Auntie Nangy

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Auntie Nangy I have never reached a climax



Dear Auntie Nangy, I am 18 years old and had sex five times but still, I have not reached an orgasm.



My dear, I don't know where to start answering your question and I hope Auntie will do so well. All I can say is sex is not just as easy as ABC like most people think. It is an art. It is like painting a picture or decorating a room. When you do it well, you will enjoy looking at your finished art work or sitting back and enjoying the comfort and splendour of your well-decorated room. While any man knows how to make love to a woman, it requires great skill to make a woman like you have said, reach an orgasm, or that point of no return. You said you had sex five times but still he didn't take you to cloud nine. Well, it is not about the number of rounds but about quality. Most men need to be lectured on how to satisfy a woman. For a man, it is just a question of imagination and they get fired up and are ready to go, while for women, the man has a job to do to get her ready. I cannot tell you every step in this column, but, you can read books about sex and next time when your man wants to give you a two minute noodle, you will tell him to slow down. Love making is like going on a journey. Speed kills and it is dangerous. You want a leisurely speed in order to marvel the surroundings and enjoy the conversations. The only difference is the sex driver accelerates in order to get to his destination and yours too.



Pain and vaginal discharge



Dear Auntie Nangy, I'm 16, and I want you to help me. I have a problem. I just feel pain in my cervix. Sometimes a white discharge comes out of my vagina. Please help me.



I always advise people to the clinic or to see their family doctor with health-related issues because Auntie Nangy is not a medical doctor. Are you sexually active and did you have unprotected sex? Unfortunately I cannot say whether the white discharge from your vagina id healthy or not but there three types of discharged that I can tell you about. However a thick white discharge at the beginning and at the end of your menstrual cycle is normal and you shouldn't worry. If the discharge is not much, it is normal and women discharge it as a cleansing process. The fluid is produced by glands inside the vagina. It is when the bacterial balance of the vagina changes that causes the discharge to smell, change colour and texture. Netdoctor gives five reasons why women's vaginas cry. Firstly, just before ovulating you get a discharge. This happens two or three days before ovulating. Secondly, you can get a discharge a few days after ovulating. Thirdly, if you are pregnant the vagina also discharges a whitish discharge. Fourthly, stress like the one you have now can cause the vagina to discharge. If you have an infection the vagina will also produce a discharge and lastly, a rusty or reddish discharge is common after your period. Sometimes the imbalance can be caused by using soap to wash the vagina, for example. To have peace of mind just go to the nearest clinic for a medical check-up especially that you mention that you feel pain and if you have an infection, it needs urgent treatment. When I was pregnant and had thrush that is caused by hormonal imbalances during pregnancy, I was told just to apply natural yoghurt and it worked perfectly.



No Kissing



Dear Auntie Nangy, I have a problem with my boyfriend he doesn't want us to kiss each other. What can I do?



It is always good to give more information about your relationship, like how long you are in it and your ages. But, anyway let me try and reason why your man is skirting kissing. Your man might have had bad kissing experiences in the past or he does not kiss you because he does know how to kiss. Some guys feel intimidated by their girls even though he is physically attracted to you and your man could be in this predicament. It can be that he lacks self-confidence and is not sure how he will be rated against other guys who kissed you before. I really feel for you to be in a relationship with a man who does not kiss you. It is like having a delicious meal but with no salt. Kissing strengthens intimacy and has a binding effect in a romantic relationship. There a numerous sensory nerves on the lips that make kissing an amazing experience. Some people say it is an application above for a vacancy below and this could be the reason why your lover avoids kissing fearing he will be worked up and won't be able to hold back. Just don't take it negatively. It will come, be patient.

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Created to create

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Created to createFor the love film, music and dance Multi-talented artist Banana shares his experience and aspirations. As a child, Ueshitile ‘Banana’ Shekupe would pretend to be in front of a big crowd with a guitar (made out of a box) in his hands and go crazy during his performance. At school he was known for his dance moves and he was always nominated to lead at concerts and competitions with other schools too. “This was during the time when schools where divided and each tribe had its own school - except the Oshiwambo and Otjiherero children who were put together. This is where I realised that I was talented in dancing,” said Banana. He also recalls him and his peers imitating Hollywood filmmakers as children in Tsumeb and his hometown Walvis Bay. From this he noticed his talent of directing and acting which he has been doing, to date.

In 1974, at the age of 16 he made the decision to go into exile to Zambia and fight for Namibia’s liberation without notifying his family. “I escaped Walvis Bay during the ceasefire in Portugal as the majority of the Angolan soldiers didn’t want to fight so it was kind of a safe haven to get to. We went through Angola to Zambia until we made it to the Swapo transit camps,” recalls Banana. He says he was trained as a soldier at a young age although he wanted to go to school… the circumstances could not allow. Says he being at the forefront didn’t stop him from doing what he loves which was dancing and acting. He is the co-founder of Ndilimani Cultural Troupe and he says this was where his artistic nature grew. “We were mobilising the world with our music as Ndilimani to tell our Namibian story of what was happening at home. We were preaching through dance, singing and acting,” says Banana. The experience according to him was worth it all as the Ndilimani Troupe was taken away from the war just to focus on their art with the help of Swapo. A special moment he will never forget was when they got costumes and equipment from Sam Nujoma all the way from Britain. “It was a movement in the bush, really. The happiness we had when we opened those boxes to take out the guitars was just something else. I’ll forever be thankful to Swapo as it made my career. We performed at so many places like rallies and even took part in the Pan African Youth Festival in Libya,” says Banana.

Banana says a lot has changed in Namibia especially the arts industry after independence. Theatre is one field that took a backseat which has an effect on productions. “Back then the NTN had full-time actors employed as compared to now. I was also a full-time employee and we were doing good productions. I remember Possible Love, a story on John Muafangejo where I was the lead. It went as far as London and made it onto the BBC. We missed something somewhere,” says Banana. He says for a field like this not to fade out a lot has to change drastically and all stakeholders need to push in the same direction.

