Kooper replaces Swartbooi

August 24, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Swapo acting president Hage Geingob yesterday announced that Swapo's youth league national executive committee member Paula Kooper will replace Bernadus Swartbooi.

President Hage Geingob made this announcement yesterday in Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi Region shortly after he officially opened the 6th congress of the Swapo-Party Youth League (SPYL).

Kooper has to date served as the youth league's finance secretary for the Khomas Region.

Swartbooi was recalled from the National Assembly last month for repeatedly calling the party a failure and criticising its leadership.

As a result, Swapo stalwart and sports minister, Jerry Ekandjo, who has been parachuted into parliament as one of Geingob's eight non-voting members now automatically moves up a spot on the party list which grants him voting powers.

Candidates vying for secretary position are National Youth Council executive chairperson Mandela Kapere, and Ephraim Nekongo as well as Meryam Nghidipo.

These results as well as that of the rest of youth league officer bearers and members of its central committee for the next five years will be announced on Sunday.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Kapika showdown intensifies

August 24, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Kapika showdown intensifiesBid to remove Ovahimba chief in High Court Ovahimba chief Hikuminue Kapika, among other allegations, is accused of allowing work on the controversial Baynes hydropower project to go ahead.

Judge Shafimana Ueitele on Wednesday ordered that President Hage Geingob be cited as a respondent to the dispute between Mutaambanda Kapika and the urban and rural development minister, along with three other respondents.

The applicant in the matter Mutaambanda Kapika is aggrieved by the decision of the minister of urban and rural development to recognise and validate the designation of Ovahimba chief Hikuminue Kapika as the head of the Ombuku traditional community and seeks to have that decision reviewed and set aside or declared null and void. He approached the High Court in his personal capacity as a member of the Ombuku community as well as a nominated and elected chief of the traditional council.

Mutaambanda argued he has a direct interest in the chieftainship of the Ombuku traditional community and is prejudiced by the decision of the minister. His lawyer, Willem Odendaal, argued Mutaambanda was nominated and elected by the Ombuku people prior to the government's designation and therefore has a substantial interest in the decision-making processes regarding the election and nomination of leadership within the community structures.

The grievances against chief Kapika of the Kapika Royal House to have him removed as head of the community started because he allegedly sold the Baynes area to government to construct a hydro-electric power station. Chief Kapika had in 2014 received backing from the paternal line of the Ovakuendata clan to retain his chieftaincy, instead of his competing half-brother Mutaambanda.

Only members of the family's paternal clan decide on the succession and dethroning of chiefs. This was the resolution of the Ovakuendata at their meeting in May 2014 at the Okangwati village, about 110km north of Opuwo.

However, some senior traditional councillors in support of the chief's half-brother are not in favour of having chief Kapika as their leader. They broke away from the chief to support his half-brother Mutaambanda and do not want to be united under the Kapika Royal House.

The said meeting was held to look into demands by a group of community members who had held a demonstration to demand the removal of Kapika in 2014. The group had also claimed that Kapika had joined Swapo and was chasing people from his homestead where he was being protected by police officers. Odendaal argued this demonstrates that Kapika abandoned the community and created uncertainty within the community.

Mutaambanda further alleged Kapika was well aware of the dispute of chieftainship before his application for recognition and designation was made and accordingly, cannot suffer prejudice.

In March 2015, the urban and rural development minister, Sophia Shaningwa, after much dispute about the legality of the traditional community established a committee consisting mainly of members of the National Traditional Council to investigate whether the Ombuku traditional community had met the recognition requirements as stipulated in the Act.

When the investigation report had been compiled and was given to her, she repeated the findings and recommendations as her own.

“It was incorporated directly into her letter advising Hikuminue and his agent that their application was successful based on those findings and recommendations,” Odendaal argued. He maintained that she did not exercise her discretion independently as required by the Traditional Authorities Act.

The findings and recommendations were made by the investigation committee. He argued the delegation of the decision-making powers of the minister is unlawful and therefore void.

Odendaal maintains that while the minister maintained the investigation committee considered the customary laws and came to her conclusion and recommendations, its report reflected many anomalies in the process of conducting the inquiry with a number of people interviewed in relation to the total community.

Allegedly 100 out of 6 000 people were interviewed. The matter was postponed to 11 October.

FRED GOEIEMAN

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Intouch Interactive Marketing lives up to its name through #Festival

August 24, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Intouch Interactive Marketing lives up to its name through #Festival

All the sponsors of the #Festival have one fundamental characteristic in common.

All of them are prepared to literally put their money where their mouth is! Intouch Interactive Marketing - simply known as Intouch - is one of the supporters of the #Festival who understands that Namibia needs has to adjust to the requirements dictated by an international community which has no time to waste and simply moves on, if you are not prepared to catch up. Intouch is at the forefront of such electronic ability to interconnect, which allows customers and consumers faster, better and easier access to a myriad of services, goods and communication methods.

This is the environment in which our children grow up these days and it is their ability and preparedness to not only take part in this environment, but to actually dictate its direction, which will eventually allow them to be integrated into a new world with innumerable job opportunities, which do not necessarily fit in with past perceptions of what can or should be done. Intouch is in the mix of these new demands and expectations, and so is the #Festival with its career expo, which will develop into a one-stop shop for Namibians, who might be graduates on the lookout for new employment opportunities or learners who understand that sound planning is required for life after school. They will be able to look at universities as much as they will be able to look at vocational training opportunities to answer the following - which institution to choose, what the requirements are in terms of getting there and being accepted and even be allowed to go in the first place, who will finance the education or training; what are the options, how long will this take?

The learners from Dr Lemmer High School in the photo; the school managing the Canyon Rangers franchise share that challenge and find answers to their questions when they join the rest of their colleagues from M & K Gertze High School as well as Rehoboth High School to compete as one team at #Festival under the name of Intouch Canyon Rangers.

