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Wildlife Bill values human life less - NC

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Wildlife Bill values human life less - NCWildlife Bill values human life less - NC The Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Amendment Bill places more value on wildlife than human life through the increase of fines, said majority of the National Council last week.

The main intention of the bill is to adjust the control of wildlife products and their trade by increasing fines and the prison term for the possession and trade of controlled wildlife.

Otjozondjupa regional councillor Steve Biko Boois told the National Council that the new fines for poaching of wildlife would send people into a life of poverty.

Boois said the bill creates the impression that it values wildlife or animal life more than human life, which is protected under the constitution.

He said it also creates the idea that Namibia is moving towards a material-based society where more value is placed on material things than life.

“We are not elected by kudus or oryx. We do need to protect them but not at the expense of our people,” Boois said, adding although there is a need for legislation that protects wildlife, importance should be placed on human life.

Kavango West regional councillor Nakambare Haikera noted that fines are not likely to stop poaching; educating people would be more effective to stop pouching in Namibia.

He said there is also a need to increase the compensation for humans killed by wildlife to cover the expenses that follow as a result of the loss.

Currently, a person who kills protected wildlife is fined N$100 000, whilst the government compensates the next of kin of a person killed by wildlife with N$5 000.

Just recently at a public consultation on racial and general discrimination in Namibia, the San community in Tsumkwe told Ombudsman John Walters they feel their lives are regarded as less important than the life of a wild animal.

Walters said the community there expressed unhappiness with the reparation they receive from Government, which is much less than the fine for killing protected wildlife.

“Human-wildlife conflict is an issue and that does not make sense for them. So they regard this as a form of discrimination,” he stated.

NAMPA

Shortcuts lead to corruption – deputy PM

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Shortcuts lead to corruption – deputy PMShortcuts lead to corruption – deputy PM Deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah says business people who seek to be successful by taking shortcuts end up being corrupt.

Nandi-Ndaitwah was speaking at the official opening of the Eenhana Trade and Business Expo last week.

“Shortcuts will lead to corruption and corruption is enemy number one to development. For any economy that is characterised by corruption, it does not grow but rather goes in circles,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

She said business principles adopted by all successful economies include laws and regulations governing trade and investment which must be adhered to.

“We should therefore work with the government to ensure that we follow the rules and regulations while taking into consideration speed and effectiveness. It is only through fairness that trade and investment can bring relief to our people by expanding wealth, creating jobs and taking people out of poverty,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

According to Nandi-Ndaitwah the expo has brought hope to Eenhana, referring to how the town looked like before Namibia gained independence 27 years ago.

“I am one of those who saw Eenhana before independence. At independence, the only visible infrastructure at this place was the tribal office, clinic, primary school and the military base. Today, Eenhana is one of the faster-growing modern towns,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

She also used the opportunity to encourage business people to network with one another.

This year 260 exhibitors were accommodated at the new Eenhana Convention Centre. Some of the exhibitors Namibian Sun interviewed thanked the Eenhana town council for constructing a centre for the town.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Land delivery is too slow

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Land delivery is too slowLand delivery is too slowDeveloper shares insight on housing crisis Alternative construction materials and alternative financing methods are needed to deliver affordable housing, a property developer says. Property developer Erastus Nikodemus says the current town planning processes in local authorities are to be blamed for the delay in land delivery and addressing the housing crisis in the country.

“The bureaucratic nature of the town planning process is causing delays in land delivery and therefore causes frustration especially to property developers and prospective home buyers,” Nikodemus said.

According to Nikodemus effective land and housing delivery is also hindered by financing to service the land and the high cost of construction material, which has an effect on house prices in the end.

“For these reasons, entrepreneurs, various stakeholders and councils need to adapt creative and innovative solutions in addressing these problems,” Nikodemus said at the official opening of the Eenhana Expo last week.

Nikodemus said a scarcity of serviced land has made it difficult for developers to deliver affordable housing.

“There is a serious lack of serviced land in Namibia and it is therefore the responsibility of all stakeholders such as the regional and town councils, the private sector, the government, property developers and commercial financiers to ensure that affordable land for the poorest group is made available, in order to construct starter homes,” Nikodemus explained.

He added that in order to meet the government halfway in addressing the housing needs, his company would develop a long-term plan of providing alternative housing methods.

“Within the next five years, we want to have implemented alternative construction materials and alternative financing methods to cater for affordable housing for low-income individuals and families. Through the provision of these methods, we will restore the dignity of the Namibian people in a way that they can afford and have houses of their own.”

He however noted that in order to achieve this they would need to explore creative ways to deepen their relationship with the government and other stakeholders, which should be a relationship based on honesty, integrity and fairness.

Nikodemus further called on the banks to find a way to finance houses constructed with alternative materials and not just those constructed with bricks and mortar.

Regarding the role local authorities have to play, he said they should make land available at heavily subsidised prices.

“We believe that our partnership with all vital players will contribute towards the alleviation and reduction of housing shortages,” Nikodemus said.

Deputy prime minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndiatwah thanked Nikodemus for his contribution to the development of Eenhana.

“I am reliably informed that Nikodemus is a significant investor in Eenhana. What is more gratifying is that he is investing in a sector that has been identified by the government among the four developmental priorities since independence to date,” Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

“I am specifically referring to the housing sector that remains a challenge throughout the country. Nikodemus, your commitment to pull together in the same direction for the betterment of our people epitomises the spirit of Harambee,” Nandi-Ndaiwah said.

Nikodemus's company acquired land through a public-private partnership with the Eenhana town council in 2012 and has built 230 houses for middle-income groups.

Currently, Nikodemus Holdings is building 600 houses for low-income earners at Omhito extension 2 and 3.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Court rules in favour of Nekundi, Kapere

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Court rules in favour of Nekundi, KapereCourt rules in favour of Nekundi, Kapere High Court Judge Shafimana Ueitele on Friday dismissed an urgent application lodged by Swapo Party Youth League members Imms Nashinge and Sioni Ikela, who sought to challenge the authority of SPYL acting secretary Veikko Nekundi.

