Dangote invests into renewables

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, plans to invest US$20 billion to US$50 billion in the US and Europe by 2025, in industries including renewable energy and petrochemicals.

The 60-year-old Nigerian cement tycoon aims to move into these territories for the first time in 2020 after completing almost US$5 billion of agricultural projects and an US$11 billion oil refinery in his home country, he said in an interview with Bloomberg Markets Magazine this month.

“Beginning in 2020, 60% of our future investments will be outside Africa, so we can have a balance,” said Dangote, worth US$11.6 billion, according to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index. Dangote Group's major investment will be in the US and Europe, he said. “I think renewables is the way to go forward, and the future. We are looking at petrochemicals but can also invest in other companies.”

Dangote has diversified rapidly in the last five years, both geographically and into new industries. He's expanded Dangote Cement, which accounts for almost 80% of his wealth, into nine African countries aside from Nigeria.

In 2015, he began building a 650 000 barrel-a-day refinery near Lagos, Nigeria's main commercial hub, and he's constructing gas pipelines to the city from Nigeria's oil region with US private equity firms Carlyle and Blackstone. He said in July he'd invest US$4.6 billion in the next three years in sugar, rice and dairy production.

Telecoms unappealing

“When you look at it - not just in Nigeria but in the rest of Africa - the majority of countries here depend on imported food,” he said. “There is no way you can have a population of 320 million in West Africa and no self-sufficiency. So the first thing to do is food security. I believe Dangote Group is in the right position to drive this trajectory.”

Dangote, who mostly lives in Lagos and counts Bill Gates among his friends, said he is a passionate industrialist and rules out moving into newer sectors such as telecommunications or technology.

“When I look at telecoms, for instance, I think that would be very tough for us,” he said. “Some players have been in this market for 17 years already. There's no way you can go and jump over somebody after 17 years of their hard work. So I think we would pass when it comes to telecoms today. There are other businesses that we understand better.”

Dangote also said he isn't planning to enter Nigerian politics.

“I'm not interested,” he said. “I enjoy a lot of what I am doing, and I also love my freedom - and I don't have too much. The little I have, politics would take away. There are businessmen who are interested in politics. I'm not one of them.”

BLOOMBERG

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You scratch my back; I scratch yours

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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You scratch my back; I scratch yours Can one remain a friend to your ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, someone once asked me. I wasn’t sure what to say – I mean, can one really remain a friend to someone you once shared fond memories with?

Well, according to my fellow brothers from the capital city – Windhoek – it is possible for a man and woman to remain friends after breaking up.

This is the only place in the country where a man allows his woman to be picked up by her ex for a snack at the most expensive place in town, and smile about it all! If you complain about it, your woman will apparently tell you that you are insecure, old-school and you do not trust her. Ja, she would spend the night waiting on you to admit that you are the jealous type and need to consult with Dr Zeus!

Well, fellas in Windhoek ought to be downright crazy! I don’t care what Dr Phil, Oprah, or the billy goat has to say about how best to conduct a relationship – I will kick the living hell out of a dude that pulls up at my place to take you out, or die trying!

Don’t even try that age-old trick about the two of you being ‘just’ friends – that one is as good as the teenage ingenuity “don’t worry, honey, I am prepared to wait. We just gonna lie here with our clothes on.” The next summer we see the winter results of ‘… we just gonna lie here with our clothes on!” That one might have worked on our grandparents – who were at least 70 years old and lived in a different generation. Present-day parents are of the same generation.

You see, I am a peaceful person by nature – always smiling, kind enough to give up my seat for a standing elder and have read a lot on social and professional etiquette. But don’t tempt me; all that mumbo jumbo flies right out the window when I get mad. I can’t be sensitive, smart, politically correct and mad at the same time!

But come to think of it, having your previous lover on stand-by could spice up a lot in your relationship. Imagine telling your man - who has been postponing replacing that light bulb or fixing that darn leaking bathroom tap - that you will call Dave to do it. Chances are that bulb will be replaced in a jiffy, and your plumbing problems will also be something of the past.

Ja, I could come home, spend the whole afternoon on the sofa and when my woman gets home, I would cry out that I am hungry. If she gives me grief… all that rubbish about me coming early from work and equal partnerships - woman of the 90s chatter - I will simply get Maria on speed dial.

And it will not be a home-cooked meal that I will be after. No, I won’t be that responsible. I will be pulling out all the stops - restaurant, movie and drinks afterwards - all at the expense of my life’s savings.

Once we get to the venue, we would be catching up on lost time - the common conversation denominator will be that we both have not found love since breaking up. That is when topics come up like complementing each other, soul mate and “Do you believe in fate,” non-sense.

When you start liking the things that drifted you apart and start reasoning that it is ‘better the devil you know’, you are on a downward spiral to the land of thorns and shrubs where not even the brave return. Yeah, no milk and honey there brother!

I guess it is okay for a man to check out the menus at restaurants, see what they offer, but the trick is in leaving for home without ordering any. Trust me; nothing beats a home-cooked meal – if you know what I mean!

Once temptation arises to order at a certain restaurant, think about the tale of a prince who turned into a frog. I for one would never want to turn into a frog, and wait the odd century for some princess from ‘Far Far Away’ to come and place the kiss of life on my lips.

Until then …

Tjatindi@gmail.com

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History is the best

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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History is the best By Nkrumah Mushelenga

What is the significant of the 26 of August date on the Namibian calendar? And what are the characteristics that signify the dynamic and gravity of the 26 of August 1966 event? What ignited the political, diplomatic and armed liberation struggle historical legacy?