*Also on the photo are franchise manager Gert de Waal and NMH-patron Ronny Vries.

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Regional force to distribute food in Kunene

August 24, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Regional force to distribute food in Kunene

Roughly 1 000 military personnel are expected to participate in the Blue Kunene exercise that will distribute humanitarian aid in the Kunene Region from 20 August to 7 September.

This is an exercise by the Namibian Air Force together with other SADC air forces.

They will distribute more than 400 tons of food aid donated by the Office of Prime Minister's Disaster and Risk Management Unit. Medical treatment of varying degrees will also be offered.

Defence minister Penda ya Ndakolo yesterday officiated at the start of the operation at the Oshakati Independence Stadium.

Also present were Oshana governor Clemens Kashuupulwa, Kunene governor Angelika Muharukua, her advisor Katuutire Kaura, NDF Lieutenant-General John Mutwa, Air Force commander Air-Vice Marshal Martin Pinehas, Army commander Major-General Nestor Shalauda and Navy commander Rear-Admiral Peter Vilho.

Ya Ndakolo said Blue Kunene was a product of the African Union's strategy on the role of the African standby force in humanitarian and natural disaster support.

Ya Ndakolo said this was done in accordance with the AU Peace and Security Council Protocol which highlights one of the functional aspects of the standby force as being the facilitation of “humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population in conflict areas and support to address major natural disasters”.

The participating countries are Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The commandant of the Namibian Air Force School of Air Power Studies, Hosea Ndjibu, said this exercise was the sequel to the exercise Blue Cluster hosted by South Africa in 2011, Blue Zambezi by Angola in 2013 and Blue Okavango by Botswana in 2015.

“The objectives of SADC Blue Kunene are to improve cooperation in humanitarian support operations among SADC air forces, develop and practise SADC air doctrines, exercise joint helicopter, fighter and command and control operations and validate interoperability and compatibility of multinational components,” Ndjibu said.

Ya Ndakolo commended the participating SADC forces for dedicating time and resources, saying that the exercise required long hours of meticulous planning and preparation.

“This is a SADC exercise aimed at building regional capability that eventually strengthens the African standby forces. Essentially, the exercise seeks to enhance the already high level of interconnectedness and interoperability in preparation for rapid deployment capability which has been developed through other exercises,” Ya Ndakolo said.

“Therefore, over the next 10 days or so, this exercise is expected to distribute over 400 tons of food aid in the Kunene Region constituencies. This will be done in conjunction with the Office of the Prime Minister's Disaster and Risk Management Unit. Medical outreach programmes will be conducted in the form of screening and treatment of various ailments that will be administered to the population of the Kunene Region.”

ILENI NANDJATO

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Government drafts disaster plan

August 24, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Government drafts disaster plan

Following several years of natural disasters of devastating floods and droughts that have struck the north-central areas of Namibia, an integrated drought and flood management for the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin is being developed.

At a stakeholder consultation on the development of the plan held at Ongwediva yesterday, feedback was given on the progress while community and stakeholders could also give their input. The deputy agriculture permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry, Abraham Nehemia, said the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin in recent years witnessed either floods or drought conditions. In 2009, floods affected more than 60% of the population, destroying critical infrastructure and washing away crops. Homes were destroyed and livestock killed and there was widespread displacement. More than N$500 million was spent on the rescue and rehabilitation efforts. The 2013 drought had as big an impact and in May of that year, then President Hifikepunye Pohamba declared a state of emergency and requested US$33.7 million in international support to avert a crisis. Recognising the strain across the country, the IFRC and Unicef launched appeals for US$1.2 million and US$7.4 million, respectively. Very little aid arrived.

“Therefore, due to these frequent occurrences of devastating natural disasters in the north-central regions of Namibia, numerous efforts have been made in terms of adaptation to these and the management thereof.”

Among the current initiatives in place is the Namibia-Unesco Water Sector Support Project (NUWSSP).

This is a project jointly developed by the Namibian government through the agriculture ministry and Unesco. According to Nehemia the project aims to strengthening the personnel capacity of the Namibian water sector.

“Secondly it will develop an integrated drought and flood management plan for the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin and thirdly will be the implementation of piloting the developed plan in Iishana Sub-basin which is part of the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin.”

He further said the progress made on the project included the establishment of the project Joint Management Committee (JMC) and the introduction of two master's degree courses at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the University of Namibia.

Eighteen students were admitted by NUST to pursue a master's degree in environmental engineering and started classes in February this year.

At Unam, 25 students enrolled for a master's degree in water resources management and started classes on 7 August this year.

Of these 25 students, 19 are registered part-time whereas six are full-time students.

“We can only successfully manage occurrences of floods and drought if we have technical expertise on board that blend with our indigenous knowledge on how to manage these calamities,” Nehemia said.

He said if floods were well managed and the country took advantage by capturing the floodwater, it could be used during droughts.

“We need to devise smart mechanisms on how we can turn some of these circumstances into a benefit other than a curse.

It is this plan that will assist us in coping with the natural disasters of flood and drought when they strike our area of Cuvelai-Etosha,” he said.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Trophy animals underutilised

August 24, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Trophy animals underutilisedMinistry wants to fill CITES quotas The government wants more endangered cheetahs and rhinos to be shot by trophy hunters.

During the past five years, Namibia's hunting quotas for international trophies have been underutilised.

This is according to the ministry of environment and has expressed fear that the export quotas issued this year are likely not be fully utilised again. An annual export quota is allocated by CITES and is a limit on the number or quantity of specimens of a particular species that may be exported from a country within a 12-month period. Of the 300 export quotas allocated for cheetah over the past two years only 133 have been used and only two export quotas out of the ten allocated, have been used for rhino over the past two years. One hundred and ninety-nine export quotas have been utilised for leopard trophies out of 500 since last year.

