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NAU a kondema omaponokelo gaanafaalama

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NAU a kondema omaponokelo gaanafaalamaNAU a kondema omaponokelo gaanafaalama Ehangano lyoNamibia Agricultural Union (NAU) olya kondema nomuthindo omaponokelo ngoka taga ningilwa aanafaalama unene mboka aakokele na itaya vulu okwiigamena.

Omanyano ngoka oga landula eponokelo lya ningilwa omukokele omunaafalama momudhingoloko gwaBlumfelde .

Omunamimvo 79, Hendrina Osborn, okwa ponokelwa koongangala ne oshiwike sha piti. Okwa lopotwa kutya omukokele ngoka okwa mangelwa moshipundi nongodhi na okwa hwikwa noonayilona komaako nominwe dhokoompadhi na okwa dhengwa noongonyo moshipala. Aafekelwa oya tulwa miipandeko. NAU okwa popi kutya aakokele mboka itaya vulu okwiigamena oyo ya ninga iihakanwa yoongangala , na otaya pula egandjo lyomageelo ga yaga komuntu koongangala dhoka nokutindilwa omboloha. NAU okwa pandula woo ongundu yekandeko lyiimbuluma momudhingoloko gwa Nina, Leonardville na Blumfelde, oshowo opolisi sho ya li ya kugu onkugo meendelelo shoka sheetitha etulo miipandeko lyaafekelwa.

Uuvu wopamadhilaadhilo wa londo pombanda moNamibia

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Uuvu wopamadhilaadhilo wa londo pombanda moNamibiaUuvu wopamadhilaadhilo wa londo pombanda moNamibia Onkalo yuupyakadhi wopamadhilaadhilo moshilongo unene mOnooli yoshilongo otayi londo pombanda. Dhoka oohapu dhamushanga mUuministeli wUundjolowele, Andreas Mwoombola.

Mwoombola okwa popi ngaaka poshigongiilonga kombinga yuupyakadhi wopamadhilaadhilo shoka shili oshitopolwa shedhimbuluko lyOshiwike shUundjolowele woPamadhilaadhilo.

Nuumvo oshiwike shoka otashi dhimbulukiwa kohi yoshipalanyolo ‘Policy on Mental Health in the Workplace’.

“Mo-2015, Uuministeli wUundjolowele owa lopota kutya okwa dhidhilikwa iipotha yuupyakadhi wopamadhilaadhilo ya thika po-9 000 moshilongo ashihe, Mwoombola ta ti.

Okwa popi kutya onkalo ndjoka otayi nayipalekwa konkalo kutya aakwashigwana otaya gandja aluhe ombedhi kuupyakadhi mboka kutya otawu etithwa kuulodhi. Okwa pula aanambelewa yoonzo dhopauntu opo ya kale taya tala konkalo ndjoka miilonga.

Okwa gandja woo ekunkililo kombinga yegandjo lyomageelo kaaniilonga pwaahena epulakeno neuveko lyoonkalamwenyo dhawo dhopaumwene. “Otashi vulika pe na omatompelo taga vulu okuuvikako kutya omolwashike aaniilonga yontumba haye ya kiilonga ya lata. Itandi ti aanambelewa yoonzo dhopauntu naya gamene aaniilonga ihe oya pumbwa okuya muule woshinima nokugandja omayele omawanawa koomenindjela mokukandula po omaupyakadhi gomiilonga.”

Mo-2001 olopota tayi ithanwa, Health Information System Report ndjoka ya pitithwa kuuministeli oya holola kutya aantu ya thika- 42 124 oya mono epango omolwa omaupyakadhi ngoka.

Aanona yeli pokati ko 3 600 no 7 200 yoomvula dhili kohi yo-15 oya pangwa omolwa omaupyakadhi ngoka, pauyelele mboka wa gandjwa. Olopota inayi tula miilonga omaupyakadhi gopamadhilaadhilo ngoka taga kwatakanithwa nomukithi gwoAids, ihe okwa ndhindhilikwa kutya omaupyakadhi gopamadhilaadhilo oga londa mokati kaantu taya lumbu nombuto yoHIV.

Amupanda nayakwawo yatatu natango inaya shunwa miilonga

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Amupanda nayakwawo yatatu natango inaya shunwa miilongaAmupanda nayakwawo yatatu natango inaya shunwa miilongaOkwa ningwa omapulaapulo okuza meni nopondje yEwawa lyAanyasha mOngundu yoSwapo, opo ku shunwe miilonga aanyasha yane mboka ya li ya tidhwa mongundu yoSwapo, opo ya kuthe po iinakugwanithwa yawo mbyoka ya kala nayo omanga inaya tidhwa. Swapo ina tokola natango eshuno miilonga lyaanyasha mboka Aanyasha mboka oyo Elijah Ngurare, George Kambala, Job Amupanda na Dimbulukeni Nauyoma mboka ya tidhwa mongundu omvula ya piti,ihe nuumvo oya sindana po oshipotha shompangu, ndjoka ya gandja etokolo opo ya shunwe mongundu molwaashoka etidho lyawo ka lya li paveta.