One of Banana’s well known roles in film is in the educational movie titled Remember Eliphas. He says the film has impacted his acting career and he is glad he took the role. He recalls not being part of the whole production and was only called at the last minute when main character pulled out. “At that time a person being associated with HIV and Aids in Namibia didn’t sound good. I was a bit afraid when they called me and I spoke to my wife about it and she said something that made me act so purely and with emotion. She said, do it because no one else will and you will save a lot of lives,” he said. He says to today he gets people who approach him to comment on his acting as it was so real and some ask him if his status is really positive.

Banana recently graduated from AFDA in Johannesburg in cinematography specialising in sound engineering, script- and score-writing in filmmaking. At the moment Banana is working on small adverts and will soon start doing big projects. He says he is stranded by lack of equipment and appeals to the nation to help him in this regard. “I want to reshoot Eliphas into a real movie with the copyright of NDF. If there is anyone who can help me out with locations, equipment or funds they are more than welcome. Remember Eliphas needs good actors, sound and other things that can be fixed in reshooting and the end product can be sold. People want copies to watch,” he said. He concluded by saying that Namibia as a whole needs to invest in its talent as it will die out if not well used. He believes that so any lives can be affected if social issues could be addressed in theatre or films like other countries do.

June Shimuoshili

Let's have limits

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Let's have limits Have you ever thought to yourself that right now you, as a young adult, has responsibilities? Has it ever crossed your mind that what you do has consequences? I have all these questions because I think there is something in the air that is a bit off and is affecting certain individuals - differently. Right now, there are two kinds of people; those who don't want to listen to instructions and those that think they are too cool for instructions - if that makes sense.

The people who don't want to listen to instructions think they have made it in life and make others' lives miserable. I am talking about certain artists and music video producers who think just because they have PhDs in directing from whatever college, they have nothing new to learn. Unfortunately for them, life is all about learning. To make it worse, technology is evolving and each and every day. The way something was done yesterday might be outdated the following day. So if the end-receiver, AKA a media employee, informs you that your work is not up to standard, do you know that they don't hate you or don't want you to succeed? They are simply doing their job and are also helping you to have quality work so at the end of the day, your music or videos can reach international standards to get airplay all over the world. So if you are taking your work to a radio station, ensure that it is either MP3 or MP4 with the bit rate being 320kbps. If you are taking your music video to a TV station especially NBC, ensure that your work is of high quality in terms of audio and the visuals are in MOV or MP4 format. If you are submitting your work to a newspaper, make sure that your artwork is in high resolution and your music is in MP3 or MP4 format so it can be listened to. Alternatively if you are not certain of what you should do, save yourselves time and money and ask for help instead. So my dear artists, let's work together and make the industry blossom.

Then we have those that think are too cool for instructions. I mean… what is giving school kids this carefree sprit to actually take a hubbly bubbly to school and smoke it in broad daylight? I don't want to judge but honestly do you think you are that untouchable and above everyone? It's probably these European and American music videos that have people doing the craziest things as if they were normal. Now look at us.



To end this off, let not try to be anything but ourselves. Do what you are expected to do whilst doing you.



June Shimuoshili



june@namibiansun.com

Red Bull gives Namibian artists wings

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Red Bull gives Namibian artists wings The Red Bull music academy session is back in Windhoek and this time, they encouraged locals to take part in the next workshop to be hosted in Berlin. Desert_Head shares his Canadian experience

Red Bull Namibia hosted guest DJ and former Red Bull Music Academy (RBMA) student Desert_Head from Cape Town to elaborate on his experience at RBMA in Canada. More than 40 hand-picked Namibian artists, DJs and producers took part in this session, being provided with a platform to share their ideas and participating in a question-and-answer workshop.

The RBMA is an internationally renowned series of workshops and festivals founded in 1998 by Red Bull. The aim of the workshop was to foster creativity in music and to celebrate the culture and creative minds behind it. The RBMA offers new insights and perspectives on sound as artists representing different genres, countries come together. At these workshops, artists have lectures from artists who have shaped the music history, exchange knowledge and collaborate with their peers from opposite genres. At the recent session, Red Bull representative Nadja Geiger encouraged the Namibian entertainers to apply for the workshop which it to take place in Berlin next year. “We aspire to uplift our local music scene and provide a foundation amongst our upcoming artists to apply for the Red Bull Music Academy in Berlin 2018,” said Geiger.

The event was successfully rounded off by an after-party, hosted at Chopsi’s Bar in Windhoek, where Desert_Head was given a chance to showcase his tunes alongside Namibian artists Deck Geeks and Afroberries.

June Shimuoshili

Rand weakens on repo decision

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Rand weakens on repo decision The South African rand weakened early on Thursday ahead of an interest rate decision by the central bank, while stocks were set to open flat.

The South African Reserve Bank has hiked rates by 200 basis points since 2014 but over the last 12 months has kept them on hold at 7%, saying its tightening cycle had come end.

Data on Wednesday showed consumer inflation at its lowest in 19 months and well below the Bank's upper target of 6%, prompting some investors to price in a higher probability of a rate cut.

In fixed income, the yield for the benchmark government bond due in 2026 fell two basis points to 8.63%.

NAMPA/REUTERS

Bank Windhoek welcomes new talent

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Bank Windhoek welcomes new talentThirteen make it through rigorous graduate training programme The graduates of Bank Windhoek’s training programme consisted of five males and eight females who were trained at the bank’s Learning and People Development Centre. Bank Windhoek recently officially welcomed 13 graduates from the Bank’s Graduates Development Programme at a graduation ceremony in Windhoek. The group was the first intake of the programme.

