Basson wants more land for //Karas

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Basson wants more land for //Karas The governor of //Karas Lucia Basson has appealed to the land reform ministry to make more farmland available to residents of the southern region.

“I want more land for my people in //Karas, because they are farmers and they want to farm,” she said. The governor made the call during the official handover ceremony of allotment letters to six beneficiaries newly resettled in a number of regions, held at Gellap Ost Research Station near Keetmanshoop.

The beneficiaries include Jessy Steenkamp, a female farmer from the Aroab townlands, resettled on farm Kotzetal, 80 kilometres outside of that village in the //Karas Region.

“[Steenkamp] is from a farming community struggling with access to land, paying exorbitant monthly fees to the Aroab Village Council to graze their few livestock from which they make a living,” Basson said, urging the farmers to take productive farming seriously and to refrain from activities such as illegal hunting and sub-leasing.

“You are the fortunate ones out of thousands of Namibians seeking land. Abide by the lease agreement conditions and farm productively in both crops and livestock.”

Some of the other beneficiaries are unionist Rocco Nguvauva and Freddie Elifas who were granted the two units of Verweg in Omaheke while Raphael Mukandi and Salvador Matjayi got the two units of Kaltenhausen in Erongo.

There was a slight commotion when Mukandi expressed his unhappiness at being allotted Unit A of Kaltenhausen and not Unit B where the farmhouse is located.

Mukandi felt that as a staff member of the ministry, he should have received the farmhouse.

Basson stepped in clarifying that Mukandi applied for both units, also explaining that resettlement applications are for land, not accommodation.

“Put up your house and make the most of that land. Comfort yourself that maybe your land is more useful for farming than where the structure is,” Basson told Mukandi.

The farmers also received training in the various aspects of commercial farming including infrastructure maintenance, livestock management and financial planning.

The weeklong training, which preceded the handover ceremony, was hosted by the lands and agriculture ministries in partnership with AgriBank, the German government's Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit initiative and the Farmers' Support Project.

NAMPA

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City water capacity at risk

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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City water capacity at riskSavings have fallen by the wayside Windhoek residents have been urged to use water with caution following excessive use in the last month, putting supply at risk. Windhoek residents are warned to reduce water consumption or face possible further water restrictions as a result of weakening water supply sources.

On Friday, the City of Windhoek said that water consumption had shot up last week, marking one of the highest recorded consumptions over the last months, as indicated by the 25 September weekly water watch graph.

Current weather conditions are leading to a high rate of evaporation that is threatening available water capacity in the three surface dams that supply water to Windhoek, the City warned.

City officials said that “should the water consumption rate continue as is, the available water supply will diminish drastically.”

Based on a strict water monitoring programme, City officials stated that the city is “entering a critical water consumption interface that may lead to a critical water shortage if not abated.”

Residents are urged to “put in extra efforts in saving this precious resource amidst the dry, hot summer season.

“We encourage residents to rather opt for dry gardens with vegetation that is suitable to a dry climate and consumes less water.”



The good news

On a positive note, many Namibians, particularly in the east, central and north-central parts reported rainfall over the weekend, specifically on Saturday.

Windhoek residents on Saturday reported rainfall of between 1 mm and 5 mm in different parts of the city, while farmers in the Gobabis area reported 25 mm rainfall, and at a farm near Gobabis on Saturday.

Aranos residents also reported downfalls and hail, while Otjiwarongo, Osire, Kamanjab and Grootfontein residents shared the good news of rainfall in their towns on social media sites.

News of rainfall at Okahandja, Oshakati, and Rundu over the weekend was also reported.

Meanwhile, NamWater's dam bulletin dated 25 September, reported that the three central dams supply in water to the central towns including Windhoek, are currently at 43,9% capacity, compared to 8.2% capacity last year this time.

Swakoppoort dam is at 46.6%, compared to 7.9% last season.

Von Bach dam is at 72.0% capacity, compared to 16% last season and Omatako is currently at 9.1% capacity, compared to 0% last season.



JANA-MARI SMITH

Desalination talks stalled

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Desalination talks stalledGovernment never made an offer While the government had expressed an interest in Areva's desalination plant north of Swakopmund, it never formally made an offer for the plant. Areva Namibia has told Namibian Sun that while government may have aired their interest in purchasing its Erongo desalination plant, it has never formally received an offer for the purchase of the facility, according to its managing director Hilifa Mbako.

This comes on the back of a recent report, which alleged talks have resumed for the purchase of the plant believed to cost in the region of some N$3.5 billion according to media reports.

Providing an update on the matter, Mbako said the possibility arose for government to put an offer in for the purchase of the plant but that was where it ended.