Ngurare okwa li amushanga gwewawa, omanga Amupanda a kala omupopiliko gwoSPYL oshowo amushanga gwomauyelele okutameka o-2012.

Nauyoma okwa kala amushanga gwoshikandjohogololo shaTobias Hainyeko, omanga Kambala a kala amushanga gwoshikandjohogololo shaSamora Machel.

Nonando ompangu oya gandja elombwelo opo li shune mongundu oonakutidhwa mboka, inayi gandja elombwelo opo ya shunwe pomahala gawo giilonga mpoka.

Omupopiliko gwOngundu yoSwapo, Helmut Angula okwa popi kutya ke na uuyelele ngele ongundu oya ninga etokolo kombinga yeshuno miilonga lyaanyasha mboka pomahala gawo ngoka ya kala nae omanga inaya tidhwa.

Lyopokati mpoka amushanga gwomauyelele moKavango East, Peter Kashumali okwa popi momukanda gwiikundaneki ngoka a pititha kutya konima nkene mboka ya ne ya kuthwa miilonga ewawa ndyoka olya kala nuupyakadhi wokugwanithwa po iilonga yawo ngaashi nale.

Oshilyo shelelo lyoSPYL mOshitopolwa shErongo, Reinhold Shitwikineni okwa popi kutya okwa uvu omukanda gwiikundaneki ngoka gwa pitithwa moKavango East na ota tsu kumwe nago, na okwa pula elelo lyoSwapo li shune miilonga aanyasha mboka.

Namibian Sun okwa kambadhala okuya moonkundathana naanyasha mboka ya tidhwa opo ya gandje omaiyuvo gawo, konima nkene oshipotha shompangu sha hulu.

Sho oshifokundaneki sha popi naNgurare, okwa popi kutya ye okwiitula miilonga ye onga omunambelewa gwoQuality Assurance Coordinator moshiputudhilo shoUniversity of Namibia.

Amupanda, Nauyoma naKambala mboka ya tseyika onga aakomeho yoAffirmative Reposition (AR) oya popi kutya oyi itula mo mokukwashilipalekwa kutya okwa nkondopekwa aanyasha poondondo dha yooloka okupitila miinyangadhalwa ya yooloka.

Kakele kiinyangadhalwa yoAR, Amupanda okuli woo deputy dean gwOshiondo shEliko moUniversity of Namibia.

Nauyoma ngoka a ti kutya AR oyo omboloto ye yakehe esiku okwa popi kutya okwiitula mo mokukondjela emanguluko lyuyuuki waanyasha moshilongo.

Nauyoma okuli woo amushanga-ndjai gwoNamibia National Students Organisation (Nanso).

Kambala ngoka e li omwiilongi moshiputudhilo sho Stellenbosch University okwa popi kutya okwiipyakidhilaa manga neilongo lye ihe okwiitulamo mokukondjela onkalamwenyo ombwaanawa yaanyasha yaNamibia.

Less gobbledygook, more Dr Seuss for UK bank

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Less gobbledygook, more Dr Seuss for UK bankLess gobbledygook, more Dr Seuss for UK bank Bank of England speeches and reports from the financial industry are too complicated to be understood by a broad audience, according to a study of their reading-grade level.

No surprise there, says anyone who’s had to wade through any of them. Even the BOE’s chief economist, Andy Haldane, has remarked there’s too much complexity in the central bank’s communications, admitting this year that his speeches are “likely to be impenetrable to most”. In a BOE staff blog published on Tuesday, Jonathan Fullwood in the institution’s Advanced Analytics Division — who cites the simplicity of Dr Seuss’s ‘The Cat in the Hat’ — explains the reason: “Those writing in the financial industry tend to use long words. They put those long words in long sentences. And those long sentences in long paragraphs.”

Working on the assumption that a grade 8 or 9 reading level based on Flesch-Kincaid tests is a “good starting point” for a wide audience, he points out that BOE communications are at grade 14 and private-sector bank reports around 12. In response to the argument that more complex language is needed to keep things interesting and avoid dumbing down technical issues, Fullwood turns to the literary greats. Most of the writings of Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Emily Bronte and F Scott Fitzgerald are no higher than level 8.

