Schiefer appeals again

November 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Schiefer appeals againParent killer tries to have sentence further reduced Romeo Schiefer, who is now 30, was sentenced in 2013 for the shocking and brutal murders of his parents. A second appeal by Romeo Schiefer, who was sentenced to an effective 48 years in prison for the murder of his parents in October 2008, has been set down for January next year.

Schiefer made another appearance before High Court Judge Naomi Shivute yesterday morning, where he was informed that his second appeal against his sentence would be heard on 24 January 2020.

The date was decided between deputy prosecutor-general Antonia Verhoef, who represented the State, and Schiefer. Schiefer will represent himself because of financial difficulties. In addition, Legal Aid refused to provide him with state-funded legal representation, because the directorate concluded there was no possibility of success. Schiefer, who is now 30, was sentenced on 24 October 2013 to 28 years each on the two murder counts. He killed his parents - Frans and Fransiena Schiefer - both 50 at the time, at their house in Khomasdal on 18 January 2008

Schiefer was just 18 years old when he murdered his parents.

Frans was shot in the head in the couple's bedroom. His wife was stabbed repeatedly with a knife or knives and was also shot 17 times.

Eight years of Schiefer's sentence are running concurrently, which means he was supposed to serve an effective 48 years.

However, one 12 September 2017, his sentence was slightly reduced to an effective 42 years in a judgment handed down in the Supreme Court, following a successful appeal.

Schiefer is serving his sentence at the Windhoek Central Correctional Facility. During sentence proceedings Shivute said the court had considered Schiefer's youthfulness, but added that it could not ignore that two innocent lives were taken during his murderous rampage.

“The accused committed serious and heinous crimes of murder. He killed the deceased persons in cold blood, execution style,” Shivute said at the time.

The other factors considered in Schiefer's favour, according to the judge, were that he was a first offender and that he had spent about six years in custody awaiting trial.

Shivute said further that Schiefer attacked his parents viciously and mercilessly, hence society expected him to be given a lengthy sentence.

“Failure to give him a lengthy sentence would put the administration of justice in disrepute,” the judge said.

She said Schiefer's mother had 17 bullet wounds to her head, neck, chest, leg and abdomen. Several bullets were recovered from her body, while a knife blade was embedded in the right side of her neck.

She had cut wounds on the right cheek and right leg.

“The deceased had 17 bullet wounds on her body, which is clear evidence that the deceased was subjected to a merciless, prolonged attack. It also shows that the accused wanted her to die at any cost,” Shivute said. Schiefer's father died of head injuries, with a post-mortem report revealing brain damage.





NAMPA

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Voter list out

November 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Voter list out The number of eligible voters that registered for this month's Presidential and National Assembly elections has increased from 1 235 020 to 1 358 468, the Electoral Commission of Namibia's (ECN) chief electoral and refenda officer, Theo Mujoro, announced this week.

According to a statement issued by the ECN only 8 653 voters are millennials, those born since 2000, and 403 106 registered voters are born-frees - those born after independence.

The three regions with the highest number of registered voters are Khomas, Ohangwena and Omusati.

The regions with the lowest number of registered voters are Omaheke, Zambezi and Hardap. A total of 717 809 registered voters are female and 640 659 are male.

“The preparation of the final voter register required the execution of several integrity checks, which included the automatic fingerprints identification system matching to remove duplicate entries, plus manual adjustments in the case of similar fingerprints, as well as removal of deceased persons,” said Mujoro.

He added that the provisional voter register was displayed for inspection from 2 until 6 September in terms of the Electoral Act.

“No objections were received by the commission during this period,” he said.

The ECN also provided a regional breakdown of voters, as well as the demographics of the voting population.

There will be close to 2 400 polling stations in all 121 political constituencies on election day on 27 November.

Close to 13 000 polling officials will be deployed, and around 2 445 ballot units and the same number of control units will be used.

The ECN will put up a central election results centre at its head office in Windhoek where all votes from constituencies will be collated and from where the results will be announced within two days after the elections.

The centre will have two wings: an east wing where equipment like fax machines will be set up through which results will be received. The other wing will be the media centre.

There will be two big screens in the main hall where results in different formats will be displayed. The results will simultaneously be fed to media houses, and will be published on the ECN's online platforms.

jemima@namibiansun.com

JEMIMA BEUKES

What’s his deal?

November 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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What’s his deal? The 2019 general election is very close. This will be my first-ever election that I am actually a part of, and I could not be more torn. Elizabeth Joseph

Although I have never voted, I think everyone should at least have an idea of who to vote for. I don’t. Everyone has been telling me to read manifestos and read up on some of the political parties running for office. I have major trust issues, so reading a piece of paper would not make it any easier.

I have, however, been following Dr Panduleni Itula’s journey, especially because he is at the top of everyone’s conversations and social media always hypes everything up a 100 times over.

Although it is not advisable to count on Twitter to feed my inquisitive mind, what am I to do?

Every day leading up to the election has been hard for me, because I have to make a political decision that I never even thought would be so difficult. I have to reason with myself, because I have been living in a Namibia that seems ‘all good’, but really isn’t.

If you have a steady job, then you are certainly not feeling the heat as badly. My only dream for this country is prosperity. Not the ‘superficial, say-don’t-do, we are all equal’ type of prosperity that I have been seeing, but real wealth redistribution, realistic job-creation and the growth of our ever-deteriorating economy. Those are a few of my expectations for the next party or candidate who comes to power.

I am certainly not the biggest politics nerd, but you don’t need to be to have a say in what happens in the next five years of your life.

I definitely still have a lot of research to do in terms of reading different manifestos, in order to prepare myself for the election. I am, however, still wavering.

I wish I had a deeper interest and understanding of politics, because maybe then I would have an easier time knowing what I need. Knowing what to look for in a political party or candidate is so important.

My point is that all the promises sound sweet until its teatime. Independent presidential candidate, Itula, said if he is elected into power, his 12-member cabinet would comprise of 40% youth.

I and thousands of young people hear this and hope that it’s true. Itula also wants key decision-making positions in government structures and entities to be made up of 40% young people.

