'Kindergarten fight between kids'

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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'Kindergarten fight between kids' Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Sunday that the United States would not carry out a strike on North Korea because it knows Pyongyang has nuclear bombs.

“The Americans won't carry out a strike on (North) Korea because it's not that they suspect, they know for sure that it has nuclear bombs,” Lavrov said in an interview with Russia's NTV television.

“I'm not defending North Korea, I'm just saying that almost everyone agrees with such an analysis,” the Russian diplomat said.

North Korea this month carried out an underground test on a hydrogen bomb estimated to be 16 times the size of the US bomb that destroyed Hiroshima in 1945. It was its sixth and largest nuclear test.

Lavrov said the crisis can only be resolved with a softer approach.

“Only with caresses, suggestion and persuasion,” Lavrov said, when asked how.

He warned that if the US did not take the same approach, “we could drop into a very unpredictable nosedive and tens if not hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens of South Korea but also North Korea, of course, and Japan will suffer - and Russia and China are nearby.”

The interview aired after President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was “deeply concerned” at the escalation of tensions.

Peskov also criticised what he called “an exchange of rather rude statements replete with threats.”

Lavrov at the United Nations on Friday described the rhetoric between leaders of the United States and North Korea as a “Kindergarten fight between children” and urged calm.

In his first address to the world gathering on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump threatened to “totally destroy North Korea.”

North Korean leader Kim Yong-Un shot back at Trump, warning he would “pay dearly” for his threat.

NAMPA/AFP

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Catholic Church acts on kids of priests

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Catholic Church acts on kids of priestsChurch is of the view that their wellbeing is paramount Advisers to Pope Francis say that often, children born to priests are the result of sexual abuse and that the church has a responsibility to protect them. Pope Francis' committee of advisers on protecting children from sexually abusive priests is expanding its workload to include the needs and rights of children fathered by Roman Catholic priests.

Committee members told The Associated Press that a working group is looking into developing guidelines that can be used by dioceses around the world to ensure that children born to priests are adequately cared for.

“It's a horrendous problem in many cultures, and it's not something that is readily talked about,” commission member Dr Krysten Winter-Green said.

Indeed, the issue is one the church has tried to keep under wraps for centuries, because of the perceived scandal of priests having sex. But it has gained visibility after Irish bishops developed and published a set of guidelines earlier this year that focused on ensuring the wellbeing of the priest's child and the child's mother, who often suffer psychological problems from the stigma and silence imposed on them by the church.

The Irish guidelines were believed to represent the first comprehensive public policy by a national bishops' conference on the issue. They have already become a model of sorts: The Union of Superiors General — an umbrella group of male religious orders — has sent the Irish guidelines to their members to apply, and the International Union of Superiors General, the female umbrella group, is expected to endorse them at a November assembly, said Vincent Doyle, a lead campaigner on the issue.

Commission member Bill Kilgallon briefed Francis on the decision of the working group to take up the issue of priests' children during an audience last week.

Kilgallon told the AP that the issue falls squarely under the broad mandate of the commission, which is officially known as the “Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors” and has as its mission the aim of promoting and protecting the dignity of minors and vulnerable adults.

“If someone fathers a child, they have a responsibility to that child, end of story,” Kilgallon said.

The issue has been placed on the church's agenda in large part thanks to a campaign by Doyle, an Irish psychotherapist who discovered late in life that his father was a priest. With the backing of the archbishop of Dublin, Doyle launched Coping International, an online self-help resource to help eliminate the stigma he and others like him have faced, and educate them and the church about the emotional and psychological problems that some children suffer. They can include depression, anxiety and other mental health issues, as well as social isolation and financial hardship.

There are no figures about the number of children fathered by Catholic priests. But there are about 450 000 Catholic priests in the world and the Catholic Church forbids artificial contraception and abortion.

Doyle said Sunday he was pleased that the issue was now on the agenda of the pope's advisory commission, and said there is a very real connection between the children of priests and victims of sexual abuse: He said many of the mothers in question were raped as girls or teens by priests, and are therefore themselves victims of sexual abuse.

“It's not always 'The Thorn Birds,'” Doyle said of the classic story of young woman's love for the family priest. “More often than not, there's rape and paedophilia involved.”

NAMPA/AP

Aalandithi yomOndangwa inaya hala Aangola

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Aalandithi yomOndangwa inaya hala Aangola Aalandithi yomomapandaanda mOndoolopa yaNdangwa, oya popi kutya oya hala aakwashigwana yaAngola mboka taya landithile momapandanda gondoolopa ndjoka, ya thigepo ondoolopa nokushuna koshilongo shaandjawo.

Shoka osha holoka po sho, oonkambadhala dhokuhwahwameka omalelo gomondjila ga katuke oonkatu dha ndopa.

Oya popi kutya otaya nyengwa kongeshefa yawo molwaashoka aalandithi mboka yaAngola, otaya landitha iinima ya faathana mbyoka taya landitha kondando yi li pevi noonkondo.

Oya popi kutya Aangola mboka taya landitha iilandithomwa ngaashi yawo kondando yopevi itaya dhipagapo owala ongeshefa yawo, ihe otaya thindile pevi eliko lyoshilongo.

“Tse AaNamibia otatu nyenyeta kutya AaChina otaya kutha po iimaliwa yetu molwaashoka ihaya mbaanga moombaanga dhomoshilongo. Otatu popi woo kutya oshilongo kashi na iimaliwa ihe otatu pitika ngiini AaNgola mboka kaaye na nuukwashigwana woshilongo ye ye moshilongo shetu nokuninga oshinima sha faathana. Naya shune koshilongo shawo molwaashoka itashi vulika tse tu ka ninge oshinima sha faathana koshilongo shawo. Ngele owa yi moshilongo shawo e to kambadhala okuninga ongeshefa oto tulwa miipandeko,' aalandithi mboka ya popi.

Nonando onkalo yaalandithi yomomapandaanda taya landithile kehe pamwe, osha kala omukundu monena gwa taalela kehe elelo lyondoolopa, Ondangwa oya yi moshiponga oshinene omolwa etekepo lyeliko lyondoolopa yaShikango.

