Grace plots Mnangagwa 'final push'

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Grace plots Mnangagwa 'final push'Zanu-PF power struggles reach tipping point The Zimbabwean first lady is reportedly targeting the upcoming youth interface rally to push beleaguered Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa over the edge. Zimbabwean First Lady Grace Mugabe is reportedly plotting a “final push” to oust vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa at the forthcoming Zanu-PF youth interface rally in Harare.

According to NewsDay, Grace had set in motion an elaborate plan to force the vice-president out of the ruling Zanu-PF and government, as the battle to succeed the ageing President Robert Mugabe intensified.

The report quoted party insiders as saying that the plan was to ferry “selected supporters” from surrounding provinces, Mashonaland East, West and Central, to increase pressure on the vice-president and boot him out on allegations of plotting to seize power from Mugabe.

“…She demanded to know the logistics that would be put in place for the Harare rally and indicated she would be monitoring progress. The Harare rally is meant to be used as the ultimate platform to force him (Mnangagwa) out,” an unnamed source for fear of reprisals was quoted as saying.

The ruling Zanu-PF youth secretary for administration Xavier Kazizi, however, denied any knowledge of the plans.

He reportedly demanded to know where such information was coming from.



'Quitting is not an option'

This came a week after Mnangagwa was reportedly also said to be planning a fight back strategy against the first family.

An unnamed source within his camp known as Team Lacoste was quoted as saying: “Quitting was not an option for the deputy president; instead his team would begin a series of public pronouncements to rebut all the allegations, which have been made against him.”

Mnangagwa's plans were set to be rolled out soon after the First Family came back from the United Nations General Assembly.

According to reports President Mugabe and his wife launched a scathing attack on Mnangagwa, accusing him of fanning factionalism within the Zanu-PF party.

First to fire the salvo on Mnangagwa in front of thousands of party supporters who gathered at Chipadze Stadium for the 8th Presidential Youth Interface rally was the First Lady, who challenged the deputy president to rein in his supporters whom she accused of insulting the presidency in their quest to succeed her husband.

Grace told the ruling party supporters that “Mnangagwa is the leader of Team Lacoste; why are you remaining quiet when your people are insulting the presidency? Some youths are being expelled from the party for indiscipline and you are being seen together at your house drinking tea and beer with them and that is not right. We get angry when we see such things,” an angry Grace was quoted as saying.



'I am the boss'

Following Grace's remarks, President Mugabe also took to the stage and belittled his deputy, saying the long-time ally was among people who were plotting to oust him in the early 2000s.

Mugabe said that Mnangagwa was at the time working closely with Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo when they made the plans in Tsholotsho.

“I really do not know what happened along the way that Moyo decided to abandon the project. We now hear that he is against Mnangagwa. If you ask Mnangagwa he will tell you that he was not there. He is a qualified lawyer; he is clever and he knows how to defend himself,” said Mugabe.

Mnangagwa himself torched a storm recently when he appeared in pictures on social media holding a coffee mug inscribed “I am the boss”. He was in the company of controversial businessman Energy Mutodi who was recently expelled from Zanu-PF party for causing alarm and despondency when he insinuated that Mnangagwa was poisoned at a recent rally held in Gwanda.





NAMPA/AFP

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Land debate - what is there to hide?

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Land debate - what is there to hide? So Swapo decided once again to reject a motion seeking to debate the government's controversial resettlement policy. The ruling party has in the past shied away from debating the contentious issue of land in the National Assembly, much to chagrin of the opposition politicians. The motion which was swept off the table this week was moved by Swanu leader Usutuaije Maamberua and also intended to call on land reform minister Utoni Nujoma to give a breakdown of the ministry's challenges and successes in the implementation of the programme. It was not surprising when Nujoma and his fellow comrades in the August House voted unanimously to reject the motion against the 10 opposition members who wanted it heard. It is really unfortunate that Swapo still doesn't have the courage to speak out on this matter 27 years after our independence. In fact, the land reform ministry vehemently refused to release the list of beneficiaries of the land resettlement programme following accusations that it was only benefiting a select few and the well-connected. The mere fact that government has postponed its second national conference should not be used as an excuse not to debate the resettlement policy. Government has self-admitted that it has failed the Namibian people when it comes to land redistribution. So far it has not shown any urgency in dealing and fixing the land issue. There has been no action, only rhetoric, especially when it comes to expropriation of land with fair compensation. As the ruling party, Swapo and by extension the government, must be at the forefront of leading the land agenda by coming up with concrete action plan and policy to tackle the issue. At the moment there clearly appears to be no urgency in dealing with the issue of land reform and there is a lax attitude towards the subject judging from the conduct of the authorities. What is there to hide? Swapo is not dealing with this matter well and these pathetic excuses don't hold water. Land resettlement is a continuous process and many Namibians, including those that gave the ruling party the mandate to lead this country, have an inherent interest in the topic.

Why I hate technology

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Why I hate technology Is it just me or has the advent of technology made things more difficult?

Ok, let me put it this way; the men who invented the telephone, the clock or the boat clearly did the world a favour and ought to be acknowledged eternally.

So should the first man, or woman, who discovered for the first time that the wheels of the car have to be round for it to move smoothly. Those, and a whole lot of other inventions, have simplified life and made our world a better place.

But of late, I am not sure if scientists have lost their sense of discovery or are pulling a prank on the human race. Take the genius who invented the battery-driven toothbrush; all you gotta do is place in into your mouth and it will do the job. Seriously now, is that not why God created us with hands? That, my dear friends is no invention, just plain laziness.

To top it all, some copywriter of some big agency reckoned it would be appropriate to attach a tagline, 'don't waste your time brushing your teeth, let BrushMagic to the dirty work for you'. Seriously?

