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Iingangamithi niinima ya yakwa ya adhika mohauto mu na aapolisi

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Iingangamithi niinima ya yakwa ya adhika mohauto mu na aapolisiIingangamithi niinima ya yakwa ya adhika mohauto mu na aapolisi Opolisi yaShana oya tindi omapopyo kutya aanambelelwa yopolisi yaali yomOndangwa oya li mohauto ya humbata iingangamithi oshowo iinima ya yakwa.

Mboka oyeli oshitopolwa shaantu yatatu yali mohauto ndyoka ya kankamekwa kopolisi peinda lyopolisi ndyoka lya ningwa mOndangwa oshiwike sha piti. Mbaka oya Ii ya falwa kosasiyona yopolsi, ihe omuhingi okwa tulwa mondjeedhililo omanga aanambelewa mboka yaali ya mangululwa.

Oshifokundaneki shoNamibian Sun osha nothelwako kutya aanambelewa mboka ya tula aalumentu mboka miipandeko, oya pewa elombwelo kaanambelewa yopombanda opo ya mangulule aanambelewa mboka.

Omupeha Komufala, Hilja Haipumbu okwa koleke kutya mohauto ndjoka omwa li aantu yatatu nomuhingi okwa tulwa miipandeko, ihe okwa tindi omapopyo kutya yaali yomaalumentu ya Ii mehauto ndyoka, aanambelewa yopolisi.

“Mohauto moka mwa li aalumentu yatatu omwa adhika iinima ya yakwa oshowo iingangamithi yocannabis. Iinima mbyoka ya yakwa omwa kwatelwa iinguma yokombete nomicrowave na oya yakwa pethimbo kwa tewa uuflat woBon Vida. Otwa tula owala miipandeko omuhingi omanga tatu konaakona aafaalelwa yaali,” Haipumbu ta ti.

Omanga omunambelewa omupopiliko gwopolisi iipyakidhila niikundaneki pOsasoyona yopolisi mOndangwa, omuhingi ngoka a tulwa miipandeko okwa nyenyetele aapolisi mboka ye mu mangapo kutya iinima mbyoka ya adhika mehauto lye oyaanambelewa yopolisi mboka a li nayo.

Sho a pulwa kutya omolwashike omuhingi oye owala a mangwapo, Haipumbu okwa popi kutya otaya konaakona aantu mboka yaali ya li mehauto nomuhingi.

Haipumbu okwa popi kutya iingangamithi mbyoka ya adhika mehauto ndyoka oyoogram 90, yongushu yooN$270. Nakutulwa miipandeko okwa holola mompangulilo yaMangestrata gwaNdangwa ohela.



ILENI NANDJATO

SARB denies defending rand

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SARB denies defending randSARB denies defending rand'Smooth' deterioration fuels talk of intervention The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has dismissed a notion that it is influencing the rand's strength and insists that the currency is allowed to float freely. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) denies intervening in the foreign exchange market to defend the rand, amid speculation of a cabinet reshuffle and after the midnight removal of Pravin Gordhan as finance minister.

“The SARB policy approach is not to intervene in the foreign-exchange market with the objective of influencing the exchange rate of the rand towards a particular range or level,” Daniel Mminele, deputy governor of the SARB, told Moneyweb.

JustOneLap founder Simon Brown said it was unlikely that the central bank would intervene.

“The forex market is bigger than the SARB and if traders see them defending a position they will trade against them. The traders are bigger and will win,” he said.

The so-called gradual depreciation of the rand may also be due to the markets having already factored in Gordhan's removal and the probability of a credit-rating downgrade.

Mminele said the SARB adhered to a policy of a floating exchange rate and dealt with adverse exchange rate movements, in so far as they might affect the inflation outlook, through appropriate monetary policy.

MONEYWEB

Polish your social-media strategy

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Polish your social-media strategyPolish your social-media strategyFirst local conference of its kind The focus will be on helping Namibian institutions, individuals and government to create effective digital marketing strategies and build local capacity. Namibia's first social-media and technology conference will be hosted by Soma Marketing and will feature speakers from MTC, Ohlthaver and List, DSTV and Trustco.

Conference organiser Rob Parker says Curve South Africa will be sending group software developer Wayne Philip to help us understand big data. Inna Goroh from Inchiology will update us on the latest in animation. Rob Parker will explain how to find your ideal strategy. But the big news is that Musa Kalenga, client partner for Facebook Africa, will inform the conference how Namibian professionals can get the most out of the platform, Parker says.

Soma is a leading provider of social-media management and training services in Namibia.

“Soma has worked with some of Namibia's largest and best known brands and institutions such as DSTV, the Electoral Commission of Namibia, NamPost, Woermann Brock supermarkets and many more. Soma has spoken and presented at numerous previous conferences on the topic but to date all have been based in South Africa,” he says.

“Soma and our partners Equator Trading want to bring together Namibian companies, media institutions with the top performers in the industry for the first of its kind event in Namibia. “The focus will be on helping Namibian institutions, individuals, and government to create effective digital marketing strategies and building local capacity.”

Parker feels that nothing lasting is ever created at social-media and technology conferences because of the growth of social media marketing.

“I felt that Namibia has grown into the social-media space sufficiently that we will warrant our own conference. We felt that the conference would need to give something to marketers that they won't normally have access to and we were able to secure former client partner for Facebook Musa Kalenga. It is a great opportunity for communications professionals to come and learn about the platform from someone who knows it from the top down.” The event will be held at the Namibia University of Science and Technology on 11 and 12 April. The registration fee is N$7 250.

STAFF REPORTER

Mining licence stalls Namib Lead Zinc

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Mining licence stalls Namib Lead ZincMining licence stalls Namib Lead Zinc The issuing of a mining licence is holding back aspiring zinc miner North River Resources from reopening its lead and zinc project near Swakopmund, it told Namibian Sun recently.

North River announced its plan to reopen the mine in 2014 already.

