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Our challenges are twofold

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Our challenges are twofoldOur challenges are twofold It was with horror that we learned of a molestation case in Swakopmund, certainly not the first and most definitely not the last, where four minor girls were molested for a period of more than a year, repeatedly.

It is not often that we report on child rapes, not as often as car crashes and corruption in any case, but they are prevalent. Molestation however, not so much.

This is a concern because molestation of minor boys and girls exists and we are sure that it is quite common. What we do see however, is that these cases are reported after an extended period of time. There are several factors which contribute to the low rate of reporting of these matters. One of these is that the parents do not know. They are absent from the home, working in some cases, and in others, drinking at shebeens, entirely unaware of where their small children find themselves. Statistics have shown though, that most cases of molestation are perpetrated by someone the family, and the child, knows. More often than not, a brother or sister, or an uncle or aunt, or a grandparent.

And then it becomes a matter of shame for the family. Parents do not want people to know their child has been touched or they do not want people to know that their brother or sister or parent, whatever the case may be, is a paedophile.

In most cases, these children are not provided with any form of counselling, and there is no justice for them as the perpetrator is protected, by the very people who should be protecting the child – the parents.

So our challenges here are twofold: We have irresponsible parents who leave their children at home when they go to the shebeen, or even worse, they take them with, leaving them open to predation. The other challenge is working parents who leave their children home in the afternoons, in the care of an older sibling, as was the case in Swakopmund, and this type of predation takes place while the parents work.

Maybe it is time that parents are held responsible too, if neglect can be shown. As is the case in other countries, including the UK.

'We are sidelined'

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'We are sidelined''We are sidelined' //Karas residents say government has forgotten them Residents of Namibia''s deep south say land allocation is skewed and resettlement is a political process which excludes them. The Namibian government was in no uncertain terms told to not only single out resettlement, to but give the same high priority and attention to all other land-related issues in the country.

Furthermore, its current land policies and unequal land allocations are the most critical issues affecting the villages of Tses and Berseba in the country'' south.

Issues of unequal distribution of land, loopholes in the current resettlement process, discrimination in land allocation and the alleged silencing of outspoken leaders on these issues, were highlighted two weeks ago during the civil society organisations (CSO) working group on land consultation in the //Karas Region.

These consultative meetings are being held in preparation of the second land conference, which was slated for the end of this year but has now been postponed to next year at a date yet to be determined. The working group, spearheaded by social scientist and land reform activist, Sima Luiperd, which also covered other villages in the

//Karas Region, in a media statement said the residents of Tses and Berseba have expressed concern about a lack of access to land, water, housing, development, tenure on resettlement farms, poor participation in the current land reform debate and consultations with the youth.

However, a number of residents singled out the policy of resettlement as the most burning issue that should be revisited urgently as it is allegedly discriminatory in nature, especially with respect to the allocation of land to the indigenous people of the south.

“The unequal distribution of land and the alleged unfair and skewed resettlement process that is apparently only benefiting the political elite and people from other regions at the expense of the local inhabitants, must also be urgently reviewed,” were the calls that were mostly heard.

The residents cited the deputy minister of land reform and resettlement Bernadus Swartbooi as one of the people whose voices are allegedly being silenced by those who are opposed to the fair and equitable distribution of land.

Swartbooi has been vocal on a number of issues of late and the residents have charged that their former governor is being silenced.

In a strongly worded statement, Tses Village Council chairperson and councillor Margaret Basson, called into question Namibia''s commitment to a fair and equitable land reform programme.

She said the country''s commitment to land reform seems questionable as there are apparently covert attempts to silence the voices of outspoken political leaders like Swartbooi.

“This action raises serious questions about our government''s commitment to land reform,” she said.

She specifically cited Swartbooi''s recent pronouncements on land at the annual cultural festival of the Damara ethnic group at Okombahe where he urged the OvaHerero, Nama and Damara communities to stand up and fight for the land from which their ancestors were forcefully and brutally removed by colonialists and resettled on less fertile land.

She urged the residents to “firmly stand behind our former governor”.

“Without our land we cannot exist because that is where we dwell for our livelihoods. So this is a burning issue which needs to be addressed urgently,” she said.

Meanwhile community land activist, Timotheus Pieters, called for a federal state in Namibia, because in his opinion, the unitary state has deprived people indigenous people of access to their ancestral land.

“There is general resentment that in the //Karas Region that the indigenous inhabitants are being sidelined when it comes to the resettlement programme and that their ancestral land is being given away to other ethnic groups which in the first place never lost land during colonial era,” Pieters said.

Kaptein Dawid Frederick of Soromas Traditional Authority of !Aman Nama clan called on the central government to return the function of land allocation to the traditional authorities.

This he said would eliminate land being allocated solely on the basis of political affiliation. He urged his subjects not to give up the fight to reclaim their ancestral land saying their forefathers whose skulls are still in Germany were killed because of land which they must now reclaim as it is their rightfully theirs.

“Does the slogan of ''One Namibia, One Nation'' still have any relevance. It seems to have been used to push the Nama people to the fringes of society?” he questioned.

The landless communities of Koës and Aroab in //Karas Region are unhappy with the current resettlement programme and have warned that the manner in which people are being resettled may fuel xenophobia.

According to the CSO working group media statement, veiled xenophobic threats were specifically made at an Aroab meeting where angry community members forcefully invaded resettlement farm Dickbusch, 45km west of Aroab.

“We are tired of watching others being resettled while we apply in vain,” numerous residents were quoted as saying.

They further accused Governor of //Karas Region, Lucia Basson, of favouritism and nepotism. She allegedly recently referred to some Aroab residents as South Africans who apparently do not deserved to be treated as Namibians.