Both the BOE and broader financial industry “must try harder if claims of accessibility are to be meaningful,” he said. “The good news is that, in my experience, improvements in readability could be made with relatively little effort.” Or as Dr Seuss might have put it: “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

Tourism revenue pours into Thailand

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Tourism revenue pours into ThailandTourism revenue pours into ThailandTourists are gathering in Thailand’s Phuket Island to witness locals pay homage to the nine emperor gods of Taoist legend. As vegetarian festival kicks into swing Thailand’s vegetarian festival originated in its southernmost province Phuket is expected to generate 3.4 billion baht (N$1.4 billion) in tourism revenue for the country, local media reported Wednesday quoting statistics from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

The festival kicked off on 1 October on Thailand’s best famous holiday destination Phuket Island, with locals observing nine days of purification in homage to the gods.

According to TAT, thousands of Thais and foreigners, mostly Chinese, Singaporeans and Malaysian, turned out to witness celebrations in Phuket, where the festival first spread in Thailand, making Phuket hotel occupancies increase 72% on average.

The festival is famous for the procession of self-mutilated devotees. The devotees, mostly young men known as spirit mediums, run over hot coals and pierce their faces with objects namely metal rods, swords, power tools, pistols, bicycle frames before parading through town.

They are believed to become possessed by spirits which compel them to bloody acts. The more pain trials they suffer, the much more religious they are.

The festival emphasises purification. Participants must keep their bodies clean and their mind at peace, embodied by the giving up of meat for nine days and dressing in white.

Increased flight options pay off

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Increased flight options pay offIncreased flight options pay offAir Namibia’s decision to increase flight frequencies and capacity on its local routes has had the desired effect, the airline says. As Air Namibia promotes air travel Air Namibia says its 20% reduction of local airfare at the beginning of September was part of its strategy to attract more local travellers and get Namibians to embrace air travel.

Air Namibia spokesman Paul Nakawa says the national airline is committed to making air travel more affordable.

“Air transport is a modern way of travelling, as it is safe and faster, and improves the productivity of the nation.

A trip that takes you between nine and eleven hours on the road only takes 45 minutes by air. This means you reach your destination faster and fresher, which then helps you to be productive.”

He says Air Namibia regards the Harambee Prosperity Plan as a guiding tool for operations because it seeks to ensure that all Namibians have access to national infrastructure and facilities.

By reducing the cost of local flights, the airline is also reducing pressure on the roads, which are notorious for accidents that claim the lives of many Namibians and tourists.

Nakawa says the upgrading of airport around the country will mean increased flights and the ability to use bigger planes on local routes.

Meanwhile, Namibia Airports Company (NAC) spokesperson Dan Kamati says the NAC has improved several airports, including the Ondangwa Airport whose runway upgrade was completed in August, while the taxiway and apron are being upgraded now.

The NAC has also upgraded the Walvis Bay Airport runway and built passenger terminals at Ondangwa and Walvis Bay.

The NAC recently commissioned a new fire and rescue station at Windhoek’s Eros Airport to improve the capability of emergency services.

The runway of the Katima Mulilo Airport is also being upgraded.

“The critical role that airports play in national development cannot be over-emphasised,” says Kamati.

“These projects and others demonstrate our commitment to make Namibia an international air transportation hub.”

Kamati said these projects are in line with the fourth National Development Plan, which stressed the importance of infrastructure as the base of economic development.

With more frequent flights and affordable fares, Nakawa says Namibians are already showing more interest in boarding a plane than getting into a car.

“We have more new customers and passengers using our services. We are just encouraging them to book early as this will be even cheaper for them.

There is a phenomenal increase in the number of people flying locally now, compared to a few months ago.”

He said Air Namibia will start promoting the advantages of local flights.

On 22 August, Air Namibia announced that flight frequencies and capacity on some local routes would be increased.

These routes were Windhoek to Ondangwa, and the Windhoek-Rundu-Katima Mulilo route.

Brexit impact assessed

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Brexit impact assessedBrexit impact assessedWith debt, drought and a weak economic cycle considered, Namibia last week placed the effects of Britain’s divorce from the EU under the microscope. Schlettwein asserts economy will rebound Finance Minister Calle Schlettwein will deliver his mid-term review of the country’s fiscal position, and government’s intended interventions, during the last week of October.

Speaking to members of the National Assembly last week on the plight of the world’s beleaguered economies, Schlettwein said the government was working with the financial sector to fast-track an effective action plan.

Addressing the much-publicised downward revision of Namibia’s projected GDP for 2016 to 4.3%, and a recent critical assessment of its ability to honour its debts, Schlettwein on Thursday also focused attention on one of the country’s key trading partners, Britain, deciding to leave the European Union (EU).

“As we are all aware, on 23 June 2016, the United Kingdom voted to exit from the EU. The impact of the envisaged exit, which is anticipated to materialise in two years’ time, has wider ramifications for the UK, the EU and the global economy,” Schlettwein told his fellow MPs.

