Competition tightens as finals near

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Competition tightens as finals nearBig names to clash soon Competition looks tight at the summit before this weekend's finals in the Bank Windhoek Field Hockey Men's Premier League. The tenth round of matches in the Bank Windhoek Field Hockey Premier League took place in Windhoek last week, with only one point separating log leaders WOBSC and second-placed Saints.

DTS, who are third, are only four points adrift from the top of the log.

In the Women's Premier League, Saints top the log with a seven-point lead over the chasing pack of BDO Wanderers and Unam.



Men's Premier League

On Tuesday, 19 September, DTS played Unam. It was a tough encounter, but DTS won the game 3-0. William de Ath, Leonard Fick and Henry Venter scored for DTS.

On Thursday, 21 September, log leaders WOBSC played Nust. WOBSC needed a win to increase their tally on top of the log. They did just that and convincingly defeated Nust 9-0. Ettienne de Villiers and Dyklan Finch each scored a hat-trick during the match.

At the same time, Saints played BDO Wanderers in a crunch match that could have had massive consequences for the league. Saints came out on top and won 4-2. Ivan Semedo scored a brace for Saints.



Women's Premier League

On 19 September, Unam took on DTS. Unam were on top of their game plan and defeated DTS 4-0. It was a hard season for DTS and Tuesday night was no exception. Unam's Maggie Mengo scored twice.

Saints took on BDO Wanderers on Wednesday, 20 September. It was a gruelling affair as the top two teams in the women's division battled it out. This hard-hitting game ended 1-0 in favour of Saints. Ashley Barnard scored the solitary goal for Saints.

WOBSC played against Nust on Thursday, 21 September. While there seemed to be an improvement in Nust's defence, it was not good enough as they were once again defeated. The final score was 3-0 in favour of WOBS. Elzaan Erasmus scored twice for WOBS.

SPORTS REPORTER

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Lourenco's tough job

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Lourenco's tough jobDaunting challenges ahead for new president There are a host of serious challenges that the new Angolan president, Joao Lourenco faces and during his campaign, he promised to tackle them all. Angola's incoming president Joao Lourenco faces a slew of challenges that include dwindling oil prices, rampant poverty, soaring unemployment and the long shadow cast by his predecessor and his family.

These are the key tasks that will confront him on his first day which started yesterday:



Fix the economy

Angola has been in the grip of an unprecedented economic crisis for three years as the global price of oil has remained flat. Black gold provides 70% of Angola's revenues and almost all of its hard currency meaning that the country's budget has been thrown into the red by lacklustre international prices. After several years of booming growth, Angola's growth rate cooled in 2016 and will not surpass 1.3% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Out of control public borrowing, a currency in free-fall, an alarming lack of liquidity, soaring inflation and mass unemployment are among the reasons that at least two million Angolans live on less than US$2 a day. Lourenco has publicly vowed to diversify and open up the economy to secure an “economic miracle”.

“Vast segments of the economy have been deliberately closed to foreign direct investment,” said economist Antonio Lopes Pinto.

“Privatisations and (market) listings would be the easiest route to attract the type of long term capital required to stimulate the economy.”



Fight corruption

Many believe efforts to revive the economy are futile and doomed to failure because of rampant graft.

“We have potential but we also need good governance,” said the head of monthly economics title Expensao, Carlos Rosado de Carvalho.

“Corruption in Angola is endemic, from the chief executive down to the receptionist.”

President Dos Santos and his family, as well as the elite of the ruling Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) party, have bled the country's coffers dry, according to their critics.

Dos Santos' daughter, businesswoman Isabel Dos Santos, is seen as a symbol of nepotism and was fiercely criticised by opposition politicians after she was appointed the head of state oil giant Sonangol last year.

“The president has privatised the state to benefit his family and a handful of associates,” said opposition journalist Rafael Marques de Moreas, who has been critical of Dos Santos' alleged plunder for many years.

Before his election last month, Lourenco promised to fight corruption at every level.

“Corruption is a great evil that will not go unpunished,” Lourenco told thousands of supporters ahead of the polls.

“Nobody is above the law,” he said recently.

But few analysts believe he will be able to tackle the pervasive corruption that touches every aspect of life, especially where vested interests are tied to the Dos Santos family.



Clean break?

Before heading into retirement, Dos Santos has been scrupulous to protect his interests. His daughter Isabel is safely installed at the helm of Sonangol and his son Jose Filomeno holds the reins of power at the nation's sovereign wealth fund. His less well-known daughter Tchize holds a seat on the ruling party's all-powerful political committee.

Dos Santos has also stacked the security forces with loyalists who would be unlikely to cross him, even if ordered to by the incoming president.

Crucially though, Dos Santos will retain control over the MPLA itself until 2022 at the earliest, health permitting. The party's political committee is seen as the true seat of power in Angola and Dos Santos will be able to steer nation and party long after he vacated the presidential palace.

The day after the presidential vote, victorious Lourenco publicly denied that he would be a puppet ruler.

“I will have all the power. This country will not have two presidents,” he said.

It remains to be seen whether that will be the case, regime watchers say.

“For starters he will have very little wriggle room compared to his predecessor,” said Didier Peclard, an analyst at the University of Geneva.

