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Omusita Katenda a thigi po iilonga

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Omusita Katenda a thigi po iilongaOmusita Katenda a thigi po iilongaA loloka okuthindilwa kongudhi Okwa holoka omaipulo ogendji sha landula sho gumwe gwAasita yOngeleka yaAnglican a tseyika nawa moshigwana a thigi po iilonga. Omusita Lukas Kaluwapa Katenda, gwOngeleka yaAngelikana okwa tula mo omukanda gwe gweikutho miilonga mesiku lyotango lyaJanuari nuumvo, ngoka gwa pewa Omumbosofi Luke Pato.

Omunamimvo 39 Katenda okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya okwa tokola okwiikutha miilonga onga omusita gwongeleka ndjoka omolwa omikalo omiwinayi iihumbatelwa no kuningilwa omambandameko kaakuluntu yontumba mongeleka yawo.

Eikutho lye miilonga onga omusita olyi ikwatelela ke kotampango ndyoka tali lele ongeleka ndjoka mUumbugantu waAfrika moka Namibia naye e li oshitopolwa.

Katenda okwa popi kutya eikutho lye miilonga olya hwahamekwa kiifundja, okuningwa nayi oshowo omambandameko ngoka a ningilwa oshowo eshundulo lyuukwatya we shalandula sho pena yamwe yeli ompinge nomukalo gwe mo ku uvitha ohapu yombiimbeli.

“Omukalo gwandje gwokuuvitha ogwa kala gwakwatathana no gwa koKatoolika oshowo Evaangeli, ihe ina shipandika nani no ya hala ndi longithe oonkuluhedhi dhongeleka ndjika ndhono dhanika unene uumpulile peha lyombiimbeli, nasho nda tindi oyuuvite kutya ondi ya pondje no kuyangula omuthigululwakalo gwaAngelikana,” Katenda ta ti.

Omvula ya ziko, Katenda okwa li a kutha ombinga methigathano lyuumbisofi no kwali andopa no lwali ihe lya sindanwa po komvalele yaSouth Afrika Luke Pato.

Pethimbo ndoka Katenda okwa li ta longo onga amushanga nomudhiginini gwiiniwe yongeleka.

“Otandi pula ookume kandje opo ya kale ya ngungumana, kape na shimwe sha yooloka moshipotha shika. Otu na okudhimbuluka kutya Kalunga oha longitha oompito dha yooloka mokulongekidhila aantu iinakugwanithwa yi li komeho,” Katenda a lombwele ookuume ke 4 000 lwaampoka kofacebook Osoondaha.

Esiku olyo tuundyoka, oongeleka dha yooloka odha tseyithilwa eikutho miilonga lyaKatenda kuPato ngoka a popi kutya ombapila ye yuusita mongeleka na yo oya kuthwa oonkondo na ina pitikwa okukutha ombinga miinyangadhalwa yongeleka pandondo yuusita.

Nonando ongaaka Pato okwa yelitha kutya Katenda ota vulu okukala ta gongala momalongelo Kalunga no ku kuutumba piipundi yaasita ngele okwahala.

Omumbosofi okwa popi kutya elelo lyongeleka ndjika olya taambako eikutho miilonga lyaKatenda nOmukuluntuwiliki gwoCape Town noMetropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, Thabo Makgoba, okwa tseyithilwa.

Pato okwa yelithile oNamibia Sun muule kutya onzapo (licence) yaKatenda yuusita oya kuthwa oonkondo molwaashoka okwa tokola okwiikutha miilonga ye mwene.

“Okwiikutha miilonga na otwa kutha oonkondo omukanda gwe. Osha faathana owala niilonga iikwawo. Nakale kokule niilonga oshowo omayakulo yetu. Otwa taambako eikutho miilonga lye molwaashoka ina thiminikwa, kakele otuua nayi oshoka omusita nomuleli omuwanawa,” Pato ta ti.



ILENI NANDJATO

Omukalo omupe gwo ku keelela iinamwenyo moopate

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Omukalo omupe gwo ku keelela iinamwenyo moopateOmukalo omupe gwo ku keelela iinamwenyo moopate Iimuna momidhingoloko dhoopate otayi etithwa iiponga oyindji Okwa totwa okomitiye ndjoka tayi ka ungaunga nuupyakadhi wiiponga yomoondjila mboka ha wu etithwa kiinamwenyo mbyoka ha yi kala popepi noondjila, meendelelo ngaashi ta shi vulika.

Okomitiye ya kwatelwa komeho kOmunashipundi gwoNational Road Safety Council (NRSC), Eugene Tendekule pamwe naakuthimbinga yalwe ya za miikondo ya yooloka ngaashi oshikondo shUunamapya, Uuyuki nIilonga oshowo, Joint Crime Prevention Forum, Ombelewa yaHahende-Njai, Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU) oya tsakanene mEtitano okukundathana omukalo gwokuya komeho.

Pamukanda guuyelele ngoka gwa pitithwa koNAU, okomitiye ndjoka oya totwapo omolwa iiponga yomoondjila mbyoka ta yi londo unene pombanda na otayi etithwa kiimuna, notayeeta ekanitho lyoomwenyo odhindji. Okomitye otayi ka tala komikalo ndhoka tadhi vulu okutulwa miilonga opo ku vule okwiindika iimuna yi ye moopate.

