Killer says sorry with cattle

March 9, 2017, 2:00 pm

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A Windhoek man who killed another at a bar said he had compensated the family of the deceased with 12 head of cattle as a token of his remorse.

Joshua Hituamata (32), who was convicted of murder by the Windhoek High Court on 24 February, on Tuesday apologised to the family of Nathanael Mushihange Showa (28).

During the presentation of evidence in mitigation of sentencing, Hituamata said he regretted the night about four years ago that led to the shooting.

According to court records, on 12 July 2013 in Windhoek's Okuryangava residential area, Hituamata shot Showa following an argument over jackpot winnings of N$164.

Hituamata claimed ownership of a portion (N$100), while Showa felt the whole amount belonged to him.

Hituamata first shot Showa in the arm, and then in the head when he fell to the ground.

Hituamata, who has been in prison for four years awaiting the finalisation of his trial, told the court that he hardly slept at night because of his feelings of guilt.

He pleaded with the court for a lighter sentence, claiming he was acting in self-defence and had no intention to kill Showa.

He said besides the cattle given to the family, he had also contributed to the burial costs.

The court disputed his claim of self-defence, stating that when Hituamata was shooting at Showa, he aimed at the most vulnerable parts of the body, namely the head and chest, which clearly indicated that he intended to kill.

State prosecutor Ethel Ndlovu said the only reason Hituamata was showing remorse was to sway the court to give him a lighter sentence for a serious crime.

Hituamata is expected to be sentenced later this week after the court has gone through all the submissions.

Judge Naomi Shivute presided over the case, with lawyer Mbanga Siyomunji representing Hituamata.

NAMPA

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Kalkfeld residents get jobs in 'lucky draw'

March 9, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Kalkfeld residents get jobs in 'lucky draw'

The recruitment of general workers for a NamWater project at Kalkfeld, which residents claimed they were being excluded from, was on Wednesday finalised through the drawing of numbers.

Otjiwarongo Constituency Councillor Julius Neumbo on Tuesday halted the recruitment exercise citing suspicious dealings as residents of the settlement claimed that people from other regions were being hired for jobs locals could do.

NamWater on 1 March posted notices around Kalkfeld announcing vacancies for 20 general workers, three machine operators, two carpenters, two bricklayers and a clerk.

They would amongst others dig trenches and lay pipes.

The project intends to channel drinking water from Rodenhof government resettlement farm to Kalkfeld over a distance of 15 kilometres.

Neumbo said he received reports from residents alleging that over 20 applicants related to officials at NamWater had travelled from the Khomas, Erongo and Oshana regions for these jobs.

The jobs require Grade 10 and for applicants to be in good health.

Neumbo said applicants from other regions were not allowed to come and push wheelbarrows and dig and conceal trenches on this project, as there are many unemployed youth at the settlement who also want the jobs.

He then called on NamWater to cancel the exercise on Tuesday and start afresh, involving officials from the Kalkfeld settlement office.

He also said voter's cards and police declarations must be used as proof that applicants are residents of Kalkfeld.

A senior officer administrator at the settlement, Anna Marrie Kawatomas on Thursday told Nampa she witnessed the recruitment process from start to end on Wednesday.

“It was fair and transparent,” she said.

She said 189 applications were received from Kalkfeld residents.

Each application and a piece of paper were then marked from numbers one to 189.

The pieces of paper were placed into a box and applicants drew 28 numbers from the box.

The numbers were correlated with the applications and the 28 jobs allocated accordingly, said Kawatomas.

Some of the residents this news agency spoke to said they were satisfied with the outcome of the exercise.

One of the residents, Kennedy Urib, said the process was necessary in order to be fair, adding it was conducted in the presence of the applicants.

He said the settlement office had no choice but to apply it as there were so many applications.

NAMPA

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Valombola back in court

March 9, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Valombola back in court

The murder case involving businessman Maurus Valombola (58) was back in the Oshakati High Court on Wednesday, where arguments on the admissibility of the court record for the continuation of the trial were submitted.

Valombola is accused of killing Benhard Kalimbo (32) by running him over with a car following an argument on 7 February 2013. The incident happened in the Okeeke area of the Anamulenge Constituency in the Omusati Region.

Kalimbo died from his injuries at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital. Valombola was arrested the next day after handing himself over to the police at Ogongo and has been in custody ever since.

Defence lawyer Pieter Greyling argued that his client was not aware of his rights when he was cross-examined during his first bail application in the Outapi Magistrate's Court and consequently incriminated himself. Valombola was represented by lawyer Inonge Mainga at the time.

Greyling said his client was treated unfairly, arguing that the court was supposed to ensure that he was informed of his rights and did not do so.

He accused the State of having asked incriminating questions during cross-examination, which should not have been allowed.

Greyling said during the cross-examination his client was also asked about his previous transgressions of the law, which should not have been allowed. Valombola was previously fined N$12 000 in a culpable homicide case.

On these grounds, Greyling said the magistrate's court record should be ruled inadmissible in the High Court trial.

State advocate Lucius Matota counter-argued that Valombola had a lawyer at the time, who was supposed to have informed him of his rights.

Regarding the questions the State had asked Valombola during the cross-examination in the lower court, Mutota argued that the questions derived from Valombola's bail application, in which he admitted his involvement in the incident and previous transgressions, which he said could not be left out.

Mutota said if Greyling's submissions were taken into consideration it would defeat the purpose of cross examination.

Judge Herman Januarie postponed the case to 22 May to rule on the submissions presented by the two sides.

Valombola remains in police custody.

KENYA KAMBOWE

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Croc are not utilised

March 9, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Croc are not utilisedSustainable utilisation is beneficial Crocodile products, including the meat, have an exclusive market and they should be better utilised in Namibia taking into account increased conflict with these animals.

Increased contact between people and crocodiles in Namibia's northern rivers is contributing to an increase in crocodile attacks on humans and livestock.

Others factors are a growing crocodile population which is going hungry because of overfishing by humans, and a growing human population making use of the same rivers.

Although the animals can be used sustainably to benefit communities economically, it is being underutilised at the moment, says the deputy programme manager of Namparks, Michael Sibalatani, who was speaking at the National Wildlife Conference last week.