The case was dismissed and Ueitele will provide his reasons on 18 August.

The applicants were seeking an order to interdict and restrain the SPYL acting leader from proceeding with the implementation of resolutions and decisions, including the convening of a congress, made at a 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 that meeting.

The meeting, which was headed by Nekundi, resolved that Swapo acting president Hage Geingob should run unopposed for the ruling party's top position at the November congress.

The youth league has been deeply divided in its support for Geingob as party president.

The meeting was boycotted by some central committee members who are mostly loyal to former SPYL secretary Elijah Ngurare.

The applicants 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 favourite to land the role of SPYL secretary at its elective congress starting at Katima Mulilo on 23 August.

Kapere, who is also the National Youth Council executive chairperson, was nominated for the secretary position along with Ephraim Nekongo and Mirjam Nghidipo.

Christine Haindaka, Mogale Karimbue and Immanuel Shikongo were nominated for the deputy secretary position.

STAFF REPORTER

Towns should emulate Oshakati

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Towns should emulate OshakatiTowns should emulate Oshakati The deputy minister of urban and rural development, Derek Klazen, has called on local authorities to emulate the Oshakati town council's efforts in addressing the need for serviced land and decrease the housing backlog in the country.

Klazen was speaking at the Oshakati annual clean-up campaign on Friday.

He said Oshakati was way ahead of other towns when it came to servicing plots and his ministry was impressed with the manner in which Oshakati was tackling the housing crisis.

He said the council had serviced close to 6 000 plots in a short period of time.

Given the housing backlog in Namibia, local authorities should increase their efforts to provide serviced residential plots, he said.

Klazen also acknowledged the efforts by other towns, saying they were doing well but could not be compared to Oshakati.

“We should not do things in isolation and that is why we want to promote Oshakati for others to learn. Others are trying but they do not come near Oshakati, even the capital city,” Klazen said.

Late last year urban and rural development minister Sophia Shaningwa praised Oshakati at the handover of 141 houses at Ekuku constructed under a public-private partnership.

At that occasion she also launched the construction of 600 low-cost houses at Ekuku, which is currently in full swing.

Klazen said people should bear in mind that servicing land is a costly exercise, which means that people should not build shacks on serviced plots.

“We do not want shacks in the country but we want you to have decent houses,” Klazen said.

Local authorities have entered into agreements with developers who are given large sections of un-serviced land and are expected to put up basic services such as sewers, water, electricity and streets.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Call for calm ahead of land conference

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Call for calm ahead of land conference Call for calm ahead of land conference Discussions will not be easy Finding an appropriate and acceptable land ownership and land use model requires pragmatism and great political and social imagination, the prime minister says. OGONE TLHAGE



Prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has asked for cool heads to prevail ahead of the long-anticipated national land conference next month.

The remarks were made last week during the official opening of the Katutura Expo, which concluded yesterday.

According to Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, while the land issue is a sensitive one, calm should be the order of the day when discussions are held on matters related to ownership.

The premier also acknowledged that discussions would not be easy.

“The land question remains a sensitive and complex political, social and economic issue. Finding an appropriate and acceptable land ownership and land use model requires pragmatism and great political and social imagination,” said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.

“I believe all of us have the determination and these qualities to ensure a favourable outcome to the land conference.”

Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said it was now the opportune time to host a nationwide consultative conference on land.

“Government found it important to once again accord the nation a platform to contribute towards the direction towards the current land reform process should take,” she said.

President Hage Geingob acknowledged in his state of the nation address the sensitivities around the land question and like Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, also asked for calm to prevail.

“The emotive and complex issues surrounding land reform require a sincere but difficult conversation. As we prepare for this important dialogue, I urge stakeholders to prepare and submit considered and evidence-based proposals to enrich the discussions,” said Geingob.

Geingob warned that lawlessness would not be condoned and that citizens were required to follow the correct procedures.

“When approaching the land issue, we will not condone lawlessness. Settling on any land without permission is against the law and land grabbing will certainly not be tolerated.”

At the launch of the conference the ministry said that at independence the government inherited a skewed land distribution with 36.2 million hectares owned by 4 664 advantaged farmers and 150 000 families occupying 33.5 million hectares of communal land. The ministry said that only 181 commercial farms were owned by black farmers.

According to the ministry it has acquired 502 farms measuring 3.1 million hectares out of a target of 5 million hectares through the ‘willing seller, willing buyer’ principle at a cost of N$1.7 billion.

At least 5 231 families have been resettled.

Under the Affirmative Action Loan Scheme programme a total of 3.4 million hectares have been acquired at a cost of N$762 million.

Amupolo remembered for bravery

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Amupolo remembered for braveryAmupolo remembered for bravery The late retired Brigadier-General Erasmus Amupolo has been remembered for his bravery and diligence following his passing last week Thursday.

He was 63. Retired army General Martin Shalli described the late Amupolo as a brave cadre of the liberation struggle.

“He was one of the greatest fighters 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, a true patriot a great man who distinguished himself especially during the battle of Vietnam during 1978.”

According to Shalli, the late Amupolo showed great bravery during the battle.

“Despite being wounded he continued fighting in that battle. His dedication is unmatched, he was a good commander. He will be sorely missed and may his soul rest in peace,” said Shalli.

Former army commander and defence ministry permanent secretary Erastus Negonga eulogised Amupolo a pioneer of the defence force.

“The country has lost a pioneer of the defence force. I knew Brigadier Amupolo for many, many, many years. During the struggle we worked closely together. He was an easy guy and a brave commander. He gave courage to his troops,” he said.

According to Negonga, Amupolo remained consistent in his character.

“Most of the times, he remained the same person. He was a diligent and very brave man. We have lost a really great man,” said Negonga of his encounters with Amupolo.

A motor vehicle accident in the Omaheke Region claimed the life of Amupolo and six other individuals on Thursday evening.

