Sundowns to face more competition

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Sundowns to face more competition Eight clubs to compete in Premier tournament The South African and African champions will compete next season in the premier African Club competition. Title-holders Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa are among eight winners of the CAF Champions League who will compete in the premier African club competition next season.

The draws for the 2017 preliminary and first rounds are scheduled to be made in Cairo today, officials from several national football associations told AFP.

Only Al Ahly of Egypt, TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Enyimba of Nigeria have staged successful defences since the 1964 launch of the Champions League.

Ahly (2005-2006 and 2012-2013) and Mazembe (1967-1968 and 2009-2010) twice won back-to-back titles.

Enyimba, the only Nigerian outfit to conquer the continent in the premier club competition, triumphed in 2003 and 2004.

A further eight defending champions reached successive finals, but had to settle for runners-up prizes.

Record eight-time title-holders Ahly, fellow Egyptian side Zamalek and Esperance and Etoile Sahel of Tunisia are among the teams who will challenge Sundowns, the second African champions from South Africa after Orlando Pirates.

Mazembe and V Club of DR Congo and Wydad Casablanca of Morocco complete the list of former winners who have confirmed their participation.

Five-time champions Zamalek were losing finalists this year, going down 3-1 on aggregate to Sundowns, and Wydad reached the semi-finals.

The other losing 2016 semi-finalists, ZESCO United of Zambia, failed to qualify and compete in the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup instead.

Other confirmed entrants include three former Confederation Cup title-holders AC Leopards of Congo Brazzaville, FUS Rabat of Morocco and Stade Malien of Mali.

Three winners of the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup, Al Merrikh of Sudan, Enugu Rangers of Nigeria and Horoya of Guinea, are also in the line-up.

Sundowns flopped at the FIFA Club World Cup this month, finishing sixth of seven clubs after losses to Kashima Antlers of Japan and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of South Korea.

But the Pretoria outfit scored financially, pocketing US$1 million after two matches in Japan. They played 14 matches to conquer Africa and collected US$1.5 million.

A huge incentive for Sundowns and the rest of the 2017 field is increased financial rewards in a new format with first prize increasing by 66.6% to US$2.5 million.

The runners-up will receive US$1.25 million, semi-finalists US$875 000, quarter-finalists US$650 000 and the eight group qualifiers who fail to make the knockout stage US$550 000 each.

CAF have cut the two-leg qualifying phase from three rounds to two and doubled the number of qualifiers for the mini-leagues from eight to 16.

Clubs eliminated at the last-32 stage of qualifying get a second shot at African glory by dropping to the Confederation Cup, which star-studded Mazembe won this season.

The precise number of 2017 entrants is unknown with CAF giving no pre-draw information, not even confirming the date for a secretive event held behind closed doors.

After some previous qualifying rounds draws, there has been an unexplained delay of several days before they are released.

While the 54 member states and associates Reunion and Zanzibar are eligible to enter one or two clubs, depending on previous results, financial constraints prevent some doing so.

Officials from Libyan outfit Al Ahly Tripoli say they will be in the draw, despite the likelihood of being unable to host Champions League matches for a second successive season.

While football is being staged in the north African state, CAF consider post Moamer Kadhafi era conflict in the country too dangerous to host international fixtures.

Among the footballers most looking forward to the draw will be those from Ferroviario Beira of Mozambique, a club formed 92 years ago and set to make their Champions League debut.

NAMPA/AFP

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Gabon is ready

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Gabon is ready Gabon's sports minister Nicole Asselé on Monday assured football lovers that the venues for the Africa Cup of Nations are ‘ready’ ahead of the start of the tournament in Libreville on 14 January.

Assele also insisted to AFP that the recent presidential election, in which the incumbent Ali Bongo claimed a contested victory over Jean Ping, was ‘in the past’ as she sought to allay fears about the political situation in the central African country.

“The four stadiums are ready in Libreville, Franceville, Oyem and Port-Gentil,” said Assele, who had recently expressed concern about the new venue being built in Oyem, in the north of Gabon.

"They were not concerns about the stadium, but regarding outside spaces. I have been assured that parking facilities will all be ready by the end of the month," she said.

Oyem will host matches in Group C involving Ivory Coast, Togo, DR Congo and Morocco.

Assele last week accompanied Bongo on a visit to the new stadium in Port-Gentil and said that problems regarding the pitch there had now been sorted.

"The elections are in the past. I am not thinking about the elections today but about a celebration of football," she added, saying that opposition calls for a boycott of the competition were "a shame. Dirty washing should be washed in private."

Gabon, coached by Spaniard Jose Antonio Camacho, will face Guinea-Bissau in the tournament's opening game on 14 January, with the final to be played on 5 February.