Omukanda-nkundana ogwa tothamo popi kutya omukalo gumwe omuhwepo ogwo okutonatela oondhalate dhopoopate oshowo ehala lyoongamba dhoodhalate pokati koofaalama.

“Meyambidhidho lyOmbelewa yaHahende-Ndjai otaku ka katukwa oonkatu opo iinamwenyo yi kalekwe kokule nomikunkulo dhoopate.

Opolisi yaNamibia otayi ka dhana onkandangala moshinima shika nomukalo nguka ota gu ka longithwa moondjila adhihe dhopashigwana moshilongo.”

NRSC okwa gwedha po kutya uupyakadhi unene kombinga yonkalo ndjika ota wu etithwa sho oopate kaadhi li meni lyoondhalate oku keelela iinamwenyo yaahaye moopate. Kwiikwatelelwa kompango yomoondjila ontopolwa 122 yo mo1977, ooyene yoofaalama ndhoka dhili pooha noopate oye na oshinakugwanithwa shokukwashilipaleka kutya oondhalate dhawo odha longwa dha pama, ashike ooyene mbaka itaya landula omulandu nguka naangoka tandopa ota vulu okutaalela epangulo.

Omutumba ogwa li natango gwa to thamo kutya etonatelo lyoondhalate dhopoongamba na lize koombinga adhihe oshoka yoofaalama dhimwe odhepangelo ndhoka dha gandjelwe pethimbo lyoprogramma yomatulululo gaakwashigwana, naashika natango osha oshayelithwa kontopolwa yoFencing Act of 1922.

Ope na iinima oyindji natango yopaveta yapumbwa oku oku opalekwa kOmbelewa yaHahende –Ndjai omanga omatokolo ngaka nomagwedhelepo ina ga tulwa miilonga Tendekule, ta yelitha.

Okwa tsikileko kutya omukundu omunene gwa taalelwa ko komitiye ndjoka omahala giilonga molwaashoka unene momidhongoloko dhomavi gaayehe inadhi faathana na omuna owala iinamwenyo omanga moofalama dhopangesehfa ta mu adhika woo niiyamakuti mbyoka hayi adhika tayi endaagula moopate dhopashigwana.

Uuna ompango ndjika ya tulwa miilonga nena aalongithi yoondjila otaya ka kala ye na oshinakugwanithwa shokulopota iinamwenyo ayihe mbyoka tayi ka adhika moondjila kopolisi yili popepi nayo opo yi ku thwepo nooyene yiimuna mbyoka mboka ya ndopa okulonga nawa oodhaalate dhawo otaya ka pewa omageelo.

ILENI NANDJATO

Oompanda ya dhipagwa pOtjiwa Game Ranch

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Oompanda ya dhipagwa pOtjiwa Game RanchOompanda ya dhipagwa pOtjiwa Game Ranch Omathano gompanda ya dhipagwa oga tulwa kepandja lyofacebook nonkundana oya taandele ya fa omulilo gwepeya moNamibia oshowo pondje yoshilongo.

Oshigwana osha holola omaiyuvo gasho gonayi na osha pula epangelo li katuke oonkatu, sha landula sho ompanda yimwe ya yahwa no ku thigwa tayi kondjo nomwenyo mofaalama yaOtjiwa popepi nOtjiwarongo. Oonakushininga inaya ya noniga yompanda kakele oya tetwako no ku thigwapo.

Pamulombo gwa mwene gwompanda, WP Barnard, ota fekele kutya ompanda ndjika oya dhipagwa mehuliloshiwike.

Okwa popi kutya oya mono ompanda ndjoka omutenya gwOmaandaha konima sho ya kala taye yi kongo.

Okwa popi kutya ompanda ndjika oyi na okanimwena koomwedhi hetatu naasho ya tamke ta ye yi kongo pamwe nokanimwena kayo oya a dha okanimwena hoka oshinano shoometa 10 okuza puyina ngoka sa.

Barnard okwa popi kutya ompanda nando ye ehamekwa nayi, oya li ye shi pondola okuya ontuku aaponokeli yawo omanga inayi sa.





“Otwe mu konga uule womasiku gatatu.”

Okwa holola okuuva nayi kwe omolwa edhipago lyompanda ye ndjoka na okwa popi kutya okanimwena okeli mesiloshimpwiyu

nomakonaakono otaga tsikile.

Omupopiliko gwopolisi yaTjozondjupa, Maureen Mbeha, okwa koleke oshiningwanima shika.

Barnard okwa popi kutya ofaalama ye inayi kala nuupyakadhi wa sha kombinga yuukongo muule woomvula dha piti. Okwa popi kutya mofaalama ndjika omwali mwa dhipagwa ompanda yimwe mo-1994 oshowo mbali mo-2006.

Omiyalu ndhika dha pitithwa kUuministeli wOmidhingoloko odha holola kutya oompanda 63 odha dhipagwa mo 2016, no 91 mo-2015 omanga mo 2014 o 61 . Otaku gandjwa olupandu lyooN$10 000 kwaangoka ta ka ga gandja uuyelele ta wu tulitha miipandeko aakononenwa mbaka.

