Standard Bank, Danric treats BMW clients

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Standard Bank, Danric treats BMW clients Standard Bank, in collaboration with Danric Auto, recently hosted an exclusive Drive along Day for some of its clients.

The ride along is part of the Bank's Feel the Love campaign during the month of love, during which time the bank reaches out to its customers by running a VAF campaign to boost vehicle sales and upgrades by offering Prime less 1.25%.

Richard Wahl, the dealer principal at Danric Auto, hailed the collaboration with the bank, stressing that it would better the relationship between the bank and the dealer and drive the value chain for the customers.

“The core of our brand value is joy as we want our customers to climb off their BMW with a smile, backed up with a good deal. The customer can't be served without the bank and therefore the level of innovative partnerships and ideas between the dealer and the bank strengthens those relationships,” he explained.

Wahl pointed out that the biggest pressure on middle-income class is disposable income and there is a need to breach that affordability, which is being done by offering the Prime, less 1.25%.

“The (BMW) brand offers people something to strive for and realising their dream of driving a BMW. Customers must drive the car to get a feel for it”.

The motor dealerships BMW clients were treated to a test drive of an exclusive range of BMW vehicles and some of them won exclusive BMW promotional items.

The customers in attendance managed to raise an impressive N$1 205 for the Buy-a-Brick campaign on the day.

STAFF REPORTER

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Call 911

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Call 911The new Porsche 911 GT3 is here Available in mid-June in Germany, the new Porsche 911 GT3 is an angel and a demon. The Porsche 911 GT3 delivers motorsport-like performance, a systematic lightweight construction and an unfiltered driving experience. In the new generation of the radical 911, the connection between everyday driving and the racetrack is even more intense. At the heart of the latest enhancement beats a four-litre flat engine. The extremely high-revving naturally aspirated engine with 368 kW (500hp) remains virtually unchanged from the thoroughbred 911 GT3 Cup racing car. The redesigned chassis with rear-axle steering and the systematic lightweight construction are specifically tuned to convert the engine power into superior driving dynamics. Developed on the same test track and manufactured on the same production line as the racing cars, Porsche's motorsport technology has once again been incorporated into a road-approved sportscar.

The majority of Porsche GT drivers also like to take their sportscars for a spin on the racetrack, which is where the new 911 GT3 really comes into its own thanks to its weight-to-power ratio of 3.88 kg/kW (2.86 kg/hp). With seven-speed double-clutch transmission (PDK) as standard, which has been specifically tuned for use in the GT, the two-seater weighs in at 1 430 kg with a full fuel tank and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. Its boasts a top speed of 318 km/h. For proponents of pure unadulterated driving, Porsche also offers the 911 GT3 with a six-speed sports manual gearbox. This allows the high-performance 911 to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 320 km/h.

The chassis of the new 911 GT3 benefits from Porsche's motor racing experience and its tuning has been reworked for even better driving dynamics. The new two-seater sits around 25mm lower than the 911 Carrera S. In addition to the further refined basic design, the chassis boasts superior handling characteristics, thanks in large part to the active rear-axle steering. Depending on the speed, it steers either in the opposite or the same direction as the front wheels, thereby improving the vehicle's agility and stability. The dynamic engine mounts and the rear differential lock also boost the car's driving dynamics.

When it comes to its appearance, the 911 GT3 leaves little doubt as to its purpose. The dominant carbon rear wing emphasises the fact that the sportscar's form is determined by aerodynamics. The lightweight front end and front spoiler have been optimised for an even better airflow. The aerodynamic enhancement is also evident on the lightweight rear end with exhaust air openings on the new diffusor.

The interior of the new high-performance sportscar is tailored to the 911 GT3 driving experience. The GT sports steering wheel with a diameter of 360 mm originates from the 918 Spyder. Both the driver and passenger experience the dynamics in Porsche Sports seats Plus with enhanced seat side bolsters and mechanical fore/aft adjustment. The seat height and backrests are adjusted electronically. As the 911 GT3 is traditionally a two-seater, the seat pans in the rear are covered.

In addition to Porsche Communication Management (PCM) including an online navigation module with real-time traffic information, the standard equipment also includes the Connect Plus module and the Track Precision app. The Track Precision app enables 911 GT3 drivers to display, record and analyse detailed driving data on their smartphone.

It will be launched in Germany from mid-June. Prices for the new high-performance 911 start at roughly N$2.10 million, including VAT and country-specific equipment.

PORSCHE AG

Fresh new Picanto

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Fresh new Picanto This week at the Geneva Motorshow, Kia Motors unveiled the new Kia Stinger fastback sports sedan alongside the all-new Kia Picanto city car.

Michael Cole, COO of Kia Motors Europe, commented: “The variety of new Kia vehicles on display here in Geneva underlines the ambition and increasingly broad appeal of the company and its cars.

“The Stinger is the most powerful car that Kia has ever produced, while the new Picanto – one of the company's best-selling models worldwide – makes a statement with a bold, modern design, new technologies, and best-in-class versatility.

Kia's powerful new fastback sports sedan, the Stinger channels the spirit of historic grand tourers – powerful, elegant vehicles capable of moving their owners in style, at speed. At every stage of development, the Stinger has been designed and engineered to be the perfect gran turismo. The car features a head-turning aesthetic, ample room to accommodate five occupants and their luggage, a stable, unruffled ride, and nimble handling with engaging, rear-biased power delivery.

The Kia Stinger will be available with a choice of rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, as well as a range of DRiVE WISE active safety systems, an electronically-adjustable suspension system (Dynamic Stability Damping Control), and a five-mode Drive Mode Select system.

The Stinger is the result of years of dedicated design and development work. Six years after Kia revealed its powerful statement of intent in the GT Concept, the Stinger will enter production and go on sale globally during the fourth quarter of 2017.