“In 2014, at the Namibian government's request, the possibility was given to them to present an offer for the acquisition of the Erongo desalination plant. No offer was subsequently presented and the process therefore did not proceed to negotiation stage. The use of the word deal is therefore not correct, as it never reached that stage,” said Mbako.

Areva, when asked to provide a price tag, would not comment and instead said it relied on a variety of factors to come up with a figure for the plant.

Mbako did not provide any details on what valuation methods were used to price the desalination plant and instead said various factors were weighed in to determine the reported price tag of N$3.5 billion at the time government had started negotiations for the purchase of the plant.

“There are therefore many facets, internal and external, to be accounted for when attempting to determine the fair value of such an important asset for the process to eventually translate into a transaction between a willing-buyer and a willing-seller,” said Mbako.

A fair price is determined by the economic value of the asset which is the object of a transaction, including a multitude of factors such as its positive contribution to the resilience and overall economic development of the region or country in which it operates Mbako further explained.

The Windhoek Observer had recently reported that government had rekindled its interest to purchase Areva's desalination plant.

“Currently the Cabinet Committee on Water Supply Security is engaging Areva to try and convince them to lower their price,” minister of agriculture John Mutorwa was quoted as saying.

Mbako confirmed the talks but was not forthcoming with details of the new engagement.

“Government has officially approached us to resume talks over the sale of the desalination plant,” Mbako said.

Quizzed if the company would be willing to revise its asking price, considering how it became the sticking point in concluding the acquisition of the water facility originally built to supply the mothballed Trekkopje uranium project, the Areva executive said the previous offer had expired.

“The offer we gave to government was for three years ago and it expired. It's no longer the same,” Mbako said declining to clarify if the miner's asking price has gone up.

Areva was also not looking into entering into a joint-ownership of the desalination plant. According to Mbako, current legislation regarding joint-ventures with government was limited to financing of planned future expenditure projects.

“Public-private-partnership (PPP) legislation and regulations are currently being established in Namibia, and PPP structures usually apply to the financing and future operations of projects,” said Mbako.

An option Areva would look into would be for long-term water provision between NamWater and government as public agents.



OGONE TLHAGE

Relief for Ohangwena San

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Relief for Ohangwena San The vice-president's office has appointed Thomas Puleinge as the regional development planner for Ohangwena to integrate the needs of the region's marginalised people into the national development plans.

Puleinge's appointment follows a visit by the deputy director of the marginalised community division in the vice-president's office Gerson Kamatuka to Omundaungilo in February this year and who acknowledged that San communities in Ohangwena are suffering because the division does not have a regional development planner responsible for them.

Kamatuka visited the Omundaungilo San community after Namibian Sun reported on the horrific living conditions of the over 900 San people living in isolation there. Some of the people at the settlement do not leave their makeshift rag tents - which they call home - for months on end due to old age, blindness or chronic illness.

He was accompanied by governor of Ohangwena Usko Nghaamwa, the regional councillor for Omundaungilo, Festus Ikanda, and several regional council officials. A number of promises were made at the time to address the needs of these people among which was to appoint a regional development planner, establish a kindergarten and build them proper shelters.

Namibian Sun was also informed that many of the elders and children do not receive pensions or social grants from the government due to lack of national documents. However, last week the New Era newspaper reported that more than 100 marginalised San from various San communities in the Ohangwena Region – young and old – were issued with national documents at the home affairs ministry offices at Eenhana.

When Namibian Sun visited this community, the government had already established kindergarten facilities for them, while Cecillia Fillemon, the only community member who has received training from the National Youth Service, was appointed as the kindergarten teacher during Kamatuka's visit.

“We are very thankful to Namibian Sun for exposing the condition these people live in to us. It is because of you that we are going to build them houses very soon. We are just waiting for the budget to be released. This community is very generous. They are not making demands, all they want is just shelter,” Kamatuka said.

Kamatuka said that the San people will decide for themselves the kind of shelters they want and they will also be involved in the construction.

Ikanda said that the kindergarten was established in coordination with his office, but will only be operational by the beginning of the next academic year after they have acquired all the necessary equipment.

However, the school principal at Okahenge Combined School which is about 200 metres from the Omundaungilo San community, Martin Ndadi, expressed his concerns regarding the kindergarten. He said that government is making a mistake to establish a kindergarten for the San community only and added that they were not consulted as to how the kindergarten is going to operate.

“By establishing a kindergarten at their settlement, they are isolating the San people from others. These people need to mingle with the broader community. It is true that they have difficulties in coming to school, but that cannot be a reason to isolate them,” Ndadi said.



