluto was a stepping stone,” he said.

Another success that DJ Dreas is celebrating is being signed to UMB, a record label he describes as a visionary entity that consists of young and vibrant talents such as himself, Loft and Diolini. “I can't say much about the contract but I can say that exciting times are coming,” said DJ Dreas.



MICHAEL KAYUNDE

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NCA livestock sector transformation

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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NCA livestock sector transformationEight northern regions to be developed The agriculture ministry has launched its strategy to integrate the eight northern regions' agricultural production. The agriculture ministry will soon announce animal health measures aimed at ensuring that the management of foot-and-mouth (FMD) outbreaks have the least impact on marketing of livestock and livestock products in the eight northern regions of Namibia.

This was said by agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb at the launch of the Northern Communal Area Livestock Sector Transformation Strategy.

The estimated budget for the strategy is more than N$351 million and it aims to amongst others reduce FMD outbreaks from five outbreaks every five years to one. It also aims to establish six disease-free zones in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs). There are currently none.

!Naruseb said the ministry with the support of the Meat Board has reviewed the management of FMD outbreaks in the infected zone, the Zambezi Region, parts of the Kavango East Region, the protection zone, and the rest of the northern regions.

He said the ministry will also be announcing new commodity-based trade measures to allow safe movement of meat from the northern regions to areas south of the veterinary cordon fence such as in Windhoek.

!Naruseb expressed concern over the fact that the proportion of agriculture's contribution to the national economy has fallen below 4% of the GDP and said that the livestock economy in the eight northern regions has huge potential to help the country achieve its economic objectives.

The eight northern regions are the Zambezi Region, Kavango East, Kavango West, Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Oshana, Omusati and Kunene regions. He pointed out that they currently contribute the least to the national economy.

“There is a need to transform the livestock sector in the northern regions to a market-oriented livestock sector, which meets the socioeconomic needs of the value-chain actors, from farmers to consumers, while increasing its contribution to the national economy,” said !Naruseb.

According to him the challenges faced by the livestock sector in the eight northern regions of Namibia are numerous, but not insurmountable.

He referred to the Study on Marketing Systems of Livestock and Livestock Products that elaborated on the challenges that the northern regions are faced with and said that this study also made key recommendations on how these can be addressed.

“The sector has been bedevilled by low productivity due to deteriorating rangeland and an unfavourable animal health status characterised by increased frequency of occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the Zambezi Region, and the increased risk of FMD outbreaks in the rest of the northern regions,” said !Naruseb. He said this status is an impediment to gaining access to high value markets.

“However, risk must be managed to ensure meat from the northern regions has at the very least, access to the local and national domestic markets, and if there is surplus, export to markets without onerous sanitary requirements.” !Naruseb said as government they are seeking to change the situation and are committed to the transformation of the northern regions' livestock sector by developing the formal market for livestock in the form of new abattoirs at Rundu and Outapi, and meat processing facilities at Rundu and Ongwediva.

“We have ongoing projects to restore the abattoirs in Oshakati and Katima Mulilo to export status. We are hopeful that the new operators will sustain operations of formal livestock marketing. This should encourage higher off-take of quality animals as demanded by the markets.”

He also referred to the directive that was issued through the finance ministry to ensure the food service industry participating in government tenders procure their food requirements from locally produced grain, vegetables, meat and others.

“My ministry and partners are committed to support the implementation of this process to ensure that meat originating from the northern regions has access to the local domestic market. We will leave no stone unturned to make sure this directive is fully implemented.” Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU) president Jason Emvula said the absence of a functional lucrative market for the NCA has left the majority of communal farmers in poverty. The status quo is extremely worrisome. He said a four-month comprehensive investigation was conducted into the status quo of the marketing systems in the communal areas north of the veterinary cordon fence. The investigation analysed the value chain of livestock and livestock products. “There is a need to organise a Namibian team to leave the country to engage with fellow Africans and search for marketing opportunities for livestock and livestock products from the NCA,” said Emvula.

