Union wants non-compliant retailers to go

February 23, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Union wants non-compliant retailers to go

The Namibia Wholesale and Retail Workers Union (NWRWU) has demanded that the minister of labour call retailers that exploit workers to order.

The union claims that large companies with huge turnovers are employing casual workers without any benefits.

It also blames labour institutions of serving the needs of the employers instead of protecting their fellow countrymen and women.

“We demand that the minister of labour use his political power to gather all employers in the sector as a matter of urgency and pass on orders of compliance or order them to leave,” NWRWU secretary-general Victor Hamunyela told journalists.

“We demand that labour institutions be overhauled so that they can be empowered to address this huge exploitation and casualisation of jobs,” Hamunyela said.

He said the union was fed up with labour organisations that allowed employers in the retail and wholesale sector to “get away with murder”.

“Gone are the days that unions were viewed as institutions to fight for bread-and-butter issues. We equally want to form part and influence changes that have direct bearing on the lives of Namibian workers.”

Hamunyela referred to institutions such as the Labour Advisory Council, Committee for Dispute Resolution, Wage Commission, Labour Court, Labour Commissioner and Labour Inspectorate established under Chapter 9 of the Labour Act of 2007

“Despite the provisions of the legislation there is little if anything that specifically the Labour Advisory Council, Labour Inspectorate, Wage Commissions and Labour Commissioner are doing to assist the Namibian worker,” Hamunyela charged.

He said in neighbouring South Africa, where most of the large retailers have their headquarters, a national minimum wage of R20 per hour was recently adopted. That means that employees in that country earn up to N$3 700 a month, while in Namibia they earn much less, he claimed.

“It's a fact that most retail stores we have in Namibia are the same stores as in South Africa. The owners of these big retail stores comply with this obligation in South Africa and treat our people as slaves here in Namibia and cover up the overhead costs for the minimum wage somewhere elsewhere,” Hamunyela said.

“This government is obliged in terms of Article 95 of the supreme law to have workers paid decent salaries,” he said.

KENYA KAMBOWE

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Land activists say they won't give up

February 23, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Rosh Pinah Zinc workers want specialist fired

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Land activists say they won't give upResettlement list 'too dangerous' The Landless People's Movement says it is in possession of a list of resettlement beneficiaries that would cause “disaster” if it is publicised.

The Landless People's Movement has indicated its intention to approach the ombudsman to compel the land reform ministry to release its version of the resettlement programme beneficiaries list.

According to LPM member Olsen Kahiriri, the list in the movement's possession would bring “disaster” if it was misinterpreted, hence their decision to hold onto it.

“We want the ministry to release their list so that we can compare it with the list we have.

“However, it is important to do this in a fair and just process which is why we will approach the ombudsman,” said Kahiriri.

The group recently appealed to President Hage Geingob to order lands minister Utoni Nujoma to release the list of beneficiaries of the resettlement programme.

However, Kahiriri claims the ministry has adamantly refused to release the list, claiming that it would promote tribalism.

At a recent press conference, Nujoma claimed that more than 70% of the people from the Hardap and //Karas regions had been resettled in the two regions.

But the LPM vehemently disputes these statistics, saying the list in their possession shows a completely different picture.

Lubango tactics

The LPM says it will remain peaceful and will not give in to the “Lubango tactics employed by the government to instigate civil violence”.

The group condemned Swapo secretary-general Nangolo Mbumba's remark that the Namibian nation will judge former lands minister Bernadus Swartbooi for calling his former senior an idiot in parliament.

According to LPM member Kahiriri these are tactics the party used in the Lubango dungeons to sow disunity among the people, a machination used to unleash mob justice.

“We know that the secretary-general is used to a command system and that Lubango tendency must stop as you cannot control people to the extent of even supervising the air they breathe. The shooting of our people in Grootfontein on 17 February 2017 holding a peaceful demonstration by the police is a clear sign of dictatorship tendency of the tacticians of Lubango,” he said.

Last week, some Grootfontein residents ended up in hospital after they were shot with rubber bullets and detained for grabbing land.

“This will never deter us from claiming our land back. Our people are tired of the kleptocracy tendency in Namibia,” Kahiriri insisted.

He said the LMP will be in Khorixas on 4 March to mobilise people, adding that the people of Khorixas have been abandoned by government for the past 27 years.

“The Landless People's Movement and its members are tired of intolerance, greed, jealousy, suspicion, revenge, egotism, conceit, the tendency to reap where they have not sown and the habit of spending more than they earn of these politicians. We need leaders who have practical minds.”

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Rosh Pinah Zinc workers want specialist fired

February 23, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Rosh Pinah Zinc workers want specialist fired

Workers at the Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine have given management four working days to remove its employee relations specialist, Angeline Barnard-Hagen, or face “unforeseen action”.

In a petition, the workers express their disgruntlement about the “unbearable” conduct of Barnard-Hagen, whom they accuse of threatening and intimidating workers.

According to the workers, Barnard-Hagen's arrival created a hostile environment that has made workers afraid of losing their jobs.

“Workers no longer trust the office of the ER specialist. She has created an unsafe environment for workers. Every employee charged with an offence is found guilty and does not get a light verdict. Most of them get final warnings and this has affected the performance of workers negatively,” the petition states.

Last week, Mineworkers Union of Namibia regional organiser Elvis Bekele issued a statement expressing “shock” at the conduct of Barnard-Hagen, who according to him, was appointed solely to carry out constructive dismissals at the mine.

According to him, Hagen-Barnard doubles or triples any charge reported to her office in order to ensure that the employee is dismissed.

When contacted, Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine spokesperson Kondja Kaulinge said the company was not in position to comment at this stage.

JEMIMA BEUKES

↧

Robber assaults sleeping baby

February 23, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: San homes lie abandoned

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Robber assaults sleeping baby JESSICA BOTES

A Swakopmund mother of twin babies is the latest victim of a string of violent burglaries in Swakopmund.

At approximately 03:50 on Wednesday, a burglar removed a window frame at a house in Leadwood Street, Vineta, and unlocked the door from the inside. He woke the woman, whose husband was at work. According to the Swakopmund Neighbourhood Watch, he grabbed her by the neck and “threw her around”.

The neighbourhood watch said the burglar also assaulted one of the babies, sleeping in a cot in the bedroom, picking it up “as though it were a doll” and throwing it back into the cot.

“He then grabbed the woman again and threw her down next to the bed, warning her that if she dared to press the panic button of the alarm, he would kill her,” the neighbourhood watch said.

The burglar then rummaged through her drawers.

At about 04:00, the neighbourhood watch received a distress call but upon their arrival the robber had already left.

“He got away with a laptop and cash. The victim’s handbag was lying in the garden outside the house where he left it.”

Members of the police, assisted by the neighbourhood watch, tracked the robber but lost the trail at around 06:00.

