Hunting is not a white-only industry

December 6, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Hunting is not a white-only industryGreat efforts at inclusion made The Namibia Professional Hunting Association has gone out of its way over the past 20 years to reverse the perception of hunting as a whites-only business. ELLANIE SMIT



Namibia’s hunting industry is often criticised for being a mainly white industry with only 350 previously disadvantaged Namibians that have been trained as professional hunters since 2001.

This is according to the former president of the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha), Kai Uwe Denker, who was speaking at the association’s annual general meeting.

Referring to the situation in Africa, Denker said that hunting in Africa has been perceived as being a perverted pastime of rich, spoiled white people from the First World.

According to him Napha has taken the recurring appeals made by government to facilitate and speed up the inauguration of previously disadvantaged Namibians in responsible positions of the hunting industry very seriously.

Denker said Napha has gone out of its way over the past 20 years to reverse the perception of a whites-only business.

According to him more than 350 previously disadvantaged Namibians have been trained to become qualified professional hunters in the past 15 years.

He added that Napha has also started an operator course for communal conservancy members to become fully fledged independent hunting operators in 2013, but this has not yet produced the intended results.

Denker said the association cannot accomplish this task alone and needs more assistance.

“As white people in this country, there are times when our hearts are heavy as we sometimes feel that we are not welcome in this place which we love just like any other citizen. But then I realise that our plight is very insignificant in comparison to what others have had to endure in the past and that we should swallow our sadness and not overvalue certain allusions of daily politics…”

Meanwhile Denker urged the environmental and tourism ministry amidst the mounting pressure from anti-hunting groups to introduce a new curriculum for professional hunters that will place priority on conservation.

He said that the ministry and industry should proactively work together on a programme to introduce a new curriculum with the emphasis on aspects like functioning ecosystems, habitat aspects and populations dynamics.

Denker said that this should bring the conservation approach of the hunting professionals on a scientific level while the practical hunting leg should focus on implementing hunting as the purest form of eco-tourism and highlighting the experience of nature.

Volker Grellmann, known as the ‘father of Namibian hunting’ and who developed and still teaches the current professional hunting curriculum and adapted it for Napha to accommodate the first intake of previously disadvantaged Namibians, told Namibian Sun that he is not aware of any pressing need for a new curriculum to be introduced. The curriculum offers training for candidates who cannot read or write in the form of an oral and practical course.

He described the curriculum which he developed as very good, “nearly perfect”, but added that there are changes that he is working on in consultation with the environmental ministry and Napha that will be introduced.

According to him these include the introduction of a proposed business module to be taught to professional hunters.

The current curriculum taught at Eagle Rock Professional Hunting Academy entails all hunting related and environmental subjects. It covers the habits, social behaviour, diet and reproduction of 27 mammal species, 20 snake species and 32 bird species.

Practical preparation of trophies such as skinning, measuring of trophies as well as gun safety and ballistic are part of the programme. All aspects regarding legislation and relevant regulations are explained in detail.

Primary emphasis is placed on ethics in hunting and the conduct thereof.

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HONOURING NAMIBIA’S FIERCEST ALLY

December 6, 2016, 2:00 pm

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HONOURING NAMIBIA’S FIERCEST ALLY PHOTO: JEMIMA BEUKES

FINAL GOODBYE: Namibia bade farewell to one of the country’s fiercest and staunchest friends yesterday – Fidel Castro. In Parliament Gardens, mourners heard that Namibia has a lot to learn from former Cuban president Fidel Castro, a man of staunch principles and a revolutionary, according to President Hage Geingob at Castro’s memorial service. Castro died last week at the age of 90. Geingob said Namibians owed the Cuban people a lifetime of gratitude for Castro’s unwavering support during Namibia’s liberation struggle from apartheid South Africa. “Theirs was a great sacrifice - a sacrifice in blood. Therefore, we will, shall and must never stop thanking them. Like a well-bred or brought-up child will never stop thanking his or her parents, we shall never stop thanking the Cuban people,” Geingob said. The memorial service attended by founding president Sam Nujoma and the chairperson of the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association, Andimba Toivo ya Toivo. Here Geingob is pictured with the Cuban ambassador to Namibia, Giraldo Mazola.