According to him the number of crocodiles in Namibia dropped significantly in the 1960s and 1970s due to hunting of wild crocodiles for their skins throughout the Zambezi Region.

Increasing international controls in the trade of crocodile skins resulted in the gradual recovery of the wild population.

Providing some of the latest figures available, Sibalatani said in 2014 the Kavango River system was home to 376 crocodiles and the Mahango River system had 276.

In 2015 there were 2 015 crocodiles in the Zambezi/Chobe River system and in the Kwando River system there were 680 crocodiles.

In the Kunene River there were 1 065 crocodiles in 2013.

Sibalatani said in recent years crocodile attacks had become a major problem.

According to him that was because of an increase of human activities such as fishing, swimming and drawing water. Another reason was that overfishing left large crocodiles struggling to catch enough fish and likely switching to livestock and humans for food.

According to a community game guard in the Wuparo Conservancy, Fidelis Lizumo, conservancies in the Zambezi Region reported 678 incidents where livestock were killed by crocodiles between 2011 and 2015. One person was killed by a crocodile between 2015 and 2016.

Potianus Muraghuli from the Kavango East Region said a growing crocodile population in the two Kavango regions had resulted in a considerable conflict with people.

According to him between six and eight people a year are killed by crocodiles and hippos in the two regions. About 30 domestic animals are killed by crocodiles annually.

Sibalatani said there was a very low off-take of crocodiles through trophy hunting and that the wild population was not exploited for their skins, meat or eggs.

“There are limited incentives for communities to tolerate crocodiles,” he said.

He suggested that trophy-hunting operations should assist in offsetting the costs of conflict.

He said there is an annual trophy-hunting quota of 25 crocodiles but apparently fewer hunting licences were issued.

According to him from 2010 to 2016 only 75 crocodile skins were exported as trophies from a total quota of 175.

“Crocodiles can be sustainably utilised but are underutilised currently.”

Sibalatani further elaborated on crocodile farming, saying it had a sound economic and conservation value.

The Otjiwarongo Crocodile Ranch, which has been operational since 1985, will be expanding to the Outjo area, he said.

He said there was a potential market for harvesting crocodile eggs and skins from the wild, and there was also growing interest in the consumption of crocodile meat in Namibia.

He also mentioned the Manyeaha Crocodile Leather Processing and Training Centre at Kongola, which is still under construction. This is a government initiative through the Namibia Development Corporation (NDC).

The centre will process and export crocodile leather.

He said the ministry should consider issuing communities with permits for supplying the centre with eggs, skins and young crocodiles.

“If not supported communities living alongside crocodiles will lose out,” said Sibalatani.

Some of the mitigation measures that should be considered are education of local communities on crocodile ecology, conflict avoidance measures and behavioural change. Crocodile-proof harbours should be considered in strategic areas. Sibalatani said the use of indigenous knowledge should be promoted in the control of confirmed problem animals.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Concern over public service payroll

March 9, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Concern over public service payroll'Nothing new in 2017 budget' Opposition parties yesterday responded to the national budget tabled in parliament on Wednesday.

Opposition party members yesterday shared their views on the national budget, questioning the public service wage bill, the Mass Housing Project and corruption.

SWANU president Usutuaije Maamberua felt that finance minister Calle Schlettwein had not addressed land adequately.

“Mass Housing is not a solution; land is a different kettle of fish. All of this will demand a lot of resources. The budget does not address that,” he said.

Maamberua was also concerned about the allocation to the state-owned mining enterprise Epangelo Mining in view of calls for further beneficiation and ownership in the mining sector.

“The allocation to Epangelo remains sluggish. Government does not have the political will to get into the mining sector; we are not paying attention to that,” Maamberua said.

DTA treasurer Nico Smit felt that the budget was a mere repetition of last year's. “There was nothing new; it was just a repetition of the budget of last year,” he said.

Schlettwein announced that the Anti-Corruption Commission would get an additional N$50 million to strengthen its operations. The move was welcomed by Smit, who said: “I am happy that money was allocated to fight corruption. I think that this country is losing money through corruption.”

Smit expressed concern that 49% of government revenue would go towards the salaries of public servants.

“Another concern [apart from corruption] is the wage bill. We can't pay 50% of our income on wages. We will have to do something about the wage bill and nothing is being done.”

Smit also expressed disappointment about a recent remark by President Hage Geingob when he blamed the size of the public service on the apartheid government.

“The president's statement was ridiculous. The World Bank and everybody are complaining but we do nothing about it. Something must be done,” the DTA politician said.

Rally for Democracy and Progress vice-president Steven Bezuidenhout felt that it was too soon to give his impressions of the budget and asked for more time. He did say, though: “I hope we will be able to deliver. It is a serious squeeze that we are in. I hope we can execute this budget.”

Schlettwein tabled the budget for the 2017/18 financial year in parliament on Wednesday afternoon. N$62.5 billion has been budgeted for, which is a slight increase on last-year's mid-term budget which saw N$5 billion being pulled back in expenditure cuts across the board.

As usual, education (N$11.98 billion), followed by health (N$6.51 billion) and defence (N$5.68 billion) got the biggest chunks of the budget.

OGONE TLHAGE

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Baster Gemeente has no land rights

March 9, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Baster Gemeente has no land rights

The Rehoboth Town Council has established clear rights over land falling within its jurisdiction.

Acting Judge Collins Parker ruled yesterday in the drawn-out matter between the town council and the Rehoboth Baster Gemeente that this right was established in terms of the provisions of the Local Authorities Act and that the court should protect it.

The town council in 2014 brought an urgent application to stop what it called the illegal allocation of plots in the town by Kaptein John C. McNab.

Parker declared that the respondents, the Baster Gemeente, McNab and Jan C. van Wyk, did not have the authority to survey, partition and allocate plots in the area falling under the control and administration of the Rehoboth Town Council.

The respondents were interdicted and restrained from surveying and partitioning plots on land under the control and administration of the Rehoboth Town Council.

They were further interdicted and restrained from allocating to any person plots in the Rehoboth town area, including Rehoboth Block G.

The acting judge, quoting a Supreme Court judgment, stated that the court decided that the community led by Kaptein McNab had freely decided to transfer its communal land to the new self-government of Rehoboth and subsequently the Namibian Constitution.