“The question is whether he will be able to create some breathing space or not.”

“Will he keep Isabel at the helm of Sonangol?” asked Benjamin Auge, of the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI).

“If she's left in her job, that's the proof that Dos Santos is still calling the shots.”

NAMPA/AFP

Palestinian kills three Israeli guards

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Palestinian kills three Israeli guards A Palestinian opened fire at Israeli security personnel at the entrance to a West Bank settlement yesterday, killing three and wounding another before being shot dead, police said.

“A terrorist who arrived at the rear gate of Har Adar along with Palestinian labourers entering the settlement.... pulled out a weapon and opened fire at the force at the site,” police said.

“Three Israelis were killed in the attack, another was wounded and the terrorist was neutralised.”

Police later said the Palestinian had died of his wounds.

The wounded Israeli was admitted to Hadassah hospital in Jerusalem in serious condition, the hospital said.

The incident, at a settlement northwest of Jerusalem that lies near several Palestinian villages, comes nearly two years after a wave of unrest broke out.

The violence had greatly subsided in recent months.

Since October 2015, the unrest has killed at least 295 Palestinians or Arab Israelis, 50 Israelis, two Americans, two Jordanians, an Eritrean, a Sudanese and a Briton, according to an AFP toll.

Israeli authorities say that most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks.

Others were shot dead in protests and clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip.

NAMPA/AFP

Short, good rain season for agronomists

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Short, good rain season for agronomists Agronomists were shared some good news when they were told that they can expect an early and good rainy season.



Emmanuel Kambueza from the Namibian Weather Bureau spoke at the recently held Annual General Meeting of the Groundnut Association of Namibia.



While he predicted an early and good rainy season for agronomists, he said this provisional prediction however showed that it might be a short rainy season.



The AGM took place on 14 September in Summerdown at the venue of the association.



An information session took place afterwards. Numerous speakers gave interesting information on various topics.



Gilbert Mulonda from the Agro-Marketing and Trade Agency (AMTA) talked about permit procedures and conditions to which AMTA receives funds from the Namibia Agronomy Board as well as the possibility of a market for dry beans in Namibia.



The outcome will be available by April 2018.



Francois Wahl from Agra thoroughly informed producers how to fertilise sugar beans.



Louie van Zyl from Nulandis and Pioneer was accompanied by three other speakers who informed producers on the newest maize cultivars, chemical products as well as the marketing of Pioneer. Wessel Higgs from Trio Trade discussed the intake of groundnuts as well as the expected seasonal price and Johan Steenkamp of Hochland Tractors displayed a harvester and hammer mill.



Another highlight of the day was the announcement of the 2017 harvest king, Kasper Gunzel, with an average yield of 1.68 tonnes of pips per hectare for the season. Many of the previous harvest kings were present to shake his hand.



STAFF REPORTER

Meat Board news roundup

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Meat Board news roundup The Meat Board of Namibia recently met with the Namibian National Farmers' Union (NNFU) to discuss common interests in the meat industry.

Aspects like the facilitation of local markets for locally produced meat, the Meat Board's involvement in increasing beef production and marketing in areas north of the Veterinary Cordon Fence, as well as goat and goat meat marketing were addressed.

In order to improve communication and information exchange between the two organisations, it was decided that meetings will be set on a more regular basis.

The Meat Board has also requested producers and individuals owning and operating abattoirs and subsequently selling carcasses, meat and meat products, of the requirement to be registered with the Meat Board.

In order to successfully register as producer to own or operate an abattoir on an annual basis a certificate of proof of registration with the Meat Board must be available at the facility at all times and all levies payable to the Meat Board must be up to date.

Slaughter numbers as submitted to the Meat Board must also be verified by meat inspectors of either the health ministry or local authorities. These requirements also apply to the obtaining of sheep export quotas when slaughtering at such abattoirs.

Furthermore, results of the Meat Board external perception survey have been completed.

Participants rated the following issues as extremely important: facilitation in market access, low prices received for livestock marketed in Namibia and the Sheep Marketing Scheme. Producers indicated a need for increased involvement of the Board with regard to animal health, as well as addressing the uncertainties pertaining to the future of the Namibian meat industry. Such perception surveys are conducted every two years, and results of the survey are adopted in the Meat Board Strategic Plan.

STAFF REPORTER

N$180 000 for Brahman cow

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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N$180 000 for Brahman cowLorden Brahman rocks records Loraine van Heerden astounded the farming and stud fraternity when she sold a stud Lorden Brahman cow for a whopping N$180K. Record sales were achieved last week at the Lorden Brahman retirement auction that took place at the Agra/Bank Windhoek Ring and hosted by Agra Auctions.

The auction achieved N$180 000 for a Brahman cow, which was the highest price ever achieved for a cow at Agra Auctions.

Furthermore a 16-month-old bull calf achieved N$95 000, also the highest amount achieved at Agra Auctions.

A total of 170 animals were sold at the auction.

Loraine van Heerden, the breeder for Lorden Brahman expressed gratitude to Agra's auctioneering services, which she has been using since 1987. “I would like to thank Agra Auctions for their hard work and effective service delivery throughout the years. I am also very happy with the prices achieved,” she said.

