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MTN denies outflow reports

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MTN denies outflow reportsMTN denies outflow reports 0 Africa’s biggest mobile network MTN has hit back at reports about allegations that it illegally repatriated N$187 billion (US$13.92 billionn) out of Nigeria.

Reports on Tuesday emerged that Nigerian lawmakers have raised the fresh allegations and that the country’s Senate was set to investigate the matter. Lawmakers in the upper house of Nigeria’s parliament on Tuesday said they would investigate the allegations that MTN illegally transferred billions out of the West African country.

Nigerian politician, Dino Melaye, has made a motion accusing MTN of repatriating the funds over ten years starting in 2006, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

Four banks involved in the alleged illegal transfers are Citigroup, Standard Chartered, and Nigerian lenders Stanbic IBTC Holdings and Diamond Bank, the Bloomberg report said.

“The allegations made against MTN are completely unfounded and without any merit,” MTN Nigeria CEO Ferdi Moolman said in a statement on Wednesday morning.

This is just the latest controversy to hit MTN in Nigeria, its biggest market where it has around 50 million subscribers.

Regulators in Nigeria slapped MTN with a US$3.9 billion dollar fine last year for failing to meet a deadline to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards.

MTN negotiated with regulators and the Nigerian government and then came to a deal earlier this year to pay 330 billion naira (US$ 1 billion) as part of a settlement.

MTN Nigeria also agreed to list the company on the West African nation’s bourse.

MTN operates in 22 countries across Africa, the Middle East and Asia and it has over 230 million subscribers.

End of days for apps

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End of days for appsEnd of days for apps 0 Abandonment rates for smartphone apps are surging as users simply have too much choice, says an analyst from technology research firm Gartner.

Speaking to media along the sidelines of the Gartner Symposium taking place in Cape Town on Tuesday, analyst David Willis explained this “compound problem”.

Data from Statista.com earlier this year said that Android users have access to 2.2 million apps while Apple’s App Store users have 2 million available apps.

The likes of telecoms companies have jumped on the app revolution bandwagon to allow their customers to perform functions such as paying their phone bills.

But these companies, in turn, have each created multiple apps for customers, thereby contributing to the over-saturation of the apps landscape.

“There are very high abandonment rates for apps, they [users] try them out for a while after they download them but it’s only a small percentage that they actually continue to use on a daily basis,” said Willis.

“It’s a compounded problem many brands have multiple apps that you can find in the app store.

“It’s just too much. So, apps have sort of, because of the fragmentation ... confused people,” he said.

Post-app era

Amid this ‘app overload’, the advent of the post-app era is upon us, said Willis.

Growing adoption of artificial intelligence means that virtual agents or virtual personal assistants are set to help smartphone users make the most of apps without the clutter.

“Instead of finding the app to pay my telecom bill, I would just like to talk to my phone and say: ‘It’s time to pay my telephone bill’ and let the phone figure out what the best app is,” said Willis.

“So the functionality hasn’t changed, but the idea of having dozens of apps sitting on my phone,” he added.

Conversational apps are a growing part of the smartphone future, says a Gartner analyst.

Conversational interfaces with smartphones, then, are forecast to become more widespread in the coming years.

Already, technologies such as Apple’s Siri, Google’s recently launched smart messaging app Allo, and Amazon Echo enable “the idea of just being able to talk to a device and let it figure out”, said Willis.

“These systems run on their own, based on what data they collect, and they also produce results that we trust,” he said.

“In other words, if I tell my device, order me a pizza, it knows what type of pizza I like and which vendor I like,” he explained.

The rise of artificial intelligence is one of the major takeaways from this year’s Gartner Symposium, which has taken place in Cape Town from 26 to 28 September.

This week, Peter Sondergaard, senior vice president of technology research firm Gartner, said that artificial intelligence is one of five key platforms to watch in the digital world.

“Artificial intelligence and machine learning moves at the speed of data, not at the speed of code releases,” Sondergaard said.

“New commercial artificial intelligence systems will proliferate.

“We will employ new people to train these systems, not just to code them,” Sondergaard added.

Southern business leader dies

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Southern business leader diesSouthern business leader diesEn route to work event, the leader of the NCCI in //Karas, Nicolas Links, was killed in a car crash. Community icon Nicolas Links was killed in a car accident 0 //Kharas regional Swapo-party Think Tank chairperson and regional manager of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nicolas Links has died in a car accident on Tuesday morning.

Residents of Keetmanshoop were in shock at the news of the death of 49-year-old Links, a well-known personality in the local community.

Talk of Links prevailed on the streets of the town, with some people recalling the last time they had engaged with him.

