Nanso keeps close eye on registration

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Nanso keeps close eye on registration The Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) plans to be actively involved in the registration process at tertiary institutions as part of its ongoing Access to Education campaign.

“Our campaign started in the first week of January with placements of learners in schools and now we are organising ourselves for the placement of students at institutions of higher learning countrywide,” Nanso secretary-general Efraim Paulus said at an information session in Windhoek on Sunday.

The registration process starts this week at institutions like the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) and University of Namibia (Unam).

Paulus said Nanso's presence would be noticeable at all campuses across the country.

“We will make sure that every student who qualifies for higher education gets [access to] it, by eliminating factors that prevent them from accessing education,” he said.

Paulus said the organisation would identify students who cannot go online to apply for loans from the Namibia Student Financial Assistance Fund.

“We will provide a laptop and data to make sure students are assisted. We also call upon parents who cannot afford registration [fees] to approach the organisation for help,” Paulus said.

They have also asked the police to certify documents on the various campuses during registration.

Additionally, the student organisation will identify students from abusive environments and see how they can assist them.

“Even student safety during registration is a major concern to the organisation and we have engaged the police on this matter, which will among others protect students against being robbed,” Paulus added.

NAMPA

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Poor planning leads to flooding at Ondangwa

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Poor planning leads to flooding at OndangwaSchool, houses under water Poor town planning has been fingered as the cause of flooding at the northern town. Ondangwa's Shinime Shiimvula Primary School and nearby houses have been flooded because of poor town planning.

The school is situated near a pond and because of uncoordinated housing development, floodwater cannot flow anywhere but into the school and nearby houses.

The town council is now pumping water from the pond to the nearest water channel.

According to a resident who did not want to be named, the pond used to drain into a nearby stream but the council allowed people to build houses in the watercourse.

“The school and some of our houses are situated near a pond that holds water flowing from higher ground. Usually, once the pond fills up, the water flows to a main water stream that draws water away.

“Unfortunately, the council allocated plots to people to build in the water channel that used to draw water to the main stream. Now, after good rainfall, water stands and floods our houses and school,” the resident said.

“All the council can do is to demolish those two houses in the watercourse and allow water to flow freely as usual.

This seems to be a rainy year and we do not know what more to expect.”

Council spokesperson Petrina Shitalangaho said officials have visited the school and surrounding areas and the council was pumping out water while finding ways to construct stormwater drainage.

“The council has constructed stormwater channels in that area. We are now just looking at possible ways to construct a stormwater channel that will be connected to others in the area to draw away that water.

“In the meantime, the council is pumping out water using a machine and it is quite helpful. The water level has reduced,” said Shitalangaho.

Shinime school principal Oscar Kashululu commended the council for its quick response.

“When the school opened, one part of the school was flooded and learners had no access to the toilets. We reported it to the council and they reacted quickly and water started reducing.

“However, there was a plan to construct a school hall on that part that was flooded. Now we do not know what the engineers will say, either to redo the plan or go ahead using other means. We are just waiting for them,” said Kashululu.

ILENI NANDJATO

No back-to-school blues here

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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No back-to-school blues here The My Zone team recently visited some grade one classes at various schools in Windhoek for the annual back-to-school activations. The excitement was palpable, with most of the children instantly making friends and bonding over the simplest of things. At first, some others were emotional and missing their parents but in no time they were smiling and settling in. Here are some of the images captured by the My Zone lenses.

Omuntele water crisis resolved

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Omuntele water crisis resolved The crisis in the Omuntele grazing area is now a thing of the past after the water ministry completed the extension of the Ondangwa-Omuntele pipeline project.

The government decision to speed up the project came in the wake of a Namibian Sun exposé on how farmers in the area were struggling last year to provide water for their animals.

Water is only available in the semi-arid area during the rainy season.

Omuntele constituency councillor Sacky Nangula told Namibian Sun yesterday that the government had completed the 80-kilometre pipeline and Omuntele was supplying farmers with fresh water throughout the grazing area, up to Okuma.

Nangula said the project was completed towards the end of last year and farmers and their animals would be drinking free of charge until March.

“The pipeline project has been completed and water is being supplied throughout the grazing area. Farmers have been given until 7 March to use the water for free. This is a huge relief to the farmers, who had a tough year,” Nangula said.

In 2014 the water ministry commenced with the construction of a 60-kilometre pipeline from Omuntele to Onadhi, which was expected to be completed in 2015. The project included the construction of bulk pipelines, elevated storage reservoirs, a concrete reservoir, a booster pump station and manifold water meter installations.

The project was implemented by the Oshikoto regional council under the Namibian Water Supply and Sanitation Programme special account, supported by the European Commission, to support the functions of the water and sanitation sector.

The programme, which ended in 2017, was aimed at improving water security, by ensuring coordinated planning and the implementation of rural and bulk water supply infrastructure, and the sanitation policy and programme.

It was therefore aimed at upgrading existing water infrastructure, constructing new water supply infrastructure, improving the management of existing water sources and enhancing transboundary water cooperation.