The woman was in shock and was taken to the hospital.

“We tried to talk to her but she was crying and lost consciousness repeatedly. She was in a state of severe shock.”

The baby was not seriously injured.

Reports from the neighbourhood watch in Swakopmund indicate that violent robberies have increased by 60% over the last two months.

“There are far more burglaries than ever before, in particular in Ocean View and Kramersdorf. Robbers are taking more and more chances and they are targeting new homes with aluminium windows because they are so easily removed. We simply cannot keep up with them.”

The most recent incident was on 16 February where an armed robbery took place at a guesthouse in Kramersdorf. Four armed men entered the building at around 21:00 and found the owners, an elderly couple, and three guests on the premises.

They assaulted the guesthouse owner and got away with cash, jewellery and two firearms. Four men were arrested after the incident but were released because of a lack of evidence.

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San homes lie abandoned

February 23, 2017, 2:00 pm

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San homes lie abandonedGovt is out of touch with the people – Ekoka headman A village headman in the Ohangwena Region says they government wasted money on housing for a San community because it did not listen to local advice.

The !Xun, ‡Akhoe and Hai||om San communities have abandoned about 200 modern homes that were built for them in 2005 by former deputy prime minister Libertina Amathila at Ekoka and Oshanashiwa villages.

The two villages are situated in the Okongo Constituency of the Ohangwena Region.

The village headman, Fillemon Mwapangasha, accuses the government of wasting money after failing to consult local people before addressing the San's plight.

Mwapangasha says the government made a mistake by building brick structures with corrugated-iron roofs, each with a small front porch and a small yard.

Mwapangasha says only elderly and ailing people live in a few of the houses, while young people prefer to sleep outdoors.

He says national leaders have a tendency of side-lining traditional leaders when they are identifying the needs for the poor. He claims that government officials only approach regional councillors, who often are unaware of the real needs of the people. “I advised Libertina (Amathila) when she brought up the idea of building houses for San people in Ekoka that first she must conduct research, referencing the books of the Finnish missionaries who had lived with them for decades, in order to find out their real need,” Mwapangasha says.

“My advice was ignored and they went ahead. Today houses are abandoned. According to their traditions these people do not live in permanent houses, because if one dies in that house, they will abandon it, and that is what happened. When community members started dying, they shunned the houses.”

This is corroborated by Lusia Kamati, a San elder from Ekoka. She says it is a taboo to continue living in a house after a family member has died there.

Mwapangasha says as a headman who was born and grew up at Ekoka, he should have been consulted.

“These people were living a nomadic life until the arrival of the Finnish missionaries in the 1960s. The missionaries changed their lifestyle to an even greater extent. They (missionaries) taught them farming practices, while supporting them with food, clothing, blankets and basic healthcare. The government could have done the same,” Mwapangasha says.

“The missionaries established two crop fields of about 600 hectares each were they used to produce mahangu and other crops. Unfortunately in the 1980s the war of independence took centre stage and the support of the Finnish missionaries became inconsistent and the San people went back to their traditional lifestyle.”

Mwapangasha says instead of wasting money on houses, the government could have developed an irrigation project at the village.

He says there is a government tractor that helps the San people with ploughing, but they plough one field and rent out the other one to generate money for their trust fund.

“These people need a caretaker to take care of them. They are not at the stage of living on their own yet, otherwise they will go back into the bush.

“They have a craft centre where they are supposed to be selling their crafts, but it is no longer operational since they are on their own. The Desert Research Foundation of Namibia and Omba Arts Trust used to take care of them, but they left them when they became part of the Ministry of Lands and Resettlement. The ministry left them to their own devices.”

Namibian Sun could not establish how much the houses cost.

The former Ohangwena regional councillor for Okongo Constituency, Paulus Mwaanyekange, also confirmed that the San communities at Ekoka and Oshanashiwa had abandoned the houses.

“When they get aggressive during fights, they start vandalising houses, and when they started dying they started abandoning the houses.

“Only later did we realise that they have cultural norms that when someone dies in the house, they have to vacate it and that is why they do not live in permanent structures,” Mwaanyekange said.

Mwaanyekange said besides the houses, the community was also provided with a borehole and solar pump to supply them with water. The houses were provided with free electricity.

“These people are creative and hardworking, but they cannot think of coming up with their own horticultural project. A government tractor is there to help them and they can also get seed and fertilisers. They only want to work for the Oukwanyama farmers who are leasing their land,” he said.

When contacted for comment, Amathila said she acknowledged the headman's advice and it was painful to hear that they had abandoned the houses.

“Before I handed over my responsibilities I used to visit them from time to time and I compiled recommendations that could have been followed, including the one of the headman,” she said.

ILENI NANDJATO

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Need new blood in leadership

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: NPL gets interim managers

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Need new blood in leadershipTransformation needed in football Coach Woody Jacobs feels it is the right time that new football leaders emerge.

Namibia Premier League Coach Woody Jacobs says that all football leaders who have been in power for more than 20 years must resign.

Jacobs said this following the resignation of Namibia Premier League's long-serving chairman Johnny Doeseb.

The Orlando Pirates coach believes that this will be the only thing which will create a new and positive dimension in football.

He however did not direct his statements to any specific person, stating that the leaders he is referring to are well aware of their situation.

Speaking in an exclusive interview, Jacobs said: “I think my comrade Johnny Doeseb did an honourable thing to resign.

“I do not have anything against him, but I do believe it was about time that a new leader came in.

“He is a man who took football by heart because he did important things during his time.

“Leaders who have been in football for many years must now also consider making the same decision.

“This is the only way that can improve football for the better in the country.”

Jacobs further said that he hopes incoming leaders in football will be able to shy away from politics and tribalism.

He added that now is the time that the football nation unites in order to bring a positive change to the game.

“The future of many Namibian football players is in tatters at the moment.

“This is all because our leaders have not been doing enough to change the beautiful game.

“Trust me, I do not have anything personal against anyone, but I am saying this because I am just a worried person,” Jacobs said.

NPL chairman Johnny Doeseb has been at the helm of the premier league since 2008.

The chairman's relationship with the clubs turned bitter after the NPL failed to secure a sponsor to finance the league.

The league's problems started when its former sponsor, MTC, withdrew at the end of the 2015/16 season. The reason was that the league had failed to raise the additional N$9 million that was required.

Since then, the Namibia Premier League officials have been in search of what could possibly be the biggest deal in the history of the local game.

It has often been alleged that various clubs have been plotting a coup against Doeseb since the problems started.

Doeseb however survived various AGM's which plotted an attempt to oust him after clubs decided to keep the chairman at the eleventh hour.

All this led to the resignation of the football administrator who cited back-stabbing and tribalism towards his resignation.