Graduates who majored in economics, banking, accounting and business administration studies, were selected from hundreds of applicants to join the programme. Training commenced at the beginning of the year. The training focused on credit and collateral modules, with a minimum pass rate of 80%. As part of the course, the graduates were placed in various branches for two months to obtain practical experience.

Bank Windhoek’s executive officer for human resources, Stephanie Viljoen, told the graduates that Bank Windhoek believes in giving talented individuals a chance to uplift and develop themselves. “Bank Windhoek is willing to invest time and energy into this programme, but most importantly, it is the people that we invest in. We need people with new ideas that can challenge us, and come up with fresh ideas on how to approach situations,” said Viljoen.

Nine of the graduates have been deployed in branches across the country while five have been placed on the Accelerated Training Programme. “The ATP is a platform used to further train and develop employees. The aim is to groom and prepare them for critical positions within the bank,” said Bank Windhoek’s human resource business partner, Benster Ntesa.

According to Ntesa, those on ATP will function as a resource pool. They will still be observed and considered for various vacancies within the branches and departments.

“Retail banking is the core of Bank Windhoek. This is where things happen in terms of servicing our customers and living our brand. Bank Windhoek is a Namibian bank and very proud of our heritage,” said Chris Matthee, executive officer for retail banking services.

Sebastian Tjitombo spoke on behalf of the graduates. “We look forward to joining this 35-year-old wholly Namibian institution. Bank Windhoek forms part of the pillars of the financial services industry and is an equal contributor to the growth and development of our economy. It is an honour to finally be part of this organisation,” he said.

STAFF REPORTER

SACU important to UK

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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SACU important to UKUK, SACU discuss trade following Brexit UK trade minister Mark Price says that his country wants as little trade disruption as possible as it formally exits the European Union. Southern African Customs Union trade ministers this week met with their British counterpart, Mark Price, to deliberate on post-Brexit trade matters.

The United Kingdom is in the process of exiting the European Union.

The SACU ministers welcomed the UK's intention to avoid disruption for its trading partners as it withdraws from the EU according to SACU spokesperson, Kungo Mabogo.

The UK re-affirmed its commitment to the trade arrangement under the current European Union, the Southern African Development Community Economic Partnership Agreement, and to maintain current market access to the UK following its withdrawal from the EU, and to ensure continuity of the effects of the EU-SADC EPA.

The two sides agreed to continue discussions to explore ways to ensure that the existing trade arrangement between the UK and SACU currently governed by the EU-SADC EPA will not be disrupted by the UK's departure from the EU.

Talks are likely to focus on steps to agree to an arrangement that replicates the effects of the EPA once the UK has left the EU. This would be a technical exercise to ensure continuity in the trading relationship, rather than an opportunity to renegotiate existing terms.

The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the SADC EPA countries comprising of Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland and the European Union EU was signed on 10 June 2016 in Kasane, Botswana.

The EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement provisionally entered into force between the SACU countries and the EU on 10 October 2016. While the UK remains a member of the EU, the EU-SADC EPA will continue to apply to trade between the SADC EPA countries and the UK.

Given Mozambique's participation in the SADC EPA, the trade ministers agreed to continue discussions on how best to work with Mozambique, in order to ensure continuity of the EPA for all partners.

STAFF REPORTER

Good progress on foundry project

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Good progress on foundry project Plans to set up a foundry facility in Otavi are fast taking shape according to local business man André Neethling who presented the proposal during the Invest in Namibia International Conference held last year November.

Updating Namibian Sun this week, he said negotiations were at an advanced stage while necessary environmental assessments had been concluded.

“We are at an advanced stage to close the negotiations and subsequent funding,” Neethling briefly said.

According to him, the environmental impact assessment and the environmental management plan had been completed while clearance had been issued to Otavi Rebar Manufacturing.

Namibian Sun also spoke to project coordinator Sakkie Kaulinge. Both Kaulinge and Neethling said that discussions had been held and that the foundry project was ready for implementation. “We have had several discussions with relevant stakeholder following the feasibility study in August 2015 and we are ready to go.”

“What is important is that the foundry project will be incorporated into the steel project at Otavi, as the size of the furnace, in this case 70 tonnes, is a critical factor in operating a large foundry productively to serve Namibia and neighbouring countries. Serious discussions have taken place in this regard.”

The duo sought an investment of N$21 million in the plant. “There is a sufficient market potential and interest warrant the establishment of a foundry facility,” Neethling and Kaulinge said to justify the need for the facility.

OGONE TLHAGE

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Land invasions surge in Kenya

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Land invasions surge in KenyaCattle herders defend 'necessary' occupation Landowners and herders alike complain that a late and half-hearted government security response has made matters worse. Close by a narrow, rickety bridge in Kenya's central Laikipia highlands two herders sit on blistering hot rock next to the muddy trickle of the Ewaso Nyiro river to explain why they routinely break the law, invading private land to graze their cattle.

“The reason we go there is not to grab the land, we go for pasture, nothing else,” says Lemerigi Letimalo, a 28-year-old Samburu herder in a Manchester United T-shirt with a mobile phone hanging in a pouch around his neck.

“The white settlers are the ones who call the police forces to attack us,” he adds.

Violence has spiked in Laikipia this year, with smallholder farms and huge ranches alike invaded by armed herders, leaving dozens dead and uprooting hundreds more.

A government-ordered security operation has so far failed to quell the unrest, which some blame on drought and others on politics. Accounts of the attacks are widely divergent.

The victims of the incursions are mainly black Kenyans living on small patches of farmland as well as white landowners, whose properties often run into the tens of thousands of acres (hectares), dredging up long-festering resentment over land ownership.

The March murder of British rancher and former soldier Tristan Voorspuy and the April shooting of Italian author and conservationist Kuki Gallmann are among the most high-profile acts of violence.