He further added that the land lay within the boundaries of Rehoboth.

The Baster Gemeente had maintained that Block G, which formed the subject matter of the application, did not form part of the town.

Parker ruled that he was satisfied that the Rehoboth town council had established a right over the land that fell under its control and administration, and that the court should protect that right.

FRED GOEIEMAN

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No time for time change

March 9, 2017, 2:00 pm

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No time for time change It seems that Namibians will still have winter time this year.

When the Namibian Time Bill was up for discussion yesterday in the National Assembly it was suggested that it should be referred to a parliamentary committee for further consultation.

This was seconded by the deputy minister of home affairs and immigration, Erastus Uutoni.

Committee phases usually take months. With the change to winter time taking place on the first Sunday in April, it is not likely that the committee will complete its task before then.

Even if the committee gives the bill the go-ahead before the first Sunday in April, it would still have to be debated in the National Council. The NC might then also assign a committee to investigate the bill, which would further delay the process.

The home affairs ministry conducted public consultations for three months on amending the Namibian Time Act of 1994. An overwhelming majority of Namibians elected to do away with a different time zone in winter.

A total of 3 096 people wanted the government to stick to summer time as the standard time, while a meagre 304 wanted both summer and winter time.

One of the main concerns was the safety of schoolchildren, especially those in rural and informal settlements who walk to and from school in the dark during winter.

Home affairs minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana said in her motivation for one standard time that schools could start later in winter. She also said that more input was expected from the education ministry on that.

“In light of the foregoing, a proposal was advanced that schools could start an hour later than the time they start now. On the other hand, others argued that both times should be maintained provided that winter time was applicable for three months only (June, July and August) and that schools should have four terms instead of three terms and that May should be made a school holiday,” said Iivula-Ithana.

Many Namibians who make use of public transport to and from work have also said that during winter it gets dark very early, making them vulnerable to robbery and other crimes while walking home.

Business owners argue that Namibia effectively loses four business hours a day in winter because the country's main trading partner, South Africa, is an hour out of step.

ESTELLE DE BRUYN

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Schlettwein asks for patience

March 9, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Schlettwein asks for patiencePrivate sector alarmed about civil service Concern over the growing public service wage bill, which is almost 50% of the total state revenue, was one of the points made at a post-budget dinner on Wednesday.

At a dinner on Wednesday evening following the tabling of the 2017/18 national budget, finance minister Calle Schlettwein did not mince words when he addressed members of the financial and business sector in Windhoek.

The event was held by PwC Namibia, Namibia Media Holdings, Liberty and Standard Bank Namibia.

Schlettwein told guests that Namibia would simply have to tighten its purse strings and buckle down if it seeks to enjoy economic prosperity in the future.

“The 2017/18 budget is characterised by fiscal consolidation and adjustments to spending priorities. The cuts in public spending may limit economic growth in the short term but, if we did not kick off our consolidation process when we did, we would be far worse off,” he said.

“We have to stand together and if we do, we are better equipped to find solutions to our current dilemma.”

In her address, Chantell Hussellmann, an indirect tax services partner at PwC Namibia, expressed concern over the growing public service wage bill, saying that it was almost 50% of the total revenue of the state.

Shortly thereafter economist Roland Brown of Cyrrus Capital tweeted: “This is absolutely unacceptable, particularly while breadline employees in construction are losing jobs at a rate of knots.”

However, the twittersphere was very excited about an announcement at the event that the Public Procurement Bill would come into force on 1 April this year along with the new revenue agency of the finance ministry.

Furthermore, Johan Nel, corporate tax services partner at PwC, told guests that e-filing of tax returns would also be implemented this year.

He said in the 2017 World Bank report Namibia dropped five places to ninth in Africa in terms of tax friendliness. However, globally, Namibia improved by 19 places.

Tax revenues for this financial year are projected to be N$53.18 billion, 33% of the gross domestic product.

Roughly 26% of this will be sourced from VAT payment, 36% from income tax and 37%, or N$19.6 billion, from customs and excise.

The CEO of Standard Bank Namibia, Vetumbuavi Mungunda, told dinner guests that looking at the defence budget, there were an equal number of teachers and soldiers in the country. The defence ministry received N$5.7 billion, the third largest allocation after education and health.

RONELLE RADEMEYER

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Efundja is coming

March 9, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Efundja is comingNorth gets new warning as flood approaches The seasonal floodwater from southern Angola is on its way to northern Namibia and its magnitude is worrying.

Devastating floods could swamp parts of northern Namibia this weekend, the hydrological service has warned.

Several parts of the country, especially in the north, continued to experience heavy rains in the last couple of days.

Hydrologist Leonard Hango yesterday issued a fresh warning during an interview with Namibian Sun.

According to Hango it is likely that the seasonal floodwater from Angola, known as efundja, could reach northern Namibia this weekend.

Hango said the authorities had been informed of the possible disaster and needed to prepare for the worst.

Hango said the current flooding being experienced in the Cuvelai catchment area was similar to the efundja experienced during 2008-2011, which led to the displacement of thousands of people.

That prompted former president Hifikepunye Pohamba to declare the floods in northern and north-eastern Namibia a national emergency.

According to Hango, there is heavy flooding in southern Angola at the moment and areas such as Omupanda and Onamakunde in the Cunene Province are severely affected.

“I contacted my Angolan counterparts this week and they told me the flood is between Omupanda and Onamakunde. It could have been here already but the area where the water is did not receive good rains,” Hango said.

'Ready'

Following the flood alert, officials in the Oshana and Omusati regions said contingency plans were in place, including the activation of regional disaster risk management committees.

Omusati governor Erginus Endjala said his region's disaster risk management committee met yesterday to assess reports from the constituencies as to how many people had been affected by the recent heavy rains.

So far, 64 schools have been affected, representing about 19 000 learners.

Endjala added that more reports were expected, which the disaster risk management committee would assess to determine the kind of assistance the affected people needed.

A request would then be forwarded to the Office of the Prime Minister.

“We are waiting for the reports from the officials on the ground in order for us to prepare ourselves fully,” the governor said.

“We are ready for the floods and we are going to make sure our people have been taken care of. For now we are using radio services to inform the public about what measures they should take when the flood comes,” Endjala said.