“The company is anticipating receipt of a mining licence from the Ministry of Mines in the near future. Only then will the development plans be confirmed,” said North River.

The mine was recently pumped out after more than 20 years of abandonment.

“A new processing facility and installation of the required services and infrastructure are required at the Namib Lead Zinc site to enable the client to achieve an overall throughput of 250 000 tonnes per annum fresh ore, and subsequent production of lead 60+% lead concentrate and 50+% zinc concentrate,” North River said in a feasibility study conducted.

“Although unconfirmed, there appeared to be an opportunity to reprocess old tailings material while the mining operations ramp up,” North River said.

The total capital expenditure was set in the region of US$19 million, based on December 2013 prices at the time, while project implementation was set at 15 months.

In a presentation to investors in July 2016, North River said it would require a total of US$30 million to carry out the entire project, which it planned to split into three phases, of which the construction phase would cost an anticipated US$25 million.

OGONE TLHAGE

Beggars are not car guards

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Beggars are not car guardsBeggars are not car guardsRegistered car guards complain about interlopers Beggars who pose as car guards in Swakopmund have become a thorn in the flesh of residents and registered guards alike. Registered car guards employed by companies in Swakopmund have complained about interlopers stealing their customers and ruining their image.

The police and the municipal traffic department agree, saying the self-appointed guards are often drunk and beg for money.

Registered car guards interviewed by Nampa in the town centre complained that some drivers did not treat them with respect and thought they were beggars and suspicious.

“Some people think we are chance takers and desperate for money. We are working like everyone else, with the good intention to protect,” said Carel Nambahu from CarWatch Services. Nambahu, 30, has been working on and off as a car guard since 2011. He has other part-time jobs, such as cooking. Depending on the tips he receives, which range from N$1 to N$10, he makes about N$100 per day watching people's cars.

Another member of CarWatch is 42-year-old Matheus Nahanga, who was employed as a petrol attendant before his contract ended last month.

“I love to protect and keep peace, that is why I join my fellow Namibians here to ensure car safety,” said Nahanga, adding that they did not confront thieves but worked closely with the police. NamPol's station commander at Swakopmund, Inspector Moses Aebeb, told Nampa that unregistered car guards were a nuisance.

“Honestly, I am not happy with the whole car guarding [issue] because of intruders, but we are working on getting rid of them so that legal ones can work freely.”

He said car break-ins had decreased in areas where car guards were on duty, such as the town centre, at Pick n Pay and the Woermann Brock Mall.

Enears Andreas (24) was running around and directing vehicles to parking bays in the town centre when Nampa approached him for comment.

“I do not have money for you today but you can watch my car,” an elderly woman told him.

Andreas, a member of CarWatch, said he had no qualifications and had been a car guard for about two years.

'I have family to support back home in the village and here. I pay school fees, electricity and buy bread with this money,” Andreas said before running to assist another driver.

The manager of traffic services at the Swakopmund municipality, Melvin Cloete, said the three companies registered with the council employed about 120 car guards.

They are CarWatch (65 guards), Car Guard (29 guards), and Namibian Car Watch (25 guards).

Their guards wear red, blue or orange reflector jackets that are branded with company names and logos.

Cloete said illegal guards were unhygienic, mostly drunk and disturbed tourists and residents by begging for money. “I request the public and our visitors to stop giving tips to these people. They sometimes wear green reflectors but these are not branded.”

He advised drivers to look for guards wearing branded reflector jackets and to ask for membership cards to make sure car guards are legal. Johannes Matheus, who owns Namibian Car Watch, told Nampa that he dealt with illegal car guards by asking his guards to not allow them into their space.

“I tell my guards to chase them away whenever they see them. I also make it clear that if one allows their space to be occupied, they lose the job.” Isai Nangombe, the manager of Car Guard, said the intruders started fights when asked to leave.

“They have weapons and are fighting us when we tell them to leave. This is not safe, we cannot continue fighting like this and I hope a solution will be found.”

Junias Shiyamba, who is in charge of CarWatch, told Nampa that he had created a platform for people to earn a living. “I do not get money from them, I just help them to survive. Life is expensive and jobs are difficult to get if you are not educated. Without money you cannot survive.”

He said the guards contributed N$5 a month to the company, which was saved and used to pay their Social Security contributions and buy branded reflector jackets. Other car-guard companies operated on the same principle.

“We also give N$500 to any of them whose parent has died or to their family when a guard member passes on.”

Shiyamba said his guards worked shifts to ensure that they all get an opportunity to earn a living, as the parking bays in Swakopmund were limited.

NAMPA

BoN hands over N$68 million dividend

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BoN hands over N$68 million dividendBoN hands over N$68 million dividend The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has paid a dividend of N$68 million to the treasury for its recently concluded financial year, marking an improvement in financial performance.

According to BoN governor Ipumbu Shiimi, the central bank's financial performance showed an improved in 2016 when compared to the previous financial year. An improvement in the interest-rate environment in certain capital markets also resulted in higher returns on the BoN's investment portfolios.

Speaking at the dividend handover, Shiimi said: “This, coupled with a revised investment strategy which focused on investments in specific markets, further contributed to the improved financial performance.”

In other market developments, Shiimi noted that economic growth had slowed in 2016, mainly attributable to contractions in mining and construction activities.

“Whereas earlier estimates by the BoN suggested a growth rate of 1% in 2016, preliminary data released by the Namibia Statistics Agency confirmed that Gross Domestic Product growth in the domestic economy slowed to 0.2% in 2016, from 6.1% in the previous year. “The sluggish performance was mainly attributed to the decline in the public sector. The severe drought also negatively impacted the agricultural sector, water subsector and the overall performance of the economy.” The average inflation rate increased significantly during 2016. “The inflation rate averaged 6.7% in 2016, higher than the 3.4% registered for 2015. The increase in the overall inflation rate partly reflected higher inflation for housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, which is the largest contributor in the Consumer Price Index,” Shiimi said. International reserves also rose in 2016 and remained sufficient to sustain the one-to-one currency peg to the South African rand. “The level of international reserves increased by 4.8% to N$24.7 billion at the end of 2016, from N$23.6 billion one year earlier. The latest value is 5.6 times the value of currency in circulation, supporting the reserve adequacy ratio as per the one-to-one link.