A visibly distressed friend of the family, who asked for anonymity, said that a son of Links had died last year – and could not imagine the grief of the Links family.

Namibian police spokesperson for the //Karas Region, Deputy Commissioner Rudolf Isaak confirmed late Tuesday afternoon that Links died in an accident at about 08:25 on the C17 gravel road 3 km outside Koës village.

Links was traveling from Keetmanshoop with two other people to the village to present a public lecture on business matters to local authority councillors at that village.

The driver of the car and another person escaped the accident with minor injuries. They are Jakobus Uirab, 33, and Elton Uiseb, 32.

Both men were taken to the Keetmanshoop State Hospital for treatment.

Isaak said that the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle at a sharp curve, causing the car to overturn.

“The deceased was thrown out of the vehicle and died on the scene,” Isaak said.

Swapo-party Regional Coordinator for //Karas Matheus Mumbala told Nampa that Links’ death was a loss to the party.

“He was our family. His family’s loss is our loss. He was a trusted cadre that we could rely on any time. With his busy schedule, he still served as volunteer assistant administrator in my office. We were robbed of a very reliable person,” he said.

Mumbala offered his condolences to the Links family and said that a memorial service would be held by the party in due course.

NCCI CEO Officer Tarah Shaanika told Nampa that Links’ passing was a huge loss to the NCCI.

“We are very saddened by his passing. He was responsible for the southern regions of Hardap and
//Karas and Links was instrumental in developing new branches for the NCCI in those regions. He was also very involved in training and capacity building of small and medium enterprises,” Shaanika said.

Links also served as an athletics coach in Keetmanshoop in his free time and is remembered for being vocal on economic matters of the south at public meetings.

In recent months, he spoke during a panel discussion held by the University of Namibia Southern Campus on job creation in existing industries of the region for locals.

At another seminar held by the Keetmanshoop Municipality less than two weeks ago, Links expressed his concern at possible job losses of southern people currently employed at the Neckartal Dam project.

“There are about 1 500 people from the south employed there in the construction phase. What will happen to them when the dam is completed? We need to think about the creation of jobs for those people; either at the dam once irrigation operations start or in other private industry,” Links had said.

Beware the Note 7, warns Cran

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Beware the Note 7, warns CranBeware the Note 7, warns Cran 0 Namibian consumers have been warned against purchasing the troubled new Samsung Galaxy Note 7, which has come under fire internationally for a dangerous factory defect.

In an urgent notice issued yesterday, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (Cran) warned that the device was not yet officially launched in Namibia, and urged consumers to steer clear of it when buying from international markets.

“(Cran) herewith gives notice to the general public that the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 has a factory defect in that the affected device can overheat and pose a safety risk to users,” Cran spokesperson Katrina Sikeni said.

“Although the (smartphone) has not yet been officially launched in Namibia, Cran has officially written to 3G Mobile Namibia requesting them to come up with interventions and indicate to the authority how best the device will be withdrawn from the Namibian market, bearing in mind that some consumers may have purchased the device from other markets where the product has been launched.”

Customers who have already purchased the device are urged to contact Cran for assistance.

Nam economy takes a knock

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Nam economy takes a knockNam economy takes a knockAfter showing promising growth in April, May and June last year, Namibia’s economy had its first taste of a recession in the second quarter of 2016. No respite yet for construction, tourism or mining 0 Namibia’s economy dipped into a decline in the second quarter of 2016, with the latest official statistics recording a contraction of 1.2%.

The negative growth was mainly attributed to declines in the values of sectors like construction, hotels and restaurants, and mining and quarrying, contributed to the country’s GDP, the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) said in its second-quarter GDP report.

The construction sector specifically saw a 19.9% decline, as the value of buildings completed during the period fell by 42.7% compared to the same period in 2015, when it grew by 103%.

In addition, government construction, which showed stellar growth of 68.6% in the second quarter of 2015, slowed to a growth of 6.1% in the same period this year.

“The performance in the hotels and restaurants sector, as reflected in number of bed nights and room nights sold, declined by 14% and 14.4% respectively,” NSA Statistician-General Alex Shimuafeni said.

In the case of mining and quarrying, the sector was held back by a 30.8% decline in real value added by the diamond sub-sector, following a decline of 12.1% in the corresponding period in 2015.

Diamond production, Shimuafeni said, declined by 31.5% in the second quarter of 2016, compared to last year.

“In general, most sectors recorded slow growth and declines, except the electricity and water sector, which recorded a strong growth of 25.7% in real value, compared to 13.9% growth recorded in the same quarter of 2015,” the NSA Statistician-General said.

The NSA’s latest report also announced a revised GDP growth figure for the first quarter of this year. That figure was reduced from an initial 3.5% to 3.4%.

