City addresses water quality

October 27, 2016, 3:00 pm

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City addresses water qualityThe City of Windhoek insists that the water is perfectly safe for human consumption. Municipality to clean reservoirs after complaints

The City of Windhoek is undertaking a clean-up of all reservoirs following several complaints of brown tap water last week.

According to city spokesperson Lydia Amutenya, municipal scientific services staff collected water samples from the affected premises in Prosperita and Kleine Kuppe to conduct comprehensive laboratory tests on water quality.

“The results confirmed that the water was perfectly safe for human consumption,” Amutenya explained.

She added that “the results showed that the water is of an excellent microbiological and chemical quality and fully conforms to our national water quality guidelines apart from the possibility of occasional higher than normal turbidity recorded.”

The brown colouring of the water was likely due to suspended matter that was transferred to reservoirs during the pumping of large volumes of groundwater in recent months, due to the water crisis.

“Water from some boreholes could have high turbidity and the suspended matter, if transferred, tends to settle at the bottom of these reservoirs. When the reservoirs are drawn down to very low levels some of the solid matter that has settled at the bottom can be released into the water distribution system and thus ends up at the consumer''s tap.”

According to the municipality, the cleaning up of the reservoirs would address the issue, although Amutenya added that by the time staff members visited affected homes last week the water had already cleared.

Still, residents are advised to take water samples in clean containers whenever they experience water quality problems and must notify the municipality.

While direct complaints to the city were restricted to residents in Prosperity and Kleine Kuppe, several Olympia residents reported the issue, and shared photos, showing a similar problem.

Many of these incidents were shared on the ''Save Water Namibia'' Facebook group, which disseminates information and tips around Namibia''s water crisis, moderated by a group of experts.

The Facebook page has become the go-to resource where specialists and residents alike motivate ways to save water and assist others in addressing relevant questions and solutions.

A water expert on the group noted that while the reservoir clean-up is an annual event, due to the current water crisis it was not something the city wanted to undertake. Cleaning of reservoirs wastes some water, but with the complaints the city was left with no choice.

JANA-MARI SMITH

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No alternative to ICC

October 27, 2016, 3:00 pm

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No alternative to ICC

Political experts have criticised Namibia''s plan to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and advised that the country should help to transform the institution instead.

In November last year the cabinet approved a recommendation by the Swapo Party to have Namibia withdraw from the world court, following the example of Burundi, South Africa and Gambia.

Asked about progress made on this recommendation, the press secretary of the office of the president, Albertus Aochamub, said: “Namibia definitely has taken a position, and that remains as per the president''s address to African leaders at the African Union (AU) Summit last year.”

Aochamub added that due process must be followed in implementing such a decision and it takes time.

During the AU summit last year President Hage Geingob criticised the ICC and said Africans have a right to withdraw from it if they no longer agree with it.

“When one creates something to be an asset but later on it becomes an abomination, you have right to quit it since it has ceased serving its intended purpose,” he said.

However, DTA leader McHenry Venaani argues that Namibia should re-engage the institution on its approaches instead of leaving it.

According to him, leaving the ICC would give some countries carte-blanche to commit atrocities against their people in the name of sovereignty.

No alternative

Constitutional law expert Professor Nico Horn says he sees no alternative to the ICC because African countries are not willing to give up a bit of their sovereignty.

According to him plans to establish an African court to replace the ICC are doomed from the beginning.

“If Africans leave the ICC then there will be no alternative. Look at the SADC tribunal, it fell down when President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe was not happy with one of the judgments,” he said.

Horn also said Africa cannot suddenly bury its head in the sand and blame indictments on the ICC when African leaders were the ones who sent Africans for prosecution.

“The only indictment by the ICC was Kenya but it failed because Kenyans did not want to testify against their president. Most Africans indicted by ICC were sent by its own leaders. South Africa, for instance, agreed to the indictment of Muammar Gaddafi,” said Horn.

Gaddafi, the late Libyan leader, was indicted by the ICC in 2011 and was eventually killed by French-led NATO forces.

According to another political analyst, Graham Hopwood, Namibia needs to encourage and be part of global attempts to protect human rights such as the ICC.

“The ICC is not perfect and its apparently selective application in terms of prosecutions is problematic, but we should build alliances with other African countries and nations beyond to press for its reform rather than walk away. Africa has the largest bloc among ICC members and can use this presence to improve the ICC''s accountability,” he said.

Hopwood echoed Horn''s sentiments that there is no alternative to the ICC and that Africa should try and make it work.

“Unfortunately the African Court of Justice and Human Rights is not operational so there is no alternative to the ICC - we should just try to make it work.”

Bias

Political analyst Hoze Riruako said African states feel there is legal prejudice against African leaders and that it cannot be a good thing if only Africans are part of the institution.

“What is good for the goose must be good for the gander. Why are only African countries part of it? Why must Africa be at the mercy of others?” he asked.

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Lands accused of creating chaos

October 27, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Lands accused of creating chaosParliamentary committee slams resettlement programme The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts has accused the lands ministry of buying economical farming units and dividing them up into uneconomical units.

The Ministry of Land Reform and Resettlement has been accused of creating chaos through group resettlement and taking economical farming units and making them unproductive.

The ministry was also rapped over the knuckles for lease agreements that do not comply with the law. It was also highlighted that the ministry is buying farms for other ministries instead of using these farms for resettlement purposes.

These statements were made yesterday when the ministry was questioned by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts on the reports of the auditor-general on the accounts of the land reform and resettlement programme 2010 to 2013.

The committee specifically wanted to know whether the ministry would be able to take rich farmers out of communal areas to create more space for upcoming farmers.

The permanent secretary in the land reform ministry, Peter Amutenya, said the question was also raised at the first land conference when Namibia had about 4 600 white farmers.

“The process is still ongoing and it remains a challenge for Namibia to address rich farmers to leave communal areas.” The chairperson of the committee, Mike Kavekotora, said the ministry is taking economical units of 5 000 hectares and dividing them into uneconomical units.

“You know you are responsible for the communal areas. Rich farmers are depleting grazing in these areas, causing overgrazing. You will create space if you take out the rich farmers.”

