Accident victim remains ready for retrieval

August 3, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Accident victim remains ready for retrieval The Namibian police are requesting families and relatives of victims who died in a horrific motor vehicle accident on 30 April to come and retrieve the remains of the deceased persons.

The accident took place on the Otjiwarongo-Okahandja main road at around 16:00.

The head of the police's public relations division Deputy Commissioner, Edwin Kanguatjivi in a media statement requested for the relatives to visit the Windhoek Police Mortuary.

“The disaster victim identification process is complete and the remains are ready for retrieval,” Kanguatjivi said.

He explained it was not necessary for family members whose DNA samples were taken to retrieve the remains, but any relative could visit the mortuary and claim the remains.

The remains being referred to are those of 10 people who burnt beyond recognition after an Iveco bus caught fire.

Warrant Officer Shatipamba can be contacted and the Namibian police humbly apologises for any inconvenience that this necessary but long process may have caused.

The police further extended its sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families, Kanguatjivi said.

NAMPA

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Air Nam 'not confirming' debt to NAC

August 3, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Air Nam 'not confirming' debt to NACAirline admits cash-flow problems The national airline says it is paying creditors what it can afford. Air Namibia says it cannot “confirm or deny” owing the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) N$200 million for the use of the eight airports the latter is managing.

“This is normal in any transactional business,” Air Namibia's manager of corporate communications, Paulus Nakawa, said yesterday.

“The relationship between the two sister companies is enduring and ongoing, therefore we reserve our right not to say anything on the debt.”

It was reported that the NAC had threatened to ban Air Namibia from operating from the airports and to take the airline to court over the unpaid airport fees.

“Air Namibia has a legacy debt with the NAC, which the airline services within existing financial constraints,” Nakawa said.

He admitted that the airline's financial woes remain “unfavourable” as a result of a number of factors.

He said the downgrade of the Hosea Kutako International Airport by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in 2014 had a negative impact on Air Namibia from which it had not yet fully recovered.

Nakawa said the management teams of Air Namibia and NAC were engaged in talks “to ensure that our operations and cooperation continue optimally amid challenges that are normal in any working relationship or institutions”.

“As the principal client to NAC we may have our shortcomings, however, we always try in the best possible way how we can find solutions through ongoing engagements with our business partners such as the NAC,” Nakawa said.

He said Air Namibia had made a payment to the NAC in June but added that that might not have “satisfied” the NAC's expectations.

“However, the payment made is what Air Namibia could afford to pay for the month having considered its other obligations,” Nakawa said.

He said while NAC had all the right to demand that Air Namibia meet its obligations, neither organisation could exist without the other.

In the event of a ban on the use of the airports, Air Namibia stated: “The operations of the national airline will be severely affected and the consequences to the national economy will be dire. The NAC too shall be affected negatively with respect to its cash flow and if NAC opts to close the operations for Air Namibia at its operated airports, that action will be bizarre to Namibia and it will leave irreparable damage.”

CATHERINE SASMAN

Swakop murder suspects appear today

August 3, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Swakop murder suspects appear today Four men accused of the murder of an elderly Swakopmund woman on Wednesday will appear in the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court today.

Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu of the Erongo police yesterday confirmed that four suspects were arrested and all stolen items were recovered.

The main suspect, who had done work for the elderly couple, was arrested on Wednesday while trying to flee the town and all the stolen property was found in his possession.

A second suspect was arrested yesterday morning around 03:00 in the DRC suburb near Mondesa.

The home invasion happened on Wednesday morning between 08:00 and 09:00 when the suspects entered a house at 33 Richthofen Street in the Vineta residential area.

“The suspects used a duplicate key and entered the room where the 79-year-old Rosvietha Sieglinde Strzelecki was. It is suspected that they grabbed Rosvietha Sieglinde Strzelecki by the neck, hit her head against a wall and strangled her to death,” Iikuyu said.

“In the process her husband, 81-year-old Siegfried Paul Strzelecki, who was in another room, heard the noise and went to investigate.

“The masked men threatened Siegfried Strzelecki with knives and demanded money. They tried to open the safe with a key that had been missing for some time but fortunately, the couple had changed the lock.

“They assaulted and tied up Siegfried Strzelecki with nylon ropes. The men left the key in the safe, went to the lounge and took one Huawei cellphone valued N$8 000, the remote control of the house alarm, the sandals of the deceased, cash of N$1 000 and ran away.

“Mr Strzelecki managed to untie himself and reported the matter to the neighbours, who notified the police. Mrs Strzelecki was confirmed dead at the scene by the paramedics of E-med Rescue. Mr Strzelecki was taken to Cottage Hospital and is in a stable condition,” he said.

ADOLF KAURE

Escaped rhino to be returned to Etosha

August 3, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Escaped rhino to be returned to Etosha The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has confirmed that the stray rhino reported by Onkani villagers had escaped from Etosha National Park and that it is safe.

The ministry's spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, said ministry officials were trying to capture the rhino and return it to Etosha with the assistance of the police.

People at Onkani village in the Otamanzi constituency of the Omusati Region reported seeing a stray rhino in their area on Wednesday.

Muyunda said ministry officials were immediately sent to Onkani to protect the endangered animal from poachers.

“Our officials are there with assistance of the Namibian police trying to capture it. I communicated with the Etosha park manager but they said that they had not captured it yet. The police have made a helicopter available to help us make sure that is well protected,” Muyunda said yesterday afternoon.