The same copywriter is also guilty of claiming Colgate now comes with teeth whitening substances, or that by brushing frequently with AquaFresh will remove cavities from your teeth. Correct me if I am wrong but aren't those the very reason I buy toothpaste?

So, what did Colgate have before it discovered this secret to eternal 'teeth-whitening'? I mean no offence, but has anyone wondered why it was necessary to have a central locking system for a car? What, it was time consuming locking each door manually? So it is now fine to part with a few extra thousands of dollars for a 'central-locking system' car? No wonder criminals are now pouncing on car owners with these remote gate controllers.

My colleague was stressing the other day because she couldn't get her car door open with the remote immobiliser as its batteries were weak. After several attempts she finally gave up and was about to hail a cab home for the day. Thanks to me, she didn't. All I did was grab the keys from her and opened the driver's door manually!

Cell phones now have voice identification features; all you gotta do is whisper sweet nothings into the receiver and boom - your girlfriend is on the other end of the line. Was that really necessary? What had happened to old fashion scrolling of names in your phone book?

Seriously, this world is indeed going to the dogs - provided they too don't devise an instrument that will have them discussing last night's episode of 'Gabriella' in human language!

This is the same world that will have self-taught musicians who all started singing at the age of two. Switch to any celebrity gossip show on TV, or page through similar magazines and all you will hear or read will be “I started singing at the tender age of two.



My mom used to take us to church and I was always the choir's lead singer ….” At two? Really? What else did you achieve at that age, ran for president too? My sister, you can hardly remember your mom changing your diapers at that age, how in heaven's name could you sing? What was the song - Baaaa, baaaaa, baaaa?

Now they have flat-screen TVs which do the same job as normal 'hunch-back' television sets, albeit at a price three times higher. Of course the salesman will tell you that it has a 10 times better picture and audio quality, but I still remember what Richard Dean Anderson of the MacGyver fame looked like in 1987. Mind you, that was on a tiny black and white TV set of our neighbour's.

Oh, and then comes DStv's dual-view decoder 'something, something mechanism'! We are told that it allows you to watch two different channels on two different TV sets, in two different rooms. I am telling you, I was having a tough time understanding it when the sales lady attempted to explain to me the advantages.?

So is that all people do at home - watch TV, each in his own room? No communication? No interaction? Eish, I still prefer our neighbour's black and white TV - at least everyone was always there. Such has been the state of affairs this side of the great divide.

Until then ...



tjatindi@gmail.com

N$1.8m fraudster shows remorse

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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N$1.8m fraudster shows remorse A former administrative clerk who was recently found guilty of defrauding her former employer of more than N$1.8 million yesterday expressed remorse in the Windhoek High Court.

Venecia Ann Koning, however, indicated she was not in a position to reimburse the full or half of the defrauded amount to the Walvis Bay-based consumer goods wholesaler.

Earlier this month, the High Court found Koning (46) guilty on 18 fraud charges.

The scam involved cigarettes worth N$1.8 million, which were stolen from former Indo Atlantic now trading as CIC Holdings.

The crimes were committed between 2006 and 2007.

Koning, during cross-examination yesterday in mitigation of sentence, accepted that she betrayed the trust that the company bestowed in her by her conduct. Her lawyer, Titus Ipumbu requested the court to impose a 10-year prison sentence on his client and conditionally suspend six years for a period of five years. Koning was credibly connected to the fraud by some witnesses and a software expert.

“Key witnesses testified to her failure to acknowledge receipt of monies for the purposes of banking and this created serious material shortcomings in the credibility of her evidence,” Judge Alfred Siboleka had recently ruled.

Between October 2006 and August 2007, Koning defrauded Indo Atlantic's Walvis Bay clients listed as Kuiseb Shop 4 Value, Bargosa Wholesalers, Walvis Bay Self Service, Parade Supermarket, Trust Market, Metro Walvis Bay, Metro Swakopmund, Shoprite U Save, Shoprite/Checkers Walvis Bay, Sentra Portuguese Market, Spar North Rand Henties and Shoprite Swakopmund.

Siboleka had ruled that Koning's evidence denying any receipt of monies from Dawid Martin Bezuidenhout, her former co-accused, created a reasonable doubt in favour of him and discharged him. Ipumbu pleaded that his client is a first offender, married with three children, that she does not have the propensity to commit crime and asked that court be lenient with her. “Human beings are endowed with imperfection and the trial court must therefore show a certain degree of mercy,” he pleaded.

State Advocate Simba Nduna had no quarrel with the 10-year prison term proposed by the defence lawyer. However, he was not in agreement with Ipumbu's suggestion that six years of that prison term be conditionally suspended.

Nduna preferred four years to be suspended.

“There is nothing persuasive in order for the court to consider such a plea,” Nduna argued and added that the accused is not suffering from any ailment that warrants such a suspension period.

He further stated that Koning was not remorseful and thus the deterrent effect of suspension will not be felt. “Lengthy period of suspension affect the general purpose of deterrence,” Nduna maintained.

According to him, Koning took advantage of the system within which she was working causing more than N$1.8 million losses to CIC by letting the company to supply stock which was not ordered by her clients.

Siboleka postponed the case to 29 September for sentence.







FRED GOEIEMAN

Living off trash

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Living off trash40 feeding from the Otjiwarongo dump School dropouts, young mothers and children living in Otjiwarongo make use of the town's dumpsite to find food. The Otjiwarongo dumpsite has been turned into a source of food for nearly 40 people carrying along babies and teen children.

The dumpsite is situated about six kilometres east of town near the military base. Otjiwarongo constituency councillor Julius Neumbo on Wednesday visited the site with cooked food in his official vehicle.

Upon seeing Neumbo offloading 20 brown loaves of bread, cooked meat, hot soup and drinks from his vehicle, the people hurried to meet him and lined up, urging the councillor to start distributing the food.

