Namibian Sun

Budget cuts to impact free education

Education permanent secretary Sanet Steenkamp says that there will definitely be an impact on basic free education in Namibia, following the recent budget cuts that were announced last year by the finance ministry.

Steenkamp told Namibian Sun that currently, the ministry cannot elaborate on what the extent of these will be as budget allocations are only expected at the end of January and only then will they be able to know the true extent of the situation.

She explained that although the ministry had a meeting with the finance ministry in December it will only be certain by the end of this month when budget allocations are made what priority areas are truly affected and by how much. However, she did confirm that the education grant will also be impacted.

“There will certainly be an impact and therefore we are appealing that parents should meet us halfway.”

Steenkamp further explained that the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has also been affected by the directive from the finance ministry issued to all government offices, ministries and agencies to review their expenditure.

Therefore, following this directive, the ministry has revised both its operational and capital components of the budget by reducing consumption expenditure mainly, daily subsistence allowances (DSA), overtime and other expenditures of operational nature.

She said on the capital development side the ministry suspended the construction of all planned office buildings and other construction such as libraries, community development centres, national monuments and so on.

“Inevitably, this has resulted in the reduced scope of work as per our annual management plan 2016/17 and as a result, it will impact negatively on service delivery as it related to the provision of teaching and learning and the general delivery of education and the promotion of arts and culture,” said Steenkamp

According to her curriculum reform implementation is another area affected by the budget cuts in terms of the required physical education facilities countrywide and the procurement of services and technical educational tools and facilities required by different schools.

Steenkamp said in order to mitigate the impact of the said budget revisions, the ministry is engaging with the ministries of finance, works and transport and the National Planning Commission (NPC) on strategies to minimise the impact of the budget cuts on both operational and capital activities.

ELLANIE SMIT

Geingob called to halt Swapo probe'Unguided missiles' threaten peace and stability The planned investigation of human rights abuses by Swapo during 1966 and 1989 has been described as a conspiracy and a threat to peace.

Swapo Party youth activists have petitioned President Hage Geingob to intervene in the intended probe of party leaders by two bodies who have agreed to investigate claims of human rights abuses perpetrated by Swapo in exile.

Hofni Iipinge, Sam Shipiki, Emmanuel Aron and Pendapala Nakathingo signed the petition which was handed over at the Oshana regional governor's office on Friday and follows Namibian Sun's reports dated 13 and 19 December last year where two groups, the Committee of Parents, and the Truth and Justice Committee, called for an international enquiry into the alleged crimes committed during 1966 to 1989 in the so-called Swapo Dungeons.

According to the four youth activists, who held a media briefing on Friday at the Oshana regional Swapo office in Oshakati, they condemned the probe by these groups saying that it is a conspiracy against the party's leaders and furthermore, such a probe would also ignore the issue of national reconciliation.

“This is a conspiracy which we should not allow. We are allowing ourselves to be abused. We must interrogate this action which is coming from unguided missiles,” the petition reads.

“When we attained our independence, one of the things we said we should do was that we should reconcile and forgive each other and move on as a nation. However, as we speak to you now our country is divided because there is a talk of the past and is spoken of in hushed tones.”

They also argue that such a probe would be a non-starter as there was no government of Namibia during 1966 to 1989, but an interim government of the then South West Africa, now known as Namibia.

They argue that Namibia is governed by the rule of law and the supreme law being the Constitution, saying that Article 25 clearly states that an aggrieved person by any action can approach the court to seek relief, which they say has not been done.

They further argue that this is also the requirement as stipulated by the United Nations that any complaint should be lodged domestically after which the legal resources of the concerned government should first be exhausted, and if the courts fail to adjudicate it is only thereafter that the matter can be referred to the Committee Against Torture (CAT).

Meanwhile, the two groups argue that a commission of inquiry has been necessitated because the Swapo leadership has to date refused to account for the disappearance of fellow Namibians in exile.

This refusal, the two committees claim, in itself constitutes a continued crime against humanity.

They want the commissioners to investigate the alleged killings and detention of refugees, torture, forced confessions of detainees, complaints against Swapo's leadership made by members of its youth league and members of Plan in 1976, the alleged involvement and complicity of foreign missions and other instances, the Johnny Ya Otto Commission of Inquiry, and other related matters.

So far the groups have announced the names of Namibians and other international players who have agreed to investigate the claims.

They are John Nakuta, Leah Shaanika, Hendrik Christian, Monika von Wietersheim and Paul Thomas while Paul Threwela from the United Kingdom, a former Robben Island prisoner and member of Umkhonto weSize, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC) during the liberation struggle, has agreed to assist the inquiry with international press coverage.

Namibian Sun understands the names of the commissioners were submitted to attorney-general Sackey Shanghala, who is tasked to address the concerns of the joint committee on behalf of the Namibian government which the youth activists also questioned in their petition.

“There is a question as to who tasked attorney-general Sacky Shangala to address the concerns by the joint committee as reported in the newspaper?”

The names of the commissioners would also be submitted to the CAT, international churches and all other bodies with involved in this matter.

