Ondjele yokwaahena iilonga moKhomas ya londo pombanda

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Ondjele yokwaahena iilonga moKhomas ya londo pombandaOkwaahena iilonga moKhomas kwa londo noopresenda 5 Nonando okwaahenaa iilonga ogwo omukundu gwa taalela unene oshitopolwa shaKhomas, okwa dhidhilikwa kutya kape na ooprogramma dha sha dha tulwa iilonga dha nuninwa okukondjitha omukundu ngoka. Ondjele yokwaahena iilonga mokati kaanyasha moshitopolwa shaKhomas okwa lopotwa ya londo pombanda noopresenda 5 pokati ko-2014 no 2016.

Nonando ongaaka eningo lyomategelelo mokati kaanona aashona okwa lopotwa lya shuna pevi noopresenda inadhi vula po-10. Omiyalu ndhoka odha totwa mo pethimbo kwa ningwa oshipopiwa shopapangelo shoshitopolwa shoka, tashi ithanwa 2017 State of the Region Address (SORA) shoka sha ningwa kungoloneya gwoshitopolwa shoka, Laura Mcleod-Katjirua . Oshipopiwa shoka osha tala kwaashoka sha pondolwa po koshitopolwa shoka nomikundu ndhoka dha taalela oshitopolwa.

Ondjele yokwaahena iilonga oya londo pombanda okuza poopresenda 32.1mo-2014 nokuya poopresenda 37.5 mo-2016, nangoloneya okwa popi kutya shoka poompito dhilwe osha etithwa konkalo yenano lyoshitopolwa aantu okuza miitopolwa ya yooloka moshilongo mboka taya kongo oompito dhiilonga.

Mcleod-Katjirua okwa popi kutya kombinga yaashoka sha pondolwa po, omategelelo mokati kaanona oga shuna pevi noopresenda 2 okuza poopresenda 10, mpoka pwa kala ondjele ndjoka.

Okwa tsikile kutya ombaanga yiikulya oya lelepekwa nomagumbo ga thika po-22 354 otaga mono oondya okupitila mombaanga ndjoka, noonakumona ekwatho ndyoka aantu yeli po -94 500 miikandjohogololo ayihe iheyali na okwa popi kutya okwa ulikwa iilyo yokomitiye itatu mboka tayi ka yambidhidha Uuministeli wEkondjitho lyOluhepo mokupulitha komeho oprograma ndjoka.

Ngoloneya okwa gandja woo olupandu kelelo lyoshilando shaVenduka, sho lya ungaunga nompumbwe yomeya ndjoka ya kala ya taalela unene oshilando shoka.

Okwa kunkilile kutya omukundu gwomeya noshikukuta inadhi hula, na okwa pula AaNamibia opo ya kwate nawa omeya.

Mcleod-Katjirua okwa popi woo kombinga yoompangela dhelelo lyoshilandopangelo, mokugandja evi nomayakulo kaakalimo yomoshilando.



Elongo

Oongulu dhoskola dhuuna noonkondo ogumwe gwomomikundu dha taalela oshitopolwa, pahapu dhangoloneya.

“Oshili ooshoka kutya ooskola dhimwe odhina aanona moongulu dhoskola ya pitilila noonkondo omiyalu dhoka dha tulwa po kutya oshikunino osha pumbwa okukala naanona 25 , oongundu dhopevi 35, omanga moosekundoskola aanona 30.”

Etameko lyoskola moongudhu dhopevi oshowo moosekundoskola moshitopolwa shoka, olya lyonda pombanda noopresenda 4.31, okuza paanaskola 83 748 mo- 2016 okuya paanaskola 87 359.

Ngoloneya okwa tsikile kutya edhiko lyootenda mooskola onga oongulu dhokulongela, otashi ulike kutya uuministeli welongo otawu kambadhala opo aanaskola ayehe yamone omahala mooskola.

Iiputudhilo yelongo lyopombanda moshilandopangelo, mbyoka iinene nuumvo oya shangitha aailongi ya thika po- 38 000 moka oUniversity of Namibia ya shangitha aailongi ya thika po- 25 064 omanga oNamibia University of Science and Technology ya shangitha aailongi 12 753.

Aantu yevulithe po- 24 400 moshitopolwa otaya mono epango lyombuto lyoHIV, omanga ya thika po-71 000 ya ningilwa omakonaakono omvula ya piti.

Ootuntila dhaanona odha londo pombanda sigo opoopresenda 90%.

Okomitiye yoRegional AIDS Coordinating Committee (RACOC), okupitila moKhomas Regional Council oya gandja oondya dhongushu yooN$180 000 kaantu mboka taya lumbu nombuto yoHIV oshowo aanona mboka yeli moluhepo, omvula ya piti.

Aalumentu ya thika po- 19 659 okwa hololwa kutya oya kenkwa moshitopolwa shoka.

Okupitila momass housing programme, elelo lyoshilando pamwe nuuministeli wevi otawu tula miilonga omayakulo gamuni, poshitopolwa shevi shuunene woohecta 65.5, tashi adhika moGoreangab, on 65.5, pauyelele mboka wa gandjwa kungoloneya.