He further said that the ministry was creating chaos through group resettlement and that commercial farming was much more controlled. “You are surrendering that person to poverty through this programme,” he said. Furthermore, the ministry was questioned about the total number of farms that have been bought in the south and were not used for resettlement.

Amutenya admitted that in total 42 farming units were bought but not used for resettlement by 2012/13.

He said of these, 16 units had water problems and 11 were put on the ministry''s priority list where 12 boreholes were drilled the following financial year, but no water was found.

“You bought farms and only after that you realised that there is no water. Is that a prudent way of acquiring an asset?” Kavekotora asked. Amutenya acknowledged that the processes used when acquiring some of the farms were insufficient.

He said a further 23 farming units still have not been allocated, while one was illegally occupied and two relinquished.

Amutenya said the government was not finding it difficult to acquire farms. “It is only in some regions that there is a problem.”

He admitted that the ministry had not reached its resettlement target, saying that the willing-buyer, willing seller method is partially working in some regions.

According to him, in Karas and Hardap regions offers for farms are coming in while the Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa, Khomas and Kunene regions remain a problem.

Kavekotora however charged that the people are not interested in hearing this, but only the fact that the process is hopelessly slow.

On another question, the committee said there are no allotment letters and lease agreements for farms allocated from the period 1992 to 1999 when the resettlement programme fell under the agricultural ministry although the list was handed over to the lands ministry.

Amutenya said there were some difficulties with the system and that out of 5 000 lease agreements 264 have been issued. These 264 lease agreements are only for the period of 2013/14 to the current financial period.

Kavekotora said the law says that lease agreements should be in order and therefore the ministry is in breach of the law.

The committee also asked the ministry how many farms had been bought for hunting purposes. According to Amutenya, seven game farms were acquired by the ministry. He said one of these farms was allocated to the environment ministry.

Kavekotora wanted to know if the ministry had the mandate to acquire farms on behalf of other ministries. “What was the objective to buy this farm for the environment ministry? You have a specific mandate to resettle previously disadvantaged people. Are you within your mandate?” he asked.

In response, Amutenya said the ministry was just assisting the government to acquire farms. “We are just the facilitators.”

“Is this in compliance with your mandate? No,” Kavekotora charged.

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Final report for NEEEF in pipeline

October 27, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Final report for NEEEF in pipelineDraft bill to be submitted to PM soon A constitutional law expert hopes the “worrying” elements raised during the consultation process on the New Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework Bill have been dealt with.

The permanent secretary in the prime minister''s office, Nangula Mbako, says the final report on the contentious New Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework (NEEEF) Bill is expected to be submitted to the prime minister soon.

According to her a preliminary report was submitted to the prime minister shortly after the conclusion of public consultations across the country.

“We are now in the process of submitting the final report to the PM,” said Mbako.

Constitutional law expert Professor Nico Horn said he hopes the “worrying” elements raised during the consultation process have been dealt with.

The consultation process was handled by the Law Reform and Development Commission, led by its chairperson, Yvonne Dausab.

“I have a suspicion the final draft bill that the prime minister will table will be much improved from what we saw in the beginning. During the last consultation with the LRDC, Dausab was much more accommodating than before,” said Horn. The bill proposes a mandatory minimum requirement that white-owned private companies sell “at least” 25%, or a percentage determined by a minister, to previously disadvantaged persons (PDPs). Another mandatory requirement is that that 50% of such companies'' management must consist of PDPs and that the equivalent of 0.5% of a company''s gross wages must be spent on training employees.

Optional requirements are that businesses introduce entrepreneurship development, comply with corporate social responsibility requirements and add value through technology and innovation. Of the 120 written submissions made to the government, most were related to questions on the constitutionality of the bill.

Though Article 23(2) “allows for legislation to be passed, rectifying wrongs of the past”, it was put forward that articles 16 and 21 guarantee the right to property ownership and the right to freedom of association.

These specific requirements have caused quite a stir in the economic sector and white business owners proposed that it might not be the right instrument to address the inequities resulting from past discriminatory laws and practices.

During one of the consultative meetings Eben de Klerk of ISG Risk Services said the government has a duty to see to it that no law is in conflict with the Namibian constitution.

Horn also argued that some problematic elements in the bill need to be addressed before a final draft is tabled.

“I do not think anyone is against affirmative action or black economic empowerment but the question is, how it can be done without wrecking the economy?” Horn said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Phosphate drama in parliament

October 27, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Phosphate drama in parliament

STAFF REPORTER

The debate about seabed phosphate mining off the Namibian coast led to a dramatic walkout by members of the opposition in the National Assembly yesterday after Deputy Speaker Loide Kasingo refused to allow discussion on the controversial matter.

This came after fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau had delivered a ministerial statement on the subject in which he reaffirmed his ministry’s objection to the issuing of an environmental clearance to Namibia Marine Phosphate (NMP).

NMP shareholding is divided among Mawarid Mining (Namibia) Pty Ltd (42.5%) and Sea Phosphates (Namibia) Pty Ltd (42.5%), both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Mawarid Mining LLC (85%), an Omani company, and Havana Investments Pty Ltd (15%), a Namibian company owned by businessman Knowledge Katti.

Despite strong resistance, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism granted a certificate to NMP to start with phosphate mining. Esau noted that a clearance certificate was granted despite the fact that the process of conducting a strategic environmental assessment had not been allowed to run its course.

“There are no credible scientific results backed by sound methodologies to justify issuance of an environmental clearance certificate,” Esau said.

“There are pre-established controls on how the mining is to be carried out to minimise aquatic ecosystem damage. It is worth noting that the clearance certificate indicates that the mining company will establish its own controls, an approach which in unacceptable from an official control point of view.”

Esau added there had been no public hearings on the data submitted for the environmental clearance as provided for by the Environmental Management Act, while the fisheries ministry was not asked for an opinion.

“I wish to point out, honourable members, that if this mining is allowed to commence, the damage to our seabed ecosystem cannot be reversed,” he said.