KENYA KAMBOWE

NFA scrutinises CAF candidatesMbidi senses election victory NFA president Frans Mbidi expects a different manifesto from CAF presidential candidates than in previous elections.

The Namibia Football Association (NFA) is undecided on which Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidential candidate it will support.

It was announced last week that long-serving CAF president Issa Hayatou was standing for re-election for four more years.

The CAF presidential and executive committee elections will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 16 March.

Elected back in 1988, the powerful CAF president will be contesting the position with Madagascar's Ahmad.

Namibia Football Association president Frans Mbidi says the association is still considering which candidate to back.

Speaking in an interview yesterday Mbidi said: “The names of the candidates just emerged last week and it is therefore a bit premature to decide which person we want as president.

“The important thing at the moment will be to receive both candidates' manifestos and study them.

“We will definitely back a candidate who comes up with a proposal which will benefit Namibia and the rest of Africa.”

Mbidi said incumbent CAF president Hayatou had done much for African football and deserved gratitude from the NFA. That fact would not influence the NFA to overlook the other candidate, though.

“Ahmad will not be written off yet because he might just come up with a promising election manifesto.

“As for Hayatou, we will love to see what new ideas he can come up with, which is different from what he has done over the years.

“Our position and decision will just be done the same way as we did at the FIFA presidential elections.

“We expect the manifestos to be mailed to us in the following weeks.

“I must announce that we will definitely want to get our local media involved as far as making a decision is concerned,” Mbidi said.

Mbidi is one of the candidates for the CAF southern zone executive committee election.

There are two vacancies, but one position will be reserved for a female candidate, while four male candidates will compete for the other vacancy.

The NFA president will stand against Danny Jordaan (South Africa), Rui Eduardo Da Costa (Angola) and Suketu Partel (Seychelles).

“I am very optimistic about getting the position because I did not just decide to contest for it, but I was asked to by many presidents around the world.

“This is just the same thing as when I was elected as Cosafa vice-president, given many officials suggested I run for the position.

“I think many people have seen some qualities in me and that is why they are always asking me to apply for such positions.

“This is one of the things which give me so much confidence ahead of the Addis Ababa elections,” he said.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

More players turn up for rugby trials

The Namibia Rugby Union's (NRU) sevens assistant coach and team manager, Robbie Dickson, is satisfied with the number of players who turned up for rugby trials at the weekend.

Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, Dickson said more players had turned up for this year's trials than last year's.

“The turnout was very good as we had about 40 players so we had a big number to pick from and the quality of players who came to the trials was high,” he said.

Dickson said a team of 18 to 20 players would be picked for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Hong Kong, slated for 7 to 9 April. He said interest in sevens rugby was growing, which was evident from the number of players who turned up for this year's trials. “We are really happy with the interest, and the quality and conditioning of the players is much better than it was last year.

“We did testing on Saturday morning and also gym testing of the players, so we will analyse them and pick a squad from that and send it to the NRU and Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) for approval. Then only can we make it public,” he said.

The HSBC Sevens Series serves as a qualifying tournament for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

KAINO NGHITONGO

Fielding costs Namibia as UAE clinch victoryDew at night cost us – Burger Namibia's senior cricket team's good bowling was not enough to award them victory as they lost to United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

Namibia made for overly generous guests, dropping three chances and giving away plenty more runs to allow tournament hosts United Arab Emirates (UAE) to escape with a last-ball win by six wickets.

The match was fairly sloppy from beginning to end but Namibia were determined to show they could match, if not surpass, any errors UAE made in the field.

One of the few blemish free individual performances came from fast bowler Mohammad Naveed, who reeled in the three biggest fish in the Namibia batting order.

Man of the Match Naveed clean bowled openers Louis van der Westhuizen and Stephan Baard with a pair of full and straight deliveries inside the first three overs before coming back late to dismiss Gerrie Snyman with a bit of good fortune, caught at midwicket off a meaty waist-high full toss denying Namibia their finishing trump card.

Despite the last-ball nature of the finish, UAE held wickets in hand throughout the chase and generally looked in control.

Rohan Mustafa steered the first leg with a half-century before Shaiman Anwar took the baton and carried the chase into the last over with a fifty of his own until he was run out off the penultimate ball.

Muhammad Usman then skipped down the track off the final ball and scooped Jan Frylinck back over his head with everyone in the circle to seal victory.JP Kotze starred in Namibia's innings with an impressively clean power-hitting display.

Kotze had three fours and two sixes - one each slog swept over midwicket against left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza and legspinner Imran Haider - in his 50 off 42 balls.

However, he perished at a crucial time to Zahoor Farooqi as the medium pacer landed one in the block hole at the start of the 18th, the first of three wickets in seven balls that also accounted for fellow set batsman Sarel Burger for 32 and was bookended by the wicket of Snyman.

Namibia's best hope of containing Mustafa and Shaiman Anwar came in the form of left-arm spinner Bernard Scholtz.

