Northern beauties on fleek

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Northern beauties on fleekMiss High School North 2019 set for Ondangwa It's all systems go for Miss High School North, with contestants eager to strut their stuff. The seventh annual Miss High School North will take place on 18 December at Ekamuti Lodge in Ondangwa.

The pageant is being organised by Kashipu Investment CC under the theme 'Empowering Young Women Through The Art of Beauty'.

The event is aimed at giving young girls based in the north a chance to take part in a beauty pageant, showcase their hidden talent and give them a confidence-booster.

Miss High School North also gives the northern community an opportunity to assess the potential these girls have, as well as their ability to make vital contributions to their communities. “During their campaigns the contestants will also have an opportunity to develop their mindsets, by raising awareness about contemporary issues and social ills that affect the youth,” said the founder of Kashipu Investment CC, Sandro Ithana.

Ithana said that since the commencement of the pageant in 2013, the platform has helped be the stepping-stone for models such as Ester Shifotoka, Pandeni Mvula and Baldin Uushona, who have gone on to be crowned Miss Nust 2017, Miss Plus Size 2018 and the first princess and miss personality at Miss IUM 2018, respectively.

“This is a clear indication of how serious the event is becoming and also a sign of how the event has grown to an extent that we are now producing models that can compete at national level,” said Ithana. Providing entertainment at this year's event will be Kaboy Kamakili, Buti Vuitton, Kapa Ka Mandela, Jive Jittaz, General Jittaz, Lucid Meno, Skipper Wills and Family Gang, with Fidel Nambundunga being the host. Miss Namibia 2018 Selma Kamanya will be the special guest and she will be afforded a chance to motivate the young models before the event. Tickets to Miss High School North 2019 are available at Webtickets and all Pick n Pay outlets countrywide.

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Celebrating longevity

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Celebrating longevity 061 Music will host a party at Boxx café on Saturday, in celebration of 10 years in the music business.

Founded a decade ago, 061 Music has released eight albums, received nine Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs) nominations and won award for best hip-hop.

The group was founded by Lucci Thanks For The Beat and Catty Catt, with their first signees being Quido and Sinna-G in 2010.

The label also successfully launched the 061 clothing brand in the same year.

061 Music has been through trials and tribulations and was struck by tragic loss of Catty Catt in 2014.

Over the years the label has added artists to their roster including Ari Ang, formerly known as Arlinda, Balu Panda and Tukondjeni.

Ari Ang was signed as a vocalist at first and over the years she managed to find her sound.

Her career blossomed and she released an R&B extended play (EP) earlier this year which appeals to the millennial mind.

Earlier this week 061 Music released a music video on YouTube titled Lift Myself.

“The song talks about overcoming your personal challenges. New singles Legit and Trash Can were also released by Balu Panda and Tukondjeni, respectively. The songs are available at various online music stores,” said Sinna-G.

The label further announced that previous albums are now available on Donlu Africa.

“These albums include the classic Catty Catt's Independence Avenue, Stories by Sinna-G, Soweto Boi Certified by Quido and The Compilation, Area Code and Nothing But Beautiful Music by 061 Music,” Sinna-G added.

Bigger is better

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Bigger is better Contributing to a better Namibian economy Agra celebrated the re-opening of its Aranos retail branch on Friday, 22 November. The Aranos branch in the Hardap Region has been revamped to the tune of N$7 million, another great milestone for Agra.

The bigger and more modern shop offers larger floor space, innovative shelving, modern equipment, a wide range of products, a large parking area, a loading zone and improved security for customers.

It provides an adequate floor area consisting of shelves and cashier points, an administration office, a newly built ablution block, porch, additional storage space and salt storage.

Agra plays a key role in the value chain of the farmer as the company is an important pillar in the agriculture community. One of Agra's values is 'Rooted in our People' and therefore with this revamped branch Agra is determined to extend its product line and service offering. This will enhance and assist in the development of agriculture where many opportunities still lie for the Aranos community to improve farming practices.

Arnold Klein, CEO of Agra Limited, expressed his gratitude to all Agra customers as well as the Agra team that made everything possible.



Showing gratitude

“Thank you to all the loyal customers for their continued support during the construction phase. Similarly thank you to the Agra Properties retail and marketing team, as without their untiring effort this revamp would not have been possible,” he said.

The branch is offering a wide variety of products at discounted prices until 8 December, apart from regular month-end specials that are available at all Agra stores countrywide.

Agra continuously re-invests in the Namibian economy by improving and expanding its current offering to the agricultural sector and has shown tremendous growth over the past year with the opening of the new Ondangwa branch and currently the re-opening of a bigger and better Agra Aranos branch.