‘Brexit’, he said, would affect Namibia in four main ways, ranging from trade to exchange rate volatility, equity price drops and investor sentiment.

In terms of trade, he said, about two thirds of Namibia’s exports (mainly beef and fish), valued at about N$800 million, are allocated to the UK market.

“External demand weaknesses, as well as indirect impact through UK trade with South Africa, are expected to weigh on Namibia in the medium term,” the minister said.

As for the exchange rate, he noted that the South African rand appreciated against the British pound by 2.7% directly following the 24 June Brexit decision.

“Appreciation against the pound continued to reach 12%. At the same time, the rand depreciated against the US dollar by 5.4% and 2.4% against the euro, with implications on the competitiveness of exports to the UK, external debt and investment in general.”

Speaking on Brexit’s effect on equity prices, Schlettwein said many large Namibian companies are dual-listed on the Namibia Stock Exchange (NSX), the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) or the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

“The share prices of most Namibian companies with dual listings, as well as banks, will in the foreseeable future continue to be exposed to the relative exchange rate and market volatility.” Finally, he said the Brexit vote has influenced investor sentiments in especially the bond market, where investors have begun to shift their resources to safer and higher-yielding investment-grade assets. “Namibia’s two USD bonds for example have seen increased demand over the first two weeks of the Brexit announcement,” Schlettwein said.

Paratus and Finkenstein Estate devise digital village

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Paratus and Finkenstein Estate devise digital villageParatus and Finkenstein Estate devise digital village Developers of the Finkenstein Manor and Village estate outside Windhoek have entered into agreement with local telecommunications operator Paratus Telecom to provide residents with internet and telecom connectivity.

Situated about 12km east of Windhoek on the main road to Hosea Kutako International Airport, Finkenstein Manor caters for senior citizens, while the Village is aimed at younger people.

“Whilst the estate development is situated outside of Windhoek, so is its reliance on telecommunications,” Paratus Telecom said in a media statement.

“With these two new developments already launched to the public, the developers took a futuristic approach and entered into a partnership with Paratus Telecom… to create the first Namibian digital village,” the company said.

“Residents will be able to enjoy access to triple-play connectivity, which includes voice, video and data solutions. Not only is fibre the catalyst to triple-play service options for the residents, but due to its inherent speed, capacity and reliability, fibre will allow Finkenstein to implement a fully comprehensive access control and security solution, which will include CCTV on the estate – one of the primary objectives envisaged by the developers.”

STAFF REPORTER

Land grab in Indian reservation

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Land grab in Indian reservationLand grab in Indian reservationIn a controversial bill, the American Congress has approved the transfer of 40 500 hectares of Ute land to the government to mine. Ute tribe says 26% of their land will be mined Shaun Chapoose, chairman of the Ute Tribe, is meeting with top officials from the Obama administration this week in an attempt to gain support for blocking what the Utes call a “modern day Indian land grab.”

At issue is HR 5780, the Utah Public Lands Initiative, which would transfer 40 500 hectares from the Ute reservation to the State of Utah.

“I have an obligation as a tribal leader to stand and protect my tribe,” Chapoose said.

The bill, introduced by Utah Congressman Rob Bishop, was rushed through the process, Chapoose charged.

Recent actions on Capitol Hill backed up Chapoose’s assertion.

In a controversial hearing on 14 September, the bill was passed by Republicans over the protests of the Democrats on the committee. The Utes were not allowed to speak during the hearing.

“There sat us, the Ute Tribe, residents of Utah, not allowed to speak,” Chapoose said.

For his part, Bishop takes exception to the tribe’s claim of a “land grab.” He said he found the term “personally offensive”.

Bishop said the tribe refused to respond to his staff for a year as they sought input from the tribe.

Chapoose said that is simply not true.

Bishop’s bill would transfer more than 40 500 hectares acres from the tribe’s 1.8 million hectare reservation to the state.

The plan has been in the planning for four years – with some 1 200 meetings held – but the Ute Indian Tribe had not been part of the discussions. The tribe’s release said it had only learned of the plan in January.

In addition to taking the land, Bishop’s bill would impact the tribe’s sovereignty by creating things like “scenic rivers,” “recreation areas” and a “utility corridor” on the reservation.

The initiative also would include the controversial Bear’s Ears area. But, tribal leaders said, the bill is tilted in favour of mining companies.

With support from the Obama administration and environmental groups Democrats believe HR 5780 faces a difficult road. The Democrats also pointed out that the session of the 114th Congress is swiftly winding down.

In any event, President Barack Obama could blunt much of Bishop’s bill by simply naming Bear’s Ears a national monument.

The US has not made a treaty with a Native American nation since the 1800s, but a proposal for Eastern Utah is bringing back feelings of mistrust from tribes.