Hope for Libya

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Hope for LibyaHope for LibyaWhile France has pledged support for Libya’s UN-backed government, the prime minister-designate has promised inclusivity. Un-backed govt to be more inclusive 0 France’s president says his country will provide its full support to Libya’s UN-backed government in the fight against militants.

“There are still some terrorist groups in Libya which must be hunted down and neutralised,” Francois Hollande said following a meeting on Tuesday in Paris with the head of Libya’s fragile unity government, Fayez Sarraj.

He did not specify how France will help.

Libya was plunged into chaos by the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Muammar Gaddafi, and is now split between rival authorities.

The internationally recognised parliament, based in the east, has rejected the UN-backed government based in the capital, Tripoli.

In the meanwhile, Libyan prime minister-designate Fayez al-Sarraj says military strongman Khalifa Haftar, who controls the north African country’s main oil ports, should be represented in a new, more inclusive government.

“We have no other choice but dialogue and reconciliation,” Sarraj told AFP in an interview in Paris on Tuesday.

“No one wants an escalation or a confrontation between Libyans,” he added, less than two weeks after Haftar’s forces seized control of the strife-ridden country’s “oil crescent”.

The Libyan leader pledged to “quickly” submit “the composition of a new government in which everyone will be represented in a balanced way.”

Sarraj, who met with French President Francois Hollande on Tuesday, said: “We should be united to fight the terrorism that is spreading in Libya.”

His fragile unity government, formed in March following a UN-backed deal in December 2015, is backed by the international community.

Violence

But the Government of National Accord (GNA) has struggled to impose its power across a country riven by violence since the fall of Gaddafi.

Libya has Africa’s largest oil reserves, estimated at 48 billion barrels, but production and exports have slumped dramatically through years of crisis.

The parliament, which sits in the eastern city of Tobruk, is under Haftar’s influence and refuses to recognise the Tripoli-based GNA, which runs day-to-day affairs.

Both governments depend on militias for their authority, and the parallel authority is backed by Haftar, who is in turn backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told a closed parliamentary hearing whose proceedings have just been released that he had asked the two countries to “suggest” to Haftar that he meet with Sarraj.

The parliament rejected the GNA in a confidence vote last month.

Sarraj said he now hoped “the parliament will convene and that it will respond within six months as it did the last time”.

Civil war

He said the GNA’s conciliatory attitude following the offensive by Haftar’s forces to seize the oil terminals showed its determination to avert civil war.

Sarraj said he has met with Haftar and still maintained “indirect contacts” with him in order to “unify the military institution and the security forces”.

France was forced to admit that it has provided military assistance to Haftar after three French troops were killed in Libya during an intelligence-gathering mission in July.

Sarraj said French authorities promised to inform the GNA in future of “any security coordination” with Haftar’s forces.

Shimon Peres dies

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Shimon Peres diesShimon Peres dies 0 Israeli ex-president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres died on Wednesday, his personal doctor told AFP, some two weeks after suffering a major stroke.

The 93-year-old died in his sleep, Rafi Walden, who is also Peres''s son-in-law, told AFP.

He died surrounded by family members, a source close to Peres told AFP.

Peres had been in hospital near Tel Aviv since 13 September, when he was admitted feeling unwell after suffering internal bleeding.

Founding father

Israel has been on edge over the health of its last remaining founding father, who had been under sedation and respiratory support in intensive care.

Peres held nearly every major office in the country, serving twice as prime minister and also as president, a mostly ceremonial role, from 2007 to 2014.

He won the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for his role in negotiating the Oslo Accords, which envisioned an independent Palestinian state.

The former hawk turned dove was widely respected both in Israel and abroad.

After suffering the stroke, he received an outpouring of support from across the world, including from Pope Francis, US President Barack Obama, the Clinton family, Donald Trump, Britain''s ex-premier Tony Blair and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called him "tireless in seeking peace between Israelis and Palestinians".

Previous heart trouble

There had been signs of improvement last week.

On 18 September, Peres''s office said doctors planned to gradually reduce his sedation and respiratory support to judge his response.

His personal physician and son-in-law Rafi Walden had said at the time that Peres had seen "very slow, moderate improvement".

But on Tuesday, a source close to Peres said his condition had taken a downturn and he was "fighting for his life". Family members arrived at the hospital.

In January, Peres was hospitalised twice because of heart trouble.

In the first case, the hospital said he had suffered a "mild cardiac event" and underwent catheterisation to widen an artery.

He was rushed to hospital a second time just days later with chest pains and an irregular heartbeat.

Active schedule

Peres had sought to maintain an active schedule despite his age, particularly through events related to his Peres Centre for Peace.