However, Namibia Football Association NFA Secretary-General Barry Rukoro warned that Doeseb's exit will have consequences on football.

“It is going to be a tough time for the league, because I do believe Doeseb has done well for the premier league.

“Now the league faces a challenge in view of the fact that companies will not be willing to sponsor an organisation that is currently in leadership shambles,” Rukoro said.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

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NPL gets interim managers

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

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NPL gets interim managersNew look in NPL New leaders have taken over the league on interim basis as the struggle to find a sponsor continues.

The Namibia Premier League (NPL) on Saturday selected a new interim management committee at its extra-ordinary congress.

The congress was held in Windhoek on Saturday in the wake of the former Chairman Johnny Doeseb and the entire management committee resignations.

The congress selected Namibia Premier League winners Blue Waters FC’s Franco Cosmos as interim chairperson.

The congress also saw Black Africa’s boss Ranga Hailkali, Evaristus Evaristus of UNAM FC, Gabriel Tjombe (Eleven Arrows ) and Victor Hamunyella as management committee members.

NPL's head of marketing and communication, Cassius Moetie also resigned from his position over the weekend.

The former management committee consisted of Chairman Johnny Doeseb, Cassius Moetie, Tim Isaacs, Mabos Vries and Kenneth Gaoseb.

The league announced last year that it secured an N$3 million three-year sponsorship with Groot Systems.

It however, still falls N$21million short of the required budget in order to start the 2016/17 premier league season.

The financial problem dogging the league came after its main sponsor MTC disconnected ties with the league at the end of the 2015/16 season.

The multimillion dollar company citing reasons for its withdrawal said the league had failed to raise an additional N$9 million which was required that time.

Since then, the Namibia Premier League officials have embarked on a journey to secure a sponsorship.

The new leaders will now have to secure a sponsorship for the league.

Many football experts however still believe that it will be very difficult for the league to find a sponsor even if Johnny Doeseb has left.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

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Sundowns send Wits packing

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Sundowns send Wits packing Goals from Hlompho Kekana and Sibusiso Vilakazi downed Bidvest Wits 2-0 as they lost their Absa Premiership tie against Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday night at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

The victory for Pitso Mosimane's men ensured they move up to the third spot on the log table with 32 points from 14 league matches.

The first 10 minutes of the contest saw both sides fighting to dominate the proceedings, but it was the Clever Boys who came close in the fourth minute when Gabadinho Mhango was picked out by Nazeer Allie and the Malawian's header went narrowly wide.

The affair became physical for both sides, but Percy Tau nearly gave the hosts the lead when he saw his volley on the run missing the target in the 16th minute.

The hosts were awarded a set piece in the 38th minute and skipper Kekana produced a stunning thunderbolt to beat goalkeeper Darren Keet on his left post.

Midfielder Thabang Monare wanted to pull one back for the visitors as he received a loose ball on the d-line, yet the midfielder's well-struck effort went wide.

The Brazilians went to the tunnel leading by an odd goal courtesy of Kekana's set piece and the hosts pushed forward in search of their second goal.

Vilakazi unleashed a powerful shot first time from a lovely turn on the edge of the box, forcing Keet to produce a fine save in the 66th minute.

It was the African champions all over Wits towards the last 20 minutes as they dictated the proceedings and Thulani Hlatshwayo attempted an acrobatic effort which went off Wayne Sandilands' posts.

With three minutes to go, Sandilands came to the league champions' rescue when he denied Cuthbert Malajila from close range.

In the 90th minute, Tau broke free as he outran the Students' defence for him to set up Vilakazi, who easily made it 2-0 into an empty net.

The defeat for the Clever Boys means they now remain placed at No 1 with 34 points from 16 matches.

NAMPA/ANA

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Ondonga yahala Nangolo a landule Elifas

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Ya hala omusholondondo gwoonakutulululwa

≪ Previous: Sundowns send Wits packing

Ondonga yahala Nangolo a landule Elifas

NAMPA

Elelo lyOndonga Traditional Authority mEtiyali lya piti, olya popi kutya Fillemon Shuumbwa Nangolo oye ta landula Omukwaniilwa

Immanuel Kauluma Elifas na okwa hogololwa komukwaniilwa mwene onga omulanduli gwe momasiku ga20 Septemba mo- 2002, nomukwaniilwa okwa li a ukitha etokolo kepangelo momasiku gaali gaJuni mo-2012.

Ombaapila ndjoka ya shainwa kuElifas oya shangelwa ominista nale Jerry Ekandjo, ngoka a li ominista yIitopolwa, Omalelo goPapangelo, Omagumbo nEyambulepo lyokOmikunda.

Elelo lyaNdonga olya popi kutya euliko lyomunamimvo 38 Nangolo, olya ningwa kwiikwatelelwa komilandu dhelelo ndyoka, na olya taambiwako kaakuluntu yezimo lyaaleli mboka, oshowo aagandjimayele yomukwaniilwa gwaNdonga.

Oya popi kutya Nangolo okwa ulikwa opo a longekidhilwe oshinakugwanithwa shuuleli, onga omuleli gwopaamuthugululwakalo gwaaNdonga, ta landula omukwaniilwa ngoka e li koshipundi ngashiingeyi.

“Elelo lyaNdonga otali tsikile nokulonga pamwe naNangolo,” omukanda ngoka gwa pitithwa kelelo ndyoka gwa holola, sha landula omaiyuvo gaakwashigwana yamwe po kombinga yoontamanana dhekondjelo lyuuleli mOndonga.

Okwa holoka woo oonkundana dhiikundaneki kutya Nangolo nenge Oscar Sheehama, itaya vulu okuninga aalanduli yaElifas, molwaashoka mboka oyeli aatekulululwa yaElifas. Elelo lyaNdonga olya holola woo okuuva nayi omolwa Sheehama ngoka a ningile aantu omatilitho pethimbo lyoshigongi shoka sha ningwa naakwashigwana mOnethindi popepi nOndangwa kuyele omwedhi nguka.

Oshigongi shoka osha li sha kwatelwa komeho kelenga enene, lyoshikandjo shaNdangwa, John Walenga, moka iilyo yombala mwakwatelwa Sheehama ya popiwa kutya otayi kutha ombinga mokwiikuthila evi momudhingoloko ngoka.

Sheehama ngoka omonagona gwomukwaniilwa okwa popi kutya omalundilo ngoka otaga ningwa onga omukalo gwokunyateka edhina lye.

“Otamu mono shoka tamu kongo,’ Sheehama iidhiga komeho gaWalenga pehulilo lyoshigongi shoka.