Amupolo retired from military duty in 2014 following 40 years of service, first with the People's Liberation Army of Namibia and later the Namibian Defence Force.

Amupolo headed the 26 Motorised Infantry Brigade at Grootfontein until his retirement.

OGONE TLHAGE

Premier eager to finalise NEEEF

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Premier eager to finalise NEEEFPremier eager to finalise NEEEF Prime minister Saara-Kuugongelwa-Amadhila is eager to get the ball rolling as far as the implementation of the National Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework is concerned.

This follows comments made at an expo held in Katutura last week in which the premier said it was time to finalise the draft bill.

Providing a brief update on the implementation of NEEEF, Kuugongelwa-Amadhila thanked stakeholders for the input they had made.

“We are forging ahead with the National Equitable Empowerment Framework. We acknowledge and appreciate the considerable input received during consultations and we are eager to work with all stakeholders to finalise the law,” said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.

According to her, NEEEF posed no threat to established businesses but was rather a mechanism through which government sought to redress inequality.

“Empowerment of previously disadvantaged should not be perceived as a threat to those who have been advantaged. It should rather be understood in the context of our reality, demanding that for equitable development to take place, all citizens should be given equal opportunity to make a living,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila said.

She called for greater participation between the private sector and emerging black businesses and said established businesses could provide the stimuli through which emerging black-owned businesses could grow.

“The established private sector should cooperate with the emerging black businesses to bring about economic growth, with the private sector as the centrifugal force,” said Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.

President Hage Geingob during the delivery of his state of the nation address bemoaned the lack of participation regarding the distribution policy.

“I have followed public discussions on this matter and have observed that while NEEEF may be imperfect, most commentators are avoiding the inequality question wherein NEEEF is located,” he said.

According to Geingob, while various charters had been introduced that seek to address inequality, the charters were not enough.

“Despite the self-regulation approach adopted in some key economic sectors, such as the mining, financial services and tourism, we have not seen significant transformation in the last 27 years of Namibia's independence,” he said of self-adopted equality charters.

Geingob said economic inclusiveness would bring about harmony.

“The majority of Namibians remain structurally excluded from meaningful participation in the economy and as we established earlier, inclusivity ensures harmony and exclusivity brings discord. Without deliberate policies, the economy on its own will not be able to correct for structural imbalances,” concluded Geingob.

OGONE TLHAGE

Primary school intake shoots up

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Primary school intake shoots upPrimary school intake shoots upEducation success needs nation's teamwork Indiscipline, pregnancy, high dropout rates and repetition rates continue to plague the education sector, the education minister says. Despite numerous milestones achieved annually in Namibia's education system these successes are often threatened by significant social and practical hurdles, including a lack of qualified teachers, education materials, finances, weak infrastructure, learner discipline and lack of parental involvement.

This year, 41 607 learners enrolled into pre-primary class groups, education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa said at the annual state of education address last week, signifying a substantive increase compared to the 32 793 learners enrolled in 2015 and 37 298 enrolled last year in this educational phase.

With the introduction of the primary education grant, the minister said learner enrolments have continued to increase by around 3% annually, with this year's intake at 483 685 learners for grades 1 to 7.

Secondary education enrolment figures also saw a 3% increase compared to 2016, however the “survival rate from primary to secondary (Grade 8) stood at 89.5% for 2015 whereas the “survival rate at Grade 12 was 45.7% for the same year.”

Yet in spite of these noteworthy feats, Hanse-Himarwa underlined on Friday that many challenges continue to pose a threat to education successes, including “learner discipline and learner pregnancies”.

High dropout rates and repetition rates continue to plague the sector she said.

Apart from limited funding, which has presented challenges on numerous fronts, including teacher salaries, the reintroduction of new subjects as per the curriculum revisions, teacher training, textbook acquisitions, classroom availability and more, other issues plague education in the country.

“The ministry continues to experience challenges such as a shortage of qualified teachers for pre-primary education, limited learning support materials in various vernaculars, proper classroom space, playgrounds and playground equipment.”

Other challenges include “inadequate classrooms, dilapidated and make-shift hostel accommodation, lack of access to clean water and sanitation facilities.”

She added that although N$72 million was allocated for textbooks, and the decentralisation of textbook acquisition was completed, the ministry did not meet its 1:1 learner:textbook ratio “due to limited financial resources.”



Teamwork needed

Hanse-Himarwa emphasised that these challenges cannot be tackled by the ministry alone, but requires the input from learners as well as parents, the community and society as a whole.

In addressing discipline, dropout and pregnancy rates, the minister pleased with “parents, guardians and stakeholders at large to join hands to support schools in instilling good moral values and behaviour in our children.” She warned that “limited parental and community involvement, and limited psycho-social support to learners” remain a crucial problem. In line with this the ministry is currently looking at alternative funding options to help strengthen the provision of quality inclusive education. “Through the review of the Education Act, 2001, a provision is made for greater parental and community involvement to foster learner discipline in schools.”

The ministry has also begun comprehensive training to help stakeholders to implement policy regulations to address teenage pregnancies and enhance the management of pregnancy related issues at school, she said. Without you, the children won't succeed.

Another speaker at Friday's event, First Lady Monica Geingos, agreed that the responsibility for quality education results does not rest solely at the feet of the education ministry.

Geingos emphasised that quality education is a complex puzzle that requires input from multiple stakeholders. She said social issues, including poverty and widespread gender based violence, as well as the increasing lack of parental involvement in schools, play a significant role in the education of Namibia's youth.

“I need you to show me a single successful school that succeeds in the absence of the parents. I don't think that such schools exist. We must find a way to truly incorporate parents into the schooling system.”

Geingos deliberated with the audience whether the introduction a few years ago of the term “free education” has been misunderstood by some parents to mean “I am free of my obligations to the school. I do suspect that parental contribution has declined since we coined the term free education. Parental contribution has to increase, not decline.”

