Acer unveils growth intentions

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Acer unveils growth intentions Namibian market entices tech major Taiwanese hardware and electronics giant Acer this week launched its official presence in Namibia, announcing a bright investment and growth strategy for the country''s markets.

At the launch event in Windhoek, Acer Africa country manager Paul Collins said Namibia''s sovereign risk rating made it one of the best rated economies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“A stable political climate, an economic environment that supports foreign investment and positive GDP growth forecasts are some of the factors that contribute to Acer''s bullish outlook on this market”, Collins said.

“To drive this growth, we have bolstered our customer service delivery capabilities in-country and identified opportunities to support the further development of the education sector through technology.” Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the global company was named the sixth largest personal computer vendor in the world, with a presence in over 160 countries. Acer products include personal computers and laptop PCs, storage devices, virtual reality devices, televisions and smartphones. Also at the event, the company announced a new after-sales service offering, whereby local service partners are authorised to fetch, repair and return selected products to customers located in the major business centres of Windhoek, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.

Another distinction of the Acer brand is its emphasis on the education sector, stating it hoped to showcase its expertise in Namibia.

“Acer''s broad range of products, solutions and services for the education sector are affordable, reliable and robust to help students and teachers create new ways of interacting and learning,” Collins said.

“We are confident that our broad portfolio, differentiators such as the Acer Reliability Promise (warranty), strong local partnerships and ongoing innovations will enable us to grow from strength to strength in the Namibian market,” he said.

DENVER ISAACS

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Machar in SA for tests

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Machar in SA for tests South Sudanese rebel leader did not disclose condition After a call for renewed fighting in South Sudan, rebel leader Riek Machar is in South Africa for medical tests for a condition he did not make public. South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar, a pariah for the West since his call last month for renewed civil war, headed to South Africa for medical check-ups yesterday, an AFP correspondent reported.

In what he billed as his first media appearance since he fled the South Sudanese capital Juba as fresh fighting flared in July, Machar said that his stay in South Africa would be temporary and that he would leave after the tests.

"I am leaving the country now for South Africa to have medical tests and after that I will leave South Africa," he told reporters at Khartoum airport without specifying where.

Machar gave no details of his medical condition but spoke of the travails of his flight from South Sudan.

"I walked on foot until I reached the jungles of (Democratic Republic of) Congo and it took me 37 days," he said.

He said that it was only with the help of regional governments and the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC that he had reached medical help in Khartoum.

Fresh clashes

He was discharged from hospital in Khartoum on August 26 after being treated for a swollen leg, aides said at the time.

The Sudanese authorities said they had admitted Machar because he needed "immediate medical treatment".

Khartoum was a long-time backer of Machar during the two-decade war that led to South Sudan''s independence in 2011.

Machar led a breakaway faction that fought the mainstream pro-independence rebels and received arms from the Sudanese military.

He broke again with the Juba government in 2013, sparking a devastating civil war in which allegations of gang rape, cannibalism and mass killings of civilians were widespread.

He returned to Juba earlier this year under a hard-won peace deal but it broke down in July when fresh clashes broke out between his ethnic Nuer supporters and the mainly Dinka troops of the government.

After his escape into exile in Khartoum, Machar last month urged "a popular armed resistance" against his rival President Salva Kiir''s government.

On Thursday, the European Union, Norway, the United States and the United Kingdom, together with Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda, issued a joint statement condemning "calls by opposition leaders for a renewal of armed conflict".

"Further fighting will not solve South Sudan''s pressing political and economic challenges. It will only increase the suffering of South Sudan''s people, worsen a grave humanitarian crisis, and further inflame ethnic tensions."

NAMPA/AFP

Guards: An underpaid, overworked lot

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Guards: An underpaid, overworked lot While many of us are comfortable in our air-conditioned offices and drawing a decent salary each month, many Namibians are not this privileged and continue to work under difficult conditions. The plight of security guards in this country is one that is not taken seriously by many. These officers are often regarded as objects, ill-treated by their bosses, forced to work abnormal hours and sometimes under very dangerous conditions. Yet they are underpaid. It is sad that most firms pay peanuts to these guards who do a very good job at night and during the day. The industry doesn''t take good care of them. The leaders have seemingly turned their backs on them as calls for appropriate legislation and coming up with a decent minimum wage that will allow security guards to take care of their basic needs, simply appears to be nowhere on the horizon. For people who are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of human lives and valuable property, it is shocking that the plight of these people whom we continuously rely on for safety and security is continuously overlooked. These women and men in uniform operate under very difficult conditions and occupy high risk jobs that continuously underpay and exploit them. Until when will our prized security guards continue to survive and tolerate this oppression? Or are they only valuable when it comes to protecting our lives and properties? We salute the gallant efforts of some unions who are confronting security company owners in raising the pay of our security workers. For a nation grappling with high levels of inequality, it is high time that we review and improve the remuneration and working conditions of the security guards in this country. We can''t continue to look on with arms folded and only make an effort to intervene when the situation spirals out of control. Security companies are some of the most profitable businesses around, but most of these selfish owners do not care about their workers, they only care for their businesses and the millions they rake in on a monthly basis.