Additionally, major projects which include the revamp of the Outjo branch, as well infrastructure upgrading at all Agra fuel stations, are in the pipeline.

Agra aims to reach out to all communities by providing nationwide services and comprehensive product ranges, including agricultural solutions, building materials, hardware, water equipment, fertilisers, and household and consumer goods.

Celebrating queer culture

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Celebrating queer cultureIntroducing something new Atallia Diamond Von Francois will host the first ever drag queen party in Namibia early next year. Google defines a drag show as entertainment performed by drag artists, where both men and women appear in.

Many drag shows feature performers singing or lip-synching songs, while performing a pre-planned pantomime or dance.

Come 29 February 2020, Atallia Diamond Von Francois will be bringing the Diamond Drag Party to Maerua Mall and Zoo Park.

In an interview with tjil Von Francois shared that the Diamond Drag Party has three focal points. This includes a drag show, a ball that will include teams competing to outdo each other in various categories, and there will be a make-up tutorial for family and friends on how to apply drag make-up.

“My main focus is ending stigmatisation and discrimination against the queer community.

“When something is normal, people do not turn their heads anymore. I am looking to make it a part of our everyday lives, where when we see someone from the queer community we are not fazed by it,” said Von Francois.

She announced that for this initiative she has partnered up with brand strategist Kalistu Mukoroli to help her put the event together, and Jay Aeron has been made the face of the event.

Organisers are calling on those interested to take part in the drag show to upload videos of themselves on social media and tag @Diamond Drag Show.

The videos should be brief and be about what you think a drag is or in your best drag costume.

“We will only select 10 contestants, who will then take part in the drag show. The winner will receive N$10 000, of which N$5 000 will be donated to a charitable cause,” shared Von Francois.

Entertainment will be provided by some of Namibia's top entertainers, with a line-up to be announced later. “We do not want to make it like a festival, but we will announce a few performing artists.”

Making your music accessible

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Making your music accessible It is no secret that physical album sales have dropped over the years, due to the streaming websites and apps around the world.

This is also the case in Namibia and yet we still find artists who only put their music on SoundCloud and make it available for download on unofficial websites.

I believe if you are to be taken seriously as an artist in this day and age, make use of at least three streaming websites such as Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer.

On the local scene, you can also make use of Donlu Africa, which allows your fans to access your work and then share your music on social media platforms too. Even though it is not exactly affordable, and not all artists have the budget for streaming websites, in the long run the lifespan of your music is guaranteed as the digital footprint is laid.

Streaming websites also makes your music available to the rest of the world, including Namibians who are not in the country.

This makes it easier to cater for everyone and also reach out to new people who could possibility enjoy your music.

Another benefit of putting your music on these platforms is you can get specific data analysis and reports on how your music is doing, which are the most popular songs and where your music is mostly being listened to. Based on this information you can then determine which song from your album, for instance, should be the next single and make resources available for a music video.

Since Donlu Africa launched a few years ago, the music industry in Namibia has changed drastically. Radio stations and major labels are no longer the gatekeepers of distribution and pushing out their best songs. Distribution used to be extremely expensive, but because artists rely less on labels to produce physical copies of their work, it's become easier than ever to distribute their music. This also means that it's easier than ever for people to get music. So many albums dropped recently for which physical copies were not available, but because of streaming sites we were able to listen to those albums. Artists should embrace digitalisation more and make their music more accessible. Of course there are those who still prefer purchasing physical copies, which is fine, and that market is still viable in our country, but I believe more emphasis should be put on digital platforms.

michael@namibiansun.com; @MichaelMKAY on Twitter

Entrepreneurial drive at the polling stations

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Entrepreneurial drive at the polling stations Election Day not only attracted registered voters to the polling stations but brought business to local entrepreneurs as well. People standing in the long queues at polling stations frequently grabbed a snack or a drink from vendors who were providing voters with refreshments without them losing their spot in the line. Most of the vendors were happy with their takings on the day. One woman said she kept an eye on the queue while selling her goods, and jumped in to cast her own vote when she saw there were fewer people in line. This photo was taken at the polling station at the Augustineum Secondary School in the Khomasdal Constituency.

Photo Justicia Shipena

One step closer to digitisation

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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One step closer to digitisationInspiring and advancing cloud computing Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) recently opened its new innovation centre in Windhoek, which it described as a ‘digital cloud computing service’ that can be used for free by innovators. Ester Kamati

Opened on 21 November, the centre is furnished with the latest digital equipment to ensure that innovators’ ideas come to life. According to Erasmus Nekundi, the company’s public relations officer, the aim is to encourage innovation and the development of great ideas through the use of this new hub.