NAMPA/AFP

Onkalo yaaniilonga yomoofaalama ya nayipala

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Onkalo yaaniilonga yomoofaalama ya nayipala Okufaula kiilonga elongitho lyiingangamithi niikolitha tayi eta omatidho miilonga Muule woomvula 14 dha piti, iifuta yaaniilonga yomoofaalama inayi gwedhelwa omanga aaniilonga yamwe moofaalama dhopangeshefa taya futwa natango oondjambi dhi li pevi konima yoomvula mbali ngashiingeyi sho kwali kwa tulwa miilonga ondjambi yopetameko yaaniilonga yomoofaalama. Elongitho nayi lyiikolitha okwa lopotwa kutya otali dhana onkandaangala onene mokati kaaniilonga mboka na osho unene tashi etitha omakutho milonga. Uuyelele mboka owa hololwa komapekapeko ngoka ga ningwa kombinga yoondjambi dhaniilonga yomoofaalama.

Olopota ndjoka ohayi ningwa kehe konima yoomvula mbali koAgricultural Employers' Association (AEA) okutala kondjambi ndjoka hayi futwa aaniilonga yomoofaalama dhopangeshefa.

Kwiikwatelelwa kolopota ndjoka ya ningwa, maaniilonga ya thika 3 497 o 57 yakalela po ooprsenda 2.28 ohaya mono ondjambi yili pevi lyooN$3.70 ndjoka ya tulwa miilonga mulyotango lyaJuli mo-2014.

Aaniilonga mboka otaya futwa ondjambi yili pokati kooN$2.02 no N$3.69 mowili.

Olopota oya tsikiale kutya ondjambi yokomwedhi yaaniilonga tayi kalelele moofaalaama dhopangeshefa oya tameka pooN$ 1 975.12, naandjoka yi li pombanda oyi li pooN$ 3 320.64.

Pamapekaapeko ngoka ga ningwa ondjambi yaaniionga mboka oya londo pombanda noopresenda 9 okutameka mo-2014.

Nonando ongaaka e yo pombanda ndyoka olya etithwa woo e yo pombanda lyondjambi yaaaniilonga mboka okuza pooN$1 211 okutameka mo -2002 okuya poN$3 320. Naandyoka e yo pombanda nooN$2 109 muule womvula 14.

Omiyalu odha holola kutya pokati ko2008 no 2010 ondjambi yaaniilonga mboka oya li nawa sho ya londo pombanda noopresenda 22 no 24 ihe okwa dhidhilikwa egwo pevi moomvula dho-2012, 2014 no 2016, sha etithwa konkalo yoshikukuta moshilongo. Oondjambi dhaaniilonga mboka natango okwa lopotwa dha yooloka shiikatelela kiitopolwa, niitoplwa ngaashi shaOmaheke no //Karas, okwa lopotwa kutya oyo yi na aaniilonga yomoofaalaama haya futwa oondjambi dhili pombanda pooN$3 450.

Iitopolwa mbyoka oya landulwa kiitopolwa ngaashi Khomas (N$3 357), Otjizondupa (N$3 291), Hardap (N$3 291) noKunene (N$3 053).

iitopolwa yi na oondjambi dhili pevi ongaashi Erongo (N$2 982) nOshikoto (N$2 777).

Elongitho nayi lyiikolitha mokati kaanafaalama okwa lopotwa li li pombanda noonkondo. Okwa lopotwa kutya aagandji yiilonga ya kalela po oopresenda 40.87 oya lopota elongitho nayi lyiikolitha mokati kaaniilonga yawo. Iipotha yathika poo593 oya lopotwa momukokomoko moka mwa ningwa omapekaapeko ngoka.

Olopota natango oya holola kutya omatidho miilonga ga kalela po oopresendaa 23.81. Etompelo limwe lyomatidho miionga, okufaula kiilonga hoka kwa lopotwa kuli poopresenda 27. Oshitopolwa shaShikoto nOtjizondjupa oyo iitopolowa ya kuta miilonga omwalu omunene gwaaniilonga yomoofaalama.

Omiyalu dhoondjambi dhoka dha tothwamo mpaka inadhi kwatelamo iifuta yolupandu yokomvula, iikutu, omiti ooskola nomihandjo, oopenzela oshowo iifuta yosocial security, mwakwatelwa omeya nolusheno. Iifuta mbyoka otayi futwa kaagandji yiilonga na oyi li onga omauwanawa gaaniilonga.





ELLANIE SMIT

Tokyo costly for expats

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Tokyo costly for expats Currency lifts Tokyo into top spot for first time since 2012 Tokyo regained its top spot among the world's most expensive cities for expatriates for the first time since 2012 as the yen rose. London fell out of the top 100 priciest after Brexit crushed the pound. Tokyo regained its top spot among the world's most expensive cities for expatriates for the first time since 2012 as the yen rose. London fell out of the top 100 priciest after Brexit crushed the pound.