According to Esau, his ministry was not totally against phosphate mining, but wanted more time for carrying out a strategic environmental assessment to determine the kind of controls that can be exercised during such mining to minimise damage to marine life.

Poor communication

The ministries of fisheries and environment both have come under attack from members of the public and opposition politicians alike for making contradictory statements.

Leading the attack in the National Assembly yesterday was DTA leader McHenry Venaani, who slammed the government for not having an official position on phosphate since the granting of the clearance to NMP.

In response Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila seemingly confirmed that government had no uniform position on phosphate mining, adding that it was unfortunate how the matter has been handled.

At this point, opposition members, including Venaani and Swanu president Usutuaije Maamberua, rose to continue debating the issue.

However, they were overruled by Kasingo.

The opposition then walked out of the National Assembly in protest.

Meeting called

Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister released a statement just before that 17:00 yesterday indicating that a special cabinet meeting will be held on 7 November to discuss the matter in detail.

“The Namibian nation will be informed of the strategic decision taken by the Government of the Republic of Namibia on the matter,” read the statement signed by cabinet secretary George Simataa.

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Tough times bring tough choices

October 27, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Tough times bring tough choicesCalle cuts N$5.5bn from national budget Drastic spending cuts include putting on hold the unpopular new parliament building and prime minister’s office building.

DENVER ISAACS

Finance minister Calle Schlettwein yesterday announced extensive cuts in government expenditure in response to waning global and domestic economic conditions.

As part of his second annual mid-term budget review, Schlettwein announced a freeze on N$5.5 billion in spending allocated in the N$66 billion national budget tabled in February.

“The Namibian economy has never before been in such a precarious situation. This calls for a well-conceived, timely, resolute and consistent policy response,” the minister said, one day after his counterpart in South Africa, Pravin Gordhan, announced similar measures there.

N$2.82 billion was cut from the national operational budget and N$2.7 billion from the development budget.

Of those freed-up funds, Schlettwein said N$4.5 billion (some 81.8%), would be saved to compensate for a revenue shortfall, while the remaining N$1 billion will be reallocated to urgent funding priorities.

In the operational budget, spending cuts are made by freezing public service vacancies, materials and supplies, subsistence and travel allowances, transport, overtime, operational equipment and machinery, vehicles, office furniture and transfers to public enterprises, the minister said.

From the development budget, cabinet resolved to place a moratorium on any new office buildings, including major projects such as the planned new parliament building and a building to house the prime minister’s office.

“In reality, new development projects will only enter the expenditure framework as fiscal space that is consistent with the fiscal stance and adjustment path emerges,” Schlettwein said.

Identified priorities

The minister named seven key priority areas that will receive reallocated funds, including N$350 million to go to the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to fund completion of the Neckartal Dam.

N$150 million will go to the Office of the Prime Minister to fund the government’s drought-relief programme, while N$150 million will go to the orphans and vulnerable children programme run by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare.

N$50 million will be allocated to the settlement of Mass Housing contracts under the Ministry of Urban and Rural Development, while N$100 million each was allocated to the University of Namibia and the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).

How we got here?

Explaining the underlying conditions which led up to yesterday’s announcements, Schlettwein said Namibia experienced robust growth in the seven years following the 2008 global financial crisis, supported by a commodity boom cycle.

During that time, the country embarked on a prolonged countercyclical expansionary fiscal drive, which, when global conditions turned worse, resulted in the country’s debt surpassing growth in GDP, which is now beyond the sustainability threshold.

“In our domestic economy, a convergence of contributing factors, ranging from low commodity prices, prolonged drought conditions as well as currency and exchange rate shocks, have diminished short-term growth prospects,” the minister said.

Major constraints in this financial year alone, he said, were due in part to low external demand for Namibia’s goods, and fallout from lower growth and domestic challenges in major trading partners South Africa and Angola.

“For the current fiscal year, the revenue is expected to fall short of forecast levels by approximately 9%, or some N$6.23 billion, due to the sharp reduction in economic activity,” Schlettwein said.

Such lower projected revenue, he said, would have resulted in the expected budget deficit in 2016/2017 growing from an initial forecast of 4.3% to a more severe 7.8% unless action was taken to cut spending.

Anticipating February 2017’s budget

The finance minister announced a number of planned proposals in the next full budget to enhance the revenue side.

These include a proposal for introduction of a presumptive tax applicable to small businesses; proposals to eliminate a range of tax exemptions as well as the tax deductibility of some items currently considered.

An earlier proposal of a ‘solidarity wealth tax’ on high-income earners will be redesigned, while provisions of the current Capital Gains Tax will be expanded and strengthened.

He said the government remained committed to public enterprise reforms in the hope of achieving partial listing of some public enterprises.

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Nam’s financial independence in the balance

October 28, 2016, 1:11 am

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Nam’s financial independence in the balance

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Gordhan could have slashed more

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Gordhan could have slashed moreThe DA said it would strongly oppose identified wasteful expenditure in Treasury''s mid-term budget review, allocated to amongst others, new government vehicles, foreign trips and private security. R1.1bn more could have been saved on wasteful spend – MP

There is more than R1bn of wasteful expenditure hidden in the medium-term budget Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan delivered on Wednesday, Democratic Alliance spokesperson on finance David Maynier said in a statement on Friday.

“Careful scrutiny of the 2016/17 adjusted estimates of expenditure,” said Maynier, “reveals shocking levels of wasteful expenditure.”

According to Maynier, the adjusted budget makes provision for a number of unnecessary and wasteful items, including: a new ministerial vehicle for Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies costing close to R1.72 million; two new ministerial vehicles for Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa costing about R3 million; a new ministerial vehicle for Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Buti Manamela amounting to about R1.97 million; and new ministerial vehicles for the Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Public Service and Administration totalling close to R3.38 million.