Either this is really as good as it sounds or these political candidates are preying on the vulnerable and most powerful generation.

I want to believe the promises of a better and more prosperous Namibia, but it is beginning to sound very familiar.

It is true, youth are worst hit by unemployment and experience high levels of inequality. Itula said that this is aggravated by the fact that no specific tools and capacity have been cultivated to address this, when he launched his manifesto a few weeks back.

“Much of a greater problem is that those who claim to care for the youth under the guise of youthful representation do not have the slightest idea of what the youth want. Nobody in the current political dispensation dared to ask what the youth want, how the youth want it done and when the youth want it done,” he said.

To me this means: Thank God someone is finally listening to us. And what is his deal? What agenda is he pushing?

We have heard, seen and felt, for the longest time, that the current leaders of this country are all over the ages of 30 and many people have had mixed feelings about this, one of them being me.

So the fact that what Itula is saying sounds so promising has me scared to death. For the first time I want to give a politician the time of day.

I hope this doesn’t sound like I am swearing my allegiance an independent candidate, but I am excited to see what comes from this election.

Job-creation that caters for vocational trainees, youth inclusion in cabinet, a N$1 000 dual-option direct government housing schemes and a jobseeker allowance are some of the promises that we are given now to cling to.

Wish me luck, and make the best choice for you.

Take care of yourself, and others!

With only a month and a few weeks left to the end of the year, The Zone visited Jan Mohr Secondary School and asked learners whether they have achieved what was on their list for...

November 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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With only a month and a few weeks left to the end of the year, The Zone visited Jan Mohr Secondary School and asked learners whether they have achieved what was on their list for... Shingenge Rachel

Rivaldo Kavanga



I personally feel one of my biggest achievements this year was becoming deputy head girl. I feel honoured to be given this great opportunity. I would love to become an inspiration in the eyes of others. I believe in the power of inspiring others before I expire.

Before the year ends I want the youth of our country to be more politically involved and to be more active when airing their voices during this year of the general election. I have achieved an important position in encouraging the youth by becoming involved in the children’s parliament.

Kenambara Bernice

Through the year I’ve been working on a better attitude. I managed to change the way I think and see things, and yes, it helped me have a better attitude towards my acquaintances. I want to instil two crucial characteristics, which are integrity and courage, in others.

Fabiola Beukes

What I have achieved through this year was pretty amazing. I received first place overall at the annual Miss Jan Möhr beauty pageant. I am so thankful, because I will never forget the experience. What I want to achieve at the end of the year is to be able to donate food parcels to various homes. Seeing a smile on another’s face is enough for me.

Believe-Me Mukulu

This year has been quite hectic, yet I managed to achieve certain goals that I really wanted. One of them was me taking part in the Miss Jan Möhr beauty pageant and being on the student representative council, as I am now an example and role model to many.

Omega Tjirimuje

The highlight for me this year was becoming a member of the student representative council, a blood donor and being nominated among the top ten achievers at our school. I would like to end off my year by bringing peace, discipline and order to my school and country.

Carmen Ndjoonduezu

I feel I did not achieve much this year, but my willpower and determination is still strong, and I will never give up. I would love to continue what I have started, because they say: Where there is a will, there is a way.

Gobnet Mbai

I didn’t really achieve anything, but I still have a month and a weeks left to do what I wanted to. I want to do my level best in my academics and hopefully be one of the top achievers next year and make my teachers proud.

Owen Loxton

I am working towards getting good grades during this semester, in order for me to achieve my targets. I would like to end off the year with a bang, by joining the media centre at my school. Being a part of it will be a stepping stone to greater things.

Altons Namaseb

Being my first year in high school, I would like to pass my grade. Throughout the year, I have been attending afternoon classes to improve my marks. In the beginning it was not easy for me, but my teachers and parents saw something in me and that kept me going.

Noel van Wyk

This year I became a good listener and advice giver. I want to achieve my full potential, as well as greatness, and by that I mean simply avoiding past mistakes and building myself from them. I became a motivational speaker and a life coach for my peers.

Aiday Adams

My highlights for the year were becoming a class captain and a good leader and person. I want to build myself up to be better and I am a fan of gadgets, so at the end of the year, I want an iPhone.

Between rights and terrorism

November 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Between rights and terrorism Reports that some people who just returned to Namibia from exile in Botswana recently have crawled back into their political cocoons to demand the cessation of the Zambezi Region from Namibia can’t be taken lightly.

Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga’s uncompromising stance that such calls should not be afforded a platform to reverberate further and poison the thinking of peace-loving Namibians resonates with us.

The former exiles were told to return home and help build this country, but it seems they landed and hit the ground running in carrying forwarding Mishake Muyongo’s agenda of seceding Zambezi, for which he probably intends to install himself as a ruler.

The 1999 armed uprising by advocates of secession left 14 people dead, thousands displaced and more thousands languishing in jails for their terrorist activities.

Muyongo’s United Democratic Party (UDP) is legally banned in Namibia, just like Germany has banned Nazi Party as an anti-constitutional organisation.

Posting a picture with a swastika in it or Nazi slogans on social media is illegal in Germany. A man was sentenced not too long ago to three months in prison after he repeatedly posted pictures of a masked man with tattoos of a swastika and other Nazi symbols on Facebook.

The constitutional freedoms that Namibia are admired for internationally should not be used as weapon of mass destruction against her own people.

Those who wish to express their persuasions for cessation must do so in a manner that does not incite events reminiscent of the deadly, dark episode of 1999, and not use Namibia’s own version of Nazism.

On 2 August 1999 secessionists launched unanticipated attacks on the army base, border post and the police station at Katima Mulilo in the then Caprivi Region. They also occupied the state-run radio station. A state of emergency had to be declared in the region.

We agree that, in general, people must still be afforded their rights to state their aspirations, but authorities must remain vigilant and hawk-eyed so as to not allow unwanted history to repeat itself.