Okwa popi kutya oshitopolwa shoka shevi, oshina ooplota dhomagumbo dhili 314. Okwa popi woo kombinga yopoloyeka yoomiliyona yOshilando shaVenduka, ndjoka tayi gandja omakwatathanitho golusheno momagumbo moHavana, Otjomuise noKatutura, ngele iiyemo yeshi pitika.

Ngoloneya okwa popi kutya nonando iimbuluma ngaashi omiyeka kwahomatiwa oya shuna pevi, iimbuluma natango oyi li omukundu omunene gwa taalela oshitopolwa shoka.

Iimbuluma ya thika po- 36 571 oya lopotelwa opolisi yaNamibia moshitopolwa shoka, mo-2016.



JANA-MARI SMITH

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Ombauto ya yaka omulilo

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Ombauto ya yaka omulilo Okwa lopotwa omulilo gwa tukuka mombauto yokukwata oohi yehangano lyoMerlus fishing koongulasha dhOsoondaha naaniilonga ya thika po-25 oya hupu moshiponga shoka, sha ningilwa popepi noPelican Point.

Omulilo ngoka gwa yonagula iinima yongushu yoomiliyona 5, otaku lopotwa gwa etithwa kiikwamalusheno.

Ombautu ndjoka ya li mondjila okuya komunkulofuta gwaMbaye, okwa lopotwa ya li ya humbata ootona 11 dhoohi pethimbo omulilo gwa tukuka.

Omukomeho gwombauto, Willem Buckle, okwa popi kutya ombautu ndjoka oya yonagulwa po komulilo noonkondo na itayi vulu we okulonga.

“Oshikondo shoDepartment of Maritime Affairs (DMA) oshiipyakidhila nomakonaakono ihe okwa hololwa kutya omulilo ngoka ogwa etithwa kuupyakadhi wiikwamalusheno.”

Menindjela gwoonzo dhopauntu mo Merlus, Marlene Martins okwa koleke kutya aaniilonga ayehe oya hupu moshiponga shoka na kape na ngoka eehamekwa.

Buckle okwa popi kutya okwa dhengelwa ongodhi kuBertram Strauss , ngoka e li omukomeho gwoAmbrose Bay (ombautu yimwe yoMerlus) lwopotundi onti- 02:00 te mu lombwele kutya ombauto yoSouth West Eagle oya yaka omulilo. Oolopota odha holoka kutya aaniilonga yoSouth West Eagle , oye shi pondola okudhima omulilo ngoka gwa tameke tango koongulasha dhOsoondaha, omanga yali yuuka komunkulofuta gwaMbaye, omulilo natango ogwa tameke ishewe lwopotundi onti-03:00 nonkalo oya nayipala.

Omukomeho miilonga pethimbo ndyoka okwa gandja elombwelo kaaniilonga ayehe ya zemo mombauto nonando okwali ku na ondau noonkondo na osha ningitha oshidhigu egandjo lyomakwatho kaaniilonga mboka.

Oombautu yaNamport Omanda naCormorant okwa lopotwa dha ka gandja omakwatho nomulilo ngoka ogwa dhimwa nombauto ndjoka oya nanenwa pomunkulofuta lyopotundi onti- 06:00 ongula yOmaandaha.

OTIS FINCK

A pewa egeelo lyoomvula 35 mondjeedhililo

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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A pewa egeelo lyoomvula 35 mondjeedhililoA monika ondjo medhipago lyohonda ye Omupanguli Nate Ndauendapo okwa gandja egeelo lyoomimvo 35 mondhoongo komunamimvo 52,ngoka a monika ondjo moshipotha shedhipago. Omiyonena dhomomagumbo oshimwe shomiimbuluma tayi londo pombanda kehe ethimbo moNamibia, noshigwana otashi kongo ekwatho kompangu opo dhi vule okugamena aakiintu naanona mboka oyo ya ninga unene iihakanwa yiimbuluma mbyoka.

Ndhoka oohapu dhOmupanguli Nate Ndauendapo pethimbo a gandja egeelo komunamimvo 52 Paulus Ruben, ngoka a monika ondjo moshipotha shedhipago nelalakano lyedhipago.

“Etumwalaka nali kale lya yela kutya iimbuluma yoludhi ndoka itayi tambiwako na itayi popilwa koompangu dhetu, onkene omageelo otaga kala geli pombanda koonakumonika ondjo miipotha mbyoka,” Ndauendapo ta ti.

Ruben okwa monika ondjo moshipotha shedhipago lyomukadhona gwe, omunamimvo 41, Magritha Beukes.

Beukes okwa adhika a hulitha megumbo moka ya kala haya zi naRuben moBahnhof popepi noRehoboth.

Ruben okwa lopotwa a yi ontuku konima yokulonga oshimbuluma shoka. Omupanguli okwa popi kutya nakupewa egeelo okwa dhenge nakusa noshinima kashi shiwike momutse na okwa yi ontuku.

Okwa gwedha po kutya Beukes okwa hulitha sho a tungile meni.

Ndauendapo okwa popi kutya epangelo olya mona omaumbangi ngoka taga holola kutya Ruben oye a longo oshimbuluma shoka, na okwa tulwa miipandeko konima yomasiku gahetatu, a adhika mofaalama tayi adhika shinano shookilometa 50, okuza pehala mpoka a dhipagele nakusa.