For the next six months, the facility will be freely available to enterprises and institutions, both public and private. After that, the innovation centre, located inside Windhoek’s Maerua Mall, will be open to the public.

Since the centre opened its doors last week, a number of institutions have made use of its fibre connectivity and cloud computing.

Nekundi said people often become discouraged because they do not have the necessary support and facilities to “bring their ideas to life”.

He added that this new environment is ideal for such innovations that people may have been unmotivated to follow through with. “It is set up for you and it is an enabler,” he said.

At the official opening, MTC’s acting CEO, Licky Erastus, shared his excitement about presenting “a product of MTC’s forward-thinking strategic vision”.

According to him, the company draws joy from being able to “stay abreast of technology to bring new concepts and services to Namibia”.

The centre, which is the first of its kind in the country, will be used to showcase new business and consumer solutions that will undoubtedly boost the technological business space, Erastus said.

“It will provide tools for visitors to experiment or iterate on their ideas and see how they can apply these technologies in their businesses.”

Tim Ekandjo, MTC’s chief human capital and corporate affairs officer, said individuals need to embrace digitisation.

“We have to grease the wheel that invents and reinvents new ways of doing things,” he said.

Everything from comprehensive fibre internet and digital cloud computing services will be available at the innovation centre. It will also acting as a platform for MTC partners and customers to test their services in a live environment.

Top Cheri

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Top CheriTop Cheri’s calling ‘proposed’ and she said ‘yes’ Top Cheri is the new ambassador for the health ministry’s cancer campaign. After dropping her critically acclaimed debut album Fertile last year, and collaborating with the likes of King Elegant, Athawise, Lioness, Waka and more, Top Cheri scooped the Best Album of The Year and Best Newcomer awards at this year's Namibian Annual Music Awards (NAMAs).

Tomorrow the musician, author and entrepreneur will release her sophomore album The Matrimony.

Her ideologies, sense of self, unique identity and futuristic approach to her music are placing her in a space where there are no restrictions and conformity. Now in the second phase of her music career, and as the first lady of the coolest music stable in the country, she is hungrier than ever. The competition needs to be worried. Very worried.

Compared to her previous album, the award-winning muso mentioned that The Matrimony is deeper in terms of the content she explored.

“It is not as loud as Fertile. Songs on this album talk about bonds and scars.

“There are also songs you can dance to, of course, but most of them are songs with meaning and songs from the heart,” she said.

Top Cheri told tjil that initially when she started doing music, not many took her seriously and this album is to affirm her commitment to her calling, which is music. She will do so in a private and intimate wedding ceremony (album launch) with invited guests from the music fraternity. “Basically the launch will be treated like a wedding and at the ceremony people will get to hear songs from the album.

“What will happen is that Andrew, who is my producer, is going to walk me down the aisle. At the reception venue we will find Imms The Guitarist, Mr Glo and DJ KBoz, who will put up a play blessing me and officiate the wedding,” she said, adding she will go on an album tour to different towns.

In other news, the Danisa hitmaker also announced she is now the ambassador of the health ministry's cancer campaign. She further shared that raising awareness about cancer is something close to her heart.

“In all honesty a lot of people are not informed about cancer and I am glad to be onboard for this campaign. We will be going to different parts of the country, visiting health centres,” she said.

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A step towards a better future

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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A step towards a better future SPES receives much-needed help The Capricorn Group has donated N$120 000 to the organisation Step out of Poverty through Education, Encouragement and Support (SPES), a charity established to serve our country’s less fortunate children and youth.

The money was used throughout the year towards the development of one of the many schools that SPES supports in Windhoek’s most impoverished areas. The anonymity of the schools is safeguarded to ensure the protection of the minor children who are educated at them.

The morning of Friday 22 November 2019, the Group representatives were delighted to see progress at one of the schools. The money sponsored by Capricorn Group was used to construct a portable precast classroom structure and two flush toilets connected to the sewer system. At the moment water has to be poured into the cisterns manually. Once the school is connected to the municipal water supply, it would eliminate the need to buy and carry water from outside the school grounds. Also added were a fence and a lockable gate to secure the property. During the visit, the cheerful, singing kids also received Christmas gifts and enjoyed cake with their guests.

Esme Coetzee, the spokesperson for SPES, said: “It was important for us to ensure that the agreed-upon deliverables of the project took place promptly, as per our commitment towards Capricorn Group.”