Shot of the day

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Shot of the day BEAT YOURSELF UP: Iraqi Shiite Muslim men are seen after flagellating themselves on the tenth day of the mourning period of Muharram, which marks the day of Ashura, in the holy city of Najaf on Wednesday. Ashura mourns the death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, who was killed by armies of the Yazid near Karbala in 680 AD. PHOTO: NAMPA/AFP

Starvation worsens

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Starvation worsens Although child mortalities have dropped, child hunger is on the rise Almost half of our population is malnourished and around 7% of our children acutely so. The global community is not on course to end hunger in line with the commitment made by many nation states to end world huger according to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) deadline of 2030.

Namibia is no exception to that finding, with data from the 2016 Global Hunger Index (GHI), confirming the fears that many Namibians in rural and sub-urban areas hold about the hunger and malnutrition in the country worsening.

According to the 2016 GHI, Namibia has dropped in rating since the last recorded statistics in 2008. In 2008 the hunger index stood at 29.6% and has worsened progressively by 1.8% in the last eight years, bringing the 2016 hunger index in the country to 31.4% for 2016.

The research was done by the International Food Policy Research Institution (IFPRI), Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe (WHH), which has found that global hunger figures remain distressingly high, with 795 million people still facing hunger, roughly one in four children affected by stunted growth, and 8% of children affected by wasting.

Even though Namibia and Sri Lanka stand out for having the lowest percentage reductions in GHI scores since 2000, the drop in percentage is still a cause for concern according to Dominic MacSorley, the CEO of Concern Worldwide.

“Whilst the world has made progress in the fight against hunger, there are still 795 million people condemned to facing hunger every day in their lives,” MacSorley commented. He added that “this is just unacceptable, it is immoral and shameful”.

MacSorley also added that the world in its entirety has the technologies, knowledge and resources to achieve the UN 2030 Vision of zero hunger, adding that what is missing is both the urgency and the political will to turn commitments into action.

“The statistics are shocking,” said Richard Goreseb, a youth advisor at the Khomas office of the Namibia Red Cross. Goreseb mentioned that the Red Cross continues to do what they can to alleviate the continuing hunger problem that many Namibian''s face.

Goreseb added that they are aware that the hunger situation in Namibia is still urgent, which prompted them to innovate a feeding scheme that delivers food to the needy in many communities across Namibia, including children.

The feeding programme is called “Namibians helping Namibians,” and delivers food parcels to pensioners and other vulnerable members of society, including a hoard of young, unemployed Namibians that are always ready to receive some assistance.

In Namibia, both child stunting and child wasting continue to be a major developmental obstacle with many children in the country suffering from both acute and chronic malnutrition. Child mortalities have fallen, but the prevalence of undernourishment has risen since 2000, dragging down Namibia''s overall score, according to the GHI.

According to the statistics, 42.3% of Namibians are undernourished (between 2014 – 2016), with the prevalence of acute malnutrition in children under the age of five years old standing at 7.1%, compared to the 10% recorded in the early 2000s. Both the prevalence of chronic hunger in children under the age of five, and childhood mortality of children under the age of five have dropped, with 6.5% and 1.5% respectively.

“Namibia is vulnerable to erratic rain-fall, including frequent droughts and flooding, and has experienced drought for the past two to three years, putting downward pressure on Namibia''s cereal and livestock production,” the report reads. “Also, poor harvests within Namibia and in neighbouring countries have driven up food prices according to the 2016 World Food Programme statistics.

The ambition to end world hunger is captured in the second goal of the 17 goals of the SDGs, which includes the achievement of food security, improved nutrition and sustainable agriculture as part of a comprehensive set of interwoven actions that will contribute to social justice, an end to rural poverty and improvements in people''s health and well-being.

Regionally, Africa south of the Sahara has the highest hunger level, followed closely by South Asia.



Keith Vries

New liquor law could cause poverty

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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New liquor law could cause poverty The Liquor Amendment Bill of 2016 could negatively affect the livelihoods of those who depend on selling alcohol for an income.

Motivating the report of the standing committee on public hearings on the Bill in the National Council (NC) on Tuesday, committee chairperson Peter Kazongominja said it could result in serious job losses and investments.

The public hearings in all 14 regions from 16 to 29 September were confined to local authorities and a total of 460 people attended.

Kazongominja said many Namibian households depended on the sale of alcohol to make ends meet and finance children’s education.