He was brought on by Burger after the Power play and bowled a tidy three-run eighth over, but Mustafa triggered an assault in the 10th to hit him out of the attack.

The second ball of the over pitched full on his legs and was slog-swept over Burger at deep midwicket for Mustafa's lone six.

Next ball, Mustafa hit him a bit straighter toward wide long on for what should have been a single but a poor misfiled by Frylinck resulted in four.

A single put Shaiman back on strike and he brought out the sweep to find the gap behind square for four more as part of a 17-run over. Scholtz wasn't used again.

Namibia dropped three chances and missed out on at least two run outs in the field.

The last ball of the 10th by Scholtz was hit by Shaiman to deep midwicket for one but Namibia failed to make Mustafa pay for seeking a greedy second run when the relay to wicketkeeper Kotze pulled him high and away from the stumps, despite Mustafa being well short of his ground after being sent back by Shaiman.

In the final over with three needed off three balls, Shaiman pushed for a suicidal two to long-on.

Gerhard Erasmus fielded quickly and fired an accurate throw on one bounce to Kotze, who fluffed the take with Shaiman three yards short coming back for the second run to draw scores level.

When asked after the game what the cause of all the fielding lapses was, Burger attributed it to trouble gripping the ball due to the dew factor at night.

ESPN SPORTS MEDIA

Algeria held to draw, Senegal wins

Riyad Mahrez scored twice but Algeria could only draw with outsiders Zimbabwe while Senegal got the first win of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.

Mahrez put Algeria ahead in the Group B opener in Franceville in south-eastern Gabon but then needed to score a late equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw for one of the tournament favourites.

Senegal, another fancied side thanks to their status as the top-ranked African team in the FIFA rankings, saw Liverpool winger Sadio Mane set them on their way to a 2-0 victory against Tunisia.

That result left them in control of the section while Algeria were left bemoaning a missed opportunity.

“We only have ourselves to blame. We need to keep working and play well in the second match against Tunisia,” said Leicester City star Mahrez. A day after hosts Gabon were held to a 1-1 draw by minnows Guinea-Bissau in the capital Libreville as the tournament got under way, there was a sparse crowd as the action moved to the 20 000-seat stadium in Franceville.

Many locals chose to give the games a miss amid calls from opponents of the government in Gabonto boycott the Cup of Nations.

Those who were there witnessed a cracking match between Algeria and rank outsiders Zimbabwe, with Mahrez curling in a fine early opener.

The Warriors, whose build-up to the finals was overshadowed by a row over bonuses, quickly equalised when Kudakwashe Mahachi fired in and they then went ahead with a penalty before the half-hour mark scored by Nyasha Mushekwi.

Algeria hit the bar twice in the second half, once through Ramy Bensebaini and then when Elisha Muroiwa struck the frame of his own goal as he attempted to clear a cross.

They were just eight minutes away from a humiliating defeat before Mahrez drove in from 20 yards to make it 2-2.

“We knew the first match was going to be difficult,” added Mahrez.

“We didn't perform in the first half but played very well in the second half and should have scored several more goals.”

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe coach Callisto Pasuwa was delighted to see his side prove they could mix it with the continent's supposed finest.

“When I was asked who was the favourite and said Zimbabwe, everyone laughed at me. But in this group there is no small team,” he said.

“I hope the point obtained here will motivate my players to do even better in our next match against Senegal.”

Mane came third in the African player of the year awards behind winner Mahrez and Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

And after those two had scored in their countries' opening games, Mane followed their example by getting the breakthrough against Tunisia.

He sent Tunisian goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi the wrong way from the spot after Aymen Abdennour had brought down Cheikhou Kouyate.

Kara Mbodj then soared above the Tunisian defence to head home from a corner and make it 2-0 on the half-hour.

Mbodj struck his own bar in the second half while Ismaila Sarr nearly added to Senegal's lead, hitting the frame of the goal with a cross.

On Monday, the action moves to the northern city of Oyem as reigning champions the Ivory Coast begin their defence of the trophy against Togo, for whom Emmanuel Adebayor remains the star man, at 1600 GMT.

At 1900 GMT, Herve Renard, the French coach of the Ivorian side that won the tournament in Equatorial Guinea two years ago, leads Morocco into their opening game against DR Congo.

The Congolese have put a row over unpaid bonuses, which led them to boycott training on Friday, behind them in time for the game.

“Our demands were listened to,” said Leopards captain Youssouf Mulumbu.

“In recent days people have talked about us more in terms of the bonuses and strikes, but now we need to concentrate more on the football.”

NAMPA/AFP

Ondama yaNeckartal otayi manithwa pehulilo lyomvula

Ehangano lyoSalini okwa tegelelwa li manithe iilonga yetungo lyondama yaNeckartal okuya pehulilo lyomvula. Uuyelele mboka owa gandjwa komupopiliko gwehangano ndyoka, Gilles Castonguay ngoka akuthileko oNamibian Sun kombinga yeyo komeho lyiilonga yondama ndjoka.