“This level of reserves resulted in an improved import cover of 2.9 months in 2016, from 2.8 months in 2015, and was marginally lower than the international benchmark of 3 months,” said Shiimi.

“Namibia's financial system in general and the banking sector in particular remained sound during 2016. This performance was supported by the adequate levels of capital, higher than the minimum threshold set by the BoN.”

STAFF REPORTER

PwC Namibia continues to train and develop CAs

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PwC Namibia continues to train and develop CAsPwC Namibia continues to train and develop CAs PwC Namibia has announced that 14 of the 18 trainees who sat for the Chartered Accountant Initial Test of Competence (ITC) examination passed the exam at a 78% pass rate.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Namibia released the results the ITC results in Windhoek recently. “PwC Namibia is pleased that, from all Namibian candidates attempting this exam, four of the top five candidates are from PwC. One hundred percent of the candidates from our Walvis Bay office passed the exam and 79% of the successful candidates are from previously disadvantaged groups,” a press statement from the accounting firm says.

In 2017, 19 newly qualified Chartered Accountants obtained their qualification through PwC Namibia training contracts. Fifteen of these are from previously disadvantaged groups. PwC candidates recorded a 100% pass rate in the second professional exam - the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) whose results were announced in February. Since 1990, 154 Chartered Accountants have trained with PwC Namibia. The studies of the majority of these CAs were financed through the PwC Namibia bursary scheme. Nangula Uaandja, Country Senior Partner at PwC Namibia said: “Achieving such great results is a blessing that comes with hard work and God's favour.” This is the second year PwC has four of its trainees in the national top five. “We are proud not only of our trainees but also of our partners and managers who invest a significant amount of time in the coaching and development of these young professionals,” said Uaandja.



Staff Reporter

Namib Mills donates solar lamps

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Namib Mills donates solar lampsNamib Mills donates solar lampsProgramme targets informal settlement learners Namib Mills donated 300 solar lamps to pupils at Fidel Castro Primary School as part of their Edu-Light programme. The company continues to support Namibian children to reach their full academic potential.

The latest donation was handed over on 31 March.

The programme was launched in 2015 and is part of Namib Mills Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to give back to the community in education, community upliftment and poverty alleviation.

More than 210 portable solar lights were also given to Tobias Hainyeko School learners at Babylon informal settlement which is on the outskirts of Windhoek in 2016.

Edu-Light is an initiative that provides solar lights to leaners and students living in informal settlements and rural areas and who do not have access to electricity and use paraffin and candles to study.

Ashante Manetti, the spokesperson for Namib Mills said the programme's objective is to assist learners to study for longer durations at night in order improve their performance.

“The Sun King Eco light is an award-winning solar light.

“It is two times brighter than a paraffin lamp, offers adjustable brightness settings and after charging it during the day, it shines for four hours in its brightest mode or for over thirty hours on its lowest setting,” said Manetti.

Namib Mills is a committed corporate citizen and has undertaken this project in partnership with Greenville Solutions in a bid to tackle poverty alleviation and community upliftment.

In total, the company has donated over 800 solar lamps to learners in Windhoek.



STAFF REPORTER

Hands-on all the way

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Hands-on all the wayHands-on all the wayKevin Shivute is carving a future for himself A young businessman has opened up his joinery business and shares his story about how he became a joiner and what he is most passionate about. Kevin Shivute is a young entrepreneur with gifted hands. He describes himself as a “joiner on steroids”. Shivute is slowly but surely making a name for himself for his amazing take on carpentry. The young businessman hails from Oshakati where he completed his secondary education at Mweshipandeka High School. He says his passion for woodwork was developed in his high school days and that is where he learnt a lot about his career. “I had design and technology in school and woodwork as a subject as well as technical drawing, and that’s where I learned,” said Shivute.

After he did not do well in his Grade 12 exams Shivute was devastated and resorted to working at a carwash as a handyman. He soon realised that he was not cut out for this work and then applied at a local vocational training centre. “I had to quit school because I had a misunderstanding with my lecturers because my subjects were taught in Afrikaans. Financially it was always not good with me,” said Shivute. Upon quitting the vocational training centre he went back to Oshakati where he worked in a local retail store. “I actually went back to Oshakati and started working at Ackermans Oyetu and then from there I applied to a vocational centre in Windhoek,” said Shivute.

In 2011 he joined the vocational training centre in Windhoek and then dropped out again because he wanted to work on his own. “I still could not finish because I just felt like I was doing only what people were telling me to do. It was not my thing so I started working on my own,” said Shivute. Shivute said he soon started fixing cupboards for clients and that enabled him to perfect his skills in carpentry. “I started fixing peoples’ stuff and I observed things clearly. I would draw them and fix them and that is how I learned,” said Shivute. Shivute also used the internet to perfect his skills. “The internet taught me as well. I used to watch videos on how to make things on youtube and google,” said Shivute.

Shivute says what brings joy to his heart as a joiner is the fact that he gets to challenge himself and puts a smile on a client’s face when they ask him to design and create something for him. “When I design something for my clients, put it together, show it to the person and they do not believe that I did it, that’s what I love about my job,” said Shivute. Shivute says that people tend to confuse carpenters and joiners. “I decided to become a joiner instead of a carpenter they are actually similar but also not really the same,” said Shivute. Carpenters work with wood and he works with board. “Carpenters work with real wood but I work with board when I design and create my furniture,” said Shivute. He doubles as a designer and joiner and that is what sets him apart from everyone else. “Not only am I a joiner, I also design my own furniture and sometimes I also have to design things for the clients.”

