Shoprite supports the next generation at the #Festival

August 16, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Shoprite supports the next generation at the #Festival

Shoprite is one of the select companies which was quick to respond in its support of the first Hashtag Festival to be held from 7 to 9 September 2017.

This career expo will focus on Namibia's next generation and is set to become an annual event on the Namibian calendar.

“Anybody can access the internet and read up everything that relates to a career in an international context, but Namibia does not provide a one-stop information facility which provides local youth and their parents with local content and context,” said Albe Botha, CEO of Namibia Media Holdings. Shoprite Namibia's CEO, Paul Malan, immediately understood the need to share information about career-related opportunities in an attempt to address and solve challenges commonly faced by Namibians throughout the country. The #Festival will thus start on the Thursday focusing on careers and educational institutions as well as representatives from the public- and private sectors who have been invited to man information stands and conduct public presentations. The audience will be allowed an opportunity to ask questions.

The expo will take place at the SKW Sport Grounds, which allows nine sport franchises, comprising of pupils from all regions of the country to compete against each other in various sports codes.

Shoprite is aligned to the Arabian Knights franchise, with Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool (WAP) being the managing school of the franchise. WAP's learners are joined by their franchise colleagues from Gobabis Gymnasium Private School, Wennie du Plessis Senior Secondary School and Epako Junior Secondary School (also from Gobabis).

FRANK STEFFEN

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MVA Fund workers demonstrate

August 16, 2017, 4:00 pm

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MVA Fund workers demonstrateComplaints surrounding working conditions aired A peaceful lunchtime demonstration was held at the MVA Fund yesterday with workers complaining about the company's performance policy.

A group of employees at the Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) Fund yesterday held a peaceful demonstration and handed over a petition to management in which they expressed their dissatisfaction regarding working conditions.

“We want the money. No money, no performance. Down performance, down. Down performance policy down,” workers shouted outside the headquarters of the MVA Fund in Windhoek.

The main point of concern that was highlighted was with regard to the reviewed and approved policy on performance management.

According to the deputy general-secretary of the Namibia Financial Institutions Union (Nafinu), Samuel Vries, consultations and negotiations pertaining to the policy were not done as per the recognition and procedural agreement between MVA Fund and the union.

Furthermore, negotiations for salary increases which started the beginning of this year were also a point of concern.

Engagements have apparently taken place with the Ministry of Public Enterprises over the directive that was issued that there is a cap on salary increases, but still the union and the MVA Fund management have not been able to see eye to eye.

The union explains that the ministry has said that there may be an exemption because of a previous agreement that has been in place since 2011 between the Fund and the union, however the Fund says that there is a misinterpretation of the information.

Vries said that the management is hiding and are claiming that their finances are not good. “If this is the case they should open their books. What are they afraid of? What is there that management should hide?”

Furthermore, the union said that there are other labour-related concerns of workers which include policies that are being charged without approval or consultation of workers.

Another concern is victimisation of workers by management, workload pressure and unreasonable targets which results in workers that cannot perform, no training, no transparency of promotions and favouritism, as well as intimidation.

Vries said demonstrations will continue daily until management engages with them on the issues they have raised.

The Fund's CEO Rosalia Martins-Hausiku told Namibian Sun earlier that negotiations usually take place at the beginning of the year, but this year they were stalled because the union wanted clarity with regard to the salary increases that were capped at inflation.

She said a meeting was held with the ministry last week on the issue but there were different interpretations.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Pensioner stabs two to death

August 16, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Pensioner stabs two to death Police in the Omusati Region on Tuesday arrested a 61-year-old pensioner from Etunda village for allegedly stabbing his pregnant ex-lover and a young man to death.

This was confirmed by the regional police spokesperson, Sergeant Anna Kunga, who said the incident occurred on Monday at around 20:00 at Ondumbo location at Okeholongo village.

Kunga said the suspect allegedly first stabbed Ndapandula Nekwaya, who was pregnant, four times in the abdomen and then turned to Johannes Taapopi Uukongo, 25, stabbing him once in the chest. Uukongo died instantly.

The suspect fled and was arrested the following day at a nearby village.

Ndapandula died at the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital later that day.

According to Kunga, the suspect, who has three children with Ndapandula, was allegedly abusive and she ended the relationship.

It is alleged the baby Ndapandula was expecting was not fathered by the suspect. The suspect is expected to appear in the Okahao Magistrate's Court today.

Meanwhile, the Oshikoto police are investigating a case of culpable homicide after a man from Ondondo village was run over by a car while lying in the road in the Oniipa constituency on Sunday.

According to Deputy Commissioner Naomi Katjiua, the incident took place along the Eenhana–Ondangwa main road at Olumbongo location around 21:00.

The deceased, identified as Mulanduleni Jona from Ondando village, was killed instantly.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as David Shikalepo Kambonde, 43, from Onathinge.

KENYA KAMBOWE

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Murderer Hoeseb jailed for 37 years

August 16, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Murderer Hoeseb jailed for 37 years

An Otjiwarongo man, who strangled a woman and then tried to destroy her body by setting it on fire, has been sentenced to 34 years in prison.

Ivan Hoeseb, 37, was further sentenced to one year's imprisonment for theft and to six years for attempting to defeat the course of justice.

Judge Christie Liebenberg ordered that the sentences run concurrently.