SPES also supports 25 pre-schools in the informal settlements of Windhoek and works around some of the practical challenges they have.

During the visit, Capricorn Group financial director Jaco Esterhuyse thanked SPES for the work done for the community. Addressing the children, he said: “Kids, work hard. Remember that education is the one thing that will make all things possible for you.”

He added that the Capricorn Group, as a truly Namibian business, loves the country and will do what it can to grow and support its communities. The Group firmly believes in planting seeds that will grow into sustainable opportunities by being a “connector of positive change”, he said.

Hangana Seafood lends a helping hand

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Hangana Seafood lends a helping hand The Okangwati Combined School in the Kunene Region was recently the beneficiary of a handsome donation from Hangana Seafood - a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group. Part of this donation included 20 desks ordered from and manufactured by O&L subsidiary Kraatz.

Situated 110 km west of Opuwo, the school hosts approximately 510 learners from grades 0 to 10, with 20 teachers, three cleaners and 15 institutional workers at the hostel. Most of the learners are from marginalised communities such as the Ovadhemba, Ovatua and Ovahimba.

In addition to the desks, Hangana also donated stationery, balls for the school’s football, netball and volleyball teams, canned fish, as well as clothes and shoes for the children, donated by Hangana Seafood employees.

“The trip was a very memorable experience. I thank the company for giving me an opportunity to share and care for those in need. I truly appreciate it,” said Linda Shivolo, one of the Hangana Seafood team members who travelled to the Kunene Region to hand over the donation.

Plan to save wild horses

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Plan to save wild horsesGovt to the rescue endangered animals The wild horses are recognised for their value to both tourism and as a means for local communities to generate income through concessions. ELLANIE SMIT





The environment ministry has released a management plan to save the feral horses living in the Namib Desert from extinction, recognising the tourism value that these horses hold for the country.

The management plan, which was recently launched at Lüderitz, aims to maintain a viable and healthy herd that would contributes to the local economy.

The Management Plan for Horses in the Namib-Naukluft Park and the Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) National Park states that these feral horses lack the conservation status of wild animals.

However, the animals are recognised as for their value to both tourism - as part of Namibia’s cultural heritage - and as a means for local communities to generate income through concessions.

The report points out that although the horses are located in national parks, they are not wild animals and are therefore not covered by the Nature Conservation Ordinance.

This ordinance sets out principles of conservation, protection of wild animals, establishment and management of national parks, utilisation of wild animals, and provision of wildlife management planning, monitoring and research.

“The horses are therefore recognised in this plan as ‘Horses of the Namib’ (and not necessarily feral horses) because of their value for both tourism and as part of Namibia’s cultural heritage.”

The herd, which has been in existence for more than a century, was estimated at about 160 animals in the 1980s.

Because of drought and predation, the population stood at 77 animals at the end of May this year.

“In most recent years, the population has suffered from the effects of drought and predation from spotted hyenas that target the foals and weak animals.”

The report says this situation triggered a debate on the management and survival of the horses.

The management plan therefore sets out six management strategies: zonation, management and tourism development, supplementary feeding and water provision, predator management, research and monitoring; public awareness, stakeholder engagement and coordination.

“The report recognises the integrity of the population which is essential for the long-term survival of the herd. The ministry has committed to finding ways to sustainably manage conflict between the horses and hyena populations,” said the Namibia Wild Horses Foundation.

According to the Foundation this might entail patrolling the area to scare the hyenas away, or even erecting a hyena-proof fence. More road signs will also be erected to warn motorists to slow down as the horses often graze on the road verge and regularly cross the road.

The Garub area is to be zoned as a Managed Resource Use Zone, thus allowing tourism concessions as well as mitigating actions to help the horses in times of severe drought and predation threat.

“The horses are however to remain in the area and no custodianship or removal to a sanctuary will be considered.”

The ministry has also recommended continual monitoring of the horse population to ensure the carrying capacity of the Garub area is ecologically maintained. This task has been taken up by a management action group comprised of local communities and stakeholders.

Lusese gets flood relief centre

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Lusese gets flood relief centre The Lusese Conservancy in the Zambezi Region has received funding of N$4.4 million to develop a flood relief centre that will benefit 40 000 people.

The Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) under the auspices of the environment ministry recently hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the project.

The centre, which will temporarily house people displaced by flooding, will also reduce their exposure to climate risks.

The facility will be constructed under the Empower to Adapt: Creating Climate-Change Resilient Livelihoods through Community Based Natural Resource in Namibia (CBNRM EDA) project.

The project aims to strengthen the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities in the eastern floodplains of the Zambezi Region.