Aalandithi yomomapandanda mOndangwa mboka ya geye noonkondo, oya lombwele oNamibian Sun oya popi kutya elelo lyondoolopa yaandjawo kali na shoka lya ningi po mookambadhala dhokuya moshipala omukundu ngoka.

Sho a ningilwa omapulaapulo, mayola gwaNdangwa, Paavo Amwele okwa popi kutya eindilo ndyoka tali ningwa kaalandithi mboka opo ya shune koshilongo shaandjawo, oshinima shoka itashi ningwa.

Amwele okwa popi kutya omolwa ekwatathano ndyoka lya kala pokati kiilongo mbika iyali, ita pitika shoka tashi pulwa kaalandithi mboka, opo aakwashigwana yaAngola ya tidhwe mo mondoolopa.

“Aangola kaye na mpoka taya yi, ngele oya hala ya shune koshilongo shawo, nena naye tu lombwele woo tu shune molwaashoka natse oko twa zile.”

Mayola okwa popi kutya epangelo lyaAngola olya dhana onkandangala onene mekondjoelomanguluko lyaNamibia , na okwa popi kutya ngele aakwashigwana yaAngola otaye moshilongo kaashi li paveta, nena ope na omilandu ndhoka hadhi landulwa.

Okwa koleke woo kutya elandithilo lyomomapandanda kehe pamwe, oshi li omukundu ngoka gwa taalela elelo lyondoolopa yawo.

Okwa popi woo konkalo yoluhepo okuyeleka newapalo lyondoolopaa ta popi kutya nonando aalandithi mboka otaya nyateke ondoolopa, oshihwepo kuye aantu ya ze moluhepo pehala lyokukala nondoolopa ya yela omanga aakalimo taya mono iihuna koluhepo.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Ekandjo a thindikilwa kegumbo lye lyahugunina

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Ekandjo a thindikilwa kegumbo lye lyahuguninaEkandjo a tumbalekwa kutya okwa li omuhanganithi Aalilisa omathele oya kala poshituthifumbiko shaKomufala e li moshipundi shevululuko gwopolisi yaNamibia, Joseph Ekandjo, ndyoka lya ningwa mehuliloshiwike. Aalilisa ya za koombinga noombinga oya gongala mOmukunda Ekolyanaambo moshitopolwa shaShana, popepi nOngwediva, opo ya gandje esimaneko lyawo lyahugunina kuKomufala e li moshipundi shevululuko Joseph Shuudifonya Ekandjo, ngoka a hulitha mepupi lyoomvula 62.

Ekandjo okwa li gumwe gwomongundu yaakwiita yoPlan, mboka ya hogololwa kuSwapo, momvula yo-1981 opo ya ka pewe omadheulo gopolisi moMoshi, Dar es Salaam shaTanzania mo 1983, omanga e li muupongekwa, nelalakano okuya longekidhila etotepo lyoshikondo shopolisi shaNamibia, uuna oshilongo sha manguluka. Epangelo olya pe Ekandjo, efumbiko lyopapangelo, na okwa hokololwa koyendji kutya okwa li omuhanganithi gwaantu, omulumentu e na omashendjo ogendji, nomunambili. Opolisi oya popi kutya otaya kala nokumudhimbuluka aluhe onga omulumentu ngoka a gandja onkalamwenyo ye ayihe koshikondo shaakwiita oshowo shopolisi.

Mayola-Ndjai Des Shilunga oye a lesha etumwalaka lyomahekeleko okuza kOmukomeho gwOpolisi, Sebastian Ndeitunga. Shilunga okwa lombwele aalilisa kutya okwali mongundu yaahogololwa mboka ya kapewa omadheulo pamwe naEkandjo moTanzania moomvula dho-1980.

Okwa popi kutya nakusa okwa gwanitha po iilonga ye mbyoka a longo nondjungu nomukumo. Shilunga okwa tsikile kutya nakusa okwa ulikwa nokuninga inspector metanga lyopolisi mo-1990 na okwali e na oshinakugwanithwa shokutula aakwiita yoPlan metanga lyopolisi. MuJuli gwomvula oyo yuundjoka, okwa yelwa nokupewa ombandi yuuChief inspector. Okwa yi moshipundi shevululuko mo-2015.

Mondjokonona ye ndjoka ya leshwa kuAndrew Hashiyana, okwa popi kutya Ekandjo okwa valelwa momukunda Oikango popepi nOngwediva na omo a kokela momukunda ngoka. Mo-1977 pamwe nakuume ke Gideon Nuuyoma Amakali, oya wayimine ekondjelo lyemanguluko lyoshilongo muupongekwa moAngola. Oya kutha ombinga momalugodhi ogendji ngaashi moChippa nomoCalueque. Ekandjo okwa kala a tseyika nawa nedhina lye Iikombo ya Pumako.

Ekandjo okwa hulitha momasiku 16 gaSepetemba mOvenduka, nofamili ye olya lopota kutya okwa tameke ta nyenyeta kutya ota ehama mepunda na okwa yi komundohotola gwe mOshakati na okwa ukithwa mOshipangelo shaNandjokwe, opo a kaningilwe omakonaakono gopaunamiti.

MoNandjokwe okwa ningilwa etando na okwa monika okankera yokehuli. Konima okwa lundululilwa mOvenduka ihe onkalo ye oya nayipala sigo osho a hulitha momasiku 16 gaSepetemba.

Okwa dhigako omukulukadhi gwe Cornelia Pashukeni Ekandjo, yina Peneyambeko Muukenga Namashana, aamwayina yahetatu, oshowo oyana 23 naatekulu 12.

Pethimbo sho a longeke oshikondo shopolisi, okwa pewa iinaakugwanithwa oyindji ya yooloka ngaashi okukwatela komeho iilonga yopolisi moshitopolwa shaCaprivi konima yoshiponokela shuukulo shoka sha ndopa muAguste gwo1999. MuJuli gwo 2004 okwa kwatele komeho oshikondo shoadministration and logistics moSpecial Field Force okutameka muDesemba gwo2005 sigo oMei gwo2010, Ekandjo okwa li a ulikwa onga omukomeho gwotango gwoSADC Police Component at the Planning Element of the SADC Standby Force, a kalelepo oshitopolwa shaSADC, moSADC Secretariat moGaborone, Botswana.