“Ehangano lyetu [Salini Impregilo] okwa tegelelwa tu manithe iilonga yetu okuya pehulilo lyomvula. Iilonga yondama oya manithwa noopresenda 50, omanga opoloyeka ayihe ya manithwa noopresenda 70.”

Iilonga yetungo ndyoka oya li ya topolwa miitopolwa iyali, shotango etungo lyopakathimbo lyocofferdam kombinga yokolumoho lyomulonga, opo aaniilonga ya vule okulonga nawa ya gamenwa , omanga oshitopolwa oshitiyali oshoka sha tungwa kombinga yokolulyo , na osha ningwa opo aaniilonga ya vule okumanitha iilonga yawo kombinga ndjoka yomulonga megameno.

Ondama ndjoka otayi ka pungula omeya okuza momulonga gwaFish River nokunduluka iikwankondo oshowo okupungula omeya ga thika poocubic meta oomiliyona 857, ngoka taga ka longithwa mokutekela evi lyuunamapya lyuunene woohecta 5 000, onga oshitopolwa shUuministeli wUunamapya. Omunino ngoka tagu ka za mondama ndjoka otagu ka kwatakanithwa noondama dhilwe moshilongo.

Iilonga yondama ndjoka oya tameke muSeptemba gwo-2013 nuuna ya manithwa ondama ndjoka otayi ka kala onene lyiikando itatu kondama yaHardap omanga uule wayo tawu kala womala gatatu galondathana. Ondama yaNeckartal oyi li oshitopolwa shoompangela dhepungulo lyomeya dhUuministeli wOmeya,Uunamapya, nIihwa.

OGONE TLHAGE

Etheni SwapoInaya hala Swapo a konaakonwe Omakonaakono gemonitho lyiihuna uuthemba womuntu ngoka taku pangelwa opo ga ningilwe ongundu yoSwao, omolwa iimbuluma a longo aniwa pokati ko-1966 no-1986 okwa hololwa kutya otaga tula moshiponga ombii.

Yamwe po yomaanyasha mongundu yoSwapo, oya pula Omupresidende Hage Geingob opo iidhope mo momakonaakono ngoka taga ningilwa aaleli yongundu, koongundu dhopaali dhoka dha zimine okukwatela komeho omakonaakono ngoka giimbuuma ya longwa kuSwapo pethimbo lyekondjelo manguluko.

Hofni Iipinge, Sam Shipiki, Emmanuel Aron naPendapala Nakathingo oya shaina omukanda ngoka gwa pewa ombelewa yaNgoloneya gwaShana mEtitano, sha landula onkundana ndjoka ya pitithwa koshikundaneki shika momasiku 13 nomasiku 19 gaDesemba moka ookomitiye dhopaali yoCommittee of Parents noTruth and Justice Committee, ya pula ku ningwe omakonaakono omolwa iimbuluma mbyoka ya longwa kuSwapo pokati ko-1966 no-1989.

Kwiikwatelelwa kaanyasha mboka yane, mboka ya ningi omutumba niikundaneki mEtitano pombelelwa yelelo lyoshitopolwa shaShana mOshakati, itaya popile eningo lyomakonaakono ngoka molwaashoka dhoka oompangela tadhi ningilwa aaleli yongundu oshowoo okuya pondje omulandu gwedhiminathanopo.

“Sho twa mono emanguluko lyetu, oshinima shotango shoka twa popi edhiminathanepo nokupula komeho onga oshigwana, ihe ngashiingeyi sho tatu popi, oshilongo shetu osha topolwa moongundu mbali omolwa oohapu dhomathimbo ga piti dhoka tadhi popiwa.”

Oya popi kutya omakonaakono ngoka kage na omungo molwaashoka pethimbo ndyoka ka pwa li epangelo lyaNamibia a manguluka.

Oya popi kutya Namibia ota lelwa kEkotampango ,ndyoka montopolwa 25 lya popya kutya kehe ngoka uuvithwa nayi ketokolo kehe na ye kompangu oko a kamone ekwatho ihe shoka inashi ningwa.

Oongundu dhoka mbali odha li dha popi kutya eningo lyomakonaakono olya pumbiwa molwaaashoka, Swapo sigo onena okwa tindi okugandja omatompelo omolwa omadhipago ngoka nekano lyaakwashigwana petimbo lyekondjelomanguluko.

Okomitiye ndjoka oya hala ookomufala mboka ya ninge omakonaaono momadhipago nekwatepo lyoonkwatwa dhaazaizai AaNamibia, omamonitho giihuna oshowo iimbuluma ayihe mbyoka tayi pelwa ombedhi elelo lyaSwapo taku popiwa kutya oya longwa kewawa lyaanyasha yongundu ndjoka mo-1976 oshowo kiilyo yoPLAN. Okomitiye tayi ithanwa Committee of Parents and the Truth and Justice Committee oya tseyitha omadhina gaamboka ya tokola okuninga omakonaakono giimbuluma mbyoka ya longwa kuSwapo, pethimbo lyekondjelomanguluko.