Geingob demands public apology from Swartbooi

December 6, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Geingob demands public apology from Swartbooi STAFF REPORTER

President Hage Geingob yesterday demanded that lands deputy minister Bernadus Swartbooi publicly apologise for comments made about his senior, Utoni Nujoma, which were published in Namibian Sun yesterday.

In a letter addressed to Swartbooi, presidential affairs minister Frans Kapofi said the public apology should be made within 24 hours.

“The remarks have the potential to disrupt peace and stability in the country and are therefore inappropriate, in fact they should not be made by a public official who has taken an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia,” Kapofi wrote in a letter seen by Namibian Sun.

“In this context, the president demands that you issue a written public apology within 24 hours to your minister, Honourable Utoni Nujoma, Minister of Land Reform, and to the Namibian people. A copy of the written apology should be delivered to the Office of the President, State House.”

On Saturday the outspoken Swartbooi criticised the manner in which Nujoma was handling the land resettlement process and said the minister must be called to order.

The comments were made during the Kai//Khau festival at Hoachanas last weekend, where Swartbooi was one of the main speakers. At the festival, Swartbooi condemned Nujoma’s resettling of northern Namibians on farms in the south of the country.

He accused Nujoma of resettling people from as far as the Zambezi Region in the south, on land that had been seized by the imperial German regime, ahead of the local Nama people.

“It is unacceptable what Utoni does with resettlement. He must be called to order. I do not work for him. I work for President Hage Geingob,” the deputy minister was quoted as saying.

Following Namibian Sun’s publication of the article, there was divided opinion on social media yesterday, with some supporting Swartbooi’s remarks. Others, however, felt that the deputy minister could have handled the matter differently instead of attacking his senior in public.

Neither Swartbooi nor Nujoma could be reached for comment yesterday.

State seeks new Teek prosecution

December 6, 2016, 2:00 pm

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State seeks new Teek prosecutionBasis of appeal is that South African judge erred After a decade of freedom, Pio Teek may have to face new charges of the indecent assault and/or rape of two minor girls. FRED GOEIEMAN



Ten years ago, South African judge Ronnie Bosielo acquitted former Namibian High Court judge Pio Teek on charges of rape. The State yesterday lodged an appeal against that acquittal, saying Bosielo had either misdirected himself or erred in law when he discharged Teek.

In 2006, Bosielo had found Teek not guilty on all charges, which ranged from rape, attempted rape and kidnapping to supplying liquor to minors early in 2005.

The State wants to appeal against his discharge and acquittal on two counts of abduction, alternatively kidnapping, and two counts of rape read in conjunction of Combating of Rape Act, alternatively indecent assault.

Teek was accused of committing or attempting sexual acts with two girls under the age of 16.

He was accused of picking up the girls, aged nine and ten, in the vicinity of the Single Quarters in Katutura on 28 January 2005.

The South African judge had noted that the evidence of the two complainants had been conflicting, contradicting and that generally the quality of the evidence was poor.

“This is a classic case of evidence of poor quality that any credible court cannot convict on. The older complainant is a pathological liar,” Bosielo said at the time.

He said it was clear that the two complainants were neglected and naughty and came from seriously dysfunctional families with poor guidance.

State Advocate Innocencia Nyoni argued yesterday that the judge misdirected himself and/or erred in law and fact by acquitting and discharging Teek on the available evidence. Alternatively, she said, the judge erred when he found that there was no evidence upon which a reasonable man acting carefully may convict the accused of the offences charged.

She further submitted that Bosielo had misdirected himself and/or erred when he disregarded facts that were common cause and by finding in effect that the State had to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against an accused before it could require the court to place an accused on his defence.

Nyoni stated that Bosielo erred or misdirected himself when he found that there was no basis to say that there was a complaint of deprivation of parental control in the minor girls, and that the two mothers themselves did not regard that as a deprivation of control and custody of their children.

“This was withstanding the fact that both mothers went to the police station in the middle of night to report missing their children and even provided the police with photos of the children,” Nyoni stated in her written heads of arguments.