Mokati kaamboka ya kala pefumbiko lye, ongaashi omupeha minista gwOshikondo shOpolisi, Daniel Kashikola, omupeha minista gwIikwamina nIikwankondo Cornelia Shilunga, Ngoloneya gwaShana, Clemens Kashuupulwa oshowo prosecutor-general Martha Imalwa.

ILENI NANDJATO

Aatungi AaNamibia ya yamukula

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Aatungi AaNamibia ya yamukulaYa ka konga ekwatho lyompangu Aathaneki yomatungo oshowo aayaluli yongushu yiitungithi tayi pumbiwa momatungo oya ningi eindilo lyompangu mOmpangu yoPombanda, taya pula opo aakwashigwana yaZimbabwe 29 ya hulithepo iilonga mendeelelo. Aanashilonga mboka yaNamibia ye li omugoyi oya ningi eindilo ndyoka mOmpangu yoPombanda taya pula opo ompangu yi konaakone yo yi ninge etokolo sha landula etokolo ndyoka lya ningwa kominista yIilonga nOmalweendo, opo aathaneki yomatungo naayaluli yongushu yomatungo aakwashigwana yaZimbabwe mboka taya longele moshilongo, ya shangithwe nolutu lwaanambelelwa mboka inaku landulwa omilandu ndhoka dhi li po.

Etokolo ndyoka lya ningwa momasiku 13 gaApilili nuumvo, olya li lya pumbwa okukala kaali na we ongushu sho okondalaka ndjoka pokati kepangelo naaniilonga mboka aakwashigwana yaZimbabwe ya thiki pehulilo.

Aaningi yeindilo ndyoka oya popi kutya kutya shoka inashi ningwa nonando okondalaka ndjoka oya thiki pehulilo momasiku 16 gaMei nuumvo, sha landula eshaino lyokondalaka ndyoka lya ningwa momasiku 16 gaMei mo-2012.

“Etsokumwe pokati kaaniilonga mboka nepangelo lyaNamibia olya pwa ongushu onkene aakwashigwana mboka yaZimbabwe kaye na uuthemba okukala taya longele uuministeli.”

Eindilo ndyoka olya ningwa kuMarley Tjitjo Architects Inc., Wasserfall Munting Architects Inc., Ricardo Michaels Architects Inc., Agostinho Ferreira Architects Inc., Kondjeni Nkandi Achitects Inc., Jordaan Ooshuyzen Nangolo Quantity Surveyors Inc., Dawid Nel Quantity Surveyors Inc., Sondlo Quantity Surveyors Inc. oshowo Kaurivi Quantity Surveyors Incorporated.

Mboka kwa tegelelwa ya ka kale aayamukuli keindilo ndyoka lya ningwa Uuminiteli wIilonga, Omupresidende gwoNamibia Council of Architects, Namibia Institute of Architects, Institute of Namibia Quantity Surveyors, Amushanga mUuministeli wIilonga oshowo aakwashigwana yaZimbabwe mboka 29.

Aaningi yeindilo ndyoka otaya tsu omuthindo kutya nayo oye na uuthemba okukala taya ihumbatelwa nawa kepangelo lyaandjetu, ngaashi tashi ningilwa AaZimbabwe mboka, kohi yontopolwa onti-10 mekotampango lyaNamibia.

“Etsikilo lyegandjo lyiilonga kaakwashigwana mboka oli li omukundu omunene gwa taalela aanashilongo mboka AaNamibia, neshongo kiilonga yawo noongeshefa dhawo,' Marley Uazemburuka Tjitjo a popi meindilo lye ndyoka a ningi.

Aanyasha yaNamibia mboka ye na uulongelwe woompito dhiilonga ndhoka dhili momake gaaZimbabwe mboka, ngashiiyeyi oyuuvite nayi molwaashoka ompito ndhoka taya vulu okumona odhili momake gaakwashigwana mboka aazaizai.

Okwa tsikile kutya aakwshigwana mboka yaZimbabwe o29 oya ndopa okugandja uunongo kaanashilonga AaNamibia, na otashi ulike kutya Ominista yIilonga pamwe nAmushanga muuministeli moka oyiipyakidhila owala noonkambadhala dhokumonena AaZimbabwe mboka oonkalo dhiilonga tadhi kalelele muuministeli.

Marley Tjitjo Architects Incorporated, ngoka e li omuningi gweindilo gwotango, ota kalelwa po paveta kuhahende Patrick Kauta gwoDr Weder, Kauta and Hoveka Incorporated. Eindilo ndyoka olya tulwa mo mEtine lyoshiwike sha piti, naayamukuli oya pewa sigo omasiku 27 gaKotomba potundi onti-10:00 opo ya kale ya yamukula.

FRED GOEIEMAN

Viva Nambia!

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Viva Nambia! Maybe it is the law of unintended consequences, maybe it is just good plain old ignorance, but the result was still the same.

Namibia received a very welcome and spectacular, priceless, free boost of global awareness and promotion as a country, when the most powerful man in the world mispronounced (or invented) it at an annual gathering of the United Nations recently.

As the old saying goes: any exposure is good exposure… even better when it does not cost hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising costs.

Millions of people around the world were introduced through google, social, or news media platforms, to a country, which many didn't even know existed. They were introduced to a country blessed with spectacular beauty and natural resources, which will hopefully have a positive future impact on its tourism and related industries.

They were introduced to a country, which defied the greatest odds after its independence and became a really tolerant, vibrant nation with a real “can do” attitude towards building a prosperous nation for all. Unfortunately, they were also introduced to a country, which has in recent years became bogged down within itself, with a really stale and complacent attitude towards tolerance and the things that made it great in the first place.

They were introduced to a country with devastating and crippling social problems, as experienced by a big part of her population, with a seemingly “don't care, cannot be bothered” attitude expressed by many of her people elected, with great hope, to address these very issues in the first place.