She pointed out that moreover, Namibia's widespread “social realities” such as poverty and gender based violence, a lack of a reading culture and more “impact educational outcomes.” Education can be undermined by issues at home with families, including financial pressures, violence and abuse, lack of support and will manifest themselves in myriad of ways in their performance at school, she warned.

JANA-MARI SMITH

City pushed to finalise erf sales

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City pushed to finalise erf salesCity pushed to finalise erf salesMore delays in handing over plots The sale of 180 residential plots in Windhoek has not been finalised and the municipality blames the delay on the Public Procurement Act. JANA-MARI SMITH



A Windhoek councillor says it is high time the City of Windhoek finalises the sale of 180 single residential plots to the successful bidders without any further delay.

In a motion to transfer the properties urgently to successful bidders consisting of 100 youths aged between 16 to 35 plus 80 City employees, RDP councillor Brunhilde Cornelius, argued recently that the Public Procurement Act did not play a role when the City decided to sell the erven, and said the City could not blame the delay on the Act.

“The emergence of the Public Procurement Act was born months after the government took resolutions to alienate these properties to the intended beneficiaries and does not have an impact or hindrance on the execution of the council’s resolution,” she wrote as part of her motion to speed up the property sales in a letter to City CEO Robert Kahimise on 20 July.

She said finalising the transfers of the properties to the intended beneficiaries had been delayed for several months “and it is my conviction that this cannot be delayed any longer and nothing prohibits the execution” of the two resolutions.

She said it has become “disheartening” that the advertised erven have “not yet been allocated to the successful bidders despite having been approved as per internal process of the city government.”

City of Windhoek spokesperson Lydia Amutenya confirmed last week the sale of the 180 erven had not been finalised due to requirements in the Act.

“The sale needs to be concluded in line with the new Procurement Act that came into effect on 1 April 2017, while council only made the allocation on 24 April therefore, consultation with the ministry of finance to that effect are on-going. We are hoping to conclude this matter soon, and communicate accordingly to the public.”

Cornelius however noted that releasing the erven to successful applicants “without further delay” would shed “positive light” on the City and could be good marketing for the City’s new slogan as a caring and smart city.

She added that the City’s plans to sell the 180 erven to first-time buyers was the first such move in a long time, “and for once in a long time the City is close to awarding single residential land directly to individual recipients without the involvement of third parties.”

She said the freeze on the process could be described as a set-back should the city fail to offer the deeds of sale to the successful bidders.

Once, twice

This is the second time the decision to offer 100 unimproved single residential erven to youth, and 80 unimproved single erven to City staff, has been met with delays.

In April, Amutenya was tasked to inform the media that the allocation of the 180 erven had been approved by the council at a special meeting held on 24 April.

She said the City accepted the “public’s discontent with regards to the protracted process in concluding this sale”, and explained that delay was caused by overwhelming public interest.

The delay resulted in the offer to purchase being extended to 31 October and then to the extension of the validity period of the offer to purchase until 24 April this year.

In total, the two tenders (PLA 03/2016 for the youth and PLA 04/2016 for the staff) attracted 4 421 offers, and only 1 573 offers met the requirements and were subjected to further scrutiny.

In April, Amutenya cautioned that successful bidders would be notified via the media, but that approval was granted “pending other verifications such as searches at the Deeds Office that will be carried out to determine if the bidders own properties in Windhoek, as this was one of the requirements for this sale - that it was strictly for the first-time buyers.”

At the time, the municipality did not mention the public procurement act as another possible stumbling block to completing the sales.

In the letter, to which Cornelius says she has not yet received a response, she accused the City of ignoring “numerous queries” on the matter from the public and City employees regarding the delays in finalising the allocation of the properties.

Her motion noted that all 180 erven should be alienated through the relevant procedures as a matter of urgency to the successful bidders to enable them to become property owners.

Moussongela guilty of fraud

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Moussongela guilty of fraudMoussongela guilty of fraudMultiple charges still pending With more serious charges of rape and human trafficking still pending, the Congolese pastor has been convicted on three charges of fraud and four charges of employing foreigners without permits. Congolese pastor Pedro Marcelino Moussongela, who is still facing multiple charges of human trafficking, rape and assault by threat in Ondangwa and Windhoek courts, was last week found guilty of fraud and of contravening the Immigration Act.

Moussongela was convicted on Friday in the Eenhana Magistrate's Court where he was appearing on three charges of fraud and four charges of employing foreigners without the necessary working permits. He was found guilty on all seven charges.

Moussongela will be sentenced on Wednesday by Magistrate Helvi Shilemba. According to court records, Moussongela falsified documents of children whom he claimed to be his own and were born outside Namibia to conceal their true citizenship.

These children later obtained Namibian documents after Moussongela misrepresented the late Teresia Tangi Iyambo as the mother of the children. In March this year the court heard that Moussongela facilitated the entry of the children into Namibian from Angola.

During another appearance in the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court, prosecutor Dollen Gowases argued that the State had it on record that Iyambo only had one child when she died in 2011 and was not the mother to the Angolan children. It is not clear what relationship Iyambo had with Moussongela.

The Congolese pastor was also found guilty on four counts of employing foreigners as teachers at his Mennonite Brethren Community School Namibia in Omafo in the Ohangwena Region.

Moussongela claimed the school was established for orphans and vulnerable children.

The state urged that Moussongela placed the lives of these children in danger by leaving them in the care of unauthorised foreign teachers.

Moussongela, 56, is the founder of the church-based organisation Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church, which he said generated money for him to establish the Mennonite Brethren Community School Namibia and Ongenga English Private School.





Phil ya Nangoloh of NamRights criticised Moussongela's plea entered in court, saying it was merely a tactic to manipulate the court to be lenient with him knowing that he is facing serious cases against humanity in the other two courts.

“Crimes against humanity are international cases which also linked to the international criminal courts of justice and in most convicts of this cases receive life to imprisonment. The court must not be lenient to him because by doing so you are putting the nation at risk. It is like taking a wolf from the jungle and put it among the sheep. He must be an example of those who are thinking of committing similar offences,” Ya Nangoloh said.