Namibia is allocated an annual export quota by CITES for 150 cheetahs. This includes trophies for hunting clients and the export of live animals under the strictest CITES restrictions. The country is also allocated an annual export quota for five hunting trophies for adult male black rhino, 180 tusks as trophies from 90 African elephants and 250 trophies from leopard. The ministry says trophies (skins) are allocated to crocodiles in Namibia. “Export quotas were not filled in 2016 and it is very likely that none of the export quotas will be fully utilised this year,” said the environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda.

Last year 88 export quotas were utilised for cheetah which includes both trophies and the export of live animals and 45 were used this year.

The ministry further confirmed that no export quotas were utilised last year for rhino, while only two have been utilised this year.

With regards to the export quotas for elephants, a total of 78 were used last year while 42 have been utilised this year.

There have been 130 export quotas used with regards to leopards in 2016 and 69 this year, while 17 quotas for export was utilised for crocodile last year and 10 this year.

“It is very important to understand that an annual export quota is not a target and there is no need for a quota to be fully utilised. In most cases the numbers of people who are interested to hunt specific species are less than the annual export quota.”

Furthermore, there are some cases in which it is likely that the export of specimens will not happen in the same year than when it was hunted in the wild, according to Muyunda.

It was further explained, in the case of leopards and cheetahs where hunting permits are not utilised, it is not always a case of hunters not finding these animals. “There are times when the hunters cancelled or postponed their visit to Namibia. However permits to hunt not utilised are renewable as long as it is still the same trophy hunting calendar year.”

The ministry also explained why there is few elephants offered for trophy hunts while there is a growing elephant population with increased human-wildlife conflict.

“We are guided by CITES for trophy hunting. We are given a total of 90 elephants for export purposes per year. Many of the preferred trophy animals of elephant bulls and the ministry do not want to disturb the sex ratio of our elephants by hunting too many bulls. Although we have only 90 elephants for export we also hunt elephants for our own use mainly in the north-east where there are conservancies. All this is part of population management,” said Muyundu.

The ministry added that it does not support the hunting of calves, except in the cases where a calf is declared a problem animal and a permit to hunt for trophy has been granted.

Data from the Namibia Hunting Association (Napha) indicates that in 2016 the average payment for an elephant trophy was U$13 296, while a leopard hunt reached an average price of U$2 210 and a trophy hunt for a crocodile was approximately U$ 1 321. Trophy hunting is a significant revenue generator for Namibia and specifically conservancies. It adds N$450 million to Namibia's GDP via the private sector.

In conservancies consumptive wildlife use (which includes hunting and live game sales) generated about N$45 million.

According to government studies, hunting on commercial farms in Namibia generates in excess of N$351 million per annum and commercial agriculture, as a whole, provides employment for 27.4% of the Namibian population.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Invalid freeway tender upheld

August 24, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Invalid freeway tender upheldHighest court says no facts placed before it The Supreme Court has dismissed the Chico/Octagon appeal to set aside the Swakopmund-Walvis Bay freeway tender.

FRED GOEIEMAN

The Supreme Court has found that no facts were placed before court as to the extent of the disruption – extra costs – to the N$1 billion contract to construct a freeway between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund should the tender be set aside and a different tenderer complete the tender.

Where the facts indicate that the default remedy is not well chosen but does not go far enough so as to enable the court to fashion a remedy that will bring finality to the matter and will be somewhere between the default remedy and allowing the invalid award to be implemented.

“Then the court will have no option but to allow the invalid award to stand,” acting Judge of Appeal Theo Frank stated in the judgment delivered this week. Judges Sylvester Mainga and Elton Hoff concurred.

He consequently dismissed the appeal lodged by Chico/Octagon Joint Venture. The Chinese company has 90% shareholding in the joint venture while a local black economic empowerment group owns the remaining 10%.

The applicant had together with 23 bidders tendered for the construction of a freeway between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The Roads Authority had invited bids for the construction of the freeway.

About 14 bids were disqualified and the remaining nine tenderers were then evaluated with reference to what is termed the ‘Technical Score’ requirements. Only six tenderers reached the benchmark of 70 percent.

The technical scores and prices were then combined to obtain a ranking of tenders and appellant was ranked first and the Unik/Thoni Joint Venture ranked second.

The technical evaluation committee concluded that the appellant was the preferred bidder and recommended that it be awarded the tender and the recommendation was forwarded to the management committee who endorsed and in turn forwarded it to the board.

The board considered the matter on 28 April 2016 and awarded the tender to Unik/Thoni Joint Venture and being aggrieved by the award the appellant communicated its concern to the Roads Authority and requested it to retract the decision and award the tender to it.

When this did not produce required results the appellant launched an application to review and set aside the decision of the Roads Authority.

The High Court in Windhoek found that it would be overstretching without justification its power to control the administrative decision-making of the Roads Authority (RA) if it were to interfere with its decision to award the N$1 billion tender to the Unik/Thoni Joint Venture.

The court found that the RA’s decision not to award the tender to the joint venture group was fully justified.

The board justification for awarding the tender to Unik/Thoni Joint Venture was that the project was a complex one and that the joint venture had a higher technical score and that Chico as a joint venture partner in Chico/Palladium was awarded another tender of similar nature and concerns arose as to the appellant’s capacity to duly complete the tender under consideration.

In other words the appellant might be overstretched if awarded the tender. Third consideration was that the award to the Unik/Thoni Joint Venture would ensure equitable and wider spread of work between tenderers.

The Chico/Octagon Joint Venture stated that as a preferred bidder the board had to award the tender to it and the failure to do so was irrational. It also maintained that it had not been given a hearing with regard to its capacity, nor was it forewarned about the criteria relating to the securing of a wider spread of work between tenderers.