A diamond in the rough

November 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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A diamond in the rough It’s not about the destination, but the journey Walvis Bay junior mayor Kundja kavari believes that each and every person we meet in our lives is meant to add value in a unique and special way. Justicia Shipena

Newly inaugurated Walvis Bay junior mayor Kundja kavari is a pupil at the International School of Walvis Bay.

He was recently sworn in to assist the council with its youth activities.

Kavari is a young, vibrant and purpose-driven, who hails from the small diamond-mining town of Oranjemund.

He started off his primary education at Oranjemund Private School and failed grade 1.

However, this did not discourage him, and in his second year in grade 1 he improved massively and received an 80% diamond certificate for numeracy.

In the middle of grade 2 year he moved with his parents to Walvis Bay and continued his education at Immanuel Ruiters Primary School.

In grade 6 he became head boy at the school.

Kavari joined the International School of Walvis Bay in 2018, and in the same year, he was elected to the learner representative council (LRC) for 2019.

“This year I participated in the Napso arts and culture festival and I got a gold certificate for poetry recital, thanks to Luischen Sirakis discovering that potential in me,” he said.

He also received the principal’s award this year. Kavari is currently doing his International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and will be doing his AS levels next year.

Speaking to The Zone, the strong-minded junior mayor said during his term he would like to focus on the issue of mental health, as this is an essential part of a young individual’s growth as well.

“If we want to have Namibian youth who are community changers, motivators, role models and future successful men and women, we should make sure that they are aware of their mental health and make sure that they are mentally healthy. This is something that we as the junior council will try to focus on and hopefully this will impact our youth in Walvis Bay,” Kavari said.

He stressed it is critical that youth in our country start getting involved in politics and called on the government to open more doors and opportunities for youth to do so.

He said he realised that many youth in Walvis Bay do not know about the junior council and what it does.

He would, therefore, like to expand the awareness of the junior council.

After he completes his high school he plans on enrolling at university and motivating young learners.

“I am also looking forward to being involved in a foundation called the Star Foundation, which is going to focus on mental health and targets instilling hope back in the hearts of teens.”

He added that what stands in the way of young people, when it comes to education and later employment, is the mindset of the individual.

“Yes we can say that our government has not provided enough employment opportunities for youth, but again that’s an opportunity in our country to have more self-employed youth.”

When asked what he would do to tackle the issue of housing, to ensure that his peers will one day be homeowners, he said the issues starts with the government and municipality to try and make sure they put in place a system that will continuously be creating and making plots available for people to either build houses or that allows government to build affordable houses.

He said currently not all Namibians can afford National Housing Enterprise (NHE) houses.

“I think this is an issue I as the junior mayor cannot do much about, but I believe our senior mayor will put something in place that we, the junior council, can then work on.”

Pensioner killed by liberation war bomb

November 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Pensioner killed by liberation war bomb Johannes Sheehama Hamukwaya (69) died in a bomb explosion near Omugulugwombashe on Sunday morning.

His body and every tool he was using were blown to pieces when a bomb, believed to be an anti-tank mine, exploded while Hamukwaya was clearing a tree stump from a gravel road that passes by his homestead.

The incident happened at Ontanda A village in the Tsandi constituency of the Omusati Region.

According to the Omusati police spokesperson, Inspector Linekela Shikongo, the explosion happened at around 07:30 near the late Hamukwaya's homestead.





“According to the information we have obtained, it is alleged that the deceased was busy clearing a tree stump from a road that passes by his homestead. While doing so, he accidentally detonated an unexploded anti-tank mine, origin still to be determined, which was buried underground,” Shikongo said.

“The explosive device is believed to be the remnant of war. The area was reported to have served as a farming camp for the South West Africa Territorial Force.” The armed liberation struggle started at Omugulugwombashe on 26 August 1966, when the South African police launched a helicopter assault on a Swapo base.

ILENI NANDJATO

Baillères unrepentant on Erindi jobs

November 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Baillères unrepentant on Erindi jobsMexican billionaire wants Erindi non-retrenchment sale condition revised The Mexican billionaire who is buying the 71 000-hectare Erindi Private Game Reserve is unhappy with a condition placed on the sale. The trade ministry is reviewing approval by the Namibia Competition Commission (NaCC) for the sale of the 71 000-hectare Erindi Private Game Reserve to Mexican billionaire Alberto Baillères, with an emphasis on the condition that no worker may be retrenched for five years after the sale and a merger with an adjacent farm.

Trade minister Tjekero Tweya said yesterday: “It (The matter) is with me. I am in the process, I cannot give any half information, and I hate it. It is with me and I am dealing with it.”

NaCC spokesperson Dina Gowases confirmed that Baillères was unhappy with the non-retrenchment condition.

Servaas van den Bosch, a director of Emergo, the company providing public relations services to Baillères, told Namibian Sun the Mexican wanted to respect the regulatory process and would only comment once it was completed.

Government last month approved and gazetted the sale of Erindi as well as its merger with Otjimakuru Wild (Pty) Ltd, which owns a farm adjacent to Erindi.

The main condition for the sale was that there may be no retrenchment of employees as a result of the merger for a period of five years.

The Government Gazette also stipulated that such retrenchments do not include voluntary separation, resignations and voluntary early retirements and those retrenchments that are merger specific.

Meanwhile, local ancestral land activists are still objecting to the sale, saying it would cut off the country's largest private game reserve from the rest of Namibia, making it a “country within a country”.

According to Sandie Tjaronda, who represents the Namibian Ancestral Land Foundation, Erindi is “too huge a piece of land” to be sold to a single person, who is a foreigner.

“This is a continuous promotion of the absentee landlord regime, because this Mexican will come here once a year or so. We cannot afford to apportion our land to people who will not support our economy.





“We will see illicit cash transfers and this money will not be hugely invested into our economy, except for a few salaries that will be paid. The rest of the money will be taken out of the country,” said Tjaronda.

Other institutions that have objected to the sale of Erindi to a foreigner include the National Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCRN).

A visit by Baillères to State House at the end of June also unleashed a storm. During the visit, President Hage Geingob urged Baillères to invest further in Namibia, while the Mexican billionaire raised concerns about the country's laws and whether his investment in the Erindi Private Game Reserve would be safe once his purchase offer was given the green light.