But the young Samburu “morans” - the warrior age set that ends with marriage - sitting by the river at Crocodile Jaw Bridge on a recent Wednesday consider that they are the victims: of weather, of greed and selfishness, and of state violence.

They say poor rains have forced them to cut fences in search of grazing land, accusing ranchers, farmers and conservationists of protecting their own livelihoods at the pastoralists' expense. They also accuse security forces of unfairly targeting them.

“When we go grazing in there we get attacked by the police. We don't go in there for war or planning to stay, we just go in to graze until there are rains back at home,” Letimalo tells AFP, offering a rare insight into the Samburu herders' side of the story.

He admits to illegally grazing the 50 cows and 200 goats that he is responsible for on other people's lands and says police have shot dead two of his cows.

But Letimalo recognises neither the term “illegal herding” nor the law itself, which he describes as “for the landowners”.

“When there's drought, a fence means nothing to me,” he says, speaking in the local Samburu language. “We blame the whites for bringing the police who attack our cattle and kill our people.”

Fellow herder, 30-year-old Lokimaniki Lekaal, agrees: “Despite the law, we have no option. We cannot sit around and watch our animals die of hunger.”

A glance at an aerial view of Laikipia shows the stark difference between the green of well-managed, fenced-off private land and the dust bowl free-for-all of the over-grazed rangelands.



Struggle for survival

Too many people with too much livestock have rendered the rangeland unlivable for the growing population, a situation exacerbated by climate change.

But in the immediate struggle for survival, talk of long-term planning or better land management is a luxury Lekaal dismisses. “When all the grass is finished we will die. It is up to God,” he says. Until then he will keep his cattle wherever grass can be found.

The two men insist that drought is the reason they herd livestock onto private land and deny any suggestion their actions are politically motivated as Kenya heads towards a general election on August 8.

“There's no leader who has influenced us to go to graze in someone's land, it is we, ourselves, that decided to go and graze our animals inside the ranches,” Lekaal says.

Nevertheless, local MP Mathew Lempurkel, a Samburu, has been charged with incitement over the murder of Voorspuy, while a politician in neighbouring Baringo county was similarly charged over arson attacks on Gallmann's estate before his own murder in May.

Some invaders in Laikipia have been photographed wearing Lempurkel campaign T-shirts. The MP himself, facing a tight election, has both denied the charges against him and used them to burnish his credentials as the champion of pastoralist interests.

Moran culture plays a part too.

Young, unmarried and often uneducated - neither Letimalo nor Lekaal went to school - the herders revel in aggressive displays of machismo and pride themselves on not backing down from a fight. “We don't fight twice,” as Letimalo puts it.

The herders also say their acts of retaliatory arson and violence are provoked by the security forces.

“There's a time we set property on fire but that was because one of our colleagues was killed,” says Letimalo. “We had no option but to burn the property. It's not as bad as killing someone!”

“We are the only ones suffering,” adds Lekaal.



NAMPA/AFP

How not to do public speaking

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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How not to do public speaking If there is one thing Namibians like doing more than any other thing, it is talking and yapping the night away as if their lives depended on it. It does not really matter what you say; what matters most is how you say it. If you are a prominent figure saying it – even better!

If talking were in the Olympics, Namibia will take the gold, hands down. Say, for instance, you are in a meeting and everyone is listening to the boss boring people out of their skulls with how grateful you all ought to be for your jobs. At the end of his sermon he asks everyone in the room to contribute to the theme colour of the company’s new image.

Having been extensively trained in marketing, you rise and suggest that the theme colour should be blue. Everyone is staring at you as if you have just insulted a man of the cloth. You return to your seat, filled with embarrassment.

After a few more deliberations, the boss finally has an idea. He suddenly jumped off his seat and with a figurative glowing light bulb at the top of his head, he exclaims; “I have it, I have it (his version of Eureka, Eureka). Our colour should be like the colour of the sky…it will be perfect,” he said.

Everyone clap their hands in admiration. Some are even heard whispering, “Oh what a wise leader we have.”

Everyone in that meeting seems to have forgotten about your first suggestion. What the hell – everyone knows the colour of the sky is blue! Well, some say it is black. According to them, it is the light reflecting on dust particles that gives it a blue colour. But we shall stick with blue; the last time I tried telling my people in the Omaheke region that the sky was black I was almost lynched!

We are a nation that likes the sound of our voices. Ever listened to a minister trying to push through an agenda in parliament? Those people would talk for hours and you will still struggle to grasp the content of their speeches.

I once witnessed a minister during a budget debate attempting to motivate spending on a very simple and elementary item.

“Honorable members, let me remind you that this item is of great importance. We are required, by virtue of the laws of human existence and compassion, guided by socialist principles that we ought to visualise the extremes of any situation. What I am trying to say is that…”

I usually stop listening at that point. I meant no disrespect to the honourable member of that August house, but his speech reminded me of those toppies from the village who would stand up at funerals just to be noticed.

Yeah, for these aged comrades – most of whom participated in one or the other battle during the liberation struggle such as Ongulumbashe, Soetrivier, or even Ohamakari – attention and recognition is everything.

Their speeches, when given the platform, go something like “Dear fellow mourners, I do not have much to say… in fact, I do not have anything at all to say… so because I have nothing to say, I will not be saying anything….”

When such people take to the podium I always look at them in astonishment. Why do you get up if you have nothing to say? But you gotta love my village people – without them life would be so dull.

My goat herder is one such person that never ceases to amaze me. That man would join in any conversation – from farming to astronomy. Not only would he join the conversation, but he will always throw in one or two trivial facts of his own making.

The other day I asked him to collect some ‘wet wipes’ from the car after sharing a decent meal. Not wanting to sound illiterate, he calmly stood up and walk towards the car. That must have been the longest short walk in the history of mankind. Move aside, Madiba!