The all-new Kia Picanto brings a new, more youthful and energetic character to the A-segment.

Created in collaboration by Kia's design centres in Namyang, Korea and Frankfurt, Germany, the new Picanto boasts a youthful, energetic look, using its new dimensions and bold body lines for a more assertive stance. A performance-inspired GT-Line model is available for the first time.

Inside, the new model's high-quality, high-tech cabin features a 'floating' 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. New in-car technologies and connectivity features including Android Auto™, Apple CarPlay™ and a wireless smartphone charger. The new model also offers buyers greater potential for customisation than ever before, with 11 exterior paint colours and a range of interior colour packs for buyers to choose from.

The new Picanto has a larger cabin than many of its rivals, and the largest cargo capacity of any A-segment car (255 litres). New measures to address noise, vibration and harshness will make it one of the most refined in its class. Safety is also improved, with a strong new bodyshell featuring twice the proportion of Advanced High Strength Steel compared to the outgoing model. The Picanto is the first car in its class to offer Autonomous Emergency Braking.

From launch at the start of Q2 2017, the new Picanto will be available with 1.0- and 1.25-litre petrol engines, with CO2 emissions from just 89 g/km. In Q4 2017, Kia will also offer the new model with the company's new 1.0-litre turbocharged direct injection (T-GDI) power unit, producing 100 ps.

KIA MOTOR CORP.

Pop.Up has come

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Pop.Up has comeA trailblazing modular ground and air vehicle Airbus and Italdesign this week premiered their new 'flying car' the Pop.Up at the Geneva Motorshow. During the 87th Geneva International Motor Show, Italdesign and Airbus world-premiered Pop.Up, the first modular, fully electric, zero emission concept vehicle system designed to relieve traffic congestion in crowded megacities. Pop.Up envisages a modular system for multi-modal transportation that makes full use of both ground and airspace.

The feasible concept is the result of Italdesign and Airbus' joint reflection on how to address the mobility challenges of megacities achievable for a majority, which has become one of the most pressing issues for commuters in megacities worldwide. With traffic congestion projected to hugely increase by 2030, the companies decided to combine their engineering expertise to tackle how to best achieve a sustainable, modular and multimodal urban mobility system - giving rise to the Pop.Up concept.

Pop.Up System consists of a three layers concept: An Artificial Intelligence platform that, based on its user knowledge, manages the travel complexity offering alternative usage scenarios and assuring a seamless travel experience; a vehicle shaped as a passenger capsule designed to be coupled with two different and independent electric propelled modules (the ground module and the air module). Other public means of transportation (e.g. trains or hyperloops) could also integrate the Pop.Up capsule; an interface module that dialogues with users in a fully virtual environment.

The Pop.Up system aims to give time back to commuters through a flexible, shared and adaptable new way of moving within cities introducing a new user-focused transportation system concept.

The Pop.Up vehicle combines the flexibility of a small two seater ground vehicle with the freedom and speed of a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) air vehicle, thus bridging the automotive and aerospace domains.

Pop.Up's modus operandi is simple: passengers plan their journey and book their trip via an easy-to-use app. The system automatically suggests the best transport solution - according to user knowledge, timing, traffic congestion, costs, ridesharing demands - joining either the air or ground module or other means of transportation to the passenger capsule, and following passengers' preferences and needs.

At the heart of the concept is a capsule: designed to accommodate passengers. This high-tech, monocoque carbon-fibre cocoon measures 2.6 metres long, 1.4 metres high, and 1.5 metres wide. The capsule transforms itself into a city car by simply coupling to the ground module, which features a carbon-fibre chassis and is battery powered.

For megacity journeys with high congested traffic, the capsule disconnects from the ground module and is carried by a 5 x 4.4-metre air module propelled by eight counter-rotating rotors. In this configuration, Pop.Up becomes an urban self-piloted air vehicle, taking advantage of the third dimension to get from A to B efficiently whilst avoiding traffic congestion on the ground.

Once passengers reach their destination, the air and ground modules with the capsule autonomously return to dedicated recharge stations to wait for their next customers.

Thanks to the possibility of combining the capsule also with other means of public transportation, the Pop.Up offers a seamless travel experience. The user can stay for the entire journey in the same capsule without worrying about switching between different travel modes and enjoy the entire commute time, with real time interaction between the capsule and the surrounding urban environment and communities.

Aerospace leader Airbus is harnessing its expertise to actively develop a number of radical concepts that will contribute to relieving urban congestion. “Adding the third dimension to seamless multi-modal transportation networks will without a doubt improve the way we live and how we get from A to B,” said Mathias Thomsen, general manager for Urban Air Mobility at Airbus, on the occasion of the unveil. “Successfully designing and implementing solutions that will work both in the air and on the ground requires a joint reflection on the part of both aerospace and automotive sectors, alongside collaboration with local government bodies for infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. Italdesign, with its long track record of exceptional vehicle design was an exciting partner for Airbus for this unique concept project.”

“Italdesign is a service company, created to provide services and mobility solutions to interested parties worldwide. It is deeply rooted in our DNA to search for future state-of-the-art solutions,” said Italdesign CEO Jörg Astalosch. “Today, automobiles are part of a much wider eco-system: if you want to design the urban vehicle of the future, the traditional car cannot alone be the solution for megacities, you also have to think about sustainable and intelligent infrastructure, apps, integration, power systems, urban planning, social aspects, and so on. In the next years ground transportation will move to the next level and from being shared, connected and autonomous it will also go multimodal and moving into the third dimension” continued Astalosch. “We found in Airbus, the leader in aerospace, the perfect partner who shares this modern vision for the future of megacities to develop a sustainable multi-modal vision of megacity transportation,” he concluded.