ELLANIE SMIT

Zambia on the rise

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Zambia on the riseZambia on the riseRecovery plan for fragile economy The landlocked nation has a plan to boost growth and confidence in its commodity-dependent economy to counter the knock it took in 2016. After a year of worrying economic decline, the Zambian government hopes to kick-start 2017 with a recovery plan to stabilise its fragile economy.

Its US$6.43 billion budget for 2017 spells out what is being called 'Zambia Plus', a plan to restore economic stability and “ensure sustained and inclusive growth”.

In 2016 the country was hit hard by weak commodity prices, particularly of copper, Zambia's biggest export, as well as electricity shortages, high inflation and government's failure to fully finance its spending commitments.

As a result, Zambia's debt soared. External debt is now valued at US$6.7 billion, or 35% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), while domestic debt in the form of government securities was worth 12% of GDP by September.

Finance minister Felix Mutati said: “We are walking a tightrope. We therefore have the responsibility to ensure debt sustainability. We must not burden the next generation.”

Years of fuel and electricity subsidies have also put pressure on the country's fiscus. Insufficient investment in electricity generation capacity, which has led to power outages lasting more than 12 hours a day in some parts of the country. By September, electricity generation had declined by 19.9% to 1,329.2 megawatts (mW) compared with the 1,658.6mW produced a year earlier. Zambia has 2 000mW of installed hydro-electric capacity but inefficiency and low water levels at some major plants, such as the Kariba Dam, have worsened power shortages.

In the crucial mining sector, which accounts for more than 70% of the country's export earnings, copper production went up by 8.2% to 575 780 trillion in the first nine months of 2016. But total export earnings fell in the same period to US$3.2 billion from US$4 billion.

Inflation rose to 23.4% in September before declining to 8.8% in November. 'Zambia Plus' is designed to reduce some of that volatility. The economic recovery programme has been built on five pillars, which government argues will stabilise the economy.

First, the plan aims to better direct local funding by refocusing public spending on core infrastructure. Second, it plans to scale up government's social protection programmes. Third, Zambia plans to introduce cost-reflective electricity tariffs by the end of the year, which it hopes will attract private-sector investment. Poorer households will be assigned a cheaper tariff.

Mines minister Christopher Yaluma says discussions to implement higher tariffs for all bulk consumers have already commenced. Mines consume 55% of Zambia's total electricity production.

Fourth, the recovery plan aims to improve fiscal governance by raising levels of accountability and transparency in the allocation and use of public finances. It hopes to minimise unplanned expenditure and address unpaid accounts.

Fifth, the Zambian government has assigned greater value to raising confidence for sustained private-sector investment. In 2015 and 2016 investors were sharply critical of changes to the tax regime, which led to a reversal some months later.

Ultimately, the plan is intended to boost growth. In 2016 Zambia's economy grew by 3% against a target of 5%. “Zambia Plus” is expected to increase growth to 3.4%, end the year with inflation of no more than 9% and support the creation of at least 100 000 jobs in 2017.

Meanwhile, after speculation about a loan with onerous conditions from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Zambia's government insists its recovery programme is home grown. However, it will still seek IMF support.

Mutati said discussions with the fund will only be conducted in the first quarter of 2017 “to augment our home-grown programme.” He said “there are no conditions or financing arrangements that have been agreed upon.”

The plan will rely on fiscal prudence, something that government says it is committed to.

“The message is simple,” said Mutati. “We cannot spend what we do not have. We cannot borrow beyond our ability to repay.”



FINANCIAL MAIL

Fuel import quota important to Namcor

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Fuel import quota important to NamcorFuel import quota important to NamcorKudu Gas also high on agenda The Namcor board members want to tick off two major projects when their term ends. Newly appointed Namcor board chairperson Patrick Kauta has indicated that the restoration of Namibia Petroleum Commission's fuel import quota is at the top of his agenda, having recently taken the helm from Johannes !Gawaxab who had heavily punted the idea.

Speaking through Namcor spokesperson Utaara Hoveka, he said: “The Kudu Gas-to-Power Project and the reinstatement of the fuel import mandate remain strategic projects for Namcor.”

According to Hoveka, engagement with energy minister Obeth Kandjoze regarding the fuel import restoration and Kudu power project was continuing.

Kauta and his board hope to tick off the two projects when their term on the board expires.

The Kudu project was touted at the recent Invest in Namibia International conference.

The construction of a bulk-fuel storage facility at Walvis Bay, which will complement Namcor's fuel import ambitions, remains on target.

The project is expected to be completed by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) in 818 days.

A 1.7-kilometre-long oil tanker jetty at a cost of N$1.5 billion is the first phase of the facility currently under construction.

Hyundai's operating profit falls for 4 years

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Hyundai's operating profit falls for 4 yearsHyundai's operating profit falls for 4 years Hyundai Motor, South Korea's biggest carmaker, saw operating profit fall for four years to 2016 on global economic slump and labour strikes, the company said yesterday.