Hopefully this added international interest and scrutiny will help to inspire good governance and less corrupt practices from the bottom, to the highest level of her society. Hopefully, her president, beaming with pride after his exposure to and interaction with the most powerful man on earth, will find a new lease on life to start doing and implementing the grandiose plans, which have until recently, only been talk in the wind, condemned to the dustbin of history, at their current rate of progress and implementation.

Hopefully, further scrutiny will expose and eradicate the practices that are bleeding her dry and are in the process of beggaring a once proud, prosperous nation and turning it into a haven for the few and leaving behind and forgetting the many, which so often paid the highest price at the altar of human sacrifice.

Shot of the day

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Shot of the day DISPLACED: A young Rohingya refugee washes himself at the Jalpatoli refugee camp in the no-man's land area between Myanmar and Bangladesh, near Gumdhum village in Ukhia. According to the UN nearly 400 000 Rohingya have arrived in Bangladesh since 25 August after fleeing a military crackdown launched by Myanmar's military in response to attacks by Rohingya rebels. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Zero tolerance for drunken drivers

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Zero tolerance for drunken drivers More than 10 people were arrested for drinking and driving over the weekend in Walvis Bay.

Joint traffic operations resulted in the arrest of eight drivers in the Walvis Bay town area during the operation which started at 21: 00 on Friday. All the suspects were expected to appear at Walvis Bay Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

“Operations of this nature will continue throughout the region and drivers are warned not to drive whilst under the influence of alcohol to avoid being arrested,” warned Erongo police’s Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu.

Walvis Bay traffic chief Eben Platt told residents attending a public meeting that statistics of drinking and driving are worrisome in the harbour town.

According to the numbers, 32 cases were reported for June (2), July (13) and August (17) this year.

Platt listed drinking and driving, speeding, inconsiderate driving and the roadworthiness of vehicles as the most common problems contributing to fatalities, injuries and often, damage to infrastructure or property.

“Drivers’ attitudes are worsening and the accident rate on roads is increasing at an alarming rate. People simply do not adhere the road rules. Seeing people dying on the roads is not a good experience. We are issuing tickets daily and warrants of arrests are piling up at our office. Some of the guilty drivers exploit loopholes in the system,” Platt said.

He said the traffic department only has 11 officers and a situation that calls for combined effort with other law enforcement agencies to curb crime.

Residents said the law was lenient on drivers nabbed for drunking by allowing them to continue driving after paying bail. In response, Platt said: “No one is guilty until proven so. The traffic department has an obligation to arrest those transgressing the laws of the road. We do not punish offenders. That is the responsibility of the judicial system.”

Platt said the traffic department is also investigating the issue of cars used by criminals to transport stolen goods from crime scenes. “These days the taxi industry is also utilising seven-seater vehicles countrywide. These vehicles were not in use earlier and many drivers do not have permits. They use shuttle permits for tourists and not permits used by ordinary taxis,” Platt further said.

He also called on police and traffic officers to be responsible drivers and encouraged members of the public to report incidents of dangerous driving involving police officers.

OTIS FINCK

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Missing girl found, suspect on the loose

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Missing girl found, suspect on the loose The police traced and found a girl, 16, who went missing from Usakos last week Tuesday in Rundu.

Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu from the Erongo police confirmed that Jade Pienaar, who disappeared on 19 September, had been found just before the weekend after her family members reported her missing.

She allegedly visited her sister in Rundu. Jade, who is a grade 9 learner at Usakos Junior Secondary School, apparently packed a bag with clothes and left without informing anybody where she was going.

However, both the police and the family of Benedictus Gaseb, 52, are still searching for him. He went missing from his place of employment at farm Toronto in the Spitzkoppe area on 7 September.

“The officers investigating the matter received information that the missing person was last seen on 12 September at the Spitzkoppe resettlement farm. He allegedly bought food at a shop and said he was heading back to the farm. He never reached the farm and his whereabouts are still unknown.”

Anyone with information about Gaseb can contact detective sergeant Paulus Kayambu at Usakos Criminal Investigation Unit or the nearest police station.

The police is also searching for Andreas Victor Kaushi, 32, who escaped from police custody in Walvis Bay.

“Kaushi, a trial-awaiting prisoner, escaped from custody at Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court while he was being escorted from the court holding cell to the police van on Friday 22 September at about 16:55. He was in custody for an armed robbery which occurred in the Afrodite area between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund and also for the possession of firearm without a licence.”

The escapee is originally from Oshikolongondjo, Oshana Region.



OTIS FINCK

Mumbala berates Swapo youth

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Mumbala berates Swapo youth Swapo Party regional coordinator for //Karas, Matheus Mumbala called on the party's youth to be disciplined, united and to always support the mother body, whatever the cost.

He slammed those who criticise Swapo and the government on social media – such as recently when the country voted against the inclusion of a motion on genocide at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly.

Mumbala said instead of condemning the party and government leaders, the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) should be quick to defend the elders against attack from others.

“You must always defend the leadership and position of your party and the government.

“Why question the leaders you voted for? Trust that they will always make the right decisions,” he said.

Mumbala, speaking during a visit of newly-elected SPYL secretary Ephraim Nekongo to the party office in Keetmanshoop, also reaffirmed the region's decision to vote for Hage Geingob as party president at the upcoming congress.

“We are clear that we want consistency and continuity and we want him as party president.”

Mumbala further told the youth wing not to post party documents on social media and not to discuss internal party issues online.

“We have structures and processes, follow them. Respect yourself and then you will respect your party and your elders,” he said.

Turning to Nekongo, Mumbala called on the youth wing head to unite the party's youth.

“There is just one party for all of us. Destroy the groups and bring in those youth who feel excluded,” he said.

Nekongo on his part promised a new chapter for the wing.

“Our work is to unite the league and bury the past. Whether it was [Veikko] Nekundi or [Elijah] Ngurare's leadership, it is about forgetting the past and moving ahead,” he said.

The SPYL's only cause will be addressing the challenges of the youth such as unemployment and inequality, Nekongo said.

SPYL //Karas secretary Samuel Jacobs said young people should be included in the political, economic and social structures of their regions.

He said land is a sensitive and central issue that needs to be addressed in a swift and organised manner.

“Land is central to boost productivity, alleviate poverty and eradicate hunger. We need to make the best use of land and not have land for no purpose,” Jacobs said.