The project will benefit 40 000 people and 11 villages during floods. A total of 44 jobs will be created, of which 24 will be for women.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony this week, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said flood management as identified by the Lusese Conservancy would greatly aid in flood relief.

He said the existing flood relief facilities pose health and sanitation risks. The infrastructure to be established at the Lusese village will ensure improved health for children and pregnant women, improved sanitation, and clean and reliable water sources, said Shifeta.

“The materials for the structures will be locally sourced, which ensures efficiency and effectiveness and contribution to the local economy as money used to procure materials will stay within the Namibian economy.”

According to him the provision of a boat for use during flood events should ensure that the communities are transported and moved to higher ground in a timely fashion. He said that inclusion of the early warning system in the project design will also enhance synergy for climate change preparedness and adaptation.

The materials for the structures will be locally sourced to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

Shifeta said this project is evidence of the Lusese community's unity, commitment and hard work and is proof of local level transformation towards increasing resilience of these communities living in the CBNRM area for climate change adaptation.

He said that the eastern floodplains of the Zambezi Region have been prone to severe flooding due to climate variability and this is worsened by the topography of the areas resulting in significant river discharge to the lowland areas.

According to him these recurrent flooding events often result in significant damage to public and private assets and these have environmental, social and financial repercussions.

“I am grateful to note that this intervention with the involvement of the key stakeholders will serve to provide relief towards adapting to the flooding episodes. The project will also complement the government programmes for addressing climate-change-induced flooding.”

Shifeta further expressed his gratitude towards the Green Climate Fund Board for approving the project funding proposal in October 2016.

He said funding of N$130 million was granted through the CBNRM EDA Project Grant Facility.

“To the Lusese Conservancy Management Committee, please implement this project with the seriousness that it deserves. Ensure sound financial accountability at all times.”

Shifeta concluded by saying cognisance should be taken of the fact that this EDA funding that the EIF has secured for Namibia is so far the first grant that the GCF has awarded under the EDA modality globally.

ELLANIE SMIT

Morphing success

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Morphing success Elizabeth Joseph



Othniel Tjingovera has certainly become a part of the furniture at Namibia Media Holdings, as the fleet supervisor at Newsprint Namibia.

Tjingovera has been with the company for 25 years and has the same tenacity and vigor that he had when he joined the family.

Although it has been a long time, Tjingovera says he loves what he does and that is what helps him come to work every day.

“The passion for the work I do, and most of all the laughter I share every time with my team, makes me want to come to work the next day,” he says.

He received an award at the annual NMH year-end function in appreciation of his loyal service for the past two and a half decades. His service is highly appreciated.

Putting one foot in front of the other

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Putting one foot in front of the otherDefining his own success After a bad week during which he lost his life companion Google Kisting (his dog), Denver Kisting is still letting the news sink in that he was announced not only the Namibia Media Holdings journalist of the year, but also employee of the year 2019. Ester Kamati

Denver Kisting believes in setting clear goals and aiming higher for himself. He values consistency and doing the best work possible, “bearing in mind that when I’m ill or emotionally unwell or when I’m tired, my best won’t be the same as when I’m physically healthy, emotionally healthy and energised.” He believes in doing the best you can in the circumstances that you find yourself in.

Very appreciative of the recognition, Kisting shared with Careers that the employee of the year award came as a surprise. He was grateful to have been announced as the journalist of the year, but did not expect to receive the employee of the year award from the company which employs about 300 people.

Having been in the world of journalism for quite some time, Kisting is dedicated to the craft and says he loves his job. “I love storytelling and I love to have access to this platform to be able to tell these stories.”

He says the career has become increasingly exciting as not only one medium is used but rather many platforms exist that can be used to tell stories. He believes in mentorship and learning from other people and internalising what he has learnt.

“It is important to honour the space that we find ourselves in,” says Kisting, who has learned to welcome challenges and challenging the people that he encounters.

Kisting adds that honouring the tough moments ultimately makes us stronger. Having run seven half-marathons, the NMH employee of the year says that running has saved his life, which he means quite literally.

“Running has taught me that the basics are super important: taking one step after the other and breathing while you are at it,” he says, adding that running has helped him to emerge from “a dark place”. He emphasises the value of getting enough sleep, setting healthy boundaries and taking charge of his own toxic traits. “Victimhood is not going to get you anywhere,” he says.

Kisting believes in learning from his mistakes. “It is only through making mistakes that we can learn,” he says, adding that it is important to make mistakes because that is how we stumble upon growth.