Iimbuluma mbyoka oya longwa pokati ko-1966 sigo 1989, niilyo yokomitiye ndjoka oya tumbulwa kutya oDr John Nakuta, Leah Shaanika, Hendrik Christian, Monika von Wietersheim naPaul Thomas.

Paul Threwela a za koUnited Kingdom, na okwa li nale onkwatwa ya Robben Island noshilyo shoUmkhonto we Size, oshitopolwa sho African National Congress (ANC) pethimbo lyekondjelomanguluko okwa zimine opo a kwathele momakonaakono ngoka pandondo yopashigwana.

Omadhina ngoka otaga kapewa Hahende-Ndjai gwepagelo, Sackey Shanghala, ngoka a pewa oshinakugwanithwa shokulonga nokomitiye ndjoka, pehala lyepangelo lyaNamibia.

Omadhina gookomufala mboka otaga ka pewa oCAT, oongeleka dhopashigwana oshowo omalutu agehe taga kutha ombinga momakonaakono ngoka.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Elongo lyoshali lya gumwa ketetulo lyelongitho lyiimaliwa

Amushanga gwElongo moshilongo, Sanet Steenkamp, okwa popi kutya elongo lyoshali moshilongo otali ka gumwa ketokolo ndyoka lya ningwa kepangelo, okupitila mUuministeli wEmona,opo ku shunithwe pevi omwaalu gwiimaliwa tayi longithwa kepangelo.

Steenkamp okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya ngashiingeyi itaya vulu okumona kutya omukundu ngoka oguthike peni ihe otaye ke shi mona owala okuya pehulilo lyaJanuari.

“Otaku ka kala omaiyimbo, onkene otatu pula aavali opo ye tu yambidhidhe.”

Amushanga okwa tsikile kutya Uuministeli wElongo nawo owa gumwa kelombwelo ndyoka lya pewa iikondo ayihe yepangelo kUuministeli wEmona, opo yi shunithe pevi nokutetula elongitho yawo lyiimaliwa.

Onkene sha landula elombwelo ndyoka, uuministeli owa talulula elongitho lyawo lyiimaliwa miilonga ngaashi okushunitha pevi nenge okukutha po iifuta yomalutaayima oshowo iifuta yilwe ya gwedhwwapo.

Uuministeli owa kaleke woo etungo lyoombelewa, oongulu dhomambo, omandiki gomayambulepo oshowo tuu.

ELLANIE SMIT

Implementing SDG goals good for businessBusinesses can unlock US$12 trillion in market opportunities Businesses have a key role to play in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to end poverty and protect the planet. Companies could unlock at least US$12 trillion in market opportunities by 2030 and create up to 380 million jobs by implementing a few key development goals, according to a study by a group including global business and finance leaders.

The report, released yesterday by the Business and Sustainable Development Commission, said pressure on business to become a “responsible social actor” was likely to grow. The group was launched at the Davos 2016 World Economic Forum to encourage businesses to take the lead in poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Members include the chief executives of multinational firms such as Edelman, Pearson, Investec, Merck, Safaricom, Abraaj, Alibaba and Aviva, alongside academics, environmentalists, trade union leaders and philanthropists.

The study said businesses had a key role to play in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to end poverty and protect the planet.

“Achieving the global goals opens up an economic prize of at least US$12 trillion by 2030 for the private sector and potentially 2-3 times more,” the study said, adding this could be achieved by action in just four areas, energy, cities, agriculture and health.

The US$12 trillion, made up of business savings and revenue gains, would be equal to a tenth of forecast global economic output while 90 percent of the new jobs would be in the developing world, the study said.

Progress has been slow, however, and the study said businesses were still balking at longer-term investments, preferring instead to sit on cash or return it to shareholders via buybacks and dividends.

The 17 SDGs, adopted in September 2015, include targets on such issues as climate, clean water, gender equality and economic inequality.

The last of these has grabbed attention in recent years, bringing to prominence populist and nationalist politicians, especially in the West, as anger has grown over stagnant wages, migration, high CEO salaries and corporate tax evasion.

“We anticipate much greater pressure on business to prove itself a responsible social actor, creating good, properly paid jobs in its supply chains as well as in its factories and offices,” the report said, adding that paying taxes transparently was key to rebuilding social contract.

Other steps it urged include pricing pollution via carbon trading and reducing food waste, a step that by itself could be worth up to US$405 billion.

The cost of achieving these goals by 2030 will likely require US$2.4 trillion of additional annual investment, however, especially in infrastructure, the study found.

The group recommended “innovative financing” from public and private sector sources to raise this amount, adding: “The global finance system needs to become much better at deploying the trillions of dollars of savings into the sustainable investments that the world needs.”

NAMPA/REUTERS

Italian consortium wins Okavango bridge project

Botswana has awarded a US$95 million contract to a joint venture between Italian companies Itinera and Cimolai to build a bridge in the remote Okavango Delta, a major tourist attraction renowned for its wildlife.