He says vocational training is a very important tool for educating and empowering people and should not be frowned upon. “When it comes to working with your hands it is way different from being in an office because you actually get work done and you will never struggle,” said Shivute. Shivute says that people with vocational skills are no different than those in any other career. “For me as a joiner I do joinery and it is more or less the same as any other trade,” shared Shivute. He employs people from other professions to also work for him and people should not look down on vocational trainees. “I employ people to work on my paperwork such as my accounting, letters and quotations and I basically I am their boss now,” said Shivute. What excites him about his career is that he can create whatever he wants for himself. “If I want to weld something or make furniture I just wake up and do it because I know how to do it myself,” shared Shivute.

Shivute’s company is Bryant joinery. The joiner says the only challenges he faces are brought by clients who do not want to pay after he creates something for them. “Clients are always sweet and smooth before you do something for them but some do not want to pay their outstanding balance when you finish something for them,” said Shivute. Since he is an entrepreneur in the small and medium enterprises sector (SME) he faces a few issues with machinery and equipment. “I have to order my machinery from bigger businesses and I am not the only who does that. This slows down my progress when it comes to delivery because my suppliers sometimes do not give me my materials on time,” said Shivute.

Despite the challenges he faces he says he knows he will prevail. “Apart from those few challenges the industry is not difficult for me,” shared Shivute

The entrepreneur says he wants to position himself in Namibia as a supplier of manufactured furniture and wants people in the near future to flock to him when they need designs and furniture created for them. “I want to challenge huge companies in Namibia and show them that I can also do what they do and that I am no different from them… I can also deliver what they can,” said Shivute.

“Hopefully I will be supplying all these foreign shops with furniture instead of them ordering from outside the country, or I will be giving them tough time because I will be doing the exact same thing they do for half the price,” said Shivute.

Shona Ngava

Living on sunflower dreams

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Living on sunflower dreamsLiving on sunflower dreamsHere to make something of himself Shepherd Chipoyera, 25, was born and bred in Norton, Zimbabwe and came to Namibia to make something of his life, using his entrepreneurial skills to do so. Shepherd Chipoyera left his native country in 2016 in search of a better life in Namibia and although he did a short course in computer studies at Victory College in Zimbabwe, he has been struggling to find a job in Namibia. It is for this reason that he has resorted to selling cut sunflowers to make ends meet.

He says life back at home is hard which forced him to come to Namibia. “Life in Zimbabwe is tough, I had to come to come to Namibia to make something of myself,” said Chipoyera. He says that his parents supported him in Zimbabwe helping him with food and a room and that putting money in his own pocket was very hard. He felt as though he was too grown-up to still be living under his parents’ roof and had to do something about it to help them out. “Part of the reason I came to Namibia is to make money so that I can support my family back home,” he said.

When Chipoyera arrived in Windhoek he first settled with his uncle in Oshitenda, Katutura but has now moved out to stay on his own because he likes to be independent. “I like being on my own because it teaches me responsibility and it gives me the sense of independence,” Chipoyera said.

He maintains that he keeps in contact with his family back in Zimbabwe. “I call them on a regular basis and they also call me sometimes.” Chipoyera has three siblings, two brothers and a sister and he is the eldest of the four. Growing up in Norton in the province of Mashonaland West about 40 km west of Harare Chipoyera attended Cheza Norton Primary School and completed his matric at St Eric High School. He adds that he grew up in a Christian family and he had fun growing up.

After completing his short course at Victory College, the talented Chipoyera used to produce and shoot music videos for his friends. “I used to produce music videos for my friends and I can make beats as well as edit videos, so my main reason for coming to Namibia is to make money so that I can buy studio equipment to start my own studio back home,” he said.

He went on saying that this is what motivates him to work harder. “I come to Eros Shopping Centre every morning and have to go to riverbeds in Katutura to cut the sunflowers every day because I know what I am chasing,” he said. He says that he does not care about being ridiculed or looked down upon at because he has goals in life to achieve.

When he is not on the streets of Eros selling sunflowers, Chipoyera is always listening to music and writing music. “I love music and want to be able to make my own. I want to be a celebrity,” he said. He adds that he does not just want to do music for fame but feels it is his calling in life and wants to be able to provide a better life for his family.

He says he is very crafty with his hands and before he started selling sunflowers he used to sell wire cars for kids. “I used to sell wire cars but that business was not bringing in enough money to sustain myself and thus I had to find an alternative… that is when I started selling sunflowers,” he said. He got into the business of selling sunflowers because he saw there was a market for it. “After my wire cars business failed I realised that flowers could make me money too because they can be used at functions as well,” Chipoyera said. He went on to say that he opted to sell sunflowers because sunflowers are easy and he did not need start-up capital. He sells sunflowers for N$40 per bouquet.

He maintains that even though he noticed that there was a market for selling flowers in Windhoek he had to take this risk. “I was not sure if people were going to buy sunflowers from the riverbeds, but the first time I tried it I sold out every bunch I had. Sometimes I sell everything and sometimes I do not sell anything at all… but that is just the nature of business and it does not hold me back,” said Chipoyera.

He says that in Namibia one can make money with the smallest business venture and that people in Namibia are willing to spend money. “Namibia is a very good country and money circulates. Back in Zimbabwe one cannot sell sunflowers like I am doing in Namibia,” said Chipoyera. He went on to say that Namibia is nice and he is loving his stay here, planning to go back only when he has acquired his studio equipment. “I have been saving for my studio equipment and have set a timeframe for myself.”

MICHAEL KAYUNDE

The nightlife is not for you

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The nightlife is not for youThe nightlife is not for you This past weekend I did something I usually do not do... I decided to visit a few night clubs in Windhoek. Unlike most club-goers, I did not go there to get “turnt” or “lit” - I went there to observe and see how people socialise these days. For me, my laptop, a series and a few snacks is more than enough fun and I do not usually go to clubs. The striking thing was the fact that most of the people who attended these clubs were very young.