He stressed that to transform the NCA there is need to invest in infrastructure, so that they are able to own and operate the entire value chain from fodder production through processing. He further called on the extension of the FMD free zone northward into what is now called the buffer zone, so that marketing opportunities for NCA livestock and livestock products can be broadened and the costs associated with commodity-based trading can be taken away.

“FMD outbreak management must be in such a way that there is minimal disruption to the marketing of livestock and livestock products and related commercial activities.

It is not acceptable that livestock movement is restricted to extended periods during outbreaks and marketing is closed for six months.”



ELLANIE SMIT

Rundu's roaming livestock irks

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Rundu's roaming livestock irks The Rundu town council is struggling to address the roaming around of livestock within the boundaries of the town due to a lack of resources.

This challenge, which falls under a myriad of challenges faced by the council, was highlighted by the local authority's public relations officer Benjamin Makayi, in an interview with Nampa. Makayi said the council has tried all efforts to remove kraals found within the perimeters of the town and also to drive livestock found roaming around out of town, but lacks the manpower to do so and to enforce its bylaws.

“We only have one law enforcement officer responsible for the reinforcement of regulations in town which includes livestock control,” he said.

Animals such as goats, cattle and donkeys are regularly spotted grazing in small bushes in town and along Eugen Kakukuru Street, moving closer to the central business district. Makayi said the situation is exacerbated by farmers who do not take good care of their animals and those that still have kraals on the outskirts of town, whom he added leave their animals to take care of themselves, especially now when grazing areas are limited.

“We established through an assessment that most of the roaming livestock actually come from outside the town's boundaries; the kraals in the town itself are less than five,” Makayi explained.

However, Nampa has observed that there are more than five kraals found within the town's boundaries in areas like Sauyemwa, Kasote, Sikanduko and Kaisosi.

As to what the exact actions are when livestock are found in town, Makayi said the animals are impounded and the owners fined an overall fee of N$2 000 for the roaming animals - but the challenge of the enforcement of such laws remain.

“When livestock is spotted in town, the law enforcement officer would liaise with the veterinary office at the agriculture ministry to assist in the identification of the livestock owners, who in turn are informed to collect their animals,” he said.

NAMPA

Axe-murder suspect to be extradited

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Axe-murder suspect to be extradited The government is yet to request its Angolan counterpart to extradite a man wanted by the police in connection with a murder at Sikali village in Kavango West about two weeks ago.

The suspect fled to Angola after allegedly hacking Naimi Ngambo Kalenga (23) to death with an axe.

Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga said the suspect was arrested in Angola.

Ndeitunga said an extradition request would be sent through the ministry of justice once all the necessary paperwork was in order.

He could not say how long it would take before the suspect would appear in a Namibian court.

“We are just preparing our request, which will be sent to Angola when it is ready through our ministry of justice so that the suspect can be extradited to Namibia,” Ndeitunga said.

Namibia and Angola do not have a bilateral extradition agreement, but Ndeitunga said they would be guided by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union (AU) protocols on extradition.

The murder was committed early in the morning of 16 August.

According to Nikolaus Kupembona, the acting regional crime investigation coordinator, the suspect was in a relationship with the victim and they had three children.

The suspect allegedly struck her several times on the head and arms with a traditional axe and she died on the spot.

Before fleeing the scene, the suspect allegedly used the same axe to strike the left shoulder of the victim's mother when she approached the shack where the screams were coming from.

A case of murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm was opened against the suspect.

KENYA KAMBOWE

U-turn on Swapo court action

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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U-turn on Swapo court action The five Swapo members who last week threatened to take the ruling party to court over alleged irregularities during the Otjiwarongo district conference have made a dramatic U-turn.

Namibian Sun has been reliably been informed that the five Swapo members have reached a compromise with the party following Sunday's central committee meeting, which took place at Otjiwarongo.

They five, Carlos Joseph, Maria Kambonde, Percy Mbakera, Bennes Haimbodi and Hilde Jesaya, last week through their lawyer Henry Shimutwikeni had given Swapo until this past Monday to respond to their demand or else face them in a court of law. When contacted for comment, Mbakera referred all questions to Haimbodi, who refused to comment on the matter.