NAMPA

Lion conflict plan introduced

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Lion conflict plan introduced 10 hotspots identified where attacks are common In a bid to control human-lion conflict in the Kunene Region, the environment ministry has introduced an area-specific plan. Mitigating measures to reduce the escalating conflict between humans and lions which led to the illegal killing of at least 19 lions this year, have been introduced.

The comprehensive Human-Lion Management Plan for northwest Namibia was officially launched last week and aims to eliminate and reduce conflict between lions and humans.

A total of 25 lions have been killed this year in Namibia of which 19 were killed illegally and the rest shot by ministry officials or a professional hunter, according to recent statistics from the tourism ministry.

With more than 120 lions in the northwest of Namibia, the desert-adapted lion population is considered sustainable, but if the current human-lion conflict situation continues the population may be at risk.

Deputy environment minister Tommy Nambahu said as much as lions are occasionally involved in conflict with livestock farmers and cause economic losses, they are important to the growing tourism industry and there is an urgent need to manage conflict in the region.

“In response to the growing human-lion conflict experienced in Kunene Region in 2016 at the peak of the worse drought, the ministry decided to develop an area-specific conflict management plan to reduce the conflict.”

According to the conflict plan, the conservancies that share land with the desert lion population recorded 5 863 incidents of livestock attacks caused by lions and other carnivores between 2003 and 2015.

On average 451 incidents were recorded per year with Sesfontein Conservancy recording the highest number of attacks (2 293) followed by the Annbeb (1 393), Torra (1 303) and Purros Conservancies (873).

Between 2005 and 2015, a total of 343 incidents of human-lion conflict were recorded by the conservancies at an average of 32 incidents per year.

A total of 37 lions were destroyed between 2005 and 2015. Torra Conservancy reported the highest number of lions destroyed during human lion conflict (18) followed by the Sesfontein (9), Anabeb and Puros Conservancies (3).

According to the report, the number of lions destroyed increased dramatically between 2013 and 2015 when 27 of the 37 lions (73%) were killed.

During the same period the conservancies only recorded 36% of the total recorded human-lion incidents and 26% of the recorded attacks on livestock.

Dr Phillip Stander founder of the Desert Lion Conservation Project says the increased conflict between human and lions over the years has become a serious problem in Namibia and an urgent solution is needed.

According to him, human-lion conflict and the related shooting or poisoning of lions is the main limiting factor of the population. This amounts to 89% of all sub-adult mortalities.

According to the report the regularity, especially since 2004, at which male lions were shot, poisoned or hunted, coupled with the selection of adult males for trophy hunting, has resulted in a significant reduction of the population.

“This excessive killing of adult and sub-adult males has compromised the long-term viability of the desert-adapted lion population and there is an urgent need to adapt management and utilisation strategies relating to lions, if the long-term conservation of the species in the Kunene is to be secured.”

Stander says currently there are there are only five adult males and 27 adult females. According to the report, seven of the nine major prides are without a pride male.

“If this continues it will cause a social problem in the lion population,” said Stander.

Conflict between lions and people occurs essentially all along the eastern edge of the distribution of the lion population. However, the long-term data collected on lion movements indicates that there are particular hotspots where incidents of human-lion conflict occur repeatedly.

Based on monitoring data collected since 2000 a total of 10 hotspots were identified where lions have regularly been attracted to settlements and livestock. There are two in Purros Conservancy, three in Sesfontein, two in Anabeb and three in Torra.

These hotspots can be managed effectively to reduce human-lion conflict.

Livestock forms only a small portion of the prey that a lion takes and is not important for the animal to survive. Oryx is the most important prey species for lion, along with zebra, ostrich and springbok, forming 75% of their diet.

Mitigating measures

The management plan says local wildlife management units should be carried out at local level and land use planning as a means to reduce conflict between lions and humans should be introduced.

As part of zoning the area for different land uses, such as exclusive wildlife and tourism zones, they should also identify wildlife corridors. Establishing a high-risk lion corridor that includes all the hotspots and implementing stringent management protocols supplemented by various techniques to deter lions within the corridor will effectively reduce human-lion conflict.

The report further says most conflict situations arise from livestock management practices that leave animals vulnerable such as leaving animals unattended during the day and roaming freely at night. The four conservancies have however expressed their reluctance and disagreement to keep livestock inside protective kraals at night as they prefer to allow livestock also feed at night due to the low rainfall in the area.

“The protection of livestock at night is paramount to the implementation and success of the plan.”

Furthermore the human-lion conflict plan says livestock should be herded and guarded, livestock should be kept in lion-proof kraals overnight and early-warning systems and scare tactics must be introduced.

Some include the use of fireworks to scare lions away and in recent years, lions have successfully been deterred from approaching human settlements by playing modern music or recordings of human voices, especially stand-up comedy shows with female or high pitched male voices at high amplitude.

Other scare tactics are to chase off lions with vehicles, but it is important ot note that lions can distinguish between different types of vehicles based on engine type, appearance and even the manner in which they are driven.

Also, the self-insurance schemes introduced through the National Policy on Human Wildlife Management in Namibia will be used to off-set losses suffered as a result of lion conflict.

Research and monitoring will also be undertaken in managing human-lion conflict in the northwest of Namibia, while rapid response units are also to be created to respond on time to conflict situations.

ELLANIE SMIT

Namfisa warned about levies

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Namfisa warned about leviesSubstantial increases planned for next 5 years Stakeholders say they hope consumers are not paying for Namfisa's bloated salary bill. Industry players have suggested that the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) should be managed more prudently to prevent escalation of its operational costs, rather than slapping increased levies on non-banking financial institutions.

Namfisa's new strategy, covering a five-year period from 2017 to 2022, proposes substantial increases in levies and the regulator is currently awaiting approval from the minister of finance, Calle Schlettwein.

As a regulatory authority, Namfisa is funded through levies on pension funds, asset managers, short-term insurers, life insurance, brokers and micro-lenders.

At its inception, the finance ministry provided seed capital of N$7.5 million to Namfisa, while operating capital was derived from levy income.