Hoeseb, father of three children with different women, was convicted of strangling Elizabeth Ganses, 26, and setting her body on fire.

The partly burnt body was found at Otjiwarongo on 3 October 2015. Hoeseb murdered Ganses, with whom he had a relationship, after she had told him she was HIV positive.

Hoeseb was also found guilty of theft. Ganses's mobile phone was found in his possession when he was arrested at Okaepe village in the Okakarara Constituency.

The judge rejected Hoeseb's version of the incident and in sentencing relied on inferences drawn from proven facts.

“Had the accused told the truth, the court would have a clearer picture as to what happened and in the absence of a motive to commit the murder it can be seen as a senseless killing, which makes the accused a danger to society,” Liebenberg said.

The judge said the seriousness of the offences and the circumstances under which they were committed justified severe punishment.

He further said it was the inescapable consequence of the crimes committed by Hoeseb that not only his children but also those of the deceased would experience some hardship during his incarceration.

“The consequences of crime usually bring about more hardship to innocent persons than what is hoped for,” the judge said.

“Unfortunately, one cannot allow one's sympathy for the accused's family deter one from imposing the kind of sentence dictated by the interest of justice and society,” he stated.

FRED GOEIEMAN

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Reho between rock and hard place

August 16, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Reho between rock and hard placeCan afford water or power, but not both The Rehoboth council is complaining that a payment deal with NamWater is making it impossible for it to pay NamPower for electricity.

The Rehoboth town council CEO, Christophe /Uirab, says NamWater forced the council into a prepaid water agreement which makes it difficult for them to pay the town's electricity bills on time.

The prepayment impacts on the already slim reserves and income of the council.

This comes at a time when NamPower has demanded payment of N$36 million, of which N$28 million is overdue debt, before the end of this month from the council.

In a letter dated 9 August, the power utility informed the council: “The unpaid money reflects badly on our balance sheet. The situation has become unbearable and we urgently seek a meeting with your management and council to discuss the settlement of the debt.”

/Uirab yesterday confirmed this to Namibian Sun and said there was not much they could do because they simply did not have the money.

“The biggest problem is the pressure that we get from NamWater with the prepaid water system. We cannot afford this; it is time that the government comes to our rescue. The backlog in the council is very serious,” said /Uirab.

He argues that they were left with no option but to agree to NamWater's prepaid water system.

The town's outstanding water bill stands at N$29 million.

Besides making payments in advance for water, the council is simultaneously expected to pay monthly instalments of N$700 000 in an effort to clear its N$29 million debt.

“If we do not pay that, then they will deduct the amount from the money that we paid for the units of prepaid water. And the worst part is that they can only update the units if they have received proof of payment,” /Uirab complained.

According to him, it costs the council N$2.5 million to supply the town with water for a month, half of which is lost because of old, leaky pipelines.

NamWater spokesperson John Shigwedha says there is no way that a town can be coerced into an agreement.

“We have worked out a situation that will be beneficial for NamWater and Rehoboth. The system automatically shut itself down and they are notified every day of how many units are remaining. The onus is really on them to make sure they have enough units. And this is good for them because they do not accrue any debt,” Shigwedha says.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Communal farmers bear brunt of wildlife conflict

August 16, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Communal farmers bear brunt of wildlife conflict

Human-wildlife conflict is a threat to Namibian farmers, especially those in the northern communal area (NCA).

This was said by Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU) president Jason Emvula at a media conference in Windhoek.

According to Emvula, the concern is not only about the loss of human lives, but also the killing of domestic animals, which constitutes the livelihoods of community farmers, while elephants and antelopes destroy crops.

The union leader pointed out that “buffaloes and the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) they carry are the reason why NCA farmers cannot sell their beef to lucrative markets”.

Acknowledging that Namibia's tourism industry has a strong and organic link with nature, Emvula appealed to relevant authorities to ensure that the success of nature conservation is not at the expense of farming and agriculture.

The union is also concerned about commercial farmers who are farming at the expense of the environment.

“There are a number of very negative and harmful farming practices like overstocking, especially in the northern communal area,” Emvula said.

He urged farmers to reduce the number of animals to a level that allows the environment to sustain them, while at the same time appealing to agricultural extension workers to help educate farmers in this regard.

NNFU vice-president Oiva Mahina urged communal farmers to sell their cattle and invest the money in other avenues.

Asked how the NNFU planned to deal with communal farmers who believe in having large numbers of livestock, Mahina told Nampa that programmes were under way to educate farmers in this regard.

NAMPA

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Job losses are silently rising

August 16, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Job losses are silently risingRetrenchments, albeit small-scale, are ongoing Widely under-reported, retrenchments are occurring far and wide across all industries in the country as the economic pinch tightens.

The Namibia Employers Federation (NEF) predicts that more Namibians will become unemployed in the next few months.

This is despite the president's claims that the economy is looking up and gradually moving out of recession.

According to NEF secretary-general Tim Parkhouse, his office has been inundated with calls from employers seeking guidance on how to lay off workers.

He noted that while some companies are opting to reduce working hours and salaries, many see no future and simply decide to close shop.

The Labour Act provides for the reduction of salaries and working hours during economic hardship.

“Last week, and the week before, five companies contacted me on how to go about retrenchments. And that is only the companies that have contacted me. I know some of our members who are in the consulting business have been consulting companies on how to reduce staff members,” Parkhouse said.