AIRBUS

Omuna gwokombanda gwaNdonga a kanitha otendela yoomiliyona 19

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Omuna gwokombanda gwaNdonga a kanitha otendela yoomiliyona 19 ODC a popi kutya oompango dhokondalaka odha taagulukwa Ehangano lyedhina Offshore Development Company (ODC) olya kutha oonkondo otendela ndjoka yali ya pewa ehangano lyomwanakadhona gwomukwaniilwa gwandonga Katrina Elifas ndjoka lyedhina Katrina Enterprises momumvo 2013.



Elifas pamwe nookume ke mongeshefa AaChina oyali yapewa otendela yoomiliyona 19 okutunga ehala lyoongeshefa oonshona no dhopokati pomataagulukilo goongamba pOmahenene mOshitopolwa shaMusati.

Otendela ndjika ngashiingeyi oya pewa ehangano lyedhina Omusati Construction.

Ehangano lyo ODC olya popi kutya ehangano lyaKatrina Enterprises olya yi pambambo mokuyonagula euvathano-tsokumwe sho lyiiteka nokuthigapo iilonga yopoloyeka ndjika ethimbo lyuule woomvula mbali.

Elifas okwali ayi meuvathano-tsokumwe okulongela kumwe nehangano lyaChina lyedhina Zhen Jiang Construction and Engineering, kakele oyali ya thigi po iilonga mo -2014.

Iilonga yOpoloyeka oyali yi na okukala ya manithwa mo-2015 ihe aatungi oyali yahulile ondjilakati miilonga noopelesenda 65%, mpoka yiiteka nokweetha iilonga ina yipwa.



Omunambelewa Omukuluntu gwo ODC Phillip Namundjebo okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya otendela nehangano lyoKatrina Enterprises oya hulithwapo omolwa eyo pondje lyeuvathano-etsokumwe.

Okwa ti, euvathano olya yelitha nawa kutya omugandji gwiilonga ODC ota vulu okuhulithapo otendela ngele nakupewa iilonga okwandopa okumanitha iilonga nenge a hulile ondjilakati.

“Ngele oto dhimbulukwa nawa, ehangano ndika olya li lyathigi po ehala lyiilonga muDesemba gwo-2014 naashika oshili eyonagulo lyeuvathano-tsokumwe.

Okondalaka oya yelitha nawa kutya ngele nakupewa otendela okwa yi pondje ompango yokondalaka nena otendela otayi vulu oku pewa ehangano limwe,” Namundjebo ta ti.

“Uuna iilonga ya manithwa nena iifuta otayi ka ningwa ngaashi okondalaka tayi utha. Eyooloko lyomwaalu ngoka tagu thigala po otali ka futwa ODC kehangano lyoKatrina Enterprises pamwe nookume ke ngaashi okondalaka tayi ti.”

Pahapu dhaElifas, omanga inaya thiga po ehala lyiilonga mo-2014, aayindjinia yopoloyeka ndjoka, yehangano lyoBurmeister and Partners, oya nyenyeta koODC kutya iitenda yoombuli mbyoka tayi longithwa kehangano lyawo oyongushu yopevi.

Ombaapila ndjoka ya monika koNamibian Sun, ya shangwa muNovemba gwo-2015, yuukithwa kehangano lyoBurmeister and Partners ya nyolwa ku Elifas, oya pula opo ehangano li yelithe nawa ongushu yiitenda mbyoka ya longithwa.

“Otandi pula opo mu yelithe pamushangwa gwopambelewa kutya omakonaako geni taga pumbiwa okumuna ongushu yiitenda mbyoka tatu longitha.

Ngele ope na omakonaakono gopaundhindoli otatu indile mu tupe omakwatathano opo tu pule komeho kaatushunithe iilonga konima,” ombaapila ndjoka ya holola.

Mo- 2015, ehangano lyoKatrina Enterprises olya shangitha oshipotha nelelo lyo ODC kutya ODC okwa ulike omuthaneki gwopoloyeka oye ta etitha epiyagano naashika osha etitha omutungi a thige po ehala lyiilonga.

Opwa piti omvula, opoloyeka ndjoka inayi longwa nehangano lyo ODC olya ulike ehangano lyoNamibian Council for Architects and Quantity Surveyors (NCAQS) li konaakone oshikumungu shoka.

Mo-2015, NCAQS okwa ulike ehangano lyoMwanakatwe Studio Architecture Inc li kale omupokati moshipotha.

Momasiku 23 gaFebruali 2016, mombaapila ndjoka ya monika koNamibian Sun, Mwanakatwe Studio Architecture Inc okwa ningi etokolo li li muuwanawa waKatrina Enterprises, ihe ODC noBurmeister and Partners inaya nyanyukilwa etokolo ndyoka lya ningwa.

“Otashi ende ngiini ya ka ulike omutungi omupe omanga omupokati a ninga nale etokolo. Oya pumbwa okufuta iilonga yetu yoopresenda 65 mbyoka twa longo, ngele hasho otatu ka kuthathanapo mompangu. Otaya popi kutya iitenda yetu oyongushu yopevi ihe otaya tsikile ngaa nokuyilongitha,” Elifas ta ti.

Omupolisi a hulithile miilonga

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Omupolisi a hulithile miilonga Omakonaakono ge so tali limbilike lyomunambelewa gwopolisi omukiintu, ngoka a li ha longele Oshikondo shEgameno lyAanona nAakiintu moshipangelo shaKatutura, oga tamekwa na go .

Omukiintu ngoka iitsuwa a hulitha mOmaandaha lyopotundi onti-20:00, otaku fekelwa a londo omweelo gwopiilonga yawo.