ILENI NANDJATO

Man jailed again for stepdaughter rape

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Man jailed again for stepdaughter rape A 64-year-old man who was acquitted on a charge of rape of his stepdaughter last year and fined N$10 000 for a lesser charge relating to an unlawful sexual offence against the girl, is again behind bars after his arrest last week on charges of rape of the same girl.

Elias Shaanika remains behind bars after his case was postponed this week to 15 November for legal aid last week.

The police said he was arrested for raping his 15-year-old stepdaughter on 20 September, while her mother was away from the home they all share.

The police report stated that Shaanika was arrested at about 21:30 after he allegedly woke his stepdaughter and forced her to have sex with him.

This is the second time Shaanika has been arrested in connection with rape charges of his stepdaughter.

The police stated that “the suspect is the stepfather of the victim and it is reportedly the second time that the suspect raped the same victim. In the first offence, the suspect was convicted where he paid a fine of N$10 000”.

However, upon enquiry by Namibian Sun, court documents at Omaruru indicated that Shaanika was found not guilty and acquitted on a count of rape, under the Combating of Rape Act 8 of 2000, in November 2016.

Shaanika's N$10 000 fine stemmed from two alternative charges he faced under the Combating of Immoral Practice Act 21 of 1980, which made provision for a fine and or imprisonment, depending on the circumstances of the case and the evidence before the court.

Omaruru court documents show that he was arrested in 2015 and charged with a count of rape under the Combating of Rape Act 8 of 2000 and two alternative counts under the provision of the combatting of immoral practices act, 21 of 1980.

In November 2016, he was found not guilty and acquitted on the count of rape.

However, he was found guilty under one or both of the alternative counts, and was instructed to pay N$10 000, of which N$5 000 was suspended for a number of years.

The court documents stated that the first alternative to the count of rape was for the unlawful intercourse with a girl under the age of 16 and the second alternative was the committing of an immoral act with a girl under 16.

Alternatively, if he could or would not pay the fine, Shaanika would face eight years of imprisonment of which four years were suspended, on the alternative charges.

This sentence is in line with the provisions of the Combating of Immoral Practice Act 21 of 1980, which stipulate that any person who commits or attempts to commit a sexual act with a child under 16 years or an indecent or immoral act with such a child, or solicits such a child to the commission of a sexual or indecent or immoral act could be convicted to a fine not exceeding N$40 000 or to imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or both.

Legal Assistance Centre lawyer Dianne Hubbard explained that she could not go into a detailed account or explanation of the case, unless all relevant details that were placed before the court during the trial, including testimony and evidence, were before her.

She did explain that the fine imposed on Shaanika last year was in line with the provisions of the Combating of Immoral Practice Act 21 of 1980 “which does provide for fines as a competent punishment”.

Hubbard explained that this act covers indecent or immoral acts “which are a broader range of physical acts than the sexual acts” which are covered under the Combating of Rape Act 8 of 2000, from where the first count of rape against Shaanika had stemmed in the previous case.

Hubbard added that the immoral practice act “also covers even just trying to get a child to commit any of these acts”.

She said that alternative charges for different crimes are often included in cases where there is not enough evidence to convict on the most serious charge.

Another reason for adding the alternative charges could be linked to the age gaps of children and perpetrators, but Hubbard warned that without all the information before her on the case she could only speculate about the decision to add, and convict, on the alternative charges.

Under the Combating of Rape Act 8 of 2000 the prescribed minimum sentence for a first offence, is either five, 10 or 15 years, depending on the circumstances of the rape.

For a repeat offender, the minimum sentence is 10, 20 or 45 years depending on the circumstances of the rape.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Gender equality still not achieved

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Gender equality still not achieved Despite some relief with the dawn of independence the Namibian woman is still haunted by gender-based discrimination.

This remark was made by Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila during the opening of the national gender advisory committee's high-level dialogue on the country's gender policy.

The one-day meeting, which took stock of the progress made in the implementation of the National Gender Policy and its plan of action, was attended by government minsters, regional governors and the chairpersons of the 14 regional councils.

The prime minister hailed Namibia's achievement of 47% women's representation in the National Assembly during the last election, but emphasised that more needed to be done.

“We all know that there are still gender-related issues that need to be addressed. These include high levels of gender-based violence, mostly the most heinous of its kind, high prevalence rates of HIV among women, high unemployment rates among youth, maternal mortality rates that are still high, teenage pregnancies, child marriage, boy- and girl-child school dropout rates, and disturbingly, high poverty levels among female-headed households,” the prime minister said.

She said addressing these challenges required a greater focus and a coherent and multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral approach.