After spending some minutes at the car, he returned to where we had been sitting.

“Tjikondavirongo, where are the wet wipes,” I asked.

“Mbuae, you know mos how these kids of yours like food especially those ‘wet wipes’. Eish, I think they have eaten them all up….”

Until then,

tjatindi@gmail.com

The emotive land issue

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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The emotive land issue By: Dr E.N. Tjiriange

I paged though one of the local newspapers and read an article in which it is said that 65 000 hectares of private game reserve is being intended to be sold on the open market possibly to a non-Namibian buyer. I was shocked and agonised for a moment before I decided to write this article.

What came to my mind immediately is what Chief Maherero did when Germans wanted land from him. He simply sent people to get a basket of sand and gave the Germans that sand instead of selling his land. Equally, I remember when Chief Kahimemua Nguvauva said, “While I am alive I will never give land to strangers.”

This year we are going to have a second land conference. This conference is very important. The person who is going to be at the helm of such a conference must be capable, one who can live up to the expectation of the nation. The right person to chair such a serious conference is our president, Dr Hage Geingob, who has a brilliant history of chairing the Constitutional Assembly, as well as being a prime minister for a long time, and who had also chaired a similar first land conference.

The issue of land is an emotive one and people should be very sensitive when dealing with this rather serious national issue. The unanimous feeling of the indigenous people of this country is that they were mercilessly driven into substandard areas known as “native reserves” while their ancestral land was taken and became the commercial farms of people from other countries. Although we should welcome people from foreign countries in our motherland, there are certain things that we cannot simply do or make available to people from other countries, since we run the risk of disadvantaging and jeopardising the future livelihood of the very same people of our country whom we have liberated. I raised this issue in the past and now that it seems to be persisting it might be appropriate to emphasise it again.

In this regard we surely have to be careful not to forget that after independence we took over a country where the government was faced with lots of challenges.

One of these was the most visible inequitable ownership of land in the country. The ownership of the land in the country was terribly skewed towards the white people, both local and foreign. The land, property and wealth expropriation which was carried out by successive colonial administrations was the genesis of that inequitable property and land ownership which left the black people of this country landless in their motherland. The land which belonged to the ancestors of the black people of this country had become property of those whose ancestors expropriated the land through colonial confiscation. It will make things worse and not be in the interest or benefit of the people of this country if the land our country is recklessly sold to non-Namibians. The important thing we have to recognise is that it is obvious that the struggle for independence was fought not only to eliminate colonial oppression, but also to remedy the situation under which the most of the people were made landless. After independence, the government of Namibia tried to solve this untenable situation in many ways. However, Article 16 (1) of Chapter 3 of the Constitution of Namibia read together with Article 25 (1) of the same Chapter 3 made the efforts of the government intangible, if not impossible, to achieve its goals when it concerned the land owned by minority Namibian citizens and foreign nationals. The only realistic solution to this problem is provided in the Article 16 (1) of the Constitution which states that “Parliament may by legalisation prohibit or regulate as it deems expedient the right to acquire property by persons who are not Namibian citizens.” This provision will enable the appropriate minister to approach the parliament to pass a bill which will prohibit the right of foreign persons to acquire land in Namibia which is indeed the vital heritage, indispensable, essential and valuable asset of the people of the country. As much as it is important for us to welcome foreign friends in our country who really supported us very much during the protracted struggle for independence of our motherland, such foreign friends may be free to use the land only through usufruct since the people of this country fought and died for their land. Therefore, the foreigners should not be allowed to buy land in this country.

Another disturbing reason for selling land to foreigners is that foreign people who come to this country have access to foreign currency and are finding it easy and cheap to buy land in our country, whereas our own people can never compete with them. The result and effect of this is that the prices of land are going up since these foreign buyers do not mind to pay whatever amount is requested from them and the sellers of the land take advantage of this situation and hike up the prices of the land. Under these circumstances we may be losing our land forever without realising it.

This situation is serious, dangerous and untenable. The question we may ask ourselves is what difference does it make for the land-hungry people of this country between the past where the land of their country was taken by force and the current situation where foreigners leave their countries and are allowed to buy land which ought to belong to the people our country, but who cannot afford it and cannot compete with such foreigners for reasons beyond their control? The time is long overdue where we should stop the practice of selling precious land to foreign persons and in the process, subject our people to unaffordable and ever-increasing land prices.

No nation can regard itself as totally free when its precious and indispensable heritage - which is land - is slowly and surely becoming the property of people from other countries and the heirs of ancestral land are slowly and surely reduced to landless “foreigners” in their own country. Therefore, our foreign friends must accept the fact that independence of a country without land will make such independence meaningless to the people of this country; hence it is just prudent for the State not to allow the selling of the land of this country to foreign people.

It is therefore unacceptable that 65 000 hectares of the private land is now being contemplated to be sold to a non-Namibian buyer. This surely will trigger the discontent of the landless people of this country which may result in turmoil.

Robbie, what a guy!

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Robbie, what a guy! Namibians yesterday woke up to the unfortunate news that the Brave Warriors superfan Robbie Savage has died a few months after suffering a mild stroke. As expected there has been an outpouring of tributes, especially on social media, where he has been well eulogised. Robbie was the face of Namibian football without doubt. He has travelled with the national team to both the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in which Namibia participated in 1998 in Burkina Faso and in 2008 to Ghana. Indeed he has been the national team’s mascot through thick and thin. Although he had a habit of changing allegiance when it came to local football clubs in recent years, Robbie never wavered in his support of the local game. He was a soccer slave who was eating, drinking and talking football all the time. He was well informed too, and was mostly privy to unpublishable gossip in the Brave Warriors camp and all the shenanigans at Soccer House. Robbie was not perfect. He had many run-ins with football administrators, rival fans and sport writers who would occasionally label him an annoying character. However, Robbie was beloved and football bosses, rightly so, recognised him with a number of awards due to his undying passion. Robbie was never far away from soccer action and even though he was bedridden, he would occasionally offer his well wishes to the beloved Brave Warriors. In a recent interview with Confidente’s John Tuerijama, Robbie expressed disappointment with the fact there was no premier league football taking place because of boardroom squabbles and to an extent, funding troubles. The football bosses know very well that they have failed the likes of Robbie and other ardent soccer fans by not starting the top flight league. It is also sad that not many of them were there during his dark days despite his enormous contribution to the local game. At 50 years of age Robbie leaves behind a rich legacy of courage, bravery and patriotism. And this should be a lesson to all of us to always put our country first and do the right thing. May his legendary soul rest in eternal peace.