Operating profit was 5.19 trillion Won last year, down 18.3% from a year earlier. It was the lowest since 2010 when the carmaker's profit posted 5.92 trillion Won.

The profit continued to slump from 8.44 trillion Won in 2012 to 8.32 trillion Won in 2013, 7.55 trillion Won in 2014 and 6.36 trillion Won in 2015 respectively.

The global economic slowdown weakened demand for locally-made cars, while partial strikes of Hyundai workers disrupted production.

Net income declined 12.1% over the year to 5.72 trillion Won in 2016, but revenue hit the highest of 93.65 trillion won in Hyundai's history, up 1.8% from the previous year.

Hyundai sold 4 875 933 cars in 2016, down 2.1 percent from a year earlier. The company said rising revenue in the finance business helped contribute to the record revenue.

The company's car sales in the domestic market declined 7.8% to 656 526 units in 2016, with global sales falling 1.2% to 4 201,407 vehicles.

Hyundai set its 2017 sales target at 5.08 million globally, including 683 000 units locally and 4.397 million units in overseas markets.

NAMPA/REUTERS

Bidvest's result to dip

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Bidvest's result to dipBidvest's result to dipFishing division performed poorly According to Bidvest, the decline in its EPS and HEPS mainly resulted from losses incurred in the group's fishing division. Posting its anticipated basic earnings and headline earnings per share, fishing giant Bidvest expects a dip for the half-year ended 31 December 2016, the group said this week in a notice posted on the Namibia Stock Exchange News Service.

“Bidvest Namibia anticipates basic earnings per share (EPS) and headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the half-year ended December 31 2016 to be down between 77% and 82% on the previous corresponding period,” the company said.

According to Bidvest, the decline in EPS and HEPS mainly resulted from losses incurred in the group's fishing division.

“Bidvest Namibia's fishing division is facing severe adverse external market factors and environmental conditions, as well as a shortage of own quota allocations.”

The group's other divisions also performed worse in the reporting period than in the previous corresponding period due to trying economic conditions in Namibia over the last six months.

“Various initiatives are being taken to improve efficiencies and save costs,” the company said.

In an effort to restructure business activities following uncertainties regarding the horse mackerel quota allocation, Bidvest acquired the Novel Motor Company, exclusive dealer of Land Rover and Jaguar in Namibia, while the dealer also sells Mazda and Ford vehicles.

Regarding the acquisition, IJG said: “We saw exceptionally strong vehicle sales growth through 2014 and 2015, fuelled by a strong consumer base supported by expansionary fiscal policy and real wage growth.

“However, the latest figures show that this trend is losing momentum. We expect to see a decrease in vehicle sales as purchases of vehicles by government will be reduced this year.

“Further downside risks to this are rising interest rates which may limit marginal lenders from qualifying for financing as well as banking sector liquidity which may limit the availability of loans to finance vehicle purchases. In our view the acquisition of Novel Motors is a positive development to reduce risk as the company is heavily weighted towards the fishing Industry, however the timing of the acquisition at what seems to be top of the industry's earnings cycle might weigh on the near term performance.

“Bidvest Namibia results for the 2016 financial year disappointed once again,” stockbroking firm IJG said in its assessment of Bidvest's full-year results released.

“As we expected, the firm's results reflect the difficulties the fishing division finds itself in. At N$3.859 billion, revenue is up 9.2% from last year, mainly due to the acquisition of Novel Motor Company during the financial year, which added N$755 million to revenue. However, Bidvest's trading profit shrunk 43% to N$235 million, primarily as a result of significantly lower horse mackerel quota available to

Namsov.”

Bidvest is 52% owned by Bidvest South Africa while the Government Institutions Pension Fund of Namibia owns a 10% stake.

OGONE TLHAGE

SMEs too reliant on government

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SMEs too reliant on governmentSMEs too reliant on government There is not enough innovation in the approaches employed by Namibian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access international markets because of heavy reliance on the government to promote and find international markets for local products.

This is the observation of Nelson Simasiku, head of SME business at Nedbank Namibia.

“My recommendation is that there is a need for SMEs to be proactive in taking the lead to access international markets for their products and services, as opposed to relying on the government alone to assist them,” he says.

The SME sector is recognised universally as a key force in driving economic development. In Namibia, SMEs contribute approximately 12% to the country's Gross Domestic Product and are key contributors to employment creation. SMEs also account for approximately one third of the country's workforce and they contribute to income generation and poverty reduction among Namibians.

Simasiku says although Namibia provides a conducive environment for SMEs to thrive from a policy and operational perspective, access to finance remains one of the recurring challenges.

“The National Policy on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises demonstrates government's commitment to transform the SME sector into a leading sector of the economy.

“The policy addresses challenges facing SMEs in the areas of finance, marketing, technology, infrastructure, skills development and institutional support.

“The various initiatives such as the Namibia Retail Charter, which targets to increase the shelving of Namibian products to 20% on the retail shelves, is a clear sign of the private sector's commitment to uplift

SMEs.

“In addition, most if not all commercial banks either have SME divisions or SME-specific products designed to increase access to financial services for SMEs, which is a clear sign of their commitment to uplift and grow the SME sector,” he says.