Neumbo then asked them to be patient for a few minutes as he had a story to tell them.

“Listen to me very carefully. It is a shame to me, a shame to your leaders and general community to see you as members of this society looking for food at the dumpsite,” he said.

He said the dumpsite was dangerous and unhygienic for them to eat anything dumped there.

“Diseases are also hiding here together with broken bottles that can injure most of you during your search for food in the heaps,” he said.

Shortly after his speech, Neumbo handed out the food and a football, and asked each to register their names so that the councillor can make a temporary plan on how to better take care of them. The people told Nampa that some of them were school dropouts. Eighteen-year-old Joseph Muulya said he dropped out of school in 2016 after the death of his grandmother. “I now come here every day to look for food and scrap materials which I can sell in town,” he said. A young woman with a two-month-old baby, Lourencia Kapuka, said poverty had forced her to look for food at the dumpsite. She said some of her friends have makeshift structures they call home at the dumpsite. Control administrator at the Otjiwarongo Constituency office, Kaverere Komomungondo told this agency the food bank by government is good to support the hungriest and impoverished Namibians.

“These people could be taken care of by that programme,” he said.



NAMPA

Trump 'Nambia' tweets cause giggles

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Trump 'Nambia' tweets cause giggles Social media was yesterday poking fun at President Donald Trump after he twice referred to the southern African country of Namibia as “Nambia”.

Speaking to African leaders at a lunch on Wednesday amid the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump hailed Africa's business potential, apparently singling out the non-existent country of “Nambia”.

First Trump said: “…I'm greatly honoured to host this lunch to be joined by the leaders of Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Nambia…”

He then went on to say: “Nambia's health system is increasingly self-sufficient,” thus setting social media abuzz.

Trump also said that he had friends going to Africa “to get rich”.

“Africa has tremendous business potential,” he said. “I have so many friends going to your countries, trying to get rich. I congratulate you. They're spending a lot of money,” he was quoted as saying.

“For American firms it's really become a place that thy have to go - that they want to go.”

NEWS24

Namibians will grow hungrier

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Namibians will grow hungrierInnovate, intensify and develop For Namibia to truly have food security, farming methods must be renewed and must be sustainable, with indigenous food types as part of the harvest. If Namibians fail to innovate and embrace new ways to sustainably intensify farming for better harvests, the country runs the risk of having an increased population without enough food.

During the 18th edition of the Bank of Namibia Annual Symposium yesterday, agricultural experts lamented the looming food crisis if Namibians do not re-invent farming practices.

In 2015 and 2016, Namibia recorded production deficits for the following crops - horticulture at 49 860 tons; wheat at 95 190 tons; white maize at 120 659 tons and mahangu at 6 096 tons.

In his welcoming speech, the governor of BoN, Iipumbu Shiimi, said this makes it clear that Namibia have a challenge on its hands.

“There is a high reliance on imports of agricultural products. Namibia imports about 60% of its food requirements. Namibia consistently records production deficits in most crop categories. The contribution of agriculture to GDP has been declining. It declined from 4% in 2008 to 3.4% in 2016 and averaged only 4.2% over the same period. Therefore, the need for improved agricultural productivity in Namibia cannot be over-emphasised,” he said. Shiimi emphasised that an opportunity exists for Namibia to transform the agricultural sector and agro-processing industries, to reduce food imports and increase exports, such as meat.

“These would establish a strong foundation for economic growth, poverty reduction and improve our external balance. We have an opportunity to feed our nation and create shared prosperity for our children and grandchildren,” he said.

According to Paul Smit, former president of the Namibia Agricultural Union, over 60% of the population practices some form of agriculture for a living while agriculture in Namibia occupies 64 million hectares or 78% of the land area, including 206 000 households and 1.17 million people. In his position paper titled “Feeding Namibia: An Overview of Agricultural Productivity and Industrialisation” presented at the symposium, Smit stated that because of the little rainfall Namibia enjoys, only 40 000 hectares are suitable for intensive agriculture, and the country suffers from drought six out of every 10 years.

“Another factor that has contributed to food insecurity has been the loss of indigenous foods and the related indigenous knowledge for preparing those foods.

“The loss of these indigenous foods is mainly due to the change in diets, which have been modernised, and the perception that these are poverty food. However, they can be an important component in alleviating hunger, malnutrition and protecting the environment,” he stated. He added that these plants are more diverse and reliable than conventional crops, and contain micronutrients that many subsistence farmers and the rural poor lack.

JEMIMA BEUKES

New homes for nurses at Nzinze

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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New homes for nurses at Nzinze The American ambassador to Namibia, Thomas Daughton on Tuesday handed over a modular house valued at N$860 000 to the health ministry's Nzinze Clinic in the Kavango West Region.

The two-bedroom house, procured by the United States President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief and Centre for Disease Control, is aimed at improving the living conditions of nurses in the region.

Daughton also handed over prefabricated containers to serve as antiretroviral treatment clinics at the Nkurenkuru Health Centre and Nankudu District Hospital.

The Nzinze Clinic has a staff compliment of seven people, comprising a registered nurse who is in charge of the clinic, an enrolled nurse, a health assistant, two health extension workers, a cleaner and a tuberculosis field worker.

The fully equipped house has an open-plan kitchen and lounge as well as a bathroom and toilet.

It enables accessibility as well as availability of nurses whenever they are needed to attend to emergency cases.

The nurse in charge of the clinic, Power Rupande, has been at the clinic for the past two years.

He has been living with his family in a room attached to the clinic.

“Modular housing is a step in the right direction and is an incentive to retain staff deployed in very far-off and rural communities where there is no option for rental for staff accommodation outside of those communities,” Rupande said.