Oshana chief regional officer Martin Elago said the regional council had activated the disaster risk management committee upon receiving the flood warning.

Elago said although one could never predict the impact of a natural disaster, they had the necessary mechanisms in place.

“For a natural disaster, one can never say you are ready for it but we have put up mechanisms and we will be ready to jump when the flood comes in order to help those that will be affected,” Elago said.

KENYA KAMBOWE

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Questions multiply about donkey abattoir

March 9, 2017, 2:00 pm

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Questions multiply about donkey abattoir

Outjo municipal officials this week claimed that a decision whether to sell land to a Chinese company for a donkey abattoir depended on approval from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, a claim the directorate disputes.

Dr Jessey Kamwi, deputy chief veterinarian officer at Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, explained that the directorate only gets involved when an abattoir applies to export its products.

“The local authority has to give them permission, irrespective if it's a local or an export abattoir,” she explained.

Nevertheless, officials at the municipality claimed that the municipality had instructed Fu Hai Trading to apply to Veterinary Services before the council could decide on the sale of land.

But Kamwi said the directorate had not received any application from Fu Hai Trading Enterprises to export donkey meat to Vietnam and other Asian countries listed as potential export markets in the company's business plan.

She added that Namibia did not have an agreement with Vietnam to export meat products, which was a key requirement in such cases.

Outjo CEO Joseph /Urib yesterday said he was under the impression that Fu Hai Trading did require permission from Veterinary Services for opening a slaughterhouse.

He added that the council's decision would depend on whether the abattoir met export requirements and submitted a complete business plan. Objections submitted by concerned residents would also be considered.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 27 March.

Business plan flawed

Several issues have been raised about the application by Fu Hai Trading, including the quality and authenticity of its business plan and accusations that the process has been shrouded in secrecy.

According to sources, the business plan was created using a “five-minute business plan app” and was titled 'Meat Export Business Plan'.

In it, the company states that it aims to export donkey meat to Vietnam and eventually “the whole of Asia” within two years of starting operations.

The content relies heavily on the template text provided by the app, and contains no details of company registration, local business partners, an address or any other contact details.

Despite the plan's questionable standard, the municipality agreed in principle to sell the land to the company. It publicly notified residents of its intention to sell the land last month, and invited interested parties to lodge objections.

Last Friday the Outjo Community Committee handed over a letter listing a number of concerns and objections, as well as a petition that has garnered close to 1600 signatures.

A legal expert who inspected the business plan said the document contained several flaws and lacked basic and critical details, including business registration information, an address or contact details for Fu Hai Trading.

Moreover, the document does not state how the company would adhere to abattoir standards and export regulations.

Questions have also been raised about how abattoir waste would be handled. A few weeks ago, Meatco announced that due to the Okahandja municipality's inability to handle the effluent from their abattoir, they were expected to build their own treatment plant at a cost of N$30 million. The Okahandja plant was subsequently closed and will be used as cold storage.

The Fu Hai Trading business plan claims the target customers for the donkey meat will be “retired military personnel”. It claims it will supply donkey meat to “over 13 regions” in Namibia.

The document also states that the aim is to “expand the market and export meat products to Vietnam” and eventually “the whole of Asia.”

Several sources told Namibian Sun that the application raised concern that the operation could be a front for illegal activities, especially considering that the abattoir would be located in one of Namibia's poaching hotspots.

The business plan's mention of Vietnam, a primary market for rhino-horn smugglers, was also noted.

CEO /Urib this week said the municipality had asked Fu Hai Trading to submit a full and final business plan for consideration by the council meeting at the end of March.

/Urib said the company did have Namibian partners, although he did not have their names.

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Swakop mass housing units demolished

March 10, 2017, 3:11 am

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Swakop mass housing units demolished

Parts of prefabricated Mass Housing homes constructed by Delta Group Holdings (DGH) in Swakopmund are being demolished due to poor workmanship. Swakopmund municipality design and building control manager Martin Amedick said he wrote a letter to the company’s headquarters in South Africa informing it that the municipality was not happy with the standard of some of the houses being constructed. The demolishing started yesterday. “We instructed DGH to demolish parts of the houses they built and will not issue occupation certificates for it. We originally gave the company permission to use this specific construction method in 2014. What they showed us back then was produced in their factory in South Africa. They tried to imitate the process locally in Namibia under poor supervision and with substandard quality.” Swakopmund municipality spokesperson Aili Gebhardt concurred with Amedick and said she was aware of the fact that some of the houses constructed are being demolished since it was not of good quality. “I can unfortunately not give you an indication on the number of houses that must be demolished due to its substandard quality. Mass Housing falls under the ministry with the municipality being responsible for providing the land. Our building inspectors have to check on the quality of the houses being constructed. It’s not like the municipality just hands over land for construction purposes. There are a set of standards that need to be adhered to.”

OTIS FINCK

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Africa gets IAAF gold status

March 12, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Africa gets IAAF gold status The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon has become the first marathon in Africa to be awarded IAAF gold-label status, among less than 35 IAAF gold-status marathons internationally.

Sanlam South Africa brand's CEO Yegs Ramiah said about three years ago, they decided to sponsor the Cape Town Marathon and the growth of the race has been “truly remarkable”.

“From achieving IAAF silver-label status in year one, to gold-label status in year three, we are proud to be part of an event that places Cape Town on the global stage alongside cities such as Boston, New York and London.

“As a diversified financial services role player with an extensive footprint in Africa, we take pride in creating an opportunity for African athletes to compete in a gold-label event on their own continent. We look forward to helping take the marathon to the next level as Africa's major marathon,” she said.

She mentioned that to achieve gold, a host of requirements ranging from the event's attractiveness (history and heritage of the race, city, country and continent); event marketing; athlete line-up (number of participants, elite field, prize money, equality and safety) together with technical issues including official times and results, route measurements, water stations, road closures, medical and doping requirements, amongst others, need to be complied with.

She added that going for gold has been one of the marathon's key goals since its re-launch in 2014.

For the past two years, Sanlam Namibia has sponsored Namibian athletes to compete in the races.

In 2015 Mynahardt Kauanivi and Ndeshimona Ekandjo participated in the 42.2km race, while Helalia Johannes last year made history when she became the first Namibian to win gold in the 10km race at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon.