FRED GOEIEMAN

Rape dominates GBV in Namibia

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Rape dominates GBV in NamibiaRape dominates GBV in Namibia National productivity in the country is reported to be in balance as half of the population is subjected to gender-based violence (GBV).

Women Action for Development''s executive director, Salatiel Shinedima made this statement last week Friday in Windhoek''s informal settlement of Hakahana during the launch of 16 days of Activism against GBV.

Shinedima made an appeal to the Namibian nation to end the violence and start pushing for the national development agenda. He also urged fathers to start spending time with their boys, teaching them how to be responsible fathers who do not abuse their wives or commit rape.

“A nation with too many people living in fear of GBV will not move its development agenda forward. Our country has a good development agenda, but we might not realise these goals because those who are to implement them are subjected to GVB. Where have we gone wrong as a nation?” Shinedima asked.

He said most of GBV perpetrators are men who are either raping young girls or abusing their partners. “Let these be 16 days of hope to those who are living in abusive relationships. Fellow men let us end the violence and build our country,” he said.

Nampol''s deputy inspector-general Major-General James Tjivikua seconded Shinedima. He said that GBV made every Namibian live in fear.

“Young ones are afraid to be abused by their parent or raped; women are afraid that if they fall into relationships they will be violated, while the whole nation fears being murdered,” he said.

He urged police officers to launch thorough investigations into every GBV case reported.

“Report every GBV-related offence to the police and let no police station or officer turn away complainants without a proper investigation into such cases. The nation is traumatised by the increase in cases of GBV which are claiming the lives of loved ones on daily basis. This makes every citizen live in fear that they might be next,” Tjivikua said.

He also reported that from January 2015 to November this year, 1 038 rape cases, 2 010 attempt rapes, 787 assaults, 58 murders and 56 attempt murders were reported.

Tjivikua expressed his disappointment in those who fail to report GBV-related offences saying it makes it difficult for them to combat GBV crimes.

The United Nations resident coordinator, Kiki Gbeho said Namibia adopted various anti-GBV international declarations and national policies, but GBV remains high.

The 16 days of Activism against GBV is an international campaign that is commemorated from 25 November (the International Day against GBV) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day), in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights.

First Lady Monica Geingos and gender equality and child welfare minister, Doreen Sioka launched the campaign.

ILENI NANDJATO

Omatala divides council

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Omatala divides councilOmatala divides council Dust refuses to settle over Omatala Companies that lost out on the bid to acquire the old Oshakati Open Market piece of land have objected to the N$2.5-million selling price. A well-placed source at the Oshakati Town Council has informed Namibian Sun that all ten companies who tendered wrote objection letters to the council objecting to its decision to sell Omatala to businessman Erastus ''Chicco” Shapumba for N$2.5 million.

Mayor Katrina Shimbulu announced in July that Shapumba''s company, Mouse Properties CC, won the bid to acquire the old Oshakati Open Market land. Shapumba''s company beat Lynx Property Developers, Oshiwana Property Developers, Tecklink Consultants, Kalahari Holdings, FAI Square Development Consortium, NDI Holdings SINCO Investments, Water Power Trading cc, BH Properties CC and Sun Investment CC that all submitted bids to develop the prime land.

Council''s extraordinary meeting that was held on 21 November to discuss these objections could not reach any consensus.

The source said every time the council met, no new item was on the agenda except the Omatala discussion, adding that conflicts always erupted among members with different viewpoints and the issue has now divided the council.

“The last two meetings were urgent meetings aimed at discussing the objection letters lodged by the contenders who lost, but due to differences among council members, it has always been postponed. The contenders argue that they were betrayed on the land price.

They are saying the selling price is not the price that was presented to them in the first place,” the source said.

In earlier interviews, Shimbulu said that the council members are only protecting their interests and this has now divided the council.

During the last meeting, the issue was postponed to 13 December. “We need to speed it up because urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa is pushing us to finalise the issue.

The council is now behind on many development programme discussions, but every time we meet only Omatala is on the agenda,” the source further said.

Shimbulu in an earlier interview told Namibian Sun that the 1.7-hectare piece of land was worth about N$900 000, but the council decided to sell it for N$2.5 million.

Approached on the latest developments, Shimbulu refused to comment, but confirmed that council has not resolved the matter. “We are still where we were when I last spoke to you. There is nothing else I can tell you,” she said.



ILENI NANDJATO

Elder appears for child molestation

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Elder appears for child molestationElder appears for child molestation Four underage girls from Swakopmund were allegedly paid by a 59-year-old man to play with his private parts.

According to Chief-Inspector Erastus Iikuyu of the Namibian police in the Erongo Region, the girls aged between 11 and 16 were allegedly picked up by the accused, Hendrick Heinrich Fourie (Oupa Becks), from home and taken to different places in Swakopmund where the offences were committed. The first incident is alleged to have taken place in 2015 and this is said to have carried on until November this year.

Iikuyu said the information about the alleged molestation came to light when neighbours of the victims informed their parents about an old man who used to come on several occasions to the house to pick up the girls.

Fourie was arrested by members of the police on Wednesday last week and made his first appearance in chambers at the Swakopmund Magistrate''s Court on Thursday on charges of contravening the Immoral Practices Act. State prosecutor, Paulus Shilongo, objected granting the accused bail on the grounds that he might interfere with the state witnesses and because of the seriousness of the offences. Magistrate Nelao Brown postponed the case to 8 February next year for further investigations and approved the accused''s application for a formal bail hearing.

Fourie was represented by Wilfred Ahrens.

Jessica Botes

Germans backtrack on genocide comments

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Germans backtrack on genocide commentsGermans backtrack on genocide comments The German embassy in Namibia has defended remarks made by the German special envoy Ruprecht Polenz during a meeting with the Nama and OvaHerero technical committees.