Modular houses are built off-site and transported to their new locations.

One of the challenges experienced at the clinic is poor network connectivity which affects communication and makes it difficult to reach the nurses in cases of emergencies, hence the importance of being on-site at all times, Rupande said.

The event was also attended by health minister Bernard Haufiku and governor of the Kavango West Region, Sirkka Ausiku.

NAMPA

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Hartmann accused still recovering

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Hartmann accused still recovering The main suspect in the murder of Manfred Hartmann is still recovering from a wound which he sustained during his arrest.

According to the Erongo crime investigation coordinator, Chief Inspector Erastus Iikuyu, the suspect has still not made his first court appearance because he is still hospitalised in the Katutura State Hospital.

“The man was injured during his arrest and he still needs medical attention and that is what is causing the delay,” said Iikuyu.

The 25-year-old suspect who was arrested at Outjo on 21 August will appear on a charge of robbery and murder. Hartmann, 78, was bludgeoned to death in his house in the Vineta residential area of Swakopmund on Friday, 18 August.

Iikuyu further said the robbers forced Hartmann into an outside toilet and tied him up with a cable before hitting him on the forehead with two bricks.

He said they tried to cut open a mounted safe in the house. A Lenovo laptop and a Samsung cell phone belonging to Hartmann were found in the possession of the suspect when he was arrested.

A post-mortem is being conducted to determine the exact cause of Hartmann's death.

A second suspect who was due to appear in the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court last month was released due to a lack of evidence.

Adolf Kaure

Unam to train anaesthetists

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Unam to train anaesthetists The Unam School of Medicine, established seven years ago, will enrol its first batch of students for a four-year specialisation course in anaesthesia next year.

The dean of the medical school, Professor Peter Nyarango, this week confirmed that they already have on board three staff members, including a Nigerian-trained associate professor who has practised in Botswana for five years.

Additional staff earmarked for this venture include a senior lecturer from Ghana with roughly 15 years of experience and a lecturer from Zimbabwe with seven years of experience as a medical doctor and trainee anaesthetist.

“But those alone cannot pull you through, so we are also working with two senior anaesthetists that are working for the Ministry of Health and Social Services at the Windhoek Central and the Katutura hospitals. One is also qualified in intensive care,” he said.

According to Nyarango, the country's high rates of maternal mortality and car accidents strongly influenced the decision to offer this specific training.

“There are conditions which, if action is not taken immediately - within one hour or one day - let's say labour or people with a heart condition, can be life-threatening,” he said.

He emphasised that this kind of care is mainly available in Windhoek and essentially denied to rural people.

“When we were writing our curriculum last year, the total was only eight. The country is very thin on the ground. It is no use having a very highly specialist unit in Windhoek but the accidents take place between Okahandja and Otjiwarongo,” he said.

Interest

According to Nyarango there is a high demand for this training in the country, demonstrated by the oversubscription for crash courses offered to medical officers in the public service.

He said about 30 local doctors are ready to apply for this particular course.

“We also want to capture our students that are finishing their internships this year before they change their minds and decide to go outside the country for postgraduate studies,” he said.

According to him the country loses out on critical medical services when its doctors go abroad for medical specialisation.

“Training specialisation is not only just in class – so they give more or less free services in the countries where they go.”

Namibia enjoys massive support from the anaesthetics and intensive care department of Cardiff University in Wales, the professor said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Recession holds firm

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Recession holds firmConstruction industry's slump worsens The Namibian economy has contracted for a second consecutive quarter, with some sectors shrinking for a third or sixth quarter in a row. Namibia is in a renewed recession, based on statistics for the three months ending June 2017.

The construction sector has shown negative growth for the sixth consecutive quarter and the retail and wholesale sectors have shown decline in growth for the third consecutive quarter.

In the second quarter of the year the economy grew by -1.7%, according to the latest figures released yesterday by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).

Had there been no revision of growth during the last quarter of 2016, Namibia would have been in recession for its fifth consecutive quarter.

However, in the last quarter of last year, the NSA adjusted its growth rate from -1.4% to 0.3%. At the time, the move raised several eyebrows and Rowland Brown, co-founder of Cirrus Capital, tweeted that the budget had been largely cut during that quarter.

The latest figures indicate that since 2016, Namibia has not shown any growth. The second and third quarters of 2016 indicated growth of -0.4% en -0.3% respectively and the first two quarters of this year recorded growth of -1.7%.

Frans Uusiku, an economist with Simonis Storm, is of the view that even though the growth figures are in the red, the latest numbers indicate a strengthening of the economy.

For construction, growth in the last quarter stood at -51.9%, the worst figure since the sector's decline began in 2016. In the first quarter of 2017, it registered growth of -45% while growth was recorded at -32.2% in the first quarter of 2016.

According to Uusiku, the construction industry will remain in the grips of recession in the short to medium term due to the government's budget cuts.

The decline in the wholesale and retail sectors indicates a lack of business confidence as well as decreased demand, both locally and internationally. Furthermore, consumers remain under pressure, he says.

In the past quarter, this sector grew by -8.2% after it grew at -7.5% and -3% in the first two quarters respectively. In the second quarter of 2016, this sector grew at 10%.

Hotels and restaurants are now in a technical recession as they have shown decline for a second consecutive quarter. The past quarter indicated growth of -3%. In the first three months of the year, the industry grew by -7.3% and in the second quarter of last year, growth of -3.6% was recorded. According to Brown, the strengthening of the rand and Namibian dollar could have had in an impact in this regard.

The good news is that the data indicates that agriculture has demonstrated two quarters of steady growth - 17% in the second quarter and 11.2% in the first. During the last quarter of 2016, the sector grew at -12.5%.