While the project was being constructed, the Oshikoto regional council took a decision to extend the project by another 20 kilometres from Onadhi to Okuma. However, the project budget proved insufficient.

Nangula said this was done because soon after construction had begun, the inhabitants of Okuma and the surrounding areas started complaining that the water supply must be extended to their areas.

“After community members of Okuma started demanding for the extension of the project, I took their grievances to the regional council. The regional council approved the 20-kilometre extension to the project,” Nangula said.

“It is unfortunate that only the project was extended, but the project budget was not adjusted. This later affected the project, as the money was not able to finish the project. Government had to source over N$12 million to finish the project.”

ILENI NANDJATO

Stop killing the birds - Irimari

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Stop killing the birds - Irimari ILENI NANDJATO



Good rainfall in the north has attracted a rare species of bird that locals have started killing.

Oshana governor Elia Irimari has now urged the public to stop the illegal hunting of water birds and the fishing of premature fish.

Irimari said water birds are important for the control of worms that destroy crops, and once killed, it will be difficult for farmers when the worms attack their crops. He also said the fish are still young and must mature and breed before they can be fished in large quantities.

He made these remarks after people were observed in scattered oshanas in the region hunting the water birds and fishing.

“People must not play in water. They must stop hunting the birds. Those birds are useful in a situation when there are worms which destroy crops. The fish are still small and they must be allowed to reach every corner of the country. People must remove their nets and give them time to mature,” said Irimari.

The region has received good rainfall during December and January. All water catchments are full while the oshanas are covered with long grass.

This relief has also brought the water birds many have not seen in many years due to reduced rainfall, while the water flow in the Cuvelai streams has also brought some fish.

Irimari called on the authorities to act accordingly to ensure that the natural resources are protected.

“Nature conservation and the ministry of fisheries must act to protect these resources across the region. The law enforcement agencies must also assist where they can. The time is coming when these resources will be shared by everyone,” he said.

Climate change emergency

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Climate change emergencyWFP to expand assistance in Namibia Namibia is among the hardest-hit countries with regards to hunger across southern Africa. With 45 million people facing hunger across southern Africa, the region is in the throes of a climate emergency.

Eight of the hardest-hit countries are Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and Malawi, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned in a new report regarding the region's climate-driven food crisis.

“This hunger crisis is on a scale we have not seen before and the evidence shows it is going to get worse,” said Lola Castro, WFP's regional director for southern Africa.

Zimbabwe faces its worst hunger emergency in a decade, with 7.7 million people – half the population – seriously food insecure, while 20% of people in Zambia are also seriously food insecure. A further 20% of the population of drought-stricken Lesotho are also now severely hungry, as are 10% of Namibians.

“Having suffered its worst drought in a generation during the last growing season, a 53% drop in 2019 cereal production and massive livestock losses, Namibia has seen hunger surge,” says the report.

It said that some 290 000 of our 2.5 million people are now severely food insecure.

“Not having directly distributed food in Namibia for several years, WFP provided food to 17 000 people in December. Distributions will be expanded to reach 379 000 people,” according to the report.

The WFP said the figure of 45 million people was a record, and affected mainly women and children in region following repeated drought, widespread flooding and economic disarray.

“While our most pressing priority are the millions in need of immediate support, building the resilience of the many more threatened by increasingly frequent and destructive droughts and storms is absolutely essential,” Castro said.

As the 'lean' season deepens ahead of the annual cereal harvest in April/May, the international community must accelerate emergency assistance to millions of desperately hungry people in southern Africa, and long-term investments to enable the region's vulnerability to withstand the worsening impacts of climate change, said the report.

With temperatures rising at twice the global average and most of its food produced by subsistence farmers who are entirely dependent on increasingly unreliable rains, southern Africa has had just one normal growing season in the last five years, the report further read.

WFP plans to provide lean season assistance to 8.3 million people grappling with 'crisis' or 'emergency' levels of hunger in the eight hardest-hit countries.

To date, WFP has secured just US$205 million of the US$489 million required for this assistance and has been forced to resort heavily on internal borrowing to ensure food reaches those in need.

ELLANIE SMIT

No way back

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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No way back Grade 10 exit-point implementation causes havoc Elizabeth Joseph



Sanet Steenkamp, education executive director, dropped a bombshell at the beginning of the academic year when she sent out a circular on the future of learners who completed grade 10 part-time under the old school curriculum last year.

These learners would not be eligible to return to state schools under the new senior secondary curriculum implemented this year, the circular stated.

“Any learner who completed part-time JSC grade 10 in 2019 will not be admitted to return to school as a full-time enrolled learner for grade 11 in 2020.

“More so, such learners will not be allowed to change into the revised senior secondary curriculum offered full-time at schools,” Steenkamp's circular stated.

After reaching out to the ministry for more details about this decision, My Zone received no response.

Although it is the perspective of senior ministry staff that learners should complete school in the curriculum they are familiar with, many parents wonder if this would push more learners to the streets as many tertiary institutions require grade 12.