The proposal would remove federal protections from 18 million acres of land and could allow them to be turned into oil and gas drilling zones that are exempt from environmental protections, Telesur reported.

Football remains in shambles

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Football remains in shamblesFootball remains in shambles We have always maintained that we are not a football nation and we don’t look like a country that is taking the game seriously. The Brave Warriors’s failure to qualify for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the fact that we couldn’t negotiate our way past round one in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, speaks volumes about our perennial underachiever’s tag. As we write this, other African nations will be involved in competitive matches for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers this weekend and next week. Obviously not all of them have managed a round-two qualification, and like Namibia, many others will go into the two-week hiatus for an international break without kicking a ball unless they have arranged for friendly ties. There have been few and far between friendly matches involving the national team since we won the 2015 Cosafa edition in South Africa. The Brave Warriors have mostly only competed in mandatory tournaments, including this year’s Cosafa Cup that we hosted as well as the 2017 Afcon qualifiers. Journalists are greeted with the usual “there is no money” message when confronting the football bosses about the pathetic situation. Our football woes are further exacerbated by the fact that our top-flight has been delayed by almost two months after MTC decided to end its sponsorship. Our junior team also won the U-17 Cosafa Cup championship after beating South Africa in Mauritius. We haven’t heard of any programme involving these youngsters in ensuring consistency and proper development. Although the Namibia Premier League (NPL) boss Johnny Doeseb hinted that he would make a big announcement regarding the future of the local league, football remains in the doldrums and serious interventions are needed to lift the game out of this financial mess. The financial woes of football and sport in general are well-documented. Our association is broke and the NPL is in disarray. We can ill-afford to continue like this and new leadership is needed on the field.

Shot of the day

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Shot of the dayShot of the day CHAOS: The flash of an exploding stunt grenade is seen while a University of Witwatersrand student jumps on a falling policeman while another policeman discharged his rubber bullet loaded rifle during a running battle with the police forces on campus during a mass demonstration on Tuesday in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Lost kids zula for survival

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Lost kids zula for survivalLost kids zula for survivalReluctant to return to abusive homes which they say are in Gobabis, this group of street kids have chosen to go it alone, together. Say they are content where they are A dusty children’s park in the midst of one of Windhoek’s wealthiest suburbs has become home to a group of approximately 12 homeless children, who survive on begging, hand-outs and a strong fellowship of ‘us versus them’.

“We came here so that we can ‘zula’, we need the money,” the children said last week, claiming they use the money given to them by strangers at a nearby intersection and strip mall to buy food and other necessities.

Many of the children claimed they prefer their current situation, among friends, fighting for survival on the streets, after they had run away from abusive homes. Some say they were simply abandoned by their families.

“We have no boss. We look after each other,” one of the boys, who asked that their names not be published, said.

Most of the children are boys, claiming ages of between 8 and 16. Two are girls. They say some of them have lived in the play park for as long as three months, others joining them over time.

The children asked that the location of the park where they live not be named, although their presence continues to attract the attention of authorities, responding to complaints from the public.

On Friday, City Police was called after some of the children were seen begging at a nearby busy intersection.

Photos showed that a few of the children, including two girls, were only half-dressed.

City Police was called and informed that the children had been sniffing glue. On Sunday, they were back at the park.

The brother of one of the girls claims he wants to return to Gobabis, where many of these children say they are originally from, but his sister “doesn’t want to go back”.

The boys claimed they look after the girls “and make sure they are not naughty”.

When the children are not begging at one of Windhoek’s busiest intersections during their routine peak traffic morning and evening sessions, or harassing shoppers at a nearby grocery store, they can be found playing in the park. A trolley and coin games are favourites to pass the time.

The park is littered with garbage, including discarded plastic and carton food and drink containers, medicine bottles, liquor bottles, and other types of waste.

Nearby, a single mattress laid on top of flattened carton boxes is covered with dirty and torn blankets, and the children demonstrate how they squeeze together to sleep on this crude bed.

A small fireplace and an old tin can serve as a kitchen.

Many of the children, who spoke to Namibian Sun last week, hesitated to go into the details of what had driven them from their parental homes into a life dependent on begging, petty theft and frequent clashes with the police and other authority figures.

One of the boys, who claimed he is 14, but looked much younger, said his swollen eye was a result of a recent fall. His face was covered in several scars and bruises.

“My step-dad, whenever he drank, he hit me. I decided to run away,” another said.

“I don’t know where my real father is,” he added. Another boy said he was forced onto the streets after his mother “took another man. She left me.” He was taken in by an aunt, who he says lives in Katutura, but says he doesn’t want to live there.

“I don’t want to live there. There is a lot of hunger there. Sometime I go back to her, then we wash our clothes, and I give her money.”