With 2017 forecast to be a tough year, Simasiku adds that the adverse economic conditions will affect a number of sectors and eventually SMEs, especially those that heavily depend on government procurement.

“For SMEs to survive the tough year, I recommend that they engage financial institutions to make alternative repayment arrangements or restructure facilities, evaluate and eliminate excessive debts and to only borrow if necessary,” he advises.

STAFF REPORTER

U-turn on War Room

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U-turn on War RoomU-turn on War RoomANC finally admits to covert operation In yet another blow to the ruling African National Congress in South Africa, the party was forced to admit that it had indeed tried to mobilise a smear campaign against opposition parties. On Tuesday, the ANC was forced to back-pedal on claims that it had no knowledge of a covert election campaign team known as the War Room.

Last week, ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa responded to questions about the campaign by saying that amaBhungane's investigation was “based on malicious falsehoods and gossip”.

However, ANC general manager Ignatius Jacobs submitted an affidavit to the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday confirming that public relations expert Sihle Bolani was part of the ANC's campaign team in last year's municipal elections.

Bolani has detailed how the War Room was set up to “disempower DA and EFF campaigns” through tactics that would not link back to the ANC. These included a seemingly independent news site and chat show, using “influencers” on social media, and planning to print fake opposition party posters.



Volunteered services

Bolani took the ANC to court, claiming she was owed R2.2m in outstanding fees. Jacobs's affidavit, on behalf of the ANC, denied that she was owed money, as she had volunteered.

He said: “[Bolani] undertook to volunteer her services and be part of the campaign team, together with other volunteers, to roll out the elections marketing strategy of the [ANC] in preparation for the local government elections on 3 August 2016.”

In her founding affidavit, Bolani said she was approached by businessman Joseph Nkadimeng in April last year to become part of the War Room. However she was forbidden from having any direct contact with Luthuli House and instructed to make out invoices to an apparently non-existent company called Black Carbon, and to two ANC-linked investment vehicles.

However, R50 million in promised funding did not materialise. After the project's eventual cancellation, Bolani approached the ANC. This led to Jacobs signing a R1 million settlement agreement, of which Bolani claimed to have received only R100 000.

Jacobs said in his affidavit that the ANC disputed Bolani's original claim for payment “on the grounds that there was no agreement that [she] would charge a fee for services rendered for the said amount. [Bolani], like all other volunteers, would have received payment for disbursements”.

Despite this, Jacobs said, he signed the R1 million settlement agreement, “purely as a gesture of good will”.

Although the agreement was drawn up on an ANC letterhead, and Jacobs had signed in his official capacity as ANC general manager, Jacobs claimed that the agreement was “not binding”, as only secretary general Gwede Mantashe could bind the party.

However, “the [ANC] acknowledges that the balance of R900 000 is still outstanding, but is not due and payable at this stage”.

The High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday threw out Bolani's urgent application for the case to go to court, with Judge Leoni Windell ruling that Bolani had failed to prove urgency.

The court also awarded costs in favour of the ANC after the party said that, as a non-government organisation, it relied mainly on membership fees and could not afford to waste money on legal fees.

NEWS24

Mugabe second to Jesus

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Mugabe second to JesusMugabe second to Jesus Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's birthday should be celebrated like Christmas Day, the ruling Zanu-PF youth league has said, adding that the veteran leader is “The Messiah” to them.

According to News Day, the party's national youth leader, Kudzai Chipanga said this during an interview in which he declared that Mugabe's birthday should not be treated like an “ordinary day”.

Mugabe's birthday falls on February 21. This year the nonagenarian is turning 93.

“To us, February 21 is not just a day. To us, it is a special day we treat in the same manner Christians treat December 25, the birthday of Jesus Christ. I don't want to be blasphemous, but in my humble view, President Mugabe is second to Jesus Christ. He is our saviour, so his birthday means a lot for us the youths of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Chipanga also hailed Mugabe's wisdom, adding that he was the only person who could steer the southern African country from its current economic situation.

News24 reported earlier that the Zanu-PF youths had set a fund-raising target for this year's celebrations – but it appeared to be lower than normal.

Each province was expected to raise N$335 000 towards the event which was set to be held in the Matopos National Park. There were ten provinces in Zimbabwe.

Last year youths were reportedly told to raise N$402 000 from each province though some had difficulty meeting the target.



News24

Atrocious and unacceptable

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Atrocious and unacceptableAtrocious and unacceptable We are not taking care of business in this country. Not even remotely. Budget cuts are everywhere and while we know the causes of the shrinking economy, there is still blame to be allocated. It is surprising that after almost three decades of freedom and sovereignty, we are still reliant on countries like China and the US and of course, other powerful international markets, to determine the fate of, for example, a small child in a village in the north. We are vulnerable to international commodity prices and the actions of individuals who do not even know that Namibia exists.

This is not good.

Budget cuts are affecting education, to what degree we do not know. Health is affected too. These are the most critical social security nets for the many impoverished Namibians that call this country home.