The closed-door meeting was also attended by land reform minister Utoni Nujoma, finance minister Calle Schlettwein, presidential affairs minister Martin Andjaba and attorney-general Albert Kawana.

Geingob briefed the media afterwards, but Baillères did not utter a single word.

“Baillères's investment is both welcomed and safe in Namibia. Our country is a strong constitutional democracy which respects the rule of law,” said Geingob at the time.

He also stressed the importance of attracting responsible and committed foreign investment to Namibia, which would assist the economy to the benefit of all Namibians.

Geingob, who described Baillères as a “special investor”, urged him to make use of other investment opportunities in Namibia.

He assured Baillères that Namibia is a law-abiding society, adding that government had issued a waiver to the owners of Erindi to sell the 71 000-hectare private game reserve.

“Erindi is owned by foreigners and we do not have a law that prohibits foreigners from buying land. Property owned legally cannot be touched,” he said.

Geingob also stressed that the farm was unsuitable for resettlement purposes.

“Here is the Mexican buyer, not to make money, but to conserve. Welcome, but you must also invest in Namibia. We googled you and you are a true investor.”

Baillères is the president of Mexico-based BAL Group, which has a proven and strong reputation, having operated for more than a century. BAL Group has diversified interests and Baillères has experience with managing several wildlife protection ranches in different parts of the world.

Baillères is a philanthropist who aims to transform Erindi into a world-class game reserve, in line with the ministry of environment and tourism's guidelines.

His intention is to preserve Erindi for future generations and ensure that it continues to provide a sanctuary and safe environment for rare and valuable species such as elephants, black rhino, white rhino, wild dogs, cheetahs, leopards and lions, that are unique and an essential part of African culture and heritage.

jemima@namibiansun.com

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Itula pokes holes in Harambee plan

November 4, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Itula pokes holes in Harambee plan Independent presidential candidate Panduleni Itula says rival Hage Geingob's much-vaunted Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) failed because it was pushed down people's throats.

The ruling party Swapo was not consulted on this plan, the dentist claimed during a meeting at Rundu on Sunday.

About 200 Rundu residents, mostly the young people, were in attendance at the Rundu Secondary School sports stadium.

Itula labelled Geingob as a leader with a dictatorial mind-set.

“As soon as he was elected, within a short period of time from somewhere something came called Harambee. Nowhere did the journalists record a meeting of the Politburo or the Swapo Party Central Committee where a policy called Harambee Prosperity Plan was ever adopted,” Itula said.

“Now, you should have questioned that as citizens because it was someone you elected to lead you and decided to throw away what the party members had chosen, their manifesto, and imposed upon the nation a prosperity plan.

“There is no other way of describing it other than the tendency of dictators. They always impose things on the people which they think is good.”

Itula, who indicated that he aligned his “people's manifesto” with the goals and objectives of Vision 2030, claimed that all other initiatives that followed failed because of either poor leadership or the system of leadership.

“I have got what I call a people's manifesto; this is a blueprint for the socioeconomic development of Namibia but I have not gone and reinvented the wheel, I have relied on Vision 2030,” Itula argued.





“We are very good at coming up with policies and Harambee and then they fail, why? When you've got a government that is not delivering on the needs of the people and then you ask yourself a question, is it the people in leadership or the system in leadership, or is it both of them that are failing the people? Once you have established that, then you need to change and that changes with the leadership.”



Itula's promises

Itula, who read out his manifesto, shared with the audience his aims and objectives if elected to occupy the highest office in the land.

He promised that he would only occupy State House once the close to a million Namibians who live in informal settlements are provided with sanitation, water and electricity.

“When you elect me as your fourth president of the Republic of Namibia, I shall not occupy State House until all the informal settlements where Namibians live have sanitation, water and electricity,” Itula said.

On the issue of land, Itula said residential plots would be available for as little as N$1 000. Either the labour or the material needed for building houses would be paid for by the state and upon completion of the house, the homeowner would not be allowed to sell it to a third party but only to the state.

Another promise he made was to fight corruption. Itula said his first six months in office would be spent on tracing the whereabouts of the public money that had gone missing over the years.

Itula also said he would merge several government ministries to reduce them to 12, and would abolish the positions of deputy ministers.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Carrying the hopes of a nation

November 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Carrying the hopes of a nation The Namibia Paralympics team held their first training session in Dubai yesterday, ahead of the 2019 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) world athletics championships.

The team of 13 athletes and three guides will compete in track and field events from 7 to 15 November.

Speaking to Namibian Sun from Dubai yesterday, coach Michael Hamukwaya said the spirit in the camp is high and every athlete is excited.

“The athletes are excited and prepared very well for the upcoming competition. We had our first training session this morning, which went well.

“Now we are just looking forward to the next few days and hopefully this team will be ready when the competition kicks off,” Hamukwaya said. The athletes are Sylvia Shivolo, Ananias Shikongo, Roodley Gowaseb, Karuli Petrus, Bradley Murere, Johannes Nambala, Alfred Bernardo, Christoph Marungu, Johanna Benson, Mushila Eino Twegathetwa, Denzel Namene, Ishitile Lahja and Reginald Benade.

The guides are Even Tjivu, Sydney Kamuaruuma and Sem Shimanda.

The team is accompanied by four officials: Barbara Fernandez (field events coach), Roberto Condou (physiotherapist), Michael Hamukwaya (track events coach) and Memory Kahlari (team administrator).

They are expected to return to Namibia on 18 November.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

NRU hunts new coach

November 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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NRU hunts new coachDavies' replacement to be announced soon Fresh from the 2019 Japan Rugby World Cup, and without a coach, Namibia's national rugby team will get a new mentor by next month or early next year. The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) plans to appoint a senior national team coach by December or early next year, Namibian Sun can reveal.

This follows the resignation of former coach Phil Davies, who parted ways with the national team following the just-ended 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Namibian Sun understands that the union will have to respect its governance protocol before any decision is made.

This means that NRU staff will meet in order to come to collective decision on who they want to appoint before the decision is approved by the board.