I was really shocked to say the least. “What is a 13-year-old girl doing in a club late at night?” I questioned myself. From my observations, boys as young as 16 were in clubs partying the night away. The club is no place for teenagers. It may seem like a great place but some people go out there to prey on innocent young people. They buy you drinks, spike your drinks and take advantage of you. I'm sure we've all heard of the “do not leave your drinks unattended” verse from someone before.

Another thing that had me worried was the fact that most of these underage club-goers were allowed access into clubs and I even saw some of them buy some alcoholic drinks for themselves. In some instances, no identification was asked and teenage club-goers were simply let into clubs. I also feel as if the “No under 18s allowed” rule is just there for decoration. I hardly saw that rule enforced when young club-goers were at these places. At the end of the day, for most businesses, it is all about the bottom line and they exploit young club-goers for the “ka-ching”. I often ask myself what are these young people celebrating every week that they need to go out to clubs regularly? The risks though for such under-age clubbers are too high. Drugs and booze which are more freely available in these places means that the young who patronise them risk becoming addicted to these at a very young age. Also, when you are drunk and high, the risks of being robbed and sexually violated escalates.

I am of the opinion that night clubs have a social responsibility to up their screening process to ensure that no under-age people sneak in into the clubs. The police too have a responsibility to increase the patrols at these clubs and take to task any night club which has allowed under-age clubbers into its premises. Most importantly, teens need to make sure that they stay away from these places. If it is entertainment that you seek, a movie or a book will do. Stay home and look for meaningful ways to have fun and do not put yourself in harm's way just for a night of fun. Parents also need to watch over their children. You need to start questioning where your kids go every now and then. Club drugs are becoming commonplace at schools and teen hang-out spots. Teens are using these drugs in order to fit in and to be accepted by their friends. Music festivals and other music venues seem custom-built for drug abuse. Teenagers are giving little thought to the dangers of drugs and their long-term effects.

We need more youth clubs like “Window of Hope” and “My future is my choice” to keep them in check and to keep them occupied. Volunteering and joining community development projects should be a priority for all teenagers. Spend your time productively and not on the dance floor of a certain club in the wee-hours of the morning. Keep safe and take good care of yourself at all times. Some of you end up sabotaging your futures because you get entangled in situations that you cannot handle but, with the right mindset, you can change your lifestyle. Alcohol and teenagers do not mix very well so do not get caught up in that trap.

We need zero tolerance for under-age clubbing to ease parents' anxiety, and to better protect our youth.



Until next time. Peri nawa



shona@namibiansun.com

Zuma is the centre of the storm

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Zuma is the centre of the stormZuma is the centre of the stormSouth Africa sees major mobilisation Several civil society mobilisations, along with political manoeuvring is taking place to get rid of President Jacob Zuma. Intense mobilisation is under way to push out President Jacob Zuma, who has become increasingly isolated after his shock reshuffle this week.

The midnight announcement last week, which included the dismissal of finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, has resulted in a rebellion within the ANC and widespread calls across society for him to be ousted.

The funeral and memorial services for ANC stalwart Ahmed Kathrada, who was critical of Zuma, were used as the springboard for this campaign.

The reshuffle sparked an unprecedented public face-off between Zuma and half of the ANC's top six in Luthuli House, who rejected his decision and publicly distanced the party from his choices.

A motion of no confidence in parliament – initiated by opposition parties, but supported by ANC MPs who are anti-Zuma – is being planned.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the DA have announced that they are talking to ANC MPs, many of whom seem receptive to the idea. But there are concerns that momentum could be lost as parliament is in recess and only resumes on May 9.

And there are concerns that Speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete, who is also the national chairperson of the ANC, may drag this out to make sure temperatures cool down. She is currently overseas on parliamentary business and is only due back on Thursday.

Those backing the motion also fear that Zuma's allies may have time to lobby MPs one by one while in their home districts.

ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe said the weekend he disagreed with Zuma but that he was not about to write the ANC's obituary because “the ANC deals with many issues and for 105 years it has resolved them”. He defended his breaking ranks with Zuma.

“I am doing what I think is right and I am doing it to the best of my ability,” Mantashe said.

He said despite criticism from Zuma's backers that he was defying his authority, his message to grass roots ANC members remained that “there is a Cabinet reshuffle that has been done without proper consultation with the ANC”. ANC Treasurer-General Zweli Mkhize said this reshuffle was different from previous ones, where there had been genuine consultation with senior officials.

Mkhize said while he respected Zuma's prerogative, it was important “to ensure that such decisions made can be owned, justified and defended by the leadership collective”.



'Zuma's days are numbered'

SA Communist Party (SACP) second deputy general-secretary Solly Mapaila told City Press Zuma's days were numbered.

The ANC's alliance partner emerged from its politburo on Friday night with a message that it wanted him to resign.

Despite the fact that its deployees in government were inclined to leave, the SACP took a “strategic decision” for them to stay inside and fight as government did not belong to Zuma.

Mapaila acknowledged that Zuma's loyalists would “come for us”, but said they did not have monopoly over the ANC.

The SACP is now talking about a mass political programme to counter Zuma, and is planning a national imbizo of organisations on 22 April.



Zuma had to show strength

City Press has heard that Zuma's backers concluded in recent weeks that it was safe to get rid of opponents such as Gordhan.

They advised him that “it is high time to move” to avoid looking weak and being seen to be afraid of ratings agencies and big business.

New finance minister Malusi Gigaba was only expected to “tinker with fiscal policies here and there, where we need radical economic transformation”, said an NEC member who is close to Zuma.

“So, we dealt with Treasury. The rand will go down and it will pick up again because we are not going to come up with major policy changes.”

Strategists in the Zuma camp also noted that Gordhan and those ministers who had challenged Zuma's authority had “no constituencies” in the ANC and would be unable to destabilise his support.



Motion of no confidence

Zuma's backers are confident that they will muster the 201 votes needed to stave off a motion of no-confidence and ensure his survival.

Said one: “It is not easy for an ANC member, especially the backbenchers, to take an anti-ANC position.”

An ANC MP, who has been lobbied by the opposition, said this was a desperate move by opposition parties which was unlikely succeed.