“Before I get out of bed every morning, I say thank you,” says Kisting, who religiously believes in gratitude. He also has a great support structure, which he appreciates wholeheartedly.

He says in the new media landscape characterised by the speed of social media it has become increasingly difficult to write stories that are already in the public domain, as the journalist has to find a new angle while simultaneously maintaining high ethical standards. Kisting believes that various factors such as society and family play a part in one’s success, but he has come to an important realisation: “Only I can determine what amounts to my success. I am the champion of my journey.”

Staying committed to oneself

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Staying committed to oneself Hard work beats everything Evany van Wyk





Sheila Brandt, the debtors’ administrator at Namibia Media Holdings (NMH), is motivated and inspired by many things in her life, which include love for her work, but mostly her family.

“They keep me going,” she says. Brandt has been an employee at NMH for 20 years and said she is grateful to be part of such a dynamic and well-grounded establishment. Over the years she has been able to work in different departments. Starting out as a receptionist, moving over to classifieds and even running a successful office in town on her own.

“Finally in 2008 I found myself in the finance department. Definitely one of my biggest accomplishments and a constant learning curve,” she explains.

Working with people from different walks of life is one of the things that she regards as an accomplishment. According to her it is important to help one another and seek clarity on miscommunicated information.

Her advice is to always keep your head up and learn as much as you can. “Most importantly, treat everyone with respect,” she says. She encourages spreading happiness because you never know what the next person might be going through.

Brandt admits that experience takes time. “Never cease to learn or limit yourself to what others tell you. I’ve worked here for 20 years, but I am not a piece of furniture, I am part of a family. I am thankful toward NMH for 20 years where I could grow, not only in my work capacity but also on a personal level,” she says.

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Unethical hunting has no place in Namibia

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Unethical hunting has no place in Namibia Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has made it clear that there is no place in Namibia for unethical hunting, which will damage the country's reputation.

Shifeta, who was speaking at the annual general meeting of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (NAPHA) on Tuesday, stressed the significant role of hunting in wildlife conservation.

According to him the Namibian conservation model, which has received international acclaim, is based on the premise that people living with wildlife are the rightful custodians.

He said Namibia's laws and policies therefore provide for rural communities and private landowners to manage their wildlife populations sustainably and derive financial and other benefits from these natural resources. “Our policy of devolving conditional wildlife ownership rights to our people has produced excellent results for wildlife conservation and rural sustainable development.”

According to him wildlife ownership on private farmland has encouraged the recovery and growth of numerous species. He further pointed out that wildlife contributes to food security, as over 95% of the venison produced on these farms remains in Namibia.

Shifeta said the economic contribution of the wildlife sector has overtaken livestock production and is an important part of Namibia's future adaptation to climate change.

“The economic competitiveness of wildlife-based land use has driven Namibia's 're-wilding' success, with huge gains for wildlife, biodiversity conservation, job creation and the national economy.” Shifeta stressed that conservation hunting is therefore an important part of Namibia's integrated sustainable development and conservation strategy.

He said the most economically valuable and least extractive form of hunting is selective high-value hunting, whereby an international client pays a premium to hunt individual male animals.

According to Shifeta the ministry closely regulates this practice, through registering trained local professional hunters who accompany each client and issues permits based on quotas set by using reliable information on the basis of the application of science.

“Without hunting, large parts of our land would be less productive. Hunting lessens the gravity of the ecological and socio-economic impacts of climate change. To lose hunting would have a significant impact on conservation and would detract from the competitiveness of wildlife as a preferred land-use.”

Shifeta also reminded the professional hunting sector in Namibia that there are calls and continued advocacy to halt conservation hunting.

He said the government through the ministry is ready to defend and stand by conservation hunting, considering its contribution to conservation and to the social economic development of Namibians.

“It is in the interest of the conservation fraternity, in its broadest context, that the hunting sector in Namibia is successful.” Shifeta therefore called upon the sector to ensure that conservation hunting is practiced to the highest levels of professionalism to enable them to defend it against uninformed opinions.

“Any ban on the import of hunting trophies threatens to erode all the progress made in our country since independence.”

He added that the self-regulation of hunting in Namibia by NAPHA directly assists in having Namibia play a leading role in, and set an example to other African countries and the world on responsible sustainable use and conservation.

The minister said the ministry will continue to work in close cooperation with NAPHA in dealing with matters of mutual concern and will also value and respect the role that it plays in the conservation of Namibia's natural resources.