Johanna Ligoleni Angombe (43) otaku hokololwa a patelwa mombelewa na okwali a kambadhala okulonda omweelo no tsuwa koshitenda shoka sha etitha a kanithe ombinzi oyindji sigo omeso.

Ina ku yelithwa nawa natango kutya oshike sha holoka po ihe otaku fekelwa kutya okwa tsuwa koshitenda pethimbo a li a kambadhala okulonda omweelo.

Nakusa okwiitsuwa komuntu ngoka a li a piti popepi nombelewa ndjoka no kwali iithana opolisi. Omupopiliko gwopolisi, Edwin Kanguatjivi okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya otaku fekelwa kutya Angombe okwa patelwa mombelewa na kali e na oshapi yomweelo omunene. Okwa holoka omipopyo inadhi kolekwa kutya Angombe kali ta vulu okudhenga ongodhi opo a kwathelwe ihe

Kanguatjivi okwa koleke kutya mombelewa omu na oongodhi na adhihe otadhi longo. Omakonaakono otaga tsikile okumona kutya oshike naana sha ningwapo.

caption

ELLANIE SMIT

Oonakuyelulwa kefundja mOshakati ya tembudhwa

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Oonakuyelulwa kefundja mOshakati ya tembudhwa Konyala aakalimo mOmalukanda gomOshakati ya thika po-250 oya tembudhwa okuza pomahala gawo sho yayelulwa efundja no yali ye ga tungu shaaheli paveta.



Omagumbo ga thika po-51 oga tembulilwa pehala lyoshiputudhilo shoUniversiti yaNamibia momudhingoloko gwEkuku okuza komahala gawo. Elelo lyoshitopolwa shaShana olya gandja ootenda dha thika po-20 omo mu kale aakwashigwana mbaka ihe ootenda ndhoka okwa lopotwa kutya inadhi gwana.

Omunambelela Omukuluntupitithi gwondoolopa yaShakati, Werner Iita okwa ti kutya oyuuviteko oonkugo dhoonakuninga iihakanwa yefundja mondoolopa yawo, ihe okwa gandja woo uusama kaakwashigwana mboka ya tungu omagumbo gawo pomahala mpoka ya indikwa okutunga molwaashoka ohapu udha omeya.

Okwa popi kutya elelo lyondoolopa olya kala tali longo noonkondo opo li ye moshipala etaandelo lyedhengelo lyoombashu unene momudhingoloko gwolukanda lwaShoopala uule woomvula dha piti.



“Otwa kala tatu lombwele aantu opo kaya ikuthile evi ihe inaya pulakena. Aantu oyendji mboka ya tulululwa oomboka yiikuthile evi na oya kala pomahala ngoka owina opo ya tulululwe yo yapewe iikulya oshali,” Iita ta ti.

Aakwashigwana yamwe oya popi kutya oya nyanyukwa sho ya tulululwa nokufalwa kehala kaali na omeya ihe otaya nyenyeta kutya oye wete kutya elelo lyondoolopa kali na nayo molwaashoka olye ya tembudhile owala pehala ndyoka no ku ya thiga monkalo ya pumbwa omakwatho.

Oya nyenyeta kutya pehala mpoka ya tulwa kape na uundjugo ishewe opena owala okapomba kamwe komeya. Oya holola kutya onkalo itayi vulu okwiidhidhimikilwa.

“Otundji noonkondo tu li pehala ndika. Ope na mboka haya yi kiilonga naanona mboka haya yi kooskola. Dhilaadhila nee kutya onkalo ohayi kala ngiini ethimbo lyongula? Aanona yetu otaya yi kooskola kwa lata molwaashoka oye na okugandja ompito tango kaakuluntu,” Omunamimvo 53, Maria Johannes ta ti.

Johannes okwa popi kutya elelo lyondoolopa inali yakwathela nosheenditho sho ya tembukile kehala ndyoka.

“Ondi na oongunga dhooN$100 molwaashoka omuntu ngoka e tu tutu okwa pulandje ooN$300, ndhoka inandi vula okufuta poshikando.”

Elelo lyondoolopa otali pula aasihenda opo ya yambidhidhe aakwashigwana mbaka.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Swapo ta dhingoloka mokutumbula aapogoli

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Swapo ta dhingoloka mokutumbula aapogoli Mbumba a tindi okutumbula omadhina gaamboka taya talika omeho Ewilikongundu lyOngundu tayipangele olyili lya limbililwa keindjipalo lyomawawa/oongundu dhakwatelwa komeho kiilyo yoSwapo.

Poshigongi showina shaningwa Omaandaha, ewilikongundu olya tokola okutha oonkatu dhokuguna iilyo yongundu mbyoka yili tayi tsikile nokuyonagula ekotampango lyongundu, nonando oyili yiitalako kutya iilyo yOswapo.

Pethimbo lyomutumba ngoka gwaningwa niikundaneki mEtiyali, amushanga-ndjai gwoSwapo, Nangolo Mbumba okwa ina vula oku tumbula omadhina gaamboka taya talika meho omanga inaya pewa omikanda ndhoka tadhi ya hololele kutya otaya ka pumbwa okugunwa, na ishewe ina tumbula kutya yangapi ta ya kuutumbikwa.

Mbumba okwa ti kutya oonakufekelwa ota ya ka tamanekwa muule wethimbo efupi. Amushanga gwiipambele yomauyelele, Helmut Angula okwa popi kutya oonkatu dhomaguno otadhi ka kuthwa dhili omponge naamboka taya longitha uukwashilyo woSwapo nelalakano okutuka aaleli niilyo yongundu.

Iilyo omi-26 yewilikongundu oya holola omailimbililo omolwa eindjipalo yetoto lyomawawa/oongundu hwahwameki ta gatotwa kiilyo yongungu nelalakano oshowo etsikilo lyokwaahasimaneka elelo lyongundu oshowo lyoshilongo.