Maynier''s analysis of the 2016/17 adjusted budget also reveals spending on the following: R950 million on “foreign missions” for the international relations and cooperation department; R95.97 million on “leasing transport aircraft” for the defence department; R47.28 million on “guarding services” for the defence department; R32.03 million for “cellphones and data contracts” for the labour department; R18.5 million for “ministerial travel and outreach” at the social development department; R11 million for “VIP protection services” at the police department; R2.1 million for “legal fees” at the presidency; R1 million for “office equipment for the minister” at the labour department; R600 000 for the “replacement of office furniture” for the labour department''s attaché in Geneva; and R1 000 for a “traffic fine” at the public enterprises department.

According to Maynier, expenditure on these items comes down to R10.07 million on new ministerial vehicles.

“With proper maintenance, existing vehicles would probably last over the medium term,” he said.

“It is also not necessary to spend R950 million more on foreign missions when many of them serve no purpose other than to support retired cadres. And it''s not necessary to spend R47.28 million employing private security companies to guard defence force facilities when the army is awash with soldiers who have nothing to do.”

Fin24 earlier reported that government departments continued to spend vast amounts of money on consultants, travel, catering and entertainment in the 2015/16 financial year, despite Gordhan''s stringent cost containment measures.

Altogether R35.2 billion was spent on consultants, travel and subsistence as well as catering and entertainment.

Maynier said in his statement the DA intends to “strongly oppose” the more than R1.18 billion of “wasteful expenditure” identified, and will propose amendments to the the adjusted budget in Parliament.

NEWS24

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Mid-term budget in review

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Mid-term budget in reviewLast week''s announced budget cuts are an opportunity for the State to chisel a more efficient role for itself, in the national economy. Time for private sector to step up

Extensive budget cuts announced by Finance Minister Calle Schlettwein may have its risks, but are vital if the country is to maintain its economic independence.

This was the message shared by the Minister on Friday at a post-announcement breakfast following his second annual mid-year budget review in Parliament.

“Retaining our fiscal sovereignty is absolutely paramount. If we don''t take these actions now, someone else will do it for us, down the line,” Schlettwein said.

Analysts, while mostly in agreement that the steps were necessary, have expressed fears that the ministry''s cutting of some N$5.5 billion from this year''s national budget could effectively slip the country into recession solely based on the substantial role government plays in the local economy, at around one third of total activity.

“That (fear) was extensively discussed in deciding how far to go,” Schlettwein told members of the business community at the Hilton Hotel in Windhoek.

“Our feeling is that, in the current situation we can take that risk. We have a new (uranium) mine (Husab) that is expected to soon come into play, we just recently saw a new gold mine going into production and our tourism sector has been doing well,” Schlettwein said.

Current drought conditions across the country, he said, while drawn out over the last three years, were considered of a passing nature.

“Despite these difficult times, Namibia remains growing at a respectable rate of 3% on average. Others would love to be us right now,” Standard Bank CEO Junius Mungunda, who sat on a panel discussion with the minister, said in response to Thursday''s mid-year review.

“As long as we are able to emerge from this current situation in the next three or so years,” Mungunda opined.

Time to PPP

Expanding on his announcement of more emphasis to be placed on public private partnerships (PPP), Schlettwein said such agreements could both help free up capital expenditure from the State''s side, while providing good investment opportunities for the private sector.

“If effectively handled, there may in fact not be any real reduction in capital expenditure,” Schlettwein said.

The minister also hinted at possible tax changes, noting that while aggressive taxation would not be the way to go, there was still room to broaden the country''s tax base.

In that sense, he said double taxation agreements with trading partner countries and a Capital Gains tax (more extensive than current transfer duties), could be expected.

“Some of the tax exemptions we have in place now are not helping us. They basically only allow people to live easier, with government footing the bill,” he said.

SMEs must shape up

The minister also had a stern message for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who heard on Thursday that they would likely be affected by a form of presumptive tax, come his next full budget announcement, in February 2017.

A key criticism against many such start-ups, Schlettwein said, was that they comprised of “nothing more but a person with a cellphone in an office.”

Once provided with a tender, he said often the only action these companies take is to call on other suppliers to outsource the work they were assigned to.

Moving forward, he said government would ensure that tender applicants meet certain requirements to prove their worth, including local employee numbers.

Stating his ambitions for the country''s SME sector, he said it was necessary for them to expand the country''s production capacity.

At present, he said, the sector was mainly comprised of traders.

In addition, he said government''s tax revenue from especially entities involved in the extraction industries, often came to nil.

“Now, if there has been no tax return on investment in our natural resources, or extractive industries, for 10 years, is it not advisable that we take that investment elsewhere to where it can be shown to be more profitable,” he said.

Mungunda acknowledged that, as one of the country''s four major banks, that Standard Bank has seen some effect from the State''s recent freezing of tenders.

“Especially from new, up and coming entrepreneurs who have come to us and said that they wanted to restructure here and there, based on delays in government support,” Mungunda said.

In conclusion, Schlettwein noted that the current pressing economic times, coupled with the State''s announced new direction, provide an opportunity to better align government''s role in the economy.

“Up to now, we have had enough (resources) to absorb the inefficiencies we have had in the past, but not anymore,” he said.

The budget review event was a joint collaboration between financial services company PWC, Standard Bank Namibia and Namibia Media Holdings (NMH).

DENVER ISAACS

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Mourinho's right-hand man fumes

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Mourinho's right-hand man fumesJose Mourinho''s assistant got a rare moment to take centre stage after Manchester United drew with Burnley. Manchester assistant bemoans Herrera red card

Manchester United assistant manager Rui Faria suggested sarcastically that referee Mark Clattenburg did “fantastic work” by sending off Ander Herrera during their 0-0 draw with Burnley.

United midfielder Herrera was dismissed for two bookable offences, the second of which came midway through the second half for a foul on Dean Marney.

The Spaniard appeared to slip as he made the challenge, but Clattenburg ruled it worthy of a booking and issued a red card.

Herrera wasn''t the only one to see red at Old Trafford as Faria conducted post-match media duties, with manager Jose Mourinho absent after being sent to the stand for reportedly protesting too strongly at half-time following a rejected penalty appeal.

Mourinho was believed to be angry that Clattenburg had refused to penalise Burnley full-back Jon Flanagan, who escaped punishment after appearing to catch Matteo Darmian''s trailing leg on the edge of the penalty area just before half-time.