Photographs of children attending the Dr Ndeutala Angolo Primary School in Onghaangha village in Omusati Region show stunted, impoverished Namibian children who are repeating grades simply because they cannot move up, as the classes are not offered. Their uniforms speak volumes of their conditions at home. The school has not yet seen its stationery delivered – and yet – the teachers persevere.

Does the Swapo government know that we are raising a generation of children who have made peace with the feeling of hunger? Children who are in no way equipped to come to Windhoek and deal with the way of life here? Children who are familiar only with village life, a life that has no real place in this Millennium?

What are we going to do people? Where must these children go? Or are we content to leave them to tend to our cattle and plant mahangu? The generational transfer of knowledge cannot be left up to parents and the schools in these remote villages are forgotten by our masters who travel and attend workshops and have councillors and advisors and drivers.

We are not taking care of business and our future generations will pay for this oversight. It is indeed true that when the elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers the most.

Shot of the day

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Shot of the dayShot of the day TAKING BACK THEIR POWER: Prisoners during a riot at the Alcacuz Penitentiary Center near Natal in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Brazilian police fired rubber bullets at inmates who had taken over a jail where dozens were massacred over the weekend, the latest in a string of prison riots. Police positioned on top of the outer walls of the Alcacuz jail near the north-eastern city of Natal fired at a crowd of inmates who had taken control of part of the complex. A total of 26 prisoners were killed in Alcacuz - many of them beheaded - during a violent riot that broke out late Saturday, according to officials. PHOTO: NAMPA/AFP

Attempted murder charge for baby dumping

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Attempted murder charge for baby dumpingAttempted murder charge for baby dumping A 21-year-old woman who dumped her newborn baby girl in Arandis on Sunday, was charged with attempted murder when she made her first court appearance on Tuesday.

Fabiola Bickson allegedly wrapped the baby in a plastic bag a few minutes after giving birth and left her under a tree.

A community member discovered the baby and notified the police. The baby was taken to a nearby hospital and is reportedly in good health.

Bickson was remanded in police custody by Magistrate Hannelie Prinsloo of the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court.

Bickson opted to conduct her own defence but was advised to consider State-funded representation due to the seriousness of the offence.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for 28 February.

Police investigations continue.

A source told Nampa Bickson wanted to deny that the baby was hers, but was convinced not to do so.

“She even said she wants to see her baby and breastfeed her,” said the informer.

This person further said Bickson informed him that she panicked and decided to dump the baby, because she is now in an intimate relationship with a woman and did not want to disappoint her by keeping the baby.

This woman was also seen at court consoling Bickson.

NAMPA

Nangof closes its doors

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Nangof closes its doorsNangof closes its doors The Namibia Non-Governmental Organisation Forum (Nangof) has stopped operating due to inadequate funding.

The Nangof Trust, the umbrella body for non-governmental organisations which coordinates their activities and facilitates funding, was the collective voice for over 100 NGOs working in Namibia.

The organisation's coffers dried up after its major donor, European Development Funding (EDF) stopped disbursing funds to the organisation in February 2016.

It wound down its activities between March and April 2016, and scaled down its staff complement to zero, until it eventually closed at the end of 2016.

The chairperson of the Nangof Board of Directors, Sandy Tjaronda told Nampa in an interview last week the EU was the backbone of the organisation's funding.

He said the organisation did not have the resources to sustain itself after EDF withdrew.

“We did not have the resources to close the gap to cover our operational costs. It is a temporary thing (closure); it is not a permanent thing, but it has its own implications,” Tjaronda said.

He further added that the umbrella organisation could recover its operations, but would have to find a lasting solution for challenges affecting it. “It is sadly so that most NGOs rely solely on external donor funding. We need to start to work on how we can be resilient and sustainable in the event of the funding landscape changing,” he stated.

The NGO Forum was responsible for policy advocacy and network coordination to limit duplication of activities in various areas including health, gender, environment, socio-economic justice, human rights and democracy in the country, as well as facilitate funding for NGOs.

NAMPA

Reho sits on report

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Reho sits on reportReho sits on report Says grey areas need to be sorted The 60 days given to the Rehoboth Town Council to fire its human resources manager Willie 'Mistake' Swartz lapsed on Monday and the council says “there are grey areas they still need to clarify”.

Swapo councillors serving on the town council said firing Swartz as recommended by the urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa will have financial and legal implications.

“We are not reluctant to implement the report, but there are some grey areas we still need some clarify,” said Swapo councillor Vincent Uirab.

He also strongly rejects the minister's assertion that the meeting on 14 December took place during recess and that decisions made are therefore illegal, and accused the opposition of peddling the idea.

“They opted not to attend the meeting, we were never on recess,” Uirab emphasised.

Following an internal audit, Shaningwa recommended that the meeting where Swartz was reinstated on 14 December 2015 be declared null and void because it took place during a recess.

The minister also recommended that salary payments amounting to N$110 664 which Swartz had received for five months following his reinstatement should also be recovered from him.

The council was given 60 days to implement the recommendations of the report or face “serious implications”. Ministerial officials had thoroughly explained the contents of the report to the council. Shaningwa, during an earlier meeting threatened to disband the council unless the council pulled up their socks.