“Shebeens have been a source of income that alleviated poverty and assisted with education of many poor children,” the report states.

The public hearings noted that home brewed liquor posed a real problem, as some breathalysers did not detect the alcohol content of these concoctions, while the percentage of alcohol was not controlled.

Some participants at the public hearings suggested that government control the sale of traditional liquor. Others advocated for a limitation to the number of shebeens owned by one person in an area, and said it should be determined by the number of inhabitants.

The report recommended that the Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development give a grace period of no less than two years for the relocation of all affected shebeens in residential areas including those in close proximity to churches, safety homes, old age homes, schools and hospitals.

The Amendment Bill was passed in the NC and referred to the committee on 1 August 2016 for review, scrutiny and consultation with relevant stakeholders.

The Bill will, among others, amend the Liquor Act of 1998 so as to provide for the issuing of licences to establishments within a prescribed distance of certain areas and the inclusion of residential premises and hospitals as an additional factor to be taken into account when considering a licence application.

It also seeks to provide for the regulation of the selling of alcohol in retail outlets linked to fuel service stations outside prescribed hours.

NAMPA

Seeking new avenues for meat

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Seeking new avenues for meat Supply needs to be increased for market Namibia needs to innovate and diversify its meat markets and its capacity for production. Namibia’s meat industry is currently an export-oriented market with 85% of its products that are exported to other countries, however Namibia needs to increase its capacity to supply its established and new markets.

This was highlighted last week when the manager of trade and marketing at the Meat Board of Namibia, Goliath Tujendapi, gave an overview of Namibia’s trade agreements with regard to livestock and the implications they have for the country.

Tujendapi said although Namibia had opened new markets such as China, Hong Kong and the US, the question was whether the country would be able to supply them with beef.

He pointed out that one of the ways to increase capacity was through bush eradication and changes to rangeland management.

Tujendapi also stressed the importance of retaining exports to South Africa and said they were critical to the short- and medium-term survival of the industry.

He added that it is important to resume a market for the beef in the Northern Communal Areas as this area has been left without a market since the foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2015.

According to Tujendapi live exports from Namibia make up 59% of the cattle market.

A total of 33% come from exports abattoirs south of the Veterinary Cordon Fence while 8% comes from local markets. Currently no marketing is taking place at abattoirs north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence.

Namibia currently exports some 240 000 weaners, 140 000 sheep and 250 000 goats per year to South Africa.

The country also exports 15 000 to 17 000 tons of beef to South Africa which is sold at places such as Steers and Woolworths.

Also, 9 500 tons of beef is exported to the European Union which includes the UK, Norway, Germany, Switzerland and Netherlands.

It was also pointed out that 58% of sheep are slaughtered locally in Namibia while 42% are exported live.

A total of 850 000 lamb carcasses are exported to South Africa to places such as Checkers, Pick n Pay and Spar, while 400 tons of mutton is exported to Norway.

Elaborating on the import requirements that were introduced by South Africa on 1 July this year, he said while goats and sheep could be exported easily cattle could not be exported under the stringent requirements.

Statistics show that exports of weaners to South Africa increased in May from 22 000 to around 33 000 and then dropped to zero in July when the restrictions came in.

He said while it was a slow process to finalise the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for abattoirs and feedlots the permit associated with these SOPs are much more beneficial to Namibia.

Referring to the SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) that was implemented on October 1 he said that beef exports translated into more than N$10.7 million last year.

He explained that this trade agreement provides preferential access for the European Union into SACU while it could have an impact on regional value chains such as food processing like beef.

Furthermore with regard to the Preferential Trade Agreement between Mercosur and SACU it was explained that Mercosur is one of the leading economic blocs, being the fifth largest economy in the world.

It’s five member states are Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela.

According to statistics provided Namibia in 2012/13 exported beef to the value of N$1.2 million to Brazil under this agreement and the following year imported it imported beef to the value of N$1.3 million from Brazil.

From Argentina poultry to the value of N$118 million has been imported by Namibia and also from Uruguay Namibia imported poultry worth N$23 million between 2011 and 2015.

During 2012 Namibia exported hides and skins worth N$900 000 to Argentina.

Tujendapi however raised concern about the fact that Mecosur countries are more cost effective with regard to beef production and can therefore easily flood the market with cheap products.

Another concern is that there has been an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Paraguay in the past and therefore Namibia needs strong monitoring processes in order not to jeopardise existing EU and Norwegian markets.



ELLANIE SMIT

Flags at half-mast to honour HH

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Flags at half-mast to honour HH STAFF REPORTER

President Hage Geingob has ordered national flags to be flown at half-mast in honour of struggle veteran Hidipo Hamutenya, who died last week in a Windhoek hospital after a long illness.

He was 77.

The order is with effect from today until Saturday.