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Ya hala omusholondondo gwoonakutulululwa

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Oosekuriti onkene tadhi futwa oondjambi dhi li pevi

≪ Previous: Ondonga yahala Nangolo a landule Elifas

Ya hala omusholondondo gwoonakutulululwa

Ehwahwameko tali ithanwa Landless People’s Movement olya holola kutya otali ka pula ombelewa yombudsman opo yi pule Uuministeli wOmavi nOmatulululo, wu pitithe omusholondondo gwaamboka ya tulululwa moprograma yomatulululo yepangelo.

Kwiikwatelelwa koshilyo shehwahwameko ndyoka,

Olsen Kahiriri, okwa popi kutya ehwahwameko oli na omusholondondo ngoka ihe otashi vulika gu keete evundakano na oya hala okukwashilipaleka kutya oye na omusholondondo gwomondjila, mokupula uuministeli wu pitithe pashigwana omusholondondo ngoka.

“Otwa hala uuministeli wu pitithe omusholondondo opo tu vule okuguyeleka naangoka tu na.”

Ehwahwameko ndyoka olya pula Omupresidende Hage Geingob opo a lombwele Ominista yOmavi, Utoni Nujoma opo a pitithe omusholondondo gwaantu mboka ya mono omatulululo okupitila moprograma yomatulululo. Kahiriri okwa popi kutya uuministeli mboka owa tinda okupititha omusholondondo ngoka tagu popi kutya otagu ka hwahwamekitha uukwamuhoko.

Omathimbo ga piti minista Nujoma okwa popi kutya oopresenda 70 dhaantu mboka ya za moshitopolwa shaHardap na//Karas oya tulululwa miitopolwa mbyoka iyali, ihe ehwahwameko lyoLPM olya pataneke omiyalu dhoka lyiikokelela komusholondondo ngoka li na.

LPM oya popi kutya otayi ka kala pambili na itayi ka longitha omukalo gwepangelo tagu ithanwa “Lubango tactics” ngoka gwa nuninwa okuhwahwameka iikolokosha.

Ehwahwameko olya nyana woo omapopyo gamushanga gwoSwapo, Nangolo Mbumba ngoka a pula oshigwana opo shi pangule sho shene omupevi nale minista gwomavi,

Bernadus Swartbooi sho uula Nujoma kutya elayi.

Kahiriri okwa popi kutya ngoka omukalo tagu longithwa kepangelo mokusitha uunye aantu mboka taya iyunganeke mokupula evi.

Okwa popi kutya epangelo otali longitha omukalo guukayamukulwa mokuungaunga naakwashigwana mboka taya ningi omahololomadhilaadhilo gopambili taya pula evi, a gandja oshiholelwa shoshiningwanima shoka sha ningwa momasiku o-17 gomweedhi nguka moGrootfontein moka opolisi ya yaha aakwashigwana mboka ya ningi ehololomadhilaadhilo.

Aakwashigwana yomoGrootfontein yamwe oya yi miipangelo konima sho ya yahwa nooholo dhoongumi nayamwe oya tulwa miipandeko.

“Shoka itashi tu shololitha mokupula evi lyetu. Aantu yetu oya loloka omukalo ngoka moNamibia.’

Okwa popi kutya oLMP otayi ka kala moKhorixas momasiku gaMaalitsa tayi unganeke aantu mboka ya kala inaya talika kepangelo uule womimvo 27 dha piti.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Oosekuriti onkene tadhi futwa oondjambi dhi li pevi

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Oostola dhoka tadhi hepeke aaniilonga nadhi shune

≪ Previous: Ya hala omusholondondo gwoonakutulululwa

Oosekuriti onkene tadhi futwa oondjambi dhi li peviEpangelo nalyo oli li maayamukulwa mboka taya pula oondjambi oompe dhitulwe tango pamishangwa dhepangelo Omahangano ogendji guusekuriti moshilongo onkene taga futu aaniilonga yawo oondjambi dhili pevi na inaga tula miilonga natango oondjambi dhopetameko dhaaniilonga mboka dhoka dha tulwa miilonga petameko lyaJanuari.

Onzo oya holola kutya konyala oopresenda 50 dhomahangano ngoka nenge dhi vulepo inadhi tameka okufuta aaniilonga oshimaliwa shooN$ 8.75 mowili, taga popi kutya aayakulwa yawo mwakwatelwa epangelo otaya pula opo ondjambi ndjoka yi tulwe tango pamushangwa gwepangelo.

Inashi yelamo natango kutya aaniilonga yangapi mboka ihaya kwata natango ondjambi ndjoka, nonando etsokumwe pokati komahangano gaaniilonga nehangano lyoSecurity Association of Namibia (SAN) ndyoka lya tulwa po muDesemba na olya yanda ekanka ndyoka lya li tali pangelwa okuningwa pethimbo lyaKrismas, olya tothwa mo iifuta mbyoka yi tulwe miilonga, nonando ondjambi ndjoka inayi tulwa natango momushangwa gwopapangelo.

Oshilyo shoSAN oshiwike sha piti, osha kunkilile omahangano ngoka inaga tula miilonga iifuta mbyoka, kutya otaga yi pondje ompango yaaniilongo.

“Kape na eipopilo opo ehangano nomugandji gwiilonga kehe a kale ina iyutha kompango yaaniilonga ndjoka ya tulwa miilonga mesiku lyotango lyaJanuari. Etulo pamushangwa gwepangelo ompango ndjoka kashi shi eipopilo.’

Okwa gwedha po kutya oshipotha kehe shomugandji gwiilonga ngoka ina hala okufuta aaniilonga ondjambi yooN$8.75 mowili ndjoka ya tulwa po otashi vulu okupatululwa nUuministeli wAaniilonga. Okwa gwedha po kutya niilonga naya ningilwe omapulaapulo kaanambelewa yuuministeli moshiwike shotango shaMaalitsa yo tayap ulwa ngele otaya futwa tuu ondjambi yawo ndjoka.

“Naya lombwelwe opo ya lopote koSAN nenge komahangano galwe po.”

John Kwedhi, amushanga gwoNamibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau) okwa gunu mboka itaya tula miilonga etsokumwe ndyoka lya tulwa miilonga muDesemba, ta ti kutya omahangano gaaniilonga itaga ka ongaaonga mokukatukila oonkatu mboka taya tindi okutula miilonga etsokumwe ndyoka, lya tameke muJanuari.

Oonkambadhala okumona omahangano omakalelipo gaaniilonga gamwe po ngoka ga kalelelepo aaniilonga, ga thika pugatatu, odha ponyo.

Kuyele omvula ndjika, omahangano goosekuriti ogendji na ogeli iilyo yoSAN oga popi kutya otaga nyengwa okuuvithako aayakulwa yawo kutya omolwashike ge na okugwedhela iifuta yomayakulo molwaashoka kage na uumbangi wopamushangwa gwopapangelo kombinga yiifuta mbyoka.

Maayakulwa mboka omwa kwatelwa epangelo, oshowo Elelo lyOshitopolwa shaKhomas.