“No comment, busy with internal (in-house) matters,” Haimbodi responded in a text message.

The initial letter by the five was written to Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa who was given the ultimatum to adhere to their demand or else face them in court.

When contacted for comment, Shaningwa said she was not aware of the reversal of their decision, asking for proof of any document that states that the five members had made a U-turn.

“The letter which was written to me was official and not a rumour, now where is the U-turn thing?” Shaningwa argued.

The five in their letter of demand argued that a number of irregularities were observed by during the Otjiwarongo district gathering.

The allegations were levelled against regional coordinator Susan Hikopua and treasurer Patrick Xoagub, whom they accuse of interference.

“Our instructions are that the actions of the Otjozondjupa regional coordinator Susan Hikopua and regional treasurer Patrick Xoagub unduly meddled or interfered in the renewal of mandate of the Otjiwarongo district while their constitutional functions are limited to overseeing the regional conference and the functions of the regional executive as per the Swapo Party constitution,” the letter reads.

Shimutwikeni further explained how the disgruntled members wrote a letter dated 1 August to Shaningwa, to which she responded by establishing an investigation team spearheaded by Walde Ndevashiya.

The team was tasked to probe the concerns of irregularities that were raised. However, Shimutwikeni claimed that the findings were not made available to his clients and that the investigation was not impartial.

“It is therefore our instruction to demand from you as we hereby do that there be a re-run of the renewal of mandate process de-novo and inform us by no later than 26 August of your commitment to the same,” the letter reads.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Odds stacked against producers

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Odds stacked against producersBeef quality remains NCA main challenge There is a need for a paradigm shift by producers within the NCA regarding traditional reasons for livestock farming towards more commercially oriented objectives. About 20 000 plus live cattle and products such as fresh meat are annually traded from south of the Veterinary Cordon Area (VCA) to the Northern Communal Area (NCA).

This is mainly due to the lack of supplies of NCA livestock which meet what is perceived to be beef consumer demand in terms of quality. According to a report on the Study of Marketing in the NCA, to stimulate production and supply of quality NCA beef the agriculture ministry and the Meat Board of Namibia should consider the feasibility and costs and benefits of an NCA meat market share scheme.

Through this traders would need to procure a percentage of their supplies in the NCA before being licensed to procure from south of the VCA.

“Over time it may be expected that the percentage procured in the NCA would increase. At the same time, a campaign to promote consumer demand for NCA meat should be undertaken,” says the report.

The report further says there is a need for a paradigm shift by producers regarding traditional reasons for livestock farming towards more commercially oriented objectives.

“Promoting this transformation should be supported by information and education campaigns focusing on recognizing livestock farming as a business for generating wealth.”

It further notes that sustainable rangeland management requires livestock destocking, preferably through increased sales on an annual basis.

“There is a need for awareness creation towards selling young animals in good condition that has quality meat and not necessarily old animals with poor quality meat, which is less desirable to the consumer market.”

The report stressed that the agriculture ministry should treat the leased state-owned abattoirs and meat processing facilities, which it has in recent years committed about N$250 million of capital expenditure to, as a project. It should therefore appoint a steering committee and management personnel to run it rather than effectively leave it to the operators and the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (AMTA), the lease agreement manager.

“The damage done to the livestock sector by the prolonged closure of the NCA abattoirs from 2014 to date should be recognized. Likewise, the risk of future suboptimal performance and closures of the new facilities should be avoided by all means.”

The report says that in the Zambezi Region, the proposed meat processing facility needs to be constructed to offer a viable means of trading meat outside the region, which remains an FMD infected zone due to free-roaming buffalo. This is in line with international standards for FMD virus inactivation by preparing processed meat.

“Alternative commodity-based trade approaches using international standards is too costly and in any case not viable in the event of FMD outbreaks.”

In the Kunene Region, the Opuwo abattoir needs to be rehabilitated and expanded to attract both large and small stock from the region at reasonable transport costs.