She added that this should emphasise the implementation of the National Gender Policy at all levels, such as at constituency, regional and national levels, in order to ensure that gender responsive policies and programmes do not leave anyone out and that development strongly addresses people's strategic and practical gender needs.

“I would also like to emphasise here that ensuring gender equality and women empowerment as fundamental dimensions of advancing human development is our collective responsibility.”

She urged attendees to act as the advocates for a multi-sectoral approach for gender equality and women empowerment programmes in Namibia and to adopt a gender perspective when making decisions, formulating policies, allocating resources, and especially in parliament when reflecting on new draft legislation.

“Equally, a gender perspective is necessary in our planning and budgeting processes, both at national and regional levels. We should not become narrow or mechanical in our approach, but rather emulate the words of Kofi Annan who said: 'Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance',” she said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Justice ministry fails transparency test

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Justice ministry fails transparency test Namibia's justice ministry was ranked the second worst government institution out of 68 surveyed in eight African countries in the latest annual Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) transparency assessment.

On the flip side, the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) was ranked first with 35 out of 40 points.

The justice ministry scored two out of 40, with a Mozambican state institution scoring the lowest with zero points out of 40.

The MISA survey was based on two categories of 20 points each, with the first evaluating accessibility and presence of credible and updated public information on government and public institution websites and social media platforms.

The second category measured the effective handling of requests for information to determine the ease in which public information is obtained.

For the request for information category, CRAN achieved 20 out of 20 points and it scored 15 out of 20 for its website presence.

CRAN was Namibia's most open public institution while the Ministry of Justice was the recipient of the Golden Padlock Award for the most secretive public institution of those surveyed.

The justice ministry's score was the lowest any Namibian institution had received in the past five years, MISA stated.

Another low performer in the website category in Namibia was the Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare Ministry, with a zero score for its non-existent website.

The poverty ministry did, however, score 14 out of 20 points in the request for information category.

The Ministry of Industrialisation, Trade and SME development achieved the second highest score for openness with 30 out of 40.

The MISA transparency results for Namibia show that five out of eight Namibian government institutions scored less than five points out of 20 in the category measuring effective response to public queries.

The ministry of environment and the Electoral Commission of Namibia both achieved a mere 2 out of 20 points in this category.

Progress on a law providing access to information remained slow, and several secrecy laws remain in place.

These include the Protection of Information Act, the Defence Act, the National Security Act and the Public Service Act.

“These laws limit a citizen's ability to access information, as well as making the disclosure of public information without the permanent secretary a disciplinary offence.”

The 2009 Communications Act, moreover, allows the government to intercept email, text messages, internet banking transactions and telephone calls without a warrant.

JANA-MARI SMITH

I have suffered enough - Swartz

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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I have suffered enough - SwartzRehoboth official threatens legal action The municipality's HR officer says he will take the council to court and then resign, because the stress of the disciplinary action taken against him is affecting his health and that of his family. Rehoboth's acting chief executive officer, Willie Swartz, is threatening to drag the town council to court to force them to prove that he was illegally reappointed as human resources manager.

Swartz is acting as CEO following the suspension of Christophe /Uirab upon his return from a weeklong workshop in Singapore on Sunday morning. In a statement explaining his grievances on 25 September, Swartz accused the council of a witch-hunt, which he claimed had led to public harassment of his family.

A forensic investigation into the town's affairs in January 2016 concluded that Swartz' reappointment during the government recess in December 2015 was illegal.

Swartz also faces 20 “serious” disciplinary charges related to the alleged embezzlement of more than N$13 million and losses of N$1.8 million incurred by the council.

Swartz said he had pleaded not guilty to six of these 20 charges on 1 August. According to him during this meeting a certain Mr Kwala introduced Swartz's alleged illegal and procedural appointment.

“[He] then forced the meeting to debate my legality as an employee instead of proceeding to prove the allegations against me. In short, the hearing, in which I had already pleaded, took a new twist and it was postponed to afford Kwala and council to figure out if I am an employee or not before the hearing continues,” said Swartz.

Swartz further accused the council of infringing on his family life, which had forced him to move his two daughters to different towns to spare them the abuse.

“I have suffered great defamation, pain, embarrassment, persecution and that risk and safety hazard has now extended to my person and family. I was physically attacked in my office. My wife has been diagnosed with stress and hypertension, and has been treated or hospitalised every time this hearing was postponed. Medical records are there to show the correlation between her condition and the hearing dates,” he pointed out.

According to Swartz, his wife has been attacked and victimised at her workplace, by customers of the bank where she works as well as by a United People's Movement regional councillor.

“I have been diagnosed with stress, internal bleeding that nearly took my life two weeks ago. I have suffered in the name of corruption charges which no one, from the minister, the CEO and now by extension the council is prepared to prove,” he said. He said once he had served his legal documents on the council he would also serve them with “a notice with a view to terminating my services at an agreed time”.