Omukalelipo gwepangelo moshipotha shoka, Ethel Ndlovu okwa popi kutya nonando Ruben okwa kala nale modholongo uule womimvo ntano, shoka itashi yalulwa shi li muuwanawa we. Ndlovu okwa tsikile kutya omupangulwa ina holola onge ya sha pethimbo a kala ta pangulwa, omolwa oshipotha shoka shedhipago.

Omukalelipo gwopaveta gomutamanekwa, Hipura Ujaha ngoka a kalelepo Ruben palombwelo lyepangelo okwa popi kutya omuyakulwa ge okwa kala nale modholongo uule womimvo ntano, neindilo lye lyokupewa omboloha olya kala noku tindwa.

Okwa tsikile kutya egeelo ndyoka lya pewa omutamanekwa otali mu teya po molwaashoka oku na nale oomvula 52.

Ndauendapo okwa tindi omaiyuvo ngoka na okwa gandja egeelo lyoomvula 35.



FRED GOEIEMAN

Absa approaches high court over Public Protector's report

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Absa approaches high court over Public Protector's report Absa and its main shareholder Barclays Africa have decided to approach the high court in order to have the Public Protector's report into Bankorp reviewed and set aside, it said on Wednesday.

The South African Reserve Bank announced it would also seek to have the report reviewed on Tuesday.

The SARB said Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's remedial action seeking Parliament to change the Constitution regarding the bank's mandate to protect the value of the rand “falls outside her powers and is unlawful”.

“The Reserve Bank has been advised to bring urgent review proceedings to have the remedial action set aside,” the SARB said in a statement on Tuesday. “The Reserve Bank has resolved to do so.

The Public Protector released a final report on Monday regarding her investigation into the assistance provided by the SARB to Bankorp between 1985 and 1995. Bankorp was acquired by Absa in 1992.

Absa said it is approaching the court “due to numerous misrepresentations and factual inaccuracies which form the basis of the Public Protector's findings, and what we submit are the irrational and unreasonable legal conclusions in the report. The misconceptions and inaccuracies in the report are profound and damaging to Absa's reputation.

“We have accordingly instructed our lawyers to immediately prepare an application to the High Court to have the report and its remedial actions set aside.

“We deny that Absa received R1.125bn by way of unlawful assistance and we firmly maintain our position that all of Absa's obligations to the South African Reserve Bank were met in full by October 1995,” said Absa.



NEWS24

Luanda costliest city

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Luanda costliest cityHong Kong is second most expensive Luanda is the world's most expensive city for expatriates, according to an annual survey. Angola's capital Luanda has overtaken Hong Kong to become the costliest city in the world for expats, Mercer's annual survey said yesterday.

Dethroned last year by the Chinese city, Luanda regained the dubious honour despite the depreciation of the local kwanza currency against the dollar, according to the survey by the Mercer consulting group.

While Hong Kong is bounced back down to second place it remains the most expensive Asian city “because of its currency's link to the dollar, a factor which makes local housing more expensive,” the report said.

After topping the Cost of Living report for three consecutive years, Luanda was pipped by the Asian city in 2016, owing to a stronger Hong Kong dollar.

This year Tokyo completes the podium, moving up from fifth place last year because of the yen's appreciation and “the dynamism of the housing market” in Japan.

The survey compares the cost of over 200 items in over 200 cities, including housing, food, transport and entertainment.

It takes New York (in ninth place this year) as its base for comparison and measures currency movements against the dollar.

The study is closely followed by governments and international businesses which take the rankings into account when they calculate the costs of sending their employees abroad.

Some Russian cities leapt up the table in the new survey, with Moscow reaching 14th place from 53rd last year and Saint Petersburg leaping to 36 from 116 “under the twin effects of the rise in the ruble and the cost of goods and services”.

Main cities in Australia, Brazil and India also marched up the expat costs list.

Lots of European cities were on the way down, particularly in Britain due to the weakness of the pound. Paris, Vienna and Rome also became less expensive for the expat purse.

At the bottom of the table were the Macedonian capital Skopje, Kyrgyzstan capital Bishkek and Tunisia's capital Tunis.



NAMPA/AFP

Risky gold rush

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Risky gold rushIndonesia tackles illegal mining boom The Indonesian authorities are facing an uphill battle to clamp down on the industry. Hulking excavators claw at riverbanks on Indonesia's Sumatra island in the hunt for gold, transforming what was once a rural idyll into a scarred, pitted moonscape.

It is one of a huge number of illegal gold mines that have sprung up across the resource-rich archipelago as the price of the precious metal has soared, luring people in rural areas to give up jobs in traditional industries.

Now authorities in Sumatra's Jambi province, which has one of the biggest concentrations of illegal mining sites in Indonesia, have started a determined fightback, combining a crackdown with attempts at regulation.

Declines in the price of rubber, which provided a livelihood for many in the area who had worked on plantations tapping the commodity, has driven many locals to more lucrative - and dangerous - gold mining.

Iwan, a 43-year-old who works at an illegal site by the Tabir river, left his job on a rubber plantation to become a gold miner two years ago but said life was still difficult.

“This year has been tough because there are days when we don't find any gold,” the miner, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, told AFP.

“But it's still better than being a rubber farmer because rubber is very cheap nowadays.”

The illicit industry in Jambi started off in a handful of places with small-time prospectors panning for gold, but has exploded to about 100 sites in recent years.

With authorities apparently doing little to stop the boom in its early years, miners became increasingly bold and began openly using excavators.