It is thus, legitimate to belief that, the value of 26 of August 1966 calendar, is the collective victories (Glory) of the Heroes and Heroines of the Namibian Liberation Struggle.

The other profound characteristic, is the (2) establishment of Sialolwa (Oshatotwa) base in Kaunga Marsh, Southern Zambia, (3) the 1974 one hundred and seventy (170) volunteers who after military inductions (training) in Oshatotwa, requested the then Oshatotwa commander Augustus H. Nghaamwa (McNamara) to be militarily and logistically, prepared to voluntarily returned to Namibia to intensifies the armed liberation struggle. (“Aakwiita, Iita Ihayitondokwa”) McNamara 1974.

The other characteristics is (4) the enormous sacrifices the people of this country have made to gain our country’s political independence 27 years ago. E.g. kidnapping without trace, imprisonment without trail, in both Namibia and South Africa, kept in detention without trial, mahaangu field destroyed, women and men became widowers and widows, many children became orphan without parents, the Cassinga, Oshikuku, Oshatotwa, Vietnam, Brand burg, old- location massacres of our innocent people by the then Apartheid colonial regime in this country, is a record which cannot be forgotten.

To the youth of this beloved country, the records speaks for themselves. The colonizers knew that unity is strength. Hence, they executed Bantustan system of governing on our people. They destroyed the African inclusive Ubuntu democratic centralism system, and imposed tribal inferior complex believe on the mind and heart of our people thus, subjecting them to divide and rule policy. Our forefathers could not win the war against the invaders because our traditional leaders by then, were in gaging the enemy at the battle field, mostly on a tribal strategic basis.

The message of hope from the late Comrade Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo is, and remains explicitly clear. “The struggle will be longer and bitter, but my people will emerge victories. Namibia is blessed to have amidst us, many founders of SWAPO Party, the wisdom of which the young generation of this country can preserve for future generational leadership.

Corruption and Tribalism: We believe that the two acts complimenting each other’s. the synonym of corruption is “dishonest, exploitation, bribery and fraud” Meanwhile, the synonym of tribalism is “ethnic, family and ancestral”. It is for this reason that the President of the Republic and of the SWAPO Party Dr. Hage Geingob has time and again advised tribal leadership, and national politicians, not to promote tribalism in their community. Not only that, the President has in fact declared war against corruption and tribalism.

We command the President for his commitment to uphold and protect the Constitution of this great country, for declaring war against corrupt practices and tribalism, for a befitting pension, for food bank, for voluntarily declaring 20% of his salary for poverty eradication programme, for finding befitting durable solution to the plight of the children of the liberation struggle, for getting Namibia on top of the world map through international relations advocacy, for the five (5) pillars of the Harrambee Prosperity Plan for Namibia economic development Programme.

All Namibian from all walks of life, are expected to join the Commander in- Chief of the Namibian Defence Force His Excellency President comrade DR. HAGE Geingob in a minute of silence during the morning of the 26 of August 2017.The minute of silence will be in honor of the sacrifices and braveness of the heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle. For “their blood, lives, tears and sweats waters our freedom.”

Hence, we are all expected to converge in the Town of OSHAKATI Oshana Region, to pay our respects to those “whose blood, lives, sweats and tears waters our freedom” the heroes and heroines of the land of the brave. The SWAPO Party liberation struggle is characterized by all-inclusive national oriented structures namely; politics; diplomatic and indeed the armed liberation struggle. Interestingly, the three clusters have common aims and objectives which were, and continue to complement each other’s.

We commend the then OAU Liberation Committee, the then Frontline States, the Cuban Revolution, the Non-Aligned countries and indeed, the peace loving international communities, for their solidarity support during the protracted bitter struggle for the liberation of mother land Namibia.

For the incoming SWAPO Party Congress, our position is firm, not because we want to protect comrade Hage Geingob as the President of Namibia, but also as a way of consolidating the aims and objectives of the SWAPO’S Party liberation and post-colonial legacy. The records indicate that SWAPO Party Presidential candidate is entrusted with the implementation of the Party manifesto throughout his or her terms of office as President of Namibia and of the SWAPO Party. Some views are that he is just an acting President, while some are of the views that he is the President of the Party. Who is right and who is wrong? Non. Comrade Hage, is part of the first SWAPO Party generational leadership. He should be given the respect he deserves just like his predecessors. The oncoming Congress should not divide the Party cadres. It is an in house issue which should be carefully and inclusively diagnosed by Founding Father, the Former President and indeed the current President before it becomes a political football. In the main time, we continue to identify ourselves with the Party Organs that have declared comrade Dr. Hage G. Geingob as the sole SWAPO Party Presidential Candidate. We believe in collective achievements.

May god bless Namibia the land of the brave.!