Millions for new port gate

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Millions for new port gateDevelopment to ease traffic congestion A total amount of N$70 million has been budgeted for the new Namport entrance gate, which is expected to ensure smooth traffic flow. Namport intends to start with the construction of a new port entrance gate and truck staging area at a cost of approximately N$40 million in the first quarter of next year and expects to complete the process by mid-2019.

The entire project budget­ is about N$70 million, of which N$30 million has already been spent in 2016.

Port engineer Elzevir Gelderbloem shared the latest developments about the proposed project­ and information on how this project will ease traffic congestion­ around the port and ensure smooth traffic flow far into the future.

Gelderbloem said the current container terminal entrance gate located at the end of Gertrude Kandanga-Hilukilwa Road would be closed permanently when the new gate complex is commissioned in 2019 and all port traffic­, including container trucks will then use the new main entrance gate opposite 5th Street East.

The existing main entrance gate opposite 3rd Street East will become an exit only gate.

He explained that the closure of the existing container terminal gate is necessary to redirect all container trucks to the new container terminal where they will pass through customs' X-ray scanners, which are located­ inside the port a few hundred metres away from the current main entrance gate.

“Container trucks currently­ entering the container terminal gate cannot easily reach the X-ray scanners and manoeuvre­ back into the terminal. The existing container gate is too small and will not cope with future­ volumes,” he said.

Finally, when the new container terminal is commissioned the exist­ing terminal will no longer­ handle containers.

“After consideration and weighing up of possible­ options the port authority­ concluded it would be best to construct a new main entrance only gate opposite 5th Street East on Namport land currently leased by TransNamib and to use the current main gate opposite 3rd Street East as an exit gate only,” Gelderbloem said.

This solution will allow traffic to flow through the town naturally in two straight lines into the port.

Trucks will drive straight down 18th Road from the big round­about, then turn left into 5th Street East and then proceed right into the new port entrance gate with no more turns.

“In addition, traffic exiting­ the port through the future exit only gate can leave town through 3rd Street East and out through 18th Road. Trucks will be strongly encouraged to only make use of these two main routes into and out of town when visiting the port of Walvis Bay.”

Gelderbloem also proposed the permanent closing of the level crossing at Gertrude Kandanga-Hilukilwa Road and moving it to a new crossing at 15th Road - Railway Street as part of the project to build a new main entrance gate.

The level crossing currently is on Namport property, the rail reserve, and this will simply be moved further north also on Namport property. The shifting of the level crossing will result in the closure of Gertrude Kandanga-Hilukilwa Road just before it crosses over the railway tracks.

Vehicular traffic will then be redirected to the new level crossing at 15th road – Railway Street.

The detailed design of the new level crossing at 15th Road – Railway Street is being done in close liaison with the municipality, including the traffic department.

“This course of action will move traffic away from the port entrance and out of the railway shunting zone. The current level crossing is within the marshalling yard zone of shunting operations,” he said.

“A level crossing should ideally be located outside the shunting zone especially in heavy trafficked areas such as this. The long traffic queues, which currently forms when train conduct shunting operations, and seems to happen during peak traffic hours is a headache for motorists and for the municipal traffic department as well.”



OTIS FINCK

Liebenberg to preside over Teko fraud trial

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Liebenberg to preside over Teko fraud trial A new judge has been appointed to preside over the trial of two Namibians and a Chinese national arrested in 2009 for alleged fraud of over N$120 million at the finance ministry.

The three are Namibians Teckla Lameck and Jerobeam Mokaxwa, and Chinese national Yang Fan.

This trial is now set to start afresh before High Court Judge Christie Liebenberg, following an order by the Supreme Court last month that Acting High Court Judge Maphios Cheda be recused from presiding over the trial.

Liebenberg on Thursday informed the accused during a pre-trial conference of case management review that he is now the presiding judge of their case.

He told the accused that the defence lawyers comprising Sisa Namandje and Kadhila Amoomo, as well as State Advocate Dominic Lisulo, will meet with him on 27 July to decide upon a new date for the start of the trial.

On 19 June, Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Petrus Damaseb, with Judges of Appeal Elton Hoff and Dave Smuts concurring, allowed the recusal of Cheda.

The matter was then sent back to the Windhoek High Court for their trial to start afresh before another judge.

Damaseb, in agreement with the other two judges, said the apprehension of bias by the appellants was that of reasonable individuals and that such apprehension was based on reasonable grounds.

On 14 November 2014, Cheda dismissed the trio's application for his recusal after which Namandje took the matter to the Supreme Court.

All three accused face 18 charges of fraud.

Lameck, a former Public Service Commission member; Mokaxwa, Lameck's business partner in the Teko Trading company; and Yang have denied all 18 charges of fraud with not guilty pleas at the beginning of their trial in April 2014.

The two Namibians are free on bail of N$50 000 each, while Yang is free on bail of N$1 million.

They were arrested on 8 and 9 July 2009 by officials of the Anti-Corruption Commission in connection with a scam through which the Ministry of Finance bought security scanning equipment from a Chinese company.