The committee members last week stormed out of a meeting after Polenz told them that they must stop comparing the Jewish holocaust and the Nama and OvaHerero genocide because the murder of the Jews was more severe.

The embassy however in its statement explained that Polenz “expressed his deeply felt conviction that every human life is of equal value and every loss is, thus, equally deplorable.”

According to the statement issued by embassy spokesperson, Gundula Perry, Polenz out of respect for all victims, rejected the notion to compare one genocide with other crimes against humanity.

“This, does apply in particular to any comparison with the holocaust because of substantially different motives driving the German Nazi leadership when persecuting all Jews all over Europe and implementing the industrialised mass-killing of human beings to annihilate Jews only because they were Jews,” said Perry. The embassy also rejected claims by committee members that the conference room was locked and the ambassador tried to keep them hostage.

“The German embassy deeply deplores the course of events which prevented an important exchange of information including differing positions in a serious and professional manner adequate to the importance of the matter,” the statement said.



JEMIMA BEUKES

Sophia reads riot act

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Sophia reads riot actSophia reads riot act Minister admonishes Reho Town Council The rural and urban development minister Sophia Shaningwa has rapped the Rehoboth Town Council over the knuckles warning them to get their act together. The Rehoboth Town Council has been instructed to fire its human resources manager Willie ''Mistake'' Swartz and recover an amount of N$110 664.80 paid to him over five months after his voluntary resignation.

An investigation carried out by the ministry of urban and rural development during 13 to 15 January this year recommended that a resolution by an ordinary council meeting held on 14 December 2015 to reinstate Swartz must be revoked, because council was in recess.

The investigation also found that new councillors reinstated Swartz because he had threatened to sue the council if not reinstated before the beginning of 2016.

The investigation also found that council resolved to reinstate Swartz while there was a pending case at the labour court which was set to continue in February this year.

This report was sent to the council by Minister Sophia Shaningwa last week Thursday as well as a letter in which she instructed them to urgently and without fail implement the recommendations of the report.

“Council through your office is hereby requested to come up with and provide my office with an activity plan indicating how and when the recommended remedial measures are to be implemented as well as the person assigned the responsibility,” Shaningwa said.

The council is also instructed to submit monthly update reports on the progress made.

Shaningwa last week threatened to dissolve the council should they fail to sort out the affairs at the town.

According to the report, following his illegal reinstatement, Swartz asked for a refund for a lapsed bond risk policy cover to the value of N$1.1million due to non-payment as a result of the service termination. This is despite the fact that he resigned voluntarily from his position.

The report also states that after Swartz returned to office he claimed a payment of N$15 000 for repairs to his car because his car policy had also lapsed, as well as the reinstatement of leave days accumulated for five months.

It is also states that Swartz had claimed the reinstatement of the lapsed investment policy as well as an MBA study loan and accumulated study leave days lost during termination of service.

According to the report, Swartz, upon his voluntary resignation, received N$19 024.32 for severance while the Labour Act stipulates that severance pay be paid to the employee upon the termination of a contract of employment by an employer.

The investigation further recommended that the pension pay-out to Swartz should be implemented.

Further investigations found that a certain A. Jod who acted in Swartz''s position was paid an acting allowance in December despite the fact that Swartz was already reinstated in this position.

Meanwhile, the report further found that the town council does not have a recruitment policy and that there is no clear segregation of duties between political office bearers and administrative staff.

It also found that officials are appointed in higher acting positions from one department to another without the necessary skills or experience.

Furthermore, it was discovered that staff members appointed to act in higher positions are paid acting allowances that are equal to or higher than their basic salaries.

The report further reveals that some council decisions are or were made whilst the council is in recess.

It is further recommended that the council retrieves all directives from Shaningwa and ensures their implementation and that, council should explain why it has disregarded these directives.



JEMIMA BEUKES

Rhino horns: Heads will roll

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Rhino horns: Heads will rollRhino horns: Heads will roll Full-scale investigations have been launched into activities at the Hosea Kutako International Airport after it was determined that the 18 rhino horns that a Chinese national was found in possession of in Johannesburg, were detected by scanners at Hosea Kutako International Airport.

However, even though the scanners detected the rhino horns in the luggage of Ye ZhiWe, 28, who was in transit from Windhoek to Hong Kong, he was still allowed to board a South African Airways flight bound for Johannesburg.

The spokesperson of the Namibian Airports Company (NAC), Dan Kamati, confirmed this to Namibian Sun and said that follow-up investigations are underway to determine why and how the passenger was allowed to proceed.

According to him, an empirical investigation is being carried out by the agencies involved with aviation security to establish what happened.

He said that the NAC accessed the memory of the scanning equipment and it was confirmed that the rhino horns were in fact detected. According to Kamati, it is vital to establish what happened because it is the airport''s reputation that it is at stake.

ZhiWe was arrested with 18 rhino horns at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg last week Wednesday. The rhino horns, weighing 43 kg, are valued at around N$6.6 million.

The South African Hawks received an anonymous tip-off and discovered the rhino horns hidden in his luggage.

It is unclear whether the horns are from Namibian animals. DNA tests will have to be conducted to determine the country of origin.

The inspector-general of the Namibian police, Sebastian Ndeitunga, also confirmed that a full-scale investigation has been launched into the matter to establish what occurred and how the passenger was allowed to board the plane with the contraband in his luggage.

Ndeitunga told Namibian Sun that he has established a team which started investigations on Friday at the airport.

“I suspect that many heads will be rolling.”

Ndeitunga also said that meetings have been arranged with the NAC and the directorate of civil aviation and that he wants answers on what has happened.

“These criminals are part of syndicates and foreigners are using locals and bribing them to be corrupt. I am not saying that this is what happened.”