HH, as he was affectionately known, has also been conferred the honour of national hero status.

He will be given a hero’s burial this Saturday at the Heroes’ Acre. A memorial service will be held at the Parliament Gardens tomorrow starting at 14:00.

Hamutenya, who was a former trade, information and foreign minister, was regarded by many in Swapo as a tactful, shrewd politician and diplomat.

After leaving the country for exile in the 1960s, Hamutenya studied in the USA together with Geingob and former National Assembly Speaker Theo-Ben Gurirab.

He later became Swapo’s secretary for education and was the deputy head of the UN Institute for Namibia in Lusaka in the late 1970s.

At the time of his death he had rejoined Swapo after having defected to form the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) in 2007. Hamutenya leaves behind his wife, Nangula, and five children.

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Veterans Act not unconstitutional

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Veterans Act not unconstitutional‘Not amounting to discrimination’ Although the legislation differentiates between those who fought for, and against, Namibia’s liberation, the differentiation does not impair the dignity of former SWATF/Koevoet members, says a legal opinion from the Ombudsman’s office. CATHERINE SASMAN

Ex-soldiers of SWATF/Koevoet were dealt a knockout when the Ombudsman’s office pronounced the Veterans Act of 2008 is in compliance with the Namibian constitution.

The ex-soldiers under the auspices of the Namibia War Veterans Trust (NAMVET) sought a legal opinion on the constitutionality of the Act from the Ombudsman’s office in March.

They wanted to know if their exclusion from benefits attainable under the Act of ex-soldiers who fought alongside the South African Defence Force (SADF), be it in SWATF or Koevoet, is unconstitutional for being in conflict with Article 10 of the Namibian constitution, which provides for equality and freedom from discrimination.

The former soldiers always maintained that the Veterans Act is discriminatory because it only recognises those who have fought on the side of Swapo during the liberation struggle and asked for an amendment to provide for all former soldiers, irrespective of which side they fought for.

They also felt that the Namibian government’s conduct since independence has caused them and their descendants “sustained loss” of human security, human dignity, financial losses, loss of senior benefits and other values.

Article 10 of the Namibian constitution states that all persons are equal before the law and that no person shall be discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed, or social or economic status.

In his legal opinion Ramon Maasdorp of the Ombudsman’s office said the Veterans Act passes the compliance test as the differentiation between persons who fought for the liberation of Namibia and those who fought against it is based on a “rational connection to a legitimate purpose”.

“The legitimate purpose is to provide financial assistance to those persons who made sacrifices aimed at achieving Namibia’s freedom from South Africa’s illegitimate control,” Maasdorp contended.

Another compliance test passed is that while the Act differentiates between persons who fought for the attainment of independence and those who fought against it, the Act does not differentiate on the prohibited grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or economic status, Maasdorp added.

Maasdorp could not with total clarity state if the Act’s differentiation is based on social status.

He said social status is not defined in the Namibian constitution and there is no definition of it in any reported Namibian judgements.

Maasdorp said although the former SWATF/Koevoet members are “treated as outcasts” in post-independent Namibia, their social status is not the basis of this differentiation.

He went on to say that differentiation in the Act does not impair the dignity of the former SWATF/Koevoet members and does not amount to discrimination.

Following this interpretation, Namvet chairperson Jabulani Ndeunyema said: “We would have suffered a technical knockout by the Swapo government if we were to have challenged the Veterans Act in court; it would have been an axe thrown in our faces. We have been asking the government and Parliament to include us in the Act as war veterans not knowing that the Act was crafted by a very cunningly intelligent person.”

Ndeunyema said the political demonstration of the ex-soldiers would continue.

Govt should not undermine the right to strike

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Govt should not undermine the right to strike KENYA KAMBOWE

The Economic and Social Justice Trust (ESJT) has joined those opposing government efforts to replace striking teachers with volunteers, saying that it would undermine the right to strike.

They argue that the crude labour exploitation and the repression of workers’ struggles during colonial rule provide the background and a reminder of the need to protect the right to strike.

ESJT chairperson Herbert Jauch said government’s latest effort to prevent the strike from happening is a good example of how an employer undermines the right to strike.

“Government has preached for years that it believes in social partnership and tripartite consultations. However, it now acts contrary to that commitment and instead of being an exemplary employer it attempts to undermine the right to strike,” Jauch said.

Jauch said the Labour Act clearly states that employers may not ask anybody to do the work of employees who are on a protected strike and it’s on this basis that that ESJT rejects the use of volunteer teachers during the planned strike.

“As a Trust advocating for social and economic justice, we therefore need to add our voice to those who reject efforts to bring in ‘volunteers’ and even teachers from elsewhere to undermine the strike,” Jauch added.