According to Parkhouse, other cost-cutting measures include an extension of operating hours without increasing salaries, while some companies simply do not replace staff who resign.

He noted that one of companies that extended working hours without increasing pay also indicated that it would not pay bonuses this year. “The downturn is affecting all sorts of people. The construction industry was the one that felt the first blow. It is a worrying situation. I get these calls quite frequently and I am afraid that we will possibly see more defaults on loans,” he said.

Parkhouse also predicts that the country's unemployment rate, which currently stands at 34%, has gone up significantly.

Economics professor Dr Omu Kakujaha-Matundu agreed with Parkhouse, saying that it would take a number of years to get out of the current economic slump.

“Look at the state-owned enterprises that are planning to lay off their workers. If they do it then we will definitely see an increase in the unemployment rate,” said Kakujaha-Matundu.

According to him, more retrenchments are highly likely.

“When you look at the public sector as one of the main sectors in the economy which in the face of the current fiscal consolidation cannot afford to spend any more, most companies will not be able to benefit from government tenders anymore,” he said.

The labour ministry is preparing employment statistics for the last three months but could not provide any further information at this time.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Chinese abattoir plans continue

August 16, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Chinese abattoir plans continueSix African nations shut down cruel slaughterhouses People opposed to a planned Chinese-operated donkey abattoir at Outjo must make their voices heard before the end of the month.

Members of the public and other interested parties have until the end of August to highlight their concerns and questions on the controversial plans by a Chinese company to construct and operate a mixed donkey and cattle abattoir at Outjo.

Issues already raised by numerous members of the public in Outjo and elsewhere include groundwater and soil contamination, and a business model that has been described as unsustainable as it is based on slaughtering around 70 donkeys every second day in a country that has, according to recent studies, no more than 160 000 of these animals.

“There simply aren't enough donkeys in Namibia to sustain the abattoir more than two-and-a-half to five years, and when it fails, as it will, the Outjo ratepayer will have to foot the bill for environmental clean-up, if it can be cleaned up at all. In the short term, if the donkey supply comes to an end, poaching, which is already threatening many farming existences, will undoubtedly increase,” a member of the public pointed out this week.

Moreover, concerns have been expressed over electricity and water supply.

The site that was cleared for the abattoir before February currently has no water, sewer or power infrastructure, which the Outjo municipality has agreed to provide.

There are concerns about the 120 000 litres of water required for the daily operation of the abattoir, as well as the power supply in a town that is “notorious for weekly supply failures”.

In a background information document (BID) drafted by Quivertree Consulting, the company hired by Fu Hair Trading Enterprise to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the impact of the abattoir, interested parties are invited to share their views and concerns by the end of the month as part of the EIA process.

The document shows that according to Fu Hai Trading Enterprises' latest business plan, which has undergone significant changes since the start of the year, the abattoir aims to slaughter “either 70 donkeys or 100 units of cattle per day”.

According to the plan, the applicants intend to develop a “state-of-the-art export abattoir” that will source cattle from “surrounding commercial farms” and donkeys from northern Namibia.

Fu Hai Trading also undertakes that “only donkeys and cattle sourced from Namibia would be slaughtered”.

Their products will be exported via Walvis Bay to China, and sold locally, the BID states.

The document states that the donkeys will be sourced primarily from the north of Namibia, where 62% of the country's donkeys are, according to the Chinese company. However, no information is provided as to the total number of donkeys in Namibia, on which the percentage is based.

Nevertheless, the EIA will investigate the impact a large-scale donkey slaughterhouse will have on the donkey population in Namibia, the BID states.

According to the latest official population data on donkeys in Namibia, issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, in 2014 it was estimated that Namibia had a total population of around 159 000 donkeys.

Tricky export issues

Dr Anja Boshoff-De Witt, manager of meat standards at the Meat Board of Namibia, recently explained that there is no legislation that prohibits operating a multispecies abattoir in Namibia, but pointed out that strict hygiene guidelines and standards would be needed to prevent cross-contamination.

She also explained that currently, no beef is being exported to China because of lumpy skin disease.

“Currently, Namibia cannot export to China as a result of some of the requirements as agreed upon, meaning that the beef produced at this abattoir would probably be used for local consumption only until such time as Namibia can export to China or export agreements with other countries have to be made.”

She explained that the current agreement with China stipulates a 12-month period free from lumpy skin disease, and Namibia has experienced a number of outbreaks in the past year.

Boshoff-De Witt added that the export abattoir would have to be constructed in accordance with standards for beef production and “strict controls would have to be in place in order to assure no cross-contamination of the products”.

She also noted that the current Namibian export agreement with China on beef would apply to the abattoir “but the addition of donkey meat will have to be re-negotiated.”

She said operating an export abattoir according to required standards, regulations and policies is extremely costly.

Operational details

Yesterday, Svenja Garrard of Quivertree Consulting confirmed that the land for the abattoir, which was cleared before the municipality made public its negotiations with the Chinese, will be leased to Fu Hai Trading Enterprise, and not sold as indicated in the BID. She said the error was only discovered after distribution of the document.

In the BID it is stated that Fu Hai Trading Enterprise “is a foreign-owned company that is registered in Namibia”.

The EIA will look at the socio-economic impact of the abattoir, including possible employment creation and poverty eradication benefits, but also at concerns that a donkey abattoir will fuel illegal donkey trade.