The average price for heifers was N$30 855, while the average price for a cow and a calf was N$45 688, the average price for a cow was N$57 425 and for a bull the average price was N$31 408.

Sidney Martin, the buyer of the two record sales expressed satisfaction on the quality of animals sold by Lorden Brahman. “I have been buying from Van Heerden for years now and since I plan on venturing into the Brahman stud, I will make use of the best quality animals”, he said.

STAFF REPORTER

Aahingi yomaloli ya popi kutya osha gwana

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Aahingi yomaloli ya popi kutya osha gwana Omahangano omakalelipo gaaniilonga mboka haya hingi omaloli oga pula aatoolinkundana , aaningi yomapekaapeko noongundu dha yooloka opo dhi hulithepo okukala taya gandja uusama kaahingi yomaloli kutya oyo taya taandelitha ombuto yoHIV.

Omukomeho gwomahangano ngoka giimanga kumwe, Joseph Garoeb, okwa popi kutya aahingi yomaloli itaya vulu we okukala taya idhidhimikile egandjo lyuusama ndyoka, taya popi kutya oofamili dhawo odha tekapo omolwa okatongo hoka taya ningilwa. “Sho aantu taya popi kutya otse tatu e ta nokutaandelitha ombuto moshilongo, aakulukadhi yetu naanona yetu ohaya kala yetu tala omeho taya ipula ngele natse otwa kwatelwa mongundu ndjoka. Yamwe oya popi kutya aakulukadhi yawo ohaya kondjitha opo ya longithe oongumi omolwa oolopota ndhoka dhomiikundaneki.” Pahapu dhe, konyala aahingi yomaloli ya thika po-500 mboka yeli iilyo younion ndjoka, ohaya kala ya sa ohoni okwiiholola mokati koshigwana kutya oyeli aahingi yomaloli, omolwa oolopota ndhoka. Ismael INanub ngoka a kala omuhingi gweloli uule woomvula 38 okwa popi kutya iha vulu nokuli okukala omutumba nokunwa ookofi noyana omolwa okatongo hoka ka tulwa po. “Aanona yetu otaya ningwa nayi kooskola nokulombwelwa kutya oohe otaya ehama, onkene itaya vulu okudhana nayakwawo. Aakulukadhi yetu ohaya hala owala okulongitha ookondoma nonanando otatu pula opo tu ka ningilwe omakonaakono gombuto, kaye na we einekelo mutse.”

Erastus Witbeen, ngoka a kala omuhingi uule woomvula 27 okwa popi kutya epangelo nalyo nali ningile oominista omakonaakono, ndhoka unene hadhi yi momatalelepo giilonga pondje yoshilongo.

“Otushi shi kutya oominista dhimwe odhi na ombuto, na ohadhi kala naantu molwashike itadhi popiwa ngaashi aahingi yomaloli.”

Reinhardt Ochs okwa popi kutya aahingi yomaloli oyo unene taya longithwa miinyolwa na okwa pula aashangi yiinyolwa mboka haya popi woo kutya aahingi yomaloli otaya yi miihulo nuunona uushona ya gandje uumbangi, molwaashoka oolopota dholudhi ndoka otadhi hanagulapo oonkalamwenyo dhawo.



JEMIMA BEUKES

Aayelele taya pula elongo

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Aayelele taya pula elongo Iigongi iilonga yopashigwana kombinga yaakwashigwana mboka yakala inaya talika monakuziwa, mbyoka tayi ningwa moshilongo oya holola kutya aakwashigwana yomuhoko gwAayelele otaya pula opo yapewe elongo, evi oshowo omayakulo galwe ga gwedhwa po.

Omupeha Omukomeho gwomarginalised communities mombelewa yOmupevi Presidende, Gerson Kamatuka okwa hololele oshifokundaneki shoNamibian Sun uuyelele mboka, mEenhana mOshitopolwa shaHangwena, pethimbo kwa tamekithwa oshigongiilonga shoka sha nuninwa aakwashigwana yomiitopolwa shaHangwena, , Kavango West, Oshana nOmusati.

Oshigongiilonga shoka tashi kuthwa ombinga kaakalelipo yaakwashigwana ya yooloka, oshuunganekwa koUnited Nation (UN) Department of Economic and Social Affairs pamwe noshikondo shaakwashigwana mboka yakala inaya talika monakuziwa, na osha nuninwa okutalulula oWhite Paper on the Right of Indigenous People in Namibia. Omitumba dhoka odha tameke momasiku 11 gaSepetemba na odha ningwa nale miitopolwa ngaashi Omaheke, Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto, Kavango East noZambezi.

“Otashi kumitha sho miitopolwa ayihe itano moka twa ningi omitumba, aakwashigwana mboka yAayelele yuuviteko uuthemba wawo. Okutala kiinima mbyoka taya pula, otaya pula uuthemba wokukala ye na evi, elongo lyaanona yawo oshowo oompito dhiilonga.

Shoka otashi ulike kutya emanguluka olyeeta omalunduluko moonkalamwenyo dhawo nomonena oyuuviteko oompumbwe dhawo,” Kamatuka ta popi.