Mining in the province is usually carried out at open sites next to rivers, where workers dig shallow pits in the hunt for gold deposits that typically build up next to waterways.

In Jambi, the wildlife-filled jungles have been degraded by the expansion of mines and plantations to devastating effect.

But it is not just the environment that is suffering, miners are putting their lives at risk.

Burning mercury mixed with raw ore to extract gold is common, but can cause serious neurological damage. Miners sometimes develop problems such as tremors and persistent coughing from inhaling the fumes.

In recent months, authorities have stepped up their fight back.

Police have raided mines, authorities have initiated programmes to offer training in farming techniques in a bid to lure workers away from prospecting, and have appointed village heads who are firmly against the practice. But officials quickly realised that cracking down alone was not the solution. They are also taking steps to regulate the industry by offering would-be miners a route to working legally.

Under a plan introduced by the local government in December, individual miners and small groups can apply to open up a pit in a “People's Mining Area”.

Workers can mine in an approved area after obtaining a permit, said Karel Ibnu Suratno, a senior official from the Jambi government.

He said authorities would be able to oversee the work, meaning that environmental damage would be limited, and local government coffers would get a boost as miners would have to pay tax on the gold they find.

The scheme “is meant to improve people's lives” by ensuring the miners themselves get the profits, rather than the wealthy individuals providing financial backing for the sites who usually remain in the shadows, said Suratno.

“Most of them don't earn much but mining is the only source of income they have,” he added.

The government is facing an uphill struggle to clamp down on the industry however. Since the introduction of the “People's Mining Area” initiative, only one area has successfully applied for a permit.

Authorities have sometimes faced retaliation when they attempt to crack down.

After some people allegedly involved in trading illegally-mined gold were arrested in Jambi last year, the local police station was set on fire in a suspected revenge attack.

Activists believe that going after the miners themselves does not really tackle the root cause of the problem, and authorities need to catch the wealthy financiers.

“It's hard to stop illegal mining here as long as the people who finance it are not known, and have not been caught,” said a local environmental activist, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

But campaigners say perhaps the biggest challenge is that so many in an area with few employment opportunities have come to rely on illegal gold mining.

“This is all I can do to earn a living,” said miner Iwan.



NAMPA/AFP

Procurement Act welcomed

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Procurement Act welcomedNew law speaks towards transparency says researcher The newly introduced procurement act finds some favour with a public research body saying the law is solidly founded. The new Procurement Act has mostly been welcomed by the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) which says that it speaks towards transparency and the implementation of a sound procurement system. The remarks were made by IPPR research associate Frederico Links who presented an initial opinion of the act and workings of the new procurement board.

“We have found that the structures put in place meet the requirements. The act speaks towards a sound procurement system and it is very detailed in terms of what should happen. It also makes provisions for structures to report directly to parliament. We find that it speaks to transparency, said Links, as he shared his views on the recently introduced act.

Commenting on transparency issues related to the old tender board, it was a positive indication to him that financial statements would be made public. “The reporting of financial statements is positive compared to the old tender board system. This is a great system if it is actually implemented,” Links said.

While the act appeared good at face value, the proof of its success would be gauged after its implementation. “While it looks good on paper, the proof is in the pudding of its implementation. It will require the input of the private sector. We will be monitoring it to make sure that it works as it is supposed to,” said Links

While the act was generally welcomed by Links, it was concerning to him that there were procurement exemptions related to military purchases and that in his opinion, the appointment of board members was not opened up for public scrutiny. “It is problematic and could become a problem but we will see how it pans out. It will be interesting to see how military exemptions speak to whistleblower protection,” said Links.

“In our view, the appointment of board members was not open - we seem to have fallen short. One of the problems we had was that the public was not given the opportunity to assess whether the people appointed had a track record of integrity,” he added.

Links also said that the finance ministry did not provide the IPPR with transcripts of interviews and résumés which it intended to probe as part of a research paper it was working on.

Dismissing Links's claims, ministry of finance official Penda Iithindi said the recruitment process was opened up for scrutiny and called Links's allegation a knee jerk reaction. Iithindi also said that his ministry had no objection providing the IPPR with information related to the recruitment process.

“The appointments were not done in secrecy. The outcomes of the interview were subjected to a fit and proper procedures, it was a transparent process that took long,” said Iithindi.

Adding her take on the new act, Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry company secretary Charity Mwiya called for an end to lobbying in the procurement process and called on the practice to be criminalised.

“The issue of lobbying should be criminalised. Bidding companies should not be allowed to discuss tenders with procurement board members. It might be difficult to prove but it must be made a rule,” said Mwiya.

OGONE TLHAGE

Refurbishment to informal stalls

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Refurbishment to informal stalls Vendors who ply their trade near the Wernhil Park bus stop will soon move into new stalls while eight informal markets in the capital have also been considered for upgrading during the 2017/18 financial year.

The regional council set out on a refurbishment exercise while the municipality is finalising rental agreements with traders, Namibian Sun established.

“The City of Windhoek is busy finalising the rental rates for the respective stalls in consultation with the traders. The City will allocate the stalls to the prospective traders once the rental rates have been finalised and approved by council,” said Windhoek municipal spokesperson, Lydia Amutenya.