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National pride at stake

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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National pride at stake Namibians are bursting with national pride ahead of what can only be described as a big weekend for the nation's sport. Headlining the proceedings will be our undisputed world champion Julius 'Blue Machine' Indongo, who will face off against the hard-hitting American pugilist Terence Crawford at the Pinnacle Bank Arena in Nebraska. Indongo will put his IBF and WBA titles on the line against Crawford, who is the holder of the WBC and WBO titles. By Sunday morning, we will know who the undisputed super-lightweight king is. It will be a big moment for both boxers who are at this point in time considered as the best fighters in their division. Indongo has an excellent career as an amateur fighter and has always been poised for greatness – a feat that was underlined when he outclassed Russia's Eduard Troyanovsky in the first rounds in December last year to capture the IBF title. He further proved his formidable skills to the world when he cruised to a points victory over Scottish boxer Ricky Burns in Glasgow, landing the WBA world title. Indongo has to be at his very best when he comes up against the one of the world's most recognised boxers. Indongo's opponent oozes talent and he is a hard hitter in his own right. Meanwhile, back home the Brave Warriors could also make history this weekend by qualifying for their first ever African Nations Championship that will play out in Kenya next year. The Ricardo Mannetti side must first beat the Comoros on Sunday at the Sam Nujoma Stadium to realise this dream. The players are aware that no other result would matter against Comoros except victory. Last weekend Namibia lost 2-1 away in Comoros in the first leg and desperately need to clinch the tie this time around to confirm their place at CHAN finals next year. The win will indeed be a massive boost for our football, which has been trapped in victimhood since the Namibia Premier League (NPL) failed to start last season due to funding and governance problems.

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Cartoon

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Cartoon

Cartoon for Friday 18/07/2017

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Shaningua sentencing on 31 August

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Shaningua sentencing on 31 August

The state and the defence lawyers finalised their arguments for the sentencing of a businessman who was found guilty of the murder Marco Kristian Uolevi Rönni, a Finn, who was shot dead outside a bar in the city's Southern Industrial Area.

Judge Christie Liebenberg postponed the matter to 31 August for sentencing.

State prosecutor Karin Esterhuisen argued in aggravation that a life was lost, the sanctity of which is enshrined in the Namibian Constitution.

“The deceased, at 42 years of age, was deprived of life and this consequently will deprive his three children to be with a father,” she stated.

Rodney Danne Shaningua, 46, was found guilty of murder and attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice after Judge Christie Liebenberg rejected his claim of having acted in self-defence during the shooting incident that claimed the life of Rönni.

Rönni was shot nine times in an apparent road-rage incident after a minor accident outside Joker's Bar near the Windhoek Showgrounds. The incident took place during the night of 8 to 9 August.

Shaningua pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice and explained that he acted in self-defence.

Esterhuisen told the court Shaningua fired nine shoots directly into the motor vehicle driven by the deceased knowing that the deceased was inside.

“The deceased was brutally murdered and the accused after shooting left him at his own mercy. The accused did not voluntarily stop firing but did so when another motor vehicle was approaching,” she charged.

She further said the accused expressed remorse only after he had pleaded not guilty and submitted that the remorse was not genuine and that it is more of regret for what he did.

Defence lawyer Slysken Makando stated that the murder was not out of nothing because everything became confused for Shaningua due to the damage of his car in an accident caused by the deceased.

“In appropriate circumstances the blameworthiness is absent because there is no evidence of direct intent,” he argued in mitigation, and further stressed that the interest of the society should not be overemphasised above that of the accused.

He however conceded that it is mandatory for court to declare the accused to be unfit to possess a firearm.

FRED GOEIEMAN

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National history compromised

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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National history compromisedDocuments, some up to two centuries old, being destroyed Repeated flooding is putting the preservation of the history of Namibia at risk with antique documents being destroyed.

Staff from the National Archives of Namibia in Windhoek are fed up with what they term top management’s inaction after complaints about the deteriorating conditions of the building have fallen on deaf ears.

Martha Nakanyala, acting chief at the National Archives, has witnessed numerous pipe bursts in their building and this has damaged original and antique materials documenting Namibian history. “I started working here in 2002 until 2013. I came back last year and the situation has not improved. Since 2007, we have lodged complaints of the faulty pipes that continue to leak and yet, no action has been taken,” she says.

According to the staff at the archives, management only sends one or two men to fix a certain area, while “the whole building is in need of serious attention”. Namibian Sun learned that damaged pipers are either replaced with plastic pipes that do not last long or uneven piping that increases the pressure of the flow of the water.

Yesterday, when Namibian Sun arrived at the building, the staff were cleaning up water from storage areas with buckets and mops and using old newspapers to block the water from reaching the documents. “We are not even cleaners, but every day we run around with buckets trying to stop the leaking water from ruining our historic materials. The cleaning materials we have are not even enough to do the job. We have compiled so many reports, but we do not even know if they are read or discussed in their meetings,” continued Nakanyala.

The building holds about 5 600 maps, 61 000 photographs, 2 000 audio cassettes, 450 films and a complete collection of all local newspapers from 1897 to 1962. Letters and reports during the German and South African rule can also be found at the archives. Documents are only single copies and no duplicates are available.

While the archives are open for public use, yesterday the building was closed due to the water crisis.

“This is a heritage institution. It carries the history of this country. If nothing is done, these precious documents are lost forever. We also have marriage certificates for people who got married before independence and every day, we have cases of people complaining that the national archive employees are not doing their job, because documents are getting lost, but that is not the case. We try our best, but we do not see any improvement and we do not want the Namibian nation to blame us,” said a clearly dismayed Nakanyala.

Namibian Sun was also informed that international researchers frequently come from all over the world to make use of their facilities for research purposes. The historians also criticised that the building has experienced water crises before forcing them to go to neighbouring offices to use restrooms and ask for water to make coffee or tea during lunch. “Summer is approaching and the heat in this building is unbearable. I honestly do not know how we are going to survive here,” said Albertina Nekongo, one of the archivers. She also informed Namibian Sun that their CCTV camera has not been functioning for the past few years and has consequently made their facility a target for criminals. “Whenever researchers come here with their laptops, the thieves see an opportunity to make a quick buck as they know our cameras do not work. Everything in this building just needs to be replaced,” she added.