Shiimi and Uanguta reappointed

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Shiimi and Uanguta reappointed Duo to lead until 2021 President Hage Geingob recently reappointed Bank of Namibia governors Ipumbu Shiimi and Ebson Uanguta. Bank of Namibia governor Ipumbu Shiimi and his deputy, Ebson Uanguta were recently reappointed for a further five years, keeping them employed at the apex bank until 31 December 2021.

Presidential spokesperson Albertus Aochamub made the announcement this week

In a statement issued, Aochamub explained that both these appointments were done in terms of the power vested in the president by the Bank of Namibia Act which authorises the president to appoint the governor and deputy governor of the Bank of Namibia.

“The Head of State lauded the achievements of the two leaders of Namibia's central bank during their current term, which expires 31 December 2016,” said Aochamub.

Shiimi was appointed BoN governor by former president Hifikepunye Pohamba in 2010, making him the fifth governor of the central bank.

He succeeded Tom Alweendo, who was appointed by the president as the director-general of the National Planning Commission after serving the Bank of Namibia for 17 years, first as deputy governor then as governor. Shiimi is a trained economist by profession.

Uanguta joined the bank in 2012, replacing Paul Hartman who turned down a third term. Uanguta served as a director of research at the Bank of Namibia for many years.

Their new term starts on 1 January 2017 and ends 31 December 2021.

STAFF REPORTER

New board for NamPower

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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New board for NamPower The minister of mines and energy Obeth Kandjoze recently announced the appointment of new board members for NamPower with effect from 1 January 2017.

A media statement availed said the new board will be chaired by Kauna Ndilula, currently the managing director of BFS Nampro Fund Manager. She will be deputised by Daniel Motinga, a senior client coverage manager at Rand Merchant Bank. Other board members are Anna Matebele, the company secretary at the Road Fund Administration, Andreas Kanime, the chief human resources officer at First National Bank Namibia, Sara Naanda, former CEO of TransNamib and Detlof von Oertzen, who is a consultant with VO Consulting.

The new board will be in office until 31 December 2020.

Kandjoze is quoted in the statement as saying he hopes the new board members will serve the interest of the nation. He stated that they will undertake to, amongst other things, promote local supply, local beneficiation and employment, as well as adhering to the principles of good governance and effective management.

Marenica granted mineral deposit licence

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Marenica granted mineral deposit licence Prospective uranium producer Marenica has been granted a mineral deposit retention licence on its Marenica Deposit.

The licence will enable Marenica access to the site without a need for any exploratory work as uranium producers all over the world anticipate a positive price move .

Making the announcement, its CEO Murray Hill said, “Marenica Energy Limited is pleased to announce that the ministry of mines and energy (MME) has granted a mineral deposit retention licence (MDRL) on its Marenica Uranium Project in Namibia. The MDRL replaces the current EPL (exclusive prospecting licence). The MDRL shall endure for a period of five years from the date of issue (December 2016) with no exploration expenditure obligations.”

Said Hill: “This provides the company certainty and confidence to move forward with the project over the next five years. MDRL's are applicable to projects, such as the Marenica Uranium Project, which are not profitable at the current market conditions but will become profitably exploitable when conditions change for the better and the commodity price reaches a certain level.”

The governor of the Bank of Namibia Ipumbu Shiimi recently expressed concerned over the price at which uranium was trading, and indicated that it could curtail growth significantly in the mining sector. Another issue of concern was the expected increased output from the Husab mine.

Said Shiimi: “If commodity prices fall, especially uranium, the situation will not be good for Namibia. The uranium price is quite important for Namibia and if the price falls further, it will become quite an obstacle for the other [two existing] uranium mines.

“We hope the price will pick up,” he said.



STAFF REPORTER

Probe land resettlement

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Probe land resettlement Land reform remains a contentious issue in Namibia and it is a topic that has been hogging the headlines for the last couple of weeks, culminating with the firing of the youthful deputy minister of land reform Bernadus Swartbooi.

The former //Karas regional governor got the boot after criticising his senior Utoni Nujoma over his handling of the land resettlement programme. Swartbooi has since been replaced by Priscilla Boois, formerly with the poverty eradication ministry.

There is no doubt that the land resettlement programme is mired in controversy.

In fact the resettlement policy has many loopholes and allows everyone – even the elite who can afford an Agribank loan to purchase a farm – to apply for resettlement under the guise of being previously disadvantaged.

Media revelations in the past few years have highlighted this issue, which has seen the well-off and well-connected benefiting enormously from government's resettlement programme.