Metine lyoshiwike sha piti, Clement Mafwila, Omunambelelwa Omukuluntuwiliki gwElelo lyOshitopolwa shaKhomas, okwa popi kutya oya mono ombaapila ndjoka tayi ya tseyithile kutya iifuta yomayakulo otayi gwedhelwa moGroot Aub kehangano lyoShilimela Security Services, ndyoka lya kala nokugandja omayakulo kelelo lyoshitopolwa shoka uule wethimbo monena.

Nonando ongaaka Mafwila okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya elelo inali vula okuzimina komagwedhelo ngoka, molwaashoka oondjambi dhoka inadhi tulwa natango pamushangwa gwepangelo, kakele ongele kwa ningwa eindilo lya gwedhwapo opo ya pewe iifuta yokukalelapo omagwedhelo ngoka.

“Uuna iifuta mbyoka yali ya tulwa pamushangwa dhepangelo andola kape na uupyakadhi,” Mafwila ta ti, na okwa gwedha po kutya, iifuta otayi ga kagandja okuza kesiku lyotango moka omagwedhelo ngoka ga ningwa uuna kwa gandjwa iimaliwa ya gwedha po okuza komalelo gomondjila.

Aaniilonga yehangano lyaShilimela Security Services moGroot Aub oshiwike sha piti, oya nyenyeta mokatumwalaka okafupi hoka ka nyanyangidha kushimwe shomiikundanekifo yomoshilongo kutya, oondjambi dhawo inadhi gwedhelwa muule woomvula naano dha piti na oya popi kutya Uuministeli wAaniilonga inawu ninga po sha, taya pula woo kOmufala gwAaniilonga a konaakone.

Banda Shilimela, mwene gwehangano ndyoka okwa patana omapopyo ngoka. Okwa popi kutya aaniilonga ye mboka taya longele pomahala ga yooloka moshilongo mwa kwatelwa oshiputudhilo shaUnam oya mono omagwedhelo noondjambi oompe dhoka dha tulwa miilonga.

Okwa popi kutya shoka osha ningwa sho aayakulwa ye ya zimine okufuta oondando oompe dhomagwedhelo.

Okwa popi kutya aaniilonga ye koGroot Aub natango otaya futwa ondjambi yooN$7 mowili nenge yi li pevi molwaashoka aayakulwa inaya zimina natango okufuta oondando dhoka dha tulwa po omolwa omagwedhelo, na okwa popi kutya oondjambi dhawo otadhi ka gwedhwelwa mbala ngele aayakulwa ya zimine..

Shilimela okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya ehangano lye olyiitulamo mokugwanitha po etsokumwe ndyoka lya adhika komahangano gaaniilonga oshowo SAN na kali na omapataneko gasha kombinga yetsokumwe ndyoka.

Okwa popi kutya aaniilonga yomoGroot Aub otaya futwa oondjambi dhawo okutameka mesiku lyotango lyaJanuari, uuna omuyakulwa gawo ngoka, Elelo lyOshitopolwa shaKhomas lya zimine kombinga gomagwedhelo goondando.

“Ihatu mono iiyemo okuza palwe we kakele kaayakulwa yetu omolwa omayakulo ngoka hatu gandja. Epangelo natango otali tu futu koondando oonkulu na itatu vulu okufuta aaniilonga oondjambi oompe molwaashoka katu na iimaliwa.”

Omatumwalaka gopaemail noongodhi dhoka twa kambadhala okukwatathana namushanga gwAaniilonga, Bro-Matthew Shinguadja, inadhi yamukulwa.

JANA-MARI SMITH

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Oostola dhoka tadhi hepeke aaniilonga nadhi shune

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Oil prices still dropping

≪ Previous: Oosekuriti onkene tadhi futwa oondjambi dhi li pevi

Oostola dhoka tadhi hepeke aaniilonga nadhi shune

KENYA KAMBOWE

Ehangano lyoNamibia Wholesale and Retail Workers Union (NWRWU) olya pula Uuministeli wAaniilonga opo omahangano goostola, unene ngoka ga za pondje yoshilongo ihe otaga hepeke aaniilonga ga katukilwe oonkatu.

Ehangano olya popi kutya omahangano omanene goostola ngoka haga ningi iiyemo oyindji otaga kutu owala pakathimbo aaniilonga na itaga gandja omauwanawa gasha kaaniilonga.

Olya gandja woo uusama kiiputudhilo yaaniilonga kutya otayi gamenene po owala uuwanawa waagandji yiilonga pehala lyokugamenena po aakwashigwana.

“Otatu pula opo ominista yaaniilonga yi longithe oonkondo dhawo dhopapolotika, opo yi e te pamwe aaagandji yiilonga ayehe moshikondo shoka nokugandja elombwelo yii yudhe komalombwelo nenge ya dhige po oshilongo,”amushanga gwoNWRWU Victor Hamunyela a lombwele aatoolinkundana.

Ehangano ndyoka olya popi kutya olya loloka sho iiputudhilo yaaniilonga tayi etha owala omahangano ngoka ga tsikile nokuhepeka aaniilonga

Hamunyela okwa gandja oshiholelwa shiiputudhilo yaaniilonga kutya ongaashi Labour Advisory Council, Committee for Dispute Resolution, Wage Commission, Labour Court, Labour Commissioner noLabour Inspectorate ndjoka ya totwapo kohi yontopolwa onti9 yompango yAaniilonga yomo-2007.

“Nonando okwa tulwa ompango ndjoka, ope na oshishona tashi ningwa koLabour Advisory Council, Labour Inspectorate, Wage Commissions noLabour Commissioner onga omayambidhidho gaaniilonga,” Hamunyela ta ti.

Okwa gwedha po kutya moshishiindalongo South Afrika, moka muna oombonge dhomahangano ogendji goostola dhoka, okwa tulwa miilonga ondjambi yopetameko yaaniilonga mboka yooR20 mowili, naaniilonga mboka pehulilo yomwedhi ohaya mono ondjambi yooR3 700, omanga AaNamibia haya mono ondjambi yili pevi noonkondo.

“Oshili ooshoka kutya oostola odhindji dhoka dhili moNamibia oodhoka dhili moSouth Afrika. Ooyene yoostola dhoka ohaya gwanitha po oompango dhaSouth Afrika ihe otaya longitha aantu yetu onga aapika.”

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Oil prices still dropping

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Capricorn feels economic pinch

≪ Previous: Oostola dhoka tadhi hepeke aaniilonga nadhi shune

Oil prices still droppingOil falls as stockpiles rise for seventh week Consistent stockpiles are preventing the oil price from increasing, keeping the price at a strong low.

US oil prices fell on Friday after official data released late on Thursday showed stockpiles rose last week for a seventh straight week, although losses were muted as inventory growth was well below expectations.