The project, which will be fully funded by the government and involves the construction of a 1.1km road bridge and pedestrian walkways, is expected to be complete in July 2019. It will replace a pontoon service across a section of the delta. “An environment impact assessment was done since the Okavango Delta area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will make sure construction will not disturb the environment,” Elias Magosi, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Communications, told a media briefing.

At certain times of the year, the Okavango Delta is home to some of the greatest concentrations of African wildlife, and development has generally been kept to a minimum there. It floods during Botswana's winter dry season, making it a magnet to herds of elephants and other animals.

NAMPA/REUTERS

Money tips for 2017 If you are spending too much and saving too little, or if you aren't sure where you're money goes every month, and even if you are doing well but want to see where you can improve, it's time to start the New Year with a financial check-up. Renee Eagar, certified financial planner at Brenthurst Wealth, sets out nine tips to make 2017 your best financial year yet.

Where there's a will

Make a will and review your estate planning. Death is an uncomfortable subject, but you don't want to leave your family worrying about finances if something happens. Make sure you've decided on who will take custody of your children if they are still minors, who will inherit your property and who will make medical decisions for you if you become incapacitated. For this you need a living will to be sure you receive the medical care in accordance with your wishes. Then ensure your family knows where to find this and your financial information including passwords for online accounts. And if you have a will, make sure it is updated when circumstances (e.g. divorce) change. People quite often neglect their wills but it is by far the most important document of any comprehensive financial plan.

Super saver

Even if you are only currently putting away 10% of your salary into savings a 1% increase to 11% will make a significant impact on your savings account. By gradually making small adjustments, you won't miss the money but you will still be able to build up your savings. One of the easiest ways to increase savings is to automate the process, whether this is by direct deductions or automated transfers to your savings account both are effective ways to get you saving.

Discount, discount

Call your cellphone service provider, car and household insurance, gym and other services for which you pay a monthly fee and ask if they can give you a better deal. Also ensure you fully understand the benefits of loyalty programmes you belong to and make the best use of what is on offer. The programmes have many benefits that many are unaware of.

Dig yourself out of debt

If you've got debt, pay it off as quickly as possible. Compound interest means your debt repayment is only getting larger every month not smaller, also taking into the consideration current debt interest rates are not favourable. Also take a hard look at bad debt and how you got into it, credit-card debt, for example, is expensive and could be a sign you're living beyond your means and need to relook at your monthly budget.

Bills, bills, bills

Any money that goes to late fees on bills not paid on time is money wasted, and these late payments can also hurt your credit record. If you're missing bill due dates consider putting automated reminders in your calendar, signing up for alerts or setting up autopay options using bank accounts or credit cards.

FIN24

Outlook not signal of collapseNamibia still has investment-grade rating An economist says the Namibian authorities have been responsive to credit ratings, unlike some other African countries.

Namibia's negative economic outlook does not signal the collapse of the domestic economy or an inability to finance debt, a local economist has said.

On 2 December 2016, Moody's Investor Services downgraded Namibia's economic outlook from stable to negative.

The rating agency said the downgrade was due to various reasons including rising government debt and liquidity stress induced by reliance on external export.

Another credit-rating agency, Fitch Ratings, undertook a review mission to Namibia from 3 to 4 August 2016 and on 2 September it revised the country's economic outlook from stable to negative.

In an interview on Thursday, Claudia Boamah told Nampa that conclusions drawn by these agencies showed that Namibia's rating was still of investment grade.

Boamah said so far, Namibia's economic leadership had taken the ratings into consideration and had been responsive, unlike elsewhere on the continent where such ratings appeared to be ignored.

“The whole world only just began to recover after enduring eight years of a global recession, which had adverse effects on the domestic export revenue due to falling commodity prices.”

In its report, Moody's noted that countries like Namibia that rely on commodities would continue experiencing challenges in 2017.

“Sub-Saharan Africa's economies will continue to face commodity-induced liquidity stress in 2017, with recurring fiscal deficits amid challenging financing conditions,” said the Moody's report.

Responsive strategies have been devised and to some extent implemented, Boamah said, which should assist in coping with challenges in 2017.

She said finance minister Calle Schlettwein had implemented austerity measures such as a freeze of non-priority government construction projects and an embargo on recruitment in the public sector.

The economist explained Namibia's agricultural production was stunted by the drought, which also triggered an increase in government expenditure to provide drought relief. “Perhaps recent efforts to boost international and domestic tourism indicate a proactive and creative approach to increase foreign revenue.”

Boamah said Moody's credit rating was calculated based on factors such as per capita income, gross domestic product (GDP) growth, inflation, external debt, level of economic development and credit default history.

NAMPA

Still banking at 106 A 106-year-old woman from Epupa in the Kunene Region on Friday received a token of appreciation from First National Bank Namibia (FNB) for making use of their services.

Kaumbira Luhozu's records at FNB show that she was born on 3 March 1910 in Angola.

She received a mattress, blankets and groceries from the bank. The manager of the FNB branch at Opuwo, Johasaphat Kauta, said they decided to show their appreciation towards the pensioner, who still made use of a bank at her age.