Mining has also recovered well with growth of 25.8% in the past quarter compared to -19.4% during the same three months in 2016. During the first quarter of 2017, the sector grew at 18.7%.

Other figures included fisheries at -9.8%, manufacturing at 2.9% and the public service at -2.3%.



JO-MARÉ DUDDY

Omaruru seeks N$900k from former CEO

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Omaruru seeks N$900k from former CEO The Omaruru Town Council is seeking a court order for damages amounting to N$962 247 from its former CEO, Paul Edward Ganaseb, who it says approved payment of this amount to a company for a project related to The Intervention Programme for Employment and Economic Growth (TIPEEG).

The town council claims that Ganaseb approved payment of N$1 162 247 in favour of Rebirth Investment CC on 19 December 2012 without the council's knowledge and authorisation.

That was contrary to an instruction from the town council that it owed Rebirth Investment N$86 590.

The money was to be paid for construction work performed in terms of a TIPEEG project, TP012012OM.

Ganaseb's action caused an over-payment of N$962 247 to Rebirth Investment.

The town council told the court that Ganaseb, as an employee of the council, was subject to the control and direction of the council and that he was responsible to the council and for the administration of its affairs.

“Ganaseb was under the duty and obligation not to work against the interest of the town council but was under the duty and obligation to give priority to such interest,” the town council emphasised in its particulars of claim.

He was under obligation to follow the council's instructions and directives, the council claimed.

Ganaseb's lawyer, Gilroy Kasper, indicated at the end of last month that he intended to defend the action.

The lawsuit is still in case management at the High Court in Windhoek.

FRED GOEIEMAN

Trophy hunting key to conservation

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Trophy hunting key to conservationBan could cause 'massive reversal in conservation gains' Namibia's environment minister this week defended trophy hunting at a UN reception for heads of state. Heads of state from around the world this week heard about the key role sustainable trophy hunting plays in Namibia's renowned conservation success story.

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta on Wednesday took to the podium at a UN reception to underline the importance of “legal, ethical and sustainable utilisation” of wildlife, where populations are sustainably managed and utilised while conservation goals are kept to benefit.

“There is much confusion and misconception, particularly in the urban industrialised world and thus by most western tourists that visit Namibia, about the role of hunting in conservation,” he told heads of state at the reception.

Shifeta said even biologists and “recognised conservation organisations, see hunting and commercial trading in wildlife products as undermining conservation, or the anathema of conservation.”

The minister was steadfast on his view that the protection of wildlife and the removal of all economic incentives for the use of wildlife products is the only way to promote and achieve good conservation.

“Nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.

He noted that a recent study showed that if trophy hunting is abolished in Namibia, “there could be a massive reversal in conservation gains in terms of both wildlife populations and land uses.”The study, which simulated a ban of trophy hunting in Namibia, estimated there would be reduction in the number of financially profitable conservancies, from 77% (30 or 39 conservancies) to just 18% if the income from hunting is eliminated.

Shifeta further told delegates that there is more wildlife in the country than “at any time in the past 150 years, with latest estimates putting the national wildlife herd at just over 3 million animals.”

He said the reason for the growth in wildlife numbers is “simple. Wildlife is an economically more attractive, competitive form of land use than conventional farming in our arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid landscapes.”

He stressed that because wildlife has value, land owners and custodians have a vested interest in preserving their herds.

“In Namibia, we are seeing private farmers knocking down their fences to allow wildlife to roam freely. Formerly blocked wildlife corridors are now being re-established and re-opened.” Namibia's strong support of well-managed, ethical wildlife utilisation is “good, and in some cases essential, for the conservation of wildlife, of habitats and of biological diversity.”



Poaching a concern

Nevertheless, despite the successes of sustainable utilisation of wildlife, Namibia is gripped with a poaching crisis, the minister admitted.

The trophy hunting industry suffered a “blow” after restrictions were placed on the industry on the transportation of trophies by airlines, following a cascade of illegal poaching reports.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Geingob pleads for world peace

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Geingob pleads for world peace President Hage Geingob has urged world leaders to treasure global peace and to seek mutual understanding instead of violence to solve problems.

Geingob addressed the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Wednesday, where he pleaded for tolerance and dialogue.

“The UN is a great social experiment which features small and large nations coexisting in peace and harmony. If the United Nations did not exist today, I would definitely call for such an organisation to exist,” he said.

Reiterating Namibia's call for international consensus that Israel's occupation of Palestine must end, Geingob said: “We reiterate that statehood and independence are the national, inalienable, and legal rights of the Palestinian people. We therefore join the call for the two-state solution to be pursued with renewed vigour and determination.”

The president once again advocated for the inalienable rights to self-determination and national independence of the people of Western Sahara.

“We call upon for the urgent implementation of all Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, with the aim of holding a free and fair referendum in Western Sahara.”

The president also hailed the reconciliation between the United States and Cuba. “We believe that this rapprochement should lead to the full lifting of economic and financial embargo against the Republic of Cuba and its people, who have the right to pursue peace and a decent life.”

On 20 July 2015, Cuba and the United States restored diplomatic relations that had been severed in 1961 during the Cold War. This has seen the reopening of embassies in the two countries.



Real Talk

Geingob further urged the UNGA to make real strides to include Africa on the Security Council and not only to see it as a source of commodities, saying Africa is an important and equal partner of the international community, with a contribution to make.

The issue of permanent seats on the Security Council has long been a bone of contention. The African Union (AU) has over the years demanded that African countries should have permanent seats on the Security Council by 2023.

According to Geingob, it makes sense that Africa should be included, as 26 out of 52 UN peacekeeping and special political missions are in Africa.

“Therefore, we recognise the institutional partnership between the UN Security Council and the African Union in the maintenance of international peace and security. This not only enhances cooperation between the two institutions, but also adds greater legitimacy to the decisions taken by the Security Council on Africa.”