Muyunda warned people not to go near the rhino.

“Rhinos have poor vision. Whenever they see any object approaching them, they attack in self-defence,” he said.

A source told Namibian Sun that the rhino was still in the area and the plan was to take it back to Etosha today.

“It is not aggressive and they are monitoring it with a helicopter as well. The team that will capture it is coming tomorrow. Currently there are only those who are guarding it,” the source said.

ILENI NANDJATO

Two rhinos poached in Etosha

August 3, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Two rhinos poached in Etosha ELLANIE SMIT

Two more rhinos have been killed by poachers in Etosha National Park, bringing the total so far this year to 21.

According to the police, the carcasses of a rhino cow and a calf were discovered on Monday morning in the Duineveld area of Etosha.

A member of the police and an official of the ministry of environment who were patrolling the area spotted circling vultures and drove closer to investigate.

According to the police, the patrol then found two fresh rhino carcasses with gunshot wounds.

No arrests have been made yet and police investigations are continuing.

Poaching incidents have escalated from three rhinos in 2012 to nine in 2013, 56 in 2014, 95 in 2015 and 60 in 2016.

Most incidents of rhino poaching have been in the Etosha National Park and in communal conservancies and tourism concession areas in north-western Namibia. However, there is now a growing trend of rhinos being poached on commercial farmland.

Eleven of the rhinos poached this year were shot in Etosha, while five were killed the Otjozondjupa Region, three in Kunene, one in Erongo and one in Omaheke.

The environment minister, Pohamba Shifeta, recently said that the ministry intended to reduce rhino-poaching cases by 50% by the end of 2018, and to increase the number of arrests by 50%.

Syndicate targets Namwandi cattle

August 3, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Syndicate targets Namwandi cattleSupreme Court rules stock-theft sentences unconstitutional While stock theft continues unabated in Namibia, the Supreme Court has ruled the minimum sentences of 20 and 30 years as not only disproportionate but also unconstitutional. STAFF REPORTER



The Otjozondjupa police have confirmed that 20 cattle were stolen at Farm Oliewenhof owned by former education minister David Namwandi.

The farm is situated less than 40 kilometres east of Grootfontein.

The police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Maureen Mbeha, urged farmers in the region to monitor and count their stock on a regular basis.

Namwandi’s cattle were recovered last Monday at the Grootfontein auction pens.

The cattle were allegedly stolen by a syndicate headed by his farm foreman.

Mbeha said the foreman, Edward Hwara, was arrested at the auction pens on 24 July, where he had transported the cattle for sale.

He appeared before the Grootfontein Magistrate’s Court on Monday on a charge of stock theft and was denied bail. He is expected to return to court on 27 September 2017.

It is alleged that Hwara planned to steal 40 head of cattle from his employer with the assistance of two accomplices, who are still on the run.

He allegedly first identified the 20 recovered cattle, changed the animals’ ear tags and transported them to the auction pens together with his accomplices, said Mbeha.

The police were monitoring him until his arrest at the auction pens. Mbeha said the estimated value of the 20 recovered cattle was N$160 000.

Stock-theft sentences unconstitutional

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has ruled that the minimum sentences prescribed by sections 14(1) (a)(ii) and (b) of the Stock Theft Act 12 of 1990 are unconstitutional and invalid.

The court upheld an earlier High Court ruling in this regard, which was brought on appeal to the Supreme Court by the prosecutor-general.

Protasius Daniel and Willem Pieter, in separate applications, had approached the High Court seeking orders declaring the minimum sentences unconstitutional. In their papers before the court, they said that the minimum sentences prescribed by the two sections of the Stock Theft Act were contrary to the provisions of articles 8(2)(b) and 10(1) of the constitution.

The sentences prescribed in terms of the two sections are a minimum of 20 and a minimum of 30 years, respectively.

The prosecutor-general had opposed both applications and argued that the impugned provisions were not unconstitutional. She further argued that the constitutional challenge brought by Daniel and Pieter was inappropriate.

The attorney-general and the government had conceded that the provisions indeed violated article 8(2)(b) but denied that both subsections violated article 10(1) of the constitution.

The High Court, in its ruling, had instructed the removal of the words "for a period not less than 30 years" and "for a period not less than 30 years" from the two sections of the Act.

On appeal to the Supreme Court, the prosecutor-general as appellant argued that it was not necessary or appropriate for the court to decide the constitutional issue as the first and second respondents (Daniel and Pieter) had the right to appeal against their sentences. She also argued that the sections under attack did not violate the said articles of the constitution.

The prosecutor-general further argued that the order by the High Court failed to take into account the doctrine of separation of powers.

Daniel and Pieter, on the other hand, contended that they were entitled to approach the High Court with their applications.

On the second issue, they maintained that the sentencing benchmark was inconsistent with the provisions of the constitution. They further contended that as both sections of the Act are unconstitutional and invalid, the order of the High Court ought to be confirmed by the Supreme Court.

Chief Justice Peter Shivute and judges Sylvester Mainga and Johan Strydom upheld the High Court’s ruling, saying it was entirely correct in entertaining the constitutional challenge by the first and second respondents despite the fact that they also had the right to appeal against their sentences.

The full bench of the Supreme Court further held that “the minimum sentences under attack are unconstitutional because of their disproportionality”.