Meanwhile, well-placed sources told Namibian Sun that with regards to positions such as customs and excise officers, immigration police and the like, corruption is relatively common and often seen.

Approached for comment, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said that the case is still extra-territorial and they are waiting for the completion of investigations thereof.

“We are in constant contact with the South African authorities and as soon as facts have been established including DNA testing, we will issue a statement.”

Hawks spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu confirmed that ZhiWe appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate''s Court on Friday. She said that he was remanded in custody until 30 November for a formal bail hearing. He has been charged with dealing in rhino horns under the Endangered Species Act.



ELLANIE SMIT

Farewell, El Comandante

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Farewell, El ComandanteFarewell, El Comandante Geingob, Nujoma to attend funeral Credited with aiding the freedom of the southern African people, Fidel Castro will leave a legacy of mettle and commitment to a singular cause. He has been hailed globally as an ''apostle of revolution'' and in Namibia the sentiments towards Fidel Castro are no different. News of his death on 25 November at the age of 90 spread fast around the globe and while it garnered mixed reactions, Namibians by and large hailed Castro as a friend to Namibia and a leader who stood his ground and lived and died on his own terms.

The Cuban ambassador to Namibia Giraldo Mazola yesterday described the decades-old relations between Cuba and Namibia as a “peculiar bond that started on the battlefield”.

He further described the friendship between the two countries as an “irreversible” relationship that has continued and strengthened after Namibia gained her hard-won independence.

Cuba provided military, political and diplomatic support to the fight for Namibia''s freedom during the liberation struggle. It is reported that the country deployed more than 350 000 troops to Africa to the aid the MPLA in Angola and Swapo in Namibia, among other causes. Approximately 2000 Cubans died fighting in the region.

Since independence, relations have remained very strong and Namibia and Cuba have held joint meetings every two years for economic, scientific-technical and commercial cooperation. Thousands of Namibian students have graduated from Cuban universities and many more Cubans work in Namibia in professional fields.





“In April, speaking about his upcoming 90th birthday he told us that there will be a time that he will no longer be here. Some people did not like him speaking of this – they were sad, but he made us understand that his death is not important but that the ideas of the Cuban Communist Party and how it consolidated the Cuban nation are what is important,” said Mazola.

The remains of Castro, who died on Friday morning aged 90, will lay in state at the Havana Plaza of the Revolution, where Cubans will be able to pay tribute to their iconic leader.

According to Mazola, both President Hage Geingob and the founding president Sam Nujoma have been invited to deliver a message at a mass gathering or funeral at the plaza in Cuba, after which Castro''s body will be carried to Santiago de Cuba, at the south-eastern end of the island, reversing the journey that he and his comrades made in January 1959 when they seized power.

“Castro will be laid to rest at the Santa Ifigenia cemetery in Santiago where Cuban national hero José Martí and other youth who died in 1953 are buried,” said Mazola.

Cuba has announced a nine-day national period of mourning.

President Hage Geingob this weekend in an emotive statement described Castro''s death as a devastating loss.

“He taught us that, one can compromise on anything, except on one''s principles. Our own victories and losses in the struggle for our independence against apartheid South Africa are inextricably linked to the international solidarity of the Cuban people through diplomatic, military, and people to people interface,” said Geingob.

Geingob hailed Castro as a true revolutionary who had no interest in the natural resources of a free Namibia as his view was that Cubans did not come to collect gold or diamonds, all they had to do was return the remains of their fallen comrades.

The Swapo party in a statement issued by spokesperson Helmut Angula praised Castro as an international leader who stood firm during the harshest times.

“During the difficult times of our struggle for independence El Comandante Fidel Castro provided our people with hope, inspiration and impeccable leadership. To millions of peoples, he was more than just a man. He was a symbol of the struggle for freedom, justice, equality, and human dignity not only for Cubans, but for humankind,” said Angula.

Founding president Sam Nujoma also offered his condolences. He had visited Castro in September this year.

“I join the entire world to pay my tribute to a fallen hero, the charismatic and visionary revolutionary leader of our time, Fidel Castro, who has earned his place in modern history by his strong stance against imperialism and exceptional resilience against colonialism and oppression all over the world,” Nujoma said.

Dictator

While others hail him as a visionary, hero and liberator, others blatantly called him an oppressor.

According to international media US president-elect Donald Trump condemned Castro as a “brutal dictator”.

The Independent newspaper quotes Trump as saying: “Though the tragedies, deaths and pain caused by Fidel Castro cannot be erased, our administration will do all it can to ensure the Cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty.”

What is undeniable is that Fidel Castro, who survived more than 600 assassination attempts, lived and died on his own terms.

He was, by all accounts, a charismatic personality. In November 1940, at the age of 12, he penned a letter to then American president Franklin D. Roosevelt which was discovered in 1977.

“I am twelve years old. I am a boy but I think very much, but I do not think that I am writing to the President of the United States. If you like, give me a ten dollar bill green American, in the letter, because never, I have not seen a ten dollar bill green American and I would like to have one of them.”(sic)

He continued, “If you want iron to make your sheaps [ships] I will show to you the biggest (minas) of iron of the land. They are in Mayari Oriente Cuba.” (sic)

In April of this year, Castro addressed the Cuban nation in a rare public appearance. He acknowledged his advanced age but said Cuban communist concepts were still valid and the Cuban people “will be victorious”.

In 2008 he handed over power to his brother Raul who is expected to remain party chief until 2018.