The Security Council is composed of 15 members, five of which are permanent members, namely China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ten non-permanent members are elected for two-year terms by the General Assembly.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Inmate moved for his safety

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Inmate moved for his safety The Oshakati High Court yesterday granted a man awaiting trial on a murder charge a transfer from the Oshakati police holding cells to a facility in the Zambezi Region.

The transfer followed an alleged attack on Bester Matengu Lulatelo (45) in the Oshakati police cells on Sunday.

Lulatelo and two other inmates were allegedly attacked by inmates who were allowed to enter their cell.

It is further alleged that the assault had been planned, as a police officer opened the doors and locked the assailants in Lulatelo's cell.

Lulatelo was taken to hospital and later moved to the Ongwediva police station.

The Oshana police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Thomas Aiyambo, could not share information about the alleged assault.

Yesterday, Lulatelo instructed his lawyer, Phineas Nsundano, to ask the court for a transfer to the Kongola police station in Zambezi.

Judge Marlene Tommasi granted Lulatelo's request and postponed the trial to 5 February 2018.

Lulatelo is accused of murdering Kalimukwa Sabrina Mpambo, who burned to death in her hut at Sikwekwe village near Kongola in the Zambezi Region on 22 June 2015.

He is also accused of arson for setting alight Mpambo's hut, and of kidnapping his son on the same day.

He was arrested on 23 June 2015.

KENYA KAMBOWE

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Okahandja's asses on the line

September 21, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Okahandja's asses on the lineDonkey slaughterhouse now targets 100 per day The environmental assessment of a proposed donkey abattoir at Okahandja makes no mention of the lucrative Chinese donkey-skin trade, and purports to focus on providing donkey meat to local consumers and China. An environmental impact assessment (EIA) for a proposed donkey abattoir in Okahandja to be operated by a joint Chinese and Namibian venture, Agrinature Trade and Investment Plans, plans to slaughter 100 donkeys per day.

The EIA, which is currently under review for an environmental clearance certificate which has not yet been issued, states that renovations of a facility at Okahandja are expected to take less than six months, with the aim to be operational by the end of 2017. “Operation will start after three months from the end of its renovations and uplifting work.”

The EIA and the environmental management plan (EMP), completed by CNM environmental consulting services last November, state that their assessment of the abattoir is of critical importance for a number of reasons. The consultants conclude that from their assessment, and public meetings held in October that year as well as feedback from key stakeholders, with the “present situation where there is demand for donkey meat and the expectation of the public, it is critically important to establish this abattoir.”

The EIA states that the proposed project will “improve access to quality and safe donkey meat. Therefore, the project will benefit the public as a whole and individuals related directly or indirectly to slaughtering activities.” It will also “generate significant economic and social benefits such as job creation, infrastructure development, and improve revenue generation of Okahandja Town.”



Meat, not skins

The EIA sums up that the proposed abattoir “is intended to process donkey meat and supply to local consumers as well as export to China.”

The EIA documents themselves however do not list or refer to any studies that specifically deal with the demand for donkey meat in Namibia, or elsewhere.

However, the EIA concludes with the recommendation that although there are some potential negative impacts, these can be mitigated and overall recommends that the project should be issued with an environmental clearance certificate form the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

The “primary focus of the proposed donkey abattoir plant is to perform primary processing donkey meat. The processing capacity of the plant will be 100 donkeys per day,” EIA documents state.

Although the skins of donkeys are of much higher international value, considering significant demand from the Chinese market for the production of a popular traditional medicine, the EIA states the donkey skins at the Okahandja abattoir will form part of the solid waste and sold to “micro enterprises”.

The documents do not indicate any intention on the part of Agrinature, a joint-venture of Namibian and Chinese business people, to export the skins to China, unlike a planned donkey abattoir operation in Outjo.

Experts, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Namibian Sun, pointed out that the costs of running a donkey abattoir for the donkey meat alone make little economic sense.

The donkeys skins “are the big bucks, where all the profit lies” a reliable source explained.

The EIA states that the project is “also expected to have interactions with local small and micro enterprises, product dealers and service providers through its provision of access to products like hide and skin, organic fertiliser and animal feed. In view of this fact, indirect employment to be created from the project can be considered indispensable.”

The EIA recommends that the “hide and skin are strictly needed to be daily removed from site. The management of the facility shall arrange this with micro enterprises, to assist them in income generation. However, a temporary shed to store some hides are provided in case an immediate daily removal could be interrupted (sic).”



How many are there







The issue of sustainability of a donkey abattoir has been raised on a number of occasions in the past months, as the issue of the donkey-skin trade and its impact on local communities has gained attention.



At least six African countries have barred the trade, as a result of the impact of the trade on donkey populations, crime, illegal activities and social, cultural and other concerns.



Many have also voiced concerns that Namibia's relatively small donkey population could risk being depleted within a few years if one or more donkey abattoirs, as public plans indicate, should operate simultaneously.



Notes from a stakeholders' meeting hosted by the consultants for the Okahandja abattoir last year show that in response to a question of where the donkeys will be sourced from, “the proponent plans to breed donkeys for this specific purpose at suitable farmland they will identify in future.”



Agrinature also plans to source donkeys “from farmers in the area around Okahandja and in other regions across the country,” the documents state.



However, although Agrinature claim they would consider a “donkey breeding scheme … to ensure there is enough donkeys”, veterinarians have on several occasions said this is an unworkable and unrealistic idea.



Donkeys, unlike livestock such as cattle and sheep, breed slowly and breeding programmes are not viable, nor will they be able to sufficiently replace stock that is depleted through abattoir operations.



Details of a potential donkey breeding scheme are not contained in the EIA or EMP submitted to the ministry.