NRU vice-president Walter Don confirmed that plans are already afoot to find a replacement for Davies as soon as possible.

“Yes, we have to go through the structures before we can make any appointment, but I can tell you now that the appointment will be made before the end of the year or early next year.

“As for now, we will use the services of our conditioning coach Sergio de la Harpe to keep those players that are in their off-season fit.

“We know that it is important to appoint a coach as early as possible,” Don said.

It was Davies second World Cup at the helm of the national team, following his appointment in 2013.

Namibia secured their place at the 2019 World Cup with a comfortable 53-28 win over Kenya in Windhoek last year.

The match was a straight shootout for the Africa Gold Cup title, which determined World Cup qualification. Namibia scored seven tries to ensure they topped the table with a perfect 25 points from five matches, while picking up try bonus points in all of their matches.

Namibia played in Pool B at the Japan tournament, alongside New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Canada.

They lost 47-22 to Italy, before succumbing 57-3 to eventual winners South Africa in their second match of the tournament.

The team put up a brave performance against New Zealand, despite losing 71-9 to the former defending world champions.

Namibia's hopes of winning their first match at a Rugby World Cup were dashed when a typhoon hit Japan and their final match against Canada was cancelled.

Namibia were targeting their first-ever World Cup win, while Canada were looking for their first win at the tournament since 2011.

The country has played in every Rugby World Cup since 1999.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Four-year doping ban for Katulu

November 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Four-year doping ban for Katulu India's Commonwealth Games weightlifting gold medal winner Ravi Kumar Katulu has been banned for four years after failing a drug test, a top anti-doping official told AFP on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old Kumar, who won the 69kg title at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and a silver in 2014 (77kg), tested positive for Ostarine, media reports said.

Ostarine helps increase muscle mass, though it is not available to the public.

“Ravi Kumar has been suspended for four years,” National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) director-general Navin Agarwal told AFP, without naming the substance involved.

Ostarine is a 'selective androgen receptor modulator', or SARM, which doping experts say has been increasingly used as an alternative to steroids.

No country has yet allowed its use as a medicine but it is widely available on the black market.

The ban is a new blow for scandal-tainted Indian weightlifting, which has been restricted to only four Olympic places two men and two women in Tokyo next year because of its high number of doping cases.

NAMPA/AFP

Cohen win Fistball Cup

November 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Cohen win Fistball CupSponsors happy with tourney The fistball season concluded with a national cup tournament that produced electric performances. Current Bank Windhoek Fistball League champions, Cohen Fistball Club (CFC), won the Bank Windhoek Fistball National Cup tournament held over the weekend in Windhoek.

The national cup normally takes place after the league and is the final event on the Namibia Fistball Association's season calendar.

The cup tournament, which saw teams being divided into two groups, had seven participating side compete for the top honours.

CFC 1 defended their title in the category A, while Swakopmund Fistball Club (SFC) emerged as the winners of category B.

The fixtures kicked off with games between CFC 1, SFC 1 and Sport Klub Windhoek 2 (SKW 2), who made up category A. CFC 1 easily swept away their opponents during the group fixtures. SKW 2 finished second in the group, which allowed the team to book a spot in the category A semi-finals. Category B saw SKW 1, SFC 2, CFC 2 and 3 competing for bragging rights in the group.

SKW 1 secured first place, while CFC 2 defeated their club-mates CFC 3 and SFC 2. SFC 2 were also beaten by CFC 3 and had to be satisfied with fourth spot at the end of the group stages.

SFC 1, CFC 3 and SFC 2 were thus relegated to category B and played in a round-robin format to determine the winner. “Things got exciting in the match between CFC 3 and SFC 1, which ended in a 28:28 draw. Because SFC 1 won with more ball points against SFC 2, the fistballers from the coast were crowned the category B national champions,” said Fistball Association of Namibia's media officer Helmo Minz.

CFC's first and second teams met in the category A semi-final, which CFC 1 won confidently.

SKW 1 won against its second team, SKW 2, who put up a fight in the second semi-final.

CFC 3 won the third/fourth place match against SKW 2 in category A.

Arch-rivals CFC 1 and SKW 1 faced each other in the final match after the conclusion of the group fixtures.

CFC 1 started off stronger and won the first set 11:5, but as the match progressed, SKW 1 responded strongly and took advantage of CFC1's service errors.

SKW 1 finished as winners in the second set with a 8:11 scoreline.

Filled with confidence, SKW started off stronger in the third set and led 5:0. However, CFC 1 fought back and finally won the set 15:13.

CFC 1 won the fourth set 11:7 and thus became the Bank Windhoek Fistball National Cup champions.

“This marks the end of a perfect season for CFC, who have been dominant throughout the 2019 Bank Windhoek Fistball National League,” said Minz. CFC 1's Wilko Hoffmann walked away as the player of the day winner, while SKW 2's Robert Caspary, won the most valuable player award. CFC 1's defender Thilo Wilckens was awarded the player of the year trophy.

“Bank Windhoek congratulates the Namibian Fistball Association on another successful year of organising this year's league and national cup. “We are proud of our longstanding partnership to promote this and other smaller sporting codes in Namibia and give them a platform to take their sports to greater heights.

“Bank Windhoek looks forward to journeying with the association and players in 2020,” said Bank Windhoek's public relations manager André le Roux

“To our main sponsor, Bank Windhoek, thank you for the support throughout the season.

“The clubs, players and the association, highly appreciates your contribution to making this league a success,” Minz added.

The Bank Windhoek Fistball National League will resume on 8 February 2020, with the opening tournament in Swakopmund.

Sport Reporter

Aafuthi ya yaataalela iikwa niipangitho yooskola

November 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Aafuthi ya yaataalela iikwa niipangitho yooskola Opolisi moshitopolwa shaShana otayi kongo oongangala ndhoka dha yaka oolaptop dha thika po 67 dhongushu yooN$223 800 okuza mooskola mbali mOngwediva.