Asked about the sending off incident, Faria said: “I just want to say it was fantastic work from the referee.”

Faria refused to confirm why Mourinho had been sent to the stand, saying: “I don''t know and I don''t think it is really important.

“I think what is important is what the referee will write in his report. I can''t give you more details.”

Despite his dismissal, Mourinho was able to communicate with Faria via written messages passed down by another member of his coaching staff, but his notes weren''t enough to stop United''s winless run in the league extending to a fourth match.

Burnley secured their first away point of the season largely thanks to a superb goalkeeping performance from Tom Heaton.

The former Manchester United youth keeper made a series of magnificent saves, denying Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic among others.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche saluted Heaton''s display and: “I think Tom Heaton was superb. He is in very good form.

“We kept him so quiet last year that I think he has been saving it up.”

Heaton''s best save was a block from a stinging Ibrahimovic volley, although Dyche was wary of giving the goalkeeper too much praise.

“He just spread himself. Keepers get hit in the face all the time. It''s his job,” he said.

EPL results

Saturday 29 October

Crystal Palace 2-4 Liverpool

Watford 1-0 Hull City

Middlesbrough 2-0 Bournemouth

Manchester United 0-0 Burnley

West Bromwich Albion 0-4 Manchester City

Tottenham 1-1 Leicester City

Sunderland 1-4 Arsenal

NAMPA/AFP

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Stars delight at awards

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Stars delight at awardsThe sport men and women who shone during the year were handsomely rewarded for their efforts at the Sport Awards on Friday. Ceremony surpasses expectations

Namibia''s elite athletes were on Friday given five-star treatment when the annual Sport Awards were staged at Windhoek''s Country Club Resort and Casino.

The awards captured the spirit of Namibian sports stars, who regularly have to churn out remarkable performances despite little funding coming their way.

Namibian Sun also got on in the act as its sport reporter, Kaino Nghitongo claimed the top prize among print journalists.

With musical performances by among others Big Ben, Matongo Family and Suzy Eises, the patrons were thoroughly entertained during an evening that saw the who''s who in Namibian sport gathering.

Here are some of the best moments from the evening.

Full award winners

Coach of the year: Mike Hamukwaya

Referee/Umpire of the year: Jackson Pavaza

Most Improved Sportsperson of the year: Johannes Nambala

Team of the year: 4×100m Paralympic relay team

Junior Sport man of the year: Dellano Muller

Junior sportswoman of the year: Mayvonne Swart

Junior Sport woman of the year with disability: Lahja Ishitile

Junior Sport man of the year with disability: Abraham Hafenanye.

Chairperson''s award: Mike Hamukwaya.

Sportsman of the year with disability: Ananias Shikongo

Sport woman of the year with disability: Johanna Benson

Sport woman of the year: Beata Naigambo

Sport man of the year: Rudolf Dewet Moolman

Sport Achiever of the year: Ananias Shikongo

Sport reporter of the year (print): Kaino Nghitongo (Namibian Sun)

Sport reporter of the year (photographer): Hesron Kapanga (Nampa)

Lifetime achievement awards: Ismael ''Lemmy'' Narib, Johannes ''Salute'' Coleman and Toivo Tataai.

HECTOR MAWONGA

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Kudus snatch Dolphin Cup

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Kudus snatch Dolphin CupScholtz shines in ICC WCL Championship Swakopmund''s rugby fans were treated to some great action during the Day of the Dolphin tournament over the weekend.

The Vineta Sports Stadium in Swakopmund was packed to capacity as local rugby teams battled it out in the ''Day of the Dolphin Rugby Tournament'' on Saturday.

Kudus Rugby Club from Walvis Bay won the one-day annual tournament and walked away with N$10 000 and a floating trophy.

The Kudus defeated Tisan from Windhoek by 10-5 in the final game.

“This is the fourth time we are winning this cup, I did not coach the team last year when we lost the cup to St Lu but I returned this year to take it home,” Kudus coach Donavan Paulse told Nampa.

Their previous victories were in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Paulse said he is happy that the team demonstrated they can compete and win. “I instil discipline in my players just like any other coach, that''s why you see the games were peaceful. I am very excited to be the winner,” he said.

Tisan received a cheque of N$6 000 for second place.

Dolphin Rugby Club from Swakopmund and Rehoboth Rugby Club from Rehoboth took the third and fourth places respectively, with prize money of N$4 000 and N$2 000.

Chad Plato from Kudus was chosen as Player of the Tournament.

Other participating teams were Eastern Bulls from Gobabis, Walvis Bay Rugby Club, Dolphins 2 and Rehoboth 2. In the tournament opening speech, Dolphin legend Ralph Bussel encouraged players to commit to the sport and make a living out of it.

He said players are fortunate to have equipment and good coaches at their disposal which they must make full use of.

“When we started more than 30 years ago, we did not have stadiums with grass, qualified trainers and modern equipment. You have it now, so you are privileged,” Bussel told the young players.

Dolphin Rugby Club organised the tournament with SBS Trucking, Cross Road Car Sales and Eagles Night Watch as sponsors.

NAMPA

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Was Vision 2016 well-articulated?

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Was Vision 2016 well-articulated? Just thinking even louder about the failed Vision 2016 programme, that has not only seen taxpayers money going to waste, but also a waste of someone''s time.

Well, nobody anticipated that things will turn out the way they have, but I for one can attest to it that there was no proper planning.

So, here we are busying biting off our fingers and probably hiding under tables from the failed programme that we thought would bring glory to the Namibian nation.

While I sympathise with the poor athletes who are sitting at home and waiting to hear about their future in the Caribbean country (Jamaica), let me also question the authorities that gave a green light to this programme.

I firstly want to know how the athletes were selected and if it was based on athletic performance, then how did they end up studying if we are now hearing that they do not qualify to pursue courses such as sport science.

Was that not known or did someone just think of keeping it a secret, hoping that we will never hear about it.

It angers people like me who are passionate about sports to think of how much money went to waste; first for not producing what we intended to and for selling false hopes to us that these athletes would be studying sport science. Now, news has it that they do not have the necessary qualifications to pursue such courses.