Moreover, widespread reports from all corners of the continent have shown that there are serious concerns about animal welfare at Chinese-operated donkey abattoirs. At least six African countries have shut down this trade in recent months due to emerging evidence of severe abuse and neglect.

Other aspects the EIA will address include waste generation, traffic, soil contamination, air quality, and visual, noise and ecological impacts.

Meanwhile, Fu Hai Trading has engaged Burmeister and Partners to complete the facility and process design.

Animal welfare and meat hygiene issues will be addressed by Food Chain Solutions Namibia.

JANA-MARI SMITH

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Security guards still poorly paid

August 16, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Security guards still poorly paid

Eight months after the Security Association of Namibia (SAN) and security guards agreed on a 25% wage increase, as few as 25 security companies have implemented the increase, leaving most of Namibia's 17 000 security guards out in the cold and throwing the industry into unrest.

Concerned industry operators told Namibian Sun that because of delays in gazetting the agreement a majority of security companies have refused to implement the new wages.

An estimated 150 out of a total of 180 security companies continue to pay employees the old N$7.00 hourly minimum wage, instead of the new N$8.75 wage, which should have been implemented in January.

As few as five security companies started paying the N$10.00 hourly wages to long-serving employees in July, as per the December minimum wage agreement.

Although the labour ministry in June published a gazette inviting objections to the new minimum wages, there has been no further progress.

Members of SAN have repeatedly called on the Ministry of Safety and Security to finalise and implement strict industry regulations that could help improve oversight of a sector riddled with fly-by-night operators who flout minimum wages and health and safety standards.

The industry members who want to see better wages paid across the board, to benefit employees but also to ensure fair competition, say they are frustrated that the ministry of labour has not yet pushed for speedier implementation of the wage agreement this year.

SAN president Dries Kannemeyer has dismissed labour permanent secretary Bro-Mathew Shinguadja's statements earlier this year, where the PS defended the ministry's position and blamed SAN and the unions for not following the correct steps.

Kannemeyer says the labour ministry's apparent lack of interest in the matter has thrown the industry into chaos and the ministry's public announcement that only SAN members would have to pay the new wages, until they are extended to the rest of the industry, raised serious questions.

“What is going on at Labour? We cannot continue with this situation, as this will bring the security industry to its knees.”

John Kwedhi of the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau), who last year encouraged security guards to strike during the festive season if SAN did not agree to a hefty wage hike, told Namibian Sun this week that his office had received several complaints from members since December.

“The situation is not conducive to the security industry,” he said.

He said many security companies with government contracts claimed they could only pay the increased wages once they were gazetted, but promised employees back pay.

Kwedhi added that the few companies who had implemented the new wages felt they were facing unfair competition, and that others were profiteering from their decision to raise wages.

SAN said this week that the companies paying higher wages were losing customers to those that were paying lower wages and could charge customers less.

Kannemeyer said another concern was that certain SAN members were now also refusing to pay the minimum wage until it is gazetted.

Kannemeyer said there was no guarantee that companies would give their guards back pay.

“The question is, will they pay the back pay and who is going to police this?” he asked.

SAN continues to argue in favour of serious changes that will improve industry oversight and help regulate the industry as a whole, and not simply depend on the goodwill of a few.

One of the suggestions is to create a wage commission for the security industry and to improve the labour ministry's ability to police wages, security guard working conditions and more, not only in the central areas but across the country.

“Once the regulations are in place, these negotiations can be put aside, and the Act and regulations will dictate the way forward. The bottom line is that there are no rules to govern the industry. We need the Ministry of Safety and Security to stand up and do their work, before labour unrest in this industry harms the country and gives Namibia a bad name.”

JANA-MARI SMITH

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Who qualifies to lead Swapo?

August 16, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Who qualifies to lead Swapo?

Any person aspiring to be a candidate for election as president and vice-president must at least have been a member of Swapo for 30 years, of which five must have been as a member of the Central Committee. These are some of the proposals tabled before last weekend’s Swapo Central Committee meeting. For the secretary-general and deputy secretary-general positions, the minimum membership requirement is 25 years, of which five must have been as a member of the Central Committee. Swapo spokesperson Helmut Angula said in a statement this afternoon that the proposals have been accepted in principle by the Central Committee. “The Swapo members at congress are at liberty to freely choose how they should frame their own rules and govern the party. It is therefore only draft proposals by the Swapo Party Department of Information and as such these shall be subject to extensive discussion by legitimately and validly delegated delegates to the Swapo congress,” he said. At the moment a minimum of ten years of continuous membership in Swapo is required for a member to be eligible for election to the Central Committee as well as the top four positions within the party.

STAFF REPORTER

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Who qualifies to lead Swapo?

August 17, 2017, 10:13 am

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Who qualifies to lead Swapo?

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Pinnacle set for historic night

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Pinnacle set for historic nightIndongo fights for late father This weekend, boxing fans will be glued to their screens as Julius ‘Blue Machine’ Indongo finally faces off with the USA’s Terrence ‘Bud’ Crawford in a super lightweight title unification bout. LIMBA MUPETAMI/ JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Namibian boxer Julius Indongo is set to become one of the first boxers in history to fight at the new Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Four titles are at stake with two of the greatest boxers in the world, one being African and the other African-American, meeting to exchange gloves in what could set one apart from the rest in the super-welterweight division for years to come.