Two of the youngest children claim they were taken to a government children’s centre a few months ago, in an effort to get them off the streets. They allege they left after a while due to a number of reasons.

Many agreed that they “don’t want to live here” and they claim there is no alternative.

JANA-MARI SMITH

WAD condemns gruesome killings of children

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WAD condemns gruesome killings of childrenWAD condemns gruesome killings of children The Women’s Action for Development (WAD) has condemned the spate of gruesome killings of innocent children by their mothers, noting that such acts are horrific and disheartening.

Speaking on the recent incident in which a mother allegedly murdered her three-year-old child in Swakopmund, WAD executive director Salathiel Shinedima said the organisation is perplexed at such incidents of rape, abuse and murder that send shockwaves across the country.

“WAD expresses its shock and disappointment regarding the ongoing horrific killing and raping of women in the country, the dumping and killing of babies by their mothers and expresses its condemnation towards men who refuse to accept rejection and resort to killing their partners.”

He made these remarks on Monday in Rehoboth during the handover of computers donated by Debmarine-Namdeb Foundation to the WAD Hardap Training Centre.

Shinedima noted that everyone, especially men, hold the key to doors of solving gender-based violence (GBV) in Namibia.

“I urge all men to stand together and say enough is enough. We cannot afford to continue watching such atrocities to happen to our daughters, sisters and mothers while we stand aside and look.”

He said women have created platforms to discuss issues that concern them and urged men to create dialogue platforms to discus GBV issues, particularly how GBV affects men and how they can get involved in the fight against the social evil.

“We need more men to join the fight against GBV for the benefit of our society and for the interest of our children.”

Shinedima said it is shameful for Namibia with her small population to count amongst countries in which horrific violence against women and children are conspicuous evils.

“Hardly a day goes by without reports of killings of women or the discovery of a newborn dumped by the mother.”

He urged men to join the fight against BGV and to appreciate women.

“Women were not created to be mutilated, humiliated and to die at the hands of men. Women are to be your lifelong companions, your soulmates and mothers of your children. Don’t wait to become a perpetrator or victim.”

NAMPA

Möller murder case postponed again

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Möller murder case postponed againMöller murder case postponed again The suspects in the Hans-Jörg Möller murder case, Panduleni Gotlieb (30), David Tashiya (29), David Shekundja (35), Ally Ndapuka Hinaivali (29) and Malakia Shiweda (28) appeared before Magistrate John Sindano in the Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

Sindano postponed the case to 18 January for further investigation. Prosecutor Tresia Hafeni previously opposed bail for the suspects due to the seriousness of the case and said it would not be in the interest of justice to release them on bail and that they could flee.

The accused are facing murder, housebreaking with intent to rob, robbery and attempted murder charges related to a crime committed on 17 June. They were escorted from Windhoek Central Prison by members of the Special Reserve Force to the court in Walvis Bay.

Carol-Anne Möller (48) the wife of the deceased Hans, who would have turned 51 on 15 October announced a N$5 000-reward per person for information that could lead to the arrest of three other suspects still on the loose.

According to Carol-Anne, who already identified the person who fired the shot that claimed the life of her husband as being amongst the accused in the dock, there were eight persons involved in the robbery.

Tashia and Shekundja were arrested first in connection with case on 18 June. Gotlieb was arrested on 19 June and Hinaivali and Shiweda were arrested on 22 June.

Carol-Anne also expressed her gratitude to the Serious Crimes Investigative Unit for the professional manner in which the case is being handled.

Farming in dire straits

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Farming in dire straitsFarming in dire straitsLivestock producers in Namibia have been making losses for around ten years and will take many more to recover, if at all. Losses piling up for a decade Since 1960 Namibia has been unable to rebuild its national herds to its former glory.

The chairperson of the Livestock Producers Organisation of Namibia, Mecki Schneider, said at the opening of the organisation’s 53rd congress that over the past 40 years, the country has never regained the herds’ pre-drought production figures.

Schneider said that Namibia this year faced the fourth year of a below average rainy season.

He pointed out that this means that cattle herds again decreased in numbers and quality and it will take years to rebuild.

“We, the commercial farmers, have to realise that we must plan and make provision for dry years.”

He said that cattle farming is currently worse off than sheep farming and has reached a level of 8% losses per year over the last ten years.

“You need to farm 8% more effectively per year to achieve the same level of disposable income.”

Schneider said that stock farming is under incredible financial pressure and he emphasised that the rate whereby input costs are increasing is much faster than any growth of income.

He said that it is once again worrying that weaner prices and carcass prices have not remained in step with input costs.

“Slaughter prices have not increased and weaner prices plummeted when export regulations closed the border to South Africa for all practical purposes.”