JEMIMA BEUKES

Geingob to speak at Castro’s funeral

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 Geingob to speak at Castro’s funeral Geingob to speak at Castro’s funeral President Hage Geingob will be one of the world leaders to get a rare chance to speak at the funeral of former Cuban leader and revolutionary Fidel Castro. The funeral will take place tomorrow in Havana. Former presidents Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba also departed this morning for Cuba and are accompanied by Swapo secretary-general Nangolo Mbumba. Castro will be interred at the historic city of Santiago de Cuba on December 4.
STAFF REPORTER

Junior athletes to receive AN’s attention

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Junior athletes to receive AN’s attentionJunior athletes to receive AN’s attentionJunior athletes to receive AN''s attention Athletics Namibia''s new executive committee has big plans for the athletes, mainly focusing on the youth. Newcomer to the Athletics Namibia executive committee, junior chairperson Edwardo Kapewasha, is committed to transformation in athletics.

Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, Kapewasha, who was elected to that position at the weekend, said he would love to see junior athletes transform into seniors.

“I will be chairing at the junior level and during my term I would love to see a transformation of junior athletes to senior athletes taking place and see these athletes excelling at national and international competitions,” he said.

He said because most junior athletes are from the northern regions, he would like to decentralise some of the programmes to the regions.

“I would love these kids to be involved as much as possible, to be exposed and at least to get better results as far as international levels are concerned,” he said.

Although it is the first time he is serving in the AN leadership, he has been involved with junior athletes in the northern regions and is looking forward to working with the team.

“I would like to see us take Athletics Namibia to a level that people feel that there is something happening in the world of athletics and then strengthen the relationship between Namibia National Olympics Committee (NNOC), Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) and the Directorate of Sports.”

Meanwhile, the newly elected NA president, Erwin Naimwaka, has set his eyes on getting more youth participation in athletics at international events. Naimwaka was elected as NA president during its annual general meeting on Saturday, replacing Alna Similo who will be one of the vice-presidents.

He mentioned that he wants to focus mainly on youth development during his tenure. “I want us to focus on the youth and make sure that we have full representation at international level,” he said. He said it is important that AN produces athletes that the country wants to see exceling and that can only be done with development programmes in place.

He further said that he wants to see all regions having functional athletics structures that aim at getting the youth into athletics.

Naimwaka also wants to get the private sector involved in athletics, and according to him AN will redefine its activities to attract sponsors.

“We want to entice the private sector to support our activities, so we are firstly going to redefine our activities and make sure that they are products that can attract sponsors,” he said.

He said he was looking forward to working with the new AN leaders.

“I am really looking forward to working with everybody and really want us to move away from the bickering that sometimes goes on in federations and takes the leadership away from their main objectives,” he said. He appealed to the business community to support Athletics Namibia in its activities.

KAINO NGHITONGO

Mwandingi hopes for quicker Kaperu investigation

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Mwandingi hopes for quicker Kaperu investigationMwandingi hopes for quicker Kaperu investigation Namibia Wrestling and Boxing Control Board vice-chairperson Philip Mwandingi hopes that the investigation into suspended chief administrator Joe Kaperu will be wrapped up before the end of the year.

Kaperu was suspended earlier this month for alleged insubordination.

Mwandingi said the board appointed an independent investigator to look in the matter and make a ruling.

In an interview Philip Mwandingi said: “We hope that the investigation will be completed in due course, so that we can make a decision.

“However, Kaperu has not been making things easy given that he has failed to respond to our letters.

“The board wanted to hear his side of the story, but he has not been cooperating with any of us or even the investigator. If he is innocent, the board will reinstate him.”

Mwandingi added that people should not think that the decision to suspend Kaperu was made by board chairperson Ellison Hijarunguru alone.

“I know there people with assumptions that Kaperu was suspended by the board chairperson because of personal vendettas. However, that is not the case given that the board made a collective decision after our findings.

“It is also strange that Kaperu keeps insisting that he does not know why he was suspended even after we attached a letter with his suspension to him.”

When contacted for comment, Kaperu maintained that he was still in the dark about the situation.

“I am not in town now, but I will find out from my lawyers on the matter and then I will get back to you by tomorrow,” Kaperu said.

Edgard Modise is the acting chief administrator until the matter between Kaperu and the boxing board is solved.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

IOC urges 'unwavering commitment' by Games hosts

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IOC urges 'unwavering commitment' by Games hostsIOC urges 'unwavering commitment' by Games hostsIOC urges ''unwavering'' commitment'' Olympic Games host countries will have to pull up their socks in staging well-organised events as they have been urged to make an unwavering commitment. Tokyo and other upcoming Olympic host cities must make an “unwavering commitment” to achieving successful Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) urged yesterday, as cost overruns plague the run-up to Tokyo''s 2020 event.

In a video message to a debriefing in the Japanese capital on the Rio Olympics, IOC chief Thomas Bach hailed them as “marvellous games” held in a “marvellous city.”

“Organising the Olympic Games is an intensive process that requires creativity, discipline and collaboration with many people and stakeholders,” he said.

“Most importantly, it requires unwavering commitment.”

The three-day debriefing has drawn senior officials from the IOC and Olympic organisers from Rio and Tokyo as well as the hosts of the Winter Games in 2018, South Korea''s Pyeongchang, and 2022, which are being held in Beijing.

Among others taking part were Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike and Rio de Janeiro mayor Eduardo Paes.

Bach has previously praised the Rio Games, which were generally seen as successful despite Brazil''s political and economic crisis and security and attendance problems.

Koike, now spearheading a cost-cutting fight, told the meeting that she wants to learn from Rio, where she said materials for some facilities were recycled to build a school.

“Drawing on efforts in Rio as well as the IOC''s long experience, wisdom and knowledge, we want to introduce the spirit of ''what a waste'' to organising the Games,” Koike said.

The debriefing came as negotiations over options for moving some Tokyo 2020 venues intensified.

Tokyo is eyeing ways to save money after warnings that costs could hit an eye-watering $30 billion - four times the initial estimate and almost triple that of the 2012 London Olympics.

Options include relocating venues for canoeing and rowing as well as volleyball, and scaling back plans for a new swimming venue.