There is nothing more boxing lovers could ask for.

Indongo puts his WBA and IBF titles on the line, While Crawford is eager to add to his WBO and WBC belts.

In Namibia, the fight will be broadcast in the early hours of Sunday morning, while Americans will be watching the fight on Saturday evening because of the time differences between the two nations.

It remains to be seen who will take all four belts home, but the bookmakers are all betting in favour of the American.

The two boxers have already earned respect on the boxing scene, but this fight will determine who is the undisputed champion of the world.

The winner takes all, but the Namibian has the chance to become Africa’s greatest boxer of all time.

With the bookmakers ruling Crawford as the ultimate favourite, Julius Indongo has whatever it takes to steal the show.

Indongo has proven that he is a force to be reckoned with after an impressive record of 22 fights, 0 losses and 11 knockouts.

In his latest fights, the Namibian knocked out Russian Eduard Troyanovsky and also defeated Ricky Burns of Scotland to become the IBF, IBO and WBA world super lightweight champion.

Crawford possesses a record of 31 wins, 0 losses and 22 knockouts in 31 fights.

Despite being deemed as the underdog, the Namibian has shown that he is cable of delivering a devastating punch which could end the American’s night in fury.

He also has the height advantage of [5ft 101/2 in], while Crawford is slightly shorter with a height of [5ft 8 in].

The advantage in height is likely to afford Indongo the chance to throw punches from a distance with Crawford having to reach closer to his opponent to get accurate shots.

Despite the American having fought nine times more than Indongo, the Namibian still has a better knockout percentage of 11/9.

What Namibia is up against is a man that has already claimed gold in the lightweight division and is ranked in the top four pound for pound boxers by Ring Magazine.

The odds are also in the favour of the American who will be fighting in front of his home crowd which could try and intimidate the Namibian.

But Indongo said that the spirit of his late father who died during the apartheid era will carry him into the fight.

“I am doing this for my late father who died when I was just two years old and for every Namibian child who has a dream of becoming a great boxer.

“I have prepared so much for this fight and I will not let myself be intimidated by anything,” Indongo said.

The magnitude of the fight is so big that each of the boxers submitted 12 percent of their respective purses for the right to fight for belts.

Boxingscene reported that Indongo and his opponent each paid more than N$1.3-million in sanctioning fees from their undisclosed seven-figure purses to fight for world’s four major titles.

The figures are so high because the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO typically take three percent apiece from the purses of a champion and challenger.

What also remains significant of this fight is that the winner will end a 12-year wait for any boxer to hold the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles at the same time.

Indongo’s promoter, Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias of the MTC Nestor ‘Sunshine’ Tobias Boxing and Fitness Academy, is optimistic about his boxer.

“We feel confident going in to this very important fight and the champ is in good shape and very hungry for success but we remain disciplined and focused.

“The training went very well and we are asking the whole nation to keep us in their prayers,” Nestor Tobias said.

Support from home

Brave Warriors coach Ricardo Mannetti, whose team plays an important encounter on Sunday, said he would stay awake to watch the fight.

“I know that I am just a football coach, but I am sending all my support and encouragement to Julius Indongo.

“All the Namibians must stand behind Indongo because he is our very own. I am definitely going to watch the fight.”

Local boxer Jeremiah Nakathila felt that Julius Indongo will defy any odds in America.

Having trained with Indongo before, he described the Namibian as a brave man.

“Crawford may be dangerous, but I can assure you that Julius is deadly.

“He will bring the belts home and I wish him luck in his fight,” Nakathila said.

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Schools' hockey concludes

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Schools' hockey concludes

The primary schools' development league hockey finals ended on Wednesday at the Windhoek Gymnasium Private School in Windhoek.

Boys and girls in four age groups took part. In the under-eight category the St Paul's Private School girls' team beat Pionierspark Primary School 2-1 on penalties, St George's Private School beat St Paul's 2-1. In the girls' under-10 category, St Paul's College beat Windhoek Gymnasium 3-1.

In the under-10 boys' category Windhoek Gymnasium beat St Paul's 3-2 on penalties.

St Paul's College did well in the girls' under-12 category, winning 3-1 against Windhoek Gymnasium. The boys' under-12 title also went to St Paul's College.

In the under-14 category St Paul's won 6-0 against Windhoek Gymnasium.

St Paul's boys' team lost 2-0 against Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool despite putting on a great performance.

The Momentum Rugby Boards Trophy League finals will take place this weekend at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek.

On Friday at 11:30 JTL Beukes Primary School will play Rehoboth Primary School in the under-12 category.

12:25: Under-11 A, Pro-Ed Academy will face Windhoek Gymnasium.

13:20: Under -13 A, Orban Primary School will cross paths with Origo Primary School.

Thereafter at 14:25 Rehoboth I and Windhoek Gymnasium IV will meet in the under-19D group.

15:50: Under-15B, Danie Joubert Primary School will play Private School Moria.

17:30: Windhoek Barbarians will play Peterhouse I (Zimbabwe).

On Saturday

08:00 Maurits Devenish Private School under-14 will play Windhoek High School.

09:05: Under-14B, Otji's Rugby go toe-to-toe with M&K Getze.

10:30: Under-13A, Pionierspark faces Walvis Bay Private High School.

11:35: Under-14A, Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool faces Windhoek High School.

11:20: Under-15, Walvis Bay faces Windhoek High School.