Namibian Sun excerpt

“Learners who were successful in improving their Junior Secondary Certificate (JSC) results in 2019 will not be able to return to full-time schooling for grade eleven as they are still part of the old curriculum which has been phased out and hence not offered at school as a full-time course.”

Steenkamp also announced that the current grade 12 National Senior Secondary Certificate would be phased out by the end of 2021.

The Landless People’s Movement’s Student and Youth Command Element (SYCE) called a press conference where it objected to the ministry’s decision.

The appealed to the government to rethink the decision in the interest of the young people whose lives will be directly affected by it.

“We want to strongly condemn the ministry and their decision to exclude the grade 10 learners. The government is depriving these children of a chance for an education. It is unfair to even think that this is the plan forward,” said SYCE chairperson Joyce Muzengua at the Unam main campus.

The LPM youth wing believes that the streets will be full of children who wanted to study but failed to reach the threshold.

They said the government should work with institutions like Namcol to offer grade 10 on a full-time basis so that no one is left behind.

Back-to-school message

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Back-to-school message Be the agent of change Support the implementation of the new curriculum Michelline Nawatises

Pull quote: “The parents are still expected to voluntarily support their schools financially.” Deputy minister of education, arts and culture, Ester Anna Nghipondoka.

The deputy minister of education, arts and culture, Ester Anna Nghipondoka, urged learners to be committed to their studies and uphold their schools’ code of conduct when she addressed teachers, principals and learners at the start of the 2020 academic year.

She also outlined the options open to last year’s part-time grade 10 candidates in view of the phasing out of the old curriculum. All learners who have not met required performance targets and might need to repeat a grade need to work extra hard and utilise the opportunities given.

Those full-time candidates of 2018 who improved their grades through part-time study last year and obtained 23 points can enquire at regional education offices whether there are school placements available in the current grade 10 following the NSSCO new curriculum.

“It remains the ministry’s advice that these learners should rather continue through part-time tuition centres in the old curriculum over two years, doing three subjects per year to obtain their NSSCO qualification,” she said.

The deputy minister urged the various divisions and directorates to continue supporting the implementation of the new curriculum to ensure that continuous monitoring and evaluation take place.

The deputy minister also advised parents to become more involved in their children’s school activities.

“Parents should support their children with schoolwork and extramural activities as I believe that a parent who remains the child’s partner in education will be a trusted partner in dealing with the outcome of results and crafting the way forward, whether positive or negative,” she said.

On the hand, parents and guardians were also urged to shoulder their moral obligations and social responsibility towards their schools by making the necessary financial contributions within their means.

“The parents are still expected to voluntarily support their schools financially in order to be able to be part of the quality teaching and learning of the learners,” Nghipondoka said.

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Get your vocals ready

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Get your vocals readyVoice of Namibia season three around the corner Definitely not a show to be missed! Michelline ­Nawatises



Voice of Namibia is a competition designed to discover singing talent in the country on a distinguishing level, and which produced startling results in 2018, its first year of running.

In 2018, the competition was driven on multimedia with public votes and online judges.

In 2019, it improved and expanded.

Alinda Lu'Mar is the founder and owner of the competition. “We started off with a live illumination show with 25 finalists on 9 February 2019 and our final show with the top 10 was held on 16 April 2019,” she says.

The first illumination show of the third season will be held on 1 February in Pionierspark, Windhoek. The top 10 will be selected as well as the favourite contestants and guest artists.

There is a new panel of judges, which will feature 2019 winner Nadia Hanssen.

Lu'Mar mentions one of the main challenges they face is the sponsorships needed to help cover costs.

“In order for us to produce a good show, we need money,” she says.

This year's winner will win N$10 000 and free entry into the Namibia championships of the performing arts, set to take place in April. Lu'Mar says a top 10 event before the finale, which will take place on 7 March, is also in the works.For more information contact 081 3335 647.

Child shot while playing with gun

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Child shot while playing with gun A three-year-old girl was shot in the leg last Sunday in the Omusati Region when she and another child were playing with a firearm.

According to the police, the incident occurred at Oshifo village in the Ruacana Constituency.

It is alleged that the owner of the firearm failed to store it away safely.

The children played with the firearm and, in the process, a shot went off and the girl was injured in her left leg.

She was transported to the Outapi State Hospital. A case of negligent handling of a firearm is being investigated, but no arrests have been made.

In another incident, a three-year-old boy was discovered dead in a water pond last Friday at Eengwena village in Omungwelume, while last Sunday a baby girl was reported to have drowned in a bucket of water at Onamambulanga village in Onesi.

According to the police, the girl, who was a year and three months old, was left alone in the house while her parents were in the mahangu field. When they returned, they found that the baby, Kaheva Fernandu, had drowned.

In another incident, a 43-year-old woman was raped by a man whose age is unknown, last Friday in a shack in Swakopmund.

According to the police, the incident happened in the DRC location when the man took the woman from a house to his shack. He apparently pulled out an okapi knife and dragged the woman inside and raped her. The suspect has not been arrested.