However, he added, this would be done on condition that the “illegal” meeting of 26 May 2016, at which he was fired, was revisited. Swartz further alleged that the record of this particular meeting appeared to be falsified.



In charge

Community activist Johannes Khachab yesterday said that Swartz had changed the locks of the CEO's office on Friday and had since ruled the staff with an iron fist.

“I was there this morning [yesterday] but some staff members told me they could not talk to me because Swartz had threatened them.

“The situation is unbearable, there are the group who are pro-Swartz and the others who want him out,” he said.

Meanwhile, /Uirab has confirmed his suspension, which he had predicted before leaving for Singapore.

“I can only say this is a witch-hunt. I mean how can you discuss misconduct in secret? You must inform the affected person of his wrongdoing. But the thing is the Swapo councillors never supported me in anything I did, so I am not surprised,” he said.





JEMIMA BEUKES

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Hero's funeral for Muharukua

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Hero's funeral for Muharukua State House has announced that the late governor of the Kunene Region, Angelika Muharukua, will be accorded a hero's funeral.

Muharukua died in her Hochland Park home from a suspected heart attack on Sunday morning. She was 59.

“The Presidency wishes to announce that H.E. President Hage G. Geingob has decided to accord the status of national hero to the late Honourable Angelika Kazetjindire Muharukua,” the statement read yesterday.

“To that end the late Honourable Muharukua will be bestowed a full hero's funeral and all the relevant arrangements that accompany such a burial will be followed. Further funeral arrangements will be made available as soon as they are finalised.”

Muharukua joined Swapo in 1979.

In 1995, Founding President Sam Nujoma appointed her to the National Assembly as a non-voting member.

In 2005, former President Hifikepunye Pohamba appointed Muharukua to serve as deputy minister of gender equality and welfare. In 2015, she was appointed as governor of Kunene, a position she held until her death.

OGONE TLHAGE

Farmers frustrated by labour disputes

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Farmers frustrated by labour disputesArbitration hearings waste valuable time Unfounded charges brought by dismissed farmworkers force farmers to leave their farms to attend hearings in town. Commercial farmers say they are frustrated by workers lodging costly and drawn-out labour disputes when they are dismissed fairly and legally.

However, this may soon be something of the past, should amendments to the Labour Act be accepted.

These amendments will allow for inspections to be done into the lodged dispute before a conciliation process begins.

The Agricultural Employers' Association recently met with labour commissioner Henri Kassen, to discuss disputes by farmworkers and labour relations on commercial farms.

The discussions also focused on the role and function of the labour commissioner and that of the Agricultural Employers' Association, which promotes and advances labour relations on commercial farms.

Danie van Vuuren, representing the association, brought the frustration of commercial farmers accused of unfair dismissal to Kassen's attention.

According to the latest newsletter of the Namibian Agricultural Union (NAU), numerous fired farmworkers have initiated disputes despite having been fairly dismissed.

Kassen informed the association that the Labour Act does not make provision for a process to verify whether the worker has a case or not.

According to Kassen, it can only be determined at a conciliation or arbitration hearing and unfortunately the employers have to pay the cost of going to town for the hearing.

The NAU said most labour disputes by farmworkers do not enter the arbitration phase and end in conciliation, where the employers pay an additional settlement amount.

According to the union, the Labour Act is being reviewed and one of the recommendations is that if a matter is reported to the labour office, it should be referred to a labour inspector for investigation and possible settlement before it is referred for conciliation.

“If so accepted and amended, the Act can save a lot of time and costs for both the employer and the employee.”

The labour commissioner's office has offered to give training about labour relationships on farmers' days.





ELLANIE SMIT

Ondonga cash goes missing

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Ondonga cash goes missingNew and old councillors accuse each other The strife in the Ondonga traditional authority is continuing, with each side accusing the other of theft. A tug-of-war has erupted between the newly installed traditional leaders of the Ondonga Traditional Authority and the dismissed councillors over missing funds.

The two set of leaders are now accusing each other of squandering funds belonging to the traditional authority.

OTA's new secretary Nepando Amupanda has accused the dismissed councillors of spending part of the N$1.4 million collected for the construction of a new Ondonga palace.

The dismissed councillors immediately hit back, saying the new leadership had not accounted for the N$1.5 million they found in the traditional authority's bank account.

Oshana police chief Rauha Amwele confirmed that the traditional authority had filed charges with respect to N$400 000 that had gone missing from the traditional authority's Standard Bank account.

The authority's coffers are reportedly empty at the moment, making it difficult for it to execute its mandate.