When leaving hospital on 19 January, Peres said he was keen to get back to work.

"I''m so happy to return to work, that was the whole purpose of this operation," he said.

In March, he met British supermodel Naomi Campbell at his Peres Centre for Peace during an event linked to International Women''s Day. On the same day, he met visiting US Vice President Joe Biden.

Born in Poland in 1923, Peres emigrated to what was then British-mandated Palestine when he was 11.

He joined the Zionist struggle and met David Ben-Gurion, who would become his mentor and Israel''s first prime minister.

Peres became director general of the nascent defence ministry at just 29 years old.

Beyond his accomplishments in the public eye, he was also seen as a driving force in the development of Israel''s undeclared nuclear programme.

Peres once confided that the secret to his longevity was daily exercise, eating little and drinking one or two glasses of good wine.

NAMPA/AFP

el chapo

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el chapoel chapo 0 HOPE: A young woman who is a member of the "Psalm 100" evangelical church wears a T-shirt telling drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman that Jesus Christ is his hope, outside of the Cefereso No. 9 prison where he is serving time in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Tragic, senseless and heart-breaking

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Tragic, senseless and heart-breakingTragic, senseless and heart-breaking 0 It is has been a sad start to the new week following reports on Monday that a mother allegedly suffocated her toddler daughter in a bizarre case of infanticide that has not only shocked the coastal community, but the entire country. This incident happened on the eve of the Day of the Namibian Child – a day dedicated to celebrating the lives and plight of the children of our country. According to the police, the 31-year-old woman reportedly tried to commit suicide after murdering her daughter and sent an SMS to the father of the child stating that she has killed his daughter. Even more shocking if the fact that she reportedly tried to set the car alight with the child’s body in it, until the police and members of the Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch intervened. Many Namibians have been left appalled by the behaviour of this woman, who simply can’t fathom the torment poor little Ava Owoses endured at the hands of someone who is supposed to protect her. Shocking stories about violence and aggression are not something new in this country. But the manner in which this innocent soul was taken away from us is tragic, senseless and heart-breaking. Words cannot describe the pain and the anguish the family is going through following this horrific event. The killing of little Ava is once again a reminder that as a nation we have failed to adopt fundamental principles that all citizens should uphold for the preservation of morals. It is a disturbing phenomenon that must be nipped in the bud. One life taken is a life too many. My and your outrage at the suspected killer won’t bring little Ava back to life. That sadly, is the painful truth. We simply cannot live in society where innocent children bear the brunt of senseless violence. We can no longer afford to put a Namibian child’s future in the balance. The wellbeing of our children must come first at all times.

Shot of the day

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Shot of the dayShot of the day 0 HOPE: A young woman who is a member of the "Psalm 100" evangelical church wears a T-shirt telling drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman that Jesus Christ is his hope, outside of the Cefereso No. 9 prison where he is serving time in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Tourism resilient despite challenges

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Tourism resilient despite challengesTourism resilient despite challenges 0 Although tourism is one of the most resilient industries in the country at the moment, it does not mean that the sector does not face many diverse challenges.

Speaking on the commemoration of World Tourism Day yesterday several stakeholders in the industry expressed their views on the challenges and opportunities that the sector faces. The theme for the day was ‘Tourism for All - Promoting Universal Accessibility’.

Some of the major challenges raised were with regard to the demand for bed occupancy, road infrastructure and service delivery in Namibia.

The director of tourism and gaming in the tourism ministry, Sem Shikongo, said tourism is one of the pillars of economic growth and one of the few industries that contribute directly to poverty alleviation and economic development in rural areas.

He said while the country is facing uncertainty due the prolonged drought and strict trade requirements in the agricultural sector, tourism remains resilient and perhaps even immune to major setbacks.

“Visitors are ever increasing and today we boast with 1.5 million total foreign arrivals of which 1.3 million are tourists. This shows we are doing something right even though there is still room for improvement.”

According to Shikongo domestic tourism is still a challenge for Namibia and more should be done to draw local and regional tourists.

“Our people simply do not travel and I do not think it is due to affordability but smaller aspects that are not appealing or conducive to us.”

He said international tourists make up the majority of the peak tourism season and that leaves a prolonged low season to deal with.

He said only 4% of the total beds in Namibia are in the rural areas, and that includes conservancies. It was noted that with an increasing number of travellers visiting rural areas there is also a larger demand for beds in these areas and therefore this must be addressed.

“As we increase the number of tourists to the country there are more pressure on our roads and more demand on our beds,” said Shikongo.

He also pointed out that tourism establishments, especially in the rural areas, are not disability friendly and should be made more accessible for everybody.