The court further held that in view of the findings relating to the unconstitutionality of the impugned provisions, there is no need to refer back the impugned provisions to the legislature for possible correction. Instead, parliament in its discretion may craft a solution.

The attorney-general and government attorney were listed as third and fourth respondents in the matter.

The appeal was dismissed with costs.

Norman Tjombe appeared for Daniel and Pieter while GB Coleman appeared for the prosecutor-general. - Additional reporting by Nampa

King's son-in-law blames Walenga in apology

August 3, 2017, 4:00 pm

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King's son-in-law blames Walenga in apology Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas's son-in-law, Petrus Shambo Martin, yesterday apologised to the royal family for offensive remarks that he had made during a recorded telephone conversation that went viral on social media.

The comments made during a conversation with a friend in May were deemed “disrespectful, slanderous and false” by the Ondonga Traditional Authority in a statement issued in June.

In the same statement, the traditional authority dismissed Martin, who is married to one of the king's daughters, as headman of Okadhimeti village and traditional councillor for Onyelelo in the Ondangwa district.

At a media briefing in Ondangwa yesterday, Martin blamed fired senior councillor for Ondangwa district John Walenga for leaking the recording.







He said he had wanted to apologise to the king, but was denied access by the traditional authority.

“I called the Ondonga Traditional Authority requesting an audience with the king, who is also my father-in-law. They told me that it was fine and I travelled from Windhoek,” he said yesterday under heavy guard.



“On Wednesday when I was ready to go see the king, I met the king's new councillors, but they told me that they could only grant me permission to see the king if I apologised publicly for the offensive remarks I had made in the audio. They also forced me to make the apology in writing.”



Martin said he didn't organise the media briefing, adding that he didn't need journalists to apologise to the king.



“I never requested this media briefing, but it was [done] by force. What I requested was an audience with the king, who is also my father-in-law. My wife and children also want to have an audience with their father and grandfather. I do not need media to do so,” Martin said.



He further questioned why the event was not held at the Ondonga palace.



The traditional authority's representatives - Oscar Sheehama and recently appointed senior councillor of Amuteya district Jerry Kambala - declined to comment during the media conference.



Martin said he was betrayed by Walenga. He accused Walenga of circulating the audio recording in order to advance his agenda against the Ondonga royal family.



“I suspect him because during this conversation I was with him in his office. After I finished talking he told me to send him the recording and later I was told that the recording went viral on social media. I called him to ask why he did that, but he said that it was already done,” he said.







Denial



Approached for comment, Walenga denied that such a recording was made in his office.



“There are several audios denouncing me and how can I allow him to say such things about me while in my office? This is news to me and I never knew he was like that as a leader,” Walenga said.



Walenga continued that Martin called him on Wednesday and yesterday morning informing him that the Ondonga Traditional Authority had forced him to issue an apology.



“He told me that he was going to apologise and he also gave me his reasons why he is doing it. I told him that if it is fine with him, he can go ahead with it. I am not involved in this and I am surprised to hear all these.”

Schools, hostels close earlier

August 3, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Schools, hostels close earlier Government schools and hostels will close three days earlier at the end of this term but the move will not affect students or their studies, the education ministry assured parents and interested parties.

The education ministry yesterday confirmed that the last day of school for learners will be on Friday, 18 August and not Wednesday, 23 August, as initially scheduled.

Learners in state hostels will be required to vacate their rooms on Friday.

Teachers and hostel staff are not affected by the earlier closures and will remain on duty until 23 August and the completion of their duties.

“It should be noted that this early closure does not affect teaching and learning because learners will only be released once examinations are completed,” education spokesperson Johanna Absalom said.

She added that the ministry decided to release learners early due to administrative arrangements in accordance with Circular form ED. 7 of 2017.

The ministry also announced that the last day of the third term will be Friday, 1 December 2017. Hostel residents will have to vacate the hostels on the same day.

The initial school closing date was Tuesday, 5 December.

Permanent secretary Sanet Steenkamp yesterday explained that the tweaks to the school calendar were merely a re-enforcement of existing guidelines.

“It has been the standing rule that teachers have to utilise the last three school days to complete their administrative duties. By that time all teaching and learning as per prescribed curriculum is concluded the Friday before, that is, in this particular term, 18 August 2017.”

She said the ministry was “only re-formalising this arrangement to provide adequate time for concluding all school administration and prepare adequately for the start of the new term.”

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Forestry halts 'illegal' logging

August 3, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Forestry halts 'illegal' loggingFears Zambezi would be stripped of its forests Stacks of precious rosewood have been found in shipping containers presumably heading for China despite an agreement to stop all logging 10 days ago. The forestry department of the agriculture ministry confirmed yesterday that trucks belonging to Chinese outfit New Force Logistics carrying possibly illegally harvested wood had been stopped at Katima Mulilo.

The head of the forestry department, Joseph Hailwa, said “some containers loaded” with timber had been stopped “until we can sort out the problem”.

Investigative reporter John Grobler posted on his Facebook page that the trucks were on their way to Walvis Bay from Katima Mulilo and urged traffic police at Divundu and Kongola to be on the lookout for the trucks, which he claimed were loaded with trees illegally felled in the Katima Mulilo area.

Grobler posted that the Chinese owner of New Force Logistics, alleged wildlife and timber trafficker Hou Xue Cheng, was “utterly illegally and without the necessary permits” logging the precious trees, saying Cheng would want to move the timber out of a lumberyard as soon as possible before he could be stopped there.