The MP also questioned the timing of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mantashe's public criticisms of Zuma, saying it was most likely about the ANC's succession battle.

“They voted for and supported Zuma all along, despite being cautioned. Mantashe would not listen to anything about Zuma in Mangaung.

“Now they want to use people for their own project. When did they realise the problems with Zuma?”

In the meantime, South Africans are being urged to shut down the country on Friday and thousands of people have signed up to a social media campaign for the day of action against corruption.

The campaign, which went viral over the weekend, called on everyone to take part in the national shutdown: “Do not go to work, or to school or do anything unless you're taking to the streets in protest.

“On Friday 7 April South Africans need to take to the streets in masses... wherever you are, with signs of protest to make our collective voice heard. “Block highways, stand with your communities, go to political houses, go to prayer meetings, arrange your own marches. Do whatever you can to make your voice heard.”

The protest was being organised to protest against corruption and call for President Jacob Zuma to step down, organisers said.

The message ended with the #ZumaMustFall #SouthAfricaMustRise hashtags. A Facebook event called “The day SA comes to a standstill #sawillrise” was being hosted by the Zuma Must Fall March and We are South Africans and by Sunday night 3 300 people had said they would participate. The police had taken note of the message circulating on social media and the matter would be monitored by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, national police spokesperson Vish Naidoo told News24.

The organisers said they would be posting updates on where gatherings were happening throughout the country.

There were some concerns about the movement targeting and giving voice to only middle-class people.

Black Monday was well attended at several sites across the country yesterday but, the movement caused major divisions with commentary relating to passivity regarding marches related to events such as Marikana.

It appears as if the pressure on Jacob Zuma has no hope of relenting soon.

NEWS24 & NAMPA/REUTERS

Shot of the day

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Shot of the dayShot of the day DISPLACED: A Syrian boy sits in a box at a temporary refugee camp in the village of Ain Issa housing people who fled Islamic State group's Syrian stronghold Raqa, some 50 kilometres north of the group's de facto capital last week. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Wading into the state lottery debate

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Wading into the state lottery debate Wading into the state lottery debate The Lottery Bill presented in the National Assembly last week by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta is an ambitious one and it will be interesting to see how it pans out.

The ball is now obviously in the court of lawmakers to decide whether a state lottery will be good for our country or not.

Generally lotteries are used to support public programmes such as public safety, public health, education and sport.

The concept is highly successful in many countries across the world and we are waiting with bated breath to see how it will affect the lives of ordinary Namibians if the proposed legislation is passed in parliament.

The state lottery concept is a Harambee Prosperity Plan initiative, which President Hage Geingob hinted at introducing during last year’s State of the Nation Address.

With government revenue under downward pressure there is a definitely a need to improve and supplement existing revenue streams and the state lottery concept could be one of them.

A state lottery will also come at an opportune time when government is overburdened by funding priorities, particularly in the areas of sport and poverty alleviation.

These are some of the perennially neglected sectors.

This will certainly lead to increased economic growth and uplifting the poor people’s living standards, among others.

Despite a potential state lottery windfall, the authorities must be mindful of the fact that using gaming and lotteries to raise revenue might also be a considered as a regressive way of collecting taxes.

It is no secret that the majority of those gambling the nights away are those with the least amount of money.

This is a regressive impact, unfortunately.

It is true that paying the lottery is a choice and some would argue that no one needs protection from playing scratch-off games.

However, there are a host of underlying issues that lawmakers need to take into consideration, including whether lottery revenues will be dependable and used for targeted programmes as intended.

Boyfriend 'killer' remanded in custody

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Boyfriend 'killer' remanded in custodyBoyfriend 'killer' remanded in custody A 50-year-old woman accused of stabbing her boyfriend dead with a knife at Otjiwarongo, was remanded in custody on Friday afternoon.

Magistrate Toini Shilongo explained to Christine Hoases her right to engage a private or State-funded lawyer through the Directorate of Legal Aid or defend herself in court.

Hoases opted to apply for legal aid and was not asked to plead. Her case was postponed to 31 May for further police investigation and for her to apply for the legal representation.

Prosecutor Coleen Yisa represented the State in the matter.

Hoases, in the early morning hours of Wednesday, allegedly stabbed her 51-year-old boyfriend, Werner Noabeb, once in his neck at their house in Ombili informal settlement,

The spokesperson of the Namibian police in the Otjozondjupa Region, Warrant Officer Maureen Mbeha told Nampa on Friday the couple had lived together for nearly 10 years and were frequently in a quarrel.

On Tuesday, Noabeb and Hoases were allegedly drinking at a bar in Ombili.

Mbeha said shortly after 02:00 Wednesday the neighbours heard screams from the couple's house before uninterrupted silence.

Police preliminary investigations indicate Hoases allegedly went to the house of a relative in the same settlement and informed them that she stabbed Noabeb during a quarrel.

The relative allegedly accompanied Hoases back to their house, where they found Noabeb dead and with a stab wound on the left side of his neck.

The accused's relatives then alerted the police and she was apprehended that Wednesday morning.

Police investigations continue.

NAMPA

Efundja a blessing in disguise

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Efundja a blessing in disguiseEfundja a blessing in disguiseNorthern fishermen cashing in Incessant rains and the subsequent floods in northern Namibia have come as a blessing in disguise for the locals. Despite the devastating effects of the seasonal floods, northerners have taken the silver lining out of the cloud and are doing brisk business, catching and selling fish.

This is evident in most northern areas affected by efundja, where the young and old now spend most of the day catching fish for consumption and commercial purposes.

Namibian Sun spent this past weekend in the regions affected by efundja, namely the Oshana, Ohangwena and Omusati regions, observing hectic activity in culverts and streams along the roads.

After catching enough fish, the vendors sell the fish along the main roads to passers-by.

The fish is sorted and sold in bundles that range from N$10 to N$15 or more, while smaller fish are sold in tins for up to N$20.