The National Archives of Namibia collects and preserves the nation’s history and unpublished documentary heritage and provides training in records management in all government offices. It shares a building with the National Library of Namibia.

TUNOHOLE MUNGOBA

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Zimbabweans not Namibia's only salvation – Nudo

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Zimbabweans not Namibia's only salvation – Nudo

The National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) says government must stop treating Zimbabwean nationals as the country's only salvation in terms of skills transfer and invest in the development of its own people.

The presidential spokesperson of the party, Joseph Kauandenge, yesterday expressed concern about the preferential treatment that government is giving to Zimbabweans professionals working in Namibia.

He said in a statement the recent revelations that the government is paying around N$697 130 per month in rental costs to 86 Zimbabwean professionals is very disturbing.

The annual expenditure is more than N$8.4 million.

The total cost to the country for these professionals is more than N$55.7 million per year. That includes a monthly transport expenditure of N$10 million, while the expats already receive travel allowances as part of their packages.

“While at the outset we do not have any problem with qualified Zimbabweans working in Namibia, we are disturbed by the special treatment they get when working here.”

Kauandenge said a case in point is the recent announcement by the ministry to exempt them from registration with the relevant authorities as surveyors, architects etc.

“We are of the opinion that the so-called special relationship that has not yet been properly defined between Namibia and Zimbabwe cannot and should not be used as a carte blanche cheque to milk our country of much-needed money, just because we must entertain and give employment to Zimbabweans.”

He said Namibians must come first when employment opportunities arise and the excuse of Namibians not having enough experience in certain fields is just a mere fabrication by the government to accommodate “Robert Mugabe's kids” in Namibia at all cost.

“This becomes even clearer in the recent SME Bank saga, where many Zimbabweans were doing jobs that ordinary Namibians could do with ease.”

Kauandenge said if government continues to sing the song of Namibians being unqualified 27 years after independence then government must take full responsibility and accept that they have failed miserably in educating Namibians to become competent players in the socioeconomic development of the country.

He said if government invests in the development of Namibians there will no need to spend so much money on foreigners that are masquerading as experts, while Namibians remain jobless.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Struggle kids block entrance to youth ministry

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Struggle kids block entrance to youth ministry

A minor scuffle erupted when the so-called struggle kids refused to be moved from the entrance to the ministry of youth Namibian Police in Windhoek said on Wednesday.

More than 100 struggle kids blocked the entrance to the ministry, demanding to see acting permanent secretary Rosalia Tjaveondja to find out about their request for training at police training centres.

The police were called to the scene to escort the struggle kids back to the Ndilimani farm, where they are accommodated.

Contacted for comment, NamPol Khomas Regional Crime Coordinator, Commissioner Silvanus Nghishidibwa on Wednesday evening said there was “a bit” of a scuffle between the police and the struggle kids but it did not escalate.

He said the youth have gone back to the farm, situated in the Brakwater area north of Windhoek.

Most of the struggle kids came with their belongings and vowed to sleep at the ministry or camp at the Swapo Party headquarters in Katutura if they were not heard.

Before their removal by police, group spokesperson Jerry Hamukwaya told Nampa at the scene they are going to wait until they get a relevant answer from the ministry.

“We are tired of dying at Ndilimani while the (police) training centres are empty,” he said.

Hamukwaya said they will not return to Ndilimani farm, because they have lost close to 10 lives in attacks from unknown residents of the Mix settlement nearby.

The group claim to have been waiting too long for a response from the authority after they were in March instructed to return to their regions of origin and register for training.

In January and March this year, the struggle kids handed one petition to Cabinet Secretary, George Simataa and another to the youth ministry in which they demanded civic training, despite their refusal for such training last year.

Efforts to obtain comment from Tjaveondja were futile as she was in a meeting.

NAMPA

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Refugees not backing down

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Refugees not backing downNamibians repatriated in 1989 challenge UN The group wants the United Nations to release the report which outlines how their repatriation, rehabilitation and resettlement processes should have been handled.

The Namibian refugees repatriated in 1989 are planning to march next week to the local United Nations office in Windhoek to express their dissatisfaction with the manner in which the repatriation, rehabilitation and resettlement process was done during and after the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 435.

The refugees are not impressed with the United Nations office in Windhoek, which washed its hands off the matter, saying the demand of the refugees should be in line with the government's plans for reintegration and rehabilitation.

The refugees want the UN to make public, a report which they claim, outlines all the repatriation, rehabilitation and resettlement processes.

“If the UN is a transparent organisation then it should not have a problem with our demand.

“I don't know why they are hesitating to give us the report,” said Tito Kamanya, one of the concerned Namibian refugees repatriated in 1989 after spending over 11 years in exile.

Kamanya reiterated that Namibian refugees were left to fend for themselves, with no access to humanitarian assistance.

The group claims economic support from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs does not address their plight. Citing a field report published in 1990, Kamanya said five UN agencies, which includes Unesco, Unicef, WHO, FAO and the UNHCR worked out a plan to reintegrate Namibian returnees within their home communities.

“This plan estimated to cost US$21 705 640 is intended to meet critical short-term needs for individual and family rehabilitation, and to promote self-reliance among its beneficiaries,” the report reads.

By 1989, about 58 000 Namibians returned home under the repatriation programme.