“There have been consultations with the traders prior to the development of the market, and the City still continues with these consultations. The market was developed with the full knowledge and involvement of the traders,” she added.

Meanwhile, Nampa reported that the Khomas Regional Council had also approved the development and completion of the Windhoek Flea Market along Post Street Mall through a public-private partnership with Wernhil Park in 2016, which is valued at over N$3 million.

“The strategy would also be aimed at assisting young people in developing business ideas, registering businesses and building the entrepreneurial skills of young people,” the Khomas governor, Laura McLeod-Katjirua, said this week. -Additional reporting by Nampa



OGONE TLHAGE

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Saudi king ousts nephew

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Saudi king ousts nephewNames son as crown prince King Salman's decree also means Prince Mohammed bin Salman will become deputy prime minister while continuing as defence minister. Saudi King Salman ousted his nephew as crown prince yesterday and installed his son Mohammed bin Salman - the first of a new generation set for power in a conservative kingdom used to ageing leaders.

His appointment completes a gradual removal of powers from Mohammed bin Nayef, 57, who has been fired, with his rise symbolising the hopes of Saudi's youthful population, more than half of which is under 25.

According to a royal decree issued by the official Saudi Press Agency, Mohammed bin Salman, 31, was also named deputy prime minister, and maintains his post as minister of defence.

His appointment caps a tumultuous two years since Salman, 81, ascended the throne and named the thick-bearded Mohammed bin Salman deputy crown prince, or second in line to the throne.

Mohammed bin Nayef, a veteran law enforcer well-regarded in the West for his efforts to combat Al-Qaeda, was also fired from his post as interior minister, the decree said.

The hard-charging Mohammed bin Salman's public profile rapidly eclipsed that of the crown prince.

Salman had already set a precedent for removal of a crown prince when, in April 2015, he appointed Mohammed bin Nayef and fired Prince Moqren bin Abdul Aziz bin Saud, who had assumed the post under the late King Abdullah.

The move left Mohammed bin Nayef as the first of the second generation, or grandsons of the kingdom's founder, Abdul Aziz bin Saud, in line to lead the Islamic kingdom.

With Mohammed bin Salman now poised for the throne, an even younger generation is set for power.

As deputy crown prince, he took on an unusual amount of responsibility, most prominently as the main proponent of a wide-ranging plan, Vision 2030, to bring social and economic change to the oil-dependent economy of a country where women's rights are among the most restricted in the world.

He also chaired the Council of Economic and Development Affairs which coordinates economic policy, and oversaw a body overseeing state oil giant Saudi Aramco.

It was not immediately clear if Mohammed bin Salman would continue in those roles.

As defence minister he holds overall responsibility for the kingdom's military intervention in Yemen. Saudi Arabia leads a coalition supporting the internationally-recognised Yemeni government against Iran-backed rebels.

A foreign diplomat had told AFP on Tuesday that Mohammed bin Nayef was politically “getting weaker, more marginalised”, after continuous chipping away at his powers and influence.



NAMPA/AFP

Clashes erupt in C. Africa a day after peace deal

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Clashes erupt in C. Africa a day after peace deal Intense fighting in the Central African Republic killed at least 40 people Tuesday and injured dozens more, dashing hopes for stability in the strife-torn country the day after the signing of a ceasefire deal.

The violence in the central town of Bria was between members of Christian 'anti-balaka' militias and fighters formerly belonging to a coalition of Muslim-majority rebel groups called the Seleka, aid and security sources said.

The clashes erupted after the CAR government and rebel groups agreed to an immediate ceasefire Monday, a deal brokered by the Catholic community Sant'Egidio in five days of negotiations in Rome.

It was hailed as a precious chance to stabilise one of the world's most volatile and poorest countries.

Under the agreement, armed groups were granted political representation in exchange for an end to attacks and blockades.

However, intense shooting began in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with dozens taken to hospital suffering from bullet wounds, Mumuza Muhindo Musubaho, project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the CAR town of Bria, said in a statement.

As of 21:00 GMT, 43 people were injured, according to the charity.

“We counted at least one dead and 20 wounded among our troops, who were taken care of by the NGOs”, said Djamil Babanani, spokesman for the Popular Front for the Rebirth of the Central African Republic (FPRC), an armed rebel group formerly belonging to the Muslim Seleka coalition, which had signed Monday's peace accord.

“We signed the agreement, but we have to defend ourselves, we can't allow an attack to happen without reacting,” added Babanani.

“People are at home since (early Tuesday morning), shooting was still going on this morning, there is no activity going on today,” said Father Gildas of the Catholic mission Saint-Louis de Bria, by telephone.

Sporadic fighting has continued since Saturday between Christian 'anti-balaka' militias and the FPRC after its leader Hamad Issa was killed in the town, according to several sources.

“We know that much remains to be done. It is vital that the ceasefire agreed to by the parties is carried out immediately,” said UN special representative on CAR, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga.



NAMPA/AFP

Shot of the day

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Shot of the day NO CHOICE: A picture shows Palestinian children at home reading books by candle light because of electricity shortages in Gaza City. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was not seeking an "escalation" in the Gaza Strip after his government moved to reduce electricity supplies to the Hamas-run enclave. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Self-importance overshadows real needs

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Self-importance overshadows real needs The pomp and ceremony our elected officials insist on whenever they deliver a speech underlines their sometimes wilful ignorance of the optics they create for Namibians in desperate need of quality medical care, education, jobs and more.