In a separate incident, a 29-year-old man was arrested last Friday at a roadblock in Mariental after he was found in possession of 1 755 grams of pure cannabis and 20 mandrax tablets. The drugs are valued at N$19 950.

At Rehoboth, eight men were arrested for being in possession of mandrax and cannabis at different times and locations last Friday. The combined value of the drugs is over N$8 400.

Last Saturday at Henties Bay, a 38-year-old man and his 37-year-old girlfriend were arrested for dealing in 60 grams of cannabis valued at N$3 000.

Meanwhile, last Friday at Farm Kronenhof near Maltahöhe, three men were arrested for hunting two oryx valued at N$8 000. The men are aged between 40 and 57 and were hunting game without a permit. They were also found in possession of game meat without a permit. The carcasses were recovered.In another incident, three men were arrested at Farm Onduara near Kamanjab on allegations that they hunted and killed an oryx. The animal is valued at N$3 000 and meat was recovered from the suspects' homes. The men are aged between 17 and 64.

ELLANIE SMIT

Fewer than 190 000 formally employed

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Fewer than 190 000 formally employed Fewer than 190 000 formally employed Employment statistics show that the government has failed to deliver the decent jobs that people want, the Institute for Public Policy Research says. Namibia had just under 190 000 formally employed people in the private sector by 2018.

This is according to a new Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) report that says this exceedingly small number in an economy of 2.4 million people suggests that the government has failed to deliver the decent jobs that people so desire.

The Namibia Quarterly Economic Review for October to December 2019 says as Namibia approaches the 30th anniversary of its independence, policymakers and the public should be aware of what official statistics say about the country's record in generating employment for its growing population since this has been one of Namibia's principal development objectives.

“It is hard to see substantial and sustained reductions in poverty and inequality coming about without equally substantial and sustained increases in employment,” it states.

According to the report, Namibia's population has grown from approximately 1.4 million people in 1991 (which excluded Walvis Bay which had not yet been returned to Namibia) to an estimated 2.4 million people in 2018. The labour force (the economically active population) has grown from 479 779 people in 1991 to an estimated 1.09 million people in 2018. “In other words, whereas the population has increased by over 71%, the economically active population has grown by 127%. Interestingly, the strict rate of unemployment (excluding discouraged workers) in 2018 was almost the same as in 1991 at 19.8% compared to 19.1%.”

The report says that the broad rate of unemployment (including discouraged workers) in 2018 was almost the same as in the first year the figure was calculated in 1997 - at 33.4% compared to 34.5%.

However, the report says that there were some surprising differences in sectoral employment from year to year, which cannot be explained by developments in the economy.

“For example, it is hard to understand how employment in manufacturing rose from 28 409 in 2012 to 45 057 in 2018.”

It pointed out that the five largest sectors by employment in 2018 were agriculture, forestry and fishing, accommodation and food service, wholesale and retail trade, private households and education.

These figures suggest employment grew from 630 092 in 2012 to 725 741 in 2018, a rise of some 95 649.

The report however says by subtracting the number of informally employed people by sector from the total number of employed people by sector, a clearer idea can be gained of the amount of formal employment the economy has created. “Unfortunately, this additional information has only been included since 2013.”

According to the report the overall picture therefore suggests that the number of formally employed people declined from 365 703 in 2013 to 307 067 in 2018. “If government employment of 86 864 people is excluded (adding together those in public administration and defence, compulsory social security, education and human health and social work activities) in 2018, the number of formally employed drops to 220 203.”

The report says that if state-owned enterprises and parastatal employment of 30 654 is excluded, it looks like just 189 549 people are formally employed outside the government and parastatal sector. “This is an exceedingly small number of people in an economy of 2.4 million people and suggests government has dramatically failed to deliver the decent jobs that people so desire.”

ELLANIE SMIT

The train of corroboration

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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The train of corroboration Justicia Shipena



When I recently told a group of people I was writing an advice column, most laughed and, honestly, I laughed too. Somehow, I have convinced myself I know enough about life to hand out suggestions how other people should live.

However, in my 20 years of life, I can confidently say I have been floundering just as much as, if not more than, the next person. Usually I am the one receiving advice on the most minor of things - “They didn’t text me back! Is sending a snapchat too clingy?” - and the biggest of questions: “Why I am here and what am I doing?”

I am incredibly lucky to have wise friends and family who usually tell me what I should do. The problem comes when I have to actually do the thing; I’m not very good at heeding advice, probably because everyone has slightly different ideas of what it is exactly I should do.

The version of me that follows all the advice given to her is probably somewhere out there going for a run every day, staying hydrated, holding doors open for strangers and eating a not-messed-up diet. I sincerely hope she has learned to love that life, but I think she’s missing out.

Windhoek too, is screaming at me to do certain things and be a certain way, with its atmosphere of business casual outfits, the handshakes exchanged at a party and the pleas from individuals to “go to the gym for goodness sake” - not a direct quote, but I imagine the person writing the newsletters screaming these words at me as I scroll through Pinterest.