Kauta said the bank's motto was to make a difference in the lives of Namibians wherever it could by bettering the lives of its customers. “It is very impressive that a person of this age is still making use of a financial institution while some younger Namibians do not think it necessary,” he said. He warned that people who did not make use of banks put themselves at risk of being robbed of their money.

Luhozu said she was thankful for the donation. “I never expected to receive all these items, and it is what I need,” she said. She said the nearest bank is in Opuwo and because she cannot move around too much, her daughter does her banking for her.

NAMPA

Hangana supports road safety

STAFF REPORTER

Hangana Seafood provided some relief to officers manning the Walvis Bay roadblock by delivering daily meals and soft drinks during the festive season.

Speaking about the initiative, Hangana managing director Herman Theron said: “Driven by our purpose of ‘Creating a Future, Enhancing Life’, and seeing how hard these officers were working during this peak period, it was an obvious thought that a good protein-packed meal twice a day was one way in which Hangana could make a difference.

“It is a fact that highly visible policing has a major impact on road safety, and we are grateful for their contribution to saving lives.”

TransNamib buys new locomotivesN$300 million spent TransNamib now owns 97 locomotives, of which only 52 are operational.

State-owned railway enterprise TransNamib has bought six new General Electric locomotives from Brazil that were offloaded at the port of Walvis Bay on Friday.

They are expected to be operational in about two weeks, TransNamib acting CEO Mbahupu Hippy Tjivikua said.

He received the trains at the harbour and said they cost about N$300 million, which was sourced from the government.

TransNamib now owns 97 trains, of which only 52 are in working order.

The old locomotives have been in use for over 50 years - double the normal lifespan of between 20 and 25 years.

“These are the best locomotives TransNamib ever bought. They have modern technology and are fuel efficient. I have no doubt that they will serve their purpose,” Tjivikua said.

He said the procurement process started two years ago.

He said it was necessary to buy new trains to replace ageing stock, adding that TransNamib expected the new trains to increase its profit because more goods could now be transported.

“We need to acquire 80 extra trains in the next four years for us to be able to say we are at a good standard,” Tjivikua said.

Ageing railways are another challenge for the company but Tjivikua said it was receiving attention.

“We cannot bring new trains to use on old railway lines, so what we are going to do in the meantime is to repair the railways.

“The existing infrastructure is very old and to overhaul the entire system would require funding of approximately N$15 billion.

“We are starting 2017 on a very positive note not only for TransNamib but for the whole of the country. This is definitely one of the best procurements done by the company in the last 50 years. General Electric is a very efficient manufacturer and supplied us with one of the most reliable locomotives (including service plans) on the market.”

According to a reliable source some of the 17 locomotives purchased from China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corporation in 2014, in addition to the four purchased ten years ago for N$44 million, are being refurbished.

OTIS FINCK

TransNamib buys new locomotivesN$300 million spent TransNamib now owns 97 locomotives, of which only 52 are operational.

OTIS FINCK

State-owned railway enterprise TransNamib has bought six new General Electric locomotives from Brazil that were offloaded at the port of Walvis Bay on Friday.

They are expected to be operational in about two weeks, TransNamib acting CEO Mbahupu Hippy Tjivikua said.

He received the trains at the harbour and said they cost about N$300 million, which was sourced from the government.

TransNamib now owns 97 trains, of which only 52 are in working order.

The old locomotives have been in use for over 50 years - double the normal lifespan of between 20 and 25 years.

“These are the best locomotives TransNamib ever bought. They have modern technology and are fuel efficient. I have no doubt that they will serve their purpose,” Tjivikua said.

He said the procurement process started two years ago.

He said it was necessary to buy new trains to replace ageing stock, adding that TransNamib expected the new trains to increase its profit because more goods could now be transported.

“We need to acquire 80 extra trains in the next four years for us to be able to say we are at a good standard,” Tjivikua said.

Ageing railways are another challenge for the company but Tjivikua said it was receiving attention.

“We cannot bring new trains to use on old railway lines, so what we are going to do in the meantime is to repair the railways.

“The existing infrastructure is very old and to overhaul the entire system would require funding of approximately N$15 billion.

“We are starting 2017 on a very positive note not only for TransNamib but for the whole of the country. This is definitely one of the best procurements done by the company in the last 50 years. General Electric is a very efficient manufacturer and supplied us with one of the most reliable locomotives (including service plans) on the market.”

According to a reliable source some of the 17 locomotives purchased from China South Locomotive and Rolling Stock Corporation in 2014, in addition to the four purchased ten years ago for N$44 million, are being refurbished.

Rebels with a cause?

When throngs of women from around the nation converge on Washington for a march on the day after Donald Trump's inauguration, they will arrive driven by a multitude of motivations.

Gay rights, gun control, immigrant rights, equal pay, reproductive freedom, racial justice, worker rights, climate change, support for vaccinations: They all make the list of progressive causes that are attracting people to the Women's March on Washington and its sister marches across the country and the world this coming Saturday.