The chairperson of the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations (Fenata), Bernd Schneider, said Namibia has become more accessible to travellers through air links and bilateral agreements on visa requirements.

“Namibia is going in the right direction to make it easier for people to visit.”

But Schneider pointed out that there are infrastructural challenges that Namibia should address, especially with regard to tourism routes that need to be upgraded.

Schneider also brought up the challenges that are being experienced with bed occupancy in Namibia and said the demands of tourists need to be investigated, especially at upper-income and middle-income establishments.

According to him service in the sector is another challenge and training is necessary in the hospitality industry, especially in the rural areas. Training facilities and funding are necessary in this regard.

“Tourism in Namibia has the potential to be one of the most sustainable ways to alleviate poverty but we have to manage it properly,” he said. “It is the ticket to a better life for all Namibians.”

Rebekka Amadhila of the Namibian Tourism Board spoke about the importance of digital and social marketing and said about 80% of travellers now make use of online booking.

She said there is a perception that it is not affordable for Namibians to travel within the country and therefore a campaign promoting domestic tourism was started.

Currently 40% of beds are occupied by Namibians. She encouraged tourism establishments to start with digital marketing, saying that traditional marketing is dying out and that online marketing is affordable and can reach a large audience. “To ignore this fast-growing market is to risk extinction,” she warned.

SSC not reneging on mandate - Mungunda

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SSC not reneging on mandate - MungundaSSC not reneging on mandate - MungundaThe Social Security Commission says there is nothing untoward about its contract or donation. The Social Security Commission says there is nothing untoward about its contract or donation. 0 The executive officer of the Social Security Commission (SSC), Milka Mungunda, has denied reports that there is something sinister about its investor consulting contract with Multi-Wealth Management.

An earlier report in New Era (‘Questions raised over SSC multi-million tender award’, 5 August) raised red flags over the fact that Multi-Wealth Management, a company owned by Manfred Zamuee and Bryan Hoveka, was awarded the tender in the first place because it had not made it to the shortlist.

Eyebrows were also raised about the fact that the current board chairperson of the SSC, Johannes !Gawaxab, oversaw the tender award to Zamuee and Hoveka, who are both former employees of Old Mutual Namibia. !Gawanab is the former chief executive officer of Old Mutual Africa.

Other questions were why the company was allowed to charge an annual investment consulting fee based on the SSC’s assets in addition to its basic annual consulting fee, and why this company, registered as a long-term insurance broker, was to provide investment advice to the parastatal.

Mungunda surmised that the New Era article was based on one of the initial contracts drawn up between the SSC and Multi-Wealth Management before she came on board as the parastatal’s chief executive.

This document, which must have been drawn up before June since it stipulated that it would come into effect on 2 June, has since been replaced by a new contract with new terms and conditions. The new contract was signed on 11 July, days after Mungunda joined the SSC.

Mungunda said according to the signed and final agreement Multi-Wealth Management is - among the 19 services to be rendered as stipulated in the agreement - to provide investment advice, assist with risk management, investment monitoring services and to advice on non-discretionary services.

Non-discretionary services, she explained, are services that “can come up as time goes on”, which are not specifically indicated in the contract agreement.

She did acknowledge that an internal management committee had formerly shortlisted companies that had applied to provide investment consulting services and had then made recommendations to the SSC board.

This time around, under the chairmanship of !Gawaxab, the SSC board decided to take on this role by establishing a board sub-committee which shortlisted and recommended the appointment of the service provider.

Mungunda stressed that Multi-Wealth Management did not tender to assist the SSC in establishing the proposed National Pension Fund, which the parastatal was mandated to do since its inception in the early 1990s.

There is now new impetus and haste to establish this pension plan, which is to be a vehicle for many people who don’t belong to pension funds, as it is one of the priorities of the Harambee Prosperity
Plan.

Mungunda hopes that it will be in operation by the middle of next year. To set the ball rolling an implementation team of five experts was to sign contracts with the SSC yesterday.

New Contract

Although Mungunda would not divulge the new terms and conditions of the final contract with Multi-Wealth Management, she flatly denied that the company would be paid anything other than a fixed annual consulting fee.

“I can give you the assurance that it is not more than N$500 000 [per year] and if they have to do anything extra we have to sit down and come to an agreement,” said Mungunda.

According to the first contract Multi-Wealth Management was to be paid a basic annual fee of N$500 000, as well as a further implemented investment consulting fee paid at an annual rate of 0.55% of the market value of the SSC’s assets as at the end of each month.

Mungunda said by contracting out investment consulting services the SSC was not reneging on one of its principal functions, which is to collect and invest contributions from its clients, which includes every employer and employee of

Gang rapists convicted

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Gang rapists convictedGang rapists convicted 0 The circumstances leading to a victim being raped are very hostile to the sanctity of her femininity and are often forgotten or overlooked due to the stigma and permanent scars that are attached to a rape victim within the society where the incident took place.