Buying into that culture can be fun and seem like a simple road to success; stepping off this road can be intimidating and make you feel as if you just can’t keep up. No one likes to be a failure. I think that’s the wrong way to look at it. In a world in which everybody has opinions on how to live, it takes incredible gumption and grit to choose to do it differently. Different does not equal failure, contrary to what many people believe.

One of my teachers was an instructor at a leadership programme and she was soft-spoken, extraordinarily kind and a total badass. I remember sitting with her on the stairs at the school, when she told me the best advice is to take no advice. I thought about it for a while, remembering all the advice I had received, all the advice I had ignored and how I ended up in this beautifully complicated life in which I currently reside.

Advice is, typically, an anecdotal recommendation to someone else. But, as many of us learned in grade nine English class, an anecdote-based argument is hardly persuasive. Advice should be treated with similar caution. In the great debate of what to do and who to be, anecdotal evidence, like advice, is not going to cut it.

Each person reading this column has had a completely different collection of experiences that make up their life. As much as I love to get to know people and ask a billion questions about them, it would be naive to pretend I could even begin to understand every facet of their identity. Inversely, no one person can truly understand my life in its entirety. I honestly can’t understand it fully, either. This train of thought can be isolating at times, but it is also liberating. This life is mine, with all of its mistakes and successes and everything in between. That’s pretty incredible.

If I accept that no one will fully know my life or my situation, why should I trust them to make decisions for me? Since I could communicate, I have been bombarded with advice, both solicited and unsolicited, on what to do. Yes, I can learn from others, but my life is my own to lead and my own to get messy. I get to pick which advice I heed, if any.

So, I take all advice with a grain of salt. Obviously, I will still text my closest friends when I’m in a dilemma to hear their opinions or, in my case, their pleas for me to calm down. In the end, though, it’s my call. I hope what I have said has resonated with someone. If it doesn’t resonate with you, ignore me! Please! Still, if you take one piece of paradoxical advice, let it be this: Do your thing, do no harm and take no advice.

Marked on the calendar

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Marked on the calendar My Zone visited Windhoek High School to find out what learners look forward to most on the sports calendar this year. Demarscho Mouton

I am looking forward to the inter-high because our school spirit is higher than usual and it is a great opportunity for learners to compete but also have fun.

Genice Ockhuizen

I am excited for the Big Brag because it gets everyone excited and ready for the athletics so we are also ready to spend time with our peers and have fun.

Eva Museta

The inter-high is at the top of my list because I want to bond with some of my friends at other high schools and also participate in all the cultural events and activities.

Christine van Niekerk

Just like all my peers, I’m really looking forward to the inter-high because it’s the one with the most excitement. I also can’t wait for all the first team games so that I can cheer my sister on at the netball.

Nadia Horn

I’m expecting great excitement at the inter-high athletics because it gives us time to build relationships with learners from other schools.

Deppironnizia van Staden

At the inter-high athletics, we will definitely see Windhoek High and Windhoek Gymnasium not just compete against each other but also compete to represent the Khomas Region, and it will also give us a chance to challenge each other with some healthy competition.

Uzziel Bortei

I can’t wait to experience the teams at the school as they get ready for the inter-high athletics. It will be a great start to a great year.

Samuel Simon

The event I’m most looking forward to is the inter-high because it is the most anticipated sport event of the year between Windhoek High School and Windhoek Gymnasium.

Juanita Almirall

The most interesting event for me is the inter-high competition because of all the team spirit. It’s nice to see how everybody comes together and competes and how much spirit there is. Wag ‘n Bietjie usually wins.

Ngatangue Tjiueza

I’m looking forward to the watermelon festival, which happens after the inter-house competition. This is an event where the learners play with watermelons and just have fun.

Christiaan Prinsloo

I’m looking forward the inter-high. I want to see Swarthaak win. And then the relay races which is are pretty fun and then there’s the 3 000m I’m doing. I may not do very well but I’m doing it with hopes to get a point for my team.

Richard Voigts von Schütz

The event I really look forward to is the inter-high competition between Windhoek High School and Windhoek Gymnasium. Also, the sports festival, the inter-house between the three school teams. I am really looking forward to seeing who wins this year.

Political parties must account for public money

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Political parties must account for public money Namibian political parties continue to rake in millions of dollars from the National Assembly due to their representation in that house.

In fact, those represented in the National Council make a killing in terms of revenue from the state. In the 2015/16 financial year, for example, Swapo alone received N$96 million for its 101 seats in both houses of parliament. The official opposition, PDM, received N$5.7 million that year. In total, N$116 million was paid out to political parties. In principle, this money is meant for the general administration of these parties insofar as their work in the legislature is concerned. What is shocking, however, is that parties are not obliged to account for the money they receive. For a long time, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been calling for a law that compels parties to produce audited reports annually in which they lay bare every transaction that involved state funding. While other recipients of state funding are hauled before standing committees to account every cent, political parties are in wonderland. The irony of this is that parliamentarians are the architects of laws on accountability, but as always, politicians seem to create such legislation for everyone but themselves. We have no recollection of audited reports ever being tabled in parliament on behalf of any political party. And despite loud cries to have this rectified, our legislators seem hell-bent on ensuring that the deep-seated unaccountability continues unabated. Politicians live by the rule of man while the rest of us must observe the rule of law. Indeed, our politicians are cut from a rare fabric of superiority.