Many Ondonga households are also refusing to pay their dues to the authority following the leadership dispute that has ended up in court.

During public meetings, the fired councillors pleaded with community members to boycott the payment of levies, arguing that the new leadership was not authentic.

The new councillors are also accused of increasing their monthly allowances, including that of the secretary which was reportedly raised from N$1 300 to over N$11 000 per month.

Ondonga King Immanuel Kauluma Elifas's spokesperson and senior traditional councillor for Oniimwandi district, Naeman Amalwa, confirmed that they were tracing how money was transferred from the OTA Standard Bank account to a law firm representing the fired councillors.





Amalwa said that he was not in a position to divulge any further information and referred Namibian Sun to Amupanda. The latter refused to comment.

Speaking on behalf of the fired councillors, Kashona kaMalulu confirmed that the money was paid to a law firm and said it was done with the consent of the community members who had helped to raise the funds.

“We used N$400 000 and not N$1.4 million as they are alleging. Since we initiated that project last year we only raised about N$600 000 and not N$1.4 million as the new leadership is insinuating.

“We approached community members who contributed the money and asked for their permission for us to use this money. Let them also explain the missing N$1.5 million they found in the OTA Trust Account,” kaMalulu said.

He added that the new leadership had no mandate to run the affairs of the traditional authority, since community members had stopped paying their dues.

KaMalulu also accused Nepando of threatening to take community members' land and cattle because of their refusal to pay the levies.

“By law traditional leaders are gazetted. We are not talking about the self-proclaimed leaders of OTA who were appointed in hotels. The secretary is also not allowed to go and demand payment from community members by law,” he said.

In July this year, Elifas ordered the expulsion of seven of the eight traditional councillors who were suspended in April. They include senior traditional councillors such as former Ondonga Traditional Authority (OTA) chairperson Peter Kauluma and former OTA spokesperson Joseph Asino.

Heavyweights such as senior headman John Walenga and former Oshikoto governor Vilho Kamanya were also expelled from the traditional authority.

The other dismissed councillors are kaMalulu, Tonata Ngulu and Fillemon Nambili. The fired councillors have since approached the High Court to challenge their dismissal.



ILENI NANDJATO

Politicians divided on sanitary pads

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Politicians divided on sanitary pads Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa has shot down a suggestion from deputy agriculture minister Anna Shiweda that girls must be encouraged to make use of “alternative materials” instead of waiting for the government to supply them with free sanitary pads.

Speaking during the Gender Advisory Committee dialogue yesterday, Shiweda said the government might overcommit itself financially and might not be able to continue supplying sanitary pads once donor funding ran out.

“There are other materials that the girls can use, but not leaves,” she said.

Her suggestion was received well by the deputy minister of higher education, training and innovation, Becky Ndjoze-Ojo, who said girls should be encouraged to use “washable pads”.





According to Ndjoze-Ojo, the free pads initiative was ideally targeting vulnerable girls, especially those in child-headed households who have no parental support.

Hanse-Himarwa said she was not a proponent of reusable pads.

“It is very unhygienic. Providing pads is not so expensive. I am sure we can design a sustainable programme,” she said.

Meanwhile, a progress report presented by education permanent secretary Sanet Steenkamp stated that N$300 000 had been mobilised from government resources and donors to procure sanitary products for needy girls.

This was done by the Sanitary Products Technical Committee.



According to this report, 3 750 needy girls from all 14 regions were identified as beneficiaries.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Woman shot, boyfriend surrenders

October 2, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Woman shot, boyfriend surrenders A Windhoek man surrendered to the police yesterday after allegedly killing his girlfriend in the Otjomuise residential area in the early morning hours.

According to a police spokesperson, Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi, the suspect reportedly had an argument with his girlfriend of nine years, identified as Maria Megameno Kamati (29).

He allegedly shot her in the head.

“The suspect drove to the Windhoek police station to report the matter but on the way he was involved in a minor accident and his vehicle veered off the road and hit a pavement. The suspect [then] took a taxi to the police station and notified the police of what had transpired,” she said. The couple apparently had two children.

“The 9mm Makarov pistol was confiscated. The next of kin is informed and the investigation is ongoing,” Shikwambi said.

The deputy minister of gender equality and child welfare, Lucia Witbooi, condemned the incident, saying that children need their mothers.

She said gender-based violence was getting out of hand.