ELLANIE SMIT

ECN slammed for poor planning

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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ECN slammed for poor planningTechnical problems, turnout under-estimated Long delays caused by a higher than expected voter turnout and technical glitches meant that some people in the northern regions could not vote. Many people were excited to cast their votes but delays in the voting process denied them the opportunity to exercise their democratic right.

This is being blamed on the slow voting process at some polling stations and the mobile teams that failed to get to polling stations on time.

In the Oshana Region, voters at the Omaalala Primary School and Panguleni Primary School polling stations in Ongwediva Constituency had to wait until midnight for the mobile teams to arrive.

According to the village headman for Ekolyanaambo number 2, Tomas Kamutufe, they were informed that the mobile team would be at Panguleni polling station by 16:00, but it showed up after midnight.

“When I got to the polling station at around 13:00 I found many people already lining up and ready to vote. By 16:00 the team was not there and they informed us that they were on their way, but they never showed up until midnight.

“I voted at 00:12 and there were other old people who waited for the team, risking their lives as they had to walk back home in the middle of the night,” said Kamutufe.

“This was very discouraging as at around 18:00 many people, especially the youth, decided to walk away and never returned. When the team came only a few people were still at the polling station.”

At Omaalala polling station, the ECN team arrived after 22:00 and it was raining at the time. After a few people had voted the power went off.

The Ongwediva Constituency returning officer, Albertina Alweendo, said the process was delayed because of a higher than expected voter turnout, but they made sure that everybody who was in the queue voted.

“We got more voters at the mobile station than expected. We couldn't turn people away as we had to make sure that everybody voted.

“We had to keep the next polling station posted that no matter how late it became, they would vote and we would only close whatever time we finished,” said Alweendo.

In the Ohangwena Region, a group of security guards left without voting after officials denied them the privilege to vote first.

Elias Ndume said they were on duty throughout the night and had hoped to cast their votes before going home to rest. But they found long queues at the nearest polling station, at the Roman Catholic Church at Oshikango.

“After overnight on duty and we had to go work another night shift, we just wanted to be given the privilege to cast our votes first. When we spoke to the ECN officials they told us that they couldn't help us because the system was slow and queues were long,” Ndume said.

“We were left with no other option but to walk away without voting. We had to go home and rest before our next shift.

“We so wanted to vote, but we could not risk our jobs. What if our supervisors found us sleeping on duty because we didn't have enough rest?”

ECN presiding officer Elizabeth Joseph said the slow process was due to a malfunctioning voter verification device (VVD), which meant they had to work manually.

During the vote collation process in the Oshikoto Region yesterday, there were some technical problems at the collation centre and ECN regional technicians had to drive long distances to attend to those problems before the counting could start.

That led to delayed results announcements from some constituencies.

ILENI NANDJATO

Beautifully tenacious

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Beautifully tenaciousStaying true to who you are Oscar Haihambo, the frontline manager at the Pick n Pay Namibia Wernhil branch, strongly believes in staying true to who you are, working hard and supporting your team. Mariselle Stofberg

Oscar Haihambo is a dedicated, focused and tenacious woman who believes in equipping oneself with knowledge while following your passion.

Haihambo attended various customer service training courses and basic computer courses throughout her career to broaden her knowledge and equip her with as many skills as possible.

Today Haihambo is the frontline manager at the Pick n Pay Namibia Wernhil branch.

Haihambo’s career path has its roots in her love for working with people and helping them to reach their full potential. “I had a dream I wanted to pursue and had a passion for life. Through my leaders within the industry I was driven in this career direction. My love for people made me what I am today,” she says.

Whenever young people have to make decisions on their career paths, Haihambo encourages them to follow their dreams and to stay true to who they are. “You must have passion, integrity and believe in yourself.”

Haihambo started her career at Pick n Pay 22 years ago as a cashier and was later promoted to customer service.

“Today I am a frontline manager. I am responsible for ensuring that services run smoothly at the tills and that we keep all the customers happy as we are their last point of contact in the store. I also need to ensure that my team is following the right company procedures,” she added.

“I face challenges every day, but I make sure to overcome them and do my work to the best of my ability. The most rewarding part is when I see every customer and staff member happy and to be able to witness growth in the shop sales.”

Haihambo is working towards being a customer consultant for PnP in the whole of Namibia.

Haihambo believes her corporate superpower is her ability to stay true to her moral standards and maintaining her efficiency in everything she undertakes.

“In life things are not easy. You need to be strong to ensure a secure future for yourself and the people surrounding you.”

If Haihambo could change anything in this world it would be the detrimental mentality and attitude of society and she would want to find ways in which the community can fight poverty.