Koike and Bach agreed last month to set up a working group to try to control costs.

IOC official Christophe Dubi said earlier this month the rowing and canoeing could take place in Miyagi prefecture, 400 kilometres north of Tokyo, and the volleyball in Yokohama south of the capital, following recommendations from a Koike-appointed panel of experts.

But Tokyo officials have faced resistance from 2020 organisers, who argue that moving some events to Miyagi, which was badly hit by Japan''s 2011 tsunami disaster, could actually cost more because the region lacks the proper infrastructure.

Dubi said Sunday in Tokyo that detailed options for moving some Tokyo venues would be presented at a meeting involving the IOC, Tokyo 2020 organisers, the Tokyo metropolitan government and the Japanese government today.

NAMPA/AFP

Coutinho blow a test for Liverpool - Origi

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Coutinho blow a test for Liverpool - OrigiCoutinho blow a test for Liverpool - Origi Liverpool''s Divock Origi says his teammates must step up in the absence of Philippe Coutinho as they prepare to face Leeds United in the League Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.

The influential Coutinho sustained suspected ankle ligament damage during Liverpool''s 2-0 win over Sunderland on Saturday and could now be out until next year. After replacing Coutinho, Origi scored Liverpool''s opener and the Belgium striker believes there is sufficient quality in the squad to compensate for the unavailabiity of their Brazilian talisman.

“It''s unfortunate with Philippe because everyone knows how good a person he is and I think he was in top form, so I hope it''s not too bad,” Origi told the Liverpool website.

“But I''m sure he will come back stronger and I always said that we have a strong group. Everybody has to help each other.

“I''m always ready. I believe I can help the team a lot this year and I believe I have the qualities to start in this team.”

With Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge doubtful and Roberto Firmino unlikely to be risked after taking a kick to his calf against Sunderland, Origi seems certain to start against Leeds. Sturridge scored twice as Liverpool, who lost to Manchester City in last season''s final, overcame Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the fourth round.

Leeds, fifth in the second-tier Championship, overcame Norwich City on penalties and are the lowest-ranked team left in the competition. There could be an upset on the cards in Tuesday''s other fixture, where Premier League strugglers Hull City entertain Rafael Benitez''s Newcastle United, who are flying high at the Championship summit.

Newcastle saw an eight-game winning streak ended by a 1-0 loss at home to Blackburn Rovers after Benitez made a raft of changes and he called on his team to raise their game for the trip to the KCOM Stadium.

“I think we have to take the positives. We were so good for so many games and that has to be the way to go forward,” said the Spaniard.

“We have to analyse quickly what we did wrong and be ready for the next game in three days.

That is a positive thing.”

Manchester United will hope to shake themselves out of their domestic torpor on Wednesday when West Ham United return to Old Trafford just three days after the sides'' 1-1 Premier League draw there.

United have drawn their last four home league games and have scored just four goals in their last five domestic fixtures on their own patch.

Speaking after the draw with West Ham, in which United manager Jose Mourinho was again sent to the stands, midfielder Ander Herrera expressed disbelief at the team''s current woes.

“We''re playing the right way and doing things the right way,” said the newly capped Spain international, whose side beat holders City 1-0 in round four, in a Sky Sports interview. “I think West Ham are a good side and they didn''t get the ball for more than one minute (at a time), so it''s unbelievable that we aren''t winning these games.

“It''s the first time in my career that I''ve felt something like this.”

United will be without midfielders Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini through suspension.

Having started on the bench against West Ham on Sunday, Wayne Rooney will hope to return to the starting XI as he chases a record-equalling 249th United goal.

Arsenal will have more of a spring in their step ahead of their home game with Southampton, having ended a run of three successive draws by beating Bournemouth 3-1 on Sunday. But Southampton were also bolstered by a positive weekend result, having consigned former manager Ronald Koeman to a 1-0 defeat on his return to St Mary''s with Everton.

NAMPA/AFP

SA's sovereign rating unchanged

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SA's sovereign rating unchangedSA's sovereign rating unchangedSouth African credit rating maintained South Africa''s rating would likely be downgraded in the absence of fundamental structural reforms supporting higher and sustainable medium-term growth, according to Moody''s. Rating agency Moody''s recently kept South Africa''s sovereign debt rating unchanged at Baa2, two notches above junk status. Moody''s however changed its outlook from stable to negative.

Explaining the rationale behind its move, it said in a report: “While South Africa''s government has consistently met its expenditure ceilings and is close to bringing the primary fiscal balance into surplus, low growth, revenue shortfalls and in some years the weakening rand are driving an increase in government debt to GDP ratios.

“Delays to growth and a faster-than-projected rise in interest rates are among key risks to a stabilisation of the debt-to-GDP ratio by 2018/19. Other risks include rising contingent liabilities related to government guarantees to state-owned enterprises and spending pressures in the run-up to the 2019 general election.

“Implementing the fiscal consolidation targets set out in the 2016 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, not just in nominal rand terms, but also in terms of stabilising the debt-to-GDP ratio - will be key if South Africa is to preserve macroeconomic credibility and boost investor confidence.

In Moody''s view, the government will stay within its expenditure ceilings, but meeting revenue targets will be challenging in the weak economic environment,” the ratings agency said.

“The negative outlook on South Africa''s Baa2 government bond rating reflects risks related to the implementation of structural reforms aimed at restoring confidence and encouraging investment, upon which Moody''s bases its expectations for a gradual growth recovery and debt stabilisation in coming years.”

Added Moody''s: “The negative outlook also recognises the downside risks associated with political uncertainty and low business confidence as well as the challenging external environment characterised by low growth, investment and trade.

South Africa''s rating would likely be downgraded in the absence of fundamental structural reforms supporting higher and sustainable medium-term growth according to Moody''s.