The court held that the board did not act irrationally, as the reasons for not awarding the tender to the appellant were relevant and connected to the proper execution of the tender.

A fair process did require that the appellant should have been given a hearing in respect of the concerns raised about its capacity. The reasoning relating to the equitable and wider spread of work was not a relevant consideration as this was not communicated to the tenderers and according the process was not fair.

The appellant had abandoned its initial application for interim relief allowing the Unik/Thoni Joint Venture to proceed with the work resulting into the expiration of one of a three year contract.

“Work had been done, payments had been made and all the consequences normally flowing from the execution of a contract of this nature and scope had probably materialised,” the Supreme Court found.

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Dungeons probe opens

August 24, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Dungeons probe opensCommission to visit regions A large coalition of organisations – national and international – is to investigate exactly what fate many Namibian refugees met in exile.

An inquiry into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity by Swapo in exile will officially start in Windhoek on 1 September and is expected to continue until 10 December.

This was announced by the joint committee of the Committee of Parents and the Truth and Justice Committee that is spearheading the process.

In September last year, the two groups said a commission of inquiry was necessary because the Swapo leadership had refused to account for the disappearance of fellow Namibians in exile. This refusal, the groups claimed, in itself constituted a crime against humanity.

Furthermore, they said the Swapo leadership refused to account for the whereabouts of the remains of allegedly murdered Namibian refugees. They also claimed that the party continued to slander and defame both the allegedly murdered refugees and the survivors of the dungeons.

“The Swapo regime, which stands accused of crimes against humanity, presides over a purported democracy. This nation has been subjected to imperialist upon imperialist crimes since 1884,” the two groups said at the time.

They enumerated the genocide perpetrated during German imperialism, the Bondelswarts massacre in 1922, the 1925 disarmament of the Herero and Baster people, the Old Location massacre in 1959, the Cassinga massacre in 1978, and the “mass murder of refugees” by Swapo in exile from 1966 to 1989.

“It is imperative that all true facts are known on this last period of mass murder,” the groups stated.

The conveners of the inquiry include a group from Kenya who were arrested in the 1960s, as well as former PLAN combatants and Swapo Youth League leaders from the 1970s, former Swapo detainees, the Break the Wall of Silence organisation, the Forum for the Future (FFF), NamRights, and the South African Khoisan Movement.

The inquiry was also given special impetus by the South African Indigenous Peoples' Alliance (SAIPA).

Other organisations invited to attend the opening include the Namibian government, the embassies of Germany, Angola and Zambia, Kenyan and Namibian churches, the Olaf Palme Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Foundation and Hanns Seidel Foundation.

The speakers at the opening ceremony, to be held at Gateway Conference Centre in Khomasdal at 10:00 on 1 September, will be Erica Beukes (chairperson of the Committee of Parents), Phil ya Nangoloh (executive director of NamRights), Zanzile Khoisan (author and senior journalist at the Cape Argus), and two others yet to be identified.

The master of ceremonies will be John Amuthenu.

The process will start with the collation of affidavits and documentary evidence by witnesses, individuals and groups.

The actual inquiry is to start on 1 February next year and will visit Windhoek, Tsumeb and Otjiwarongo, Oshakati and Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Gobabis, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, Mariental, Keetmanshoop and Karasburg, Lüderitz, as well as Platfontein in South Africa.

The inquiry is the result of a resolution taken in September 2016 by the Committee of Parents and the Truth and Justice Association to call for an international probe into the Swapo dungeon saga.

According to that resolution the inquiry is to investigate the disappearance of Namibian refugees, the killing, detention, torture, forced confessions of detainees, complaints from SYL and PLAN in 1976 against the Swapo leadership, the alleged involvement or complicity of foreign missions and instances, the John ya Otto inquiry and related matters.

The joint committee stated that the terms of reference were based on the fact that there were no official accounts of what had happened, or of the whereabouts of possible survivors.

The United Nations Committee Against Torture in December 2016 communicated with the Namibian government, insisting on an inquiry into the exile period, as well as the post-colonial period, which includes the Caprivi treason trial.

The Khoisan Movement of South Africa is also preparing evidence of an alleged San massacre in Namibia and Angola.

CATHERINE SASMAN

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SPYL congress a litmus test for Swapo

August 24, 2017, 4:00 pm

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SPYL congress a litmus test for Swapo

Political analysts argue that the survival of the ruling party, which has been dogged by ongoing bouts of infighting, depends on a radical transformation of its youth league.

Swapo has lost significant support since it was dragged to court by its own youth leaders and also came to a crossroads, forced to kick out youth leaders for being too critical of their elders.

Political commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah yesterday warned that the youth wing is heading for a “catastrophe” if it follows in the footsteps of the mother party.

“What you see in the Swapo party now is infighting, factions and court cases. The youth should not be geared towards this and should not be influenced by the factions, but must set themselves on the right path,” Kamwanyah said.

He strongly urged the youth to work hard to reconcile differences and to start building a healthy relationship among members.

“Unfortunately we may see again the 'us against them', as it is taking place just after the court case so we will definitely see those dynamics play out,” he suggested.

There have been allegations from many platforms that the problems the youth league faces are because the pie is too small and fights are about power and position.

The SPYL was recently dragged to court by some its own leaders who disputed the decisions of its central committee meeting in May. That meeting had endorsed the presidency of Swapo acting party president Hage Geingob.

The group also objected to the nomination of Mandela Kapere for the youth league secretary position.

This court case was dismissed with costs, something Kamwanyah believes will aggravate the division within the youth league.

At the opening of the youth league congress at Katima Mulilo yesterday, President Hage Geingob encouraged the SPYL to push for greater heights and to counter “reactionaries in and outside Namibia”.