Oshiningwanima shotango osha ningwa oshiwike sha piti, sho aafuthi yiiteyele moskola yaHashiyana Combined School nokuyakamo oolaptop dhi li 35 nomathano ayihe kumwe yongushu yooN$83 800. Hashiyana oyi li oshinano shoometa dha thika pe 100 okuya poskola yopaumwene yaKleine Kuppe Private School moka aafuthi ya yaka natango oolaptop dhi li 32 neshina ayihe kumwe yongushu N$140 000 omwedhi gwa piti.

Kape na shoka sha monika po natango na kape na ngoka a tulwa miipandeko nopolisi otayi konaakona iipotha mbyoka yomateyo.

Kwiikwatelelwa komunambelewa omupopiliko gwopolisi yaShana, Inspector Thomas Aiyambo shika osha ningwa momasiku 29 Kotomba moka aafuthi ya tete omakende gopombelewa yomukuluntuskola moskola yaHashiyana.

Inaya kutha mo sha mombelewa yomukuluntuskola na oya yi kombelewa yomukomeho gwoshikondo moka inaya kutha mo sha. Oya tsikile na oya yi kongulu yookompiuta hoka ya kutha oolaptop dhi li 35 oshowo ethano niinima yilwe ngaashi oondjato dhokuhumbata oolaptop naayihe kumwe oyongushu yooN$83 800, pauyelele mboka wa gandjwa kuHaiyambo.

Momasiku 28 Septemba natango ope na aafuthi ya teya oskola yaKleine Kuppe Private School na oya yaka mo oolaptop 32 oshowo eshina lyoscanner lyongushu yooN$140 000. Kape na ngoka a tulwa miipandeko miipotha ayihe mbyoka iyali, ihe opolisi otayi ningi omakonaakono na otayi pula oshigwana shi yambidhidhe opolisi molukongo lyoombudhi ndhoka.

Aiyambo okwa pula wo oshigwana shi hulithepo okulanda iinima ya yakwa molwaashoka ngele omuntu okwa adhika noshinima sha yakwa nena naye otaka katukilwa onkatu kutya okwa longele pamwe noongangala dhoka.

ILENI NANDJATO

Harambee okwa ndopa – Itula

November 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Harambee okwa ndopa – ItulaItula a gandja woo omauvaneko ge Omuhogololwa presidende iithikamena okwa popi kutya ondungethaneko ndjoka ya tulwa po komupresidende e li koshipundi yoHarambee Prosperity Plan (HPP) oya ndopa okwaadha omalalakano gawo. Panduleni Itula okwa popi ngaaka pethimbo a popitha engungo lyaanyasha mondoolopa yaRundu mOsoondaha.

Itula okwa popi kutya ondungethaneko ndjoka yaGeingob oya ndopa molwaashoka ina ya moonkundathana nongundu yoSwapo, naashoka otashi holola uukayamukulwa.

Itula okwa popi kutya oondungethaneko dhimwe natango dha tulwa miilonga odha ndopa ngele omolwa elelo nenge momulandu gwelelo.

Okwa tsikile kutya ohsipu okuya po nomilandu e tadhi ndopa lwanima molwaashoka ope na epangelo ndyoka itali longo lwiikwatelela koompumbwe dhoshigwana, naashoka otashi e ta omaipulo kutya uupyakadhi owuli melelo nenge omomusindalandu gwelelo nenge omwaayihe, nongele owa ndopa nena owa pumbwa okuninga omalundululo melelo.

Itula natango okwa longitha ompito ndjoka okupopya omulandu ngoka tagu longithwa mokuhogolola aaleli mongundu yoSwapo moka ye e li oshilyo, ta popi kutya omulandu ngoka kagu na uundemokoli.

Kombinga yelongitho lyomashina gokuhogolola ngoka haga ithanwa Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) pethimbo lyomahogololo giilyo yomutumba gwopashigwana oshowo omupresidende, Itula okwa pula oshigwana opo shi mu yambidhidhe mokwaahapopila elongitho lyomashina ngoka pwaahena uumbangi wopambaapila.

Itula okwa popi kutya ngele epulo lyawo opo omashina ngoka ga longithwe pamwe nuumbangi wopambaapila inali talika kOkomisi yOmahogololo nena otaya ka ninga ehololomadhilaadhilo lyopashigwana ndyoka tali kala ompinge nelongitho lyomashina ngoka.

Okwa pula woo egalulo lyomahogololo taku longithwa oombaapila.

Omauvaneko gItula

Itula okwa lesha woo omauvaneko ge nomalalakano ge uuna a hogololwa nokukala omutse gwoshilongo.

Itula okwa uvaneke kutya itaka tembukila megumbo lyepangelo, omanga aakwashigwana oomiliyona AaNamibia mboka haya zi momalukanda inaya pewa omayakulo ngaashi omeya nolusheno oshowo uundjugo.

Kombinga yevi Itula okwa popi kutya evi otali ka kala li na ombiliha ngaashi ondando yooN$1000 niilonga yokutunga oshowo okulanda iitungithi otayi ka futwa kepangelo, namwene gwegumbo ita pitikwa okulanditha po egumbo ndyoka komuntu omutitatu kakele kepangelo.

Omauvaneko gamwe ongaashi okukondjitha uulingiling, ta popi kutya moomwedhi dhe hamano dhotango mombelewa otaka konga mpoka pwa ya iimaliwa yoshigwana mbyoka ya kala nokulopotwa tayi kana uule woomvula dhika.

Okwa popi kutya otaka shunitha pevi iikondo yepangelo nokuyi tula mumwe, nokukutha po woo oompito dhaapeha minista oshowo okukutha po woo omauwanawa gamwe taga pewa aanapaliamende ngaashi uuwanawa womagumbo.

“Omolwashike tamu gandja uuwanawa womagumbo komuntu ngoka e na egumbo?” Itula a pula.

KENYA KAMBOWE

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Lessons from Finland

November 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Lessons from FinlandEducation system's role in shaping a nation Namibian Sun journalist Jemima Beukes (JB) sat down with Iina Soiri (IS), a Finnish social scientist who has worked in Africa for about 20 years and has extensive experience in African affairs and policy matters. JB: In your view, what are the current structural problems with the Namibian education system?