According to the agriculture ministry New Force Logistics never obtained a logging permit and neither had the ministry agreed to sell any trees to the company.





New Force Logistics reportedly started cutting down precious African rosewood and teak trees within the 1 700-hectare site for which joint venture MK Capital Investments/Okalongo Investment got a de-bushing and ripping tender at Katima Farm and Liselo irrigation project.

One of the shareholders of the joint venture, Leonard Iipumbu, who is the government's chief of protocol, would not comment on the tender or on New Force Logistics' involvement in the logging, saying he does not respond to “rumours”.

Nelius Becker of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said according to the general conditions of the contract with the joint venture, “all waste material” can be removed from the site being cleared for an irrigation project.



The contractor – the joint venture in this instance – can price the selling of wood harvested from large trees located within the irrigation fields provided that this is requested from the ministry.



The community and forestry experts have complained that many of the trees now being removed are irreplaceable and questioned the sanity of removing these trees.



“It is true that some of the trees are protected; however, the government has decided to change that particular area of land use from forested land to a crop-production area.



“It is not easy or productive to produce agricultural crops while the forest covers the land being cultivated. Thus the procedure was followed to undertake an environmental impact assessment study and advertise the work, and the area is to be cleared to pave the way for crop production, resulting in some of those protected trees being removed,” the agriculture ministry said.



Human rights organisation NamRights reported in mid-June that New Force Logistics was continuing undeterred to cut down protected Mukula trees in broad daylight and with the full knowledge of the police and the forestry department.



From pictures provided by NamRights, it would, however, appear that the timber logged by the company is the equally precious African rosewood, which is highly sought after in China.



The executive director of NamRights, Phil ya Nangoloh, said New Force Logistics first transported the logs on a flatbed truck. When that attracted too much attention, he said, the company started using closed shipping containers.



Ya Nangoloh said it would appear that the Chinese company was bribing local chiefs to illegally cut down the trees.



A Chinese national attached to New Force Logistics, only identified as Josy for he would not give his full name, denied that the company was cutting any trees but admitted that it was transporting the logs to Walvis Bay.



“It is not me cutting the trees,” Josy insisted. “MK Construction has a permit; not me. My company transports the load only.”



Josy said the logging was happening within the boundary of the tender site.



“Why not?” Josy offered.



This, however, was questioned by Willem Odendaal, coordinator of the Legal Assistance Centre's Land, Environment and Development (LEAD) project.



Odendaal said an informant had alerted the LAC that the illegal logging was taking place outside the boundary of the de-bushing tender.



Hailwa yesterday confirmed that some logging had “exceeded the boundary” of the tender site and admitted that some of the logging took place in the area of the Caprivi State Forest.



He said an agreement had been reached 10 days ago that all logging would be stopped until the forestry directorate could give “proper guidance” about where logging could take place.



However, no arrests were so far made because it is a “very complex matter” involving a number of players involved, Hailwa said.

Court rules in favour of Nekundi, Kapere

August 4, 2017, 3:49 am

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Court rules in favour of Nekundi, Kapere High Court Judge Shafimana Ueitele this morning dismissed an urgent application lodged by Swapo Party Youth League members Imms Nashinge and Sioni Ikela which sought to challenge the authority of its acting secretary, Veikko Nekundi. The case was dismissed with Ueitele saying the reasons will be provided on 18 August this year. The applicants were seeking an order to interdict and restraint the SPYL acting leader from proceeding in any way with the implementation of the resolutions and or decisions, including the convening of a congress, taken at the meeting of the SPYL central committee on 13 May 2017. Nashinge and Ikela further wanted the High Court to declare as invalid, unlawful and unconstitutional all resolutions taken at the 13 May 2017 meeting. The meeting was boycotted by some central committee members. They also wanted the nomination of Mandela Kapere as a candidate for the position of secretary set aside and declared inconsistent with the provisions of the SPYL constitution. Kapere has now emerged as the leading favourite to land the role of SPYL secretary at its elective congress slated for Katima Mulilo starting on 23 August this year.
STAFF REPORTER

NDF pioneer General Amupolo remembered

August 6, 2017, 6:06 am

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NDF pioneer General Amupolo remembered Retired NDF general Martin Shalli has eulogised the late Brigadier-General Erasmus Kayambu Amupolo who died in a car accident on Thursday evening as a liberation struggle stalwart. Amupolo, who retired from the NDF in 2014, last served as head of the 26 Motorised Infantry Brigade in Grootfontein. “He was the greatest fighter of our liberation struggle and was a source of inspiration; he really was a good man, a great leader and a committed cadre of the liberation struggle,” said Shalli. Former PLAN commander and defence permanent secretary Erastus Negonga also paid tribute to the late Amupolo. “The country has lost a pioneer of the defence force. He was an easy guy and a brave commander and gave courage to his troops,” said Negonga.
STAFF REPORTER

Athletes acknowledged for hard work

August 6, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Athletes acknowledged for hard workNSC applauds sport federations The Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) recognised three sport federations for doing exceptionally well in competitions last month. The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU), Namibia Football Association and the Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC) have been recognised by the Namibia Sport Commission for their performances in July.

The federations were represented by Rodger Thompson (Rugby Union), Barry Rukoro (NFA), and Michael Hamukwaya (NPC).

The Welwitschias won the RA gold Cup by beating Kenya 45-7. The team has walked away with the cup for the last five years.