As much as I sympathise with these athletes that some are even suggesting that they return home, I must point out how shocked I was to hear that despite them going to Jamaica in 2013 and one hoping that they would be in their third year, I have learned that some are only going into second year now, which for me does not make sense.

If you got a chance to study, for that matter without even having to fork out a cent, then why not “grab the opportunity presented to you and make the best out of it.”

So I am just thinking, will the programme still remain Vision 2016 and if so, are all the activities that the athletes will be taking part in funded by the ministry considering the budget blows that the sport ministry is faced with, and if so, where will the money to fund the athletes that will prepare for the next Olympic Games come from?

We have heard that the Olympic cycle is four years and that does not mean training a year before the Games, but it must start just immediately after the Olympic Games. We have the championships coming next year; the question here, is how ready we are for such a competition?

I guess those who initiated such a programme are now sitting with egg on their faces as they try to make an assessment of the whole programme and what fruits they reaped from it.

I honestly think Vision 2016 should be discontinued and if such athletes genuinely qualify to pursue the courses they are taking then through the assistances of the Ministry of Sport, let them apply for funding from NASFAF and let the money in the sports ministry be spent on sports development and preparation of athletes and not on athletes'' studies.

The ministry and NASFAF can have a memorandum of understanding that stipulates that athletes who wish to pursue their sport careers will be guaranteed funding if they qualify.

We need to be strategic in our planning and be able to convince government on the needs of sport in the country and that the money should be made available to the directorate of sports is utilised efficiently.

At this point in time, I think there is a need for the directorate of sports to sit down and look at what exactly we want to achieve from sports, so that we don''t find ourselves just participating for the sake of it and not have a clear vision of what we want to achieve.

As we are now at an infant stage of drafting and thinking about what programmes we can set in place to have a number of athletes qualify for the next Olympics, let me advise that whatever programme put in place, if there will be any, should be those that guarantee results and not just to fight for one athlete like what happened this year where we had 10 athletes in the Vision 2016 programme but what the nine were doing was ignored to focus on one athlete.

Let us save ourselves from being called a failed country in sports by coming up with programmes that will give us results and make sure we get maximum value for money spent.

kaino@namibiansun.com

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Kudus return to snatch Dolphin Cup

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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≪ Previous: Was Vision 2016 well-articulated?

Kudus return to snatch Dolphin Cup

The Vineta Sports Stadium in Swakopmund was packed to capacity as local rugby teams battled it out in the ''Day of the Dolphin Rugby Tournament'' on Saturday.

Kudus Rugby Club from Walvis Bay won the one-day annual tournament and walked away with N$10 000 and a floating trophy.

The Kudus defeated Tisan from Windhoek by 10-5 in the final game.

“This is the fourth time we are winning this cup, I did not coach the team last year when we lost the cup to St Lu but I returned this year to take it home,” Kudus coach Donavan Paulse told Nampa.

Their previous victories were in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Paulse said he is happy that the team demonstrated they can compete and win.

“I instil discipline in my players just like any other coach, that’s why you see the games were peaceful. I am very excited to be the winner,” he said.

Tisan received a cheque of N$6 000 for second place.

Dolphin Rugby Club from Swakopmund and Rehoboth Rugby Club from Rehoboth took the third and fourth places respectively, with prize money of N$4 000 and N$2 000.

Chad Plato from Kudus was chosen as Player of the Tournament.

Other participating teams were Eastern Bulls from Gobabis, Walvis Bay Rugby Club, Dolphins 2 and Rehoboth 2.

In the tournament opening speech, Dolphin legend Ralph Bussel encouraged players to commit to the sport and make a living out of it.

He said players are fortunate to have equipment and good coaches at their disposal which they must make full use of.

“When we started more than 30 years ago, we did not have stadiums with grass, qualified trainers and modern equipment. You have it now, so you are privileged,” Bussel told the young players.

Dolphin Rugby Club organised the tournament with SBS Trucking, Cross Road Car Sales and Eagles Night Watch as sponsors.

NAMPA

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Shikongo brings house down

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Shikongo brings house downFriday''s Sport Awards will long be remembered for the way Ananias Shikongo''s success was celebrated and powerful speeches delivered by the night''s two keynote speakers. Paralympic star claims top sport award

Ananias Shikongo was the undoubted star of Friday''s sport awards which took place at the Windhoek Country Club Resort and Casino.

The Paralympic star won three awards after claiming the Sportsman with Disability of the Year and the Sport Achiever of the Year while also being part of the Paralympic Relay team that won the Team of the Year.

His awards also came with hefty prize money totalling more than N$300 000.

The sport achiever gong comes with N$200 000 while the Sportsman with Disability award is worth N$100 000. He will also get his share of N$100 000 from the team of the year prize. A clearly elated Shikongo had the crowd eating out of the palms of his hands after he collected the sport achiever of the year award.

“Now I can call myself a national hero,” he said to much laughter.

“I have to thank my coaches, the sponsors and everybody that continues to support us, every time. I am just happy that I have now also equalised for the men by winning gold,” he joked.

Shikongo''s recognition comes on the back of a period filled with medals won at the All Africa Games, the IPC World Championships and the 2016 Paralympic Games in Brazil.

We care

Meanwhile, Minister of Sport Jerry Ekandjo in his keynote address made it clear that the Namibian government considers sport as a valuable part of nation building.

“I have noticed that the general public seems to have concluded that sport is not considered important by our government,” he said.

“I would like to dispel this notion because our government considers sports as an important element in nation building as we believe that there are numerous health benefits of sport and physical activity.”

He added that it is only limited resources that hamper government from spending bigger amounts on sports.

“We simply have limited financial resources and competing priorities and I therefore call on the sporting fraternity to be patient with our government.”

Ekandjo commended Namibian administrators for their efforts in keeping sports going, despite the many challenges faced.

“The sporting community in Namibia is courageous and has perseverance; that spirit has not gone unnoticed with the leadership of this country.”

No easy walk

MTC''s Tim Ekandjo also gave a moving speech regarding an issue that threatens to destroy both sport and society at large.