Teek, in responding to the State’s application for leave to appeal, yesterday maintained that the presiding judge had not misdirected himself or erred, but based his judgment on the evidence of the State witnesses.

After the State alleged that the former judge opted not to give evidence after the closure of their case, Teek added that he raised his position against the allegation in his plea explanation.

“Plea explanation cannot be rejected if it is corroborated by the evidence of the State witnesses,” Teek argued.

He stated that the evidence against him was fabricated while other evidence favourable to him was ignored, and that highlighted the incompetence of the police officers dealing with his case.

The former judge alluded to ‘criminal conduct’ of the police when there is a departure from procedures and formalities.

“The trial court admonished against the improper conduct of the police,” he stated.

According to him the court made an order that the judgment be sent to the inspector-general of the Namibian police but that he was to date still unaware as to whether this was complied with, as it was not reported back to the court.

Acting Judge Thomas Masuku postponed the matter to 22 February 2017 for a ruling.

Debmarine sponsors NFA Cup

December 7, 2016, 6:22 am

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Debmarine sponsors NFA Cup Debmarine has announced their sponsorship worth N$14.1 million for the NFA Cup today. The sponsorship agreement over three years, and competition is expected to kick off next year, with N$4.7 million annual commitment to the Cup.
The Cup was last year sponsored by Bidvest Namibia but since their sponsorship contract end last year, NFA failed to secure a sponsor and could not stage the competition this year.
Debmarine’s CEO Otto Shikongo said they are happy to be part of football.
“We hope that the funds will be used well and not to buy Navara cars,” he said.
KAINO NGHITONGO

DebMarine comes to NFA rescue

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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DebMarine comes to NFA rescue Cup to kick off next year After failing to secure a sponsor for the NFA Cup this year, the association promised to secure one and diamond company DebMarine is the new cup sponsor. Namibia diamond company DebMarine has come to the rescue of Namibian football as they have announced their sponsorship for the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Cup for the next three years.

At a joint media briefing yesterday, the diamond company announced that they will be sponsoring the competition to the tune of N$14.1 million, with a commitment of N$4.7 million to the Cup.

The football association welcomed the new partners on board, stating that it was about time the Cup that caters for many teams, gets a full sponsorship.

Speaking at the event the NFA president Frans Mbidi said: “It was important for us that we managed to secure a sponsorship with such a big company.

“I would like to thank DebMarine for having entrusted us with the sponsorship which shows that the association has been working tirelessly for football to continue.

“From now we are going to make sure that all the other divisions under the NFA get sponsorships and we will also try to introduce more competitions,” he said.

Mbidi also promised a high level and standard of organisation and that the association will commit to financial transparency and accountability

Meanwhile, Debmarine’s CEO Otto Shikongo said they are happy to be part of football.

“We hope that the funds will be used well and not to buy Navara cars,” he said.

The Cup was last sponsored by Bidvest Namibia but since their sponsorship contract ended, NFA failed to secure a sponsor and could not stage the competition this year.

The competition has been in existence since 1990, but was not held in 1997, 2001 and 2012 due to sponsorship problems.

Tigers are the defending champions, while Chief Santos and African Stars are the record holders, having won the competition on four occasions each.

The competition is expected to kick off next year February.

The winners of the competition will walk away with N$500 000, while each participating team will receive N$18 000 and continues to get that same amount as they progress into the competition.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Indoor hockey girls’ team praised

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Indoor hockey girls’ team praised KAINO NGHITONGO

The Namibia Hockey Union president, Marc Nel, has showered praise on the girls’ indoor hockey team, stating that they have proven that they can qualify for the world cup.

Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday Nel said the women’s effort to beat South Africa was testimony that they could be a force to be reckoned with.

“As the president, I am equally happy and satisfied with what the girls have been doing so far, and just seeing how they have been improving in every competition,” he said.

He said the show put on by the girls at the just-ended test series in Swakopmund served as good preparation for the world cup qualifiers next year.

“The test series was really a success, especially that we managed to beat South Africa and when we lost against them it was just 3-2 so it was not a big margin,” he said.