These sentiments were expressed by Windhoek High Court Judge Alfred Siboleka during the trial of Victum Gomeb, Elvis Gau-Goab and Harry Patric Bowe accused of gang raping a 17 year old in 2010 near the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN) in Khorixas.

Siboleka said, even worse is when the victim’s assailants were more than one, as in this case, he added.

The trio was cumulatively found guilty of nine counts of rape and the court found each one of them guilty of three counts of rape.

Judge Alfred Siboleka in his judgement said the court was satisfied that the prosecution proved all the allegations it preferred against the three accused.

At the time the trio committed the crime, the accused were all 17 years old. They took turns to rape the complainant on the night of 13 May 2010.

During earlier proceedings, the victim testified that she was dragged from a drinking and dancing spot to the scene where she was raped. She alleged that the accused helped each other to hold her down and took turns to rape her repeatedly.

Siboleka emphasised that when the state has established a prima facie case, the court may unless the accused’s silence is reasonably explicable on other grounds, in appropriate circumstances conclude that the prima facie evidence has become conclusive of his guilt.

He further said there was no dispute that both the accused and the complainant were under the influence of alcohol when the incident took place.

“The detailing circumstances leading to the victim being raped are in themselves very hostile to the sanctity of her femininity,” the judge said.

According to him, the serious aftereffects attached to the rape makes the victim feel very uncomfortable to tell other people what exactly happened to her.

“There is fear, in my view, being seen as a person who went out looking for it, as a person of loose morals, a drunkard or even a prostitute,” Siboleka explained. He postponed the case to 14 October for sentencing. The three accused were represented by Monty Karuaihe, Milton Engelbrecht and Johan van Vuuren.

Farmers can prepare for rain

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Farmers can prepare for rainFarmers can prepare for rain 0 The early warning bulletin of the SADC region for the 2016/ 2017 rainy season urges farmers to make use of the available information to maximise production.

The bulletin was released yesterday by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.

Many countries in the region are experiencing a devastating drought associated with the 2015/16 El Nino event.

It is predicted that the 2016/17 outlook will be the opposite, with most parts of the SADC region expected to receive normal to above-normal rainfall.

Northern Namibia can expect normal to above-normal rainfall from October to December, while the southern parts can expect normal to below-normal rainfall during that period.

From December to February the entire country can expect normal to above-normal rainfall.

According to the report the 2016/17 rainfall outlook represents a good opportunity for the agriculture sector to maximise agricultural production. This is particularly the case for areas that normally receive good rainfall.

Crop farmers can utilise the forecast by committing a larger portion of their cropland to medium- to late-maturing, high-performance varieties.

However the report urges that some percentage of cropland should be planted with early-maturing and drought-tolerant crops and varieties in case the expected good rains do not materialise.

Crop diversification, especially planting of some drought-tolerant crops in relevant areas, as well as nutrition-rich crops, is encouraged.

Water reservoirs should be rehabilitated in order to improve and maximise irrigation farming.

Likewise, use of harvesting technologies should be intensified in order to fully utilise the rains and guard against negative impacts of dry spells, which can still occur even in a normal to above-normal rainy season.

Pensioner’s N$100 note not fake

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Pensioner’s N$100 note not fakePensioner’s N$100 note not fake 0 The Bank of Namibia (BoN) says a suspected false N$100 note that made its way into the pension payout of Annelise van der Merwe at Maltahöhe in August was not counterfeit but an old banknote issued in 1993.

After an article on the suspect banknote was published, the BoN contacted Van der Merwe’s family to inspect the note.

The central bank confirmed that it is a genuine note, whose security features differ from the new generation of N$100 banknotes.

The BoN did not say how such an old banknote remained in circulation.

The BoN said the signature on the old banknote is that of Swedish national E. Karlsson, who was the bank’s governor from September 1991 to April 1993.

The bank stressed that people who suspect that they have received counterfeit banknotes should immediately report it to the police or to the bank.

Namibian Sun published an article in which Van der Merwe’s family claimed that a counterfeit N$100 banknote had been found in her pension payout received at the Maltahöhe post office. A cashier at Shoprite-Checkers in Windhoek’s Maerua Mall spotted the suspicious-looking note when Van der Merwe offered it as payment.

NamPost and Standard Bank at Mariental had vehemently denied ever having distributed counterfeit notes in monthly pension payouts.

The postmaster at Maltahöhe, Claire Januarie, did admit that staff at the post office previously had come across false N$200 notes among pension monies, which she said they had refunded to the affected pensioners.