The minister of land reform can deny as much as he likes that there is no favouritism when it comes to handling the resettlement programme, but how does one justify the fact that many high government and lands officials have benefited from and continue to receive land through this process by questionable means.

This seriously warrants a full-scale investigation as this corruption has been going on for long enough now. We can no longer endure sitting back with folded arms, watching the elite being “resettled” at the expense of thousands of needy and still currently disadvantaged Namibians.

It is a tragedy that after the 1991 land conference made 24 recommendations on – foreign ownership of land in Namibia, ancestral land rights and absentee landlords, among others – the authorities still find themselves struggling to implement some of these policies and recommendations.

Land reform is clearly not working.

Amidst the myriad of “challenges”, government must establish support programmes to assist emerging farmers so that they can become the owners of productive land. It is our sincere hope that the envisaged second land conference will sort out the nagging and long overdue implementation problems and other issues, and puts into practice a transparent, fair and equitable land reform process. It is way overdue!

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Shot of the day

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Shot of the day HORRIFYING CRASH: Flowers are placed near the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, Germany, after a truck ran into a crowded Christmas market on Monday evening, killing several people in Berlin, Germany. PHOTO: NAMPA/AP

Gazza tops iTunes

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Gazza tops iTunes New album takes number-one spot Gazza Music Productions (GMP) frontman Lazarus 'Gazza' Shiimi's new album 'Pumumu' is currently number one on the Namibia iTunes top 100 music albums chart, just a few days after it was made available for online purchase. Speaking to the Namibian Sun from the north Gazza couldn't hide his joy and was very proud the 'Pumumu' album was doing so well on iTunes.

“I feel honoured and blessed by the experience. I am truly humbled by the experience and it just shows me that there is no limit to what an individual can do if you just put your mind to it,” said Gazza.

Gazza says his current achievement is not only beneficial to himself as a brand but also to the whole nation and he hopes that it inspires and motivates other people to work hard at achieving their dreams.

“Right now sitting on top of the country when it comes to music should serve as a motivation not only for myself but for the kids sitting in a village feeling like they are stuck… their imagination can set them free… it all starts with a thought and when you put your thoughts in motion it can become a reality,” said Gazza.

Gazza says he didn't expect the album would do so well online and that it was a complete surprise for him when he found out the album was trending on iTunes.

“I just wanted my album to be different and to be relevant and I wanted to push marketing and sales so we could reach gold status. All I wanted was Namibia to be on Universal's walls,” said Gazza.

Gazza says he is grateful for the support he has received from his fans so far and that he appreciates those that have been promoting the album on iTunes and buying the album, as well as sharing the links regarding the album online. “I just want to say thank you to those who bought the album online and the physical copies are in town… so even if you have bought the album online go out there and have physical copies just to double the efforts of us reaching the gold status,” said Gazza.

He revealed that the album was available as from yesterday countrywide at all Musica stores and other music outlets. “It will be available at Musica shops and all the local music shops are going to distribute it,” said Gazza.

He says he is currently working hard and assured his fans that he plans on making sure that they get the best experience out of the 'Pumumu' album. “We are planning on releasing videos and as well as hosting a countrywide tour, we are busy organising that right now,” said Gazza.

Gazza also said the album has already made waves internationally with many people from as far as Russia, the United Kingdom (UK) and the US calling him to work with him. Gazza is confident that his album will go gold now that it is trending online, saying that the online sales of the album will “push” the album towards a gold certification. “I can see that it is possible for the album to go gold as the iTunes sales are contributing towards gold certification. I'm more confident than ever,” shared Gazza.

According to Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) certifications for an album to be considered gold it needs to sell 15 000 units.



Shona Ngava

Drought relief food rots in Kavango East

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Drought relief food rots in Kavango East Fuel shortage leaves trucks idle Four trucks have been standing idle in the two Kavango regions, unable to deliver the food aid for drought stricken people, which has now gone to waste. About 48 000 bags of maize meal and sorghum meant for people critically affected by drought in the Kavango East Region, has gone to waste.

The chief regional officer of the of the region Ludwig Thikusho told Nampa the food spoiled due to the limited number of trucks to distribute it in the region’s six constituencies.

Thikusho said they received six trucks from the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) in Grootfontein.

“We were then instructed to give two trucks to the Zambezi Region, leaving Kavango West and Kavango East to share the remaining four trucks,” he explained.

However, the trucks remain parked since September due to a lack of fuel.

Thikusho said the responsibility for fuel lies with the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

“Before September this year, the trucks were filled up using the petrol cards of the NDF and the bill would then be send to the OPM who would process the payment of the garages where the trucks fill up,” he stressed.

Until now, Thikusho said, he still has not received a satisfactory response from the director responsible for the Disaster Risk Management in the OPM, Japhet Iitenge on why the fuel is not forthcoming.