The abattoirs in the north-central and two Kavango Regions need to ensure quality cattle supplies by growing and feeding cattle fodder to overcome the challenge of the poor conditions, low carcass mass, low-fat grades and old age at a reasonable slaughter weight of cattle produced in the NCA.

“Poor grazing conditions, especially during the dry season, and the high cost of supplementary feed means that farmers cannot fatten and finish cattle as they do on freehold farms to south of the VCF where rangeland management can be more readily practiced. This results in production value losses and poses supply challenges to the processing components of the value chain.”

The report says following comprehensive feasibility studies, infrastructure for fodder production and quarantine-feedlots should be established by the government at optimally located Green Scheme projects and leased to abattoir and meat processing operators to create vertically integrated enterprises. About 500 ha of irrigated land in selected irrigation schemes should produce enough silage to feed about 20 000 cattle annually.

It said that such state investment is necessary because private investors and banks cannot bear the risk of closure of operations due to FMD outbreaks. Feedlots would grow weaners and young cattle, fatten older cattle according to market demand, and would even out supplies to abattoirs over the seasons.

“Additionally, where land can be secured, the option of 500 ha of dry land cultivated native grass pastures attached to abattoirs where they can feed up to 2 000 lean cattle annually to the desired fatness and weight should be considered.

ELLANIE SMIT

Stop dictating the agenda

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Stop dictating the agenda There has been a frustrating and an enduring debate on whether the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species should allow Namibia to sell its ivory stockpile worth over N$125 million and bring in much-needed revenue. The stockpile consists of tusks confiscated from poachers, and because of natural deaths. Since the ban in 1989, Namibia has only been allowed controlled ivory trade in 1999 and 2008, with CITES arguing that legalising it would be devastating for African elephants, which are the source of most of the illegally traded ivory in the world. At the recent gathering, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe proposed that they should be allowed a one-time sale of government-owned ivory stockpiles, followed by a six-year moratorium. The proposal was, however, defeated with 101 countries opposing it and 23 countries in support, with 18 abstaining. The convention also rejected a proposal to relax restrictions on white rhino hunting and exports. Namibia is not the only one fighting for this. Neighbours such as Botswana and Zimbabwe with large populations have persistently pleaded with CITES against the downgrading of white rhinos from Appendix I, the list of species threatened with extinction, to Appendix II, a list of species with looser protections. The truth of the matter is that western animal rights groups are disregarding our conservation and socio-economic development interests, while dictating how African countries should manage their environmental affairs. This is unfair and unreasonable. A country like Namibia has a good story to tell from a conservation point of view. We are in fact the only country in the world with conservation entrenched in the constitution of the republic. On top of that, 42% of our land is under some form of conservation management, yet again signifying the genuine efforts of our nation towards environmental conservation. What more can you ask for? We agree with our regional leaders that perhaps the time has come for SADC to pull the plug and withdraw en masse from an organisation that is ostensibly dictated by largely non-state actors with no experience with, responsibility for, or ownership over wildlife resources as SADC chair President John Magufuli strongly pointed out.

EIF secures N$127m grant

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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EIF secures N$127m grantFocus on climate change adaptation The grant will be implemented in 13 regions to strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable rural communities. The Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF) has signed yet another agreement worth N$127 million with the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

EIF chief executive Benedict Libanda signed the agreement with the executive director of GCF, Yannick Glemarec, during the Global Programming Conference in Songdo, South Korea, on Friday.

The grant will be implemented in 13 regions to strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable rural communities through an ecosystem-based adaptation approach.

The project is based on the premise that biodiversity and ecosystems provide valuable services that increase the climate resilience of local communities.

Activities undertaken as part of the project will maintain and enhance ecosystem integrity to support food production.

The project will be implemented through the environment ministry.

To date the EIF has received assistance of more than N$500 million from the GCF for projects related to agricultural resilience, renewable energy and ecosystem-based climate adaptation.

“The GCF is thrilled that EIF continues to demonstrate robust leadership within the climate finance landscape in Namibia and the grant will contribute to the attainment of the highly ambitious climate change agenda in Namibia,” said Glemarec.