“Continued accumulation of public debt and contingent liabilities in terms of GDP would also put downward pressure on ratings.

Finally, political infighting impeding the government''s ability to implement key structural reforms and contributing to protracted low business confidence would also be negative.”

“While a rating upgrade is unlikely, Moody''s would change the outlook from negative to stable if the government would undertake structural reforms that would bring the economy on a path of higher and sustainable growth and stabilise the general government debt and contingent liabilities relative to GDP ratios.

Boosting business confidence through reforms in the areas of labour markets, electricity, and state-owned enterprises would be credit positive,” the ratings agency concluded.

STAFF REPORTER

FNB Namibia backs cyber security competition

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FNB Namibia backs cyber security competitionFNB Namibia backs cyber security competitionThe war against cyber fraud FNB Namibia recently supported the second national cyber security competition. FNB Namibia recently sponsored the second Namibia national cyber security competition to the tune of N$10000.

Garth Kleintjies, chief information officer of FNB Namibia, said the competition not only prepared graduates for the cyber war industry but also created awareness among youngsters about fraud, especially in the electronic space.

“We know that Namibia is a top destination in Africa for cybercrime and far too often do we hear of people having fallen prey to fraudsters, be it at an automatic teller machine, or a phishing scheme or any of the other numerous fraudulent activities out there.

“Let us remain vigilant, especially at this time of the year when fraudsters become active again targeting people''s bonuses and taking advantage of the more relaxed attitude of holidaymakers.”

The Namibia University of Science and Technology''s Faculty of Computing and Informatics, in partnership with the University of Namibia, and the IT industry, hosted the second Namibia national cyber security competition.

The competition saw two teams from NUST and two teams from Unam battle for the top position. First prize included a ticket to the international competition in the USA to be held on 20 to 23 June 2017.

This was a great platform as it enabled participants to showcase how security can be enforced or broken in innovative technologies. The competition was set up in such a way that students were given tasks to manage an information technology system that was already set up.

Their task for the day was to maintain and secure the system from being accessed by hackers; these were seasoned industry practitioners who served as the black team, in real time. They did this for a gruelling eight hours.

The teams scored points based on their ability to maintain availability of key network services necessary to keep their business up and running, and lost points when their essential business services were attacked, a typical scenario that information technology professionals face daily.

STAFF REPORTER

Minister calls for Zuma to resign

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Minister calls for Zuma to resignMinister calls for Zuma to resign NEWS24/CITY PRESS

President Jacob Zuma’s future as ANC president was left hanging by a thread after tourism minister Derek Hanekom stunned Zuma and his backers when he tabled a motion for him to step down at the party’s national executive committee meeting yesterday.

Late Sunday night, the meeting had been adjourned with the discussion around a vote deferred to yesterday, the last day of the national executive committee sitting.

City Press has learnt that those set on removing Zuma were lobbying for a secret ballot to determine the president’s fate. A secret ballot could be the nail in Zuma’s coffin as it would empower those who fear a backlash.

The national executive committee has always been considered a safe space for Zuma as it was believed his supporters dominate the structure.

“The secret ballot is not a done deal. We won’t let it go down without a fight,” said a pro-Zuma national executive council member.

This fierce battle to force a defiant Zuma out came a day after the ANC’s stalwarts persuaded the party’s national working committee to table a proposal for a soul-searching national consultative conference to be held as early as June.

This conference will double up as a policy conference.

Insiders said there had been a discreet lobby to table the motion of no confidence ahead of the scheduled NEC meeting. “There was a lot of lobbying even at lunch. The issue is that people can’t defend the indefensible,” said a senior ANC leader.

“A lot of people didn’t attend, but some left because they didn’t want to be accused of having been part of the cabal that removed Zuma. They didn’t want to nail their colours to the mast.”

SOE listing under discussion

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SOE listing under discussionSOE listing under discussion A report that will determine the viability of listing various state-owned enterprises is expected to be out by January 2017.

It appears that several discussions have already been held to determine the viability of listing several state-owned enterprises.

Namibian Sun contacted Simonis Storm head of research Purvance Heuer, Namibia Stock Exchange chief executive officer Tiaan Bazuin and the Ministry of Public Enterprises in the first week of November.

Responding to questions sent, Heuer confirmed that discussions had taken place while Bazuin would neither confirm nor deny whether there had been talks about a possible listing of state-owned enterprises. Ministry of Public Enterprises spokesperson Jonathan Swarts did not respond to questions sent despite numerous attempts to follow up.

Heuer said: “We have had various meetings with the Ministry of Public Enterprises and numerous state-owned enterprises as part of an information-gathering exercise. We are currently working on a report that we would like to release early in January. The idea is to determine the viability of listing coupled with the value that can be extracted from listing.”

Bazuin said: “I suggest you ask the ministry what they have done and where they are in the process. I don''t think it''s fair for the Namibia Stock Exchange to disclose what has or has not been discussed.”

Rally for Democracy and Progress Member of Parliament Mike Kavekotora in March this year made a call for the privatisation of Air Namibia.

Kavekotora, in his contribution to the 2016/17 national budget debate in the National Assembly, said the national airline was a non-essential commercial state-owned enterprise (SOE) that was milking government to the bone.

The national airline received N$695 million in state funding for this financial year,

“With regard to Air Namibia, although its subsidies have not been reflected in the national budgets before 2007, the cumulative bailouts since Independence up to the projected funding in the 2018/19 financial year exceed N$10 billion,” local daily New Era quoted Kavekotora as saying.

He said many opposed the privatisation of Air Namibia, with some citing political justification, as opposed to economic and financial considerations. He advised that the government could retain Air Namibia in a cost-effective way by having a minority shareholding in the airline.