NAMPA

Zambezi hit by new FMD outbreak

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Zambezi hit by new FMD outbreak Eighteen months after Namibia was declared free of foot-and-mouth-disease a new outbreak of the disease has been confirmed in the Kabbe South Constituency of the Zambezi Region.

This outbreak affects two kraals and approximately 1 000 cattle are at risk of being affected at the Musele Island in Kabbe South.

The island is completely cut off from the main land and is only accessible by boat due to high water levels in the Chobe River.

Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Milton Maseke said the Musele Island and the surrounding area within a 10km radius of the island in the affected constituency have been declared an infected place in terms of the Animal Health Act.

He said control measures, which include the compulsory re-vaccination of cattle and movement restrictions, will be implemented by the state veterinarian.

“We request the maximum cooperation of the public with the veterinary official in order to deal with this outbreak in the shortest possible time and we are able to give the assurance that this outbreak is limited to the above-mentioned area where no external trade is allowed from.”

Maseke said the outbreak has no impact on trade in livestock and products into and out of Namibia.

In January 2016 Namibia was declared free of FMD and all restrictions that were imposed following the outbreak of the disease during 2015 in the Northern Communal Areas (NCAs) were lifted.

This followed after the country's first case in 26 years was reported on 11 May 2015 in the Ohangwena and Oshikoto regions, while the last one was recorded at Etayi village two months later.

The government acted by imposing animal movement restrictions and allocating N$180 million for which the largest portion were spent on procuring 3.7 million doses of FMD vaccine.

The vaccine was used for three rounds of vaccination and covered an estimated 1.1 million cattle including those moving from Angola into Namibia.



ELLANIE SMIT

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More women needed in politics

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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More women needed in politics There is a need for an increase in the women to men ratio in Namibian politics.

These sentiments were shared by the gender and child welfare minister Doreen Sioka, at the official opening of the conference on women in politics and decision-making on Wednesday in Swakopmund.

“Political parties are the central pillar in achieving gender equality when it comes to the political sphere. I therefore urge political parties to amend or consider amending their constitutions to embrace the notion of gender equality.

“Gender equality is not about women taking over positions of power from men, it is about men and women working together in partnership for the good and development of any nation,” said Sioka.

Thus far, Namibia has 46% female representation in the national assembly. However, in the National Council, women are still underrepresented. Swapo has adopted the 50/50 representation policy as far back as 2013 and while great strides have been made in this regard, much is still to be done.

“We should demand for amendments to the electoral laws to enable equal representation of both men and women in the National Council,” she said.

Sioka applauded the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) for its progress in gender mainstreaming, especially in peacekeeping missions. She referred to women being sent on peacekeeping missions and promoted to high-ranking positions in the NDF, saying Namibia’s performance in terms of gender equality and women’s empowerment is globally considered as being outstanding.

“Please keep doing your part, you are putting our country on the map. Now when we are at international events where gender equality is discussed, we can hold our heads high because we know we are doing well,” she said.

Sioka used the opportunity to encourage young girls to join the NDF in large numbers as she said serving in the defence force is a career like any other.

The three-day consultative conference was held by the gender ministry along with the International Institute for Democratic and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

The main objective of the gathering was to create a platform for collective reflection and consensus building by political party representatives in Namibia to foster compliance with the national constitutional, regional and international commitments in the attainment of gender equality and align this with the new global agenda of sustainable development goals.

The conference brought together representatives of political parties in Namibia, officials from the ministry and experts and officials from International IDEA. – Additional reporting by Nampa

Adolf Kaure

No-show at Boy Child Talk

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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No-show at Boy Child Talk Councillor for the Arandis and Henties Bay constituency, Benitha Imbamba on Wednesday had to address a near empty hall when only a handful of boys showed up for her motivational talk for boys.

Imbamba was hoping to have all 160 boys attending Kamwandi Junior Secondary School in Henties Bay present at the ‘Boy Child Talk’ to listen to motivational messages by herself and a number of other speakers, but only about 30 showed up at the community hall.

“We informed the school principal on time to tell the boys to come; she even chose this date as it suits their calendar, now we show up to this disappointment,” said the councillor.

Besides an apparent lack of interest by the boys, there was also some delay in the start of the talk, which was scheduled for 15:30 but only started at 17:30.

The ‘Boy Child Talk’ teaches boys about discipline, respect for girls and women, staying away from drugs and alcohol and concentrating on completing their education.

It is an extension of the Girl Child Talk Imbamba introduced at Arandis in April, focussing on gender-based violence (GBV), women’s rights and empowerment and how girls can succeed in life.

Approached for comment, Kamwandi Junior Secondary School principal Mrs Speelman, who asked for her first name not to be mentioned, took the blame and said there must have been some sort of miscommunication.

She said the boys were informed that the event would start at 15:30.

Speelman, however, said even a change in time is not a good excuse for those who might have showed up and left.

She said they made a mistake in letting the boys go home and should have instead scheduled it for directly after school.

“I am very angry about what happened, I will definitely write a letter of apology to the councillor,” said Speelman.

Elaborating more on the purpose of the event, Imbamba said she realised there is a need for boys and girls to receive further encouragement away from home, because some miss that guidance.

She amongst others hopes to help reduce GBV, HIV/Aids and teenage pregnancies and contribute to a society where boys and men are confident and responsible.

Pastors, police officers, social workers and people considered national role models form part of the motivational speakers at her events.

The councillor plans to regularly host such talks at schools in the constituency.

NAMPA

Dunes Mall nearly done

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Dunes Mall nearly done N$650m project to create 700 jobs The shopping mall will be a great driver for job creation in Walvis Bay, with approximately 700 people expected to be employed once it is completed. The construction of the Dunes Mall with an estimated value of N$650 million in the vicinity of the Diaz Circle in Walvis Bay is on track and the facility could be officially opened for business at the end of October this year.