Last month the Ondangwa Magistrate's Court put on hold Moussongela's bail application on charges of human trafficking, rape and assault by threat, until Eenhana court finalises their matter.

On 22 June he also appeared before the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on the same charges and the case was postponed to 1 March next year. Prosecutor Brighton Sililo Mwala on behalf of state suggested that on the three counts of fraud he must be sentenced to five years in prison for each count, while on four counts of employing non-Namibians without working permits, a fine of N$4 000 on each count or 12 years imprisonment will suffice.

Moussongela conducted his own defence.

ILENI NANDJATO

Easy ride for Zim architects, quantity surveyors

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Easy ride for Zim architects, quantity surveyorsEasy ride for Zim architects, quantity surveyors A decision to grant 29 Zimbabwean architects and quantity surveyors exemption from professional competence examinations has been met with outrage.

Works and transport minister Alpheus !Naruseb recently wrote to the Namibia Council of Architects and Quantity Surveyors, requesting that the registration process be expedited, paving the way for the group to register with the council faster than usual.





!Naruseb said he had been advised to seek an exemption of the 29 Zimbabwean nationals.

“Please be informed that I have been advised to exempt the persons from registrations for the professions of architect and quantity surveyor,” wrote !Naruseb.

“Kindly expedite the process of including on your register the persons whose names appear mentioned Government Gazette.”

The 29 are however expected to sit on a date yet to be established.

“Considering that the registrations are in force for the duration of each person's contract of employment, I hereby direct Council to facilitate for those on the list who in future will satisfy Council requirements to sit for Assessment for Professional Competence examinations,” said !Naruseb.

According to him, the exemption is with immediate effect and expires when the contract of employment of such persons with the Ministry of Works and Transport expires according to the Gazette dated 17 March 2017.

Asked to provide clarity, !Naruseb referred the matter to his permanent secretary, Willem Goeiemann.

When contacted for comment, Goeiemann said his ministry would be issuing a statement on the matter in due course.

“We will issue a press statement, I am not going to comment on anything,” said Goeieman.

Evat Kandongo of Consulting Services Africa expressed dissatisfaction at the exemption, saying that it did not favour young architects and quantity surveyors.

“It is not fair on our young Namibian professionals. If there is a system, I see no reason why people should get special treatment. It does not make sense to me,” Kandongo said in response to the development.

He also questioned the ministry's decision to seek faster registration of the 29 expatriates.

The Namibian Society of Engineers recently made an appeal to the Ministry of Works and Transport not to renew or extend Zimbabwean engineers' five-year contracts, which were entered into under a memorandum of understanding between the two countries in 2012.

Early in June, it was reported that the ministry had given a three-month contract extension to the 85 expatriates employed there. It stated that it still had to decide whether these contracts would be renewed or not.

The secretary-general of NASE, Rachel Kakololo, said it was not clear why the ministry would consider a renewal of these contracts, since there were qualified and professionally registered Namibians who were unemployed and not given opportunities to be considered for the same jobs at the ministry.

“What government lacks in technical professions is not manpower. That was 15 years ago, not today. It lacks practical and strategic planning,” the organisation said.

OGONE TLHAGE

Drive sober or get pulled over

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Drive sober or get pulled overDrive sober or get pulled over Police chief Sebastian Ndeitunga has called for harsher penalties for drivers whose bad judgements and attitudes contribute to Namibia's epidemic of road accidents and deaths, which are said to be among the highest in the world.

Police statistics show that since January 2017, 409 people have lost their lives in 2 241 recorded crashes, while close to 4 000 people sustained injuries.

Ndeitunga's call for stricter sentences was made during a discussion of the recently launched 'Sobriety Road Safety Campaign', which began at the beginning of August and ends on 31 January 2018.

Headed by the Namibian Police, the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund and several other partners, the goal of the campaign is to address the high crash statistics, including drunken and negligent driving.

The campaign summary papers note that with more than 7 000 persons injured and 700 fatalities on Namibian roads on average annually, the country is facing a serious challenge in road safety.

The campaign will be carried out in high crash risk zones on national roads as well as within Windhoek and other towns and one of the primary aims of the operation “is to conduct random alcohol breath tests, with a target to screen above 500 000 drivers” during the campaign period.

Reportedly, the police's traffic department has also warned that they will no longer grant bail to people who have been arrested for drunk driving, before the mandatory 48 hours legal jail time has lapsed.





According to legal experts, police may grant bail for less serious offences before a first appearance at the lower court.

However in a media report, a police deputy commissioner threatened to withhold that option and force those arrested for driving under the influence to remain behind bars until they are legally required to appear before a magistrate within 48 hours of arrest.

Ndeitunga did not address the issue of bail last week, but told Namibian Sun that it was time to revisit the relevant penalty laws prescribed for persons whose behaviour on the roads lead to crashes, injuries and specifically, death.

“I think we probably need to look at the current laws, and see how we can ensure that negligent drivers receive stiffer sentences,” Ndeitunga said on Friday.

“I think the sentences should be stricter and higher. Enough is enough,” he said.

Repeating previous calls for improved driver attitudes on Namibia's roads, Ndeitunga noted that the country's roads, which have been praised for their quality infrastructure, have nevertheless become “very dangerous to drive on.”

He said drivers show little consideration for fellow road users, and because of their selfish attitudes many lives are lost annually in horrific car accidents.

He said in most current cases, drivers found negligent in causing a crash receive “very light sentences”, including fines and in some cases, prison time when they are found guilty of culpable homicide.

He noted however that the law should come down harder on guilty parties, including those who flee the scene of an accident or are guilty of drunk driving.

“I think the law should be amended. These people need to be taught a lesson with a heavy sentence,”

The objectives of the new sobriety road safety campaign are not focused exclusively on drunk driving offences, although that is one of the primary targets.