Okwa popi kutya aakwashigwana mboka otaya popi kutya kaye na evi uuna yahala okuya muukongo, ooskola ndhoka dha tungwa odha tungwa kokule nayo nomalaka gawo ihaga longwa mooskola omanga ekotampango lyoshilongo tali utha opo aanona ya longwe momalaka gawo guuvalelwamo poondondo dhopevi.”

Omupevi minista gwomarginalised communities, Royal /Ui/o/oo momushangwa ngoka gwa leshwa pehala lye kOmunashipundi gwelelo lyoshitopolwa shaHangwena, Erikson Ndawanifa okwa popi kutya osha kundathanwa momwedhi Maalitsa nuumvo pethimbo lyoNational Workshop on Enhancing Inclusive Development in the Framework of the United Nation's Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous People in Namibia mOvenduka kutya okwa pumbwa okuningwa omalunduluko ko kutalululwe oWhite Paper on the Rights of Indigenous People In Namibia.

“Pethimbo lyoshingongiilonga shoka sha ningwa muMaalitsa, aakuthimbinga ayehe oya tsu kumwe opo ku talulule oWhite Paper, ku kuyiwe moonkundathana naakwashigwana, ku lundululwe oshitya shoka hashi longithwa mokwiithana aantu mboka “Indigenous People” nokushi pingena po noshitya “Marginalised Communities”.

/Ui/o/oo okwa gwedha po kutya oombaapila dhoka tadhi ithanwa “White paper” odhili ondjila yepangelo ndjoka tayi longithwa mokuyambulapo uuthemba waakwashigwana mboka ya kala inaya talika nale monakuziwa moNamibia nokukutha po okatongo hoka ya kala taya ningulwa.

Omunambelewa gwosocial affair officer for the technical cooperation unit moUN, Salvatore Favazza okwa popi kutya otaya hwahwameke ekuthombinga lyuudha okuza kaakwashigwana mboka, miinima mbyoka ye ya pamba neyambulepo lyopaliko, onkalathano nomithigululwakalo dhawo.

Okwa popi kutya pandondo yopauyuni, ope na omayambulepo ngoka taga gandja oompito dhomalunduluko moka mwa kwatelwa o2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development oshowo oSustainable Development Goals oshowo eitulemo ndyoka tali ningwa kiilyo sha landula o2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples.

Kamatuka okwa popi kutya konima ngele ya manitha iigongi mbyoka, tayi ningwa otaya ka tala kiitsa mbyoka ya ningwa pethimbo lyiigongi mbyoka, nokuyitumina kaakuthimbinga omanga inayi gandjwa mokabinete yi vule okuziminwa.



ILENI NANDJATO

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Omahangano gaaniilonga ga taambako oondjambi oompe dhoosekuriti

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Omahangano gaaniilonga ga taambako oondjambi oompe dhoosekuritiMboka itaya gwanitha po etsokumwe otaya ka katukilwa oonkatu Omahangano gatatu gaaniilonga ngoka ga dhana onkandangala onene moonkundathana dhetulo miilonga dhoondjambi dhopetameko dhaaniilonga aakaleli yomaliko oya taambako oondjambi dhaaniilonga mboka ndhoka dha tulwa miilonga. Omahangano ngoka oga kunkilile opo aagandji yiilonga ayehe ya tule miilonga oondjambi ndhoka dha li dha kundathanwa nokuziminwa muDesemba gwomvula ya piti, nongele hasho otaya ka taalela oshilanduli okuza komahangano ngoka omakalelipo gaaniilonga mboka.

Oondjambi ndhoka oompe odha tulwa miilonga konima sho dha tseyithwa pamushangwa gwopapangelo omwedhi nguka.

“Ooyene yomahangano omagandji giilonga naya kunkililwe kutya aaniilonga moshikondo shika oya kala ethimbo nuule yiidhidhimika. Yamwe ka ya li nokuli ya futwa uule woomwedhi dhontumba onkene omahangano omakalelipo gaaniilonga itaga ka kwataakwata ga ninge ekanka lyopashigwana ngele aagandji yiilonga otaya yi pondje etsokumwe ndyoka lya tulwa miilonga.”

Omahangano ngoka oga tumbulwa kutya oNamibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau), Namibian Independent Security Union (Nisu), Namibia Security Guards and Watchmen Union (Nasgwu) oga popi kutya aagandji yiilonga owala mboka yeli kohi yelelo lyehangano lyoSecurity Association of Namibia (SAN) oyo ya tula miilonga oondjambi ndhoka muJanuari.

“Aaniilonga mboka taya longele omahangano ngoka geli kohi yelelo lyoSAN, oya mono nale omagwedhelo gawo okutameka muJanuari oshowo momwedhi Juli, na otwa hala okupandula omahangano ngoka, omolwa elongekumwe lyawo ewanawa.”

Omahangano ngoka oga popi kutya otaku ka katukwa oonkatu dhopaveta, ngele oondjambi ndhoka dha tulwa pamushangwa gwopapangelo momasiku 15 gaSepetemba inadhi tulwa miilonga kaagandji yiilonga.

Konima sho oondjambi ndhoka dha tulwa miilonga, aagandji yiilonga ayehe oya tegelelwa ya kale ya gwanitha po etsokumwe ndyoka, lya tulwa miilonga muDesemba.