The developers Atterbury and Safland treated tenants, potential tenants and shareholders to a sneak preview of the massive facility being constructed by Jiangsu Zhengtai Construction Namibia on Tuesday.

“We want to open the facility which will be anchored by major shopping retail tenants such Checkers, Pick n Pay and Woolworths supported by a variety of national chains such as Foschini Group, Mr Price Group, Dischem, Pepcor, Clicks and Spur as a whole and therefore it must be completed within the next three months,” said Development Manager for Atterbury Property Holdings Evert Kleynhans.

“There is still a lot of work that needs to be done and this is a crucial period for us as the developers. We need the input of our tenants.”

Charles Fourie of Safland Property Group Namibia added there was a strong possibility that Game could come on board as a tenant.

“There is also a possibility that the area opposite Dunes Mall next to the Walvis Bay Weighbridge could be divided and sold to owners of hardware stores such as BUCO and CTM to complement the existing retail.”

Kallie van der Merwe the CEO of Safland congratulated the contractor and the Atterbury team on progress made and said the aim of the development was to create an environment that will enable shoppers to enjoy and experience shopping in the most entertaining manner.

“We are now at a very delicate stage of the development and have appointed one of Africa’s leading commercial property services companies the Broll Property Group to manage Dunes Mall.”

Safland, Tradehold and Atterbury with retail property investments in Southern Africa, West Africa and Europe are the major shareholders in Dunes Mall.

Atterbury is the development manager with leasing functions a combined responsibility between Safland and Atterbury.

The new L-shaped mall, which is equipped with a main entrance into an open restaurant court with eateries positioned around a central fountain and play area as well as two additional entrances, will offer shoppers approximately 30 000 square metres of shopping space.

Tenants have already been identified for the bulk of this rentable area and a total of 80 tenants will be accommodated.

Financial services will include branches from Nedbank, Bank Windhoek supplemented by a number of ATMs.

Motorists can look forward to an open on grade parking area equally spread around three entrances leading into the mall. The parking area consists of 1 000 parking bays that is wider than ordinary bays to accommodate the preferred larger 4x4 vehicles driven by locals and tourists in the area.

Dunes Mall strategically positioned on the main roads connecting Walvis Bay with Swakopmund and Windhoek on the main road from the airport to the CBD and this allows for easy access for shoppers.

OTIS FINCK

Manager remanded in custody over corruption

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Manager remanded in custody over corruption A TransNamib manager was yesterday denied bail in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court where he was appearing on two charges of corruption.

Magistrate Venatius Alweendo denied bail to TransNamib's head of procurement, Chris Simataa. He was arrested following a sting operation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). He remains in custody at the Windhoek police station. The case was adjourned until 29 September but another bail hearing might take place next week.

It is alleged Simataa on or about 17 July in the Windhoek district accepted N$50 000 from a certain Jannie Basson for the award of a scrap management tender. Simataa is charged under the ACC Act for corruptly using his office or position for gratification and for corruptly accepting gratification as a reward.

State prosecutor Bernadine Bertolini opposed Simataa's bail application due to the seriousness of the alleged offence. Bertolini argued that the investigations into the alleged corruption are still in an infant stage and the state was afraid that if Simataa was granted bail he would interfere with police investigations.

She said some of the outstanding matters in the investigation are a transcript of a recording, an MTC printout of cellphone correspondence, as well as an accompanying statement and photo plan. Statements from state witnesses are also still to be done.



CATHERINE SASMAN

Academia plunged into mourning

July 20, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Academia plunged into mourningPupils shattered by classmates' death It has been an incredibly difficult period for the Windhoek school following the sudden death of two of its learners. The last time Vistorina Hofeni's teacher saw her on her feet is when she asked whether being a journalist is a good career.

The 18-year-old Hofeni along with three other male learners were involved in a horrible car accident on the Western Bypass on 19 June. One of the three boys, the 17-year-old Tjiunatjo Kangorondueza, died on 8 July, while Hofeni died a week later on Saturday last week.

Hofeni's class teacher at the Academia Secondary School in Windhoek, Cecilia Ashipala, said she feels betrayed because Hofeni was recovering so well over the past few days.

A visibly shocked Ashipala related how she had found her learners strewn across the veld, barely seconds after the accident.

“I think the Lord had arranged it that I decided to take that same route on that particular day. When I arrived on the scene I found my children lying there. It really traumatised me, because we teachers become like second parents to our learners and to find your child on the ground motionless is nothing but a tragedy,” she said.

Ashipala, who is still shaken after receiving the bad news on Saturday, said the class is traumatised because they were planning to visit her this Saturday.

She always encouraged and urged her classmates to be positive and to pray for her recovery and she seemed to have been recovering well.

“They were writing a test on Monday after receiving the bad news but it was a terrible day. Everyone was crying while writing the test… imagine how this will affect them during the exams,” she said.

One of the surviving learners, Joseph Hangula, said the accident rests heavily on him since he had called Hofeni to join them in the taxi because they needed an extra person.

“I know I should not blame myself but I still think she would have still been alive had she not been with us in the taxi,” he said.

Hangula, who is still wearing an arm cast after sustaining injuries in the accident, said he remembers the last few minutes before the accident very clearly.

“We were joking and laughing and then it all went quiet for a second… I think I was the only one that saw the car approaching and then it went quiet,” he said, rubbing his forehead.

Most troubling, however, are his memories of Kangorondueza who so badly looked forward to their matric farewell next year.

“He was so excited about the farewell and talked about it the whole time. He was even bragging about how he would look the best on that day,” he said.

The other survivor, Jeremia Hamutenya, said he remembers nothing from the accident but recalls Hofeni as a very friendly and accommodating person.

The school's principal Herman Rust described both learners as well-behaved and disciplined. According to him they had been absent for the first time this year the day after the terrible accident.



JEMIMA BEUKES