Objectives include the reduction of fatal injuries resulting from crashes involving drinking and driving, increased community support for anti-drunk-driving initiatives, increase in driver perception of “robust enforcement of laws is prohibiting drunk driving” and intensification of roadworthiness checks.

The operational targets of the campaign include conducting alcohol level tests on every driver stopped at road blocks or random inspections, in addition to screening each driver involved in a car crash.

The campaign targets will require every police officer dedicated to the project to screen a minimum number of monthly drivers during the campaign as well as testing each vehicle stopped for roadworthiness.



JANA-MARI SMITH

Small tremor hits Windhoek

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Small tremor hits WindhoekSmall tremor hits Windhoek A tremor of magnitude 2.3 struck approximately 10 kilometres southwest of Windhoek at about 02:45 today.
Confirming the tremor, the Ministry of Mines and Energy said the tremor was recorded at two seismic stations namely Ariamsvlei and Windhoek. According to the ministry, it requires a minimum of three stations to locate the event and its magnitude accurately and unfortunately the location and magnitude was not accurate enough due to insufficient data.
From the data analysed, it is confirmed that the tremor occurred and it was recorded by two stations only. The tremor was at a depth of 15 kilometres and the magnitude read 2.3 on the Richter scale.

Clubs approve NPL constitution

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Clubs approve NPL constitutionClubs approve NPL constitutionBoard of governors to meet today The final review of the NPL constitution by member clubs is said to have gone well on Saturday. The Namibia Premier League (NPL) announced yesterday that its member clubs had adopted a new draft constitution as well as rules and regulations.

Aided by two FIFA representatives, Sebastian Neuf and Nic Coward, the clubs held a second session to review the constitution over the weekend.

In a letter issued to the media, NPL administrator Joshua //Hoebeb said the process went well.

“The meeting was specifically convened to finalise inputs to the draft constitution which will guide the work of the NPL as soon as it goes through all the approval stages.

“The NPL is pleased to announce to the football loving people that delegates from member clubs have adopted the new draft constitution,” the letter reads.

It was also agreed at the meeting to convene a Board of Governors (BOG) meeting today.

The meeting is expected to approve the constitution before it is summited to the Namibia Football Association (NFA) for ratification and endorsement.

The meeting will further decide on the way forward for the NPL, specifically to hold a congress and to endorse the constitution at which a new leadership will be elected.

“The meeting will also discuss when the league should kick off,” //Hoebeb said.

Another matter on the agenda for the weekend's meeting was club licensing.

“The meeting also decided to seek an audience with the NFA to discuss various matters of mutual interest,” the press release stated.

According to //Hoebeb, all 16 NPL clubs were represented at the meeting.

The NPL has been inactive for more than a year after its leaders failed to secure a sponsorship.

This led to the resignation of former NPL chairman Johnny Doeseb, who was replaced by an interim committee.

The committee was declared illegal by the NFA, which resulted in the setting up of an ad-hoc committee.

The ad-hoc committee was then dismantled by the NFA, giving back the running of the league to the clubs.

Many people are positive that things for the league have eventually taken a good direction after years of infighting and controversy.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Poor performance by runners at IAAF

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Poor performance by runners at IAAFPoor performance by runners at IAAF Namibia's five athletes who competed in the 2017 IAAF World Athletics Championships in London will return without any medals.

The athletes arrived in London last Tuesday for the biennial event which started at the Olympic Stadium on Friday.

The male marathon runners, Paulus Iiyambo and Reonard Namupala, were first to take on the champions early on Sunday. They finished 35th and 37th respectively, with Iyambo clocking a time of 2:19:45. Nampula set a seasonal best of 2.18:51.

The Namibians were beaten by Geoffrey Kipkorir Kirui of Kenya who won the race in a time of 2.08:27, followed by Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia and Alphonce Felix Simbu of Tanzania winning bronze.

Kirui extended his country's record as the most successful nation in the history of this event at the IAAF World Championships.

In the women's marathon, Helalia Johannes finished 19th on Sunday with a time of 2:26:09, which was her personal best.

Rose Chelimo from Bahrain took gold and earned her country its first ever gold in the women's marathon at the World Championships in a slow-burning race that flared into dramatic life over the final seven kilometres as she won a personal duel with Kenya's 2011 and 2013 winner Edna Kiplagat, who in turn secured silver by a stride from the fast-finishing US runner Amy Cragg.

Lavinia Haitope and Beata Naigambo finished 50th and 30th with times of 2:44:02 and 2:37:24 respectively. Naigambo clocked a season's best time. Haitope, who had before said that she would like to improve her best time of 2hours, 40 minutes and 26 seconds, fell short of her target. Tobias Hiskia, their coach, said the athletes trained hard despite not receiving a lot of financial support.

A total of 205 countries are competing in 26 events at this year's championships. The USA is topping the list with eight medals, followed by Kenya with four medals, Ethiopia with three and South Africa with two medals so far.

In August 2015 the games were held in China and 1 931 athletes participated from a record of 207 national federations. Kenya topped the medal table for the first time in its history, winning 16 medals of which seven were gold. The USA has topped the medal table on 10 occasions.

-Additional reporting by IAAF website

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Bowie scorches 100m

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Bowie scorches 100mBowie scorches 100mTori Bowie claims 100m gold in thrilling final USA's Tori Bowie won gold in the 100m on Sunday at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London. American Tori Bowie stormed to gold in the 100m race, beating Jamaican favourite Elaine Thompson as well as Marie-Josee Ta Lou and Dafne Schippers.

A night after American Justin Gatlin shocked Usain Bolt in the men's final, Bowie went one better than a year ago in Rio as her perfect dip on the line nicked the race from Ta Lou by one-hundredth of a second.

Jamaican favourite Thompson, who had looked peerless in winning her semi-final had a start even worse than Bolt's and appeared to lose her stride twice as she faded into fifth.

Ivory Coast's Ta Lou initially thought she had won, but her personal best of 10.86 was good enough only for silver, the Netherlands' Schippers coming through for bronze in 10.96.