Omutumba ngoka gwa ningwa Omaandaha ogwa tsu kumwe ketulomiilonga lyoontotwaveta, omisindalandu dhekotampango oshowo omukalo gwomaihumbato , opo ku kwashilipalekwe kutya ita ku kathigwa emanya lyalonda kekwawo ku kehe ngoka tekiihumbata momukalo ta gu kemumonikitha ondjo, okuna oku ungaungiwa naye shuuka.

Omitumba dhomautho ndhoka otadhi ka kaliwa kiilyo ihamano nenge iheyali yelelo lyopombanda nomunashipundi otaka kala amushanga nale gwongundu Ngarikutuke Tjiriange.

Nonando ina kutumbulwa omadhina, oshafa shayela nale kutya oonkatu otadhi ka katukilwa iilyo mbyoka tayi kwatakanithwa nehwahwameko lyoLandless People’s Movement (LPM), tashi vulika na ku dhengwa olukaku nomupevi minista nale gwEvi nOmatulululo Bernadus Swartbooi, Henny Seibeb, noshilyo shopaliamende Ida Hoffmann.

Yamwe wo mboka taku fekelwa kutya otaya ka kuutumbikwa nokupulwaapulwa oyo oshilyo nale shopaliamende Kazenambo Kazenambo, oshowo omukomeho gwoAffirmative Repositioning (AR) Job Amupanda namushanga nale gwewawa lyaanyasha, Elijah Ngurare.

Seibeb okwa popi mEtiyali kutya ke na ontseyo ya sha kombinga yomitumba ndhoka tadhi popiwa. Kazenambo, ngoka eli oshilyo shelelo lyongundu ndjoka naye okwa popi kutya ye keshi ongangalala onkene ita vulu okuulwa olebele, molwaashoka ina kutha ombinga miilonga yuulebele meni nenge pondje yoshilongo.

Amupanda okwa popi kutya omautho ngoka taga ningwa ogeli oompangela dhokuya moshipala mboka ya ulike ohokwe yuuleli. Amupanda omasiku ga piti okwa holola kutya oku na ohokwe okukutha ombinga medhigathano lyuuamushanga wongundu, pethimbo lyokongressa yoSwapo ndjoka tayi ningwa muNovemba.

Mbumba okwa popi kutya otashi halutha sho iilyo tayi popi kutya omautho ngoka taga ningilwa iilyo ogeli elongitho pambambo lyoonkondo dhiilyo yelelo lyopombanda.

Okwa popi kutya elelo lyongundu olya kala uule woowili odhindji tali kundathana oshikumungu shoka muuwanawa wongundu niilyo yongundu oshowo oshigwana ashihe.

Okwa popi kondandalunde kombinga yomapulo kutya aakomeho yane mongundu ndjoka yatumbuwa kutya Omupresidende Hage Geingob, Mbumba, Laura McLeod-Katjirua nomupresidende nale Hifikepunye Pohamba – otaya tula miilonga omikalo adhihe molwaashoka okwa li kwa monika nale kutya oya ya pambambo omilandu sho ya tidha mongundu yoSwapo, aaleli yoAR.

ELIKO

Elelo lyongundu ndjoka olya kundathana woo onkalo yeliko lyoshilongo na oya popi kutya epangelo otali ka tula miilonga omikalo kehe opo onkalo ndjoka kayi gwililepo unene oshilongo kokuvule woo okutotwapo oompito dhiilonga unene mokati kaanyasha yoshilongo.

Olya pula epangelo li gwedhele omayambidhidho gaanafaalama aashona opo ya vule okuyambulapo iilongomwa yawo nokuyambulapo oompito dhiilonga moshilongo.

CATHERINE SASMAN

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City Lodge plans expansion into Africa

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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City Lodge plans expansion into AfricaFirst Windhoek hotel to open this winter The City Lodge Hotels Group is targeting capitals in the expanding economies in East Africa and consolidating its presence in southern Africa. Johannesburg-listed City Lodge Hotels Group is spending about N$1 billion on further expansion in east and southern Africa, its chief executive said on Tuesday, as it seeks to cater for both the business and tourist markets there.

The owner of the Town Lodge, Road Lodge and City Lodge brands among others, is targeting capitals in the expanding economies in East Africa and consolidating its presence in southern Africa, but plans to avoid Nigeria for now, the continent's biggest economy, where it previously suffered setbacks.

Namibian Sun had previously reported that City Lodges' first Namibian establishment would be complete by July.

“In Windhoek, handover of the completed basement above which our 150-room Town Lodge Windhoek is being built took place at the end of July. This hotel is expected to open in July 2017. Final approvals are still being sought for the development of the 148-room City Lodge Hotel Maputo in Mozambique. It is hoped that construction will commence in the current quarter for completion in the first quarter of 2018,” City Lodges said in a response.

“The strategy is to go into a number of the major East African capitals to start off with, and then the longer-term strategy is to find other opportunities for other brands within the group within these countries,” chief executive Clifford Ross told Reuters.

City Lodge currently has two hotels in Nairobi, where it saw slightly higher occupancies for the six-months ended December, under its Fairview brand and Town Lodge brand, and is currently building a 172-room hotel there.

The group is also building hotels in Tanzania, Mozambique and Namibia, while Uganda is another country which is “still very high on our radar” Ross said. The group last year dropped plans to build a hotel in Uganda because it was deemed to be too expensive.

The group, which reported a 5% jump in revenue to N$791.3 million in the six months ended December, said it was also aiming to invest in the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius.

“We've recently been to Mauritius and we also believe that there is an opportunity in Port Louis or Ebene, the Cyber city,” said Ross. “There is a big business community, we believe there is a market there for our products and we would very much like to be there.”