In a country that could do with a few less speeches, and a whole lot more work by elected officials, costly official events arranged around one or two central speeches, have become untenable and offensive.

In most cases these events merely serve to cut down on productivity, money and patience. Why not cut down on podium time and instead share information with citizens, online, in a more tech-savvy, smart way with the endless possibilities offered to us in this day and age? Sure, not a lot of money would be saved overall if we scrapped 99% of official events, centred around over-long, mostly meaningless recitals of what has been said a hundred times before. But, in our current economic situation, every cent counts. And every citizen should count too. If one cancelled event could buy food for one family, or provide school books and clothes to one or two children, or provide chronic medicine to a vulnerable citizen, it would be worth it.

Surely, any genuine, humble politician would agree that swopping your fifteen minutes of limelight behind the podium and instead donating those budgeted funds to a person or family in need, is the more ethical thing, to do. Do right by your citizens.

Let go of your ego, and use modern technology in all its forms to stay in touch with citizens, to share information and to remain transparent and accessible.

Then get down to work, and start implementing all those strategies you list in your over-zealous, over-long speeches, many of which we just either don't see enacted or receive feedback on. Don't tell us from the podium how you mean to cut down poverty, create jobs, improve health and education services and the countless other issues in need of urgent attention. Step back from the podium, cancel the overpriced, tax-funded flower arrangements for the top table, and show Namibians you respect their vote, their rights and their dignity!

Germany keeps Namibia waiting

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Germany keeps Namibia waitingGerman authorities mum on genocide case The Ovaherero and Nama people are demanding reparations for the systematic massacre of some 100 000 of their forebears between 1904 and 1908. The Namibian government has not yet received a response from its German counterpart after a substantive document setting out the basis of the case on the 1904-1908 genocide and demand for apology and reparations was submitted in 2016.

Namibia's special envoy on the matter Zed Ngavirue confirmed this to Nampa, saying he spent a lot of time working on the document.

Namibia appointed Ngavirue in 2015 as a special envoy on the genocide reparation negotiations with Germany.

“Our case rests on three pillars, namely acknowledgement of genocide, apology and reparation,” he said.

Ngavirue noted that the document sent to Germany present facts based on research mostly conducted by researchers of German origin, and constitute documentary proof to validate such research.

An example, Ngavirue said, is the infamous extermination order by erstwhile German General Lothar von Trotha, which was signed by the man himself.

Von Trotha was the German military commander who ordered the extermination of Ovaherero and Nama more than 100 years ago.

“There hasn't been any contestation on the facts that we put in that document so far,” he said, adding the issue, as they see it, rests on the just cause which the German government cannot run away from.

The special envoy said the German government prefers not to call it reparation but “healing wounds”.

Ngavirue said the document clearly demonstrates that it was not only loss of lives - which in itself is incalculable and can thus not be valued in monetary terms - but the affected communities that also lost land and suffered displacement.

“The German negotiators are talking about healing wounds. We have an endeavour for them to come out and give us an idea of how much will be the quantum that will meet the needs of reconstruction of our society,” he stated.

The Ovaherero/Ovambanderu-Nama Genocide Committee has been calling on the German government to recognise the crime of genocide by its predecessor authority; offer an apology and a commensurate compensation.

The systematic extermination of more than 100 000 Ovaherero and Nama people by the German colonial troops is widely regarded as the first genocide of the 20th century.

The Ovaherero and Nama were driven into the Namibian desert to die of starvation and dehydration, while the German forces intentionally poisoned many of the water holes.

Other victims were sent to concentration camps, such as Shark Island near Lüderitz, where they died of disease and abuse.

Many victims were beheaded and their skulls sent to Germany for scientific experiments and anthropological research.

Some of the skulls were returned to Namibia in 2011.



NAMPA

Motlanthe pays tribute to Ya Toivo

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Motlanthe pays tribute to Ya Toivo Fellow Africans lived under the same apartheid system‚ suffered the same human rights violations and were committed to South Africa's struggle for liberation, former president Kgalema Motlanthe said at the memorial service of Namibia's Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo.

Ya Toivo was a Robben Island prisoner and Namibian politician.

A memorial for him was held at the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

Ya Toivo passed away at his home in Windhoek‚ Namibia‚ on June 9. He was 92.

One of the founders of the South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) in 1960, he was tried in SA in 1966 under the Terrorism Act with 36 others and was sentenced to a 20-year prison term in 1968.

He was confined in the same prison section where Nelson Mandela was held‚ and they became friends.

Ya Toivo was released in 1984 after serving 16 years of his sentence.

“While we are saddened by Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo's passing‚ we celebrate his life and longevity and the lessons learnt‚“ Motlanthe said.

He said Ya Toivo would be remembered as a freedom fighter and a man who was not obsessed with achieving rank in society.

Motlanthe charted the life of Ya Toivo when he was in South Africa in the 1950s‚ when he joined the ANC.

He said Ya Toivo became “one of us” and‚ for his troubles‚ was arrested and imprisoned for 16 years on Robben Island.

“He was confined to a single-sex cell section; that is where Rivonia trialists were kept‚ in B section.”

Motlanthe said Ya Toivo refused to participate in the prison's grading system‚ which determined the privileges the prisoners could attain.