Having won gold in both the 100m and 200m in Rio, Thompson came to London Stadium as the fastest woman in the world in 2017.

Her defeat is thus arguably even a bigger shock than Bolt's, capping a hugely disappointing two days for Jamaica, the dominant force in sprinting over the past nine years.

BBC SPORT

Omwaalu gwaanaskola moondondo dhopetameko gwa londo pombanda

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Omwaalu gwaanaskola moondondo dhopetameko gwa londo pombandaOmwaalu gwaanaskola moondondo dhopetameko gwa londo pombandaAavali naya kuthe ombinga melongo lyaanona Okwaahena evuliko, omategelelo mokati kaanaskola, efaulo nedhigepo lyootundi oyimwe yomomikundu tadhi hilile pevi oshikondo shelongo. Nonando oshikondo shelongo osha pondola oshindji komumvo moNamibia ope na natango omikundu odhindji ndhoka dha taalela oshikondo shoka, mwakwatelwa ompumbwe yaalongi ya pyokoka, iikwathitho yelongo, iiyemo, evuliko mokati kaanaskola oshowo aavali mboka itaya kutha ombinga melongo lyaanona yawo.

Nuumvo aanaskola ya thika po-41 607 oya shangithwa moshikunino, pauyelele mboka wa gandjwa kominista yElongo, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa pethimbo a gandja oshipopiwa she shokomumvo shuuministeli mboka ta kwatele komeho.

Okwa popi kutya omwaalu ngoka oguli pombanda noonkondo okuyeleka naanaskola mboka ya shangithwa mo-2015 yeli 32 793 oshowo aanaskola 37 298 mboka yashangithwa mo-2016.

Konima sho kwa tulwa miilonga ekwatho lyopashimaliwa moondondo dhopevi, omwaalu gwaanaskola taya tameke enongelo ogwa londo pombanda noonkondo, nonuumvo aanaskola yeli po 483 685 oya shangithwa mondondo yotango sigo 7.

Elongo lyomoondondo dhopombanda nalyo olya mono e yo pombanda lyomwaalu gwaanaskola, sho omwaalu ngoka gwa londo pombanda noopresenda 3, okuyeleka no-2016.

Nonando okwa lopotwa eyo pombanda ndyoka momwaalu gwaanaskola, minista Hanse-Himarwa okwa popi kutya oya taalela omashongo ngaashi aanaskola mboka kaye na evuliko oshowo mboka taya ningi omategelelo. Okwa popi kutya ethigepo lyooskola oshowo okweendulula oongundu natango omukundu gwa taalela oshikondo shoka.

Kakele kompumbwe yiiyemo, ndjoka tayi yi woo moshipala oondjambi dhaalongiskola, etulo miilonga lyomisindalongo omipe niilongwa iipe, omadheulo gaalongi, omambo goskola, oongulu dhoskola natango oyimwe yomiinima tayi shunitha pevi oshikondo shelongo.

“Uuministeli onkene wu li mompumbwe yaalongi ya pyokoka unene moshikunino ompumbwe yiikwathitho yelongo, oongulu dhooskola oompe oshowo omahala gokudhanena aanona.”

Okwa tsikile kutya nonando oshimaliwa shoomiliyona 72, oshiitulilwa sha nuninwa okulanda omambo goskola, uuministeli inawu shi pondola okutula miilonga onkalo opo okanona kehe ka kale nembo lyako, omolwa ompumbwe yiiyemo.

Minista okwa tsu omuthindo kutya omikundu ndhoka itadhi vulu okukandulwa po kuuministeli owo awuke, ihe owa pumbwa ekwatho okuza kaanaskola, aavali naakashigwana oshowo oshilongo ashihe.

Kombinga yedhigepo lyootundi, omategelelo mokati kaanaskola, minista okwa pula aavali, aasilishisho naakuthimbinga ayehe ya wayimine uuministeli nokuyambidhidha ooskola opo ku tulwe omikalo nomaihumbato omawanawa mokati kaanaskola.

Omupopi gumwe pethimbo lyoshipopiwa shoka sha ningwa mEtitano Omunyekadhi gwaNamibia, Monica Geingos, okwa zimine kutya oshisho shelongo moshilongo inashi gwila owala komapepe guuministeli welongo.

Okwa popi kutya omikundu dhilwe ngaashi oluhepo omiyonena dhomonagumbo, ompumbwe yaavali taya kutha ombinga melongo lyaanona yawo otayi dhana onkandangala onene melongo lyaanyasha yaNamibia.

Geingos okwa popi kutya elongo lyoshali ndyoka lya tulwa miilonga moshilongo omimvo dha piti, olya kuthwa ko pambambo kaavali yamwe mboka ye wete kutya oya kuthwa oshinakugwanithwa shokusila oshisho aanona yawo, ta pula opo eyambidhidho lyooskola okuza kaavali li londe pombanda.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Amupolo ta dhimbulukiwa onga ependafule

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Amupolo ta dhimbulukiwa onga ependafuleAmupolo ta dhimbulukiwa onga ependafule Nakusa Brigadier-General ngoka e li moshiundi shevululuko Erasmus Amupolo, okwa dhimbulukiwa onga ependafule sha landula sho a hulitha mEtine lya piti. Okwa li e na omvula 63.

Omukomeho nale gwEtanga lyEgameno lyaNamibia, e li moshipundi shevululuko Ndjai, Martin Shalli okwa hokolola nakusa Amupolo onga ofule yekondjelomanguluko lyoshilongo.

“Okwa li gumwe gwomomapendafule getu mekondjelomanguluko na okwa kala omugandji mayele. Okwa li omulumentu omuwanawa, omuleli omuwanawa nokwiitulamo mekondjelomanguluko lyoshilongo, unene pethimbo lyolugodhi lwaVietnam mo-1978.”

Pahapu dhaShalli, nakusa Amupolo okwa ulike uupenda we pethimbo lyolugodhi.