He said he was also satisfied with the team’s improvement. “We didn’t have our best team but we still played well so I am really pleased with the progress being made.”

Nel said given the kind of hockey the girls were playing, he had no doubt that they could make it to the world cup.

The union was now looking forward to next year for the preparations and qualifying games.

He added that they were planning to host a four-nations tournament in April next year. Teams ranked from eight to 20 have been invited.

Under-20 team departs for Angola

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Under-20 team departs for Angola Team Namibia left for Luanda, Angola, on Tuesday for the 2016 African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region Five Under-20 Youth Games, which start today.

The games end on 19 December.

Namibia will compete in football (women), basketball (men), track and field events, boxing, netball, swimming and tennis.

A delegation of 150 people, including 120 able-bodied and disabled athletes, is representing the country.

General team manager Musutua Tjeripo, who is from the Namibia Sports Commission, told Nampa on Tuesday that the athletes had been in a training camp for the past week and were ready to compete.

“We had to cut the team from over 200 athletes to 120 due to financial constraints, but we are going to fight for medals,” he said.

Coaches, administrators and medical personnel will accompany the athletes.

Tjeripo was confident that despite having a smaller team, they are going to improve on Namibia''s last performance in the 2014 Region Five games held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Namibia ended fifth overall with 45 medals (seven gold, 15 silver and 23 bronze).

South Africa were the overall winners with 121 medals of which 64 were gold, followed by Zimbabwe with 92 medals (18 gold); Angola third with 20 medals (11 gold); and Botswana fourth with 32 medals (eight gold).

NAMPA

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Real demand respect for Ronaldo

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Real demand respect for RonaldoFootball star could face years of imprisonment After years of alleged tax evasion that rocked the soccer world, Spanish authorities have allegedly now fingered the sport''s golden boy, Cristiano Ronaldo, of participating in a tax-evasion scheme. Real Madrid launched a staunch defence of star forward Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday, demanding respect for the three-time World Player of the Year amid allegations he hid millions of euros earned from image rights in tax havens.

“Real Madrid demands the maximum respect for a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, whose behaviour has been exemplary during his entire time at our club,” Madrid said in a statement.

An international consortium of media organisations on Friday claimed that a huge data leak involving 18 million documents showed the Portuguese skipper hid 150 million euros ($160 million) from image rights in the British Virgin Islands.

Ronaldo, 31, has strongly denied the claims in a statement via Gestifute, the firm controlled by his agent Jorge Mendes.

“Cristiano Ronaldo has always acted in good faith in this matter, as the fact that he has never been involved in any conflict with the Tax Authorities from any country where he has lived clearly shows,” said Gestifute.

Gestifute also released a tax return issued by the Spanish tax agency showing Ronald is up to date with his obligations.

“The certificate released by the Spanish tax agency which shows our player Cristiano Ronaldo is up to date with all his tax obligations,” added the Madrid statement.

Ronaldo is just one of a series of Madrid players to have been accused by the “Football Leaks” investigation into corruption in football.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo accused Portuguese defenders Pepe and Fabio Coentrao, also both clients of Mendes, of selling their image rights to companies in the British Virgin Islands and Panama respectively.

Pepe was reported to have earned 3.7 million euros in image rights since signing for Madrid in 2007 and Coentrao 3.5 million since 2011.

“Given the information published in the media, I inform that I am up to date with my tax obligations,” Pepe said in a statement released on his Instagram page on Tuesday.

“In previous years I voluntarily and anticipating any requirement on behalf of the tax agency came forward to regulate my income from image rights given the change of criteria used by the Spanish tax office.”

Croatian midfielder Luka Modric was also accused by El Mundo on Tuesday of diverting income derived from his image rights to a company registered in Luxembourg.

Ahead of Real''s crucial Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, Captain Sergio Ramos claimed some of the accusations were designed to destabilise the European champions.

Madrid are on a 33-game unbeaten run stretching back to April.

“Some of it will be true, others designed to destabilise the group when we are in great form,” said Ramos.

“I don''t think it will have any special importance on the group.”