“Comrade Toivo was determined he will not participate in the system. He chose to continue on the path he set out‚ rebutting the claim that the South African government had legitimacy over him and other Namibians‚“ Motlanthe said.

When Ya Toivo was released in 1984‚ Motlanthe said, his immediate response was to get back to the work of Swapo.

“Our destinies have long being indivisible. The future is a shared one. The people of South Africa and Namibia are thus irrevocably connected‚“ Motlanthe said.

Ya Toivo will be buried in Windhoek on Saturday.



BUSINESSDAY

Nawa arrested for allegedly selling leased land

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Nawa arrested for allegedly selling leased land Former Katima Mulilo CEO Charles Nawa was arrested on Tuesday on charges of corruption and fraud after he allegedly sold council land, which he was leasing to a businessperson.

Nawa appeared yesterday before Magistrate Vincent Nzaca in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court and granted bail of N$10 000.

The case was remanded to 28 July for further investigations while Nawa secures legal representation.

Regarding the corruption and fraud charges, it is alleged that Nawa, who has been leasing 1 500 square metres of land for a period of five years from council, sold the land.

The lease has not yet lapsed.

The property in question is situated on the banks of the Zambezi River close to the waterfront, which Nawa allegedly sold to a businessperson and was paid N$200 000 for it.

It is further alleged it was just until the buyer, who later discovered that the land he bought did not belong to Nawa but actually is still property of the council, demanded to be refunded.

After failing to get his money back, the buyer laid charges with the police which led to the arrest of Nawa.

Aubrey Ndlovu appeared for the State.



KENYA KAMBOWE

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Pensioners burdened with high debt

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Pensioners burdened with high debtCity says it is looking into remedial measure Following reports of pensioners with excessively high municipal debts, the City of Windhoek says it is looking into solutions as well as a possible new amnesty. Windhoek mayor Muesee Kazapua says the city's elderly were still burdened by high debt related to municipal services.

“Our old people are suffering these challenges on empty stomachs,” he said at the commemoration of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day recently.

Following reports that a pensioner may lose her home due to N$90 000 in municipal debt, Kazapua pointed out the majority of debts are not incurred by the elderly only, but by relatives who stay with them and who do not contribute to taking care of the bills.

“In 2013 we took a decision to write off the debts of the elderly and unfortunately these have accumulated again over the past four years. This is why the city leadership and management are reviewing another decision to write off these debts,” he said.

Although such recourses are a setback for the council, he urged parliamentarians, municipalities and other stakeholders to come together to combat bad debts of the elders in order to reduce the number of homes lost to municipalities in default judgments.

“We need to come up with a sustainable and permanent solution to install pre-paid water and electricity meters in their homes.

I don't believe that an elder is able to accumulate bills up N$70 000 alone,” he said.

The mayor further urged elders to report all cases of abuse that they endure.

He said there are cases where children or grandchildren take over their homes.

“How can you abuse your own mother to the extent of seeing her as a fool? You are who you are today and you are as educated as you are because of her.

These are the realities we need to speak about,” said the mayor.

He added as much as the day is celebratory it also presents an opportunity for everyone to pause and consider the extent of the terrible abuse inflicted on the elderly within our societies.



JUNE SHIMUOSHILI

Suspected poacher dodges court

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Suspected poacher dodges court Chinese national Nan Chen, arrested in January this year for illegal possession of two rhino horns, is allegedly on the run.

The 29-year-old Nan, who is free on bail of N$300 000, was scheduled to make another appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court yesterday, but was absent, and his privately-instructed defence lawyer Kadhila Amoomo also did not know his whereabouts.

As a result of Nan's absence before court, a warrant for his arrest was issued with immediate effect.

His bail money was provisionally forfeited to the State coffers until the next court date on 5 July this year.

In case Nan does not return to court, a final order will be issued by the court for his bail money to be forfeited to the State coffers.

Investigating Officer Felix Ndikoma has been directed to make available the docket of the case before court on 5 July 2017.

Nan's co-accused and fellow countryman Yongui Lu, 41, was present before court Wednesday with his lawyer Mbushandje Ntinda.

The value of the two rhino horns is estimated at N$44 000.

The two men were arrested at Berghof Court in the Eros residential area.

A combined team of the Namibian police and City Police officers conducted a joint operation at the apartment and found two rhino horns and a shotgun.

Windhoek Magistrate Vanessa Stanley presided over the case, while Public Prosecutor Andreas Joseph represented the State.



NAMPA

Ex-manager gets three years for fraud

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Ex-manager gets three years for fraud A former employee of the Rehoboth Town Council was sentenced to three years imprisonment after pleading guilty to 11 counts of corruption and fraud.

Jennifer Kays was sentenced on 19 June in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court. The Anti-Corruption Commission said during 2016 it investigated a corruption case against Kays who was employed at the Rehoboth Town Council as financial manager. According to the ACC, Kays used falsified documents to gain employment at the town council. She had reportedly also used the same documents to get employment at the Namibia Airports Company. Kays was subsequently arrested and charged with 11 counts of corruption, fraud and uttering of a forged instrument.

She pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to an effective term of three years. Magistrate Mwilima Mwilima said in his judgement the offences the accused had been convicted of are very serious and have become prevalent across the country.