Pauyelele mboka wa gandjwa kiilyo yehangano lyoSAN, omahangano ga thika pe-150, monena oga tindi okutula miilonga oondjambi oompe, nagamwe oga tokola okukutha oonkondo uukwashilyo wawo nehangano ndyoka. Patsokumwe ndyoka lya tulwa miilonga muDesemba, oosekuriti odha pumbwa okufutwa oshimaliwa shooN$8.75 mowili negwedhelo li li pokati kooN$6.75 nenge N$7.00.

Aaniilonga mboka ya kala miilonga ethimbo ele okutameka pomvula yimwe otaya futwa oshimaliwa shooN$10.00 mowili.

Omahangano ngoka oga popi kutya aaniilonga moshikondo shoka naya dhidhilike kutya oyo owala taya vulu okuhulithapo onkalo ndjoka yemonitho lyawo lyiihuna uuna taya tokola nokukala yiimanga kumwe.

“Oosekuriti odho hadhi keelele omaliko getu na ohaya futwa uumaliwa uushona pwaahena nomauwanawa gasha.”



JANA-MARI SMITH

Shot of the day

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Shot of the day REVOLUTIONARY: A statue of the founder of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin, is seen in the town of Chekhov some 65 km outside Moscow. This year Russia will mark the 100 Anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution also known as the October Revolution in which Vladimir Lenin’s Bolshevik Communist government came to power. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Genocide confusion

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Genocide confusion Government has admitted to spending more than N$36 million on foreign-based lawyers to help prepare Namibia's case in the ongoing genocide negotiations with Germany. The question whether Germany will concede to demands to pay reparations to affected Namibian communities over the 1904-1908 genocide remains a mystery up to this stage. Premier Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila also admitted in the National Assembly last week that the response by their German counterparts was inadequate. “[But] the answer provided did not address specific details submitted by Namibia. Hence the negotiations are continuing between the two countries and the Namibian nation will be informed on the outcome of the negotiations,” Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was quoted as saying. As much as we welcome Namibia's envoy on genocide Dr Zed Ngavirue's openness on this matter, many commentators, including yours truly, are extremely worried about the huge sums of money spent to fight Namibia's case. We know that the attorney-general, Sacky Shanghala, has continuously defended the N$36 million bill paid to the legal experts. He has argued that the money was justified due to the importance of the matter and the fact that Germany was committed at ensuring that there is no legal culpability attached to their conduct some 113 years ago. The authorities owe the public an explanation on how much exactly has been spent on the genocide talks. The government's handling of the issue has been frowned upon since day one, with some key affected communities claiming they were not at all involved in the negotiations. Responding to a Namibian Sun article this week, former cabinet minister Kazenambo Kazenambo also criticised the government for watering down the genocide claim by referring to it as “atrocities”. There are clearly empirical inconsistencies as far as the authorities are handling the genocide issue as there appears to be no clearly defined role of the genocide committees and that of the envoy. The submission by Kuugongelwa-Amadhila that the public will be consulted on what to do with genocide reparations also adds confusion to the whole process. One would have thought that the Namibian government has outlined clearly what it expected from the Germans from the onset.

Farmer's appeal hearing postponed

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Farmer's appeal hearing postponed Pieter Farmer's leave to appeal case before the Windhoek High Court was deliberated on briefly on Monday before it was remanded to 4 December to allow him to secure legal aid.

Farmer, who was jailed on 9 April 2013 for 35 years for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, applied for leave to appeal against both conviction and sentence.

He was further sentenced to one year imprisonment for the illegal possession of arms and ammunition but this sentence was ordered to run concurrently with the first sentence for murder.

The State established that Farmer murdered 18-year-old Dolleveria Trevona McKay on 12 November 2005 when he shot her with a 7.65mm pistol in the chest.

The court in its sentencing said it was clear from the evidence presented before it that Farmer was heartbroken because McKay had terminated their relationship. The court also found that he shot McKay, the mother of his 18-year-old daughter, because she was seeing someone else.

Although he confessed and expressed remorse in his plea examination, the court had found that at the time he shot the deceased and even after the incident, he did not express any remorse.

On Monday when he appeared, Farmer was sporting a Mohawk and was clothed in prison garb. After the brief appearance he was whisked away to an awaiting prison van.



FRED GOEIEMAN

Mob attacks cop

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Mob attacks copPoliceman critical after Havana attack A Nampol officer was attacked and stabbed in the head by a mob when a unit went out to arrest suspects in Havana. A police officer was attacked and stabbed in Zambia Street in Windhoek's Havana location on Sunday afternoon.

Members of the City Police and the Namibian Police had gone to Havana location to arrest the suspects.

When the suspects were located they fled and a member of Nampol chased one of the suspects.

According to the police, a group of people caught the police officer and dragged him into a house where they stabbed him three times in the head and shoulder. They also robbed him of his service pistol.

The police officer was admitted to the Roman Catholic Hospital and is in a critical condition.

Six suspects were arrested and two are still on the run. The pistol has not yet been recovered.

Also in Windhoek on Sunday, a 57-year-old French tourist was robbed of cash and electronics worth thousands of dollars at a guesthouse in Avis.