Nor does the EIA list Namibia's current donkey population or concern over the sustainability of the operations.



Notable negative environmental impacts identified by the consultants and through stakeholder meetings include floods and erosion, air and noise pollution and waterlogging and poor drainage during the implementation of the project.



Increased water demand is also listed.



The consultants note that through the implementation of the EMP, negative impacts can be mitigated.



“In conclusion there will be no severe or immitigable impacts that can prevent the implementation of the proposed abattoir project provided that the recommended mitigation measures are properly and timely implemented.”



On the question of animal welfare, raised by a public participant at a public meeting in October, it is stated that “the abattoir will comply with all the national and international standards for abattoirs and animal welfare is part of abattoir operations worldwide.”

The agriculture ministry confirmed yesterday that the donkey population census figures for 2016 was 144 647.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Welwitschias lose again

September 24, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Welwitschias lose againSWD Eagles returns home with points Namibia's hopes of winning the Currie Cup First Division competition are fading. The SWD Eagles defeated the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias 36-32 at the Hage Geingob Stadium in Windhoek on Saturday in the Currie Cup First Division competition.

The South African club had a 17-8 lead going into halftime and continued to dominate in the second half of the match.

The visitors had to play with 14 men after their centre Tyler Fisher was shown a red card in the last half hour of the match.

Namibia scored five tries in the match, while the Eagles scored six tries in a well contested match over the weekend.

Hooker Jacques Vermaak gave the visitors an early lead and Flank Janneman Stander doubled Eagles lead with a try of his own.

David Philander scored Namibia's first try of the match as Theuns Kotze also scored an important penalty in the match.



The Namibians hit back with an unconverted David Philander try and a Theuns Kotze penalty to cut the deficit to four points.

Replacement hooker Kurt Haupt got himself on the score sheet on the half hour mark to extend the Eagles' lead, allowing the visitors to take 17-8 advantage when the halftime whistle blew.

Fisher's red card in the 50th minute proved to be a worrying factor for the Eagles as the Welwitschias capitalised almost immediately with a try through flanker Rohan Kitshoff.

Kotze converted to cut the gap to two points, but just two minutes later, the Namibians allowed SWD skipper Martin du Toit to cross for his team's bonus-point fourth try.

Marlou van Niekerk took over the kicking duties from Leighton Eksteen and was successful with the conversion, before Haupt completed his brace with a try in the 56th minute, which Van Niekerk also managed to convert.

With a 31-15 ascendancy heading into the last quarter, SWD seemed to have nullified their numerical disadvantage however, two quick tries through Johan Tromp JC Greyling allowed the Welwitschias to come back into the game.

Leading by just four points at this stage, Du Toit gave his team some breathing room with his second score in the 70th minute, albeit that Van Niekerk missed the conversion.



The ebb and flow continued with an unconverted Christo van der Merwe score for the Namibians five minutes from time however, SWD managed to survive to take a 36-32 win.

A tense and nervy match which produced plenty of tries, but ultimately it was the visitors who emerged the victors by managing to cling on with 14 men for a large portion of the match.





SCORERS:

Welwitschias - Tries: David Philander, Rohan Kitshoff, Johan Tromp, JC Greyling, Christo van der Merwe; Cons: Theuns Kotze (2), Pens: Kotze.

SWD Eagles - Tries: Jacques Vermaak, Janneman Stander, Kurt Haupt (2), Martin du Toit (2); Cons: Leighton Eksteen, Marlou van Niekerk (2). Additional reporting by SuperSport

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Andeleki gets fight chance

September 24, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Andeleki gets fight chanceHeads to Botswana Kinda Nangolo will take one of his boxers to fight in Botswana to fight a South African next month. Namibian boxer Immanuel Andeleki will fight for the vacant WBA Feather Weight Pan African title on 11 October 2017 in Botswana.

The boxer will come up against Rofhia Maemu of South Africa in what is expected to be a titanic boxing bout between the two boxers.

The event will take place at the Grand Palm Hotel Casino and Convention Resort in Botswana.

Fox Sports in conjunction with Kinda Promotions will be hosting the Boxing Bonanza in Botswana.

Andeleki has a record of eight wins and four losses while the South African has a record of 12 wins seven losses and two draws to his name.

The Namibian will come up against an orthodox fighter who has more experience than him when it comes to their careers.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Oondongi 100, otadhi ka tomwa mesiku mokatomeno hoka

September 24, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Oondongi 100, otadhi ka tomwa mesiku mokatomeno hoka Omakonaakono gopamudhingoloko ngoka taga ningwa kombinga yokatomeno koondoongi hoka taku pangelwa opo ka ningwe mondoolopa yaKahandja, inaga popya sha kombinga yiipindi yoshipa shoondoongi, kakele kelanditho owala lyonyama yiinamwenyo mbyoka. Omakonaakono taga ithanwa environmental impact assessment (EIA) kombinga yokatomeno koondoongi hoka taku pangelwa opo ka tungwe mondoolopa yaKahandja, kehangano lyaChina melongelokumwe nehangano lyaNamibia, otaka pangeleopo ka vule okukala taka tomo oondoongi dha thika po-100, mesiku.

Omakonaakono ngoka goEIA, otaga ningwa ngashiingeyi opo ku vule okugandjwa onzapo yoenvironmental clearance certificate ndjoka inayi gandjwa natango. Otaku popiwa kutya ehala moka tamu ka kala okatomeno hoka otali wapalekwa na otaku tengenekwa tashi ka kutha oomwedhi hamano, niilonga otayi ka tameka konima yoomwedhi ndatu ngele ewapaleko lyehala ndyoka lya manithwa.