“I wish to speak about an issue very close to my heart, racism, sexism and tribalism. For those of you who are tired of hearing about racism, imagine how much more we are tired constantly experiencing it, so yes we will talk about it over and over again till we completely eradicate the perpetrators,” he said.

“I am well aware that my remarks tonight will not be received well by those who wish to justify that racisms doesn''t exist. I am however comforted by the fact that there is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us would have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountain top of our desires, which in this case is a free and prosperous Namibian house in which we regard each other as equals, and most importantly as human beings.”

The younger Ekandjo went on to explain that racism in sport is a sign of racism in society.

“Racism oppresses its victims, but it also binds the oppressors, who sear their conscience with more and more lies until they become prisoners of those lies. They cannot face the truth of human equality because it reveals the horrors of the injustices they commit,” he argued.

“We must shame those who resort to racist behaviour, we must call them by name, we must ban them from our societies, and in sports we must give them red cards instead of protecting them.”

This year MTC was the platinum sponsor while NamPower came in as a gold co-sponsor.

Other sponsors included First National Bank; Namibia Wildlife Resorts; Coca-Cola Bottling; The Namibian newspaper and Namibian Broadcasting Corporation.

HECTOR MAWONGA

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A number of ancient churches ruined

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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A number of ancient churches ruinedIt was also felt strongly in the capital Rome, where transport authorities shut down the metro system for precautionary checks. New earthquake rocks Italy

A powerful earthquake struck Italy yesterday in the same central regions that have been rocked by repeated tremors over the past two months, with more buildings brought down but no deaths immediately reported.

The quake, which measured 6.6 according to the U.S. Geological Survey, was bigger than one on Aug. 24 that killed almost 300 people. Many people have fled the region since then, helping to avoid a new devastating death toll. The latest quake was felt across much of Italy, striking at 7.40 a.m. (0640 GMT), its epicentre close to the historic Umbrian walled town of Norcia, some 100 km (60 miles) from the university city of Perugia.

Panicked Norcia residents rushed into the streets and the town''s ancient Basilica of St. Benedict collapsed, leaving just the facade standing. Nuns, monks and locals sank to their knees in the main square in silent prayer before the shattered church.

“This is a tragedy. It is a coup de grace. The basilica is devastated,” Bishop Renato Boccardo of Norcia told Reuters.

“Everyone has been suspended in a never-ending state of fear and stress. They are at their wits end,” said Boccardo, referring to the thousands of tremors that have rattled the area since August, including two serious quakes on Wednesday.

Italy''s Civil Protection unit, which coordinates disaster relief, said numerous houses were destroyed on Sunday in the regions of Umbria and Marche, but either they were deserted at the time or most of the residents managed to escape beforehand.

“No deaths have been reported, but there are a number of people injured,” said Civil Protection chief Fabrizio Curcio, adding that just one person was in a serious condition.

Local authorities said towns and villages already battered by August''s 6.2 quake had suffered further significant damage.

“This morning''s quake has hit the few things that were left standing. We will have to start from scratch,” Michele Franchi, the deputy mayor of Arquata del Tronto, told Rai television.

Experts said Sunday''s quake was the strongest here since a 6.9 quake in Italy''s south in 1980 that killed 2,735 people.

Artistic loss

The destruction of the Norcia basilica was the single most significant loss of Italy''s artistic heritage in an earthquake since a tremor in 1997 caused the collapse of the ceiling of the Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, which is 80 km to the north.

The frescoed basilica, which is the spiritual, historic and tourist heart of Norcia, was built over the site of the home where the founder of the Benedictine order and his Sister St. Scolastica were born in 480.

The basilica and monastery complex dates to the 13th century, although shrines to St. Benedict and his sister had been built in the 8th century.

Benedict founded the Benedictine order in Subiaco, near Rome. He died in 530 in the monastery at Monte Cassino, south of Rome, which was destroyed during World War Two. That monastery was later rebuilt.

A number of other churches were also ruined on Sunday, Italian media reported, including Norcia''s Cattedrale di Santa Maria, which was built in the 16th century.

However, most of Norcia''s homes appeared to have withstood the prolonged tremor, with residents praising years of investment by local authorities in anti-seismic protection.

Sunday''s earthquake was felt as far north as Bolzano, near the border with Austria and as far south as the Puglia region at the southern tip of the Italian peninsula.

Italy sits on two geological fault lines, making it one of the most seismically active countries in Europe.

Italy''s deadliest quake since the start of the 20th century came in 1908, when a tremor followed by a tsunami killed an estimated 80,000 people in the southern regions of Reggio Calabria and Sicily.

NAMPA/REUTERS

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ANC's strategy for 'Nkandla 2'

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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ANC's strategy for 'Nkandla 2'While President Jacob Zuma battles in court to delay the release of the Public Protector''s report on alleged state capture before questioning witnesses who gave evidence implicating him, the ANC leadership now seeks a strategy to deal with the report''s potential impact on the party. The ConCourt also found that Parliament had failed in its duties.

An interim ANC national working committee (NWC) report has flagged the need to adopt a “concrete strategy” to handle the Public Protector''s investigation into state capture, of which the final report is believed to implicate Zuma.

“The state capture investigation by the Public Protector is going to be a complication that requires a concrete strategy by the ANC,” the report reads.

The party is planning in advance to find ways to buffer the potential impact, considering that barely six months have passed since the Constitutional Court found that President Zuma failed to uphold and protect the Constitution.

At the same time, there is said to be a furore raging at branch level about the current leadership''s failure to foster accountability.

The report shows that the party is walking on egg shells after branches – a number of which called for Zuma''s head – have criticised the party''s national executive committee (NEC) for failing party members in its handling of the Nkandla ConCourt judgment and prematurely closing its own probe into state capture.

The party''s decision to change tactics and not repeat past mistakes is apparently linked to this outcry from the branches.

City Press understands that should the Public Protector''s report contain adverse findings on Zuma or any other official in the ANC, the party would have no option but to subject them to either the party''s integrity commission or disciplinary committee.