There were also signs that traders are starting to shift crude stored on tankers in Asia and tanks in the US.

US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was down 16 cents at US$54.29 by 07:28 GMT on Friday. WTI was on track for a weekly gain of about 1.6%, which would be its biggest increase over a week this year.

Brent crude was down 19 cents at US$56.39 and was on track for a weekly gain of about 1%.

US crude inventories rose by 564 000 barrels in the week to 17 February, up for a seventh week, although below analysts' expectations for an increase of 3.5 million barrels, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and producers including Russia have pledged to cut production by around 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) to tackle a global glut that has kept prices depressed since 2014.

While OPEC appears to be sticking to its deal, producers that were not part of the deal, particularly U.S. shale drillers, have increased output, driving the growth in inventories in the United States, the world's biggest oil consumer.

"Current oil prices are neither sustainable for OPEC or the industry," AB Bernstein said in a note on Friday. "As such, inventories will have to fall, which we expect will be clearer in the spring after the seasonal build."

This is starting to happen in the US, where traders are draining the priciest storage tanks as strengthening markets make it unprofitable to store for future sale and cuts in global production open export opportunities.

In Asia, traders are selling oil held in tankers anchored off Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

More than 12 million barrels of oil has been taken out of storage in tankers berthed off Southeast Asian countries this month, shipping data in Thomson Reuters Eikon shows.

Traders have been benefiting from a market feature known as contango where prices for later delivery are higher than those for immediate dispatch. But the future premium is falling and future prices may slip below spot prices, known as backwardation.

"Tightening fundamentals will push the crude market into backwardation in the coming months," BMI Research said in a note. This "will benefit participants in the paper market but hamper the profits of oil traders who are unable to exploit the cash and carry arbitrage."

NAMPA/REUTERS

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Capricorn feels economic pinch

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: We must power up

≪ Previous: Oil prices still dropping

Capricorn feels economic pinchMidyear profits only up 0.3% Yet another locally listed company is paying the price for Namibia's economic woes.

The total increase in profit of the Capricorn Investment Group for the six-month period ending 31 December 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 is N$1.457 miljoen.

Formerly known as Bank Windhoek Holdings, Capricorn's profit for the six-month period, totals N$457.3 million, a mere 0.3% growth compared to earnings in the same period in 2015. The group performed far better from 2014 to 2015 where profits increased by 26.5% over the same six-month period.

These results, released late last week, sketch a similar picture as those of FNB Namibia Holdings. As with Capricorn, FNB Namibia's profit was also only 0.3% higher than the same period in 2015 with a total increase of a mere N$1.9 million.

These two companies are the heavyweights of the Namibian stock exchange (NSX). In terms of market capitalisation, Capricorn stands at N$8.903 billion while FNB Namibia is at N$12.684 billion. Together, these two companies reflect around 66% of the total market capitalisation of the local index.

As with FNB Namibia, Capricorn has also blamed its weak showing on the local economy. “The last six months have been challenging, not only for banking but for the economy as a whole,” Capricorn said. Economic growth has slowed down, credit to both the business sector and the consumer has declined sharply and market liquidity is down, the company reported. “As a result, growth has been limited and the cost of financing has increased.”

For the six months under review, the operational profit of the group stood at N$607.2 million, around 1.3% higher than the same period in 2015.

Capricorn added that if the income derived from the kwanza trading in 2015 by Welwitschia Insurance Brokers (WIB) was left out, Capricorn's operational profit would have been 9.1% higher. WIB was sold in July last year and the Bank of Namibia (BoN) halted kwanza trading due to repayment challenges from the Angolan central bank.

Costs involved with the devaluation of loans in the six-month period stood at N$26.5 million, 15.8% lower than the corresponding period in 2015. Badly performing loans also increased.

The group has enough capital and far exceeds the requirements for risk-based capital.

Capricorn is also of the view that the current economic climate will continue at least for the short- to medium-term but, the company remains positive that expansion into Botswana and Zambia, as well as better service delivery in the local market, will still provide value.

Jo-Maré Duddy

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We must power up

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: US anti-doping agency confirms Salazar dossier

≪ Previous: Capricorn feels economic pinch

We must power up

Speaking at a Public Dialogue on Energy and Energy Efficiency, finance minister Calle Schlettwein said that Namibia's energy sector needs a rapid resolution that is multifaceted.

According to him the peak electricity demand in Namibia at present is close to 650 megawatts (MW).

Schlettwein said Namibia substantially relies on energy imports from its neighbours and depending on the time of the year it imports between 40% and 80% of its energy requirements.

“This makes us extremely exposed to the view that other countries take on and how much electricity can be spared for us.”

According to a recent assessment made by the African Development Bank, power demand in Namibia is projected to grow at close to 9.5% per year between 2015 and 2020 on the back of industrial projects.

“On the other hand, energy surpluses in the southern African region have now shrunk to net deficit levels, and this puts importing countries in a precarious situation,” he said.

He said that according to recent estimates of the International Energy Agency, over two thirds of Namibia's population does not have access to electricity and rural areas disproportionately suffer from this exclusion.

Schlettwein said some of the macro-economic impacts of dependence on electricity imports, are a worrying trade imbalance and for the year 2016 the country's imports exceeded exports by close to N$26 billion.

He said that electricity is one of the major imports of Namibia and this contributes to the imbalance. “By not producing electricity within the country we miss out on domestic economic activity and value addition. Imports also expose us to electricity pricing and currency rate fluctuations.”

He added that the availability and affordability of electricity is an important factor in attracting investments. According to him Namibia exhibits electricity tariffs that are higher than most countries in the Southern African region. A study on electricity tariffs conducted by the Namibia Manufacturers' Association in 2012, showed that national residential tariffs were on average 25% higher than in South Africa.

According to Schlettwein Namibia has some of the best renewable energy resources and this is an excellent solution for off-grid connectivity.

“We must acknowledge the fact that for a geographically large and low population density country like Namibia it is not practical to connect everyone through the national grid in a time-bound manner; serious efforts towards off-grid generation facilities are therefore important.”

Schlettwein said that renewable energy is rapidly evolving and there have been substantial reductions in generation prices and increased reliability.

According to him investments in the energy sector need to be scaled up while ensuring that solutions are affordable and are technically compatible with the country's needs.

According to him the demand for electricity in Namibia is several times lower than the production capacities of single power generation projects that are routinely built around the world.

He stressed that the government has finite budgetary resources and will continue to experience a development backlog if alternative avenues of financing are not embraced.

Schlettwein said at present, the government via NamPower continues to be the developer, owner and operator providing infrastructure almost entirely on its own. However there is keen interest from the private sector in participating in energy projects in the country.

“It is therefore essential that we organise ourselves to rope in private investment and expertise in this domain.