This follows reports that government had confirmed its intention to fly in a number of Nigerian teachers to replace Namibian teachers during the planned strike, which is likely to start next week.

Jauch said the government’s efforts to delay and argue over the strike rules, and approaching the Labour Court for an interdict, will not help find a solution, and the two parties should resume negotiations to find an amicable solution.

“We call on the Namibian government to return to the negotiation table in good faith and we appeal to both parties to show the leadership and maturity required to reach an agreement,” he said.

Gam farmer wins MTC’s million

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Gam farmer wins MTC’s million ONE IN A MILLION: A 54-year-old communal farmer from the Gam settlement in the Omaheke Region, Kaaverua Karaerua, yesterday emerged as the overall winner in MTC Namibia’s ‘Wanna Be a Million-yeah’ SMS competition.

The competition ran for three months between 6 June and 6 October 2016, with participants urged to apply via text messages, with no limit to the amount of entries per participant.

“The fact that we have a winner from Gam should tell you something about how extensive MTC’s reach is throughout the country,” MTC spokesperson John Ekongo said.

Given the platform to speak, Kararaerua thanked MTC and said he was grateful to be the lucky winner.

The father of six said he planned to plough the prize money into his farm.

Pictured here is Karaerua interacting with the media after his announcement as overall winner.

PHOTO: DENVER ISAACS

GM insults security guards

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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GM insults security guards Employees go for months without pay Employees of Youth Security Services (YSS), operating under the auspices of the National Youth Service (NYC), claim they have not been paid for two months. KEITH VRIES

A general manager of a security company operating under the auspices of the National Youth Service (NYC) has come under fire for allegedly swearing at employees who were demanding their monthly salaries.

Employees of Youth Security Services (YSS), which is privately managed, claim they have not been paid for two months.

Their spokesperson, Matheus Shapopi, told Namibian Sun that he was insulted in a text message when he enquired about payment from George Likukela, who is the general manager of the company.

“Stop disturbing me. You will get your f***ng money, you morons,” Likukela reportedly responded.

The security guard had sent Likukela two messages expressing disappointment about the fact that their salaries have been consistently late, sometimes by two months.

“Please inform us so that we can make alternative arrangements in advance, because you never let us know what is wrong, but always say you don’t know why the salaries are late,” Shapopi said in the note to Likukela.

Shapopi told Namibian Sun that he had to borrow money from several family members to get by, saying that he supports five children who depend on his income.

Shapopi claimed that during one of the months he was not paid one of his sons died, and he approached YSS for money owed to him. He was told to wait like everybody else and had to borrow money from his uncle in Rietfontein.

Likukela refused to comment, saying he was instructed not to talk to the media.

The YSS staff are said to earn N$2 400 a month before deductions.

“We work for N$80 a day, but if you miss work for whatever circumstances, and you are not able to give a sick letter or doctor’s letter, they deduct N$200 from your salary. How does that make sense?” Shapopi asked.

NYS commissioner Onesmus Upindi said his institution was experiencing cash-flow problems at the moment.

“Government is one of our main clients, and it seems that the Ministry of Youth and the Ministry of Lands sometimes experience cash-flow problems and don’t pay us on time, that is why we experience the same problems and therefore can’t pay the employees,” Upindi said.

He assured Namibian Sun that Likukela would be brought to book.

“We are going to deal with the matter accordingly using internal policy and procedure, and will make sure that this does not happen again,” he said.

Mandela Kapere, the executive chairperson of the National Youth Council, condemned Likukela’s alleged actions and added that “young people don’t deserve to be spoken to like that.”

“It is very regretful that this is the manner in which the situation was handled,” Kapere said.

Immigrant children forced to leave school

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Immigrant children forced to leave school ILENI NANDJATO

The children of illegal immigrants had to drop out of school to be deported back to Angola with their parents.

Immigration officials at Opuwo in the Kunene Region yesterday deported more than 200 illegal immigrants of Otjizemba descent to Angola.

Yesterday morning 130 men were transported from the Opuwo police station, while over 80 women and children waited for a second trip.

The group included children who had been attending school in Namibia.

Some of the illegal immigrants said they were leaving behind other children who are in school hostels.

“I have been in Namibia for three years. I have three school-going children, two of whom are in hostels, while this one stays home with me,” said Hondjorokeni Kazu.

“This one is in grade 2 at Ombombo Primary School and I was forced to take her out of school so I can go back with her. I have to leave the other two because I was not given enough time to go get them from their school, which is very far.”

Other immigrants said they had come to Namibia to do business, look for work or receive hospital treatment.

“I was found in the street with others selling our products from Angola. We do have documents, but apparently our documents are not valid,” Ilena Mbatutu said.

From 7 October immigration officials with the assistance of the police in the Kunene Region have been rounding up illegal immigrants at Khorixas, Kamanjab and Opuwo. Hundreds of people were found to be without valid documents to stay in Namibia.