IS: What I have heard and understood is that Namibia is still very unequal and the education system is divided between those who come from a more educated and privileged background, who can afford to invest in education and whose parents can help their children to grow, and those who do not have this. Then we have some area where the basis for education is already challenging. Early childhood development has not been invested in at all. So you enter a system that is in essence already very unequal when it comes to the quality of the school environment, the quality of teachers and the environment in general. Children must walk long distances to school and maybe go to school with nothing to eat and there is no school lunch, even if it should be provided according to some programmes. In summary the inequality, low quality of teaching methods and challenging learning environment and their living circumstances are some of the biggest structural challenges. In Finland we have a learner-centred education; everything starts from what the learner needs. I think here the tradition is more authoritarian. The teachers are not really adapting their models and are not really taking into account the children they teach.



JB: What are you doing differently in Finland?

IS: What we did in Finland a long time ago was to ensure that we had equality and that anybody had access to education, independent of their background. We invest in teacher education and not only that, but their motivation. A teacher is one of the most influential adults in children's lives. It is not an easy nut to crack when it comes to how you educate the cadre of teachers who have those pedagogical skills and motivation. It has of course been quite a short time since Namibia started the reform since independence. The fact that you invest one part of your budget in education and the results are still rather wanting means it is not about money. It is about how you make those small changes where you assure there are conditions and learning environments and teachers will also have the opportunity to teach what they wish or specialise in. The classes are also very big.



JB: Early childhood development policy remains untapped in Namibia. What role can it play in our current dilemma?

IS: It is always difficult to adapt something that was born out of other circumstances. I think there are a lot of issues that are here that are not in our system. You have very diverse family structures, so children grow up in a community, which is very positive. But in Finland we require that even the early childhood teachers are qualified, so it is not anybody that can teach a child. When Namibia adapts from Finland, it would demand us to adapt it together. Co-creation is very important and not losing the inherent positive sides within the Namibian system. The problem is that some family structures are broken and often some children are not allowed to be children and have to take on too big responsibilities because of the circumstances. It is important to ensure that children have access to a space where they learn in the natural way, guided by an adult who can take responsibility that these children feel safe and are well fed, and one who is able to nurture the child's natural talent. Make children read. Reading is very important. Reading text and narrative is very important for linguistic knowledge. And the availability of reading material is very important and that adults themselves show an example. We have the biggest library system in the world per capita and it has assured that our nation is very literate.



JB: In your view, how must Namibia adjust her system in order to align with the fourth industrial revolution and the local job market?

IS: The big problem is that nobody knows what the future will be like. At the moment we need to learn the things we need to survive today's society but also the things we do not know, which do not exist yet. Who knew about mobile phones twenty or thirty years ago? We did not even know that we would send photos with mobile phones. What is important is adaptability: that you teach children to learn; that you inspire children to enquire, to experiment; that you encourage children to be naturally curious. This is exactly what inspires innovation. Children who sit in a crowded classroom feel constrained, even their thinking is constrained. You need to give them environments where they can learn and try. The 4IR is not only about digitisation, but about sharing space, property and transport like ubers. It has a lot to do with climate change; we know that traditional living is challenged, especially in a country that is so dry. You have to find ways of recycling and children must be at the front. The curriculum needs to take this in consideration and to change the mind-set of the people in a positive way.



JB: What can we do to stem the flow of school dropouts?

IS: We heard from an education director that the learning environment is not inspiring and that is why children do not enjoy learning. Educating a child is not just a teacher's responsibility but parents must be there. You have to have some kind of community support for the child, and not only academic but allow them to learn to live a life that is safe and responds to their age. Because you have here a problem where children engage in sexual activity rather early, for varying reasons. And they fall pregnant; somebody impregnated them. You have to look at those socio-economic problems. You have to look at what it is that makes school unattractive and the socio-economic situations that prevent children to go to school. I know there was a basic income grant pilot programme, so you could look at some kind of incentives that provide families with support. Family planning education must be available at school to prevent girls from falling pregnant and the same education for boys because they must understand the consequences of sexual activity. Some schools maybe do not have toilet facilities and this results in some girls staying away when they have their period. So you need a multi-sectorial collaboration and civic education to deal with these issues.



JB: Nutrition remains critical for education. Do you think the Namibian government is doing enough?

IS: It is very important. Finland and Sweden are the only two countries in the world that provide free meals. When we were a poor country some fifty years ago, it was often the only meal children had for the day. I do not know if the government is doing enough. But we know from our experience it is very important. You have fantastic ways of feeding large groups of people. But it needs to be sustainable; it cannot be donor-funded. You have to understand the priority of some things. There has to be a national discussion to see if this is a priority.

jemima@namibiansun.com

New Meatco board members nominated

November 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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New Meatco board members nominated Meatco held a special members' meeting last Friday where close to 247 producers attended to nominate new directors for the organisation.

Agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb, in a letter dated 22 August, requested that meetings be convened for the purposes of nominating four people per eligible interest group for his further consideration.

Speaking at the meeting, outgoing Meatco board chairperson Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun said: “Once these nominations are finalised, the names of the candidates nominated will be forwarded to the minister for his further consideration. The minister will then inform us later during this year or next year who he has entrusted to lead this organisation.”

The nominations in the three categories are as follows:

· Communal expert - Elia Kandjii, Usiel Kandjii, Mushokabanji Mwilima and Jason Tjakazapi.

· Commercial expert - Elton Heyman and Kay Dieter.

· Experts - Clara Bohitile, Johannes Hamman, Rosalinda Katjivena, Ronald Kubas and Vehaka Tjimune.

The current board's term comes to an end on 22 February 2020. They would then have served two terms, following an extension during 2017.

Staff Reporter

'Rather farm with goats'

November 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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'Rather farm with goats'Farmers urged to breed with drought-tolerant animals Breeding with drought-tolerant animals like goats needs less manpower and is a better choice than high-maintenance cattle, according to Elias Kharuxab. Keetmanshoop Rural constituency councillor Elias Kharuxab says farmers should start breeding more with goats, as they survive on shrubs and have a high chance to survive in severe drought.