According to the police, the robbery occurred on Sunday at about 04:00 at a Windhoek guesthouse in Schuckman Road.

The robbers cut the fence surrounding the property, attacked a security guard and robbed him of his gun before entering the guesthouse and threatening the tourist with the firearm.

They stole N$7 000 in cash, a camera, a Visa card, cellphones, watches and a computer. The total value of the stolen items has not been determined yet and no arrests have been made.

In the north, a man believed to be in his twenties was stabbed to death and his body was burned at Rundu at the weekend.

His body was found in a shack opposite the Rocky Car wash on Sunday afternoon and the police were called.

People who might know the man are urged to come forward and identify the body at the Rundu State Hospital mortuary.

Two men were arrested at the Ariamsvlei border post on Sunday after they were found with two 50kg bags of dagga valued at N$300 000.

According to the police, the suspects crossed a riverbed on foot to get to Ariamsvlei and collected the bags, which they loaded onto a donkey cart in order to transport them before hiding them in nearby bushes. The suspects are expected to appear before the Karasburg Magistrate's Court today.



ELLANIE SMIT

Unions welcome guards' pay

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Unions welcome guards' pay Three unions that had been involved in tense minimum wage negotiations for security guards have welcomed the gazetting of the December agreement this month and warned employers to pay what they owe or face the wrath of the unions.

“Company owners should be warned that workers in the security industry have been patient enough, some were not paid for months, and therefore the unions will not hesitate to call a nationwide strike if employers continue to violate the agreement.”

The Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau), Namibian Independent Security Union (Nisu) and Namibia Security Guards and Watchmen Union (Nasgwu) this week noted that to date, only Security Association of Namibia (SAN) employers had a duty to implement the wages.

“Security guards employed by SAN members already received their salary adjustments as from the agreed dates (January and July), and we would like to thank those companies for their cooperation,” the unions said.

They warned that labour disputes would be filed if employees were not paid the new minimum wages.

Since the 15 September gazetting of the agreement by the labour ministry, all employers in the industry are compelled to implement the new minimum pay.

According to SAN, at least 150 companies had refused to implement the new minimum wage before it was gazetted. Some even quit their SAN membership.

Under the December agreement, all entry-level guards must now be paid N$8.75 per hour. Guards who have been employed for a year or longer are entitled to a minimum wage of N$10 per hour.

The three unions added that security guards should take note that “only they themselves can change the system of exploitation, through unity and determination. The time is now, especially during this time of economic slowdown.”

Natau, Nisu and Nasgwu said violation of labour laws, including refusal to pay minimum wages, were widespread in the security industry, which remained mostly unregulated.

“Security officers are the ones who safeguard our wealth … and are poorly remunerated with no benefits at all,” the unions stated on Monday.

The unions added that they had observed with concern that some employers “of foreign origin” disregarded agreements on conditions of employment. They charged that employees were abused by withholding wages and making illegal pay deductions.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Residents stand up against violent crime

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Residents stand up against violent crime A human chain stretching from the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court to the centre of town was formed yesterday morning to coincide with the court appearance of the three men accused of murdering the elderly Strzelecki couple in August.

Residents also gathered in front of the court, silently protesting the recent wave of violent crime in the Erongo Region.

The organiser of the protest, Clinton Lang, asked participants to encourage one another to take hands as a symbol of solidarity throughout Swakopmund.

“The main idea behind the human chain is that we show each other that we care about each other by holding hands. Many people cannot make it to the court that day, so the chain gives them a chance to be a part of this monumental and historic silent protest,” he said.

Some schools also allowed learners and teachers to break at 10:00 and to hold hands, forming their own human chains.

“Even though we are protesting for swift justice in the recent murder cases and ask for no bail to be granted to violent offenders, we are also sharing hope, peace, love and prosperity among each other,” said Lang.

The accused, Jerobeam Simon Shidute, 23, Fabianus Lazarus, 24, and Daniel Stephanus Nghilifa, 26, allegedly murdered Rosvietha Sieglinde, 79, and severely assaulted her husband, Siegfried Paul Hermuth, 82, during a robbery on 2 August.

Siegfried died as a result of his injuries a few days later while still in the intensive care unit of the Marie Douglas frail care centre.

Jessica Botes

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Omatando formalisation underway

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Omatando formalisation underway The Ongwediva Town Council is pleased with the formalisation process of one of its townships, Omatando, despite its protracted nature.

Addressing the media on Monday, the town council's spokesperson, Jackson Muma, said the layout map has been finalised and submitted to the Namibia Planning Advisory Board for assessment before being submitted to the environment ministry.

“As planned, council intends to conduct land surveying of the entire Omatando area by October 2017, which will enable better provision of the right municipal services,” Muma said.

For the past years, Omatando was a village, until the town council decided to formalise it into a township in January this year following talks and negotiations between the council, the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority and residents of the area.

Muma said after this exercise, the council will then be in a better position to allow the currently halted construction in the area to continue, provided that building plans are approved by council and property verification is completed.

This process is expected to be concluded by January 2018.

During the same event, Muma cautioned residents in the area not to be defrauded of their money by people using the council's name.

This comes after several community members claimed to have received requests via text messages to pay an unexplained N$300 fee.