“It simply does not make economic sense to continue allocating more government resources to Air Namibia in comparison to other state-owned enterprises like TransNamib,” he said.

OGONE TLHAGE

Onavivi aquaculture achieves first success

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Onavivi aquaculture achieves first successOnavivi aquaculture achieves first successFish farm harvests a ton of tilapia A ton of fish was harvested at Ombandjele village near Outapi last week. The Onavivi Inland Aquaculture Centre has managed to produce successful fulltime small-scale fish farmers in all four northern regions since its establishment in 2004.

The first tilapia farm is the Keumbo Fish Farming company, which according to the fisheries ministry has done very well. Last week the first harvest was made after the ponds were stocked in April.

Owned by the former Omusati regional councillor for the Outapi constituency, Tataati Shileka, the project was established in November last year at Ombandjele village outside Outapi. Shileka told Namibian Sun that he started the project to keep him busy in his retirement.

“When I was approaching retirement I started thinking of something that would keep me busy. I chose fish farming since our nation is faced with a shortage of food supplies and fish in particular. We have access to water in Omusati. I approached the Onavivi Inland Aquaculture Centre for advice where I was told to go ahead and they will give me technical support,” Shileka said.

The centre was established to offer technical and management support to small fish farmers. According to the chief fisheries biologist for the north-west regions and head of Onavivi, Elizabeth Ndivayele, the centre provides not only technical support but also fish feed and they offer to monitor the farmer''s progress.

“People in the region are interested in fish farming, but the challenge is that they are not taking fish farming seriously. With fish farming farmers need to be observant. The health of the fish can easily be impacted by water quality and feed. Water and feed inspections and control thereof need to be taken very seriously at all times,” Ndivayele said.

She said they have 36 registered fish farmers, but only Keumbo Fish Farming is operational throughout the year and is following the right fish farming procedures that achieved a best harvest. Other fish farmers are either seasonal or depend on rain water, or they are struggling to get their projects up and running. Keumbo has four ponds and when stocked in April it was established that they contain ten fish per square metre.

On 24 November they harvested 1.1 tons of tilapia which was all sold to members of the community. According to Ndivayele the harvested fish was of good quality and was harvested at the right time.

Shileka encourages everybody to plan for their retirement. “Today I am a fulltime fish farmer. During my working years I had plans and dreams, and now that I am in retirement it is my time to implement those plans and realise my dreams,” Shileka said.

ILENI NANDJATO

Three ministers ask for Zuma's head

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Three ministers ask for Zuma's headThree ministers ask for Zuma's head Motion for Zuma to resign led by Hanekom In a surprise move at the weekend''s ANC national executive committee, tourism minister Derek Hanekom tabled a motion for Zuma to resign. At least three members of President Jacob Zuma''s Cabinet are said to have led impassioned calls for him to step down or that the ANC national executive committee (NEC) vote to remove him.

Tourism minister Derek Hanekom, health minister Aaron Motsoaledi and public works minister Thulas Nxesi asked Zuma to resign. They were strongly supported by ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu.

The president''s alleged improper relationship with the Gupta family, the decline in ANC support during local government elections and the Nkandla scandal were used as bases for him to step down.

The ANC NEC meeting, scheduled to end on Sunday, was extended to yesterday as a “rough”, “fierce” and “robust” debate over his fate had not been concluded.

News24 has learned from inside sources that more than 30 people spoke for and against the “surprise” motion tabled by Hanekom for Zuma to step down on Saturday.

City Press reported on Sunday that those set on removing Zuma were lobbying for a secret ballot to determine the president''s fate.

A Zuma supporter in the NEC told News24 the debate showcased the deepening divisions within Cabinet and raised questions about how Zuma could continue working with Cabinet members who had no confidence in him, should he survive.

News24 was told at least three Zuma ministers pushed for his removal: Hanekom, Nxesi and Motsoaledi. But Zuma was defended by three other ministers: international relations and cooperation minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane; state security minister David Mahlobo, and agriculture minister Senzeni Zokwana. Zokwana is said to have argued that the party had emerged wounded and split after former president Thabo Mbeki was recalled and warned that they should not do it again.

The source said Zokwana''s defence of Zuma was a surprise as he was chairperson of the South African Communist Party – which has made a dramatic U-turn in its support of Zuma. Nxesi and Thenjiwe Mtintso, who also called for Zuma to step down, are also senior SACP members. Mtintso is a former deputy secretary-general of the ANC.

News24 understands that Zuma''s defenders asked his critics in Cabinet to themselves resign.

“Why don''t they resign? How do you work with him (Zuma) when you don''t have confidence in him?” asked an NEC member.



Zuma supporters ''ambushed''

Zuma''s supporters admitted that the Hanekom motion caught them by surprise and they had to fight back on Sunday.

“It was an ambush, all of us were relaxed going to the NEC, expecting to prepare for 8 January and deal with other organisational matters, and they followed each other arguing for the president to step down. It felt like they had caucused and planned it somewhere else and they thought they had the numbers to win,” the NEC member said.

The pro-Zuma faction had to fight back after Saturday''s “ambush”, which they described as “rough”.

The NEC, which was previously seen to be dominated by Zuma supporters, has until now taken no action against Zuma.

It accepted his apology following the Constitutional Court ruling in March that he had failed to uphold the Constitution by not implementing former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela''s remedial action to pay back some of the money spent on upgrades to his Nkandla home.

The structure also decided to take collective responsibility following a decline in electoral support during local government elections that saw the party lose the Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay and Tshwane metros.

Zuma''s defenders argued that the calls for Zuma to go could not resurface now, given the NEC''s previous decisions and that Madonsela''s state capture report was not conclusive and under review. Another NEC member argued that the NEC has never voted, but always decided by consensus and therefore the motion to vote should fail.

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