The Brave Warriors, led by coach Ricardo Mannetti, defeated Zimbabwe in the second round of the African Nations Championship to move one step closer to their first appearance at the finals.

The team will face Comoros on 13 August.

Para-athletes managed to bring home three silver medals from the 2017 World Para-Athletics Championships.

These achievements prompted NSC chief administrator Freddy Mwiya to invite them to a recognition ceremony. Mwiya said although the NSC was unable to reward them with money, their efforts were noted.

“Every sport code which performs well will be invited, acknowledged, applauded by the biggest sporting governing body in the country.

“We appreciate the efforts made by the athletes and their coaches for the country. I know many sport codes are faced with financial constraints, hence the small budget we give them to carry out their duties.

“I'm grateful for the rugby team for taking the little we give them and seeking more funds from the corporates. We are grateful for your hard work and commitment,” he said.

The director of disability sports in the Ministry of Sport, Jo-Anne Manuel, said sport is a unifier of countries and can also be used to fight unemployment. She said many young people in Namibia could be uplifted though engagement in sport.

“With the NDP5 we are calling for the professionalising of sport and this can only be achieved if corporates join us to develop young people,” she said.

She encouraged the Brave Warriors to fight for a win against the Comoros in honour of the memory of the late Robbie Savage. Savage was a diehard supporter of the national football team. Barry Rukoro said he would like people to look at sport in Namibia with a different eye and to open their hearts and pockets to support local athletes.

He further said that he was impressed with the way the rugby team and the football team supported each other when they both faced tough competition. “I hope that spirit can continue always,” he said.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Skinner, Wantenaar excel at World Champs

August 6, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Skinner, Wantenaar excel at World Champs Young swimming sensation Xander Skinner excelled at the recently ended Fina world championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Skinner achieved the highest Fina points with 778 with his swim of 51.00 seconds in the 100m freestyle for men. He also came first in his heat with this swim.

The 100m competition attracted 113 swimmers.

Ronan Wantenaar performed brilliantly by breaking three Namibian records with his swim of 58.91 seconds and 681 Fina points in the 100m backstroke. He broke the men's 15-16 age group record as well as the men's open record, both of which were previously held by Lushano Lamprecht in a time of 58.94 seconds.

Wantenaar also broke the men's 15-16 50m breaststroke record with a time of 30.27 seconds, which amounted to 664 Fina points.

Kiah Borg, the only female swimmer on the team, took part in the women's 200m breaststroke and finished in a time of 2:48, amounting to 562 Fina points.

The Namibian Swimming Union (Nasu) recently held their course gala where 15 individual records were broken, with 156 swimmers taking part in the 704 individual events.

Another short-course gala took place last weekend at the Dolphins Swimming Club's indoor pool at Windhoek High School.

Nasu also elected new members at the annual general meeting for the year.



They are: Wilfried Pose (president), Joachim von Alvensleben (vice-president), Imme Hucke-McFarlan (treasurer), Angelika Diekmann (general secretary), Ingo Buchert (national recorder), Petrina Mwetulundil (member), Cobus Oberholzer (member), Ron Weber (member), Jurie Badenhorst (member), Jurgen Johannessen (member) and Ju-Ane Oberholzer (member).

SPORT REPORTER

Waiting for a place to call his own

August 6, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Waiting for a place to call his ownLack of land delays construction of Shikongo's house Ananias Shikongo is still waiting for the house Standard Bank promised him in 2016 at the Disability Sports Namibia (DSN) Awards ceremony. Paralympian Ananias Shikongo has not yet received a house promised to him by Standard Bank Namibia, seven months after signing a contract in this regard.

Standard Bank Namibia says this is because of delays in acquiring an erf on which to build the house.

The bank's acting Head of Marketing, Sigrid Tjijorokisa, told Nampa that the bank had not yet managed to acquire a plot but the funds for Shikongo's house, a donation by Standard Bank Namibia, have been allocated and are ready for deployment.

“The project is being delayed because we are engaging with the relevant stakeholders, which obviously takes time.

“We take cognisance of and respect the fact that the stakeholders concerned have their own internal processes. Priorities and constraints will not interfere with institutional decision-making,” she said.

In November 2016, during the Disability Sports Namibia (DSN) Awards ceremony, the bank pledged N$500 000 to build a house for Shikongo.

In January this year, the Paralympic gold medallist and the bank signed an agreement for the construction of his house through its 'Buy a Brick' corporate social investment programme, launched in October 2015, which now uses Shikongo as its ambassador.

The visually impaired athlete won one gold and two bronze medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazi,l last September.

Shikongo told Nampa last week that he was surprised that the City of Windhoek had not yet made land available for the construction of his house.

“I really don't know if the City of Windhoek doesn't know who Ananias is and what I did to put this country on the map.

“I am really not sure how long it is going to take for the land to be allocated but the bank told me we are having a meeting this week to discuss what progress has been made with finding land,” he said.

Tjijorokisa added that their commitment to Shikongo still stood and they were doing everything in their power to realise this dream.

NAMPA

Gladiators to take part in Cosafa championship

August 6, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Gladiators to take part in Cosafa championship The national women's football team is preparing to compete in the upcoming 2017 Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) women's football championship.

The fifth edition of the Cosafa championship is scheduled for Bulawayo in Zimbabwe from 13 to 24 September.