“The council feels obliged to inform these community members that by no means is the council requesting any payment from the residents.”

Muma urged residents not to indulge in activities which are contrary to the council's developmental agenda and always inquire about any new information.

Omatando township consist of a mixed developmental plan that includes residential, industrial and business areas.



NAMPA

Namibia marks tourism day

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Namibia marks tourism dayNujoma to give key address While still strong, tourism figures have not performed as well as expected and indications are that no real job growth will take place in the short-term. Namibia will join the rest of the world in celebrating tourism today at the Zoo Park in Windhoek.

Prominent speakers are expected to address the public on Namibia's flourishing tourism industry which has grown to be one of the biggest contributors to the economy.

Among them will be Founding President Sam Nujoma, who is expected to deliver the keynote address.

Celebrations to mark World Tourism Day in Namibia have already taken place with several activities during the past month after an initial kick-off event at the Hosea Kutako International Airport at the end of August.

The theme for this year's celebration in Namibia is 'Tourism begins at home'.

This is mainly to sensitise and create awareness about the issues affecting the tourism sector in the country.

Over the past three months, the tourism industry performed below expectation, but almost doubled when compared to the same period last year.

This is according to the just-released FNB/Fenata Travel Index that added the rise in business performance was largely attributed to an increase in the number of international arrivals during that period.

According to the index, fluctuating economic and political conditions, coupled with limited accommodation for larger groups, were highlighted as drawbacks to demand in the tourism sector.

Other challenges impacting the growth of the tourism industry are escalating operational costs, particularly the cost of electricity and food.

FNB analyst Josephat Nambashu says although on average there were more tourists during the second quarter, they spent a lot less money at tourism establishments, as they opted for self-drive holidays and camping.

“While this may be good news to car rental and campsite operators, it disadvantages hotel and lodge operators who have much larger fixed overheads to carry.”

According to Nambashu, during the second quarter, the index dipped by 16.2% quarter on quarter in real terms as rising costs continue to dampen growth.

“Despite bed occupancy rates improving from the previous quarter, lower than expected load factor numbers have been recorded causing the overall index to slide.”

Inflation in the sector remains upwardly sticky at 11.4% year to year (June 2017) on the back of a relatively stronger South African rand, said Nambashu.

“The currency index declined by 13.4% quarter on quarter, which could potentially further worsen the performance of the sector.”

He said performance is estimated to remain mixed for the next three months with only about 28% of the respondents in the index stating that business will be very good.

According to the index financially, tour operators were better off during the second quarter compared to other tourist vendors. Revenue expectations for the next quarter were also lowered, mainly on the back of increased operational costs and a strong currency. However, workforce numbers in the sector remained flat according to the survey with nearly 56% of the respondents expecting no change in their staff capacity over the next three months.

While the increasing operational input costs were the main driver of higher prices in the sector, this is also making it more difficult for locals, whose income does not increase proportionately, to enjoy the sector's hospitality.

According to the index this can also result in dominance by outsiders in the sector and erode economic opportunities for the locals.

“Overall, respondents feel that given the current performance, the sector will continue to struggle, at least for the next subsequent quarter,” according to the index.

ELLANIE SMIT

Ondangwa airport terminal is falling apart

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Ondangwa airport terminal is falling apart Finance minister Calle Schlettwein has expressed concern over the state of the revamped terminal at Ondangwa Airport.

Just two years after the Chinese constructor Quindao Construction Company completed the N$84 million project, the terminal is in bad shape.

Floor tiles all over the building are peeling off, there are cracked windows in the arrival area and toilets are out of order.

Addressing the northern business community at Ongwediva this month, Schlettwein said the work done at the airport was not good value for money.

When President Hage Geingob inaugurated the new terminal in 2015 he described it as world-class infrastructure which is part of Namibia's plan to become a logistics hub for Southern Africa.

“The Namibian government has replaced the Tender Board with the Procurement Board which, among other responsibilities, will make sure that the quality of the work done equals the money paid. Not like what happened to Ondangwa Airport where tiles are already falling off,” Schlettwein said.

A source at the airport told Namibian Sun that windows in the arrival area of the terminal started developing cracks last year and they are big and visible now.

“Very often we also experience toilet problems and customers have to use facilities at the old terminal building,” the source said.

When the Namibia Airports Company (NAC) was approached for comment, its spokesperson Nankelo Amupadhi said they would respond “in due course”.

In June this year, the NAC board suspended its chief executive, Tamer El-Kallawi, and head of engineering, Courage Silombela, pending an investigation. It did not give details of the alleged transgressions.

At the inauguration of the Ondangwa terminal in 2015 El-Kallawi said Namibia had the potential of becoming an air connection hub and that the NAC was strategically positioning itself to claim this niche market and make it their own. He said NAC was in a sound financial position and intended to capitalise on its strength and aggressively pursue growth in the sector.

“The Ondangwa airport terminal is a world-class, state-of-the-art facility that presents a modern airport that is designed to mirror the culture and way of life of our people,” El-Kallawi said.

ILENI NANDJATO

Confusion over genocide apology

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Confusion over genocide apologyNamibia rejects UN report Namibia's special envoy on reparations has rubbished a United Nations working group's report which stated that Germany had apologised for the Nama and OvaHerero genocide. Namibia has rejected a United Nations Human Rights Council working group report which says Germany has apologised for the 1904-08 Nama and OvaHerero genocide.