Because levy income tends to increase as insurance premiums go up annually, it means that the public using these non-banking financial institutions fund Namfisa, and not the institutions themselves.

Losses

By the end of March this year, Namfisa reported a loss of N$44.6 million, which CEO Kenneth Matomola described as “acceptable” since the regulator had anticipated a loss of N$95.2 million.

Industry players preferring anonymity say this is not acceptable, arguing that the losses are to a large part due to the exponential increase in Namfisa's staff.

Namfisa was established in 2001. Before then, the regulation of the non-banking financial sector fell under the finance ministry and was managed by Frans van Rensburg, who became Namfisa's first CEO in December 2001.

Then, it had a staff of 21. When the second CEO, Rainer Ritter, took over in March 2006, the staff grew to 43 and by the end of his term in May 2009 there were 49 employees.

According to Namfisa's last annual report in March this year, the number of employees has grown to 176.

Although staff costs are usually the biggest single operating cost item of any regulatory authority, Namfisa has since its inception only assumed one additional function, which is to see to it that the industry complies with anti-money-laundering regulations.

This, the industry players say, does not necessarily mean a commensurate workload increase, since there has been a decline in the number of entities regulated by Namfisa, from 769 in 2009 to 486 in 2017.

“A decline of 283 entities reflects a consolidation in the industry. On the other hand, there was a regulatory shift towards the regulation of unlisted investment vehicles and managers.

“Given the consolidation in the industry, it is difficult to argue and motivate the increase from nearly 50 staff members in 2009 to the current 176 staff members, an increase of an additional 126 employees,” said one source.

Staff costs

The general consensus is that Namfisa is overstaffed given the size of the non-banking financial sector in Namibia.

The average annual increase in management costs was 55% since 2009 and staff costs increased annually by 54%.

“This is a big cost factor and therefore losses in the last three years could have been avoided. Staff should also not do outside business to enrich themselves since they are already paid above market,” said a source.

At the end of March 2009 the staff costs were N$22.3 million. At the end of March 2017 the costs were N$133.2 million, representing an annual increase of 54% since 2009.

The driving factor was the increased size of the executive management team, from five in 2009 to 13 by 2015. In comparison with the Financial Services Board in South Africa, Namfisa has four more executives.

The total executive pay in 2009 was N$3.2 million. Currently the executive pay is N$18.5 million, which means an average pay increase of 55%.



Governance costs up

While the number of board members remained the same (five), the total board fees have increased from N$22 000 in 2003 to N$794 498 in 2015.

In the 2016/17 financial year the total board fees decreased slightly to N$686 360 due to fewer meetings.

In 2011 Namfisa was exempted under the State-owned Enterprise (SOE) Act and subsequently the fees increased substantially.



Buying property

In the 2014/15 financial year Namfisa bought a plot on Independence Avenue, Windhoek, for N$42 million.

The existing buildings on the plot (Erf 1503, next to Capricorn Asset Management) were demolished and through additional costs the value of the property has risen to N$76.2 million.

The building activity has come to a standstill for more than a year now and the plot lies empty and derelict, affecting profitability.







STAFF REPORTER

Tourism ministry fails follow-up audit

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Tourism ministry fails follow-up audit A follow-up audit report on trophy hunting that was tabled in the National Assembly last week says the environment and tourism ministry has failed to implement the majority of recommendations made by the auditor-general in 2006.

The follow-up performance audit report covered the financial years 2012/13 to 2014/15.

The purpose of the follow-up audit was to determine progress made by the tourism ministry on the implementation of recommendations made by the auditor-general's June 2006 report.

The main audit report covered the period from February 1998 to December 2001. The audit, which focused on the division of wildlife management, also identified the Inland Revenue Directorate (IRD) as a key stakeholder as they are primarily responsible for the assessment and collection of trophy-hunting revenue.

Based on the audit findings, the majority of the recommendations were not implemented since the initial audit report in 2006.

According to the follow-up audit, there is no formal platform of communication between IRD and the tourism ministry regarding trophy-hunting information as recommended and this makes it difficult for the IRD to confirm income from trophy hunting.

The audit found that the income generated through trophy hunting was not split or explained in the notes to the financial statements as was recommended. In addition, the ministry did not submit annual reports on the actual utilisation as well as prices per animal hunted to IRD.

“This inhibits the IRD's ability to determine the correct amount generated on all hunting activities. This could lead to a loss of revenue to the government due to the understatement of income generated by hunting farms,” the report said.

It was also found that inspections are not carried out on a regular basis at trophy manufacturers and hunting farms to ensure that all the regulations of the ministry are met and all irregularities are detected.

The audit recommended that there should be a formal platform of communication between the ministry of finance and the environment ministry to ensure there is a regular flow of information.

The IRD should also request hunting farms to split the amount of income generated through trophy hunting in the notes to the financial statements by indicating the exact amount for accommodation, transport and trophy hunting.

It is also recommended that the ministry of environment should enforce the annual return to compel hunting farms and trophy hunters to include prices per animal hunted.

In addition, the audit recommended that the environment ministry compile annual reports indicating the annual utilisation as well as the prices per animal hunted and submit these reports to IRD to assist in determining the correct amount generated by trophy hunting.

Document analyses on the trophy-hunting statistics from 2010 to 2014 and a price list provided by the environment ministry reflect estimated trophy-hunting income at about N$425 million, N$498.2 million and N$498.1 million for each of the financial years.

The auditors could not confirm the correctness of the figures provided by the ministry as the IRD could not provide the auditors with relevant and sufficient information.

ELLANIE SMIT

Ex-sports commission officials get bail

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Ex-sports commission officials get bail The Windhoek Magistrate's Court yesterday released two former officials of the Namibia Sports Commission after it found that there was no risk that they would abscond.

Magistrate Vanessa Stanley ruled that the two accused, Walter Haseb and Ivonne Pihonge Nande, both have income-generating businesses and are Namibian citizens with strong roots.

“It is doubtful that they will interfere with the investigation or with the State witnesses since they are no longer employed at the Namibian Sport Commission,” Stanley stated and fixed bail for each at N$40 000, with strict conditions.

She emphasised that bail cannot be refused only because a person holds public office and that the applicants are suitable candidates for bail.