“We are indeed proud of the gold status and we hope that other African marathons can achieve the same status,” said Sanlam Namibia's general manager for public and corporate support Evans Simataa.

SPORT REPORTER

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CAF election day draws near

March 12, 2017, 3:00 pm

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CAF election day draws nearIntegrity key in CAF and FIFA election There have been several twists and controversial events in the wake of African football before the Confederation of African Football (CAF) elections.

Namibia Football Association (NFA) president Frans Mbidi believes that avoiding political football brawls is crucial when one is aiming for CAF and FIFA positions.

Mbidi says that this is the reason he avoids getting into confrontations with people in both local and global football.

The Cosafa vice-president feels that his success in several elections on the African continent came from the fact that he is not on social media platforms.

Danny Jordaan of South Africa, Zambia's Kalusha Bwalya all recently withdrew from the race to gain a place on FIFA's ruling council.

The decision to withdraw by the southern African football leaders raised questions and speculation about what had triggered their moves.

Speaking in an exclusive interview Mbidi said: “I do not have the real reasons why people are withdrawing from the FIFA council race.

“My suspicion is that people fear the FIFA ethics committee since they were facing integrity checks before congress.

“The integrity checks will work against you if you have been under certain investigations for corruption.

“These checks also include having an observation about your social life. For example, you must not have brawls in the media and all that.”

Mbidi however maintained that it is just his speculation on why people have been withdrawing from the FIFA council race.

He urged all football leaders to avoid getting into scandals as this could have an impact on their chances of gaining higher positions on FIFA and CAF structures.

“You never know who is watching you and therefore it is important to stay clean because people will use it against you in the future,” he said.The elections

Mbidi further reiterated his confidence on gaining a position on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) at their elections.

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

Mbidi is standing for the CAF southern zone executive committee elections.

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

With just three days to go before the biggest African football continental elections takes place, Mbidi remains confident of winning a seat on the committee.

“I do believe I have done well during my campaign because I travelled around the continent to meet people who can vote for me.

“I also believe that with Cosafa having my back and supporting me, I am almost certain to win a position,” Mbidi said.

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

The presidential elections will see long-serving CAF president Issa Hayatou competing against Madagascar's Ahmad.

Mbidi already noted last month that Cosafa will be behind the southern African candidate at the elections.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

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Griffins aim high

March 12, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Griffins aim high

Griffins Gymnastic Club officials have embarked on a journey to grow the gymnastics sport code in the country.

The club already signalled its success last year after bagging some medals at the 2016 National Championships.

They earned bragging rights by obtaining 13 silver medals and two bronze medals at last year's event.

Three of its gymnasts Leon van Wyk, Hannah Cronje and Jethro Hiwilepo represented Namibia at the International Region Five Gymnastics Championships.

The event saw Namibia, Angola, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Mozambique challenging each other for top honours.

The gymnasts gave a great account of themselves after bringing back home three bronze medals and one silver in a toughly contested tournament.

This year, the club is planning to expand its operations in order to get more Namibians involved in the sport code.

“Our vision is to revolutionise gymnastics in Namibia and to become part of a wind of change in Namibian sport as a whole.

“Our mission is to make gymnastics appealing and accessible to everyone, to help establish world class high performance infrastructure and athlete support networks and to identify and develop talent that will produce internationally competitive athletes,” club officials said.

Namibia has never had a gymnast at the Olympics and the Griffins club plans to accomplish that.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

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Nakathila ready for comeback

March 12, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Oongandu otadhi vulu okugandja omauwanawa koshigwana

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Nakathila ready for comebackPreparations on point The MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing has put several titles on the line in its next boxing bonanza

Talented Namibian boxer Jeremiah 'No Respect' Nakathila says he is happy that he will be part of the Independence Boxing Bonanza.

The MTC Nestor Sunshine Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy will stage the boxing event on 1 April at the Ramatex Complex in Windhoek.

Nakathila faced Evgeny Chuprakov away from home on 18 November 2016 in a WBO Inter-Continental title bout.

Things did not turn out as planned for the Namibian, though, and he lost his first professional bout after putting up a great show against one of the world's most dangerous fighters.

“The fight I lost in Russia disappointed me, but I have managed to dust myself off after that bad night,” Nakathila says.

“It has been one of those months when I needed to put the past behind me and focus on the future.

“I am now ready and will make a good show at Ramatex to restore my pride and the pride of the nation.”

Nakathila still believes that he will be able to fight for a world title one day.

The 26-year-old has a record of 11 fights, with ten victories and only one defeat.

His opponent is yet to be confirmed, but promoter Nestor Tobias is optimistic that he will secure him an opponent in due course.

“I do not know who I am fighting yet, but I am not going to fear nor respect anyone who comes my way.

“I am willing to make my people proud and put up a great show, so that I can take a step closer to a title fight,” Nakathila says.

Other fighters in action on the night will be Paulus 'Hitman' Moses, Sakaria 'Desert Storm' Lukas, Immanuel 'Prince' Naidjala and Walter Kautondokwa.

General tickets are selling for N$50, while VIP tickets will cost N$300. The academy said it slashed the prices by half in the spirit of Independence Day.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

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Oongandu otadhi vulu okugandja omauwanawa koshigwana

March 12, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: NamWater a manitha egandjo lyiilonga moKalkfeld

≪ Previous: Nakathila ready for comeback

Oongandu otadhi vulu okugandja omauwanawa koshigwana

Ekwatathano tali londo pombanda pokati kaantu noongandu momilonga dhomonooli yaNamibia olyo tali etitha e yo pombanda lyiiponokela tayi ningilwa aantu koongandu.

Onkalo yimwe natango omwaalu omunene gwoongandu ngoka tagu si ondjala momilonga omolwa oohi dhoka tadhi kwatwamo adhihe kaantu.

Nonando iinamwenyo mbyoka otayi vulu okukwatwa nawa yo yi vule okugandja omauwanawa kaakwashigwana, iinamwenyo mbyoka itayi longithwa nawa pahapu dhomupeha menindjela gwooprogramma yoNamparks, Michael Sibalatani, ngoka a li ta popi pethimbo lyoshigongi shoNational Wildlife Conference.