Most of them were housed in Zambia and Angola as well as 40 other countries including Cuba, Germany and Sierra Leone, among others. On Monday, this week United Nations (UN) resident coordinator, Kiki Gbeho, wrote to the group, saying the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees regional office for Southern Africa would address the issue. According to Sharon Cooper, a regional representative of the UNHCR, there were no surplus funds with regard to Namibia's repatriation programme.

“In UNHCR operations, any funds remaining at the end of the fiscal year are returned to UNHCR headquarters in Geneva for other operations in subsequent fiscal years. In the case of the Namibia repatriation, there were no surplus funds,” she said. Cooper added that refugees are received by the country of origin to allow the process of integration and rehabilitation.

“UNHCR residual protection mandate in repatriation programmes is limited to returnees being received in safety and dignity by the country of origin.

“Thereafter, the country of origin is tasked with affecting a reintegration and rehabilitation programme.”

The group is planning to march from the Katutura old compound on Tuesday up to the UN office in Klein Windhoek to hand in another petition.

STAFF REPORTER

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Newsprint – another fierce supporter of the #Festival

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Newsprint – another fierce supporter of the #Festival

It is probably safe to say that the management as much as personnel of Newsprint Namibia, have committed boots 'n all to the first Hashtag Festival, which will take place from 7 to 9 September this year.

Apart from co-sponsoring the #Festival, the manager and two of his management team have committed to acting as NMH-patrons to further the #Festival-franchises.

The deal was sealed when a number of learners of Jan Mohr Secondary School, as well as those of Windhoek Gymnasium Private School, visited Newsprint's printing press in the Lafrenz Industria and met up with Newsprint personnel. Newsprint Namibia as sponsor has been allocated to the Delta Lions Franchise, which comprises of students from Windhoek Gymnasium, Jan Mohr Secondary School and the Delta Secondary School Windhoek.

During the #Festival, Thursday and Friday will be mainly dedicated to the career expo with its information stands, presentations and lectures, with a few side shows and cultural activities to pique interest and entertain.

The expo and all other and subsequent activities will take place at the SKW Sport Grounds.

On Saturday, all nine franchises will compete against each other in sports codes, such as seven-a-side rugby, five-a-side soccer, volleyball, hockey, tennis, netball and more. The franchises themselves are made up of pupils from all regions of the country and the goal is to promote sportsmanship in Namibia, by bundling schools, which would not normally compete against each other, into the same franchise and have them compete as a team against other franchises, which also operate outside their comfort zones.

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Landing system still not operational

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Landing system still not operationalOnly fair-weather landings at Hosea Kutako More than a year after the malfunctioning instrument landing system at Namibia's largest airport caused international flights to divert to neighbouring countries in misty weather, it has still not been replaced.

The instrument landing system (ILS) at the Hosea Kutako International Airport has now been out of service for more than eight months, posing a danger to aircraft landing in inclement weather where visibility is very low or zero.

A daily NOTAM warning to pilots has been issued for nearly a year now regarding the out-of-service ILS at Hosea Kutako International Airport.

Since November last year a NOTAM stands on a daily basis alerting pilots that the ILS at the airport has been withdrawn from service and is awaiting the replacement of equipment.

The system was withdrawn from service earlier this year after being broken for several months. In April last year this resulted in the diversion of several international flights due to foggy conditions at the airport, when the planes were unable to land.

The system allows aircraft to land safely when there is poor visibility and runway lights are not efficient, such as in foggy conditions.

Without the ILS, the only instrument landings that can be made at the airport are VOR approaches, which use radio beacons on the ground to determine the aircraft's position, but these approaches are highly variable and not precise.

The Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) said at the end of April this year that the ILS had been withdrawn and required replacement.

“The ILS had reached the end of its usable life and required replacement as it has been in operation for more than 20 years,” the NCAA said in a letter addressed to the works minister Alpheus !Naruseb.

The NCAA said industry stakeholders had been informed on 17 August 2016 already that the ILS was due to be withdrawn for replacement.

In a circular issued on 17 August last year the Directorate of Civil Aviation said the ILS would be withdrawn from service due to “Nav-Aid programme upgrades within Namibia” and that it would be replaced with a new facility.

According to this circular the ILS would have been withdrawn on 5 September last year and the project would take approximately eight weeks to complete.

However due to a delay the ILS was not withdrawn at that stage.

On 31 October 2016, the ILS equipment failed and a NOTAM advising this was published. On 1 November 2016, it was determined that the ILS was beyond economic repair and due to the upcoming replacement project the ILS was withdrawn for safety reasons.

On 18 November last year the construction safety plan was approved and soon thereafter the dismantling of the old equipment and the construction of the new equipment started. The process required earthworks as well as electrical wiring to be conducted.

In April this year the NCAA said the construction of the new landing system was nearing completion, but that it was being delayed by a power supply interruption.

Following the installation of the ILS equipment it is required to be calibrated and tested to ensure that it meets International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and is safe for use by commercial aircraft. The calibration of the ILS was planned to be completed by the middle of May this year by an external specialised company.

Thereafter, an imbedding process has to be run to ensure that the equipment meets reliability standards. After the calibration and imbedding testing has been satisfactorily completed the director may certify the ILS for use and the navigational facility will be commissioned by NOTAM.

However, by yesterday pilots were still being warned that the ILS was not in service.

According to the performance agreement of !Naruseb, the ILS at both the Hosea Kutako and Walvis Bay airports needs to be replaced before the end of the year.