Information: No equal access

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Information: No equal accessInformation: No equal accessAs the world yesterday celebrated universal access to information, Namibia’s minister of information and communication technology pleaded for rural areas to be linked to the global superhighway. ICT minister focuses on infrastructure 0 At the first global celebration of universal access to information held yesterday, information minister Tjekero Tweya urged Namibians to improve access to rural and poor communities who remain excluded.

“When we celebrate this day of universal access to information I want us to think of those that are deliberately locked out by the system, which we do not want to undo because of selfishness. Let’s therefore join hands, public and private sector, to ensure that universal access to information for all Namibians as a basic human right is realised,” he said.

The minister, citing cellphone, TV and radio access statistics, said many Namibians continue to live “in darkness” with little or no access to radio, mobile telephones or television.

“They are unemployed. They live in rural areas, they are poor. They remain excluded deliberately from accessing basic information that can improve their lives,” he said at an event marking the first global day for universal access to information.

He urged all concerned citizens to help find ways to improve access to information, adding that it appears that people who are not “economically viable … remain locked out. That is a sad reality.”

Several speakers underlined the fact that free access to information enables people to make decisions that affect their lives and empowers them to participate in democracy.

Tweya urged the private and public sectors to help improve communications infrastructure so that all people can have access to basic information.

He warned that if the youth don’t have “information to stimulate them, they will remain on the streets of hopelessness”.

He said the government’s commitment to ensuring that people have access to information is critical as it allows citizens to “make meaningful decisions and choices about their lives and livelihoods.”

He assured the audience that the Access to Information Bill is on target to be finalised by June 2017.

The legislation will compel public and private institutions to make available information to the public “in order to enhance service delivery, promote transparency, improve accountability, fight corruption and improve the socio-economic wellbeing of our people”, Tweya said.

The minister warned that the right to information comes with the responsibility to protect the peace and stability in Namibia.

While he described the news media as “an undeniable partner in enhancing democracy and promoting the socio-economic well-being of our people” he urged journalists to remain factual and responsible.

Mutorwa wants no more outbursts

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Mutorwa wants no more outburstsMutorwa wants no more outburstsThe agriculture minister has ordered the veterinary service and Meatco to cooperate in resolving suspicions of growth hormone at the Okapuka feedlot in the interest of the meat industry. Urgent solution to feedlot closure needed 0 The minister of agriculture, water and forestry, John Mutorwa, has directed everyone involved in the closure of Meatco’s Okapuka feedlot to refrain from emotional outbursts and to urgently seek a solution.

The Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the ministry on 2 September closed down the feedlot for at least eight months after zeranol was detected in urine samples taken at the feedlot on 4 April.

Meatco was informed that DVS closed the feedlot because it is committing a violation/repeat infringement due to zeranol being detected in samples twice within a period of 12 months.

Zeranol is used in some countries to fatten cattle. It is a known carcinogen and has been associated with infertility and breast cancer in people. Zeranol is banned in the European Union and countries must ensure that meat exported the EU does not contain any trace of it.

In an inter-office memorandum that was sent to Meatco’s board of directors, its chief executive officer and the DVS, Mutorwa directed all those involved to urgently solve the problem in the interest of Namibia’s beef industry.

“I implore you all to be calm and coolheaded when dealing with the matter. Only fact and the truth will provide mutually acceptable solutions and not emotional outbursts,” he said.

The minister said he had received written reports from both Meatco and DVS about the temporary closure of the feedlot. The DVS report was received on 20 September at 16:45 while Meatco’s report was received at 18:17 the same day.

Mutorwa said he directed the parties to meet on 21 September and deal with the issue rationally, unemotionally and according to the applicable and relevant policies and laws.

He said it was stressed during these discussions that the interests of Namibia’s meat industry, both nationally and internationally, must be the ultimate objective.

“The problem is not yet solved. The problem cannot and will not be solved through press conferences, statements alone. The time has come to find solutions to the problem urgently, but on the basis of verifiable and tested scientific results and objective empirical truth by preferably an independent and impartial and renowned scientist that are mutually agreed to by the two parties.”

Mutorwa said at a press conference in Oshakati yesterday that the two parties should find an independent scientist to determine the extent of the problem and advise on the source of the problem and the way forward.

The cost of the Okapuka feedlot closure to Meatco and the producer will amount to approximately N$3.5 million per week due to the prolonged standing days and decreased turnover of cattle.

With an assumed closure of eight months, the total losses are estimated at N$143 million. It is also expected that during that time at least 500 jobs will be lost. The closure will also have a detrimental impact on overseas markets which Namibia will be unable to supply.