Geingob urged the youth to take the lead.

“Young cadres, you have inherited a revolution started 57 years ago. It is now in your hands. It is through your hands that Namibia will defeat poverty. It is through your hands that Namibia will attain economic development. It is through your hands that we will triumph in the second phase of the struggle and it is through your hands that the Swapo legacy will continue,” said Geingob.

The president further cautioned against tribal and factional politics and urged the youth to use the congress as an opportunity to reflect on the importance of nation-building and whether the nation is still on the right path.

“No cadre of Swapo should ever engage in the retrogressive practices of tribal and factional politics. It is therefore troubling to see youth resorting to tribalism since us in Swapo have always been against and agitated by tribalism, favouritism and regionalism,” said Geingob.

Political commentator Hoze Riruako believes that the different battles between senior politicians vying for more power have paralysed party support.

“The youth have been used by the politicians to lobby for them and to end up fighting battles that have nothing to do with them,” he says.

He also believes that the current batch of youth leaders lack discipline and must be reined in, otherwise soon the power base of the party will wane further.

“For years there used to be an unwritten code of conduct in the party which has kept the party going for years, but now you see youth defy this discipline which has given the opposition something to bank on,” said Riruako.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Grade 9 girl killed

August 24, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Grade 9 girl killed A grade 9 schoolgirl at Karundu Junior Secondary School in Otjiwarongo was murdered on Wednesday night, allegedly by her boyfriend.

The Otjozondjupa police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Maureen Mbeha, said the deceased was identified as Natasha Somses.

She said preliminary investigations indicated that Somses was stoned and stabbed several times by her 15-year-old boyfriend.

The incident occurred at about 22:47 behind the Karundu Junior Secondary School.

Mbeha said the motive for the brutal attack on Somses was unknown.

The suspect was arrested shortly after the attack and will appear before the Otjiwarongo Magistrate's Court shortly.

Police investigations continue.

NAMPA

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Vehicle crashes into the sea, driver disappears

August 25, 2017, 1:32 am

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Vehicle crashes into the sea, driver disappears

Deputy Commisioner Erastus Iikuyu of the Erongo police has asked the public to help them trace E.S. Jekonia from Ongwediva. According to Iikuyu, this is the Taxi Operator Card found the vehicle that crashed into the ocean near Vierkantklip at Swakopmund. Iikuyu said that at around 01:15, a passer by reported the accident saying the vehicle, a white Daihatsu sedan with registration N 27763 SH, was driving on B2 from Walvis Bay towards Swakopmund. The driver lost control in a bend, hit the barrier poles, rolled over the stones and landed in the the sea. Nobody was found at the scene, nobody knows how many occupants were in the car and nobody knows what happened to them thus far. The public is urged to contact Iikuyu at 081 246 4757 or Det. Sgt. Shipingana at 081 602 1522 or the nearest police station if they can assist.

STAFF REPORTER

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Unita rejects MPLA’s big vote lead

August 25, 2017, 3:29 am

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Unita rejects MPLA’s big vote lead

Angola's main opposition Unita has rejected provisional election results that give the ruling party, MPLA, a significant lead in a parliamentary election, saying the numbers were not gathered transparently and did not tally with their own data.
Earlier, the ruling party claimed election victory heralding end of José Eduardo dos Santos’s near 40-year rule.
Though final results from Wednesday’s voting were still being counted, the MPLA said it was on track to win a two-thirds parliamentary majority, based on its calculations.
Though the MPLA has yet to lose an electoral contest since a return to multiparty democracy 25 years ago, the real significance of the poll was that 74-year-old Dos Santos, who has ruled Angola for 38 years, did not stand as a presidential candidate.
His successor as president – should the MPLA projections be confirmed – will be João Lourenço, the 63-year-old defence minister and party veteran.
“We can affirm that the future president will be comrade João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço,” João Martins, MPLA secretary for political and electoral affairs, said.
Unita disputed the MPLA’s projected result.
“Looking at the trend, the MPLA won’t have a majority at all,” Unita’s parliamentary head Adalberto Costa Júnior told Reuters.
More than 9 million electors voted for a 220-seat parliament that would automatically select the candidate of the winning party as president. The MPLA won 72% in elections in 2012.
Reuters& Guardian

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Namibians come out in their numbers for Heroes'Day

August 26, 2017, 3:00 am

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Namibians come out in their numbers for Heroes'Day

Thousands of Namibians have come to the Oshakati Independence Stadium for the annual Heroes' Day celebrations. President Hage Geingob will deliver the keynote address. Said some to Namibian Sun, "It is wonderful to have a national heritage event brought so close to the people." This year's celebrations at Oshakati have been welcomed by all as many do not have have the resources to travel far to commemmorate this important day.

ILENI NANDJATO

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Namibians come out in their numbers for Heroes' Day

August 26, 2017, 3:03 am

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Namibians come out in their numbers for Heroes' Day

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The incredible Mannetti

August 27, 2017, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Okongressa yoSPYL oyi li otutsa koSwapo

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The incredible MannettiA true Brave Warrior Mannetti has devoted most of his time to the national team despite having a wife and three children to take care of.

Namibia has many talented coaches but, there is one coach who has achieved more than any other local national team coach.

Ricardo Mannetti's endurance and faithful heart has earned him a place in many Namibian football followers' hearts.

Born on 25 April 1975, Mannetti grew up in Khomasdal where his passion for sport developed.

“At primary school, I was an athlete, but even though I liked athletics, football was always my number-one sport. That is where the 'OkaMannetti' comes from,” Mannetti says.

Mannetti spent most of his junior years in Khomasdal where he attended primary school at M.H. Greeff and Khomasdal Primary School.

He went on to complete his education at the Ella du Plessis Secondary School.