He added that agri-inflation is much higher than the general consumer inflation rate.

He elaborated on value addition in the livestock industry. He said that the value added by farmers themselves is simply ignored or viewed as inferior.

According to him value addition starts with mating selection, the production and ends in a marketable product.

Concerning the sheep industry, when farmers sell to South Africa they receive about 50% of the value of the sheep carcass when they deliver live, market-ready products.

According to him, the abattoir adds value of 2% maximum and that means that 48% is taken up by the processing and trade partners.

He said that this value addition of 48% takes place in South Africa through the marketing channels of small stock abattoirs.

Students want lecturer out

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Students want lecturer outStudents want lecturer out Over 200 students at the University of Namibia (Unam) Hifikepunye Pohamba Campus in Ongwediva held a peaceful demonstration demanding for one of the lecturers to be removed permanently from the campus within five working days.

The students, led by the Student Representative Council (SRC) members, demanded that the dean of the Faculty of Education, Charmaine Villet remove lecturer Angelina Amushigamo from her position, with immediate effect.

The demonstration lasted for two hours starting around 07:00 and ended when a petition was handed over to the campus director, Sacky Iipinge. Amushigamo is being accused of victimising students. Student leaders at the campus said it was one of the burning issues raised during the just-held general student assembly (GSA), which serves as the highest decision-making organ of the students. Amushigamo is accused of failing students on purpose when it comes to research work.

When contacted for comment, Amushigamo’s phone went unanswered and then it was switched off. She did not respond to text message questions.

The petition was read by the SRC vice-president, Petrus Shiweva who said the recipient should respond to their demand within five working days or risk the students finding their own solution.

“Our demand is that this lecturer must be removed from office within five working days. Failure to do that will lead us to conclude that your office is either unwilling or unable to help us. We will therefore explore other effective ways to help ourselves,” Shiweva read.

“What is also hurting us as students is seeing our brothers and sisters who were supposed to graduate but they are not graduating because of this individual lecturer.”

NCCI bemoans govt tender halt

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NCCI bemoans govt tender haltNCCI bemoans govt tender haltThe Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry has pleaded with the government to reconsider the freeze on public tenders. Moratorium hurts small businesses The government’s decision to suspend the awarding of all tenders until completion of a budget review later this month risks hurting the business community even further.

This according to the northern branch of the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI), which this week pleaded with the government to reconsider its position.

“The directive… comes at a time when the business community at large has been largely dependent on government contracts for survival and performed as key service providers in the public procurement space,” NCCI Northern Branch chairman Tomas Iindji said.

“Unless government acts swiftly, this can have serious consequences for many established and growing businesses and for the economy at large,” he added.

Support of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Iindji said, typically provides more benefit for the local economy than other businesses do, with better value for spent resources.

“Developing a more SME-friendly approach to public procurement means that SMEs can maximise their potential for job creation, growth and innovation.

“Increasing the involvement of SMEs in public procurement schemes can, if properly designed, result in higher competition for public contracts, leading to better value for money and efficiencies for contracting authorities,” Iindji said.

Finance appeases

In a sign that the government was considering the plight of local small businesses, the Ministry of Finance this week issued a notice exempting SMEs from having to acquire ‘tax good standing certificates’ to qualify for receiving payment from the government for services or goods delivered.

This after the ministry in August issued a directive requiring such certificate from all businesses as a means of improving tax compliance.

“The ministry has assessed the impact of the directive and found that it indeed improved collection,” read a Finance Ministry statement issued on Monday and signed by Minister Calle Schlettwein.

“However, an unintended consequence was that it made it harder for especially smaller businesses to manage cash flows,” the statement read.

The directive was thus amended. Tax good standing certificates are still required in any bidding or tendering process, the ministry said.

DENVER ISAACS

Homeowner kills burglar

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Homeowner kills burglarHomeowner kills burglar The owner of a house in Kuisebmond shot and killed one intruder and wounded another during a botched burglary attempt in the early morning hours on 3 October.

Detective Chief Inspector Erastus Iikuyu confirmed the incident at a property in Hunes Street, Kuisebmond.

“We are investigating a case of murder and attempted murder against the owner of the house where the suspects tried to break into. He has not been arrested yet. We will complete the docket and forward it to the prosecutor-general for a decision,” commented Iikuyu.

The owner was asleep and woke up when he heard noises at his front door. He investigated and discovered two people trying to gain entry into his house via the front door and instructed them not to move.

“It is alleged that the deceased, Barnabas Ipinge, attacked and tried to stab the owner with a screwdriver during the attempted burglary. The owner fired a warning shot. He then shot the attacker in the upper part of his body and his accomplice, Mathew Malaika, in the leg.”