STAFF REPORTER

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Ex-lovers guilty of murder

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Ex-lovers guilty of murder JANA-MARI SMITH



Rachel Rittmann (48) and her former lover, Rhyno du Preez (35), have been found guilty of plotting the murder of her husband, Rudolph Henry Rittmann, in Gobabis six years ago and then dumping his body and setting his car alight.

High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg yesterday convicted the two now seemingly estranged former lovers of murder, conspiracy to murder and attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice.

He acquitted them of robbery with aggravating circumstances, but convicted Rittmann of theft because she was found in possession of her husband’s cellphone and wallet after her arrest.

The two had met on Facebook in May 2012 when Du Preez was 28 and Rittmann was 42, and estranged from her husband at the time. She had later returned her husband, with whom she was living at the time of the murder on 23 August 2013.

In his judgment, Liebenberg said the motive for the murder was likely twofold: financial gain and making room for the couple’s relationship with Rittmann’s husband out of the way.

Rittmann and Du Preez had both been suspended from a cash-loan company months before the murder, on allegations of fraud and theft of close to N$200 000. Rittmann had been arrested and was out on bail at the time of the murder.

In the week before the murder, Rittmann had put in motion changes to a joint will and a life-insurance policy from which she anticipated to benefit on the death of her husband.

The judge further noted that with Rittmann’s husband dead, he would be “out of the way”, allowing the former couple to continue their relationship. “This they did,” he said.

Together

Liebenberg said although the two accused had given different versions of the events leading up to and following the murder, the evidence “overwhelmingly favoured” Du Preez’s version.

Du Preez admitted that he had stabbed Rudolph Rittmann in his bed on 23 August, but said the plot to kill him had been masterminded by Rachel Rittmann, and that he was vulnerable to her instructions because of his deep feelings for her. Nevertheless, he admitted to the court that they both plotted the murder and carried out that plan together.

Rittmann denied having been involved in the plot to kill her husband, and placed the blame squarely on Du Preez. She justified her involvement by claiming that she was afraid of Du Preez, who had acted violently towards her, and that she feared he would blame her for the murder.

Du Preez admitted that he had stabbed Rittmann’s husband multiple times in the chest, while Rittmann, who had brought him the knife, stood by.

She had ensured that her daughter and tenant would not be at home, and that her husband was asleep when Du Preez arrived.

Together they cleaned the bedroom in which the murder took place, bundled her husband’s body into his bakkie, and then Du Preez drove the car to a spot on the main road between Gobabis and Windhoek near Kapps Farm.

He poured petrol into the vehicle and set it alight with the body inside, including towels and bed linen from the crime scene, in an attempt to stage an accident and cover up the murder.

They two were arrested on 1 September 2013, during an early-morning police raid in which they were found together in bed at a house in Windhoek, with Rittmann initially trying to hide beneath the covers.

No support

Liebenberg said Rittmann’s version, in which she denied having been involved in the plan to kill her husband, and that she was forced to participate due to her fear of Du Preez, was not “borne out by her conduct after her husband’s killing.”

Liebenberg said she remained in contact with Du Preez after the murder, exchanged Sim cards to avoid their calls being traced, and fabricated evidence of her husband’s health in order to create the impression that her husband had suffered a heart attack while driving.

Liebenberg emphasised that Rittmann had failed to take any opportunity to report the crime to the police, neglected to call for help and later denied any knowledge of the matter when the police contacted her.

22 road deaths in a week

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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22 road deaths in a week The deaths of six more people in an accident on Wednesday raised the death toll on Namibia's roads to 22 within a week.

The latest accident occurred on the B2 road about 50 km from Usakos on Wednesday afternoon.

According to the police the driver of a green Toyota Passo sedan, travelling from Usakos to Aranos, lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a truck. The truck belonging to Snyman Transport was travelling from Arandis. The sedan was carrying six passengers - four women and two children. The driver was the only man in the car. Six occupants, including the driver and both children, died at the scene of the crash. The only survivor from the sedan was identified as Rosalia Mwedihanga, who was admitted to the Swakopmund state hospital with serious injuries. The truck driver was travelling alone and did not sustain serious injury.