If Zuma were to decide to take the report for a review, the party''s planned action could be delayed.

Although the NWC report has not suggested alternative strategies to counter the fallout if leaders were implicated in state capture, City Press understands that it comes after thorough consultation with branches.

The report notes how branches insisted that apart from “collective responsibility” they wanted to see an element of “individual responsibility” taken into account.

The report nudged the NEC to be bold and candid in developing a programme of action towards the 2019 elections and to confront the negativity said to characterise the party.

“Any sense of being in denial will delay recovery and risk, deepening the crisis further. It is only boldness that will save the soul of the ANC,” the report says.

But this would “require openness to the ideas of people in structures” and “engaging with those who have a destructive approach”.

The report cautioned against a vindictive attitude towards dissenting voices in the party, which it said fed into the current negativity.

Despite a tone of reconciliation, an open war continued to play itself out in the ANC this week, as some leaders scolded their colleagues who dared to speak out about the crisis.

This included reaction to ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu, after he told City Press he had proposed to the national executive committee that the party''s top leaders step down for having failed members.

Currently, the ANC is also divided over the pending prosecution of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, whose fraud case is set for Wednesday, with leaders openly disapproving of colleagues who expressed support for Gordhan.

Meanwhile, the party''s military veterans chairperson, Kebby Maphatsoe, an ardent Zuma supporter, claimed the NWC report could have been doctored.

He is among those who have called for Mthembu, labelled as ill-disciplined for speaking out, to be removed from Parliament.

The report went on to make certain recommendations for the 2019 elections:

- To focus on the coloured and Indian vote and in doing so, to counter the view that the ANC has abandoned nonracialism;

- To subject the NEC to a reorientation, as the party tries to unite branches ahead of its next conference;

- To ensure ministers and MECs deliver on projects and support ward councillors;

- To ensure NEC members helped the organisation recuperate and reach out to broader society, with visits to homes, and resolve issues around manipulation of list processes; and

- To embark on an education programme for party organisers.

Meanwhile, the report stated that the ANC can no longer use the lame excuse that people must bring “evidence” about corruption.

NEWS24

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Shot of the day

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Shot of the day

OUR OF CONTROL: Rubbish burns after students protested outside the parliament during South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan''s medium term budget speech in Cape Town last week.

Photo: NAMPA/AFP

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A very real threat to peace and stability

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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A very real threat to peace and stability Somehow, unnoticed, a real threat to harmony and order in society has arisen quietly and unobserved.

It''s been going on for a while, but the pressure is building and it seems on the brink of explosion.

Judging by situations and events taking place, every single day on our streets and by a highly publicised event in recent weeks, Namibians seem to be ready to act, taking the law into their own hands when it comes to bad, inconsiderate and plain selfish driving on our roads.

As with a lot of things in society, as always, it is a small minority of unaware, not interested, downright lawless individuals, with complete disregard for fellow citizens that seem to be the cause of this.

Be that as it may, it does not change anything from the reality that ordinary law abiding citizens are fed up the hilt of this on-going, diabolical situation that if anything, is getting worse by the day.

Of course, we have to acknowledge and say thank you to law enforcement agencies for doing a very difficult job. Your actions for instance during this past weekend and previous weekends are worthwhile, but unfortunately, way too passive for what we are dealing with and the potential results of what is at stake, if it is left to deteriorate any further.

We need to educate drivers about the massive responsibility of being in control of a vehicle and even more importantly, when carrying passengers, whose lives and livelihoods are dependent on their actions. If this educational process means massive, continuous fines, impounding of vehicles or time behind bars, then so be it. The results, if unchecked, could very easily turn into widespread public disorder, as we have already started to witness on a small scale.

This is about law enforcement and changing the attitudes of rogue drivers, because the single biggest cause for bad driving – is disregard for rules of the road and the “couldn''t care less about consequences, nothing will happen to me” attitude – because of lack of law enforcement agencies to enforce the law.

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Wildlife translocated to Khaudum

October 30, 2016, 3:00 pm

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Wildlife translocated to Khaudum

A total of 200 impala, 50 blue wildebeest and 50 eland are being translocated to the Khaudum National Park in north eastern Namibia and three neighbouring conservancies.

The translocation is being carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and supported by the German Federal Government through its Development Bank KfW.

According to a statement issued by KfW, the impala have just been successfully released into Khaudum National Park in the Kavango East Region and this will soon be followed by the Blue wildebeest and eland. Some of the impala have come from the Von Bach Dam which was overstocked and the rest have come from private game farms. The eland and wildebeest are coming from Waterberg National Park, which has surplus populations of both species.

Khaudum National Park is part of a “complex” which includes Nyae Nyae Conservancy to the south, and George Mukoya and Muduva Nyangana Conservancies to the north.

The new animals will be free to move between the park and these conservancies.

According to a statement issued, these animals will benefit the local communities in conservancy and tourism.

Wildlife populations in the Khaudum National Park complex - including the neighbouring conservancies in Kavango East and Otjozondjupa East regions will be enriched.

Ecosystems will be restored through the re-introduction of locally extinct species – which used to be found in the area in historic times, says the statement.

Also, the livelihoods of the people living in neighbouring conservancies will be improved through sustainable use of wildlife. “This is because they will be able to offer their joint venture partners a bigger range of species for tourism and trophy hunting.”

Furthermore, tourists in Khaudum will have a better experience as there be more wildlife to observe and photograph.

Human-wildlife conflict in nearby farms will be reduced, because there will be a wider range of suitable prey species for lions, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas.

Tourism concessions and hunting projects undertaken by communities in the north east generate more than N$17.5m per year in local benefits, which are directly linked to the successful management of the parks.

The four national parks in north-eastern Namibia (Khaudum, Bwabwata, Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara) are at the heart of the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area. KAZA has a total area of 520,000 square kilometres with wonderful natural attractions and a largely untapped tourism potential.

The five neighbouring countries (Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe) decided to develop KAZA for the benefit of the whole region. Namibia plays a major role in KAZA and enables the free movement of wildlife between Botswana and Angola.

STAFF REPORTER

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