Women's football chairperson Jackie Gertze told Nampa that 12 countries would participate. They are: Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and the Seychelles. Speaking to Nampa via telephone from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Football Association vice-president and chairperson of the local organising committee Omega Sibanda said the preparations were at an advanced stage. “We are expecting Cosafa officials in the host city of Bulawayo next week to assess how the preparations are going. We promise an exciting tournament,” he said. Sibanda added that hosting the women's tournament in Bulawayo would be good for the city as its residents have been starved of international football. The Brave Gladiators' training started three weeks ago with participation in the Khomas Boys' Under-17 League. The last Cosafa women's championships were held in Harare six years ago, with the hosts beating South Africa by one goal to nil to win the trophy. This is the third time that Zimbabwe is hosting the Cosafa women's football tournament, having hosted the event in 2002 and 2011.

Zambia and Angola hosted the tournament in 2006 and 2008 respectively. South Africa has won the most titles with three wins in 2002, 2006 and 2008. Brave Gladiators coach Jacquie Shipanga has named her 23-member squad that will do duty in Zimbabwe.

Goalkeepers: Lydia Eixas, Agnes Kauzuu and Mellisa Matheus.

Defenders: Uerikondjera Kasaona, Ndapewa Katuta, Stacey Naris, Esther Amukwaya, Lovisa Mulunga, Lorraine Jossop, Veweziwa Kotjipati and Lydiana Nanamus.

Midfielders: Twelikondjela Amukoto, Martina Tjauha, Elina Uulumbu, Juliana Skrywer, Vistoria Shangula, Juliana Blou, Thomalina Adams and Memory Ngonda.

Forwards: Zenatha Coleman, Anna Shikusho, Sara Antsino and Caroline Kaitjizemine.

NAMPA

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Iiyamakuti oya simanekwa unene shi vulithe oomwenyo dhaantu – National Council

August 6, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Iiyamakuti oya simanekwa unene shi vulithe oomwenyo dhaantu – National Council Ontotwaveta tayi ithanwa 'Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Amendment Bil' okwa hololwa kutya otayi simaneke iiyamakuti unene okuyeleka noomwenyo dhaantu.

Shoka osha holowa kiilyo yoNational Council oshiwike sha piti.

Elalakano enene lyomalunduluko ngoka taga ningwa mOmpango yEgameno lyIimamakuti okutula po ekondololo nokugwedhela iifuta yomageelo oshowo omageelo goomvula odhindji mondjeedhililo kwaamboka taya ka pogola ompango ndjoka.

Kansela gwomoshitopolwa shaTjozondjupa, Steve Biko Boois okwa lombwele Egumbo lyOmutumba gwoPashigwana kutya omageelo ngoka omape otaga nanene aantu moluhepo.

Boois okwa popi kutya omalunduluko ngoka ga ningwa otaga ulike kutya okwa simanekwa unene iinamwenyo pehala lyoomwenyo dhaantu, ndhoka dha gamenwa andola mEkotampango.

Okwa popi kutya otashi ulike kutya Namibia okwa ninga evi ndyoka lya simaneka owala eliko nokutula esimano miinima shi vulithe oomwenyo dhaantu.

Kansela okwa popi kutya iiyamakuti oya pumbwa okugamenwa ihe inashi pitilila pesimaneko ndyoka tali pewa aantu molwaashoka aaleli inaya hogololwa kiiyamakuti.

Kansela a za moshitopolwa shaKavango West,

Nakambare Haikera okwa popi kutya omageelo ngoka geli pombanda itaga ka shunitha pevi uukongo waheli paveta moshilongo.

Okwa popi kutya okwa pumbwa woo okugwedhelwa iifuta hayi pewa aakwashigwana uuna ya monithwa iiponga kiiyamakuti nenge poompito mpoka ya dhipagwa nenge ya yonagulilwa omaliko gawo.

Monena ngele omuntu okwa dhipaga oshinamwenyo shoka sha gamenwa ota futithwa

N$100 000, omanga epangelo hali futu akwanezimo yomuntu a dhipagwa koshiyamakuti ooN$5 000.

Pethimbo lyoonkundathana dhopashigwana ndhoka dha ningwa naakwashigwana yomuhoko gwAayelele, moTsukwe, oya lombwele Ombudsman John Walters kutya oye wete oomwenyo dhawo inadhi simanekwa, nopehala okwa simanekwa unene iiyamakuti, na oye wete kutya otaya ningilwa okatongo.



NAMPA

Ompangu ya tokola muuwanawa waNekundi naKapere

August 6, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Ompangu ya tokola muuwanawa waNekundi naKapere Omupanguli mOmpangu yoPombanda, Shafimana Ueitele ongula yEtitano okwa ekelehi eindilo lyompangu ndyoka lya ningwa kiilyo yoSwapo Party Youth League, Imms Nashinge naSioni Ikela mbyoka tayi ningile omapulo oonkondo dhaVeikko Nekundi onga amushanga gwewawa ndyoka.

Eindilo ndyoka olya ekelwahi naUeitele okwa popi kutya omatompelo otaga ka gandjwa momasiku 18 gaAguste.

Aaningi yeindilo ndyoka oya li taya pula ompangu opo yi ninge etokolo kutya ngoka ta longo pehala lyamushanga gwEwawa lyAanyasha yOngundu yoSwapo, ke na uuthemba wo ku tula miilonga uutokolitho mboka wa ningwa pethimbo lyomutumba gwoSPYL ngoka gwa ningwa momasiku 13 gaMei mo-2017.