They are fast to change even the constitution, like they did in 2014, to create a bigger space around the dinner table that is parliament, but once their stomachs are full, as expected, they slip into a state of laziness. Or how else are we meant to interpret their reluctance to ensure the funds they receive from the taxpayer are accounted for?

Clean Kicks for all your shoe needs

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Clean Kicks for all your shoe needsSpotted a gap in the market Breathing new life into your shoes since November 2019. Michelline Nawatises





Clean Kicks Namibia is a business which specialises in the cleaning and repair of all shoe types.

The idea was sparked by a gap identified in the laundry industry. The two founders Kleopas Malima (25) and Gabriel Nghiyolwa (23), who at the time struggled to get their shoes cleaned as there was no laundry business in the country that offered the service, saw it as the perfect opportunity to serve the Namibian community.

Malima has an honours degree in logistics and supply chain management from the Namibia University of Science and Technology, while Nghiyolwa is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science at the same institution.

The business currently employees three others, including the owners.

The culture they promote is one of positivity and unlocking each team member’s genius, which they achieve by providing their team with the right environment to be themselves, succeed and ultimately serve their clients.

Founded in November 2019, they aim to expand the business and become a household name in of southern Africa in the next three years. “During our first year of operations, we aim to expand into the main cities in Namibia. At this early stage of our business, we are already in talks with some partners in Ghana to work on a Clean Kicks Ghana franchise,” one of the owner said.

When asked how they measure success, they mentioned that they have pre-determined factors in place which they use to measure their performance, and these are set up based on daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual targets. The areas they focus on are quality of work, turnover, operating costs as well as business growth and expansion.

The owners aspire to become influential and successful entrepreneurs as well as serve as positive catalysts for change in the Namibian economic and education sectors.

For services, contact 085 744 4950 or email cleankicksnam@gmail.com.

Facts about the duo

Kleopas Malima

· An extrovert.

· Enjoys reading.

· ‘Kind of’ short tempered.

· He is idealistic and optimistic.

· Fitness freak.

· Family orientated.

· He is an ambitious individual regarding Namibia’s economic outlook.

· Enjoys pop music by artists like Meghan Trainor, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.

· An extremely good cook.

· He is a trained public speaker.

Gabriel Nghiyolwa

· Before talking to anyone, he always tries to plan how the conversation will go in his head.

· Can’t sing or dance.

· He is always the calmest guy in the room in any situation.

· Goes crazy over a girl’s smile.

· He is a self-conscious individual.

· There’s a good chance the thoughts in his head will exit his mouth.

· Hates competing.

· Dislikes soccer.

· A great cook.

· He’s a former rugby player.

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93 learners in a class

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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93 learners in a class Less than a week into the new school year, Rundu's Ndama Combined School is facing multiple challenges related to overcrowding.

In one Grade 6 class there are 93 learners, most of whom have to stand for hours because of a lack of furniture and even sitting space on the floor.

According to the school's principal Fillipine Munkanda, Ndama Combined School this year registered 2 652 learners, which is 304 more than last year.

Munkanda said the average number of learners per classroom stands at 75, which is more than double the education ministry's staffing norm of one teacher per 30 pupils.





In the classrooms where learners have to stand the entire school day, the limited space also restricts teachers' movement around the room.

Some of the teachers spoken to said they were used to such conditions.

“Welcome to Ndama Combined School; we are used to this situation,” one teacher said jokingly.

Last year Namibian Sun also visited the school after parents complained about the situation there. At the time it was reported that there were 114 learners in one classroom.

When asked why the classrooms were so overcrowded, Munkanda explained that two classes had to be combined to free up a classroom because the number of learners from the feeder schools had increased.

Ndama Combined School has two feeder schools: Rundu Senior Primary School and Ndama Junior Primary School.

“The number of learners has increased as we have to accommodate the learners from the feeder schools,” Munkanda said.

Munkanda added that although the school had decided not to register learners from other schools this year, the demand for placement remained high.

The school has also adopted a platoon system for grade four and five pupils. Some of the learners attend classes from 07:00 to 11:00 and the others are taught from 12:00 to 16:00.

Munkanda said her teachers remained committed to providing children with quality education.

But she emphasised that more classrooms must be built urgently.

“We know about our challenges yet we are not deterred in carrying out our mandate,” she said.

Last year the school achieved a 70% pass rate, which included an 81% pass rate in the grade nine national examination.

When contacted for comment, Kavango East Region education director Fanuel Kapapero told Namibian Sun that the ministry planned to build a new school to ease the pressure on Ndama and other schools faced with the same problem.