Pahapu dhaSibalatani, omwaalu gwoongandu moNamibia ogwa shuna pevi moomvula dho-1960 no-1970 omolwa uukongo tawu ningilwa oongandu omolwa oshipa shawo, unene moshitoowa shaZambezi.

Nonando ongaaka okwa popi kutya etulo miilonga lyekondololo lya kwata miiti lyopashigwana lyegameno lyiinamwenyo mbyoka lya etithwa ishewe e yo pombanda lyomwaalu gwiinamwenyo mbyoka.

Sibalatani okwa gandja omiyalu kutya mo-2014, Omulonga gwaKavango ogwa li egumbo koongandu dha thika po- 376 omanga Omulonga gwaMahango gwa li noongandu 276.

Mo-2015 oongandu 2 015 okwa lopotwa dha li momulonga gwaZambezi/Chobe omanga moKwando mwa li oongandu 680.

Momulonga gwaKunene ogwa li gu na oongandu

1 065 mo- 2013.

Sibalatani okwa tsikile kutya muule woomvula dhika iiponokela yoongandu oya londo pombanda nokuninga omukundu omunene.

Okwa popi kutya shoka otashi etithwa unene kaantu mboka taya kwata mo oohi adhihe momilonga nokuyoga woo momilonga. Okwa popi kutya etwato lyoohi odhindji otali etitha oongandu dhi se ondjala molwaashoka momilonga kamu na sha we iikulya.

Omugameni gwiinamwenyo moWuparo Conservancy, Fidelis Lizumo, okwa popi kutya moshitopolwa sha Zambezi omwa lopotwa iipotha ya thika po-678 moka iimuna ya dhipagwa koongandu pokati komvula yo-2011 no 2015. Omuntu gumwe okwa dhipagwa kongandu pokati ko-2015 no-2016.

Potianus Muraghuli gwomoKavango East, okwa popi kutya omwaalu omunene gwoongandu miitopolwa mbyoka iyali yaKavango otayi etitha woo e yo pombanda lyiikolokosha pokati kaantu niinamwenyo mbyoka.

Okwa popi kutya aantu yeli pokati kaantu yaheyali nayahetatu ohaya dhipagwa koongandu kehe omvula miitopolwa mbyoka iyali omanga iimuna ya thikapo-30 hayi dhipagwa kehe omvula.

Okwa popi kutya uukongo wapitikwa owa pumbwa wu tulwe miilonga opo wu kwathele mokushunitha pevi iikolokosha mbyoka tayi faalele oomwenyo.

Pahapu dhe okuza mo-2010 sigo 2016 iipa owala yoongandu 75 ya tumwa pondje yoshilongo.

Sibalatani okwa yelitha kutya emuno lyoongandu otali hwahwameke ekoko lyeliko oshowo esiloshisho lyiinamwenyo.

Opoloyeka yOtjiwarongo Crocodile Ranch, ndjoka ya kala miilonga okutameka mo- 1985, okwa lopotwa tayi tamununwa mo nokuindjipalekwa mumudhingoloko gOutjo.

Okwa popi kutya ope na ompito ombwaanawa yokumuna omayi goongandu niipa yawo oshowo okutula miilonga omahwahwameko aantu ya tameke okulya onyama yongandu moshilongo.

Okwa popi woo kombinga yoManyeaha Crocodile Leather Processing and Training Centre moKongola, endiki ndyoka opo tali longwa na oli li oshiyetwwapo shepangelo okupitila moNamibia Development Corporation (NDC).

Endiki ndyoka otali ka longa iipa yoongandu nuuministeli otawu tala koompangela dhokutula miilonga omapitiko opo aakwashigwana ya vule okukala taya landitha kendiki ndyoka omayi goongandu oshowo iipa noongandu ndhoka oonshona.

Sibalatani okwa popi woo kutya oshigwana osha pumbwa okupewa elongo kombinga yonkalo yoongandu opo kuyandwe iikolokosha mbyoka tayi faalele oomwenyo, kokugamenwe iinamwenyo mboka.

ELLANIE SMIT

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NamWater a manitha egandjo lyiilonga moKalkfeld

March 12, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Efundja olye ya

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NamWater a manitha egandjo lyiilonga moKalkfeld

Egandjo lyiilonga molopoyeka yaNamWater moKalkfeld moka aakalimo ya popi kutya oyali ya patelwa pondje olya manithwa.

Iilonga mbyoka oya gandjwa 'pathigathhano lyomunelago' lyokukutha mo oonomola dhomwaalu gwantu 28 mboka ya pewa iilonga mbyoka.

Kansela gwoshikandjohogololo sha Otjiwarongo, Julius Neumbo mEtiyali okwa yi moshipala ekuto miilonga lyaNamWater ndyoka lya ningilwa mOshitopolwa shaTjozondjupa moKalkfeld ta fekele uulingilingi.

Ehangano lyoNamibia Water Corporation (NamWater) mesiku lyotango lyomweedhi nguka olya tseyitha momudhingoloko ngoka kutya oli na oompito dhiilonga dhaantu ya thika o-20 mboka taya ka pumbiwa opo ya ka dhe omalambo, gokutula omeya nokugafila po.

Aantu mboka ye na ontseyo mokulongitha omashina yeli yatatu naahongi yiipilangi yaali oya li woo taya pumbiwa, sha etitha oompito dhoka dhi kale po-25.

Opoloyeka ndjoka oya nuninwa okutha omunino gwomeya gokunwa okuza mofaalama yepangelo yaRodenhof okuya kolukalwa lwaKalkfeld uule woshinano shookilometa 15.

Neumbo okwa popi kutya okwa nothelwa ko kaakalimo yomofaalama ndjoka kutya aaningimaindilo ya thika po-20 ya pamba aaniilonga yaNamWater oya ende okuza miitopolwa ngaashi Khomas, Erongo nOshana opo ya kuthepo oompito dhoka. Iilonga otayi pula aaningimaindilo ya kale ye na ondondo onti-10 ye na woo uundjolowele.

Neumbo okwa popi kutya ita vulu okupitika opo aantu ya za kiitopolwa yimwe ya kuthe po iilonga mbyoka omanga omudhingoloko ngoka gu na omwaalu omunene gwaanyasha kaye na iilonga , naashoka osho shemuthiminike a ye moshipala ekuto miilonga ndyoka.