Questions were sent to the Namibian Airport Company (NAC) and the acting executive director of the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Angeline Simana, who did not respond by the time of going to press.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Boy, 10, suffocates toddler

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Boy, 10, suffocates toddler

A 10-year-old boy allegedly suffocated a four-year-old boy to death by pouring sand into his mouth at Ashipepa village in the Onghumbula area on Wednesday.

The police at Onayena in the Oshikoto Region opened a murder docket.

Deputy Commissioner Naomi Katjiua confirmed this in a crime report yesterday.

The deceased has been identified as Samuel Kasheeta, while the identity of the suspect is withheld, as he is a minor.

According to Katjiua, the incident took place at about 17:00 when the two children were left unsupervised at Kasheeta's homestead. The suspect is a neighbour.

“It is alleged the deceased and suspect were left together without supervision in the house and while playing, the suspect poured sand into the deceased's mouth and he suffocated,” Katjiua stated.

Katjiua said the docket would be submitted to prosecutor-general for a decision whether to prosecute or not.

The body of the deceased has been taken to the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital near Ondangwa for a post-mortem.

NAMPA

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Ondonga king dragged to court

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Ondonga king dragged to court

Six fired councillors of the Ondonga Traditional Authority have approached the High Court to challenge their dismissal by king Immanuel Kauluma Elifas.

The councillors hope to get an interdict against the traditional authority not to pursue their dismissal pending the finalisation of the application.

In July this year Elifas ordered the dismissal of senior traditional councillors including former traditional authority chairperson Peter Kauluma and former spokesperson Joseph Asino.

The senior headman for Ondangwa district, John Walenga, and former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya were also expelled from the traditional authority. The other dismissed councillors are Kashona kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili.

Businessmen Erastus Mvula and Paavo Amweele replaced Walenga as senior headmen responsible for the Ondangwa district, while Rainhold Nepolo was named to replace Asino in the Oniiwe district.

Naeman Kambala took over from Kamanya in the Amuteya district, while former President Sam Nujoma's bodyguard Nepando Amupanda took over from Peter Kauluma in the Ongula yaNetanga district.

Nepando also acts as secretary of the Ondonga Traditional Council.

In court papers, the dismissed councillors argue that their disciplinary hearings, which were done in their absence, were irregular.

The six applicants claim that they are entitled to resume their positions with immediate effect.

The king's spokesperson, Naeman Amalwa, said they were shocked by the latest legal action taken against the traditional authority.

“Taking the king to court is taboo and it was never done before. Everybody is shocked and even the Ondonga leadership experts are shocked and never heard of it before. The king's legal team is busy drafting a response to what they are requesting. We will respond in due course,” Amalwa said.

ILENI NANDJATO

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No deadline for gazetting minimum wage

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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No deadline for gazetting minimum wageLabour ministry still studying objections There is still no indication when an agreement on minimum wages for security guards will be enforced for the entire sector.

Only two written objections were received in response to a call for objections to the extension of the new minimum wages for security guards to the entire sector.

“The ministry is considering all the responses to the objections. Once the ministry is satisfied, the minister will extend the collective agreement to the entire security industry,” labour ministry spokesperson Maria Hedimbi said.

Hedimbi said the collective agreement, which was negotiated and signed by the Security Association of Namibia (SAN) and union representatives in December last year, was already “fully binding” for all SAN members, but not for the industry as a whole.

The agreement will only be extended to the other parties in the industry once the minister is satisfied on a number of issues, she said.

She did not say when the minister would finalise the process.

In December, difficult negotiations came to an end when members of SAN and three unions announced that consensus had been reached and a national festive-season strike by 17 000 security guards averted.

However, to date, only a handful of those security guards who had threatened to strike have received the 25% increases to N$8.75 an hour in January, as stipulated in that agreement, and fewer still the additional increase to N$10.00 as of July that was agreed on.

This week, SAN's leadership stated more than 150 out of a total of 180 security companies still pay N$7.00 hourly minimum wages, with industry suspicions that even lower wages continue to be the norm with many “fly-by-night” operators.

The industry is notoriously under-regulated, another issue SAN has emphasised needs to be resolved.

The fact only an estimated 30 companies are paying the new minimal wages has caused unrest in the industry, with many accusing the ministry of not having pushed hard enough to ensure the wage agreement is extended timeously.

SAN president Dries Kannemeyer this week said that “labour did not lead the parties after the agreement was reached, on what to do next. In the past 12 years, this has never happened before, that we should apply for the agreement to be extended”.

Labour permanent secretary Bro-Mathew Shinguadja earlier this year told Namibian Sun that the delay in extending the agreement to the entire sector was not the ministry's fault.

He said at the time that it was inexplicable how the “confusion” arose, because the legal process for gazetting new wages had been in place for decades.

He said the parties should have begun the process of gazetting the wages in December already, but didn't.

“They have been around in this industry. They know the process. The negligence is on their side,” he insisted.

Kannemeyer said this week that a major issue is that many non-SAN security companies are unhappy that SAN negotiated with the unions on the new wages.

But the association, he said, believed that “we negotiate for the industry and the unions for the labour force nationwide.”

He said in order to ensure that the negotiating parties don't negotiate for a small percentage of the workforce and the industry, the ministry should create a wage commission to ensure fair practices are extended to the entire industry.

Kannemeyer added that the labour ministry should also make sure the industry is properly policed and ensure they give back pay once the wages are extended.

JANA-MARI SMITH

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Winter is still with us

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Winter is still with us

Today, many Namibians will wake up to chilly conditions but temperatures are set to rise over the weekend, although they will remain cool in the early morning hours.