Over the Heroes' Day long weekend at least 16 people were killed in accidents, including two toddlers and two teenagers who died in a bus crash near Mariental on Saturday.

Last Thursday two people were killed when a bakkie carrying seven people overturned about 20 km from Bethanie. In another accident on Thursday, two women died when a VW Combi overturned about 7 km from Otavi. Also on Thursday, a woman was killed and four others were injured when a car overturned about 120 km from Keetmanshoop. In yet another accident on Thursday, a pedestrian and her baby were hit by a car while crossing the road at Kahenge. The woman, who was carrying her baby on her back, died at the scene.





Her eight-month-old baby died at Nankudu Hospital. Another woman died after being hit by a car on the main road between Ondangwa and Ongwediva on Saturday. A bakkie that overturned near Swakopmund on Saturday claimed the lives of two passengers.

Also on Saturday, tragedy struck when a tour bus carrying 65 pupils of a Windhoek private school left the road and overturned between Kalkrand and Mariental. Two children were killed and many others injured. At Eenhana, a passenger was killed when a car left the road and crashed into a tree on Saturday. On Sunday a three-year-old child was run over by a trailer at a house north of Oshivelo.

ELLANIE SMIT

Pot ready to boil

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Pot ready to boilSwapo gears up for tough electoral college Swapo's mandatory zebra-style 50-50 gender representation is set to have a major impact on the country's next parliament and cabinet. Swapo will finally hold its electoral college to elect its candidates for the November National Assembly election, amidst deepening divisions and factionalism.

The electoral college is seen as a tough contest for aspiring parliamentarians, considering the 50/50 National Assembly gender representation policy of the ruling party.

This essentially means that male party members who have over the years dominated the electoral college now have their numerical dominance curtailed.

The 50/50 gender representation policy became a constitutionally mandatory requirement in 2012 and was first used during the 2013 electoral college, ahead of the 2014 National Assembly and presidential elections.

Swapo won 77 seats in the National Assembly, largely thanks to the third constitutional amendments, which saw parliamentary seats increased to 96 from 72.

Campaigning among party cadres has intensified, while the squabbles over leadership positions have seen some regions delaying the holding of their extraordinary congresses to determine delegates and National Assembly candidates to the electoral college.



'Tough' competition

Political commentator Graham Hopwood expects the electoral college to be a battle between the youth and the old guard.

“I think there will be tough competition for places partly because of the 50/50 quota system. It could well be that, as in 2014, some familiar names will fall by the wayside.

“This is unfortunate because the president may feel he has to keep certain senior Swapo figures in parliament and therefore will fill his allocation for the eight non-voting seats with them instead of people selected for their 'special expertise, status, skill or experience' as mentioned in the constitution,” said Hopwood.

“Slate politics was largely associated with the 2017 congress. Since then most of the party structures have been more closely aligned with the president - so I don't see factionalism playing a major role, although there may be something of a youth versus elders division with some pressure to include more young people in the top 70 candidates.”

Hopwood added that it is a pity that there does not seem to be a way of assessing the performance of MPs over the last four years when considering them for another term.

“For example, we don't really know how the influx of female MPs in 2015 affected parliament and what kind of beneficial impact they might have had.”







Another local commentator, Ndumba Kamwanyah, believes the gender and age factors are variables to look out for at next week's gathering, while slate politics should not be ruled out.



“That's a group-think process in action where people will be voted based on camp affiliation, disregarding gender and age. I think slate and camp politics is what we are going to witness playing out during the electoral college,” he said.



“The Swapo Party has lost its mojo where individual traits/skills/experiences/credentials were good enough to earn you a ticket to the pot. Nowadays the camp within Swapo that you associate yourself with determines your election at the electoral college.”







Composition



Close to 244 delegates drawn from the party's central committee, 14 regions, youth, women and elders wings will take part in the elections. As a Swapo affiliate, the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) is also supposed to elect candidates to represent it at the electoral college. Current Swapo MPs who are part of the central committee also automatic delegates to the 'pot'.