NAMPA/AFP

Rose wants to put bad back behind him

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Rose wants to put bad back behind him Justin Rose will hope a troublesome back injury doesn''t put paid to his Hong Kong Open title defence as the new European Tour season gets under way today.

The Olympic champion was forced to pull out after the first round of last week''s Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, but he made the trip to Hong Kong regardless.

Rose isn''t the only top player with fitness concerns at the opening event of the 2017 European Tour season, which also rounds off the Asian Tour''s 2016 schedule.

Masters champion Danny Willett is coming off a two-week break to recover from a bad back while Ian Poulter, the 2010 champion, returned from five months out in October.

England''s Willett, 29, skipped the World Cup in Melbourne and the British Masters to rest his back, but he admitted he was still not fully fit.

“I made a decision to pull out of the World Cup a couple of weeks ago, mainly because we knew this was the start of the 2017 season, and it''s a place I wanted to come back to and hopefully put a good show in,” he said.

Willett, who is looking to recapture his Augusta form, said his back recovery was a “work in progress” and pointed to the injury woes of his compatriots Rose and Poulter.

“I don''t think there are many guys who could say they are 100 percent all the time, purely because of how much travel we do, sleeping in different beds and trying to play a sport that doesn''t quite fit with the natural movement in the body,” he said.

Poulter, 40, made a last-minute dash to Hong Kong from his home in Florida last year when he realised his European Tour membership was about to lapse.

He has had a less frenetic build-up to this year''s event - but said his long lay-off had left him short of tournament practice.

“I''ve felt over the last six weeks I''ve played some good golf, there''s a little bit of rust there having had five-and-a-half months off, not holing putts I would normally convert,” he said.

“I think that''s down to lack of tournament play.”

One leading player who is injury-free is the big-hitting American Patrick Reed, 26, who tied for third last year at the venerable Fanling course.

Reed said the USA''s Ryder Cup victory in October would add extra spice to exchanges with his European rivals when they tee off today.

“The US side is a little more vocal this year!” he said. “It was in desperate need for the US to win this past year, it had been so one-sided, we needed to get that spark back.”

Australia''s Scott Hend is expected to seal the Asian Tour''s order of merit title, while Spain''s Miguel Angel Jimenez returns seeking a fifth victory in Hong Kong.

NAMPA/AFP

'Spiderman' prepares for Mexico 2017

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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'Spiderman' prepares for Mexico 2017Exciting times for coach Sonia Lindemeier is optimistic that her swimmer Matheus Angula is ready to rewrite history on the global stage. Matheus ''Spiderman'' Angula has his sights set on the 2017 Paralympic world swimming championships in Mexico, coach Sonia Lindemeier says.

Around 550 swimmers from more than 60 countries are expected to compete at the Francisco Marquez Olympic swimming pool in Mexico next year.

In an interview this week, Lindemeier expressed joy over the determination the swimmer has shown since he started training.

“He is moving well in the pool and there is no doubt that Angula is destined for greatness.

“The good thing about Angula is that he is committed and willing to do anything to succeed.

“We want him to compete in the next Nedbank championships in South Africa for him to qualify to the Para World Swimming Championships.

“As a trainer, I am going to do anything possible in order to make him succeed because of the determination he has shown in training,” Lindemeier said.

Angula burst onto the scene after competing in the South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled and Visually Impaired (SASAPD) National Championships this year.

''Spiderman'', as he is known to his friends, was born without legs 24 years ago.

His condition did not deter him, and he decided to chase his dream of becoming a swimming sensation.

The athlete got his classification to swim in the S6 category in freestyle and SB5 in breaststroke early this year.

He is the second male Paralympic swimmer to represent Namibia at international events, with the other being retired Gideon Nasilowski.

Lindemeier added that there are two female swimmers who could possibly be preparing for top competitions, but she was not sure if they have been training

lately.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Junior squash player to compete in the US

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Junior squash player to compete in the US Namibia''s top junior squash player, Kyle Kriel, will be will be participating in the US Junior Squash Championship this month.

Kriel''s participation is by invitation of the CJS junior squash team in Centurion.