Haihambo believes that there is more to a person than meets the eye. “Some people see me only as Oscar, but they don’t necessarily know who the real me is. I am strong, observant, a good listener and a problem solver. I might come across as very soft spoken, but I am also very strict and traditional. I can analyse something and someone and get to the bottom of that scenario.”

Fintech lets you say no to cash

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Fintech lets you say no to cash Mobile banking is here to stay Llewellyn le Hané



Money is dangerous: it’s bulky, smelly and dirty. Processing and getting the money from a shop, restaurant, café or any other place of business to the bank to be deposited can be a security nightmare and leaves business owners looking over their shoulder.

In the year 2019, handling cash money really isn’t and shouldn’t be necessary. There are countless payment solutions. There are cards to swipe, there are cards that allow you to pay with credit and debit, and you probably have one or two store cards as well. These are all forms of cashless payment solutions, however the fintech sector continues to develop and innovate.

If you look at your phone, you may already have some cashless forms of payment on there like Paypal, but even your banking app or money transferring SMS solution is a form of fintech.

What we are seeing across the world and especially in Africa is the revolution of micro-transactions and payments; ways in which people can pay for goods and services using their phones and not handling physical money. Sometimes these forms of transactions don’t even require the person to have a bank account, thereby allowing potentially the hundreds of millions of people that are unbanked to start taking part in the economy.

Most people would be very surprised to know that when it comes to fintech, the centre of the world is not the USA or Europe; it is Africa. There are several reasons why Fintech is so big and developing so quickly in Africa, and Namibia really needs to focus on being part of this development. The investment and innovation in fintech and the people who embrace it and the companies that create it, are a positive driving force behind change in Africa.

Mobile money application adoption in sub-Saharan Africa is truly spectacular, partly because of the leapfrogging phenomenon where people in the developing world leap over obsolete technologies and straight onto the latest tech. But in the case of fintech in Africa, it’s also because the cost of mobile phones has dropped rapidly over the last couple of years, creating a boom in ownership. There are more people with mobile money accounts than people with physical bank accounts. This is quite something to wrap your head around and it has left conventional bricks-and-mortar banks struggling to keep up.

According to estimates, ownership is set to rise exponentially, which is good news for consumers and businesses. All these mobile owners with fintech money accounts, plus the huge untapped potential inherent in Africa’s young population reaching maturity, are driving a new and exciting boom in tech start-ups.

This has led to huge investments in start-ups right here on the continent with eye-watering amounts being pledged to develop fintech solutions that are tailor-made for the African market. Investors across the world are beginning to wake up to the potential in Africa and not only does that mean big wins for the start-ups, but positive change for people across the continent.

We often think everything from the West is amazing and innovative and forget that we have our own brilliant people on this continent. Africans are finding solutions to assist the unbanked who face huge challenges in accessing utilities, services and the basics of life. But they also face the security risk of carrying around lots of cash.

Perseverance is key

November 28, 2019, 2:00 pm

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Perseverance is keyBuilding something for the future The workload might not get any easier but Andreas Haitota enjoys every moment of his job. Evany van Wyk

Deciding to become an entrepreneur is a huge step in anybody’s life. You take responsibility for your own future and that of others, not to mention the strain it may have on money matters, as well as your family. But, if it works out, being your own boss will definitely be worth it.

It’s true what they say, not everyone is made to follow, some have to lead, and Andreas Haitota is one of those people. At 29 he is a sole trader trying to build a better future for himself and his family. He was born in the North, but grew up in Soweto, Windhoek. Andreas’s business is called Tarzan Investments cc and it specialises in selling and delivering meat to Windhoek residents.

Tarzan Investments was started as a means of bringing in more income on the side, apart from the business he had started two years ago. Haitota does not have any formal business qualifications, but is looking at studying financial management.

“It is very important to know how to manage your finances as an entrepreneur,” says Haitota. He would like to learn more about investments and how to make his money work for him. Haitota says he puts in a full shift every day even if the workload is not that much, because it is always hectic starting a new business. ”It doesn't get any easier but I enjoy every moment of my job because I'm building something that will outlive me. Something for the generation after me.”

He wants to change the way black people look at entrepreneurship and make people realise that anyone with a dream can make it a reality.

“I have a PhD in Hunger and Drive,” Haitota says jokingly.

One superpower that he feels an entrepreneur needs is the desire and passion to be different and make a difference. As an entrepreneur, one has to be able to overcome challenges, including an initial lack of customers. One needs to know who one’s target market is and where to find them.

If you are planning to start your own business, weigh your pros and cons and be prepared to put in some hard work, because nobody ever said success was easy to achieve, Haitota says.