I am happy to note that the national Independent Power Producer (IPP) Policy, which is in the process of being finalised, aims to create a pro-investment platform for energy generation initiatives.”

STAFF REPORTER

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US anti-doping agency confirms Salazar dossier

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Six appeal as Kenyan Kipsang wins Tokyo Marathon

≪ Previous: We must power up

US anti-doping agency confirms Salazar dossier The United States Anti-Doping Agency on Saturday confirmed it had compiled a dossier on controversial coach Alberto Salazar following a report accusing the athletics guru of dangerously using drugs to boost the performance of his athletes.

Britain's Sunday Times said a USADA report -- obtained by the Fancy Bears hacking group -- had found Salazar abused prescription drugs and experimented with infusions of a research supplement based on the amino acid L-carnitine at his Oregon base.

The newspaper said it had seen documents showing Salazar, who coaches Britain's four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah, gave intravenous drip infusions to Farah and to half a dozen top US runners and that USADA had concluded the treatments of the Americans "almost certainly" broke anti-doping rules.

However, USADA said Saturday that no conclusion had been reached.

"USADA can confirm that it has prepared a report in response to a subpoena from a state medical licensing body regarding care given by a physician to athletes associated with the Nike Oregon Project," USADA said in a statement.

"It appears that a draft of this report was leaked to the Sunday Times by the Russian state-affiliated hacker group known as Fancy Bears. We understand that the licensing body is still deciding its case and as we continue to investigate whether anti-doping rules were broken, no further comment will be made at this time."

L-carnitine is found naturally in the body and is also prescribed as a supplement for heart and muscle disorders.

The Sunday Times reported that Salazar boasted to disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong about the "'incredible' performance boosting effects of the substance."

According to the newspaper, the renowned coach emailed Armstrong about it before the seven-time Tour de France champion was revealed to be a drug cheat.

"Lance call me asap! We have tested it and it's amazing," Salazar told the cyclist, according to the Sunday Times.

The report, written in March 2016, also states that USADA found "substantial and compelling evidence" that Salazar and his team's doctor, Jeffrey Brown, "conspired to collude together" to use prescription medications and medical procedures in risky and "sometimes potentially unlawful" ways in order to boost athletic performance.

That included persuading Farah to take potentially dangerous doses of permitted vitamin D prescription drugs, the newspaper said.

Salazar told the newspaper that an L-carnitine shot given to Farah prior to his marathon debut at the 2014 London Marathon was administered "exactly the way USADA directed".

Farah has repeatedly defended himself against his links to drug-tainted figures in the athletics world.

Following his 10,000m victory at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics last year, he brushed off his association with Salazar and Jama Aden, who was who was arrested last year as part of a drugs probe.

In 2015, Salazar was the subject of a ProPublica and BBC report alleging he administered testosterone to American distance runner Galen Rupp in 2002 when Rupp -- a training partner of Farah -- was only 16, and encouraged misuse of prescription drugs.

USADA stressed Saturday it had reached no conclusion that Salazar or others in the Nike Oregon Projected had broken anti-doping rules.

"Importantly, all athletes, coaches and others under the jurisdiction of the World Anti-Doping Code are innocent and presumed to have complied with the rules unless and until the established anti-doping process declares otherwise," USADA said. "It is grossly unfair and reckless to state, infer or imply differently."

NAMPA / AFP

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Six appeal as Kenyan Kipsang wins Tokyo Marathon

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Bayern crush Hamburg

≪ Previous: US anti-doping agency confirms Salazar dossier

Six appeal as Kenyan Kipsang wins Tokyo Marathon

Kenya's Wilson Kipsang stormed to victory in the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday in the fastest race ever run in Japan.

The former world record holder clocked 2hr 3min 58sec over a flatter course than in previous years as he added the Tokyo title to victories in London, New York and Berlin.

Sarah Chepchirchir won the women's race in a personal best 2:19:47 -- the first sub-2:20 in Japan -- to complete a perfect day for Kenya.

The top six men's finishers were all Kenyans with Gideon Kipketer runner-up in 2:05:51 and former winner Dickson Chumba third in 2:06:25.

Evans Chebet (2:06:42), Alfers Lagat (2:07:39) and Bernard Kipyego (2:08:10) all finished ahead of Eritrean Yohanes Gebregergish, who clocked 2:08:14 to edge out Japan's Hiroto Inoue.

Kipsang had targeted countryman Dennis Kimetto's world record of 2:02:57 and he got off to a quick start in the Tokyo sunshine.

The 34-year-old's pace dropped over the final 10 kilometres running into a slight breeze but still ran a fourth sub-2:04.

"I felt good today and I was trying to go for a world record," said Kipsang, who held the world mark with a 2:03:23 run at the Berlin Marathon in 2013 before Kimetto surpassed that a year later.

"It was a little bit windy," added the London Olympic bronze medallist. "That's why I couldn't run that time, but I look forward to coming back and hope to compete at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020."

Chepchirchir left a quality field in her wake, former champion Birhane Dibaba of Ethiopia finishing second over a minute and a half behind in her bid to win a second Tokyo title in three years.

NAMPA / AFP

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Bayern crush Hamburg

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Leicester flops in spotlight after Ranieri sacking

≪ Previous: Six appeal as Kenyan Kipsang wins Tokyo Marathon

Bayern crush HamburgLeipzig edge Cologne in German Bundesliga Bayern Munich proved to be too strong when they faced former player Collin Benjamin's side.

Robert Lewandowski's hat rick smoothed the way for Bayern to hammer Hamburg 8-0, and Leipzig reaped their second consecutive win after beating Cologne 3-1 in the 22nd round of Bundesliga on Saturday.

Front-runners Bayern showed no mercy with Hamburg as the German giants whitewashed the visitors with three first- and five second-half goals.

Hamburg worked out the first chance of the game, as Douglas Santos pulled just wide following a corner in the 13th minute. But the hosts who broke the deadlock with 17 minutes into the game after Arturo Vidal poked home Thomas Mueller's square pass.

Bayern needed another seven minutes to double the lead as Lewandowski converted a foul play penalty into the bottom right. The striker remained in the thick of things, as he headed on target twice, before he marked the 3-0 lead three minutes before the break.

Hamburg remained harmless and got punished after the restart when Lewandowski wrapped his hat rick and his 19th goal of the season from inside the box in the 54th minute.

Carlo Ancelotti's men kept it relentlessly going as David Alaba tapped in Mueller's assist to make it 5-0 on the scoreboards before substitute Kingsley Coman provided two goals in four minutes to extend the lead.

However, Bayern were not done with the scoring and rounded off the dominant performance with a goal from Arjen Robben, who finished off a solo run from inside the box with three minutes remaining.

With the result, Bayern Munich remain atop the standings with a five-point advantage whereas Hamburg slumped into the relegation zone.