The management of the regional council is now seeking audience with Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila this week to rectify the problem.

Calls to Iitenge’s phone went unanswered.

Government has set aside N$90 million for drought relief from April this year to feed about 595 000 people in need of food.

NAMPA

Girl drowns in swamp in Linyanti

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Girl drowns in swamp in Linyanti A five-year-old girl from the Linyanti area in the Zambezi Region drowned in a swamp on Sunday afternoon while swimming with friends.

According to a Namibian Police Force report issued on Monday, Teresia Chulo drowned at about 15:30.

It said the children she was swimming with called for help when they realised their friend is drowning. She was rescued alive but died later at a nearby clinic.

Her next of kin were informed.

In a separate incident, a 43-year-old man from the Oshikondeilongo village in the Oshikoto Region will appear in the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court this week for allegedly firing shots at and assaulting his wife during a heated argument on Sunday.

Fortunately, all four shots missed the wife.

It is alleged the couple were at home when a quarrel erupted around 10:00. The man then allegedly took a walking stick and assaulted his wife before the neighbours came to her rescue.

NamPol confiscated his firearm upon his arrest that day.

The 34-year-old victim was taken to the Okatope Clinic, from which she was later transferred to the Onandjokwe Hospital for further treatment. She was discharged the same day.



NAMPA

Geingob impressed with Harambee

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Geingob impressed with Harambee Officials submitting quarterly reports The Namibian leader says significant progress has been made regarding the implementation of the Harambee Prosperity Plan. Namibia's ranking as the freest press on the continent is one of the achievements celebrated under the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP), says president Hage Geingob.

This was said during the Harambee Review meeting last week where the president also expressed confidence in his administration to fully implement the HPP in the next three years.

“The year 2016 has been an eventful one. It is the year we shifted gear from planning to implementation. The year that we launched our HPP, in the same vein the year was also characterised by some headwinds such as a slowdown in global appetite for our commodities and a protracted drought,” said the president.

He added that significant progress had been made with rolling out e-governance to all government offices, ministries and agencies. The finance ministry's integrated tax management system will go live before the end of March next year.

An online payroll planned for the public service is expected to eliminate ghost employees while citizens will be able to apply online for legal aid by next year.

“These solutions are all aimed at bringing government services closer to the people and improving the efficiency of public service delivery. We are also happy to report that all government ministry websites have been revamped and are being actively monitored against uptime and updating of latest information,” said Geingob.

The president expressed satisfaction with the fact that all ministers, deputy ministers and permanent had signed performance agreements that are published on the website of the office of the prime minister as well as individual websites of ministries.

According to him quarterly performance reports are being submitted by officials.

“Although there are expected teething problems, analysis of these reports indicates that we are on course to achieving 80% of agreed performance targets as set out in the HPP. I would like to commend ministers for the positive manner in which they have embraced performance management,” he said.

The president said about 22 000 households in the Khomas Region had benefitted from the food bank that was established this year. Between June and October the government spent N$15.4 million on food parcels.

Under the Harambee plan 2 240 plots have been delivered by the government in Windhoek, Oshakati and Walvis Bay.

According to the president N$367.9 million has been allocated to qualifying local authorities to subsidise urban land servicing, of which N$151.8 million has been used.

To date 2 172 houses have been completed against the annual target of 6 000 in Mariental, Otavi, Karibib, Okombahe, Omatjete, Khorixas and Rundu.

STAFF REPORTER

Chinese firm withdraws marine proposal

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Chinese firm withdraws marine proposal Blames apartheid and 'white-skinned' Namibians In a strongly-worded statement the Beijing Ruier Animal Breeding and Promoting Company has blamed white-skinned Namibians of railroading their marine wildlife project. The Chinese company that planned to purchase wild-caught marine wildlife from Namibia has blamed the country's apartheid history and wealthy people with their “white skins” as some of the main obstacles it encountered and as the reasons for withdrawing its proposal.

The Beijing Ruier Animal Breeding and Promoting Company, based in China wrote a letter to the coastal weekly newspaper Namib Times yesterday, stating that it will no longer pursue the Namibian government's approval for the export of captured, live marine mammals from Namibian waters.

The company applied for a licence from the fisheries ministry to capture live dolphins, seals, whales, penguins and other marine creatures.

It, however, confirmed in the letter that it has withdrawn its request.

The company, which claims to own the now notorious vessel Ryazanovka, said through the vessel's master Ilya Sharapov that the negative publicity the project received is regrettable and that it was an investment opportunity worth N$100 million for Namibia.

While Namibian Sun has been reliably informed that there were processes launched to re-register the vessel, the most recent documents show that Ryazanovka is owned by Vasiliyev OA, based in Petropavlovsk, Russia, also the registered harbour for the vessel.