“We are not going to give the next president that much focus,” says Linda Sarsour, a national march organiser and executive director of the Arab American Association of New York. “What we want from him is to see us in focus.” But while Trump's name may not literally appear in the march's “mission and vision” statement, the common denominator uniting the marchers appears to be a loathing for the president-elect and dismay that so much of the country voted for him.

“This march feels like a chance to be part of something that isn't pity, isn't powerlessness,” says Leslie Rutkowski, an American living in Norway who plans to fly back for the march. “I hope it is unifying. I hope it flies in the face of Trump's platform of hate and divisiveness.”

Adds Kelsey Wadman, a new mom in California who's helping to organise a parallel march in San Diego: “It's not just about Donald Trump the person. It's about what he evoked out of the country.” The march in Washington is set to start near the Capitol and then move toward the White House. It probably will be the largest of a number of inauguration-related protests.

Christopher Geldart, the District of Columbia's homeland security director, said he expected the march to draw more than the 200 000 people organisers are planning for, based on bus registrations and train bookings.

The focus of the march has been a work in progress since the idea of a Washington mobilisation first bubbled up from a number of women's social media posts in the hours after Trump's election. The group's November application for a march permit summed up its purpose as to “come together in solidarity to express to the new administration and Congress that women's rights are human rights and our power cannot be ignored.” That phrasing rankled some who thought it was tied too closely to Hillary Clinton, the defeated Democratic nominee, whose famous Beijing speech as first lady declared that “women's rights are human rights.” The fact that the initial march organisers were mostly white women also generated grumbling, this time from minorities. Gradually, the march's leadership and its mission statements have become more all-inclusive. America Ferrera, leading the celebrity contingent for the march, rolled out a long list of concerns in a statement announcing her role. “Immigrant rights, worker rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQIA rights, racial justice and environmental rights are not special interests, they affect us all and should be every American's concerns,” she wrote.

Other prominent names involved with the march have put a spotlight on one concern - or another.

Actress Scarlett Johansson, who plans to participate, put her focus on the incoming administration's intentions of “reducing the availability of women's health care and attacking her reproductive rights.” Actress Debra Messing, listed as a supporter of the march, wrote of the need to protect Planned Parenthood.

NAMPA/AP

Oman receives 10 from Guantanamo

Oman said it received 10 inmates from the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay on Monday, in a move to reduce their number days before US President Barack Obama leaves office.

The statement from the sultanate's foreign ministry did not disclose the nationality of the prisoners who would reside in the Gulf Arab country on a temporary basis.

“At the request of Sultan Qaboos and the US government for a solution to the question of Guantanamo detainees, 10 of these detainees arrived today in the sultanate to reside here temporarily,” the ministry said, quoted by the official ONA news agency.

The latest transfers would leave the number of Guantanamo detainees at 45, based on figures the Pentagon issued when four Yemenis were sent to Saudi Arabia on 6 January. At the time, Obama's spokesman Josh Earnest said he would expect “additional transfers” before the Democrat hands power to President-elect Donald Trump on 20 January. Obama vowed to close the Guantanamo detention facility when he took office in 2009, arguing that detention without trial did not reflect American values.

But faced with Pentagon foot-dragging and stubborn Republican opposition, his administration has focused on whittling down the number of inmates.

Trump has called for a freeze on transfers.

On 3 January he tweeted that “there should be no further releases from Gitmo. These are extremely dangerous people and should not be allowed back onto the battlefield.”

NAMPA/AFP

Lumbala back in DRCNew Year's deal brings hope A Democratic Republic of Congo opposition leader accused of “high treason” returned to Kinshasa on Sunday two weeks after a key deal to end a political crisis in the vast African country.

Roger Lumbala, head of the small opposition Rally of Congolese Democrats and Nationalists (RCD-N), was one of a few accused figures whose freedom or return from exile on Sunday was agreed as part of the New Year's Eve deal.

Lumbala, who allegedly backed the M23 rebellion in the country's east, arrived back in the DRC capital on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight, according to AFP journalists at the airport.

After mounting a failed presidential bid in 2006 elections, Lumbala had his lawmaker's mandate invalidated in January 2013 for repeated absence, as he was reported to have spent much time in Uganda and Rwanda.

Democratic Republic of Congo authorities accused him of “high treason” and complicity with M23 rebels, who were defeated in November 2013 after an offensive by government and UN forces.

As part of negotiations which led to the 31 December deal, a coalition centred on veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi demanded the release from prison or amnesty from prosecution for seven “symbolic” opposition figures.

All sides agreed to the “immediate” release from prison or return from exile of four of the seven, among them Lumbala, who thus became the first to benefit from legal action being abandoned.

On Friday, DRC's Roman Catholic church leaders, who mediated last month's deal, voiced concern at the “delay” in freeing political prisoners whose release had been agreed.

The New Year's Eve deal called for the appointments of a new prime minister and a transitional body to pave the way to elections in December 2017 that could bring an end to the rule of President Joseph Kabila.

The agreement was reached after months of violence and could set the stage for the first peaceful transfer of power in the DRC since its independence in 1960.

NAMPA/AFP