Runner-up Leipzig remain close on Bayern's heels after overcoming Cologne 3-1 on home soil.

The “Bulls” secured a perfect start in front of home crowd as Emil Forsberg opened the scoring after Timo Werner headed a clearance into the path of the Swedish midfielder with five minutes played.

Things went from bad to worse for Cologne after Dominik Maroh cleared a low cross from Naby Keita into the wrong goal to double the lead for the hosts in the 34th minute.

After the break, Cologne piled on the pressure and pulled one back through Yuya Osako, who slotted home at the near post in the 53rd minute.

Leipzig remained unimpressed and destroyed all hopes of a comeback as Timo Werner restored the two-goal lead following a counter attack, just when the visitors were increasing the pressure.

Ralph Hasenhuettl's men remained in control of the proceedings and reaped their second consecutive win.

With the 15th win of the campaign, Leipzig stay on the second place, five points adrift of front-runners Bayern, while Cologne continue on the 7th position of the standings.

Elsewhere, third placed Borussia Dortmund see off Freiburg 3-0 owing to the second-half brace from Bundesliga top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Leverkusen lost 2-0 to Mainz as the goals from Stefan Bell and Levin Oeztunali separated the two sides.

Augsburg came from behind to edge bottom dwelling Darmstadt 2-1 as Paul Verhaegh and Raul Bobadilla turned the tides, and Berlin sealed a 2-0 victory over ten-men Frankfurt.

The following fixtures will complete the 22nd round of Bundesliga on Sunday: Ingolstadt encounter Monchengladbach and Schalke host Hoffenheim.

NAMPA / XINHUA

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Leicester flops in spotlight after Ranieri sacking

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Pacquiao to fight Britain's Khan in April

≪ Previous: Bayern crush Hamburg

Leicester flops in spotlight after Ranieri sacking

Leicester's underachieving stars will be in the spotlight when the crisis-torn champions start life without Claudio Ranieri in a crucial clash against Liverpool on Monday.

Ranieri was ruthlessly sacked by Leicester's Thai owners on Thursday amid reports that several of the team's senior players had lost faith in the Italian.

The decision to axe Ranieri only nine months after he masterminded their incredible Premier League title triumph was widely condemned by his fellow managers and Leicester fans.

But Ranieri's tactical tinkering and confusing team selections were said to have angered the likes of Jamie Vardy and Kasper Schmeichel to such an extent that they warned the club's owners Leicester would be relegated if he stayed.

If those rumours genuinely show the mood in the Leicester changing room, then it reflects badly on players who have been too quick to blame Ranieri for their own failings.

Ranieri was clearly shell-shocked by his dismissal, describing it as the day “his dream died”.

For Leicester's spluttering stars, if they have blood on their hands, Ranieri's exit means there will be nowhere to hide when Liverpool arrive at the King Power Stadium.

In contrast to last season, when Vardy set the tone with his prolific finishing and tireless work rate, the England international has been remarkably subdued for most of this term.

Vardy isn't the only one – Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez, voted player of the year last season, has been nowhere near as effective.

Whoever is to blame, Leicester are in deep trouble.

They have lost their last five league matches without scoring a goal, crashed out of the FA Cup against third-tier Millwall – who played almost half the match with 10 men – and suffered a 2-1 Champions League last-16 first-leg defeat against Sevilla in Ranieri's final match.

By the time they kick off on Monday, Leicester could be in the relegation zone depending on other results and a defeat against Liverpool would push them a step closer to becoming the first reigning English champions to be relegated since Manchester City in 1938.

Leicester caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare knows time is running out to beat the drop.

Shakespeare, who denied claims he had fallen out with Ranieri, believes he is the man for the job and has signalled his desire to take the manager's role on a permanent basis. However, with far more experienced candidates like Roberto Mancini, Guus Hiddink and Roy Hodgson reportedly being considered, Shakespeare may have to settle for somehow inspiring his players to upset Liverpool.

“You know what, we deserved to win the league last year. We won it by 10 points in the end,” he said.

“From a football point of view I have to tell you that the players are very professional.

“They are very hurt and very frustrated. I've not had one problem with them on the training field. They are a joy to work with at times.”

Liverpool won't show any sympathy for Leicester as they battle to qualify for the Champions League, but boss Jurgen Klopp has warned his players to be wary of a backlash from the champions.

Klopp's fifth-placed team can move into the top four with a win as fourth-placed Arsenal aren't in action this weekend.

“Does the sacking change a lot for us? Probably the players have to show a few things and they will want to,”

Klopp said.

“You saw the Champions League game and the (Leicester) reaction after they scored: it was like two different games before and after they scored.

“Obviously they needed this goal to get confidence back.

“Maybe they can keep this and then we have to make it not too easy for them to bring it on the pitch or to not let their confidence grow.”

NAMPA / AFP

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Pacquiao to fight Britain's Khan in April

February 26, 2017, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: 'I'm a clean athlete' insists Mo Farah

≪ Previous: Leicester flops in spotlight after Ranieri sacking

Pacquiao to fight Britain's Khan in AprilTop fight underway The world will be awaits for one of the biggest fight in history when the two fierce men will battle.

Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao and British fighter Amir Khan confirmed separately on Sunday that they would face each other on April 23 after weeks of conflicting reports.

Pacquiao tweeted: “Negotiations between team Pacquiao and team Khan have come to terms for the April 23 bout as this is what the fans wanted.#PacquiaoKhan”.

Khan, 30, a few minutes later posted on his official Twitter feed: “My team and I have agreed terms with Manny Pacquiao and his team for a super fight #pacquiaokhan #April23rd”.

Neither of them gave a venue for the match, but a source in Pacquiao's office said the bout would be in the United Arab Emirates.

Pacquiao's American promoter, Bob Arum, has previously been quoted as saying on the ESPN that “Manny is trying to get a fight done in the United Arab Emirates, and the people there favour him fighting Amir Khan”.

Spokesmen for the World Boxing Organisation welterweight champion Pacquiao could not immediately be contacted for comment.

Pacquiao, 38, previously confirmed on Twitter that he was “in negotiations” to face Khan despite Arum's own efforts to arrange a fight with Australian Jeff Horn in April.

Pacquiao tweeted on February 11: “See you in UAE for my next fight. #TeamPacquiao”.

He also posted a poll on his official Twitter feed asking his 110000 plus followers to choose either Horn, Khan, American Terence Crawford or Briton Kell Brook as his next opponent.

Khan had been leading the poll when it was taken down.

Pacquiao announced a brief retirement last year, but made a successful comeback against Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas in November, saying he still felt like a youngster.

Pacquiao had said he was retiring to focus on his new role as Philippine senator, after winning elections last year on the back of his sporting fame.

NAMPA / AFP

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