MONEYWEB

Addidas plans more e-commerce sales

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Addidas plans more e-commerce sales The new boss of Adidas hiked sales and profit targets for the German sportswear firm on Wednesday and announced plans to increase e-commerce sales, simplify business processes and keep investing heavily in the key American market.

Kasper Rorsted, the former chief executive of consumer goods firm Henkel who took over in October, said he was adding goals to an existing 2015-2020 strategic plan, putting more focus on company culture, ecommerce and efficiency.

Adidas now expects currency-neutral revenues to rise between 10 and 12% on average between 2015 and 2020, up from a previous target for a “high-single-digit rate”, while net income should grow between 20 and 22%, up from 15%.

Adidas also reported a fourth-quarter net loss of €10 million on sales up 12.5% to €4.69 billion, in line with most analyst forecasts.

NAMPA/REUTERS

NCCI mobilises on service charter

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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NCCI mobilises on service charterGuidelines should be drawn up by April A service excellence charter for businesses is expected to be formulated by May in order to improve customer service in Namibia. The Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) will mobilise people in several business sectors to contribute to the realisation of the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP).

The NCCI will do this by sensitising businesses on the importance of a service excellence charter and expecting them to develop such a charter.

NCCI chief executive officer Tarah Shaanika said this during an engagement with corporate leaders and procurement managers on the implementation of the HPP on Tuesday.

The formulation of the service charter is expected by May 2017.

Shaanika said as part of the HPP's pillar of Effective Governance and Service Delivery, the chamber is required to develop customer-service training programmes.

“We will further conduct a customer satisfaction survey to measure progress and improve on it. We need to achieve a satisfaction level of at least 70% by 2020.”

Shaanika said about N$1.2 million was needed to carry out the customer satisfaction survey annually during the HPP period (2016/17 to 2020/21).

Regarding the pillar of Economic Advancement, he said the Chamber was mandated to focus on the sub-pillar of Economic Transformation in encouraging the adjustment of individual companies' procurement policies to favour locally produced goods and services.

Shaanika said they were also responsible for increasing procurement spending on local goods and services; and supporting enterprise development initiatives.

“We need to begin a process to develop uniform procurement policy guidelines with the business sector in increasing procurement and spending on locally manufactured goods and services.”

He suggested that the guidelines should be developed by the end of April 2017.

Shaanika said companies should report to the NCCI on procurement expenditure on a quarterly basis to allow the monitoring process.

The Chamber has the responsibility to assist local suppliers to improve the quality and pricing of goods and services. “We want Namibian products of good quality and for prices to be competitive.”

About 60 corporate leaders and procurement managers attended the meeting.

NAMPA

Namibians can fill strategic banking posts – NBWU

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Namibians can fill strategic banking posts – NBWUSME Bank scandal 'caused by foreign executives' If Namibians were in charge, matters at the SME Bank would have turned out differently, says the bank workers’ union. OGONE TLHAGE

The investment debacle at the SME Bank has infuriated Moses Mamba of the Namibia Bank Workers Union (NBWU), who called a press conference to voice the union’s displeasure.

“NBWU calls against the appointment of foreign nationals in executive positions. We are deeply concerned that foreign nationals have been appointed in executive positions. We would like to urge these financial institutions to stop these practices,” Mamba said.

He cited SME Bank as a prime example.

The SME Bank has been placed under the curatorship of the Bank of Namibia after it was found that between N$181 million and N$196 million had been invested in instruments in South Africa which neither the board nor some members of its executive committee could account for.

“If it was responsible Namibians, the matters at the SME Bank would have been otherwise,” Mamba claimed.

According to Mamba, it is odd that expatriates are employed in strategic positions in the banking sector when there are Namibians who are suitably qualified to do the work.

“The Namibia Bank Workers Union observed with great concern that there are financial institutions besides the SME Bank that are employing foreign nationals at the expense of well-qualified and experienced Namibians. A few questions need to be answered in terms of the Immigration Control Act of 1993.

“How are these foreign nationals employed? How did they obtain their work permits and stay within Namibia?” he asked.

He questioned whether requirements pertaining to permanent residency, job descriptions, motivations why the posts had to be filled and details of enquiries into suitable Namibian candidates at employment agencies had been met.

Turning his attention to the SME Bank once again, he said: “The NBWU is convinced that there are well-qualified Namibians who can fill those vacant positions.”

He called on the Ministry of Home Affairs to enforce the Immigration Control Act.

The Trade Union of Namibia Congress secretary-general, Mahongora Kavihuha, supported the calls made by his colleague, saying: “It is not just in the financial sector but elsewhere too. It is time for the government of the day to intervene. What we want to see is the appointment of Namibians first. If there are no Namibians that can fill a position then the foreigners can take over.”

Low commodity prices a threat to economy: BoN

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Low commodity prices a threat to economy: BoN NAMPA

Low commodity prices and global uncertainty emanating from trade relations between the United States and its trading partners remain risks for Namibia’s economy.

The Economic Outlook Update issued by the Bank of Namibia (BoN) on Tuesday said despite a recent uptick in the price of uranium, the potential reverse could exert pressure on Namibia’s account balance and international reserves.

“These risks to the domestic economy remain definite since the last Economic Outlook Update in November 2016,” it said, adding that Namibia’s agriculture sector was also on the line.

A recent armyworm outbreak in northern Namibia and elsewhere in Africa was a major risk to growth in the agricultural sector, the central bank said.

The caterpillars have been devastating maize fields at the Etunda Green Scheme Irrigation Project in the Omusati Region since January.

The project experienced an American bollworm outbreak in November last year, and armyworms emerged just as the bollworm pest subsided.