Beijing Ruier Animal Breeding and Promoting Company applied for a licence with a local partner company (Welwitschia Aquatic and Wildlife Scientific Research) to the fisheries ministry and the company says the purpose was to utilise these resources in a “sustainable manner”.

However, locals yesterday described the letter as insulting and an eye blinder.

“We don't believe the statement; it was issued by the captain of the vessel and not the Chinese representative who is a businessman in Namibia. Yesterday there were enquiries made to have repairs and maintenance done on the “Ryazanovka” and she is still attempting to be classed for registry. The statement borders on being rude,” a spokesperson of the Namibian Anti-Plunder Group said.

The permanent secretary in the fisheries ministry Moses Maurihungirire told Namibian Sun that he knows nothing of the company withdrawing its proposal and that it is still with the minister for consideration.

The Chinese-based company says that it was trying to “assist Namibia through diversification of economic activities to create more employment, wealth and income and prosperity for the people of the country to come out of the poverty trap which was caused by the historical injustices of the previous apartheid administration”.

However, it continued by saying that “there were objectors who were mostly wealthy people inside and outside Namibia whose countries supported apartheid in the past which led to the current economic oppression of thousands of Namibians, and some of those who because of their white skin directly benefitted from the discriminatory apartheid policies.”

The company says that these people's voices have been very strong and even “insulting, and claiming that the project is either criminal or have some underhanded objectives”.

“In Namibia, we together with our local partners made a transparent application to the ministry, which should have been handled through the normal procedures. How can investment come to Namibia when investor applications are leaked to the media even before the ministry has pronounced itself on the merits of the application, and some animal zealots start to denounce the application?”

The company further says that it is unfortunate that the ministry never afforded them an opportunity to state precisely what they planned to do.

It says that they planned to invest over N$100 million in Namibia in the beginning stages and expand this investment later to much more by building a state-of-the-art marine park at the Namibian coast which would have allowed Namibians to benefit from the presence of marine mammals.



ELLANIE SMIT

SOE remuneration guidelines finalised

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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SOE remuneration guidelines finalised The remuneration of chief executive officers and board members of parastatals may no longer be a bone of contention following the finalisation of new guidelines by the Ministry of Public Enterprises.

The announcement was made last week as minister Leon Jooste reflected on a busy 2016.

“The new remuneration guidelines have been finalised and will herald the introduction of an integrated performance-based system for the first time. The new guidelines are incentivised with basic salaries with long- and short-term performance-based incentives. New performance agreements will be signed with individual board members and these contain measurable key performance indicators (KPIs),” Jooste said.

According to him, this would include economic, operational and compliance indicators custom made to each entity’s unique environment and the performance agreements would be legally binding.

Said Jooste: “Boards will equally sign performance agreements with their chief executive officers and managing directors containing the same KPIs and these would cascade down into the lower ranks of employees. I think that’s a big part of the solution.

“We are implementing good governance guidelines and have already issued the guidelines for the board member selection and appointment. These guidelines will go a long way in towards making the boards of public enterprises better equipped, both in terms of professional and technical skills. We have put these guidelines in action for the appointment of the new boards of MTC, Namcor and Nampower.

“Ernst and Young (EY) has been working on remuneration guidelines. The draft was submitted last year but we were not satisfied. EY has now gone back to the drawing board,” said Jooste.

Jooste also suggested that the performance agreements of his ministerial staff, including his own, could be revised.

“Our performance agreements can be enhanced. I do not think they are tough enough. I would love to see new performance agreements,” he said.

OGONE TLHAGE

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Higher level results better

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Higher level results betterTop performers over the moon The education minister says the teacher's strike had little impact on the Grade 12 examination results announced yesterday. Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa said an analysis of the Grade 12 higher level examination results of 2016 shows that more candidates stand a chance to qualify for entry to tertiary institutions next year.

However, she noted that performances in subjects such as Accounting, Arts and Design, Keyboard and Processing and African languages are negatively affected because of a lack of teachers. “In order to address this shortcoming, I have tasked my team to engage the Namibia Students Financial Aid Fund (NSFAF) to consider these subject areas as priority subjects,” the minister said yesterday while announcing the Grade 12 higher level examination results. She, however, dismissed the notion that the recent teacher strike which lasted one day has negatively affected these examinations. According to her, learners performed very well in the subjects that were directly affected by the absence of teachers. These subjects are Life Science and Mathematics which stands at average marks of 49.9% and 93% this year. Renathe Potgieter of Walvis Bay Private School emerged as the best performer this year.

She told Namibian Sun that perseverance is important. Potgieter, who wants to study medicine next year, said she could only reach this level with the support of her family and teachers. “I studied using the method people warn against – sitting with my cat in my lap and reading my books. It worked for me, but also a lot of hard work,” she said.