The central committee is made up of 84 members, including President Hage Geingob, who is expected to be confirmed as the party's presidential candidate at the electoral college.



Each region will send six delegates, two of whom are National Assembly candidates. The Swapo Party Women's Council has the constitutional privilege of sending ten delegates, while the Swapo Party Youth League and Swapo Party Elders Council are represented by six delegates each. The current 48 Swapo MPs in the National Assembly will also be allowed to take part by virtue of not being part of the central committee.



So far only the top four are safe. With Geingob expected to be the ruling party's presidential candidate, vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will top the parliamentary list, followed by party SG Sophia Shaningwa and deputy SG Marco Hausiku.



The electoral college then has to elect 83 candidates, while Geingob will have to appoint an additional ten members to make up the 96-member list to be submitted to the Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN).



Local lawyer Sisa Namandje will once again supervise and oversee the elections that will be held at a Windhoek hotel.

JEMIMA BEUKES AND FESTUS NAKATANA

NamBTS takes care of its employees

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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NamBTS takes care of its employees The Namibian Blood Transfusion Service (NamBTS) in Windhoek held a wellness day for its employees on Wednesday. Namibia Health Plan (NHP) visited the offices to provide the employees with health check-ups. These included tests to determine their body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels. A massage therapist, an optometrist, members of Nucleus Gym and members of the Cancer Association were on hand to provide the employees with tips and information. In the photo Titus Shivute, the educational officer at the NamBTS, is getting his check-up.

PHOTO MARISELLE STOFBERG.

Coach Carballo conquers all

August 29, 2019, 4:00 pm

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Coach Carballo conquers allShooting hoops from Namibia to Senegal A Namibian coach was one of the secret weapons of the Senegal national women’s team at the recent Afrobasket championships. ESTER KAMATI

Renowned Namibian basketball coach Manuel Carballo recently joined forces with the head coach of the Senegalese national women’s team, Cheikh Sarr.

The two, along with two other members of the coaching staff, led the Senegalese team to a silver medal at the FIBA women’s Afrobasket 2019 championships that took place in Senegal from 10 to 18 August.

Senegal’s national women’s basketball team had won their first game at the 2018 women’s basketball world cup under the leadership of their head coach along with Carballo as part of the coaching staff. This was Carballo’s first contract with the Senegalese team and they were overwhelmed as the team had never won a game before at that level.

Sarr and Carballo had their first encounter in 2015 in Benin and became acquainted through FIBA coaching courses. When Carballo became the first Namibian to become a FIBA instructor coach in 2015, his potential was easily spotted and three years later, Sarr scouted him specifically to join his team at the world cup.

Carballo did such a phenomenal job that Sarr contracted him again for the World Cup Afrobasket championship and the pre-Olympics. He will thus be accompanying the team to the pre-Olympic qualifiers and preparing the team.

“Last year, it was all new. We still had to recruit, which took longer. We didn’t prepare well last year,” he says.

This year, however, Carballo spent nearly two months with the team, making sure that they were well prepared for their games. The team travelled to other countries, such as China, and played against the teams in preparation for the Afrobasket tournament.

The team were undefeated all the way to the final, where they lost to Nigeria by five points to take the silver medal.

Another tough encounter during the tournament was the semi-finals where they played against Mozambique.

“We were down by 25 points and then we came back and won it by six points.

“I have coached in Europe but it is always nice to be on this level of coaching,” says Carballo, describing the experience as a learning curve.

“I’m happy to be part of the Senegalese team and I thank Sarr for giving me the opportunity to be able to assist with the coaching.

“As a Namibian representing our country as one of the coaches, it was really good knowing that people see the quality that we have in Africa and wanted me to be part of the team and help.”

Carballo and the Namibia Basketball Federation have a vision to groom Namibian basketball players, especially women, to be able to compete at the same level.

Caption 1: Manuel Carballo is enthusiastic about the future of basketball in Namibia.

Caption 2: The Senegal national women’s team finished second at the Afrobasket championships.

PHOTOS: ESTER KAMATI