The Update estimated Namibia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 1% in 2016 and projected increases to 2.9% and 3.8% in 2017 and 2018 respectively.

The growth estimate for 2016 is a downward revision of an estimate of 2.5% in November 2016.

This was mainly attributed to a deeper than expected contraction in sectors such as diamond mining and construction.

There were some improvements in the uranium-mining subsector and a lesser contraction in the agriculture sector but these developments were not strong enough to mitigate a slowdown in the overall growth estimate for 2016.

Over the medium term, growth will mainly be supported by anticipated recovery in agriculture and diamond mining as well as improved growth in uranium mining and the transport and communication sectors.

Realign spending, say two economists

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Realign spending, say two economists STAFF REPORTER

Namibian Sun briefly spoke to economists Mally Likukela and Namene Kalili prior to the tabling of the budget in parliament yesterday. Both called on finance minister Calle Schlettwein to realign spending priorities.

FNB Namibia research and development manager Kalili said: “With the economy downshifting, public expenditure outturn is expected to be lower. Hence expenditures will need to be realigned with the revenue outturn in order to stabilise public debt and therefore safeguard our sovereign ratings.”

Twilight Consulting managing director Likukela said in his pre-assessment: “The revenue stream remains under pressure, thus leaving the fiscus with very limited space to collect and explore. If the government is to make a serious comeback, it will have to make serious sacrifices such as cutting the wage bill, putting an end to public funds wastage, and holding the culprits accountable.”

Finance minister Calle Schlettwein tabled the budget yesterday.

Zoo rhino poached

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Zoo rhino poached Intruders at a French zoo have shot dead a white rhino and hacked off its horns in a grisly overnight poaching incident, police and the zoo said on Tuesday.

The perpetrators forced the main gate to Thoiry Zoo near Paris and broke through at least two other security barriers on Monday night, without disturbing five people who live on the grounds.

The animal, a four-year-old "critically endangered" southern white male named Vince, was attacked inside an area where at least two other rhinos are kept.

"Staff left the rhino enclosure on Monday. When they returned on Tuesday, an animal had been killed and its two horns had been sawn off," a police spokesperson told AFP.

She added that the horns were "probably cut off with a chainsaw".

The rhino had been shot three times in the head.

"Only the main horn was stolen," the spokesperson said.

Investigators estimate the horn is worth roughly US$42 250.

Black market rhino horn sells for up to US$60 000/kg - more than gold or cocaine - with demand principally coming from China and Vietnam, where it is coveted as a traditional medicine.

Thoiry Zoo is equipped with video surveillance, but cameras are not installed in the area where the rhinos live.

"This was carried out despite the presence of five members of staff who live on the site and [despite] security cameras," the zoo said.

The two other rhinos in the enclosure with Vince which were unharmed were a 37-year-old female, Gracie, and a five-year-old male, Bruno.

NAMPA/AFP

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Whistleblowers for Africa

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Whistleblowers for AfricaContinental initiative launched in Senegal A new platform for people with information has been launched in Senegal in a bid to expose wrongdoing on the African continent. Lawyers and human rights campaigners launched an initiative for African whistleblowers in Senegal on Tuesday, aimed at providing a secure means of exposing wrongdoing on the continent.

African nations such as Somalia, South Sudan, Libya and Guinea-Bissau regularly appear at the very bottom of rankings such as Transparency International's Corruption Index, while none make it into the top 30.

The Platform for the Protection of Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) will provide guidance from legal experts, secure submission of information and a hotline for potential informants, according to its founders.

The initiative is the brainchild of Spanish superstar lawyer Baltasar Garzon - who has defended Julian Assange of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks - along with French lawyer William Bourdon, who worked on the LuxLeaks case, and Senegalese human rights advocate Alioune Tine.

The trio said the organisation was hoping to give African citizens - who are better informed than ever about what their leaders are up to, thanks to the internet - to report corruption and rights abuses.

"We have decided to protect (whistleblowers) here in Africa, the continent where they are least protected and take greater risks," said Bourdon, the organisation's president.

Tine, who heads Amnesty International's West and Central Africa operations, said whistleblowers risk "prison, even death" to protect the public good on the continent, describing them as "modern-day heroes".

The new organisation cited the cases of Ethiopian Abdullahi Hussein, who exposed atrocities committed by the military, and Jean-Jacques Lumumba, a Congolese banker who revealed his employer was hiding transactions of stolen government funds, as inspirations.

Both men faced death threats and intimidation, and Hussein was forced to seek asylum in Sweden after fleeing with footage of killings and rapes in Ethiopia's Ogaden region.

The organisation's researchers say just seven African countries have laws to protect whistleblowers, while senior government officials frequently make the headlines by siphoning off funds for personal gain.

NAMPA/AFP

Shot of the day

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Shot of the day SLAUGHTERED: Donkey skins drying in the sun at a licensed specialised slaughterhouse in Baringo, 28 February of this year. The emergence of a global trade in donkey hides is attributed mainly to the rise of China's middle class and an increased perception of the medicinal efficacy of the gelatine derived from boiling the hides has raised the price and the rate of slaughter of the animals. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

A growing culture of intolerance

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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A growing culture of intolerance News this week that Swapo is contemplating to take disciplinary steps against some party members, who apparently continue to violate the party's constitution, did not come as a surprise.

The ruling party leadership has for the past couple of weeks been hinting at its desire to discipline the youth in the party, especially for their outspokenness regarding a number of national issues.

Although no names were mentioned at the media briefing on Tuesday, it is as clear as daylight that the party is targeting members like former land reform minister Bernadus Swartbooi, Job Amupanda of the Affirmative Repositioning movement, former SPYL secretary Elijah Ngurare and Henny Seibeb from the Land People's Movement.