Tsengelmaa Sundui from St. Paul's College came second and says she has simply always tried very hard to be the “best in everything.” “I have always kept my efforts consistently,” she said and added that she plans to take a gap year in 2017.

“I am very indecisive about what I want to study that is why I need time, at the moment I am struggling to decide between Engineering and Economics.”

Blessing Chizengeya from St. Boniface College is the third best candidate and wants to study medicine. “I have had a bad experience and there was a shortage of doctors and this is why I want to be a doctor.”



JEMIMA BEUKES

Pass rate disappointing

December 20, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Pass rate disappointing More than 40% fail Grade 10 The Grade 10 overall pass rate shows a slight improvement, but it has been another year of disappointment. Only 21 291 of the 38 240 candidates who sat for the 2016 Grade 10 examination have qualified for admission to Grade 11 next year.

Despite representing a pass rate of 55.7% and a little over 1% increase from 2015, there are significant gaps, particularly in knowledge of subjects like Accounting and the different languages offered at junior secondary level.

The northern schools have yet again managed to outperform schools south of the red line with Oshikoto, Oshana and Omusati and Ohangwena enjoying the top national rankings.

Kavango East also retained its fifth position, while Zambezi improved two places to finish at number six. Kavango West dropped down to position seven, while Erongo also moved down to eight.

Kunene and Otjozondjupa remain unmoved at position nine and ten respectively.

At the wrong end of the table are Khomas (11), Omaheke (12), //Karas (13) and Hardap at 14. While announcing the results yesterday, education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa expressed disappointment with the class of 2016’s performance in Accounting. She highlighted that there is a serious need for efforts to be geared to improve the poor performance in this subject which has led to a high percentage of ungraded candidates.

The percentage rate of ungraded candidates in Accounting stands at 20.8% this year compared to 25.2% last year. “Regional offices are urged to put more efforts in this subject,” she said.

Subjects where candidates in general obtained better grades compared to the previous year included Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, Geography, Life Science, Mathematics, Physical Science, Silozi First Language and English Second Language.

“I believe that the bulk of the Namibian children can with the necessary support move over to above average performance,” said the minister.

The minister further advised Grade 10 dropouts to register with part-time centres such as Namcol and other institutions to upgrade their subject symbols.

They are also encouraged to register with vocational training centres to improve their skills in vocational education and training. She also encouraged poor performing regions to identify and reflect on the factors which hampered their performances. According to her, 2 430 of the candidates who failed Grade 10 this year who are 17 years and younger will be allowed to repeat in 2017.

“An observation of great concern is that 4 638 of the subject entries, candidates did not turn up to write the examinations they registered for.”

Hanse-Himarwa promised that although increasing the pass rate from 23 points to 27 will not take place next year, it will nevertheless happen during her time as education minister.

Good management

Meanwhile, permanent secretary of the education ministry Sanet Steenkamp pointed out that the best performing schools are set apart by their management teams. According to her, the schools have fostered a strong sense of care, discipline and safety environment.

“Something that does not cost any money. High leadership, effective leadership and management. The second thing is educator practice. Now at these schools the teachers were not highly educated, but they had a grip and a sense of connecting with their learners,” said Steenkamp. She also commended the schools for realising that parent and learners have a critical role to play at their respective schools.

“Most of these schools were selective in their enrolment. They took what they got. I just want to state that these schools assumed that every learner can succeed. These learners proved that despite difficult personal challenges that they have an unwavering faith in themselves,” she said.



Recipe for success

The top five performers all echoed group study as the best recipe for success and to always consult with teachers when in doubt. Top Grade 10 performer Tangi Nakapela from Reverend Juuso Shikongo Secondary School in Oshikoto said he remained focussed because his teachers and family always motivated him to do well. Raul Coetzee from Rukonga Vision School said he managed to pass Grade 10 with the grace of God and his self-discipline.

“I have this goal of giving my family a better life so I am working hard consistently. It important to study beforehand so that work does not pile up and to read up thoroughly after school,” said Coetzee. Paulina Hambata from Charles Anders Combined School argues that one must by all means try and find your own study method.

“I study smart and not hard. Study smart means you have found a way that works with you, study hard means taking a book and reading and reading without getting anything from it,” she said.



JEMIMA BEUKES

Women's Cosafa tournaments needed – Gertze

December 21, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Women's Cosafa tournaments needed – Gertze The lack of women tournaments is worrying the head of the women's department at the NFA Jacky Gertze who wants to see Cosafa tournaments for women like those hosted for male players.

Gertze welcomed the newly elected Cosafa leadership's plan of paying more attention to women's football but also expressed concern that there are not similar competitions for women.

“As a leader in women's football I am actually worried about the fact there isn't enough women football competitions in the Cosafa region,” she said, adding that similar tournaments like the Castle Senior Challenge is needed for women's football.