Some of the fishermen return home late and in some areas, the fishermen work as late as 22:00 along the Outapi-Oshikuku main road in Omusati, on Saturday nights.

On Friday morning in Ohangwena Region, near Onhuno, Namibian Sun spotted an 11-year-old boy setting up his mosquito net to catch fish.

The Grade 3 learner from Etale Combined School said he was not at school because classes were suspended indefinitely due to the floods.

Regarding making use of a mosquito net to catch fish, the boy responded ‘everybody is doing it’ while pointing in a direction where adults too were using the same method to catch fish.

The number of fishermen seen in Omusati Region when compared to those spotted in Oshana and Ohangwena were more which is attributed by the closure of more than 60 schools leaving learners resort to fishing as a way of keeping themselves occupied.

Apart from the many school-going children spotted, older men and women, mostly unemployed, are also active and some people have erected tents for when they need to take a break.

Regarding the method used for fishing, apart from the use of mosquito nets to trap the small fishes, the fishermen also make use of shade nets as well as using hooks to catch bigger fish.

Opportunities

Omusati Region Erginus Endjala said the aftermath of the efundja is not only negative but can be positive too in the sense that it creates jobs for some people.

“When water comes it does not only affect us badly but sometimes it can bring returns and assist the public in terms job,” Endjala said.

However Endjala quickly used the opportunity to caution the fishermen saying that they should be extra careful when fishing as the water might contain waterborne disease which can have a health impact on them as well as their customers.

He also said that the possible presence of snakes in the water should not be ruled out as well and thus people should be very careful.

“The danger of course is waterborne diseases, but if there is nothing wrong with the water, it is a blessing the people should enjoy,” Endjala said.

Regarding the fishermen making use of mosquito nets to catch fish, Endjala expressed his dismay and said that whoever is found guilty will be dealt with accordingly.

“We are mobilising these items to fight malaria and not to catch fish,” Endjala said.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Chinese facing corruption charge

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Chinese facing corruption chargeChinese facing corruption charge A Chinese national was arrested and appeared in court on a charge of contravening the Anti-Corruption Act in Walvis Bay on Thursday last week.

Nelius Becker, chief of investigations and prosecution at the Anti-Corruption Commission, confirmed the arrest of Allen Yue, 32, on a corruption charge.

He said the ACC is conducting an investigation against Yue with regard to an alleged contravention of Section 35 (1) (a) of the Anti-Corruption Act, Act No.8 of 2003.

Yue appeared before Magistrate John Sindano in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court on 30 March and informed the court that he would appoint a private lawyer.

Sindano postponed the case to 31 May for further investigation.

Prosecutor Sylvia Kauluma opposed bail and told the court that the accused had already attempted to interfere with the investigation and had contacted the complainant.

The accused is a site agent of Jiangsu Zhengtai Construction and allegedly solicited a bribe from the owner of a security company contracted to render security services at the Dunes Mall Construction site at Walvis Bay.

The ACC initiated a sting operation and its investigators arrested Yue in the vicinity of the lagoon in Walvis Bay after he received a “payment” from the owner of the security company.

According to Becker, the owner of the security company approached Yue regarding the default in payment for security services rendered for March 2017.

“The suspect allegedly solicited an amount of N$35 000 in total, at N$5 000 per month over a seven-month period that the company performed security services on the premises. He demanded the gratification in order to proceed with processing the payments owed to the security company,” Becker said.



OTIS FINCK

Is a one-day Independence Day celebration necessary?

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Is a one-day Independence Day celebration necessary?Is a one-day Independence Day celebration necessary? By White Love Kadhila

Last month, political leaders, diplomats, civil servants, and some members of the public travelled to Rundu for the celebration of Independence Day. Different means of transportation was used, accommodation bookings were made and people were fed because it was all about celebration. After 27 years of independence, I still fail to understand what exactly the people went to celebrate about and also what they have been celebrating? Costs were incurred just like before to cater for this party, by a government that not long ago claimed to not have money.

I find it disturbing that the government has money to throw at a one-day party, when we have people that have been living in poverty for years. When we have street kids begging for money in the streets with no shelter to sleep under at night, a high unemployment rate, a widening gap between the rich and the poor and landless citizens. It would have been better for a change, if the government used all the money used for the celebration to feed the poor and to invest in the youth of the country, since they are “the apparent future leaders”. This we are told even though deep within us we know some of our elders will turn 90 years old still their positions, unless we bury them six feet under the ground. Only then can the youth probably take over. Give financial help to the needy and give different kinds of donations to members of the public. I went to a school where a textbook was shared by four or five of us. Not to mention how we shared single hostel beds, bathed with cold water and at times we bought answer booklets ourselves, because the government didn't provide enough books for all schools in the region. And where we had a shortage of both tables and chairs at Haimbili Haufiku Senior Secondary School in the Ohangwena Region, on the basis that the government was and still is throwing such parties at the expense of the Namibian children in our schools. It's a shame such things are still in existence, and while they worsen, we celebrate.

With all these problems we are faced with, what have you been really celebrating? Unity, liberty, freedom of speech, peace and stability? Well if yes, let me remind you that such things are not edible, because as much as we are thankful for such, we are doing so on empty stomachs, living in shacks with no electricity, no proper sanitation and no potable water. What is the use of paying for a one-day celebration party, when you could use the money to buy food hampers and feed people for a month or two instead of feeding them for a one-day celebration with salads, cool drinks and whatever those catering companies of your families/friends that you awarded the cooking tenders too, cooked for the day? It will be better for the government stops throwing such parties and uses the money to benefit those at the grassroots levels. If it's about teaching the younger ones about the history of the country, since you are always talking about “when you were in exile” at Independence Day celebrations, there are plenty of books written about the Namibian history, a number of related documentaries on the internet, past Independence Day celebrations are there too and in fact Social Studies and History are subjects taught in schools that are about the history of the country.