Haseb and Nande were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission in July this year for allegedly embezzling N$4.9 million from the sport commission.

Their bail conditions include that they may not leave the district of Okahandja, where they reside, without the consent of the investigating officer.

They must report to the investigating officer every Friday, must hand in their travel documents and may not apply for any new documents.

State prosecutor Joseph Andreas had opposed bail on the grounds of the seriousness of the case and for fear of interference with ongoing investigations.

He said the State had a strong case against the accused and that it would not be in the interest of the administration of justice for them to be released on bail.

However, the magistrate stated that a bail application is not to prove guilt but to show strong a case is on face value.

“There is no credible evidence that there is risk for the accused to abscond,” Stanley said.

Andreas referred to their alleged interference with the investigation and said one of them had approached the auditor and attempted to bribe him with N$400 000.

According to him that is enough to have the accused stand trial on prima facie evidence in view of the fact that they are likely to face a lengthy jail term if found guilty.

The defence lawyers, Vetu Uanivi and Kadhila Amoomo, argued that there was no proof that there was any attempt by the accused to bribe the auditor. Rather, their clients had been cooperative and had assisted the investigators.

The matter was postponed to 19 February 2018 for further investigation.

FRED GOEIEMAN

New defence PS wants change

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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New defence PS wants change'NDF is stagnating' The defence ministry's responsibility is to advance the public interest and the common good, Rear-Admiral Peter Hafeni Vilho has told the country's top brass. The newly appointed permanent secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Rear-Admiral Peter Hafeni Vilho, wants an overhaul of the ministry's mandate.

Vilho had served as the navy commander until his recent appointment as permanent secretary.

In his maiden speech yesterday, Vilho said there was a feeling among members that the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) was in a state of decline or stagnation.

“We should bear in mind that our responsibility is to create public value. Creating public value means producing institutions, enterprises, policies, programmes, projects, services that advance the public interest and the common good,” he said.

Vilho said like the rest of the force, he too had hopes and dreams of a better defence force and hoped he could find like-minded people who could join hands to improve the NDF.

“At the United Nations General Assembly, President Hage Geingob said the Tanganyika group will leave very soon. I believe the same applies to the Oshaatotwa group,” Vilho further said.

He also pointed out that the current generation of military leaders found themselves in a transitional period.

“We are transitional leaders. We are the bridge that links the Plan veterans to those that were enlisted after independence. What we do in our last days in the service will determine whether we leave behind a professional force, where regulations are enforced, or an armed militia where everyone does as he or she pleases,” Vilho added.

He said Force Design and Force Structure should be synchronised.

“This will inform us on what to do to close the gap between the two. The effort to close that gap will inform our long-term strategies, our five-year strategies, annual plans and programmes.

It will also be a useful and practical lesson to posterity on how systemically to determine one's force design,” he said of the need for a synchronised force.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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15 months for damaging property

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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15 months for damaging property A 34-year-old man was sentenced to an effective 15 months in prison after he was found guilty of crimen injuria and two counts of malicious damage to property last week.

Oshakati Magistrate Castro Simasiku yesterday sentenced Michael Shipanga to four years' imprisonment on the two counts of malicious damage to property, but three years were conditionally suspended.

On the crimen injuria charge, Simasiku sentenced Shipanga to three months in prison.

Shipanga was initially charged with five counts of assault for allegedly assaulting his 47-year-old partner, and malicious damage to his lover's four-month-old car which he, in a fit of rage, damaged by slashing the tyres and smashing the windows.

He also damaged the door of the apartment at the Omuthiya State Hospital where his lover lived with her 11-year-old daughter and Shipanga's three-year-old daughter.

The incident took place on the evening of 20 April 2016. The couple were involved in an argument and Shipanga assaulted Talitha Hipondoka before leaving with his daughter.

He denied assaulting Hipondoka, maintaining that he had ended their relationship and she did not want him to leave. During a tussle over his luggage she was injured when her hand hit a glass door.

Simasiku acquitted him on two of the five charges based on the conflicting statements of Hipondoka and her daughter.

The court heard that while in custody at Ondangwa following his arrest, Shipanga continued to threaten Hipondoka via text messages.

On Friday, Shipanga asked the court to have mercy on him and give him the option of a fine.

However, the prosecutor, Nelao Ya France, argued the crime was serious and warranted a custodial sentence.

Ya France said that Shipanga did not show remorse. She reminded the court that Hipondoka and her daughter had to testify at the Okakarara Magistrate's Court because they were too scared to face him.

The Okakarara court is the only victim-friendly court operating in the country at the moment.

The State has indicated that it will appeal against the sentence imposed on Shipanga.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Man confesses to Swakop murder

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Man confesses to Swakop murder The man accused of murdering Manfred Hartmann confessed to the murder when he made his first appearance before the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Hartmann (78) was bludgeoned to death in his house in the Vineta residential area of Swakopmund on 18 August. Unaro Mbemukenga (25) entered a preliminary plea of guilty. “I tied him up with a rope, then I hit him once with a brick on the head. After I killed him, I went into the house and took a bag of clothes, cellphone and a laptop,” Mbemukenga said.

The State, represented by prosecutor Paulus Shilongo, alleged that Mbemukenga hit Hartmann multiple times but he admitted to hitting him only once.

“When I hit him with the brick, I had an intention to kill. I don't know what was going on in my head,” said Mbemukenga.

Magistrate Conchita Olivier was satisfied with the preliminary plea and said it would be used as a formal confession in the upcoming trial. The State objected to the granting of bail due to the seriousness of the case, the public interest and because Mbemukenga had fled the Swakopmund district after the crime. Olivier said the case would be referred to the prosecutor-general to decide where the trial would take place. The case was then adjourned to 13 November. Mbemukenga was arrested at Outjo on 21 August, three days after the murder. He was wounded during the arrest.

ADOLF KAURE

Nam deserves Germany's contempt – KK

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Nam deserves Germany's contempt – KK Former cabinet minister Kazenambo Kazenambo has condemned the government's reparation claim as the “biggest political scam of the century”.

Kazenambo was responding to Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila's admission that the German government's response to reparations demands for the 1904-08 Nama and Ovaherero genocide was “inadequate”.