Meanwhile, United People's Movement (UPM) councillor Lennie Pienaar said the last council meeting was on 9 December 2015 and recess commenced from 15 December until 15 January 2016.

Pienaar further challenged Shaningwa to put her threats into action and to disband the council in order to make way for a “healthy” council.

“She said that she will personally come on 31 January to disband the council if we fail to implement the report,” said Pienaar.

He also accused the minister of dragging her feet with the report and allowing the Swapo councillors to do as they please.

When contacted for comment on the issue, Shaningwa said she is out of office and cannot respond but fervently denied dragging her feet with issues involving Swapo councillors.

JEMIMA BEUKES

NMH sponsors students

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NMH sponsors studentsNMH sponsors students Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture yesterday awarded bursaries to ten recipients.

NMH public relations executive Maggy Mbako said the company has a moral obligation towards the youth as part of its social responsibility.

“By investing in the youth, you will grow into responsible Namibians,” said Mbako.

NMH general manager for operations Derick Briers announced that through the partnership between NMH and the ministry of education, which included the dissemination of the 2016 Grade 10 and Grade 12 examination results, about 350 000 readers were reached.

Briers further said that 80 000 copies of the results were printed.

He also said that the Junior Secondary Certificate (JSC) Grade 10 examination results were the biggest supplement with 120 pages printed.

Briers said that the JSC results had more than 7 000 digital views online. Director of examinations Cavin Nyambe said through the bursary programme, the ministry of education and NMH were rewarding the students for their hard work. “That stipend is a token of recognition for what you do,” said Nyambe.

Franklin Platt, one of the bursary recipients, said that he was grateful for the reward and the financial relief it has brought for his parents.

“I feel quite relieved because my parents were paying for my tuition fees and I will lift that financial pressure from my parents when I receive this bursary,” said Platt.

Christofina Hofnie, another recipient, was also excited.

“I feel blessed, I feel like I deserved this and it came at the right time,” said Hofnie. Hofnie advised all Grade 12 learners who will be writing their examinations in 2017 to study hard. “Study hard and you should sacrifice a lot and always make time to study with friends,” she said.

The students receive dN$5 000 each.



SHONA NGAVA

Sex tape causes outcry

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Sex tape causes outcrySex tape causes outcryWoman filmed fondling her lover A pornographic video has gone viral on social media eliciting outrage from activists and social commentators. There has been outrage from local gender activists who are lashing out at the Namibian public for not only condoning but actually promoting the exposure of leaked pornography visuals on social media platforms.

The anger follows the leaking of pornographic videos of a couple, which went viral on Facebook.

Voicing the same concern, Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi and Misa Namibia director Natasha Tibinyane said in the absence of legislation that regulates the use of social media, there is very little that can be done about this growing trend.

The leaked sex tape visuals that went viral on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp platforms were allegedly taken by Sakeus Shoolongo and show a naked woman straddling him and fondling him.

Another shot of the woman shows her walking naked into a room, seemingly unaware that she was being filmed. The videos were leaked along with the recording of a phone call where Shoolongo is heard telling a woman that he doesn't care to know where her husband comes from as long as he will be her second husband. The woman tells Shoolongo that her husband was driving to the North the following day.

Shikwambi urged the public to be cautious when in romantic relationships.

“For the past two years we have been trying to acquire a law that regulates the use of social media. Here we have a victim whose rights have been violated and she should be at liberty to open a case because that is a case of defamation of character,” said Shikwambi.

Namibia has a cybercrime bill which is still on ice after it was sent back due to violations of certain rights. It is hoped that the legislation will be passed this year.

Revenge porn or the exposure of sexual activities after a couple ends a relationship has become a trend in Namibia. Last year a sex video of a Unam student distributed by her boyfriend also went viral.

Human rights lawyer Norman Tjombe in another case involving the Unam student described such actions, including the distribution and sharing of such material as crimen injuria and an offence punishable by law if one is caught distributing the pornographic footage.

Natasha Tibinyane said as a society, people need to learn and recognise that we live in a digital world. “People will have the same behaviour whether online or offline. We have an issue of revenge porn and it is a way of humiliating and bullying somebody else, and it is usually women who are the victims. I urge them to be careful,” warned Tibinyane.

Shoolongo on his Facebook page denied that he was the culprit saying he did not have access to his Facebook account. In the post he blames his ex-girlfriend Maria Ipito for uploading the content and said that he is sorry.

A few hours later, a document circulated on WhatsApp issued by Norman Tjombe, instructing Shoolongo to apologise to Ipito before 18:00 on Monday, 23 January or face legal action. A secretary at the Tjombe-Elago law firm confirmed that the letter to Shoolongo was indeed issued by the law firm.

Shoolongo could be reached for comment.



Don't circulate

Expressing her concern, Shikwambi urged Namibians to refrain from circulating humiliating videos and photos on social media. “This is a mother, a wife, a daughter and sister to someone and now she is defamed. Nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes, but morally people should understand that it is very bad to humiliate anyone like that.”

Shikwambi also said the video has gone viral and because the initiator is still unknown, the best is for the victim to open a case in order for investigations to commence.