12:40: Under-15, Windhoek Gymnasium will play Windhoek High School.

13:45: Under-19B, KPS I will play Pro-Ed Academy I.

15:10: Under-19 Plate, WAP I will battle it out with WHS I.

16:35: Under-19, Elnatan I will play Tsumeb Gimnasium Private School.

18:15: Under-19, Windhoek Gymnasium I will play Walvis Bay I.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

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Mannetti prepared for 'ugly football'

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Mannetti prepared for 'ugly football'Comoros are in town A 1-0 score line would be enough for Namibia to secure their first ever CHAN qualification and would also earn the Namibian team N$2.2 million.

The Brave Warriors will do anything it takes to win their game on Sunday even if they have to play “ugly football” to succeed, coach Riccardo Mannetti says.

Namibia are pitted against the Comoros in the second leg of the 2018 African Nations Championships qualifier at the Sam Nujoma stadium at 15:00.

The Namibians go into the tie 2-1 behind the Comoros after suffering a defeat at the hands of the Islanders last weekend.

The Namibian team is ahead of Comoros [43rd] on the CAF rankings, though.

“Comoros surprised us in the first half of our away game because we did not expect them to play possession football.

“Our aim now will be to start the game very well in order to get the goals.

“If things become difficult, we will be doing anything, even by playing ugly football, just so that we can win the match.

“By ugly football I mean playing long balls to the strikers in order for us to get the goals,” Mannetti said.

Mannetti has added Tigers right back Romario Ndjavera, Charles Hambira and Edmund Kambanda to join the squad that played last Sunday.

Hambira will be making his Warriors debut, while Kambanda will play his second game for the senior national team.

“These players have been training with us for the past few months now and I believe it was about time they got the chance to show what they are made of.

“I am not going to panic about them given that they know what is expected of them.”

Match tickets are on sale for N$30 at Computicket at Shoprite and Checkers countrywide.

The NFA has announced that no tickets will be sold at the gate and fans are therefore advised to buy their tickets in advance.

Spectators are advised not to leave the stadium once they are inside. The gates of the stadium will be opened at 12:00.

“The fans must paint the Sam Nujoma Stadium red in order to encourage the players.

“I do believe it is the duty of every Namibian to rally behind the team, I really want to win this game,” Mannetti said.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

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City, United EPL favourites

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Suarez in injury scare ahead of qualifiers

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City, United EPL favouritesManchester teams chase top spot Manchester City and United are vying for top spot in the Premier League this season.

After a first week in the Premier League that saw the champions Chelsea toppled and 31 goals flying in, the victories by Manchester's clubs on the opening weekend suggested they could be the teams to chase this term.

The rivals are book-ending week two, with United at Swansea City in Saturday's lunchtime game and City testing Everton's new big-spending resolve on Monday. That should provide an even better feel for their credentials.

Jose Mourinho's United put four past West Ham United and Romelu Lukaku quickly demonstrated his intent to be crowned the league's top scorer, after just missing out last year, with an accomplished double.

Just as impressive was the performance of Pep Guardiola's City, who broke down the newcomers Brighton and Hove Albion with the pairing of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus promising much.

German international Ilkay Gundogan is back in the frame for them, too, after a long-term injury as the summer's 200 million-pound big spenders face an Everton side who have been splashing out again themselves by signing Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Still having to prove they have enough goals in them after the departure of Lukaku, manager Ronald Koeman declared on Wednesday that the Icelander is the man to “bring productivity” to the Toffees after Lukaku's departure.

The big question marks have all been down at Stamford Bridge this week following their home loss to Burnley.

They ended up with nine men and the first glimpse of deja vu for Blues faithful who can't bring themselves to believe their title defence under Antonio Conte will go the same way as the last one, under Mourinho, two years ago.

With injuries and suspensions to the dismissed Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas, a visit to old foes Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday is the sort of demanding follow-up Conte might have hoped to have been spared so early in the campaign.

Yet could Spurs' brave new world at Wembley Stadium, as they wait for their new White Hart Lane home to be finished, prove an Achilles heel? If their wretched Champions League experiences there last season are anything to go by, it could be.

Liverpool's win in the Champions League qualifier at Hoffenheim was just the tonic they needed to forget the saga of whether Philippe Coutinho would stay or head for Barcelona. Instead, they could revel in home-grown teenager Trent Alexander-Arnold's goal-scoring in Germany.

They now seek their first league win of the campaign against Crystal Palace, who was left reeling by a woeful debut under Frank De Boer in the 3-0 defeat at home to Huddersfield Town.

The Terriers, hardly able to credit such an emphatic victory in their first match in the top flight for 45 years - which saw them briefly top the table until Manchester United's win - now have the chance to make it, in contrast, a pointless start for fellow newcomers Newcastle United at Kirklees Stadium.

Arsenal visit Stoke City, so often a fixture with the feel of a proper culture clash, and they will be counting on new signing Alexandre Lacazette to hit the target again. Lacaztte scored after just 94 seconds of his debut in the 4-3 win over Leicester City.

NAMPA/REUTERS

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Suarez in injury scare ahead of qualifiers

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Suarez in injury scare ahead of qualifiers

Luis Suarez could be in doubt for Uruguay's crucial World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Paraguay due to an injured right knee.

The Barcelona striker suffered the injury during the Catalan side's 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the second leg of their Spanish Super Cup tie at the Bernabeu on Wednesday; a result that gave the La Liga champions a 5-1 aggregate win.