Okwa gandja elombwelo opo aanambelewa yolukalwa ndoka ya kuthe ombinga mekuto moka, yo aaningi yomaindilo taya pulwa opo ya ulike uukalata wawo womahogololo oshowo egano lya kwashilipalekwa kopolisi opo ku monike shili kutya aakalimo yomomudhingoloko.

Gumwe gwomaanambelewa melelo lyolukalwa ndoka , Anna Marrie Kawatomas okwa lombwele onzokundaneki yoNampa kutya okwa kala pekuto miilonga ndyoka mEtitano.

“Olya ningwa pauyuuki ,” omunambelewa ngoka ta ti.

Okwa popi kutya omaindilo 189 oga ningwa kaakalimo yomo Kalkfeld.

Okwa tsikile kutya okwa shangwa uumbaapila wa thika po-189 wu na oonomola dhaaningi yomaindilo mboka wa tulwa mokapakete naaningi yomaindilo oya pulwa opo ya kuthemo oonomola dha thika po-28 mokapakate hoka, naamboka ya kuthwa mo oyo ya pewa iilonga.

Aakalimo yamwe po mboka ya popiwa nayo koshikundaneki shika oya popi kutya oya nyanyukilwa omukalo ngoka gwa longithwa.

Omukalimo gumwe Kennedy Urib, okwa ti omukalo ngoka gwa longithwa ogwa li pauyuuki na ogwa ningwa miipathi yaaningi yomaindilo. Okwa popi kutya ombelewa yelelo lyolukalwa ndoka oya longitha omukalo ngoka molwaashoka omaindilo ogali ogendji noonkondo.

NAMPA

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Efundja olye ya

March 12, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Oompangu nadhi gandje ompito kaalumentu yatekule oyana – Izaks

≪ Previous: NamWater a manitha egandjo lyiilonga moKalkfeld

Efundja olye yaOndjele yomeya ngoka otayi limbilike Aakalimo yomonooli yoshilongo otaya kunkililwa omolwa omeya gefundja ngoka ga lopotwa geli mondjila okuza muumbugantu waAngola, okuya monooli yaNamibia.

Omeya gefundja otashi vulika ga dhenge oshitopolwa shonooli yaNamibia okutameka ehuliloshiwike lya piti, palopota yombelewa yetengeneko lyonkalo yombepo moshilongo.

Iitopolwa ya yooloka moshilongo unene onooli yoshilongo onkene tayi tsikile nokumona omuloka omunene uule womasiku ngaka.

Omunambelewa gwokutengeneka ondjele yomeya, Leonard Hango okwa gandja ekunkililo pethimbo a ningwa naye oonkundathana koshifokundaneki shoNamibian Sun.

Pahapu dhaHango, otashi vulika omeya gefundja gathike monooli yaNamibia mehuliloshiwike twa zi nomalelo oga tseyithilwa kombinga yonkalo ndjoka opo ga kale giilongekidhila uupyakadhi mboka.

Hango okwa popi kutya omeya gefundja ngoka taku tengenekwa taga thiki moshilongo, otaga tengenekwa naangoka ga dhenge oshitopolwa pokati ko-2008 no-2011, ndyoka lya etitha etulululo lyaantu omayovi.

Onkalo ndjoka oya li ya thiminike omupresidende pethimbo ndyoka, Hifikepunye Pohamba, opo a tseyithe kutya onkalo yefundja oya ninga onkalo yopaulumomhumbwe pethimbo ndyoka.

Hango okwa tsikile kutya ope na omeya ogendji gefundja momudhingoloko gwOmupanda oshowo Onamakunde moshitopolwa shaCunene moAngola.

“Onda ningi ekwatathano nayakwetu moAngola ihe oya lombwelendje kutya efundja oli li pokati kOmupanda noNamacunde ihe omidhingoloko ndhoka kadha li dha mona omuloka andola efundja olya thika nale.”

Sha landula ekunkililo kombinga yefundja aanambelewa mOshana nOmusati oya popi kutya oya ilongekidhila onkalo ndjoka.

Ngoloneya gwoshitopolwa shaMusati, Erginus Endjala okwa popi kutya okomitiye yokuungaunga nomaupyakadhi gopaushitwe moshitopolwa she oya tsakanene nokutala koolopota dha yooloka okuya miikandjohogololo ya yoolola opo ku talike kutya aantu yethike peni mboka ya gumwa komuloka omunene ngoka gwa dhenge oshitopolwa.

Ooskola dha thika po-64 odha gumwa naanaskola ya thika po-19 000.

Endjala okwa popi kutya oya tegelela natango oolopota odhindji opo ku talike nkene taku vulu okugandjwa omakwatho kaantu mboka.

Okuza mpoka omaindilo ngoka otaga ka ukithwa kombelewa yomuprima.

“Otwa tegelela oolopota okuza kaanambelewa mboka yeli mokati koshigwana opo tu vule okwiilongekidha,” Endjala ta ti.

“Otwiilongekidhila efundja na otatu ka kwashilipaleka kutya aantu yetu oya silwa oshipwiyu. Ngashiingeyi otatu longitha omakwatathano goparadio opo tu tseyithile oshigwana kutya nashi ninge ngiini uuna sha adhika kefundja,” Endjala a tsikile.

Omunambelewa Omukuluntu gwElelo lyOshitopolwa shaShana, Martin Elago okwa popi kutya okomitiye yawo moshitopolwa yokuungaunga nomaupyakadhi gopaushitwe oya pyakudhukwa konima sho kwa gandjwa ekunkililo ndyoka.

Elago okwa popi kutya nonando onkalo ndjoka ihayi vulu lela okutengenekwa kutya otayi yonagula shi thike peni, oshitopolwa shawo osha pyakudhukwa.

KENYA KAMBOWE

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Oompangu nadhi gandje ompito kaalumentu yatekule oyana – Izaks

March 12, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Otjozondjupa must clean up

≪ Previous: Efundja olye ya

Oompangu nadhi gandje ompito kaalumentu yatekule oyana – Izaks

Carven Izaks, omukomeho gwoFatherhood Foundation of Namibia okwa pula epangelo opo li gandje uuthemba kaalumentu mboka yahala okukutha ko oshinakugwanithwa shokukala naanona yawo.