JUNE SHIMUOSHILI

Kunene Community Radio coming soon

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Kunene Community Radio coming soonKunene Community Radio coming soon The Kunene Region will soon have another community radio station in addition to the one in Khorixas.

The new radio station to be known as Kunene Community Radio (KCR) will be based in Opuwo.

Youth activist and brains behind the station, Tjizumaue Undari, confirmed this to Nampa on Tuesday.

He said the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRAN) of Namibia approved their application for frequencies to cover the geographical area of Opuwo with an output power of 500 watts.

The radio station is 100% Namibian-owned and according to Undari, it will be operational no later than May this year.

Tjikunda Kulunga, board chairperson of the station, told this agency the broadcaster will be of great benefit to the local community because the majority of them are illiterate and depend on the radio for information on current affairs.

He said they are considering broadcasting in Otjiherero, Oludhimba, English and Oshiwambo.

The approval letter by CRAN indicates that the area has sufficient frequencies available for new entrants in the broadcasting market.

“The authority is of the opinion that the addition of another broadcaster will be beneficial to all Namibians living in and travelling through this area,” reads the letter.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has injected N$689 000 into the project, which will be used to cover the capital outlay for a 500-watt transmitter and other technical equipment required to set up a radio station.

NAMPA

Dispute over Dippenaar's licence

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Dispute over Dippenaar's licenceDispute over Dippenaar's licence A senior municipal traffic officer yesterday testified that Jandré Dippenaar, who is accused of killing six people in a gruesome crash on 29 December 2014, presented a valid driver's licence to him just hours before the accident occurred.

The officer, Apollus Motinga, testified in the Swakopmund Regional Court that he had stopped Dippenaar, 32, in town after he had received a complaint from the Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch (SNW) about inconsiderate and reckless driving.

The complaint was communicated to him by a member of the SNW, Dewald Swart, who gave him a description of the vehicle Dippenaar was driving in and its registration number. “After we stopped at a service station in town, the accused climbed out of the car together with his three passengers, two women and a man. Dippenaar was the driver of the car and I told him about the complaint I had received,” said Motinga.

According to him, Dippenaar admitted that on one occasion he had to overtake a car which had turned onto the main road in front of him, because the car was travelling very slowly and he feared that the cars behind him would crash into him. Dippenaar allegedly apologised to Motinga and said he had overtaken the car for safety reasons.

“I asked him for his driver's licence and I checked the photograph, the expiry date and the code on the licence. The licence was valid and it was a code B licence. I handed the licence back to him with the words 'you must not do that again',” said Motinga. He further testified that he did not administer a breathalyser test on Dippenaar because he did not smell any alcohol on his breath, nor did it appear to him that the accused was inebriated. During cross-examination Dippenaar's legal representative, Louis Botes, put it to the witness that his client denied that Motinga had requested his driver's licence, because at that time the accused was not in possession of a valid driver's licence.

“The accused said in his plea explanation that he did not have a driver's licence at that time as it was stolen in November 2014 and he wanted to apply for a new licence. If he did have a licence at that time it would have been expired in any event,” said Botes.

He added that Dippenaar had a code CE, not a code B, driver's licence. Motinga, however, remained adamant that Dippenaar had shown him his driver's licence and that it was valid.

“If it was not valid I would have charged him on the spot,” said Motinga. Dippenaar is charged with six counts of murder, one count of reckless and negligent driving, alternatively inconsiderate driving, one count of fraud, alternatively furnishing false information, and a charge of driving a vehicle without a valid licence.

The trial continues.

Thirteen tusks confiscated in Kavango

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Thirteen tusks confiscated in KavangoThirteen tusks confiscated in Kavango Thirteen elephant tusks were confiscated during a joint operation by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the Namibian Police in the Kavango East Region on Tuesday night.

According to the police one Namibian and two Angolans were arrested by the anti-poaching unit while trying to sell 13 elephant tusks.

Two other suspects, who are also believed to be Angolans, apparently fled to Angola. The police are requesting information from the community that may lead to their arrest.

The joint patrol was a response to a tip-off from members of the public who alerted the authorities. The suspects are due to appear in court on charges that include possession of controlled wildlife products.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night at about 23:45 at Tjova village in the Mukwe District in Kavango East. The village is located about 55km from Divindu.

Deputy Commissioner William Peter, who is the second in command of the Elephant Tusk Bwabwata Operation, said the Angolans were also charged with contravening the Immigration Control Act as they had entered Namibia illegally.

Their names could not be released yesterday as they will only appear in court today.

Peter said the success of the operation was due to the cooperation of the community.

“Hence we are calling on community members to provide more information with regard to illegal hunting.”

He urged anyone with information on people who still possess unregistered firearms and ammunition to report them to the police.

The ministry of environment and tourism said the value of the recovered tusks had not been determined.

In a statement issued yesterday the ministry said it took illegal position of prohibited wildlife products very seriously and would increase its efforts in combating poaching.

“This should serve as a warning to poachers that our officials and other relevant authorities are on the ground to eliminate the threat of poaching and other wildlife-related activities,” it said.

The ministry thanked the people who were helping in the fight against poaching.

ELLANIE SMIT
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