Suarez was in clear discomfort after a collision with Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas late in the match and only remained on the pitch because Barcelona had already used their full quota of substitutions.

In a brief statement, Barcelona said the 30-year-old would undergo tests to determine the extent of the injury.

Uruguay will host Argentina in Montevideo on August 31 before a clash with Paraguay in Asuncion five days later.

The Celeste is currently third in the South American zone World Cup qualifying standings with four matches remaining.

The top four teams at the end of the qualifying campaign will automatically qualify for football's showpiece tournament in Russia next year while the fifth-ranked side will earn a playoff spot.

NAMPA/XINHUA

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Lighter gloves spell quick end of Mayweather, says McGregor

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Lighter gloves spell quick end of Mayweather, says McGregor

Mixed martial arts champion Conor McGregor is happy about the switch to lighter gloves for his August 26 fight against undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather and says his opponent will struggle to make it past the second round.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Wednesday, just 10 days before the hotly anticipated Las Vegas fight, approved requests from Mayweather and McGregor to wear eight-ounce gloves rather than 10-ounce ones.

“That was a good thing for me. I'm very happy with it,” McGregor told reporters on a conference call.

Mayweather had nearly all of his 49 professional wins using eight-ounce gloves, which may accentuate one of his advantages - his hand speed.

McGregor preferred the lighter gloves since he is used to the fingerless, four-ounce gloves typically worn in MMA.

“That's it in a nutshell, you've got pros and cons on both sides,” he said. “Favours us both in certain ways, I believe now that the gloves are eight ounces, I don't believe he makes it out of the second round,” McGregor added.

“Part of me kind of wants to show some skills and dismantle him that way. But I do not foresee him absorbing the blows in the first two rounds.”

While most pundits have McGregor, who has never boxed professionally, as a heavy underdog, the Dubliner said he was determined to prove the doubters wrong.

“I'm just looking forward to August 26, going in and proving what I'm saying and educating the world on what martial arts is,” he said and earning my respect in this game also.”

The Irishman said his gruelling preparations for the fight would enable him to triumph no matter how the fight develops.

“There is no way in hell that I am not ready to fight in the deepest of trenches in this contest,” McGregor added.

“The training sessions and the practice that we've been putting in has been through hell and back. We are ready for absolutely every scenario.

“I'm ready to go to war for the full 12 rounds and I am ready to put him away in the first 10 seconds. That's where my head's at.”

Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), followed McGregor on the conference call and predicted the fight could even threaten the reported $600 million haul from the Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao 2015 showdown.

“This is the biggest event ever in combat sports history. This is the most distributed event in pay-per-view history,” White said, also citing the additional digital reach.

“This thing is in like 200 countries on pay-per-view. Boxing doesn't usually do a lot of digital. If you're in Manhattan or on a desert island somewhere, if you have Wifi you can buy this fight.”

NAMPA / REUTERS

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Zambia makes HIV testing mandatory

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Zambia makes HIV testing mandatoryLaw states that patient does not need to give consent In a bid to get HIV-positive Zambians on treatment, President Edward Lungu has made HIV testing mandatory and has removed the requirement for the patient's permission to test.

HIV/Aids testing is now mandatory in public health institutions as the Zambian government is acting to prevent further loss of life from the disease which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives since the mid-80s, President Edgar Lungu has announced.

Lungu said the HIV/Aids pandemic had since 1984 claimed more than one million lives, while more than 1.2 million more people were currently living with the virus, which had a negative impact on national development.

He said the matter was debated in detail during Monday's Cabinet meeting, with the discussion culminating in the resolution to implement the measure with a view to help wipe out the disease by 2030.

“This bold decision prioritises HIV testing and immediate commencement and retention on Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) treatment of all Zambians living with HIV. If you think that just because you don't fall sick all is well, one day you will drop dead and we will know (your status) when you are in the morgue. So get tested so that you know your status,” Lungu said.

Lungu said when people fell ill, they would be subjected to all tests, including HIV/Aids. Those testing positive for HIV/Aids would immediately be put on treatment to help control the disease.

The government is taking an integrated approach to the problem to ensure that the country meets its 2030 target of eliminating HIV in all communities across the country.

Lungu called on stakeholders to support the measure, emphasising the need to empower people who tested negative with information to help them maintain their status by avoiding infection.

The President said the government was keen to achieve a healthy and productive population, which was a prerequisite to national development.

He urged Zambians to work to eliminate stigma at the workplace and in wider society.

Lungu said that from 2010 to 2016, the government had reduced HIV prevalence by 41%; 8 000 patients were on ART and 80% of the infected adult population was on treatment.

The Head of State called for more stakeholder participation to help keep the trend in reverse and urged youth to avoid alcohol and substance abuse that increased the chances of exposure to HIV and in some cases, led to death.

The president said it was unacceptable that only 50% of HIV-positive children were on treatment.

Zambian health minister Chitalu Chilufya praised President Lungu for his spirited fight against HIV/Aids, which demonstrated his willingness to combat the scourge.

United Nations (UN) resident coordinator Janet Rogan said controlling HIV/Aids could not be achieved by the government alone, but in concert with other stakeholder efforts, especially those designed to promote good moral conduct among the people.