Former minister Kazenambo Kazenambo as well as outspoken party elder Ida Hoffmann is also linked to the fresh disciplinary case move. Surely there is a lot at stake at this year's elective congress and one gets a feeling that the party is now more preoccupied with its internal affairs instead of offering direction in our country's development.

There is nothing wrong with Swapo calling its members to order.

What is wrong is the double standard being applied when it comes to the apparent disciplining of party members. It must be said that Swapo's intolerant attitude towards some members stinks.

With scandal after scandal we have observed the deafening silence adopted by Swapo over the years.

It appears that the party would rather look after its corrupt cronies, than fight the evil spirit of corruption pervading our country.

Why are these members never charged for bringing the party's name into disrepute?

Or is this a classic case of all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others, or the party simply rewarding corruption?

The Swapo leadership must carefully consider the implications of its intolerance and concentrate on its core mandate.

The human misery of youth unemployment in this country is well documented. High levels of inequality continue to rear its ugly head as those tasked with ensuring prosperity continue to line their bellies and their pockets.

Where is the condemnation?

Whistleblower bill is seriously flawed

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Whistleblower bill is seriously flawedWill not have the support of public The Action Coalition of Namibia is of the view that the Whistleblower Protection Bill is unconstitutional and will fail in its current form. A civil rights organisation has warned that passing the Whistleblower Protection Bill in its current form would render the act null and void.

The Action Coalition of Namibia (ACN) also foresees possible legal opposition that could arise if the bill is passed in its current form “on the basis of the constitution if appropriate amendments are not introduced”.

The ACN has joined numerous other critics in urging the National Assembly to refer the bill to a Standing Committee, for public hearings, to address the bill’s unconstitutionality and what it described as “several serious flaws”.

The organisation agrees that in its current form, the bill “will have the effect of warding off whistleblowers, thereby rendering the act null and void.”

The organisation said that “in order to allow time to address these shortcomings, the ACN of civil society organisations, is calling on the National Assembly to refer the bill to a standing committee which can investigate these issues further and hold a public hearing to allow for citizens input.”

The coalition cautioned that “unless the Whistleblower Protection law has the confidence of the Namibian public” it will fail to achieve its aims of encouraging people to come forward to report corruption or wrongdoing.

Frederico Links, the organisation’s chairperson, listed three main flaws in the bill which the group says must urgently be reviewed before the bill is passed.

The organisation pointed out that the section in the bill dealing with the withdrawal of whistleblower protection, Section 52 (1d), when the disclosure is critical of government policy, is fundamentally unconstitutional.

The section “violates the whistleblower’s right to freedom of expression and thought” as entrenched in the constitution, the organisation stated.

The group warned that the clause appears to be included “purely to ensure whistleblowers cannot criticise government when making a disclosure.”

The group notes that the bill makes provision for disclosures that could “quite easily concern matters of policy,” citing examples such as reports on waste in a government department or threats to the health and safety of a community, which could be labelled as questioning various government policies.

The other two areas of concern include Section 30 (5a), which makes provision for a high penalty for false disclosures, and the lack of independence of the bodies provisionally tasked to deal with whistleblowers and their disclosures.

The group wrote that the penalty of a fine not exceeding N$100 000 or a prison term not exceeding 20 years if a person intentionally makes a false disclosure, should not be included in the bill.

The organisation said the inclusion of excessive penalties would have a “chilling effect on would-be whistleblowers who may already be risking their livelihoods, friendships and other associations by coming forward with information.”

They highlighted the fact that “any person who deliberately makes a false report will not receive protection under the bill and could therefore face potential dismissal or disciplinary action at their workplace.”

They added that persons found to have made deliberate false disclosures would also face the risk of a defamation case.

The activist group also addressed the need to strengthen the independence of the various bodies that will function under the bill.

“Since the Whistleblower Protection Office will potentially be investigating government departments and public agencies, it is important that it operates at arm’s length from government.”

Moreover, the bill should ensure that the appointment process for the commissioner for the office is handled by an independent panel.

A revision of the bill should include a clause stating that no person, including members of the Cabinet or legislature, should interfere with the work of the office.

The Whistleblower Protection Advisory Committee should furthermore include non-state actors, and avoid being dominated by state officials.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Lands ministry plans for new financial year

March 8, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Lands ministry plans for new financial year The Minister of Land Reform, Utoni Nujoma, said the ministry’s strategic plan for 2017/18 should take cognisance of the ongoing preparations for the second land conference to be held in September, which will chart the way forward on how the land questions should be handled in future.

At the opening of the strategic planning workshop yesterday Nujoma, however, made no mention of the deferred Land Bill or how the resettlement programme is to move ahead before the land conference.

He did urge officials in his ministry to exercise restraint and to focus on key areas within the ministry’s mandate.

The ministry boasted with a 75% rate execution of its programmes during the current financial year which ends within a few weeks.

According to Nujoma the internal audit department achieved 100% implementation; information technology (100%); regional programme implementation (88%); planning, research, training and information services (85%;) and survey and mapping (84%).

He said a notable improvement has been made in respect of the registration of properties at the deeds office. It now only takes five working days to transfer a property.

For the next financial year the ministry plans to develop 105 000 hectares of communal land. This will include the construction of four handling kraals and drilling and installing 25 boreholes.

During the 2016/17 financial year integrated regional land use plans (IRLUPs) have been developed for Omaheke, Omusati, and Oshona. Progress on the IRLUP for Otjozondjupa is 95% and for Omaheke it is 92%. Progress for Oshana and Omusati stands at 55%.

Nujoma said N$18.2 million has been collected in land tax during the current financial year. He said 866 farmers have applied to be exempted from land tax, which translates into N$3.6 million.

Catherine Sasman