Deputy Commissioner Jaron Iita of the Kunene police told Namibian Sun yesterday that the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration initiated the operation and police assisted them.

Immigration officials and Angolan consulate staff screened those who were found without documents to verify their nationality.

“The immigration tribunal court granted a deportation order on Tuesday for the Angolans to be deported yesterday morning. The police and immigration officials will hand them over to Angolan authorities at the border. They are peaceful people and have not done anything wrong besides not having documents to stay here,” Iita said.

The immigration officials refuse to give details on the immigrants and efforts to get comment from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration spokesperson, Salome Kambala, also failed.

Land conference postponed

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Land conference postponed ELLANIE SMIT

The second national land reform conference has been postponed indefinitely due to severe financial constraints and the prolonged drought.

This is according to land reform minister Utoni Nujoma, who announced yesterday that the conference, which was supposed to take place in November and was the first to be held since the watershed land conference of 1991, would be postponed until adequate resources were available.

Nujoma said his ministry had not been spared the necessary budgetary cuts, which affected its capacity to deliver.

He said hosting a conference of that magnitude required a considerable budget and the ministry did not have the funding at its disposal in this financial year.

Nujoma stressed that other platforms would be made available to continue engagement on the matter with stakeholders.

Since the conference was officially launched on 24 August this year no date, venue or other details have been announced.

Nujoma yesterday said that the Harambee Prosperity Plan directed the ministry to host the second land conference before December this year.

He said in addition to the economic challenges the country has been experiencing, severe droughts have left the productive sectors of the country under threat while the agricultural sector is in disarray, compromised and in need of assistance.

“The situation is further compounded by the continued low levels of all the national dams and water shortages in most rural and urban centres. This is forcing our government to re-prioritise and direct available resources to critical sectors.”

Nujoma added that the initiative to host a second land conference was a timely and important intervention that would immensely benefit the country 25 years after of implementing the 24 resolutions adopted at the first land conference.

The ministry will continue to systematically work to further advance the land reform process in an orderly manner in line with the current policy and legal framework.

He said to support some of the critical policy proposals the ministry finalised the draft Land Bill that is now being scrutinised by legal drafters of the justice ministry. It is anticipated that the bill will be tabled in the National Assembly during its current session.

He added that the government is aware of the acute demand for land for agricultural purposes and that it is committed to a transparent, fair and equitable land reform process that is guided by the policy and legal framework.

Meanwhile, Uhuru Dempers of the Namibian Non-Governmental Organisations Forum (Nangof) has told Namibian Sun that they are delighted with the decision to postpone the conference, but at the same time concerned that it has been postponed indefinitely.

Nangof has in the past months urged government to postpone the land reform conference, saying that it should be better organised and include all stakeholders.

Dempers blamed the postponement of the conference not only on financial constraints, but said that the ministry was not properly prepared to host the conference and that there was no stakeholder consultation.

He pointed out that the proposed agenda for the conference was not made available and that there was no critical assessment done of the 24 resolutions taken at the first national land reform conference and land reform policies.

Dempers said Nangof would continue with its consultations in the regions. This week consultations are taking place at Keetmanshoop.

“This will just give us more time to plan,” he said.

At the launch of the conference the ministry said that at independence the government inherited a skewed land distribution with 36.2 million hectares owned by 4 664 advantaged farmers and 150 000 families occupying 33.5 million hectares of communal land. The ministry said that only 181 commercial farms were owned by black farmers.

According to the ministry it has acquired 502 farms measuring 3.1 million hectares out of a target of 5 million hectares through the ‘willing seller, willing buyer’ principle at a cost of N$1.7 billion.

At least 5 231 families have been resettled.

Under the Affirmative Action Loan Scheme programme a total of 3.4 million hectares have been acquired at a cost of N$762 million.