Nashinge naIkela oya popi woo kutya oya hala ompangu opo yi kuthe oonkondo uutokolitho awuhe mboka wa ningwa pethimbo lyomutumba ngoka gwa ningwa momasiku 13 gaMei. Momasiku o-13 gaMei, SPYL oya ningi omutumba ngoka gwa kwatelwa komeho kuNekundi na ogwa pula opo omupresidende Hage Geingob ka kale e na omukondjithi, pethimbo lyomahogololo gaaleli yongundu yoSwapo, mokongressa ndjoka tayi ningwa muNovemba gwonuumvo. Omutumba ngoka ogwa tindwa kiilyo yimwe po yelelo lyoSPYL mbyoka tayi yambidhidha amushanga nale Elijah Ngurare.

Iilyo mbyoka nayo oya hala euliko lyaMandela Kapere onga okandindate momahogololo guuamushanga wEwawa lyAanyasha yOngundu yoSwapo, li kuthwe oonkondo. Kapare okwa hololwa ngashiingeyi kutya ogumwe gwomaaulikwa mboka ya pandika na otashi vulika a ka hogololwe mokongressa ndjoka kwa tegelelwa yi ningwe momasiku 23 gaAguste moKatima Mulilo.

Kapere, ngoka e li woo omunashipundi gwelelo lyoNational Youth Council okwa ulikwa pamwe naEphraim Nekongo naMirjam Nghidipo.

Christine Haindaka, Mogale Karimbue naImmanuel Shikongo oya ulikwa momahoglolo guupeha amushanga.



OMUTOOLINKUNDANA GWOMENI

Egandjo lyevi otali ende kashona

August 6, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Egandjo lyevi otali ende kashonaOkwa pumbwa okutulwa miilonga omukalo gokweendelelitha egandjo lyevi Aanangeshefa mongeshefa yetungo lyomagumbo oya popi kutya omukalo ngoka tagu longithwa komalelo goondoolopa metungo lyomagumbo, ogo tagu pelwa ombedhi ekateko lyegandjo lyevi nokukandulapo ompumbwe yomagumbo moshilongo. Omunangeshefa mongeshefa yelanditho netungo lyomagumbo, Erastus Nikodemus okwa popi kutya omukalo gwoompangela dhoondoolopa odho tadhi shunitha pevi egandjo lyomavi netungo lyomagumbo moondoolopa.

Nikodemus okwa popi kutya onkalo ndjoka otayi uvitha nayi aalandithi yomagumbo oshowo aalandi yomagumbo.

Okwa tsikile kutya onkalo ndjoka otayi londitha pombanda iitungithi yomagumbo nomayakulo naashoka otashi etitha woo e yo pombanda lyondando yomagumbo.

Nikodemus okwa popi kutya okwa pumbwa okutulwa miilonga omulandu ngoka tagu endelelitha egandjo lyevi oshowo etungo lyomagumbo, nokukandula po ompumbwe yomagumbo mokati koshigwana. Nikodemus okwa popi ngaaka pethimbo kwa patululwa pambelelwa Oamuliko gwIipindi mEenhana, mOshitopolwa shaHangwena.

Okwa popi kutya onga oonkambadhala dhokutsakaneka epangelo ondjilakati mokukandula po ompumbwe yomagumbo, ehangano lye otali ka ninga po oompangela yuulethimbo yekandulepo lyompumbwe yomagumbo.

“Muule woomvula ntano dhili komeho, otwa hala okutula miilonga omilandu dhiitungithi oshowo egandjo lyiiyemo yokutungitha kaakwashigwana mboka haya mono iiyemo yili pevi. Okupitila momilandu ndhoka nena otatu ka tulapo esimaneko lyuuntu wAaNamibia, momukalo gwogandja omagumbo kaaNamibia.”

Okwa tsikile kutya opo kwaadhike omalalakano ngoka, oya pumbwa okukondopeka ekwatathano lyawo nepangelo oshowo aakuthimbinga yalwe ayehe nokukalekapo oshili, nuuyuuki miilonga yawo.

Nikodemus okwa pula woo oombaanga dhi konge omukalo gwokugandja omikuli dhomagumbo, komagumbo ngoka ga tungwa niitungitho yimwe po, kakele owala koondhopi noosamende.

Okwa pula woo omalelo goondoolopa ga gandje evi kaatungi kondando yi li pevi nokupitila mekwatathano ndyoka, nena otaku vulu okushunithwa pevi ompumbwe yomagumbo nevi moshilongo.

Omupeha prima, Netumbo Nandi-Ndiatwah okwa pandula Nikodemus omolwa eyambidhidho dhe meyambulepo lyondoolopa yEenhana.

“Onda tseyithiwa kutya Nikodemus okuli omupunguli omunene mEenhana. Shoka sha simana molwaashoka kutya okuli omupunguli mushimwe shomiikondo ine ya nuninwa omayambulepo mbyoka ya totwamo kepangelo sho oshilongo shamanguluka. Otandi popi kombinga yoshikondo shomagumbo shoka shi li omukundu gwa taalela oshilongo. Nikodemus iilonga yoye mokukwashilipaleka onkalonawa yaantu yetu otashi holola ombepo yoHarambee.” Ehangano lyaNikodemus olya mono evi okupitila moprogramma yopublic-private partnership nelelo lyondoolopa yEenhana.