In 1992, just at the tender age of 17, Ricardo Mannetti made his first debut for the Brave Warriors and he went on to obtain 60 caps.

A young and shy boy, he impressed the locals and was voted junior sportsman of the year after his impressive display in the national team.

Mannetti had a stint with Civics [1997] and also played for South African clubs Santos [1997-2005], and Bush Bucks FC in [2005-2006], with a short loan spell at Avendale Athletico.

“I do believe my biggest achievements in football was winning the PSL with Santos and also qualifying for the 1998 Africa Cup of nations with the national team,” Mannetti remembers.

Namibia Premier League legendary coach Brian Isaacs, is one of the many people who Mannetti looked up to.

Isaacs's style of play and discipline caught Mannetti's eye during the early 90s.

The work of Brian Isaacs, Alex Ferguson and Vicente del Bosque inspired Mannetti to become a coach.

“My coaching career begun so fast because the one moment I was training with Civics, the next moment I was coaching them.

“I think that my leadership skills were one of the things which led to my appointment as a Civics coach.

“Winning my first NFA Cup trophy with the Civilians was one of my early coaching accomplishments.”

In his early coaching career, he was in charge of clubs like Black Africa and the national under-20 football team.

In 2013, the big and real task came when Mannetti was appointed as national team coach in June, replacing Swedish national Rodger Palmgren.

Two years later, Mannetti became the first national team coach to lift the Cosafa Castle Cup in South Africa After his team defeated Mozambique 2-0 in the final match of the competition.

In 2016, Mannetti led the nation to the Cosafa Cup plate finals were they only managed to win the plate section on home soil.

This year, the team lost 1-0 to host South Africa in the plate final of the tournament.

His latest success was leading the team to the 2018 Africa Nation Championships (CHAN) slated for Kenya.

“My biggest wish and priority at the moment is to help Namibia qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations.”

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

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Okongressa yoSPYL oyi li otutsa koSwapo

August 27, 2017, 4:00 pm

≫ Next: Omakonaakono ngoka taga ningilwa Swapo ga tameke

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Okongressa yoSPYL oyi li otutsa koSwapo

Aanongononi yonkalo yopolotika oya popi kutya ehupitho lyongundu tayi pangele ndjoka ya kala ya taalela noyi li natango ya taalela omakondjithathano oyiikwatelela kelundululo lyewawa lyongundu ndjoka.

Swapo okwa kanitha eyambidhidho enene konima nkene a falwa kompangu kaaleli yewawa lyaanyasha mongundu ndjoka, oshowo sho a thiminikwa okutidha aaleli yewawa ndyoka molwaashoka otaya nyana aaleli yongundu ndjoka tayi pangele. Omunongonono gwopolotika, Ndumba Kamwanyah okwa kunkilile kutya ewawa lyaanyasha otali yi monkalo ombwiinayi ngele olya landula moompadhi dhongundu onene, ndjoka ya taalela omananathano. “Owu wete kutya ongundu ndjoka oyi na omananathano, newawa lyaanyahsa olya pumbwa okwiikwaleka kokule nonkalo ndjoka nongele hasho nena otali gwile moshiponga shomananathano ngoka.”

Okwa kunkilile aanyasha ya tameke okulongela kumwe.

Ewawa ndyoka nalyo olya falwa kompangu kuyamwe po yomaaleli yawo omolwa omatokolo ngoka ga ningwa momutumba gwelelo lyopombanda muMei. Ongundu ndjoka oya tindi woo euliko lyaMandela Kapere onga okandindate komahogololo guuamushanga wewawa ndyoka.

Ompangu oyali ya ekelehi oshipotha shoka, oshinima shoka Kamwanyah a popi kutya osha e ta etopoko mokati kelelo lyaanyasha mongundu ndjoka. Pethimbo kwa patululwa okongressa yEwawa lyAanyasha yOngundu yoSwapo, oshiwike sha piti ndjoka ya ningilwa moKatima Mulilo, Omupresidende Hage Geingob okwa kumike oSPYL opo yi kwatele komeho ongundu ndjoka ya totwa po oomvula 57 dha piti. Okwa popi kutya okupilila maanyasha mboka, Namibia ta vulu okusinda oluhepo nokuyambulapo oshilongo.

Omupresidende okwa gunu kombinga yuukwamuhoko na okwa pula aanyasha ya longithe ompito ndjoka yokongressa mokutunga oshigwana nokushikaleka mondjila yoopala.

Omunongononi gwopolotika, Hoze Riruako naye okwa popi kutya aanyasha mongundu ndjoka otaya longithwa kaakuluntu mongundu tayi pangele yoSwapo okulwa omalugodhi ngoka kaye na mo olunyala. Okwa popi woo kombinga yesimaneko maaleli yewawa ndyoka ta gwedha po kutya okwaahena esimaneko otashi teya po ewawa ndyoka oshowo ongundu ndjoka.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Omakonaakono ngoka taga ningilwa Swapo ga tameke

August 27, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Omakonaakono ngoka taga ningilwa Swapo ga tameke Otaku tamekithwa omakonaakono kombinga yiimbuluma yiita mbyoka taku popiwa kutya oya longwa kongundu yoSwapo pethimbo lyekondjelomanguluko.

Ø Omakonaakono ngoka otaga ningwa uule woomwedhi ndatu

CATHERINE SASMAN

Omakonaakono ngoka otaga tameke pambelewa mesiku lyotango lyomwedhi Sepetemba nuumvo sigo omasiku 10 gaDesemba.

Shoka osha tseyithwa kookomitiye tadhi ithanwa Committee of Parents oshowo Truth and Justice Committee dhoka tadhi longele kumwe momakonaakono ngoka.