Meatco has in the meantime directed all questions about the closure to the acting chairperson of the board, Ronald Kubas, who could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Policewoman accused of terminating pregnancy

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Policewoman accused of terminating pregnancyPolicewoman accused of terminating pregnancy 0 Notes found in a refuse bag containing a foetus led to the arrest of a 28-year-old Ongwediva policewoman, who is now facing a charge of concealment of birth.

The constable, who works at the Oshakati police station, is receiving treatment in the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital and is expected to appear before the Oshakati Magistrate’s Court once she is discharged.

She is accused of terminating a seven-month pregnancy using illegal substances at a family house in Ongwediva on Monday.

The foetus was discovered at the Ongwediva dumpsite by municipal officials, who notified the police.

Police Commissioner Rauha Amwele confirmed to Namibian Sun that the woman is a member of the Namibian Police.

She said the woman was arrested when police discovered a note with contact details in the rubbish bag containing the foetus.

“When police contacted the number, it was discovered that it was for the house owner where the [alleged] abortion was committed. The house owner cooperated with the police, until the culprit was arrested. She told us that she used pills that she obtained from Windhoek,” Awele said.

“We will not rest until the source of abortion pills has been established,” she said.

Hearts are broken

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Hearts are brokenHearts are brokenThere has been an outpouring of grief over the senseless killing of three-year-old Ava Owoses, allegedly at the hands of her mother. Community reels at the loss of little Ava 0 The death of Ava Owoses has left devastated families and loved ones as well as many unanswered questions.

Ava, who was due to celebrate her third birthday yesterday, had her life cut short after her mother, Zenobia Seas,31, allegedly used a cloth to suffocate her on Monday.

It is alleged that she smothered the child in her car on the road to Terrace Bay, some 112km north of Henties Bay. Afterwards, she allegedly contacted the child’s father and told him of her death. She then allegedly stacked firewood under her vehicle in a bid to commit suicide. She was found by the police before she could light a fire.

Zenobia’s father, Dirk Seas, told Namibian Sun yesterday that it was not the first time that Zenobia had attempted suicide.

He said she had tried to kill herself after Ava’s birth. She was apparently struggling to come to terms with the split from her boyfriend, Ava’s father.

‘Threats’

“Zenobia discovered that the father of her child was involved in a relationship with another woman after Ava was born. “She could not handle this and left him. Ever since then, the couple started threatening her and abusing her emotionally. We have provided evidence of this to the police,” Seas claimed.

According to Seas, things got worse when Zenobia discovered that her ex-boyfriend’s pregnant girlfriend had decided to have a caesarean section on the same day Ava was born.

“She became very quiet and we learned on Monday that something was not right. She could not handle the situation and therefore decided to put an end to everything,” he added.

Probe

Detective Chief Inspector Erastus Iikuyu said the information given by Seas was news to him and would have to be verified.

“This is news for me. I do not have a clue about it and cannot comment at this point in time. We are conducting the investigation in order to get to the bottom of the issue and to establish what drove her to commit such an action.”

Zenobia, who lives in Swakopmund, was arrested and charged with murder.

Petrus Derks, a police reservist and member of the Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch, found Zenobia and her daughter in her car at a fishing spot called Blare. Footprints around the car indicated that the child was still alive when they reached the spot.

“Zenobia was asleep in the vehicle, which was stuck in the sand. I knocked on the window and she woke up. She wanted to know what I was doing. I told her I was there to pull the vehicle out of the sand. When she opened the door I discovered her lifeless daughter,” Derks said.

Mother jumps from car, killing baby

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Mother jumps from car, killing babyMother jumps from car, killing baby 0 The dust around the fatal fall of a six-week-old baby from a moving car on the main road between Stampriet and Aranos refuses to settle.

On 8 September, roughly four kilometres from Stampriet, Stephny Swartbooi, 26, jumped from a moving car with her six-week-old baby. The child died and Swartbooi suffered extensive abrasions.

While the police at Stampriet confirmed that a case of culpable homicide was opened against Swartbooi, her version of events tells a different story.

Swartbooi told Namibian Sun that she was looking for a lift from Stampriet to Aranos. According to her a car with two women stopped and offered her a ride.

“They drove for a while and after a short discussion between the two women, the older one took out a container and sprayed something in the car,” she said.

“My skin began to burn and I was feeling confused. I asked them to stop but they did not listen to me so I jumped out of the car with my child. Before I jumped out of the moving vehicle I screamed ‘I am going to die today’,” she said.

After the fall, she said the car stopped and turned around.

“I felt pain, and was weak and confused. The two women did not climb out of the car to help me,” she said.

A government car that was apparently behind them on the road and according to Swartbooi saw what happened, stopped and phoned the police.
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