Monena Nikodemus Holdings otayi tungu omagumbo geli 600 gaantu mboka haya mono iiyemo yi li pevi mOmhito extension 2 no 3.



KENYA KAMBOWE

Omuprima a pula engungumano moshigwana

August 6, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Omuprima a pula engungumano moshigwana Omuprima minista gwaNamibia okwa pula oshigwana opo shi kale sha ngungumana sho kwa tegelelwa ku ningwe omutumba gwopashigwana gwoonkundathana dhevi nuumvo.

Omuprima Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila okwa popi ngaaka pethimbo kwa patululwa pambelewa omauliko giipindi goKatutura Expo ngoka ga manithwa mEtine lya piti. Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, okwa popi kutya nonando oshikumungu shevi moshilongo oshi li oshinima oshinene, engungumano olya pumbiwa moshigwana uuna taku kundathanwa iikumungu yevi moshigwana. Omuprima okwa popi kutya ethimbo olya thikana nepangelo oli wete kutya osha simana opo ku ningwe oonkundathana dhopashigwana kombinga yevi.

Pethimbo a gandja oshipopiwa she shopashigwana nuumvo, Omupresidende Hage Geingob naye okwa ppopi kutya oshikumungu shevi oshinina oshinene na Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, pula woo engungumano.

Geingob okwa popi kutya itaku kiidhidhimikilwa mboka itaya iyutha koompango, naakwashigwana ayehe naya landule oompango dhoka dhi li miilonga.

Pethimbo kwa tulwa miilonga omutumba ngoka, uuministeli owa popi kutya sho oshilongo sha manguluka epangelo olya kutha ko evi lyuunene woohecta oomiliyona 36.2 ndhoka dha kuthwa momake gaanafaalama ya thika po 4 664 oshowo oofamili dha thika po- 150 000 ndhoka dha kala moshitopolwa shevi lyoohecta oomiliyona 33.5 mevi lyaayehe. Uuministeli owa popi kutya oofaalama owala 181 dha kala momake gaanafaalama aaludhe.

Uuministeli owa tsikile kutya owa mono oofaalama 502 dhuunene woomiliyona 3.1 dhomoomiliyona 5 dhoka dha pumbiwa okupitila moprogramma yo 'willing seller, willing buyer' kongushu yoshimaliwa shoobiliyona 1.7.

Oofamili dha thika 5 231 odha tulululwa moofaalama ndhoka.

Okupitila moAffirmative Action Loan Scheme programme oohecta dhevi dha thika poomiliyona 3.4 odha monika kongushu yoomiliyona 762. Omutumba gwevi otagu pangelwa okuningwa momwedhi twa taalela.

OGONE TLHAGE

Japanese carmakers bow to Trump

August 6, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Japanese carmakers bow to Trump The Toyota Motor Corporation and rival Mazda Motor Corporation are expected to announce plans on Friday to build a US$1.6 billion US assembly plant as part of a new joint venture, a person briefed on the matter said.

The plant will be capable of producing 300 000 vehicles a year, with production divided between the two automakers, and employ about 4 000 people when it opens in 2021, the person said on Thursday.

A new auto plant would be a major boost to US President Donald Trump, who campaigned on promises to boost manufacturing and expand employment for American autoworkers.

The source, who was not authorised to speak to the media and requested anonymity, said the plant in a yet to be determined US location was expected to build Toyota Corolla cars and a Mazda crossover utility vehicle.

Japan's Nikkei reported earlier on Thursday that Toyota would take a roughly 5 percent stake in Mazda Motor Corp to develop key electric vehicle technologies and jointly build a factory in the United States.

The source who spoke to Reuters confirmed the Japanese carmakers planned future joint efforts on electric vehicles.

Toyota, in a statement, said the two companies have been exploring various areas of collaboration under a May 2015 agreement.

“We intend to submit a proposal to our board of directors today regarding the partnership with Mazda, however, we would like to refrain from providing further comment at this time,” Toyota said in a statement issued by its US operations. Toyota, the world's second largest automaker by vehicle sales in 2016 and Japan's dominant car company, has been forging alliances with smaller Japanese rivals for several years, effectively consolidating the Japanese auto sector.

A new U.S. assembly plant would likely become the prize in a fierce competition among Midwestern and Southern states eager to expand manufacturing jobs.

The new US plant comes demand for cars has fallen sharply. Toyota's US Corolla sales are down nearly 9% this year.

In North America, Toyota builds Corolla cars in Canada and Mississippi and announced plans in 2015 to shift Canadian Corolla production to a new US$1 billion plant in Mexico.

Trump in January criticised Toyota for importing cars to the United States from Mexico. The Republican president also threatened to impose a hefty fee on Toyota if it were to build Corolla cars for the US market at a plant in Mexico.

“Toyota Motor said will build a new plant in Baja, Mexico, to build Corolla cars for US. NO WAY! Build plant in US or pay big border tax,” Trump said in a post on Twitter.

But since January, Trump has praised Toyota for its US investments. Toyota said in January it plans to invest US$10 billion in the United States over the next five years to meet demand. Last month, Trump complimented Toyota for completing its long-planned new North American headquarters in Texas.

“We want to be the car capital of the world once again and we are taking steps to achieve that goal,” Trump wrote.

The White House declined to comment on the Toyota-Mazda joint venture.

NAMPA/REUTERS