Kapapero said the plan was to construct another primary school which would take over some of the grade four to seven classes from Ndama Combined School.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Woman aged 101 commits suicide

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Woman aged 101 commits suicide The Oshana police have opened an inquest docket following the shocking report of a 101-year-old woman allegedly committing suicide in the region at the weekend.

Warrant Officer Frieda Shikole-Ashiyana of the police's community affairs office in the region said in a media statement yesterday that the woman allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself with a rope in her traditional hut at Omeege village in the Oshakati East Constituency on Saturday.

“Her lifeless body was discovered by a relative at around 19:00,” Shikole-Ashiyana said. She was identified as Mesitilde Iindongo and her next of kin have been informed. The police investigation continues. In an unrelated incident, 20-year-old Roni Leonard from Oshitayi village near Ondangwa died after he lost control of his Volkswagen Golf and it overturned on the Ondangwa-Oshikango main road, also on Saturday. “The accident occurred near Leonard's village and his body was transported to the Oshakati police mortuary,” Shikole-Ashiyana said. The next of kin are informed. Shikole-Ashiyana further said an Oshakati resident, 43-year-old Kornelius Kongolo, was admitted to the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital in a stable condition after an unknown suspect allegedly attacked and stabbed him in his lower back, his neck as well as his head on Sunday. This, Shikole-Ashiyana said, took place around 05:00 on the gravel road behind the open market at Ongwediva.

“No arrest was made, as the suspect ran away from the scene,” Shikole-Ashiyana said, adding that a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm has been opened at the Ongwediva police station.

- Nampa

MATHIAS NANGHANDA

Swapo loses N$36m in parly funding

January 20, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Swapo loses N$36m in parly fundingSwapo takes huge knock, PDM funding up by nearly N$10m The snowball effects of the party's poor performance have started to show in more ways than one, including a knock in its revenues. Swapo will lose about N$36 million in parliamentary funding in the 2020/21 financial year following a dismal performance in last year's National Assembly election, in which it lost 14 seats and its two-thirds majority.

The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) will see its parliamentary funding increase by N$9.58 million after the National Assembly is sworn in in March after an impressive performance that saw the party tripling its presence in parliament.

The increase in seats to 16 from five for PDM is seen as a boon for the party.

Newcomers the Landless People's Movement (LPM) will receive N$3.8 million for its four parliamentary seats won last year.

The All People's Party (APP), Republican Party (RP), Namibia Economic Freedom Fighters (NEEF), National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) and the United Democratic Party (UDP) will all get N$1 916 000. In the 2015/16 fiscal year, political parties received N$958 000 per seat won in the National Assembly during the 2014 general election.

Using the 2015/16 figures, PDM will then get N$15 million a year, while Swapo will see its funding drop to N$60.3 million.

Political parties received a total of N$114 million in parliamentary funding in the 2015/16 fiscal year, with Swapo getting the lion's share of N$96 million.

Despite the boost his party is now going to get, PDM treasurer Nico Smit felt the playing field needed to be levelled even more and that parties should get funding based on a flat rate.





When asked what the formula was, he said it was based on the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country multiplied by 0.0002%.

“There must be a different way to calculate party funding.





The large amount parties get must be a flat rate, while the smaller portion should be based on the number of seats a party has won,” Smit said.



According to him, his party now had more money to carry out its activities but no amount of money, however large, would be sufficient for political parties to carry out their plans.



Commentators felt that opposition parties would have to use the increased funding smartly, as this could help them build a support base.



Academic Ndumba Kamwanyah said opposition parties, more especially the PDM, would have more money for campaign purposes.



“One of the things affecting political parties is the funding that they are given. When you have more funding it will help political parties get out and campaign more with the electorate,” Kamwanyah said.



He cautioned that the monies allocated would have to be used prudently and for the intended purposes.



“Political funding will have a good impact if it is used for the purposes it is intended for. There is no guarantee that increased funding will have a positive impact for political parties. It will depend on how it is used,” Kamwanyah said.



Political commentator Hoze Riruako feels that opposition political parties are not yet mature enough and that the money will not necessarily assist them to grow their voter bases.



“Opposition parties still have a long way to go. The idea is not so much the money, but smart campaigning. Opposition parties must join the information highway and go to where the young voters are.



“It is not about the money, but sending out a message that will resonate with the young voters,” he added.



Riruako is not confident that the PDM will be able to grow its supporter base in the next five years, despite the boost in funding.



“Two things helped the PDM, one being the independent candidate Dr Panduleni Itula and protest votes that it got from Swapo. Whether these votes can be sustained is anybody's guess,” Riruako said.



He, however, said the increased funding the PDM stands to gain will also help it with its campaign efforts in the run-up to elections in 2024, as well as the upcoming regional and local authority polls this year.



“It will help the PDM because they now have more money to campaign,” he said.



Riruako also advised smaller political parties to actively campaign, even in the absence of an election year, saying: “Political parties must get out of their comfort zones. Smaller parties should not wait for the last minute,” he said.



LPM deputy leader Henny Seibeb feels that newly established parties should be funded in an election year to help them with campaigning.