Izaks okwa pula oompangu opo dhi ihumbatele aalumentu pauyuuki miikumungu yekondjelo lyuuteku waanona pokati kaavali.

Okwa popi kutya okwa pumbwa okutulwa miilonga omilandu dhoka tadhi utha kutya omuvali guni ta kutha po oshinakugwanithwa shokukala naanona uuna aavali ye li monkalo yekondjelo lyuunona.

“Ngele omusamane okwa hala okukala naanona ye nena na pewe ompito kwiikwatelelwa komakonaakono nonkalo kutya olye ta vulu okusila oshisho aanona.”

“Ompango aluhe otayi tu kwatele komeho moonkalo adhihe ihe ethimbo limwe aalumentu kaye li ponkatu yokusila oshisho aanona oshowo aakiintu yamwe kaye li ponkatu ndjoka onkene otwa pumbwa omunambelewa gwezulonkalo a kale omupokati miikumungu yoludhi ndoka.”

Izaks okwa tsikile kutya aanona oya pumbwa okukokela monkalo yomudhingoloko guli nawa nongele omudhingoloko kagu li nawa nena ope na uupyakadhi nompango oya pumbwa okulonga iilonga yawo.

Izaks okwa popi kutya aluhe ohaku gamwa ombinga kaakiintu miikumungu yoludhi ndoka.

Omulumentu ngoka a hokolele oNamibian Sun kombinga nkene iiyadha a kanitha olugodhi lyompangu mekondjelo lyaanona yawo okwa popi kutya: “Ompangu aluhe ohayi gama kombinga yaakiintu nokugandja uuthemba kaakiintu miikumungu mbyoka. MoNamibia oompangu ohadhi gama kaakiintu na odhi wete kutya aalumentu ihaya vulu okusila oshisho aanona.” “Omanga inatu ya kompangu onda gandja omaliko gandje agehe komukulukadhi gwandje. Ohauto yandje iinima yandje ayihe ondeyi gandja opo nda pewa ndi kale tandi futu iimaliwa iishona komwedhi onga eyambidhidho lyaanona.”

Kerina Van Wyk,omukalelipo gwopaveta moLegal Assistance Centre (LAC) of Namibia okwa zimine kutya olundji oompangu ohadhi gama kombinga yaakiintu, omolwa oompango dhoka oonkulu. Okwa popi kutya ngashiingeyi ompangu ohayi tala koompumbwe dhaanona nomatokolo ohaga ningwa kwa talika kutya olye ta vulu okusila oshisho aanona nokugwanitha po oompumbwe dhawo.

South Afrika okwa tula miilonga mesiku lyotango lyaJuli mo-2007, ompango ndjoka tayi pitika opo omulumentu a kutheko oshinakugwanithwa shokukala naanona ye ngele okwa li a hokana nayina yaanona.

Ompango ndjoka oya tulwa miilonga opo ku yambulwepo onkalo yuuthemba waanona.

Oshinakugwanithwa shaavali, otashi fatululwa kutya oshinakugwanithwa nuuthemba wokusila oshisho aanona, okukala mekwatathano naanona nokugandja omayambidhidho.

Izaks okwa popi kutya iipotha yomiyonena dhopaihulo nodhopaukashike kookantu odho tadhi etitha aanona ya koke kaayeli mesiloshisho lyoohe na okwa popi kutya osha simana noonkondo opo aanona ya kokele mesiloshisho lyoohe.

Okwa tsikile kutya omiyonena dhomomagumbo otadhi vulu owala okuyiwa moshipala moshilongo pakulundulula eitaalo lyaalumentu nomaiyuvo gawo pakuya pa ompito nokuya ninga oshitopolwa shomakondjitho dhomiyonena dhoka.

“Otwa pumbwa okulundulula omaitaalo gawo nomaitaalo ngoka itaga vulu okulundululwa muule wesiku limwe. Omaitaalo ngoka itaga lundululwa woo paku ninga omahwahwameko ihe otaga lundululwa owala uuna aantu mboka taya kutha ombinga miikundathanwa mbyoka,” Izaks ta ti.

“Eputudho lyetu nalyo otali dhana onkandangala molwaashoka ngele ota putuka natate ha dhenge meme nena momadhiladhilo gandje otandi mono kutya ngoka omukalo gomondjila.”

Ehangano lyoFatherhood Foundation olya totwapo kuIzaks nelalakano lyokukondjitha omaupyakadhi ngoka ga taalela oshigwana ngaashi efaulo lyaalumentu moonkalamwenyo dhaanona yawo nokusila oshisho oyana.

SHONA NGAVA

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Otjozondjupa must clean up

March 12, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Zim predicts better growth

≪ Previous: Oompangu nadhi gandje ompito kaalumentu yatekule oyana – Izaks

Otjozondjupa must clean upWaste management forum launched for region The five major towns in the Otjozondjupa Region will work together not only on waste management, but also on developmental projects.

Otjozondjupa Regional Governor, Otto Ipinge last week launched the region's waste management forum.

The main objective of the forum is to develop a sustainable waste management framework document that will guide the activities of the town's five major towns: Okahandja, Okakarara, Otjiwarongo, Otavi and Grootfontein.

The governor is the chairperson of the forum, which will also have a treasurer, public relations officer and one town council official of each of the towns.

Each town mayor will be an additional member.

Shortly after the official launch, Ipinge signed a Memorandum of Understanding between his office and each town's CEO.

“The towns in Otjozondjupa have a responsibility to ensure that development activities take place in a sustainable manner and does not negatively impact on the environment and the people,” Ipinge said.

The governor said his office had decided to coordinate the activities of the region's waste management forum and its committee in order to ensure that all towns become clean. He said the region cannot have one clean town and the rest remain filthy, adding that the establishment of a regional body to oversee the cleanliness activities of all towns is essential.

Ipinge said the regional forum and its committee will also make sure that skills exchange programmes between the local authority councillors and officials happen in relation to waste management matters.

The forum was attended by CEOs of Okahandja, Okakarara, Otjiwarongo, Otavi and Grootfontein, with chairpersons of council management committees.

NAMPA

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