The 17-year-old is currently busy with his final preparations in Cape Town, then to Johannesburg, before he will be leaving for the States.

“I can still recall the days when Kyle used my garage as a squash court, when he was still the same height as a standard squash racquet,” recalls Kyle''s father, Lindsay Kriel.

Kriel attended training camps held by a former Canadian number one, the current SA coach.

In preparation for the US Junior Championships Kyle''s father invited the number one and three senior seeded players from Zambia to train with Kyle in Windhoek. “They were so generous to make these coaches available for the other top juniors in Windhoek during that time,” said Kriel''s father.

Junior and senior players appreciate that Kriel is always up for a game, no matter the level. “Kyle is having a huge impact on Namibian squash and is a benchmark and role model to many of our junior players,” says Henk Knipe of the Namibia Squash Association.

He is currently seeded number three in the Namibian senior ranking and has received racquets and a bag sponsored by Tecnifibre.

“Kyle is very dedicated to his sport, health and fitness, and thus is most deserving for the invite to play with the best,” said his fitness coach and biokineticist, Bjorn Magg.

The US Junior Squash Championship is slated for 17 to 20 December at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The competition joins the Hong Kong and British Junior Open as one of the most anticipated events on the world junior squash calendar.

SPORT REPORTER

Visit GIPF offices this holiday

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Visit GIPF offices this holidayStakeholders invited to drop in The GIPF will not close its doors during the festive season and encourages pensioners to visit for verification purposes, says its marketing manager, Amos Kambonde. The Government Institutions Pension Fund regards stakeholder engagement as a key aspect of its business strategy and GIPF offices will be open throughout the holiday season, with the exception of public holidays.

“We believe that increased stakeholder engagement has a positive impact on service delivery, as we continuously aim to achieve excellence in helping our members. In this regard, it is business as usual at GIPF this holiday,” says marketing manager Amos Kambonde.

“We urge all our members, especially the GIPF non-active members who receive monthly income from the Fund, to come verify and enrol themselves.

“We are aware that everyone is busy this time of the year but it is critical to ensure you visit our offices before you go on holiday to avoid the suspension of your monthly income.

“It is important that our members and beneficiaries understand the rules of the fund and how they are applied; we therefore encourage all GIPF members to visit our offices countrywide and be briefed on their rights and responsibilities and to find out what benefits they are entitled to.

“Members seeking specific updates related to their benefits are encouraged to bring their identity documents as well as their latest payslips.

“To the guardians of children who receive benefits from GIPF, we humbly request that they bring their children to enrol at any of our offices before schools and tertiary institutions resume in the New Year.

“We further wish to remind our members about the verification dates and why is it important to verify.

“It is important to get enrolled or get verified within the allocated time frame to guarantee your monthly income.

“If you do not verify yourself; your income will be suspended. The verification of all annuitants can be done three times a year,” Kambonde says.

“This would be from November to February, March to June and July to October, he explains.

“Lastly we would like to thank each and every member that visited our offices and attended our events during the year.

“We rely on the same support next year for the betterment of our families and Namibia. GIPF wishes all stakeholders a happy Christmas and prosperous 2017,”says Kambonde.

STAFF REPORTER

NDP4 failed to create enough jobs

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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NDP4 failed to create enough jobsSkills deficit blamed The fourth National Development Plan recently came under review, as a new development plan is expected to be adopted in April 2017. The fourth National Development Plan (NDP4) created about 712 000 jobs against the target of 900 000 in 2014.

National development advisor Johannes Ashipala said this in his presentation on a review of NDP4 and processing of the NDP5 during a one-day government forum with its development partners in the capital on Monday.

The forum aims to ensure effectiveness of development assistance in support of the government''s national development plans.

The review of the NDP4 period from 2012/13 to 2016/17 focuses on three goals: faster and sustainable economic growth, job creation and enhanced income equality.

Ashipala said in 2013 only 690 000 people were employed, while in 2012, 630 000 were employed.

He said the agricultural sector had performed well for the past five years by employing over 35 760 more people, while logistics employed an additional 1 894 and manufacturing 194 more people in 2014.