The strike is on

October 12, 2016, 3:00 pm

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The strike is onThe High Court has dismissed a last-ditch attempt by the government to stop a teachers’ strike scheduled to commence today. Government application dismissed Namibian teachers can go ahead with their planned strike today.
Last night High Court Judge Thomas Masuku dismissed a government application which sought to temporarily suspend the strike to allow time for strike rules to be revised to avoid disrupting national examinations that started in late September.
In fact, while the High Court was listening to arguments from lawyers representing the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) and the government, various principals wrote to parents, informing them not to send their children to school due to the strike.
Even Nantu announced picketing points for the strike earlier yesterday.
A teacher from Ongwediva Junior Secondary School told Namibian Sun that the strike was definitely on unless Nantu says otherwise.
“The government knew from the beginning learners have rights too and they must not come tell us to consider children’s rights now. Teachers have rights too,” said the teacher, who requested anonymity.
The teachers’ strike affects 700 000 pupils from over 1 700 public schools countrywide.
Teachers are demanding a salary hike of 8%, while the government offered 5%.
Four respondents were listed in the application, starting with the Namibian National Teachers’ Union (Nantu), the Labour Commissioner, the conciliator Maiba Bester, and the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police.
Lawyers representing the teachers had earlier argued that government’s application for an extension was frivolous and must be dismissed.
If it genuinely cared about the learners the government must start by paying its teachers properly, the teachers’ lawyer, Raymond Heathcote, submitted yesterday.
He questioned the government’s sudden concern for children, if it did not see the need to declare teaching an essential service when the Labour Act was adopted in 2007.
“It knew that teachers teach children. Despite this, parliament did not exclude teachers from the application of the Act, like it did in respect of members of the Namibian Defence Force, Police Force, Namibian Central Intelligence Service and the prison service,” he said.
Heathcote also called the Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga’s submission that his duty is to prevent the occurrence of industrial action a “rather peculiar duty”. According to him, the police general’s whole affidavit was premised on the assumption that all striking teachers would act unlawfully.
“With respect to the general, if the court should accept his opinion, then it would simply mean that despite the guaranteed right to strike, no public servant will ever be able to go on strike,” he said.
Government attorney Andrew Corbett said the ramifications of a national strike by over 19 000 school teachers went beyond the confines of industrial action and would affect innocent third parties in a drastic and profound manner.
“What government does not accept is that innocent third parties to the industrial action, the 707 873 learners at Namibia’s primary and secondary schools of whom 115 875 are writing grade 10 and grade 12 examinations, should be used as a bargaining chip,” he stated.
Heathcote, assisted by Florian Beukes, represented Nantu on the instructions of the Metcalfe law firm, while Corbett, assisted by Jabulani Ncube, defended the government on the instructions of the Office of the Government Attorneys.

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Exams suspended

October 12, 2016, 10:12 pm

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Exams suspended The Ministry of Education has announced that Grade 12 and 10 examination papers scheduled for today and tomorrow have been postponed until further notice. This follows a High Court ruling on Wednesday evening which opposed an application by government to stop a teachers’ strike which started today. The teachers are demanding a salary hike of 8%, while government can only offer 5%.
Grade 12 learners were due to write Mathematics today, and Entrepreneurship tomorrow; while Grade 10 learners were due to sit for the Integrated Performing Arts Paper 1 as well as Life Science examination. “All examinations for the remaining subjects will proceed as scheduled from Monday, 17 October 2016,” the ministry said in a statement. “The postponement of the examinations applies to both government and private schools.” The ministry also advised parents to keep children who are government schools at home for logistical reasons.

Warriors return to PSL action

October 13, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Warriors return to PSL action At least six Namibians to play for clubs Following the international break, South Africa’s Premier Soccer League returns to action with at least six Namibians to feature for their respective clubs. Namibia’s footballers playing in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League (PSL) will return to action this weekend.

The PSL had gone into recess to allow for the international matches, which included the qualifiers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

But with that now out of the way, action in what is regarded as Africa’s richest league returns.

Golden Arrows goalkeeper Maxi Mbaeva and defender Chris Katjiukua will be hosting Chippa United at the Princess Magogo Stadium in Durban tomorrow.

While Mbaeva has had a stellar start to the season as he has played all of Arrows’ matches in the PSL so far, it has not been smooth sailing for Katjiukua, who has played only once this season.

That may change tomorrow as Arrows will be looking to continue their bright start to the season; a start which sees them sharing top spot with Kaizer Chiefs, who also have 10 points from five games played.

Goalkeeper Virgil Vries appears to be a definite starter when Maritzburg United travel to Bethlehem to take on Free State Stars.

The Namibian international has featured in all five of United’s matches; in the process keeping two clean sheets.

There is likely to be a clash between compatriots as Platinum Stars, who have strikers Henrico Botes and Benson Shilongo on their books, due to host Bloemfontein Celtic, for whom Deon Hotto plays.

Veteran Botes has used his experience quite well as he has started five of Stars’ matches in all competition so far while Shilongo has made only one appearance.

However, there are signs that the younger Namibian is likely to get more game time as he scored for Platinum Stars during a Multichoice Diski Challenge (PSL’s reserve league) match against Free State Stars last Saturday.

Namibia would have at least one more player in action over the weekend but Peter Shalulile, who is signed to Highlands Park, is still nursing an injury.

Wangu Gome’s Bidvest Wits will only be in action next Wednesday.