MuSepetemba gwomvula ya piti, ookomitiye ndhoka odha popi kutya okwa pumbwa okuningwa omakonaakono molwaashoka ongundu yoSwapo oya tindi okuyamukula kombinga yaaNamibia mboka yakana pethimbo lyekondjelomanguluko. Omolwa etindo ndyoka, ookomitiye ndhoka odha popi kutya otashi ulike kutya ongundu oyi na shoka tayi holole.

Ongundu yoSwapo okwa hololwa ya tindi woo okupopya kutya openi pwa fumbikwa oontauki dhaNamibia ndhoka ya dhipagelwa mekondjelomanguluko.

Mboka otaya nyana nokukonga omayamukulo omolwa omadhipago ga kiinahenda ngoka ganingwa ngaashi taga tumbulwa kutya German imperialism, Bondelswarts mo- 1922, omadhipago ga ningilwa AaHerero nOobastela mo-1925, Old Location mo- 1959, Cassinga mo- 1978, oshowo omadhipago goontauki ga ningwa kuSwapo pethimbo lyekondjelomanguluko pokati ko-1966 sigo 1989.

Omapulo nomakonaakono ngoka oga kwatelamo omapulaapulo gongundu yaaKenya ndjoka ya tulwa miipandeko moomvula dho-1960, oshowo aakwiita yoPLAN naaleli yoSwapo Youth League mboka ya tulwa miipandeko moomvula dho-1970, oshowo Break the Wall of Silence organisation, Forum for the Future (FFF), NamRights, oshowo South African Khoisan Movement.

Omahangano gamwe ga pulwa opo ga kale petamekitho lyomakonaanoko ngoka ongashi epangelo lyaNamibia, omukalelipo gwaGermany, Angola, Zambia, Kenya oshowo oongeleka dhaNamibia, Olaf Palme Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Foundation oshowo Hanns Seidel Foundation.

Aapopi petamekitho lyomakonaakono ndyoka tali ningilwa moGateway Conference Centre moKhomasdal okutameka potundi 10:00 mo 1 September, otaya ka kala Erica Beukes (Omunashipundi gwoCommittee of Parents), Phil ya Nangoloh (Omukomeho gwoNamRights), Zanzile Khoisan (Omushangi nomutoolinkundana omukuluntu moCape Argus), aapopi yaali yalwe opo taya ka tseyithwa.

Omakonaakono otaga tamekithwa nokugandja omahokololo goombangi okuza koongundu ndhoka dha gumwa.

Omapulaapulo otaga tameke mesiku lyotango lyaFebruali omvula twa taalela nokomitiye ndjoka otayi ka talela po oondoolopa ngaashi Ovenduka, Tsumeb, Otjiwarongo, Oshakati , Ondangwa, Rundu, Katima Mulilo, Gobabis, Walvis Bay , Swakopmund, Mariental, Keetmanshoop , Karasburg, Lüderitz, oshowo Platfontein moSouth Africa.

Omapulaapulo ngoka ogeli oshizemo shokatokolitho ka ningwa muSepetemba gwomvula ya piti moka okomitiye yoCommittee of Parents oshowo ndjoka yoTruth and Justice Association ya pula opo ku ningwe omapulaapulo omolwa iimbuluma mbyoka ya ningwa kuSwapo.

Ookomitiye ndhoka odha popi kutya omaumbangi ngoka taya longitha ogiikwatelela kutya kape na shoka sha ningwa po pambelewa omolwa omadhipago ngoka na inaku popiwa kutya ooluhupe oyeli peni.

United Nations Committee Against Torture muDesemba gwo2016 oya yi mekwatathano nepangelo lyaNamibia tayi pula opo ku ningwe omakonaako omolwa iimbuuma mbyoka ya ningwa pethimbo lyekondjelomanguluko mwa kwatelwa oshikumungu shepangulo lyaakwashigwana mboka taku popiwa kutya oya kambadhala okukutha ko oshitopolwa shaCaprivi (Zambezi) kuNamibia.

Ongundu yoKhoisan Movement of South Africa nayo otayi longekidha omaumbangi gawo omolwa omadhipago gakiinahenda ngoka ga ningilwa gAayelele mboka ya dhipagwa moNamibia oshowo Angola.

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Northam adds Amplats

August 27, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Northam adds AmplatsAcquired platinum giant for N$1 billion Northam Platinum continues its shopping spree.

The mining ministry has given Northam Platinum, South Africa's second biggest platinum producer, the green light to acquire Anglo American Platinum's Amandelbult property for N$1 billion.

This is just the latest acquisition in Northam's ambitious buying spree, which saw it buy various assets in the last two years as part of its vision to become a 1 million ounce a year platinum group metals (PGM) producer.

Reporting its results for the year to end-June 2017 on Friday, the group said that in the past year it continued on its expansion path of growing production down the cost curve, both organically and through acquisitions.

In line with its external growth ambitions, Northam acquired the Tumela block's mineral resources from Anglo American Platinum. The miner is in the process of acquiring the mothballed Eland Platinum mine from Glencore, and also acquired the Everest South mine and concentrator from Aquarius Platinum for N$450 million.

In July, Northam announced a N$142.7 million deal to obtain PGM recycling equipment in the US.

Gaining the necessary permission from the ministry to buy was a key requirement for the transaction to proceed.

Northam chief executive officer Paul Dunne said: “Northam is pleased to have achieved this significant milestone and looks forward to concluding the transaction in due course.”

Increased losses

As a result of its ambitions, Northam reported a headline loss per share for the year to end-June of 181.8c, higher than the previous year's 145.3c.

This is despite the two mining operations Zondereinde and Booysendal posting record operating profits, increasing from N$508.3 million last year to N$635.9 million for the last period.

“Given the continuing difficult conditions in the mining industry, and taking into consideration the cash requirements to fund the development of the group's project pipeline and growth strategy, the board has resolved not to declare a final dividend for the 2017 financial year,” Northam stated.