“I do not even know what must be done, the government and even the non-governmental-organisations have so many programmes on how to deal with gender-based violence but you still see this happening every day,” she said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Alleged girlfriend killer appears

October 3, 2017, 8:35 am

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Alleged girlfriend killer appears
An Otjomuise resident, who allegedly shot and killed his 29-year-old girlfriend at their flat in the capital on Monday, has been refused bail.
The 41-year-old Erastus Heita was refused bail when he made his first appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court today.
Public Prosecutor Victoria Thompson strongly objected to the granting of bail because of the seriousness and complexity of the murder charge he faces.
Other reasons for the refusal of bail are that it would not be in the interests of the administration of justice and public to release Heita on bail at this stage as police investigations into the matter are still at a premature stage.
Meanwhile, he was informed by presiding Magistrate Bernedine Michelle Kubersky to bring a formal bail application before court if he wants to be released on bail.
Heita, who appeared in person, told the court he will seek the service of a private defence lawyer.
His case, which is being dealt with by the court in accordance with the provisions of the Combating of Domestic Violence Act of 2003, was remanded until 25 January 2018 for further police investigations.
Heita was remanded in police custody with no option to post bail following the prosecution’s refusal for the granting of bail at this stage.
The incident that claimed the life of Maria Megameno Kamati, 29, occurred around 06h30 in 7de Laan in Windhoek’s Otjomuise residential area.
Namibian Police Force spokesperson, Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi told Nampa upon enquiry on Monday the deceased and the suspect allegedly had an argument.
Heita then allegedly shot Kamati in the head with a nine millimetre Makarov pistol.
He handed himself over to the police at the Windhoek Police Station.
Police officers who rushed to the scene found the deceased’s body lying on their bed with a gunshot wound to the head.
Heita and Kamati were reportedly in a nine-year relationship and had two children.
The weapon used during the incident was found at the scene and confiscated.
NAMPA

Battle of the sexes in the ring

October 3, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Battle of the sexes in the ring A woman boxing for Nestor Tobias's Sunshine Boxing Academy will go head to head with a man from the same stable at the Champions in Action boxing event on 21 October.

The female boxer, known only as Selma, will exchange gloves with an equally mysterious opponent called Mike.

Tobias has been tight-lipped about the fight, only saying that it will be the first of its kind in Namibia.

“I wish to assure the boxing community that this fight is above board and will be a first in Namibian boxing and a first in the world of boxing. MTC Sunshine Promotions is all about creativity, and this will therefore be one of those exciting moments come October. We do not want to reveal too much for now and urge boxing fans to come and watch all fights live,” Tobias said.

It is not even known in which weight division this fight is scheduled.

“I have never seen a woman fighting a man and I am sure this is not allowed in terms of the Namibian boxing rules and regulations,” said one boxing fan.

Eleven bouts are scheduled for the evening, on which Walter 'Executioner' Kautondokwa will defend his WBO Africa middleweight title against Meschack Mwankemwa from Tanzania.

Executioner is a hard hitter and has promised fans that he will floor the Tanzanian.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

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Local players to make up Warriors squad

October 3, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Local players to make up Warriors squadNamibia to face Botswana in friendly Local players will make up the Brave Warriors squad as they prepare to face Botswana in a friendly match this weekend. The Brave Warriors will take on Botswana in preparation for the upcoming 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Saturday.

The Warriors will use the upcoming international match to break some sweat at the same venue where Botswana knocked them out of the 2016 Cosafa Cup, 5-4 on penalties after a one-all draw at a packed stadium.

Ricardo Mannetti, coach of the Brave Warriors, said he would use the game to test his charges in preparations for the 2018 CHAN finals with the host country still to be decided.

“These kinds of games are very helpful as they assist in identifying areas that need to be worked on and to just generally see how far you have come.

“The league is yet to start and we have kept the players busy. Some clubs have also started with training and that makes things a bit better but for us international interaction is key because it gives us the real analysis,” Mannetti said.

He further said that he will have 90 percent locally based players and three foreign-based players for Saturday. The foreign-based players are Larry Horaeb, Peter Shalulile and Denzel Haoseb, who play for South African clubs.

Mannetti said he chose these three to aid the local players because he had identified problem areas and wanted to add depth to the team. He also said that the selection was to make sure players gel on the field.

Namibia will be making their first appearance at the competition, having qualified with a 2-1 aggregate win over Comoros in the final round of qualifiers courtesy of a Muna Katupose brace at the Sam Nujoma on 20 August.

Africa's football governing body CAF announced that, at the deadline for submission of applications on Saturday, three federations had submitted their bids for hosting the 2018 Total African Nations Championship. These federations are of Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia and Morocco.

The draw procedure for the finals is to be confirmed as 16 teams will be drawn into four groups of four teams. The hosts will be seeded in Group A, and the title holders will be seeded in Group C should they qualify.

Total CHAN is a competition made up of players selected in their CAF members' national championships. The fifth edition is to be held in 2018.