While delivering a speech at the third edition of the Berseba goat expo on Saturday, Kharuxab said breeding with drought-tolerant animals like goats also needs less manpower and is a better choice than high-maintenance cattle.

“Apart from the fact that goats can survive harsh environments, goats are also high-volume breeders and have a good survival rate in drought-prone areas,” he added.

The councillor, businessman and farmer said agriculture contributes around 5.1% towards the country's gross domestic product (GDP) of which 70% represents the output of the livestock subsector.

However, he was quick to say that over the years the agricultural sector's performance has been minimal, as a result of low rainfall experienced, which has led to a drought that will lead to a contraction in both livestock and crop production.

“Despite the declining or small share contribution to the GDP, the sector remains the backbone of the economy and prosperity for many Namibians,” Kharuxab said.

Special adviser to the premier of the Northern Cape, Norman Shushu, said the challenges faced by Namibia are the same as in South Africa, adding that it is important that the two countries work together to address those challenges and develop both economies.

“We have the same problems such as poverty, inequality and rising unemployment among the youth and we should join together in order to grow our economies and ensure that we bring better life to our people; and in all this, agriculture plays an important role,” he said.

Shushu was invited to the event through the twinning agreement between the //Karas regional council and the Northern Cape provincial government of South Africa.

The expo, held from Friday to Sunday, featured horse racing, a live music show by Kalux and provided a platform for small and medium businesses to showcase and sell their products and services.

NAMPA

Attachments a last resort - Agribank

November 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Attachments a last resort - Agribank Agribank says when it attaches the property of borrowers it is always as a last resort.

“We have a collections policy which is underlined by a process. The process involves reminders to clients at various intervals. The process also allows the bank to enter into repayment arrangements with clients who have fallen into arrears,” says Agribank CEO Sakaria Nghikembua.

“Any repayment arrangements are then monitored. If the client honours the arrangements, there will never be a need to get to attachment of collateral assets.

“We appreciate that honouring a repayment arrangement does not mean that a client is always able to pay 100% of what they have committed,” he added. According to Nghikembua, it is important for borrowers to talk to their bank if they are unable to keep up with their payments.

“If a repayment arrangement is persistently not being honoured or a client simply does not respond to any reminders, this is when the bank then goes to court to get default judgement on a loan.”

“Once granted, and if payment to settle the arrears is still not done, then the bank will seek an execution order from the court and move on to auction collateral assets,” he says. “Auctioning of assets is really a last resort for the bank, which we try to avoid as much as possible by giving the clients more time to rearrange their payments. We do not discriminate in that process.”

He added that there is no political interference when it comes to attachment of assets.

Nghikembua admitted that this year has been particularly tough on the bank but said it was trying to manage the impacts of the drought.

“The current year is a very difficult one for both the farmers and the bank. The drought will impact the performance of the bank from multiple perspectives. In one respect, the collections rate will naturally be slower than expected because of the drought,” he said.

“We accept that. This means inflows into the bank will be lower. In another respect, it means that if the inflows are lower, then the outflows in the form of new loans will also be lower.

“The third aspect to consider is that farmers are more cautious to borrow at higher levels when they face uncertainty about the rain,” he said.

OGONE TLHAGE

City delays CBD rejuvenation plan

November 5, 2019, 2:00 pm

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City delays CBD rejuvenation planCouncil approval still pending After two years of input by urban renewal experts, a plan to revive the Windhoek city centre still lacks official approval. Property manager Broll Namibia says the City of Windhoek is dragging its feet on a planned rejuvenation project for the city centre.

A committee was established in 2017 to steer the rejuvenation process. But project has stalled because the city council has failed to endorse the committee's plans.

Broll managing director Terrance Makari says policy regulations that would guide the revival had to be approved by the council.

“The first step in ensuring this takes place was to have the City of Windhoek approve the Business Improvement District (BID) regulations which would allow the future CBD entity to be formally recognised and to recover from CBD landlords a levy to be invested in driving enhancement projects within the established CBD area,” he said.

“This regulation was submitted for municipal council approval during the second half of 2018 and we are still eagerly awaiting approval of same.

“Without this approval, the [soon] to be established CBD entity would have no formal or legal rights to operate or charge landlords, nor would it be able to support or contribute to CBD initiatives except within their personal or entity capacities.”

According to him, the CBD committee provided both legal and financial support to have the BID Regulation drafted and submitted to the City of Windhoek.

“In addition, through consultation with similar CBD entities in South Africa, we have lent support to the City of Windhoek in terms of understanding the structures of such an entity,” Makari said.

The City embarked on a strategy in 2017 to revive the central business district, which had experienced a drop in rent income compared to other parts of the city.

A legal framework should have been put in place for an 'improvement district', which would need a management committee of property owners, a board and a budget management committee.

The envisaged changes are aimed at reducing crime, increasing business activity and raising the demand for property by means of creating an attractive, safe, and affordable CBD, Derick Bock, whom the City had consulted, explained back in 2017.

Bock was instrumental in the establishment of improvement districts in the Cape Town CBD.

“The CBD committee has in essence done their part in driving the municipal requirements to have a formal and legally recognised CBD body or entity established,” he said.

The City denied Makari's accusation, saying work on the project was continuing.

“Currently the regulations are still being consulted on at the various decision-making levels of the council and have as yet not been approved by the council,” City spokesperson Lydia Amutenya said.

Following the completion of this consultative process, the regulations would be submitted to the city council for consideration. If approved, they would be submitted to the ministry of urban and rural development for gazetting, she said.

“The City has drafted the proposed Special Ratings Area Regulations that would enable the establishment of special ratings areas,” Amutenya said.

A special ratings area (SRA), also known as a business improvement district (BID), refers to a clearly defined geographical area, approved by a local authority, in which property owners can raise levies to fund 'top-up' services for that area.

“This is a voluntary process whereby property owners in a specific business or residential area may apply to the council to be considered as a special ratings area,” Amutenya explained.

OGONE TLHAGE