Northam said its group sales revenues increased 12.6% to a record R6.9bn on the back of a higher US dollar and an increase in base metal prices.

However, the stronger average exchange rate of the rand to 13.63 to the dollar tempered the increase in total revenue, Northam stated.

Group operating profit rose by 60.2% to N$614.0 million. Its cash profit per equivalent of an ounce of refined platinum rose by 44.0% to R5 314/oz.

Operating profit

Both Zondereinde and Booysendal recorded an operating profit. Improved operational performance at Booysendal saw metal in concentrate production increase by 23.6%.

Booysendal North recorded a 23.6% production rise, while Zondereinde's year-end output was only marginally lower year-on-year, as it largely overcame the effects of a workforce reorganisation and an 18-day outage of a milling circuit during the first half of the financial year, Northam stated.

Northam's capital expenditure rose 40.1% to N$1.6 billion, as the group continued with the development of its expansion projects at both Booysendal and Zondereinde.

With the increased capital expenditure in support of Northam's production growth strategy, cash balances were lower, which impacted the miner's revenues. As a result investment fell by 36.9% to N$167.3 million.

The mining company reported a positive cash balance of N$1.8 billion at year-end.

Its non-cash preference share dividend charge increased from N$918.8 million to N$1 billion.

NEWS24

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Steytler appointed NSA board chair

August 27, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Steytler appointed NSA board chair

Economic advisor to President Hage Geingob and former statistician-general, John Steytler has been appointed as chair of the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) board.

Steytler and the other five members were appointed to serve as new board of directors for the institution for a period of three years by economic planning minister and director of the National Planning Commission, Tom Alweendo.

Speaking during the inauguration of the board on Thursday of last week, Alweendo said the role of a broad is vital as it is to guide the institution to fulfil its mandate.

He said it was critical to ensure that an institution has a board that has an understanding of what has to be done.

The NSA is an autonomous body responsible for the production and compilation of statistics in the country.

Other new board members include Salom Hei, CEO of Hei Investment and former employee of the Bank of Namibia; Israel Tjizake, an assistant representative at the United Nations and Clareta Gamases who heads the accounting department at University of Namibia.

Director of the Multi-disciplinary Research Centre at Unam, Nelago Indongo was reappointed to the board alongside Libertha Kapere, company secretary of the Namibia Diamond Corporation and vice-chairperson of Namibia National Reinsurance Corporation.

Alweendo explained that board members are not there to run institutions on a fulltime basis but rather to provide an oversight over the institution and guide them.

His new appointment will not interfere with his work in the Office of the President, the media was told.

Alweendo applauded the outgoing board under the leadership of Florette Nakusera as chairperson for its work in the past three years.

NAMPA

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Letshego revives local index

August 27, 2017, 4:00 pm

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Letshego revives local indexIPO offers shares at N$4.70 Existing shareholders of Letshego Holdings Namibia are willing to sell 20% or N$470 million of LHN's issued shares.

After a quiet four years, investors can now look forward to new and fresh opportunities on the local index of the Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) when Letshego Holdings Namibia (LHN) lists on 28 September this year.

Prior to this, the most recent new listing on the local index was on 20 June 2013 when Bank Windhoek Holdings – now known as the Capricorn Investment Group Limited listed.

The initial public offering (IPO) of Letshego Holdings Namibia opened on Friday of last week and the existing shareholders are now willing to offer 20% or N$470 million of the company as issued shares. The shares total 100 million and are available at N$4.70 apiece.

Currently, the Botswana-listed Letshego Holdings Limited (LHL) owns 85% of LHN, while the Namibian group, Kumwe Investment Holding Ltd, owns the remainder. The Bank of Namibia (BoN) provided LHN with a permanent banking license on the condition that at least 40% of the company is locally owned by 2020. This forms part of BoN's financial sector strategy to promote local ownership of the banking sector in the country.

LHN has already indicated that more shares may be made available to the open market so that the group can meet the conditions of the Bank of Namibia before the 2020 deadline.

According to the company's IPO, Namibian citizens, and those from a previously disadvantaged background will have preference in the allocation of shares. According to Ester Kali, the group's chief, LHN wants to enable the maximum public participation in the group's shares. She made these statements to the media on Friday.

Kali added that empowering Namibian citizens as well as distributing profits through the growth in value of the shares and dividends are some of the benefits of Letshego's listing.

“It is also an opportunity for Letshego to increase its profile amongst members to the public, investors and target markets as well to speed up economic growth through the stimulation of investment and entrepreneurship.”

Prospective shareholders of the company must apply for a minimum of 200 shares, thus N$940. Thereafter, a further 100 shares can be applied for at one time. A committee will decide how many shares each applicant will receive.

LHL, LHN's majority shareholder, is one of the fastest growing local companies in Botswana. With a market capitalization of roughly US$450 million, it is one of the top 50 listed companies in sub-Saharan Africa, excluding South Africa. The company, like its subsidiary LHN, focuses on inclusive financial service delivery.

LHN represents more than 20% of the assets and profits of the Botswana LHL. After its operations in Botswana, LHN makes the biggest contribution. Since 2008, LHN has made loans exceeding N$3 billion to LHN in Namibia.

LHN's profit for this financial year to end December 2016 stood at N$329.95 million, roughly 21.3% more than in the previous financial year. According to the company's prospectus, its profits are projected to grow by 2.6% to roughly N$338.7 million. For the 2018 financial year, profits of N$397.7 million are projected.

Basic earnings per share (EPS) in 2016 stood at 66 cents, an increase of 22% compared to 2015. This year, an EPS of 68 cents is expected and in 2018, 80 cents.

LHN's IPO closes on Friday, 22 September at 12:00.

Jo-Maré Duddy

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