Yesterday, the Namibia Meteorological Service warned Namibians to expect “very cold conditions” in the early morning today, especially over the interior.

While it will be cold at first, temperatures are expected to rise in most regions to fine and cold, and then to mild.

Warm and hot conditions are expected in many parts of the northern regions.

“Very cold conditions will persist in the early morning over the interior today. Daytime temperatures will rise slightly in the Hardap, Khomas and northern regions,” said Odillo Kgobetsi, chief meteorological technician for forecasting at the Windhoek weather office.

Today's expected lows are expected to be between one and three degrees in the //Karas Region, one to four degrees in Khomas and about two degrees in the Omaheke Region.

The Hardap Region is expected to record low temperatures of between four and five degrees.

Minimum temperatures in the northern regions will be between one and eight degrees, Kgobetsi said.

Daytime temperatures will rise to between 16 and 17 degrees in //Karas, and 25 in Omaheke.

In the Khomas Region, highs of 24 degrees are expected, with the north reaching between 25 and 30 degrees.

On Saturday, minimum temperatures will still be low in the southern and central areas and the days will be mild.

However, Namibians should get ready for another drop in temperatures next Tuesday, Kgobetsi warned.

“The next significant system in the weather will be setting in from 22 August. It is an upper-air low-pressure that will result in more cloudiness and slight cooling in the west, central, north, and eastern parts of Namibia.”

He said some parts of the country can expect possible showers next week.

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Namibian professionals demand fair treatment

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Namibian professionals demand fair treatment

Young Namibian architects, engineers and quantity surveyors yesterday hand-delivered no fewer than 300 curricula vitae to the Ministry of Works and Transport as proof that the country has enough skilled people.

The professionals demanded that jobs be given to Namibians instead of foreigners and demanded that contracts of Zimbabweans, which expired in June, not be extended.

They came from the Namibian Society of Engineers (NASE), Namibian Institute of Architectural Consultants (NIAC), the Engineering Professions Association of Namibia (EPA), the Namibia Institute of Architects (NIA), and others.

Namibian professionals are outraged over what is considered preferential treatment of Zimbabwean engineers, architects and quantity surveyors who have been working at the ministry since 2012 after an agreement was signed by former President Hifikepunye Pohamba and President Robert Mugabe.

There is also uproar over a request by works minister Alpheus !Naruseb's request for exempting Zimbabwean architects and quantity surveyors from registration with the professional council.

“Here is the proof that there are local people with sufficient skills,” said one of the professionals who had gathered in a boardroom at the works ministry to hand over the CVs.

“The ministry needs to be strong and be pro-Namibian because if you are not pro-Namibian, what is the point? We want you on our side,” the professional added.

The local professionals urged the ministry to embrace a “positive mindset” towards fellow Namibians.

Permanent secretary Willem Goeiemann, who met the young professionals, undertook to receive the CVs and discuss the matter with a technical team at the ministry, as well as cabinet secretary George Simataa and !Naruseb.

It is anticipated that recommendations will come from these discussions, which will include further engagements with the Namibian professionals.

Goeiemann said the 2012 agreement between Namibia and Zimbabwe was signed at a time when there was a genuine shortage of technical skills in the country.

“That is why discussions started between the Namibian and Zimbabwean governments. It was decided that 89 Zimbabweans would be brought here for a period of five years to help us implement capital projects. That was the basis on which things were discussed,” said Goeiemann.

The five-year contracts of the Zimbabweans expired in June but, last month the ministry decided to extend the contracts for a further three months.

Goeiemann yesterday said the extension of the contracts was to give the Zimbabweans enough time to pack up since they had families to take care of.

He added that the contracts with the Zimbabweans would not be renewed. However, the office of the attorney-general is currently devising a new agreement with the government of Zimbabwe.

Goeiemann would not expound on the content of the new agreement but said it should not be confused with the contracts of the Zimbabweans.

Despite numerous claims to the contrary, Goeiemann described the secondment of the Zimbabweans to the ministry over the last five years as a positive contribution.

“The agreement certainly improved things at the ministry. Some of the Zimbabweans are also going beyond the call of duty from the assessment we have received especially from the regions where governors are calling for the renewal of their contracts,” said Goeiemann.

The secondment of the Zimbabweans to the works ministry was strongly criticised by staff as well as local graduates.

Among other things, it was claimed that there were no Namibian understudies as the agreement had stipulated and because of that no Namibian at the ministry was able to register with professional councils.

It was also claimed that many of the Zimbabweans who acted as project managers here had very little if any work experience before they arrived here.

The high salaries of the Zimbabweans were also questioned. From a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration, staff at the works ministry claimed that 10 Zimbabwean chief officers received yearly salaries of N$437 343 each, which included a housing allowance.

The remaining 78 Zimbabweans received a yearly salary of N$413 081 each, which also included housing allowances.

Despite provision made for housing allowances, the works ministry also paid their rent, which amounted to more than N$8 million per year.

On top of that, ministerial vehicles allocated to the Zimbabweans cost the ministry N$10 million per month.

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Over 7 500 pregnant pupils

August 17, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Over 7 500 pregnant pupilsTeenage pregnancy figures cause alarm Experts say 'sugar daddies' are mainly responsible for teen pregnancies and that teenage girls are rarely impregnated by their peers.

More than 7 500 pregnant schoolgirls dropped out of school between 2014 and 2016.

According to statistics provided by the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, almost 4 000 teenagers left school because of pregnancy last year, compared to 1 843 in 2015 and 1 797 in 2014.