“We did not make any improvement in the manufacturing sector, however we still believe that manufacturing can contribute to value addition and create more jobs in the future.”

Ashipala said the NDP5 was in its draft form and still open for suggestions and comments from the public.

He said NDP5 would have four objectives: inclusive and sustainable economic growth, job creation, poverty eradication and income equality.

Speaking at the same occasion, economic planning minister and director-general of the National Planning Commission Tom Alweendo said the failure to meet the job creation target in 2014 was caused by the lack of necessary skills in manufacturing in Namibia.

He said the government alone could not reduce unemployment, and called for private-sector involvement to provide the necessary skills and create jobs.

The official unemployment rate in Namibia stands at about 28%.

NDP5 will be effective from April 2017 to March 2022.

NAMPA

Wits SRC vows protest

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Wits SRC vows protest Student body says it rejects fee increase The SRC at Wits University in Johannesburg says it will protest the fee increase in January when students return to campus. The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) Student Representative Council (SRC) on Tuesday said it rejected the 8% fee increase and would mobilise students to protest against it in January.

“We obviously need to challenge the 8% increase as it will deny access to students,” SRC president Kefentse Mkhari said.

“What guarantee is there that those currently studying here, who already have student debt, will be able to return to study next year, with an 8% increase?”

He said the university''s decision to announce the increase on Monday had been “tactical”, as most students had already gone home.

Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande announced on 19 September that universities could determine their own fee increases for 2017, but that they could not exceed 8%. Students from households with an annual income of up to R600 000 would not have to pay the increases. Legislation should be used to force corporate South Africa to help fund free education, Mkhari said.

“We understand that government is ultimately responsible for free education.

The university is but a small fish in the pond. It is our collective duty as students to put pressure on government to realise free education. We should go door-to-door to make people understand.”

The university said on Monday that it was providing financial help for 22 000 out of 37 000 students. It was facing a N$56.5 million deficit, despite the 8% fee increase.

“It is unsustainable to continue with a 0% increase. The insourcing that will start from the first of January already costs the university an additional N$100 million to N$120 million,” spokesperson Shirona Patel said.

“We tried our best to cut non-academic budgets such as support services.”

NEWS

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Shot of the day

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Shot of the day DESTROYED: Pictured is the wreckage of two-storey shops, destroyed by an earthquake in Pidie Jaya, Aceh province on 7 December 2016. At least 52 people were killed and hundreds injured after a strong earthquake struck Indonesia''s Aceh province, with officials warning that the death toll could likely rise. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Education begins at home

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Education begins at home We laud the European Union for providing the Namibian education system with N$400 million plus, in the form of a non-refundable grant. This money which comes with strict terms and conditions and performance appraisals, must aid in the transformation of our education sector, as intended by the education ministry.

These educational reforms seek to improve outcomes and results, as well as the employability of school graduates and in theory, it should, because of the vocational subjects that are to be included.

However, while we know our schools are falling apart and many have ill-equipped teachers who require training, we do not believe that this money or the intended reforms will make a real and tangible difference to the annual results.

The problem with our annual results, and we are currently waiting for 2016 results, begins with the parents. We understand their challenges. We know that many are unemployed and for those who are working, we know you work long hours, face transport challenges and many other threats to the safety and wellbeing of your children and your property. We know there are shebeens near your homes, and we know there is peer pressure.

What we do not understand, is how, when you face these challenges of poverty, you do not raise your children with a value system that drives them to work, learn, study and achieve – to escape the everlasting cycle of poverty. These values begin at home and therefore, if discipline is required then, exercise discipline. Keep tabs on your children, the calibre of their work and their marks throughout the year and get feedback from their teachers.

We are responsible for raising children who have good work ethics, children who are inspired to create a better future for themselves, a better future than their parents faced. This is generational improvement, which if we do not achieve, one generation at a time, this country is lost.

For those parents who are middle class and higher – you have no excuse if your children do not have a good work ethic.

Stop blaming teachers. Academic success begins at home. Parents raise children, teachers only teach.