The outspoken politician yesterday said the Namibian government had got exactly what it deserved for trying to “profiteer” from the genocide. “Now they are pumping money into lawyers and wasting resources, this is ridiculous and laughable,” said Kazenambo.

Attorney-general Sacky Shanghala recently admitted that his office had paid Namibian and European lawyers about N$36 million for legal advice on how to approach Germany on the genocide issue.

Five foreign-based lawyers were roped in to assist the government with the negotiations.

They included a Namibian based in England, Anna Uukelo, European human rights lawyers Dexter Dias and Paul Clark of Garden Court Chambers.

The attorney-general also hired international law experts Cameron Miles and Richard Reynolds.

Local lawyer Sacky Akweenda is also believed to be part of the government's legal advice team.

The prime minister last week stated that the German government had responded to the government's demand for an apology and reparations on 26 June this year; but the Namibian nation still remains in the dark about the contents of this response. Namibia had submitted its negotiation position paper to the German government a year earlier, in July 2016.

This was “baffling”, said Kazenambo, adding that the government continued to “waste resources on a lost cause”.

He also took issue with the prime minister's remarks that the nation would be consulted about the distribution of reparations once negotiations were concluded. “Imagine they cannot even make head or tail but they already discuss reparations. And why was there no consultations with the affected communities but now they can be included?” Kazenambo asked.

He emphasised that the course the negotiations had taken should be blamed squarely on the Namibian government's insistence to refer to the genocide as “atrocities”.

“This is a grand scale betrayal of our forefathers. The Germans hands are dripping with our people's blood and our government is shying away from calling it genocide. It is a crime against humanity, it is not murder or culpable homicide,” he insisted.



Repent

Kazenambo, who is also a Swapo politburo member, urged the Namibian government to “come to its senses” and admit that it had erred.

“It is human to err; the government must just be honest and admit it has miscalculated the whole process.”

JEMIMA BEUKES

Airport queues shorter

September 25, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Airport queues shorterMore immigration officers for HKIA Passengers' comments on social media indicate that emergency measures at Hosea Kutako International Airport are working. Additional immigration officers have been deployed at Hosea Kutako International Airport as a short-term measure to ease delays caused by new software.

The works and transport minister, Alpheus !Naruseb, said in parliament last week that short-term interventions had been made to address the congestion at the airport.

According to him, queuing barriers will be delivered in the next three weeks.

He said additional departure and arrival booths had been installed.

“Additionally, five immigration officers were deployed at Hosea Kutako and two more immigration officers will be deployed by Monday [yesterday],” he said on Friday.

According to the minister, these interventions improved the speed of processing passengers.

!Naruseb said Namibia had experienced a recent influx of airlines such as Qatar Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airline, Eurowings and Ethiopian Airlines.

These were in addition to existing airlines such as TAAG Angolan Airlines, South African Airways, South African Airlink, British Comair, Condor Airline and Air Namibia.

In addition, various bilateral air service agreements were signed with Turkey, Kenya and the United Emirates which would result in additional international flights to Windhoek.

“The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) and the government as the shareholder identified infrastructural limitations as a hindrance to fast and efficient service to the airlines' operations at the international airport,” !Naruseb further explained.

According to the minister, upon identification of the infrastructure challenges, the government appointed a high-level committee of ministers in November last year to assist in addressing the situation at Hosea Kutako.

The committee consisted of the ministers of works, home affairs, safety and security, environment and tourism and health.



!Naruseb said the findings of this committee culminated in a recommendation to establish an Aviation Infrastructure Committee to devise short-, medium- and long-term measures to address the infrastructural challenges at the airport.



The recommendations were implemented and the Aviation Infrastructure Committee was operational, he said. Its recommendations would be implemented after consideration by the NAC board and his ministry, said !Naruseb.



“The government and the NAC are mindful of the challenges and are also fully appreciative of the fact that the situation will not be resolved overnight. It should be noted that aviation infrastructural development requires a lengthy processes by its very nature,” he said.



!Naruseb said such development must be undertaken in compliance with international standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).



These include other ICAO statutes and international instruments which are locally enforced and administered by the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).



According to !Naruseb, long-term solutions are being explored to address the necessary airport upgrades.



He said the upgraded airport would be able to accommodate more wide-body aircraft and process more passengers.



Recently, passengers have complained about standing in long lines for two or three hours to be scanned before they can get through customs at the check-in points.



This followed the introduction of the new e-Border biometrics system introduced at the airport.



As a short-term measure to mitigate the crisis, five more cubicles were installed at the arrival and three at departure points to speed up the scanning process.



Reports on social media by passengers indicate that these measures are working and the long queues have been reduced.







Petition







Meanwhile, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) has started an online petition to reopen the old terminal building at the international airport.



The petition was started yesterday morning and within five hours it had 176 signatures.



The association says it is concerned about the effect of the bottlenecks created by the current terminal building, which it said were a source of frustration for the public.



According to the AOPA there is little hope that this problem would be resolved by building new facilities.



“The cost of converting the current old terminal building into a small portion for VIP movements and the balance for accommodating the recent international airlines, who are now visiting, would be minimal if compared to a new facility,” the petition reads.

ELLANIE SMIT

Farmer shot and killed

September 26, 2017, 12:49 am

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Farmer shot and killed A farmer in the Outjo district, Heinz Kossman, 71, was shot dead - allegedly by his farmworker - last night. The incident occurred at farm Aasvoëlkrans some 70km out of Outjo on the Khorixas road. According to the police, the suspect, a male Namibian aged 30, only worked for Kossman for two to three weeks. Kossman is said to have been shot with his own revolver in his right knee and head. The suspect then ran away with Kossman’s firearms. Kossman was rushed to the hospital in Outjo but was declared dead on arrival. The suspect was arrested by the police at a temporary road block about 9 km from Outjo. He was found with one revolver, one pistol and cash of N$1737. Details released by the police indicate that an argument had ensued between Kossman and the worker over work he was doing. The suspect took the revolver which was in the garage and shot the man. Investigations continue.
Kossman owned and managed a hunting operation called Ongue Safaris.
STAFF REPORTER