“Corruption is like a disease that cripples our economic base. In this case the accused person flashed fake qualifications to government institutions, the result of which she was employed to the prejudice of not only those institutions, but also those applicants who held genuine and authentic qualifications and were at the time roaming the streets of Windhoek and country without employment,” he said. Mwilima said the accused benefitted from her criminal entrepreneurship as she received employment and was earning monthly salaries she was not entitled to.



Prosecutor nabbed

Meanwhile, prosecutor of the Otjiwarongo Magistrate's Court, Johannes Nunuheb, was arrested recently for corruptly using his position.

The ACC investigated Nunuheb at the start of the last year for allegedly misusing his official position and office by corruptly receiving money from members of the public who were issued with traffic fines under the pretence that he will pay the penalties on their behalf. He allegedly misappropriated the cash. He would then allegedly further misrepresent to the presiding magistrate that the fines were defective and must be withdrawn.

The docket was presented to the prosecutor-general who decided to arraign Nunuheb in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate's Court.

He was arrested on 15 June and appeared in court, where he was granted bail of N$2 000.

The case was remanded to 29 and 30 August for plea and trial.



ELLANIE SMIT

DTA takes on parly

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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DTA takes on parly Approaches High Court over rejected SME Bank motion The DTA has decided to take legal action against the National Assembly weeks after speaker Peter Katjavivi rejected its motion calling on parliament to debate the SME Bank debacle.

The official opposition yesterday announced it will approach the High Court to challenge Katjavivi's ruling. A fortnight ago, the speaker rejected debate on the matter, arguing it was still before the courts.

DTA leader McHenry Venaani had also called for a judicial commission of inquiry into the affairs of the beleaguered bank, which has since been placed under curatorship by the Bank of Namibia because of questionable investment in South Africa.

The court application has not been filed yet, but according to the DTA, the authorities were due to receive a notice of the legal challenge yesterday.

The DTA cited the dubious investment of N$200 million, the well-documented failures of governance and management, and the reported request for a government bailout for the bank by the SME development minister, as issues of concern and in the public interest.

“We believe that a strong and vibrant democracy rests on the ability of the political opposition to check and challenge the government of the day. This is the foundation of accountable and responsible governance,” said the party's secretary for international relations Vipuakuje Muharukua.

On the assertion that any issue that may, or may not be under subjudice cannot be discussed by the highest legislative body in the country, he said “on the contrary these may be freely and openly discussed in the media and on social media platforms. This flies in the face of democracy and completely erodes the credibility and the role of parliament”.

DTA parliamentarian Nico Smit said the party is only announcing the legal challenge now because they first had to consult with their lawyers.

He argued Swapo MPs have in the past made statements in parliament related to cases that were pending before the courts. He specifically referred to a statement by President Hage Geingob, who was then prime minister at the time, when he addressed the National Assembly over an alleged racial incident in 2013.

The statement had to do with the controversial Buffalo's Bar saga in Gobabis, where a black man was beaten in an alleged racial incident by a white owner.

According to Smit, he at that stage demanded that the suspects be denied bail. The Geingob statement was later used as evidence in the prosecutor's case. “Was this case not subjudice?” asked Smit.

“What is good for the goose is not good for the gander. We want the court to clearly pronounce itself on this rule which is always being used against the opposition.”

Meanwhile, the DTA said that the legal action will invariably have financial implications for the party.

The DTA called on “patriotic Namibians” to support the cause in an attempt to hold government accountable and make financial contributions.

A designated savings bank account has been created through which contributions can be made.

This account will strictly be for the settling of legal costs from the legal challenge. The names of the depositors will not be made public and all funds contributed will be accounted for in line with international auditing standards, while the related financial statements will also be open for scrutiny.



ELLANIE SMIT

Initiative to deliver sanitary pads

June 21, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Initiative to deliver sanitary pads A young entrepreneur Peter Hatupopi has donated 2 400 sanitary pads to 16 Windhoek schools.

The first round of donations will kick-off in Windhoek and then will be rolled out to rural areas countrywide.

Hatupopi said he was inspired to donate sanitary pads because of the worrying amount of girls who dropped out of school due to their menstrual cycle because they cannot afford to buy pads.

“I visited five different schools in the north in January and I was really shocked that many girls used newspapers and padding from mattresses during their menstrual cycle.

I decided to assist by donating pads,” said Hatupopi. He said the donation is intended for girls from poor backgrounds.

“Our main target is rural northern schools especially the schools from the Ohangwena Region. We will donate the sanitary pads there,” shared Hatupopi.

He has collected 8 000 sanitary pads in total, which he plans to donate to schoolgoing girls countrywide.

“We already have 8 000 pads which I reserved on my own and stakeholders have also donated towards my initiative,” said Hatupopi.

He has called on more men to also involve themselves in projects that uplift the girl child.

“People say it is really difficult for men to donate things like sanitary pads and I agree with them but I believe men also need to do something.

All we need is an understanding for the need to help out our girls and we should help them,” said Hatupopi.

Queen Moseke, a learner at a local school, said many girls in schools are being bullied and made fun of because of their menstrual cycle and end up dropping out of school because they cannot deal with the bullying.

“The sanitary pads donated will help a lot of girls get back into school because many of them are being bullied in school because of their menstrual cycle. Some girls are even shy of going to school and they drop out of school,” said Moseke.



SHONA NGAVA