“Nonando okwa ehamekwa okwa tsikile nolugodhi lwe. Okwa li omwiitulimo moshili oshowo okomanda ombwaanawa. Otaka yuulukiwa koyendji, nomwenyo gwe nagu vululukwe nombili.”

Okomanda nale oshowo amushanga nale muuministeli wegameno, Erastus Negonga okwa hokolola Amupolo kutya okwa li enyakwa nofule metanga lyEgameno.

“Oshilongo osha kanitha ependafule. Onda tseya

Brigadier Amupolo oomvula odhindji dhindji dha piti. Pethimbo lyekondjelomanguluko otwa longele pamwe. Okwa li komanda yenyakwa na ina teya omukumo ongundu ye.”

Pahapu dhaNegonga, Amupolo okwa kala nuukwatya we.

“Omathimbo ogendji okwa kala omuntu a faathana. Okwa kala omunyakwa na otwa kanitha omulumentu omwaanawa,” Negonga a popi.

Oshiponga shohauto shoka sha ningilwa mOshitopolwa shaMaheke osho sha faalele omwenyo gwaAmupolo pamwe naantu yalwe yahamano ongulohi yEtine.

Amupolo okwa yi moshipundi shevululuko mo-2014, sha landula sho a kala omukwiita uule woomvula 40.

Okwa li ta kwatele komeho o26 Motorised Infantry Brigade moGrootfontein sho a yi moshipundi shevululuko.



OGONE TLHAGE

Moussongela a monika ondjo miipotha yekengelelo

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Moussongela a monika ondjo miipotha yekengeleloMoussongela a monika ondjo miipotha yekengeleloTa pewa egeelo lye ngula Sho e na natango iipotha yekwatonkonga, neyako lyaantu inayi manithwa, omusita omukwashigwana gwaKongo okwa monika ondjo miipotha itatu yekengelelo oshowo miipotha ine yokukuta miilonga aazaizai yaana omikanda. Omusita omukwashigwana gaKongo, Pedro Marcelino Moussongela, ngoka a taalela epangulo miipotha ngaashi eyako lyaantu, ekwatonkonga nedhengo okwa monika ondjo miipotha yekengelelo neyo pondje lyOmpango yOmatembu.

Moussongela okwa monika ondjo mEtitano lya piti, mOmpangulilo yaMangestrata gwEenhana, hoka a holoka komeho yompangu omolwa iipotha itatu yekengelelo oshowo iipotha ine yekuto miilonga lyaazaizai yaahena omikanda dhokulongela moshilongo. Okwa monika ondjo miipotha ayihe iheyali.

Moussongela okwa tegelelwa a ka pewe egeelo lye mEtitatu kuMangestrata Helvi Shilemba. Pauyelele womapeko gompangu, omusita ngoka okwa ningi oondokumende dhiifundja dhaanona mboka a popi kutya aanona ye ya valelwwa pondje yoshilongo opo ya vule okumona omikanda dhuukwashigwana waNamibia.

Konima aanona mboka oya mono omikanda dhuukwashigwana waNamibia, sho Moussongela a popi kutya oya valwa kunakusa Teresia Tangi Iyambo. MuMaalitsa gwonuumvo ompangu oya uvu kutya Moussongela oye a kwatele komeho eeto lyaanona mboka moshilongo okuza moAngola.

Pethimbo lyepulakeno lyoshipotha shoka mompangulilo yaNdangwa, omufali gwiihokolola komeho yompangu, Dollen Gowases okwa popi kutya epangelo oli na uuyelele kutya Iyambo okwa li owala e na okanona kamwe sho a hulitha mo-2011, na keshi yina yaanona mboka. Inashi yela kutya nakusa Iyambo oya kala nekwatathano naMoussongela li li ngiini.

Omusita ngoka okwa monika woo ondjo yekuto miilonga aaaizai yane onga aalongiskola poskola ye yedhina Mennonite Brethren Community School Namibia mOmafo moshitopolwa shaHangwena.

Moussongela okwa popi kutya oskola ndjoka oya totwa po ya nuninwa aanona yoothigwa naamboka taya lumbu moluhepo.

Epangelo olya holola kutya Moussongela okwa tula moshiponga oonkalamwenyo dhaanona mboka, sho e ya tula mesiloshisho lyaazaizai yaana omikanda.

Omusita ngoka omunamimvo 56 okuli omutotipo gwongeleka yaEvangelical Mennonite Brethren Church, ndjoka a popi kutya omo a mono iimaliwa yokutota po oskola yaMennonite Brethren Community School Namibia oshowo Ongenga English Private School.

Phil ya Nangoloh gwoNamRights okwa nyana eindilo lyaMoussongela mompangu ngoka omukalo ta longitha opo a silwe ohenda molwaashoka okushi shi kutya iipotha mbyoka ta tamanekelwa iinene noonkondo.

Omwedhi gwa piti, ompangu yaMangestrata mOndangwa oya kaleke eindilo lyomboloha lyaMoussongela miipotha yeyako lyaantu, ekwatonkonga nedhengo oshowo eningilo lyomatilitho sigo kwa manithwa iipotha mbyoka ta tamanekelwa mEenhana.

Momasiku 22 gaJuni okwa holoka mOmpangulilo yaMangestrata gwaVenduka, ta pangulilwa iipotha ya faathana niipotha ye mbyoka mompangulilo ndjoka oya undulilwa komweedhi Maalitsa momvula twa taalela.

Omukalelipo gwepangelo miipotha mbyoka, Sililo Mwala okwa pula opo miipotha itatu yekengelelo moka a monika ondjo, a pewe egeelo lyoomvula ntano kehe moshipotha omanga miipotha ine yekuto miilonga lyaazaizai yaana omikanda a pewe egeelo lyokufuta oshimaliwa shooN$4 000 moshipotha kehe nenge a pewe egeelo lyoomvula 12 mondjeedhililo.

Moussongela okwiikalelepo yemwene miipotha mbyoka.

ILENI NANDJATO
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