“It is a good thing to support democracy to level the playing field, but the same should be extended beyond political parties not necessarily represented in parliament, especially during election years. New political parties are heavily affected, as no one wants to invest in them,” he said.



The Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) last year questioned the funding government allocates to political parties.



“The dramatic increase of party finance from the state came at a time when the Namibian government was already in a tight spot, financially speaking,” it said.

Namibia ready for 2020 African Karate Championships

January 21, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Namibia ready for 2020 African Karate Championships The Namibian Karate Union (Naku) has hopes to grow into a force in African karate.

Last year, Naku hosted the 2019 Region 5 Karate Championships, which it deemed a success.

The union, through its karate stars, collected numerous international honours, including three bronze medals at the 2019 African Karate Championships (UFAK) and a silver at the first African Beach Games.

In a statement issued this week, Naku says it hopes to continue building on this momentum, with the ultimate goal of sending athletes to participate in karate's debut at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

However, the first stop on this year's competition calendar is UFAK, which will be hosted in Tangier, Morocco, from 3 to 9 February.

Namibia will send 11 karatekas, who will be competing against Africa's top nations.

This year's tournament marks the 19th senior, 11th junior and third cadet editions of the championships.

Accompanying the team to Morocco will be Namibian national karate coach sensei Llewellyn Manale and team manager Marchelle de Jager.

Team captain Suzelle Pronk expressed excitement about the event as the team is eager to produce good results.

“I am very excited to once again return to Morocco to represent Namibia at the UFAK, which will be hosting the best karate athletes Africa has to offer.

“For senior athletes this year, the championships are especially important as it will serve as preparation for the upcoming Olympics qualification championships,” she said.



Naku's team consists of:

Suzelle Pronk (team captain)

Dominique Tsaneb

Shane Husselmann

Keanu Stuurman

Katelin Martin

Mayonne Swart

Joshua Kunneke

Jan-Magiel Leff

Jewel Slinger

Requelle Rickerts

Miriam Idiou

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

NC hopes to avoid legal battles

January 21, 2020, 2:00 pm

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NC hopes to avoid legal battlesLast four standing Ranga Haikali, Johnny Doeseb, Izak Fredericks and Mabos Vries have been shortlisted for the NFA presidency. The Fifa normalisation committee says it used legal procedures during the Namibia Football Association (NFA) presidency and executive committee vetting in order to avoid legal battles.

Only 28 of the 57 members nominated for various NFA positions have been shortlisted.

It is however feared that some of those omitted will seek legal remedies in order for the process to take place again. NC chairperson Hilda Basson-Namundjebo however insisted that the process was fair and that the process was guided by the NFA constitution. “We did this vetting process in the most fair of ways so that we can be prepared when anyone challenges the outcome. “The committee is not bothered by what could happen, but we believe it is about time that the NFA gets leadership and football can be played,” she said. Most candidates who did not make the list are ineligible because their CVs contradict Article 33 (3), which states that members may not serve more than two terms in the NFA executive. Some were omitted because they were part of suspended NFA member, Namibia Premier League (NPL), during the time of nominations. Other nominees fell out because of Article 33 (4), which states that a member can only be eligible for elections if he/she has served for four years as an executive member, while some also failed to submit required documents including proof of residence.

The shortlisted individuals will vie for the position of president, first and second vice-president as well as 11 other positions on the executive committee.



Surprises

One of the surprises from the announcement was the omission of former NFA president Frans Mbidi and NPL chairman Patrick Kauta from the list. Kauta and Mbidi were previously tipped as top contenders for the presidency.

The committee however used Article 33(3) of the NFA constitution to omit Mbidi, while Kauta was denied the opportunity because he was part of the NFA executive which executed the unlawful removal of Mbidi.



Possible complications

The normalisation committee and the NPL could possibly meet in the Supreme Court in a case where the NPL is seeking reinstatement as a member of the NFA. If the Supreme Court rules in favour of the NPL, this could mean that some members who were omitted from the nomination list will seek a reverting process. The NFA is currently under the care of the NC, which was appointed by Fifa in February 2019 after the NFA failed to hold an elective congress following a stand-off between former president Mbidi and then secretary-general Barry Rukoro.



Below is the full list of shortlisted candidates.

President

1. Ranga Haikali

2. Johnny Doeseb

3. Izak Fredericks

4. Mabos Vries



First vice president

1 Rudolph Haingura

2 Peter Ndjulu

3 Izak Fredericks

4 Michael Situde



Second vice president

1 Rudolph Haingura

2 Peter Ndjulu

3 Izak Fredericks

4 Nettie Cloete

5 Michael Situde



Executive committee members

1 Nettie Cloete

2 Ingy Hainghumbi

3 Peter Ndjulu

4 Izak Fredericks

5 Samuel Mushelenga

6 Ferdinand Hausiku

7 Rudolph Haingura

8 Dawid Morgan

9 Shali Amakali

10 Earnest Joy

11 Johnny Doeseb

12 Nelago Stephanus

13 John Sinime

14 Michael Situde





Jesse Jackson Kauraisa