The Ohangwena Region recorded the highest number of teen pregnancies during this time at 1 552, followed by Omusati with 1 162 and Kavango East with 948.

The //Karas Region reported the lowest figure of 100 during this period while Hardap recorded 187, Erongo 176, Khomas 280, Kunene 399 and Omaheke 245.

Only 138 boys in the country left school because of teenage pregnancies over the last three years.

Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa says the ministry can no longer be held responsible and parents should explain how underage children manage to fall pregnant under their roofs.

Hanse-Himarwa emphasises that the ministry is doing all it can to keep girls in school for the sake of their future. She says parents and guardians must be interrogated thoroughly.

“It is very worrisome. If we want to eliminate these kinds of societal evils then we must get serious and implement more stringent measures. There is a need to form a more solid form with all stakeholders to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book – they must face the law,” says the minister.

The revised education sector policy for the prevention and management of learner pregnancy states that teachers are required to adopt strategies to encourage the involvement of families and community members in prevention programmes.

These strategies include soliciting input on ways to prevent learner pregnancy, providing opportunities for the exchange of information, inviting families and community members to workshops on pertinent issues, forming partnerships to expand healthy leisure activities in the community, and encouraging families and community members to discuss sexual relationships, and to support healthy lifestyles through positive role modelling.

According to Hanse-Himarwa this will pave the way for communities to identify the perpetrators and ensure they are prosecuted.

Culprits

According to the Forum for African Women Educationalists Namibia (FAWENA) adult men known as “sugar daddies” are mainly responsible for these pregnancies and teenage girls are rarely impregnated by their peers.

FAWENA coordinator and former child welfare minister Marlene Mungunda however points out that the available statistics do not reflect an accurate picture of teenage boys' involvement because boys only leave school when their girlfriends' parents demand it.

Furthermore, she highlights that a large number of girls throughout the country are impregnated by relatives, in most cases uncles. These rapes almost always go unreported because the family wants to avoid the “shame”.

“There are painful stories. In the Kavango regions you will see many girls commit suicide because they are rejected by their families because they have brought shame on the house. In the Zambezi Region that borders with so many countries the problem gets even worse because girls not only fall pregnant but are in most cases infected with HIV,” says Mungunda.

The veteran politician emphasises that poverty is definitely the root cause of teenage pregnancy in in a county that not only grapples with a 34% unemployment rate but has been repeatedly documented as one of the most unequal societies in the world.

“There are parents who encourage their girls to go for sugar daddies because of the monetary benefits. And you cannot judge them because they have no food in their homes,” she said.

Bernardus Harageib, Lifeline/Childline counselling manager, agrees that adult men are the most common culprits.

“There are an alarming number of adolescent girls that are being groomed by older men to be in relationships,” he says

He adds that the current demographic of HIV/AIDS is “young and female” and that adolescent girls are at more risk, which has a direct impact on infection rates, which are abnormally high for this group.

“The age disparities, sometimes up to ten years or more, between adolescent girls and their partners limit the negotiating power of girls and young women to negotiate safe sex,” Harageib argues.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Unbeaten Crawford KOs Indongo to unify titles

August 20, 2017, 2:58 am

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Unbeaten Crawford KOs Indongo to unify titles

American Terence Crawford became the first undisputed boxing champion in over a decade by knocking out previously unbeaten Julius Indongo in the third round of their super lightweight fight on Sunday morning.
Crawford became the first fighter in 11 years to hold all four titles by winning the scheduled 12-round contest between the two previously unbeaten boxers at the sold out Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Nebraska.
"I feel great. I feel like I hardly even fought," Crawford said.
The 29-year-old Crawford added the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association 140-pound titles to his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization belts, joining Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor as the only four belt champions in modern boxing history.
Crawford used his superior hand speed and power to dominate every round as he knocked underdog Indongo down for the first time in the second round with a left to the side of the head.
He ended the fight just one round later by flooring the former Olympian with a body shot. Crawford missed with a right hook but then came back with a left to the upper chest that sent Indongo crumbling to the canvas.
"It feels like a dream come true. Belts matter," said Crawford, who improved to 32-0 with 23 knockouts. "I am the one who wants to be labelled the champ at 140."
Middleweight Taylor was the last undisputed boxing champ until his reign ended in 2006.
The 34-year-old Indongo, who is unfamiliar to most boxing fans in the US, landed very few punches in the three rounds as he dropped to 22-1 overall.
Indongo, who was born and raised in Namibia, competed in the 2008 Olympics.
Crawford won a close first round that served as a platform for the pair to feel each other out. Crawford went to work in the second, breaking his opponent down by easily getting the better of the exchanges in the centre of the ring.
Indongo came in as a heavy underdog and looked the part as he failed to connect on his wide looping punches and left himself open for Crawford's stinging lefts.
The third round knockout came as a surprise as Crawford missed with a right hook then landed what looked like a routine body shot.
"We been practising body shots all camp. Everything we practised in camp it came out in the fight," Crawford said.

NAMPA/AFP

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Brave Warriors qualify for Chan 2018

August 20, 2017, 9:03 am

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Brave Warriors qualify for Chan 2018

The Brave Warriors have qualified for the 2018 CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament after beating Comoros Islands 2-0 at the Sam Nujoma stadium in the second leg of their qualifying tie this afternoon. Muna Katupose scored a brace for Namibia. The aggregate score ended 3-2 in favour of the Brave Warriors. The tournament, which is only open for local-based players, will be played in Kenya next year and it is Namibia’s first ever CHAN qualification.

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