My stance is - I'm not against such celebrations. I don't however find it reasonable as to why the government should incur expenses for such a celebration while most of us are living in abject poverty and some still didn't get their salaries since January, particularly those from the ministry of education. Others can't use their medical aid and some are fortunate enough to be NSFAF loan holders but still live with the pending balances of tuition fees from last year, all these are results of the government's incapability to solve our challenges. Why didn't the government use all the money wasted during independence to help the needy, in order to alleviate, reduce and eradicate poverty? And let Independence Day be celebrated just like Christmas day? An important public holiday of course, which is celebrated on our own cost, without the government having to throw a national party celebration. That way money can be saved and be used productively, as there is no use in feeding people for a few hours after singing songs and clapping hands for you and suddenly have to go back to their poor lifestyles.

When we solve these basic need issues, then we can start throwing such parties. Since we have done the most with the money entrusted to the government, it ought to pull up its socks and rise to the challenge. And of course others may argue with the narrative of “Rome wasn't built in a day”, but it has now been 9 855 days, 27 years, yet we still live in poverty. Otherwise thank you so much for peace and stability, but until it can feed our stomachs, it is not good enough. We will be the jobless, poverty-stricken Namibia, whose identity is that of a corrupt country with no national achievement to show. It will still be about the haves and the have-nots, where the haves will continue to gain more and the have-nots will continue to lose more and gain nothing. It's high time the government prioritise its spending, a song that has been sung for quite some time now, and one you have been giving a deaf ear to. Happy belated 27 years of poverty, corruption and “Independence” Namibia!

*White-Love Kadhila is a 2016 holder of a Bachelor of Public Management holder from the University of Namibia

Independence questions

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Independence questionsIndependence questions It was Kwame Nkrumah who proclaimed that first Africa must seek the political kingdom and the rest will be added unto it. It is now clear, and it must be stated openly, that Nkrumah was mistaken. We must, as honest Africans, realise that the political kingdom brought nothing but the maintenance, at most, of the colonial status quo. British colonialism transformed into the “Commonwealth”, French Colonialism into “La Francophone”. The Political Kingdom, we must dare to say, has become an empty shell (in Fanon conception) and a source of pain and suffering for the masses of the African population. It is for this reason that our students interrogate the question of independence in the most daring way. They are justified.

27 years of independence, yet dependent

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27 years of independence, yet dependent27 years of independence, yet dependent By Nghishidimbwa Rabban

Namibia's highest institution of learning, University of Namibia (Unam), has over the years produced thousands of qualified graduates in courses of Agricultural Science (crop science, animal science, economic science, to mention few). These different courses under the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Recourses have been offered by Unam since its establishment from the former Academy in 1992, two years after the liberation of our beloved country.

Currently Unam has become diverse and opened different campuses such as Neudamm, Ogongo and the newest, the Sam Nujoma campus, all of which offer agriculture courses with a very high number of students on full-time studies. It's very saddening that 27 years down the line, Namibia still cannot sustain its people in terms of food security while we have thousands of agriculture graduates sitting home without any substantial achievement to draw some inspiration from. Due to frustrations, some graduates have ended up becoming commercial farm labourers, with the current crop of students highly likely to follow the same ugly and discouraging route. The Namibian government has come out strong over the past few years talking of poverty eradication and focusing on Vision 2030. However, the unemployment rate continues to remain high, the number of jobless graduates equally rising on a yearly basis. To curb this misfortune, the government should first prioritise investing in the agriculture sector as this is the backbone of any country that truly wishes to succeed.

Students admitted into the courses of agriculture are trained to become professional and qualified agriculturalists through theoretical and practical work with a purpose or mission to be the providers of food for the nation. However, history is teaching us an ugly reality. It seems somehow, somewhere there is a problem which needs to be rectified urgently. It is either that the problem is within the graduates themselves or with the government. This is signified by the fact that almost three decades after our independence we are still living in the shadow of South Africa in nearly everything. We should begin to export agricultural products to neighbouring countries in order to generate foreign currency of which will contribute to our gross domestic product (GDP).

Furthermore, the government must invest in agriculture in order to create or seek more opportunities which agriculture students and graduates will grab. The government can also award more beneficial inputs (scholarships, bursaries) to every agriculture student in the country to further their studies abroad in different fields of specialisation, since there is a need for more people with knowledge and skills in terms of crop production. This will increase food security in the country as more people will be able to sustain themselves, their families, the community and country at large. A lot needs to be done in order to have high level of food production. In Namibia we lack specialists in horticulture, agronomy, soil science and various different fields which are of great importance.

According to the figures, 80% of our horticultural products are imported from South Africa on which the country spends billions of dollars every year. Currently less than 20% is sourced locally and this cannot sustain the whole country in terms of us depending on our own produce to cut the import costs. Namibia has a total land area of 825 615 square kilometres with a population of 2.3 million in 2013., Compare this to Cape Town in South Africa which has about 3.74 million in population and that's where the majority of our crop products come from. This shows that the Western Cape in South Africa has a comparative advantage in the output of agricultural products and can produce these products at a lower opportunity cost than Namibia. Another example is Zambia. Lusaka has about 2.4 million people and the country still produces enough food to sustain its people. This comparison was deliberate and shows that in most countries in SADC, they have food consumption in which one town can produce more than enough food for its population and can still feed another country.

The situation in which the Namibia finds itself should be tackled once and for all because it will create problems. Most people in the country won't have access to food if South Africa reduces the supply of its yields. This will result in a higher demand and an increase in food prices cutting out everyone who will not be able to afford these basic needs. As a nation we should focus on finding a solution on how to increase food production in the country. Currently we have 11 existing green scheme projects of which nine schemes are in the north-eastern part of the country where we have four perennial rivers plus other peripheral rivers which keep on supplying water throughout the year. There are dams in Namibia and something can be done by either increasing green scheme projects throughout the country. Although there may be different challenges this will only be in the short-term and in the long-term the country will continue producing more food for the nation.



*Nghishidimbwa Rabban is a third-year Agriculture Science student at Ogongo campus and also the Student Representative Council member for external affairs.
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