The Working Group on People of African Descent (WGEPAD) on Monday presented its report at the Human Rights Council 36th session.

This finding is in stark contrast to prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila's report in parliament last week, when she said: “As I stand here, Germany has not formally accepted responsibility for the genocide and has not yet rendered an unconditional apology.”

Namibia's special envoy for the Technical Committee on Genocide, Zed Ngavirue, vehemently rejected the report, saying “nothing of the sort has taken place”.

He also rejected the report's finding that “Germany is conducting targeted development projects in Namibia,” saying German-funded projects had nothing to do with reparations and were simply part of Germany's development aid.

In the 16-page report the group recommended that the German government must “recall its role in the history of colonisation, enslavement, exploitation and genocide of Africans and should make reparations to address the continued impact of those acts. The OvaHerero and Nama people must be included in the negotiations currently ongoing between the governments of Germany and Namibia.”

The report came out of the group's visit to Germany in February at the invitation of the German government.

It further stated that the suffering of the OvaHerero and Nama peoples at the hands of the German authorities, also known as the “first genocide of the 20th century”, had left “an indelible mark on the souls of both victims and perpetrators”.

“The colonial past of Germany, the genocide of the OvaHerero and Nama people and the sterilisation, incarceration and murder of people of African descent under the Nazi regime in Germany are not addressed in the national narrative,” the report read.

The German government, in its observation paper on the report of the Working Group on 21 August this year, pointed out that it had been “suppressing revolts” in the former South-West Africa.

“To this aim, the German government is in dialogue with the government of Namibia as the democratically elected representative of the descendants of those who suffered under colonial rule. The aim is to reach a common assessment of the past and, on that basis, to identify ways of developing strategies to shape continued bilateral relations. Representatives of the OvaHerero and Nama, ethnic groups particularly concerned, are included in the Namibian delegation leading the talks,” it said.

The Working Group was established on 25 April 2002 by the then Commission on Human Rights, following the World Conference against Racism held in Durban in 2001.

It is composed of five independent experts: Ricardo A. Sunga III from the Philippines, Michal Balcerzak from Poland, Mireille Fanon Mendes-France from France, Sabelo Gumedze from South Africa and Ahmed Reid from Jamaica.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Trustco accused of non-payment

September 26, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Trustco accused of non-payment Trustco Insurance Limited is being hauled to court over non-payment of legal fees to legal practitioners and for leaving policyholders high and dry without any legal insurance.

The Law Society of Namibia has been asked to establish the scope of non-payment by Legal Shield after legal firm Krüger, Van Vuuren & Co complained that it was owed “a substantial amount” for services rendered.

The bulk of the debt had been outstanding for more than a year despite numerous demands for payment.

ISG Namibia, on behalf of Krüger, Van Vuuren & Co, wrote to the Law Society on 20 September, saying failure to pay insured expenses not only exposed the legal firm to “substantial financial risk, but also exposes the insured person to risk”.

More importantly, ISG Namibia wrote, such non-payment impeded the right of Legal Shield policyholders to a fair trial, “which will be the compelling reason why they would have obtained legal insurance”.

Johan van Vuuren of Krüger, Van Vuuren & Co this week said he had, in the meantime, informed the magistrate's court in Katima Mulilo that he would not be present at the court at the end of this week due to non-payment of travelling expenses he would incur on behalf of a Legal Shield client.

In another instance a Legal Shield policyholder for 20 years, Theodore Kleinhans, lodged a notice of motion with the High Court yesterday in a bid to get Trustco to pay Advocate Zacharias Grobler of Grobler & Co fees due to him.

Grobler was appointed by Trustco to represent Kleinhans in September last year and the case was prepared and ready to go to trial next month.

But Grobler informed Kleinhans earlier this month that he was experiencing problems with Legal Shield over delayed or reduced legal fees since January, and total non-payment of fees due to him since June.

Grobler maintains that the outstanding legal fees due to him amount to close to N$160 000.

Legal Shield on 15 September cancelled Grobler's mandate to represent Kleinhans and instructed him to close the file on the Kleinhans matter and submit his final invoice.

Grobler refuses to hand over the file to Legal Shield pending payment of all outstanding accounts, and Legal Shield policyholder Kleinhans refuses to be handed down to another legal representative.

“For 20 years, I have paid my subscription fees punctually and in full and I do not believe it is too much to expect [Trustco Insurance] to provide me with and pay for the services of the legal practitioner of my choice,” Kleinhans argued in his notice of motion.



Lawyers in uproar

At least seven legal firms in June undersigned a memorandum to Quinton van Rooyen, managing director of Trustco Group International, to demand reasons for non-payment of legal fees.

The firms complained that notwithstanding an agreement with Trustco that their fees would be paid one month after submission of accounts, payments were not done timeously.

They complained that individual fees were arbitrarily reduced or not allowed.

Grobler said queries and complaints registered with Trustco remained unanswered.

Trustco said yesterday afternoon that it was still working on a response to a query regarding this matter.

CATHERINE SASMAN