Venaani to meet Merkel

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Venaani to meet Merkel Germany trip to look at genocide issues Opposition leader McHenry Venaani is travelling to Germany to forge ties with political parties and will also meet Angela Merkel where the issue of genocide reparations will be discussed. DTA leader McHenry Venaani is expected to visit Germany for talks that include land reform and the Nama and OvaHerero genocide talks. He leaves on Friday.

Party spokesperson Vipuaa Muharukua yesterday explained at a press briefing that the party had over the past two years sent various delegations on important missions to continental sister parties in a bid to strengthen the country''s democracy.

According to him Venaani will start his journey in Munich where he is expected to meet with the Bavarian prime minister and leader of the Christian Social Union, Horst Seehofer.

“During this meeting, matters of cooperation in areas of democracy, vocational training and agricultural modernisation will feature, as well as Namibian and German relations,” he said.

Venaani is also expected to meet with the secretary-general of the International Democrat Union (IDU), Christian Kattner, to discuss issues including the development and the initiation of the DTA to become a full member of the IDU.

“While in Berlin our party president shall also be one of the first Namibian leaders to meet with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel. This will be a very important meeting and the pinnacle of his trip to Germany,” said Muharukua.

He added that the Nama and OvaHerero genocide issue is an Achilles heel for the Germans and their government.

“The other is perhaps the question of land reform as this too is a burning issue that needs the attention of both our nations. However it is not prudent to delve into the agenda of the meeting. Let us wait and see until Venaani returns,” he said.

Muharukua emphasised that his party respects the fact that the Namibian nation is subject to the rule of the democratically elected government. However, the party also believes that the Nama and the OvaHerero people must be included in the two governments'' negotiations on reparations.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Rude drivers delay fire brigade

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Rude drivers delay fire brigade The Otjiwarongo Municipality has entered into a land servicing deal with UUM Investment under a public private partnership (PPP) to service Extension 8 and 10.

Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Sophia Shaningwa announced the deal during the launch of land servicing activities at the town.

She said a total of 401 plots will be created for residential and light industrial purposes at these two extensions.

Shaningwa said UUM Investment is expected to channel clean water for drinking, lay down sewers, erect electricity poles, create street and mark sizes of the new plots to be sold.

The serviced plots are expected to be sold for between N$60 000 and N$80 000, and the minister said the municipality should allocate and sell the plots carefully.

“I urge the municipality to strictly allocate one plot per person and remove names of those residents who will receive theirs out of the master list.”

She urged the local authority to speed up the process and reduce the housing backlog by allowing other construction companies to also come in under the PPP and service more plots at the town.

Chairman of UUM Investment, Gerson Katjimune told Nampa land servicing at the extensions will officially start on 2 January next year.

The sites will be handed over to the Otjiwarongo Municipality at the end of September next year.

Katjimune said plot sizes will range between 300 and 700 square metres.

The Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), he said, funds the project.

Otjiwarongo mayor Bennes Haimbondi and his six local authority councillors also attended the event.

NAMPA

The First Lady's role

December 7, 2016, 2:00 pm

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The First Lady's role The Namibian Presidency this week issued a statement by presidential affairs minister Frans Kapofi to clarify the role of the First Lady of Namibia (FLON).

This follows a recent article carried by a local newspaper which reported that President Hage Geingob''s bodyguard and head of his security detail, Deputy Commissioner Johan Ndjaronguru, had been excluded from the presidential delegation travelling to France, Cuba and the United Kingdom, after allegedly falling out with First Lady Monica Geingos.

In a media statement issued yesterday, the Presidency emphasised that Geingos has never been part of official government-related programmes or engagements of her husband.

It further states that the she has never been involved in determining the president''s itinerary nor the compilation of his security detail or any other related matter of state.

“By virtue of their positions, first spouses, especially first ladies, have historically harnessed the visibility provided by their association with Heads of State and government to promote and support social causes. As a result the positive roles of first spouses and the impact that they historically made in the context of social upliftment and development has been recognised at national, regional and international levels,” said Kapofi.

Kapofi further called on the media to focus on the good work that President Geingob and his spouse are doing for the Namibian nation to bring about prosperity and inclusivity for all Namibians.

JEMIMA BEUKES