Oompangela tadhi ithanwa EIA oshowo oenvironmental management plan (EMP), odha ningwa noku manithwa kehangano lyoCNM environmental consulting services momwedhi Novemba omvula ya piti na omwa hololwa kutya okatomeno hoka oka simana omolwa omatompelo gontumb ngoka ga tothwamo.

Omitumba dhoka dha ningwa naadhaninkandangala mongeshefa ndjoka oshowo omitumba dhaakwashigwana ndhoka dha ningwa odha holola esimano enene lyokutota po okatomeno hoka.

Olopota yoEIA oya holola kutya etotepo lyokatomeno hoka otali ka etitha efalo momalanditho gopashigwna nomoshilongo onyama yondoongi ya gamenwa onkene opoloyeka ndjoka otayi ka kala nokugandja uuwanawa kaakwashigwana.

Okwa hololwa kutya natango opoloyeka ndjoka otayi ka yambulapo onkalo nawa yeliko oshowo onkalo nawa yoshigwana ngaashi etotepo lyoompito dhiilonga, eyambulepo lyiikwaniipangitho oshowo iiyemo mondoolopa yaKahandja.

Olopota yopoloyeka ndjoka oya tsikile kutya opoloyeka ndjoka otayi lalakanene etumo lyonyama momalanditho gomeni yoshilongo oshowo etumo lyonyama ndjoka moChina.

Nonando ongaaka olopota ndjoka inayi holola ngele ope na tuu ohokwe nompumbwe onene yonyama yondoongi momalanditho gomeni lyomoshilongo.

Olopota ndjoka yoEIA oya holola woo omashongo nomaupyakadhi galwe taga vulu okuholoka po uuna opoloyeka ndjoka, ya tulwa miilonga.

Nonando okwa holoka uuyelele kutya oshipa shoshinamwenyo shondoongi osha simana noonkondo momalanditho gaChina, nongushu yoshipa shoka oyi li pombanda molwaashooka ohashi longithwa mokuninga omuti ngoka gwa simana noonkondo pamuthigululwakalo gwaChina,olopota ndjoka ya ningwa oya holola kutya iipa yoondoongi ndhoka tadhi ka tomwa mokatomeno hoka otayi ka ekelwahi, na itayi ka tulwa mongeshefa.

Ondokumende ndjoka, ihayi holola nande ngele ope na omalalakano opo ku ka ningwe ongeshefa yoAgrinature, ndjoka tayi pitika etumo lyiipa yondoongi dhoka tadhi ka tomwa mokatomeno hoka, momalanditho gaChina, ngaashi tashi pangelwa mokatomeno hoka taku pangelwa opo ningwe mOutjo.

Nonando ongaaka ongeshefa yuutomeno woondoongi otayi nyanwa kiilongo oyindji muuyuni, sho yimwe po yomiilongo ya tokola nookuli opo yi hulithepo uutomeno woludhi ndoka miilongo yawo.

Iilongo yaAfrika ya thika pu ihamano oya tokola okukutha po ongeshefa yoludhi ndoka, sha etithwa sho omwaalu gwoondoongi gwa shuna pevi miilongo mbyoka, oshowo uulunga woondoongi mboka wa londo pombanda.

Elongitho lyomeya ogendji oyimwe yomiinima mbyoka ya popiwa kutya etulo miilonga lyuutomeno woludhi ndoka, otali ka etitha elongitho lyomeya ogendji mondoolopa ndjoka.

Kombinga yonkalonawa yiinamwenyo, ehangano ndyoka olya popi kutya otali ka gwanitha po oompango adhihe dhopashigwana dhegameno lyiinamwenyo.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Omunandholongo a lundulwa omolwa egameno lye

September 24, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Omunandholongo a lundulwa omolwa egameno lye Ompangu yoPombanda mOndoolopa yaShakati, oya gandja epitiko oshiwike sha piti, opo ku lundululwe omulumentu ngoka ta tamanekelwa oshipotha shedhipago, okuza mondjeedhililo yaShakati okuya moshitopolwa shaZambezi.

Ezimino ndyoka olya ningwa sha landula shoBester Matengu Lulatelo (45) a ponokelwa mondjeedhililo yaShakati, oshiwike sha piti..

Lulatelo pamwe naanadholongo yakwawo yaali, oya ponokelwa kaanadholongo yakwawo konima sho ya tulwa mondjeedhililo.

Otaku popiwa kutya eponokelo ndyoa olya longekidhwa, sho omunambelewa gwopolisi a patulula omweelo moka mu na Lulateko, nokupitikilamo aaponokeli ye.

Lulatelo okwali a falwa koshipangelo nalwanima okwa lundululilwa mondjeedhililo yopolisi yaNgwediva.

Omupopiliko gwopolisi yaShana, Thomas Aiyambo, ina vula okugandja uuyelele kombinga yeponokelo ndyoka.

Omukalelipo gwopaveta gwaLulatelo, Phineas Nsundano, okwa pula ompangu, opo omuyakulwa gwe a lundululilwe kopolisi yaKongola moshitopolwa shaZambezi.

Omupanguli Marlene Tommasi, okwa zimine opo Lulatelo, a falwe kondjeedhililo hoka, noshipotha shoka osha undulilwa komasiku ga5 gaFebruali mo02018.

Lulatelo ota tamanekelwa oshipotha shedhipago lyaKalimukwa Sabrina Mpambo, ngoka a hwikwa sigo omeso momukunda Sikwekwe popepi noKongola moshitopolwa shaZambezi, momasiku 22gaJuni mo-2015.

Ota tamanekelwa woo shipotha shokutomeka omulilo ondunda yaMpambo yokulala, oshowo ekwatepombambyona lyokamonamati ke esiku olyo tuu ndyoka.

Okwa tulwa miipandeko momasiku 23 gaJuni mo-2015.

KENYA KAMBOWE