Rogan said policies and strategies should be backed by measures that, among other things, encouraged women to seek medical help to prevent mother-to-child (MTC) transmission.

“Traditional leaders have a role to play in this. This will help us reduce stigma and encourage drug intake among patients because HIV/Aids will be controlled by our own actions,” she said.

United States (US) Charge'd Affaires Christopher Craft said HIV/Aids testing was crucial for Zambia to attain an HIV-Aids free population, and that his government remained committed to helping the country achieve the goal.

Craft said under the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), the US had, to date, helped Zambia with US$3 billion to help control HIV, with 8 000 patients on ART.

Lusaka province minister Japhen Mwakalombe encouraged Lusaka residents and people living in other parts of the country to go for HIV counselling and testing.

LUSAKA TIMES

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3% of global health workers in Africa

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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3% of global health workers in Africa

African health experts tackled health challenges on the continent by providing innovative solutions led by African health specialists under Africa's first health umbrella body, African Forum for Research and Education in Health (AFREhealth) in Ghana at the start of this month.

Through AFREHealth, the continent's leading health figures from more than 60 medical and nursing schools came together to improve health outcomes, build capacity and improve the education and training of health professionals across Africa.

“Our continent's health systems are fragile, severely resource and budget constrained and to ensure our implementations are successful we must ensure that funders that share our common health goals of improving health in Africa support solutions which address local needs and are locally relevant,” AFREhealth chairperson, Professor Peter Donkor told delegates at the organisation's first annual conference in Ghana since its launch a year ago.

Delegates attending the conference, including international funders, have all called on African-led solutions to include accountability of Heads of State on the continent and more effort to ensure governments prioritise health as a key sector requiring urgent intervention.

Addressing the conference, Ghana's health minister, Agyeman Manu gave his country's assurance that it would support efforts by AFREhealth to address health challenges on the continent through local solutions.

“AFREhealth is ideally placed to tackle the continuing concerns of diseases on the continent. We must ask ourselves why is it that Africa continues to battle against high maternal mortality rates and malaria? What we need are affordable, accessible and appropriately trained health professionals which I believe an organisation like AFREHealth can assist with and it has the full support of my ministry,” said Manu.

Experts at the conference all decried the lack of resources amid robust discussions on how organisations can sustain themselves financially if they are to succeed in their goals of improving healthcare.

Africa currently has 24% of the world's burden of diseases yet has only 3% of the global health workforce. Added to this challenge, was the 'brain drain' of health professionals, including nurses, which continued to plague countries across Africa.

To address this, AFREhealth aims to roll out training programmes and opportunities for research education for health professionals whilst providing incentives to retain them at faculty and institutional level.

“Our current health workforce required to tackle health challenges like maternal mortality and malaria is severely constrained and in short supply. In addition, health training institutions lack the capacity to meet the demand for places.

“The few available training schools are under-resourced with poor infrastructure and limited faculty, curricula are often outdated and access to ICT, internet and other training tools is minimal. These are all issues AFREhealth will tackle as an Afri-centric, independent body. This is going to be a game-changer for the continent,” added Donkor.

NEWS24

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Omunangeshefa taka pewa egeelo lye pehulilo lyomwedhi

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Omunangeshefa taka pewa egeelo lye pehulilo lyomwedhi

Epangelo oshowo omukalelipo gwopaveta gomutamanekwa otaya manitha oompata dhawo megandjo lyegeelo lyomunangeshefa ngoka a monika ondjo moshipotha shedhipago lyomukwashigwana gwaFinland, Marco Kristian Uolevi Rönni ngoka a yahwa okusa, pondunda yonanwino momudhingoloko gwaSouthern Industrial Area moshilandopangelo.

Omupanguli Christie Liebenberg okwa undulile oshipotha shoka komasiku 31 gaAguste nuumvo.

Omukalelipo gwepangelo moshipotha shoka, Karin Esterhuisen okwa popi kutya omwenyo ogwa kanithwa naashoka osha yi pondje Ekotampango lyOshilongo.

“Nakusa omunamimvo 42 okwa yekwa omwenyo gwe noyana yatatu oya kuthwa uuthemba wo kukala nahe.”

Rodney Danne Shaningua (46) okwa monika ondjo moshipotha shedhipago nonkambadhala yokuya moshipala iilonga yuuyuki, sho omupanguli Christie Liebenberg a tindi omaipopilo ge kutya okwa dhipaga nakusa onga omukalo gwokwiipopila.

Rönni okwa yahwa iikando 9 sha landula oshiponga oshishona, sho a pumu oshiyenditho shomutamanekwa, sha holoka pondunda ndjoka yomanwino, ongulohi yomasiku 8 nenge 9 gaAguste mo-2015 poJoker's Bar mepandanda lyaBell mOvenduka.

Shaningwa okwiipopile moshipotha shedhhipago nokuya moshipala iilonga yoshikondo shuuyuki, kutya okwa li tii popile.

Esterhuisen okwa popi kutya Shaningwa okwa umbu iikando 9 uukitha mohauto yanakusa omanga eshi shi kutya nakusa okwali mehauto ndjoka.

Omukalelipo gwaShaningwa Slysken Makando okwa popi kutya edhigapo ndyoka kali shi lyowina molwaashoka onkalo ayihe oya piyagana nokulimbilika sha landula sho ehauto lyomutamanekwa lwa pumbwa kunakusa.

FRED GOEIEMAN

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