According to Iikuyu the burglars fled the scene. The body of Barnabas was discovered in a neighbouring yard and the wounded Maliaka was arrested while hiding at a property across the road. He was transferred to Windhoek State Hospital for treatment. He is in a stable condition and under police guard.

It is suspected that the two men were involved in two other burglaries in the area, since a number of stolen items were found in their possession.

OTIS FINCK

Govt will embarrass country - Manwu

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Govt will embarrass country - ManwuGovt will embarrass country - Manwu The Metal and Allied Namibian Workers Union (Manwu) says the government’s insistence on going against the law and replacing striking teachers has the potential to embarrass the country.

The strike is expected to start on 13 October.

Manwu president Angula Angula yesterday expressed concern that the government was contemplating breaking the law instead of leading by example.

The Labour Act states that an employer may not hire any individual to perform the tasks of a striking or locked-out employee.

Despite that, the government started seeking volunteers to replace striking teachers shortly after the strike rules were announced early last week.

“We have no idea how our government understands this section, but it is important that our government must not create precedence for employers in this country not to comply with the same section.

“Using volunteers to do the work of striking workers must be avoided because this may lead to labour unrest in the entire country,” he said.

Manwu urged the parties involved in the salary dispute to resolve their differences in the interest of the learners, their parents, teachers, the government and the public.

“It is a shame that that some of us so-called trade unionists are becoming mere opportunists and are siding with the employers on the issue of using volunteers to replace striking workers. As trade unions we must safeguard the Labour Act and our government must be told to respect the Labour Act,” said Angula.

About 95% of teachers in the public service voted to strike, while fewer than 5% voted against strike action.

Of the 20 473 votes cast, 19 473 were in favour of a strike, with just under 1 000 voting against the strike. There were 42 spoiled ballots.

The looming strike will halt learning at state schools and the government has warned teachers that the ‘no work, no pay’ policy would apply if they stay away from work.

JEMIMA BEUKES

'Reinstate Swapo Four in SPYL'

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'Reinstate Swapo Four in SPYL''Reinstate Swapo Four in SPYL'Following a court order in their favour earlier this year, the expelled SPYL leaders have not been reinstated in the party or its youth wing. All four youth leaders have moved on Calls are being made from within and outside the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) for the reinstatement of the so-called Swapo Four in the leadership positions they held before their expulsion from the party.

The Swapo Four are Elijah Ngurare, George Kambala, Job Amupanda and Dimbulukeni Nauyoma, who were expelled last year by the Swapo Party but challenged the party in court, with a victory early this year.

Ngurare served as SPYL secretary, while Amupanda had served as secretary for information, publicity and mobilisation since 2012.

In fact he had resigned his position at the youth league before his expulsion from the party.

Nauyoma served as a district secretary in the Tobias Hainyeko Constituency, while Kambala served for the Samora Machel Constituency.

Although the court ordered the party to reverse its decision of expelling the four, it did not grant an order to have the Swapo Four reinstated in any leadership positions in the party.

Party spokesperson Helmut Angula this week said he had no clue as to whether any decision had been taken on the reinstatement of the Swapo Four.

He said the current leadership of the youth wing had not made any recommendation in this regard to the party secretariat.

Meanwhile, according to the SPYL secretary of information, publicity and mobilisation in Kavango East, Peter Kashumali, in a press statement issued recently, SPYL is facing a strategic challenge of modernising the organisation so that it is effective in driving and inspiring change and responsive to the ever-changing needs of its members.

He said ever since the expulsion of the four youth leaders, SPYL has been affected negatively in terms of running its affairs effectively.

“The task of the current generation of our movement is to defend the movement’s standing in society within the parameters of our policies, principles and perspectives.

“The void caused by the absence of progressive leadership at the top echelon of SPYL has left the organisation without a clear coherent and sustainable programme of action,” he said.

Erongo Region SPYL executive committee member Reinhold Shitwikineni added that he fully supports Kashumali on the reinstatement of the four.

“I am also requesting the Swapo Central Committee to reinstate the expelled members in the positions they held,” he said.

The Swapo Four said they “salute the bravery of those that are standing up”.

Ngurare, however, added that he was committed to his job as quality assurance coordinator at the University of Namibia.

Amupanda, Nauyoma and Kambala, also known as the Affirmative Reposition (AR) trio, said they are committed to their cause and their responsibility of ensuring the land issue in Namibia is addressed, as well as empowering the youth through various activities.

Apart from the AR activities, Amupanda is also the deputy dean of the University of Namibia’s Faculty of Economics and Management Science.

Nauyoma says AR is his ‘daily bread’. He also serves as the Namibia National Students Organisation (Nanso) secretary-general.

Kambala, who is a student at Unam, said he is focused on his studies but committed to the cause of fighting for a better future for the Namibian youth.

KENYA KAMBOWE
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