“At least every year we need competitions for our women's teams before we engage in qualifiers for CAF, FIFA or Olympics,” she said.

She stressed that there is a need to have a Cosafa U-17, U-20 and senior team tournaments for women football as well.

“It will be good if we have such tournaments and I for a fact know that countries such as Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho even Angola and Malawi will be inspired to plan and participate in these competitions.

“And women's teams qualifying for continental and world events will have enough games played outside and inside the official qualifiers,” she said.

Gertze maintained that money is the biggest issue at all federations to be able to prepare, “but 80% of the financial constrains we don't have control over, but what we have as federations and Cosafa has, is 100% control over the determination to put our women's competition equally as important as our men's competitions.”

“The region has great female players that can actually play on the world stage, provided the region provides equal opportunities for competitions,” she said.

The women's desk congratulated NFA president Frans Mbidi for being elected as Cosafa's vice-president, and has informed him what the women's desk expects from Cosafa.

Meanwhile, she also congratulated the U-20 girls who recently won a silver medal at the 2016 African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region Five Under-20 Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.

“I am really thankful that the ministry of sport has decided that despite the financial crisis in Namibian sports they managed to send a women's football team to these games.

“I am also happy that the team fought so hard to reach the finals, so I believe our girls' centre has also done a great job in keeping the elite young girls together in training although those outside the centre could only join three days before departure,” she said.

Gertze attributed the girl's hard work to the assistance by FIFA, GIZ, Unicef and Spar group towards the development of women football in the country.



KAINO NGHITONGO

Annual Okau tourney yield results

December 21, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Annual Okau tourney yield results Kapz & Joram Group, Young boys scoop Okau dual tourney It has become a norm for sport lovers all over the country to host tournaments during the festive season and the annual Okau tournament has become the centre of attraction in Oshana Region. It has become a norm for sport lovers all over the country to host tournaments during the festive season and the annual Okau tournament has become the centre of attraction in Oshana Region.

Siblings dominate tennis tourney

December 21, 2016, 2:00 pm

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Siblings dominate tennis tourney The two Jacobs players, Tuki and his sister Lesedi, emerged victorious during the Bank Windhoek NTA Coastal Open tournament held recently.

The tournament saw some of the best players from Namibia gathered to participate, where quality of tennis was displayed by local players competing against Namibian players studying in the United States and South Africa.

The men’s A section saw an exciting final among Namibia’s top Davis Cup players Tuki Jacobs and Deon van Dyk which Tuki Jacob won 6-3 6-3.

Tuki Jacob’s sister Lesedi also stood her ground like her brother to win the final against Caroline Adriano 6-1 6-0.

The men’s B section was won by Derick Rooza who had the upper hand against Tennis Association president Samson Kaulinge.

Paul Schwieger and Kudzai Toto caused an upset by beating the number-two seeded doubles combination of Deon van Dyk and Eduan Louw. The youngsters went all the way to the finals where they faced a formidable opponent Katu and Tuki Jacobs. The Jacobs brothers confirmed their number one ranking with a hard fought 6-2 6-4 victory.

A number of the best junior FNB development programme players were given the opportunity to participate in the tournament and to gain experience playing against much more match experienced adult players.

The players had chats with their local role model hero top ranked Namibian Davis Cup player Tuki Jacobs.

Tuki Jacobs briefed the development juniors on the rigid training environment in American college tennis, and gave them a few valuable hints on how to become better tournament players.

At the prize-giving ceremony NTA tennis president Samson Kaulinge thanked the sponsor Bank Windhoek and all the players and supporters who had travelled, some from far away, to join the tournament.

NTA vice-president Clive Gwanab, informed players that the next big tournament on the NTA calendar is the ITF Southern Africa Junior Championships.

The international tournament will be hosted by the NTA from the 9 to 19 January 2017.

RESULTS

Women's Singles A Section

Winner : Sedi Jacobs

Runner Up: Caroline Adriano

Men's Singles A Section

Winner: Tuki Jacobs

Runner Up: Deon van Dyk

Men's Doubles A Section

Winner: Tuki Jacobs and Katu Jacobs

Runner Up: Paul Schwieger and Kudzai Toto

Women’s Doubles A Section

Winner: Sedi Jacobs and Engela Malan

Men’s Semi Finalist A Section

Kato Jacobs

Paul Schwieger

Women's Singles B Section

Winner : Engela Malan

Runner Up: Carin Neethling

Men's Singles B Section

Winner: Derick Rooza

Runner Up: Samson Kaulinge

Men's Doubles B Section

Winner: Samson Kaulinge and Derick Rooza

Runner Up: Richard Bailey and Eugene Cruys

SPORT REPORTER