PSL fixtures

Saturday 15 October

15:30 Golden Arrows v Chippa United

15:30 Free State Stars v Maritzburg Utd

15:30 Platinum Stars v Bloem Celtic

18:00 Kaizer Chiefs v Ajax Cape Town

20:15 Cape Town City v Baroka FC

Sunday 16 October

15:30 SuperSport United v Highlands Park

15:30 Polokwane City v Orlando Pirates

HECTOR MAWONGA

Boxing championships at Opuwo next month

October 13, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Boxing championships at Opuwo next month KAINO NGHITONGO

The Namibia Boxing Federation (NBF) will host national boxing championships next month at Opuwo in the Kunene Region.

This was announced by the federation’s spokesman, Robert Haihambo, at a media briefing yesterday.

Haihambo said an estimated 300 to 500 boxers are expected to compete in the championships that will start on 23 November and end on 26 November.

He said in an effort to take boxing to areas where the sport is not practised, the NBF identified areas such as the Kunene Region, which will host this year’s games.

“We want to decentralise boxing and it is for that reason that we have decided to take these games to Opuwo,” he said.

After having hosted the first AIBA coaching course in May and holding national boxing trials, the federation is also hard hit by the financial crisis in sport.

The federation receives assistance from the Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) and the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC), but according to Haihambo they need a sponsor for the upcoming championships.

“We cannot always rely on NSC and NNOC, so we are now speaking to the corporates to come on board and assist us,” he said.

He added that the federation had a comprehensive plan that it was presenting to potential sponsors.

The tournament will be preceded by a course for about 25 judges and referees on 21 and 22 November.

The seven boxers who will be representing Namibia at the Region Five games in Angola in December will take part in the games.

According to Haihambo the boxers need exposure before they leave for Angola.

Female boxers will also climb through the ropes at the championships.

Bowls team in need of funds

October 13, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Bowls team in need of funds Namibian bowls players need financial assistance ahead of their trip to New Zealand for the World Bowls Championship next month.

The World Bowls Championship will be held from 23 November to 13 December in Christchurch.

The Namibia Bowls Association (NBA) held a fundraising event in September with the aim of raising money for its two national teams to travel to the competition.

Despite their efforts in raising N$60 000 for the trip, the team still needs N$180 000 if they are to travel and participate in the championship.

Anjuleen Viljoen of the NBC said they still need money for their accommodation in New Zealand.

“At the moment, we managed to raise money at the fundraising which is still not enough.

“We also got N$20 000 from our federation and the Namibia National Olympic Committee (NNOC) paid for our flight tickets and visas, but we still have that huge amount left to settle for our accommodation.”

Viljoen added that bowls is not played by many Namibians but they are working hard to make the sport one of the best in the country.

“We have two teams, a ladies'' team and a men''s team. In 2014, we participated at the Commonwealth Games where we just missed out on a bronze medal but this year we competed at an African competition where we won medals.

“We are now looking forward to competing well again at the world stage and possibly win medals.”

Eight athletes and a team manager will travel to New Zealand.

The women''s team will compete in three disciplines while the men''s team will compete in two.

Those in a position to help the teams should contact the NBA.

Bank boosts hockey league

October 13, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Bank boosts hockey league NHU gets N$275 000 sponsorship Hockey received a shot in the arm after Bank Windhoek recommitted their support of the code’s various leagues. SPORT REPORTER



Bank Windhoek has committed to support the Namibia Hockey Union (NHU) to host the annual Indoor Hockey League and Field Hockey League, as well as to further develop and introduce the sport to Namibian regions.

The sponsorship of N$275 000 is for the 2016/17 sport calendar.

The NHU expects between 46 and 48 teams to participate in the 2017 Bank Windhoek National Indoor Leagues.

For both men and women there will be three different leagues: Premier, First and Second leagues, played in Windhoek and at the coast (Swakopmund and Walvis Bay).

Approximately 460 hockey players will be participating.

The 2017 Outdoor Hockey leagues will comprise out of 24 to 26 teams (380 players), men and women teams, and will compete in two leagues each (Premier and Reserve leagues).

The NHU Development Hockey Programme will be conducted in four Namibian regions where hockey has never or very little been played before.

“We envisage arranging and organising four hockey coaching and training clinics in these regions. Some of our national men’s hockey players will be involved in these events,” said Marc Nel, president of the Namibia Hockey Union (NHU).

“Bank Windhoek is proud to renew its relationship with the Namibia Hockey Union to further develop the game of hockey.

“We believe that our financial contribution will assist the NHU in organising decent leagues for the players to gain skills and experience needed as Namibia constantly participates in continental and international competitions,” said Bank Windhoek executive Riaan van Rooyen.

“The NHU would like to thank Bank Windhoek for their confidence they have in hockey.

“The role the Bank Windhoek plays, as our main sponsor, gives us the opportunity to develop hockey and expand it to other regions in Namibia. Bank Windhoek’s support is much appreciated and we hope that there will be a long relationship between the Bank and the NHU,” Nel said.