Tickets for the match cost N$30 and are available at Computicket.

The 23-man squad: Edward Maova, Charles Uirab, Lodyt Kazapua, Ferdinand Karongee, Tiberius Lombard, Charles Hambira, Larry Horaeb, Edmund Kambanda, Dynamo Fredericks, Immanuel Heita, Benyamin Nenkavu, Oswaldo Xamseb, Petrus Shitembi, Ronald Ketjijere, Denzil Haoseb, Absalom Iimbondi, Itamunua Keimuine, Roger Katjiteo, Muna Katupose, Himeezembi Hengombe, Romario Ndjavera, Riaan Hanamub and Peter Shalulile.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

Uruguay to tour Namibia next month

October 3, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Uruguay to tour Namibia next month Namibia's national rugby team will play two test matches against a visiting side from Uruguay in November.

These matches are crucial in preparing the Namibian team for qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup during June and July 2018, as no other matches will be played before then.

The matches will provide a chance for players to compete and cement their place in the Namibian squad.

According to the Namibia Rugby Union Uruguay accepted an invitation to tour Namibia during November, with the assistance of World Rugby.

The following dates have been confirmed for the tests to be played at the Hage Geingob Stadium: 18 November and 25 November.

The test matches will also form part of the NRU centennial celebrations.

Uruguay is ranked 18th in the world, while Namibia is in 21st position. Uruguay's impressive record will help Namibia improve their rugby, the NRU says.

It's a historic first for the Los Teros, who travel to face Namibia for the first time in their history. There has been one previous match between the countries that took place in September 2000. On that day Uruguay won by 23-12 in Montevideo.

Namibia was part of the 2017 World Rugby Nations Cup held in Montevideo but the two sides did not meet on senior level.

On junior level the two teams met in September in the World Rugby under-20 Trophy. Namibia played impressively but ended up losing the third spot to Uruguay.

Uruguay will play against the Argentina XV in the Sudamérica Rugby Cup Final in Colonia del Sacramento on 29 September. Namibia, meanwhile, will host the Asia Pacific Dragons invitational side for a friendly on 4 November.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

World Cup qualifier for Muinjo

October 3, 2017, 3:00 pm

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World Cup qualifier for Muinjo The Namibia Football Association's honorary president, John Muinjo, will be the match commissioner for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers Group D clash between South Africa and Burkina Faso at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The match will be played at 15:00 and Muinjo will lead a delegation of match officials to take charge of the encounter.

He will be travelling to Johannesburg on Friday and is expected back home on Sunday.

Muinjo's delegation consists of Cameroonian referees. Alioum Alioum is the central referee, assisted by Evarist Menkouande and Elvis Noupue and fourth official Souley Mohamadou. The referee's assessor is Bekaye Magassa from Mali.

The Burkina Faso national team has already arrived in South Africa and will be without injured attackers Jonathan Pitroipa and Jonathan Zongo, and suspended defender Issoufou Dayo, who was sent off in a clash with Senegal.

Burkina Faso share the Group D summit with Cape Verde on six points after four games - a point more than Senegal and five in front of South Africa.

Senegal and South Africa have a match in hand after their first meeting was chalked off by FIFA after Ghanaian referee Joseph Lamptey was found guilty of match-fixing.

The last time South Africa and Burkina Faso met, which was in the third and final round of the African qualifiers, they finished one-all in Ouagadougou. Only the group winner will advance to the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia.

nfa

Erongo wins Dinolo netball tourney

October 3, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Erongo wins Dinolo netball tourneyCoastal town takes netball cup Erongo netball team Eleven Arrows on Saturday became the first champions of the Dinolo Super Netball Tournament. The team from the coast walked away with N$15 000 in prize money. Composite Depot from Khomas Region took the second prize of N$10 000 followed by the Gobabis Correctional Services team from the Omaheke Region with N$5 000.

The tournament is sponsored by traditional food manufacturer African Deli.

The finals took place in Swakopmund after the qualifying games in all 14 regions, which started in June.

Tournament coordinator Charlane Minnaar told Nampa in a telephonic interview on Monday that only 11 regions managed to send teams to Swakopmund for the finals.

She said Omusati, Oshikoto and Zambezi could not participate because of a lack of transport.

Her observation of the tournament was that there is a lack of netball facilities such as courts in some regions.

She also said there are no netball committees responsible for organising such games in some regions.

“We need to have at least one good netball court in every region where a league can be played. Some regions have no courts, people play on the ground and some have very old courts,” Minnaar said.

She referred specifically to the towns of Outapi in Omusati, Nkurenkuru in Kavango West and Eenhana in Ohangwena, saying there are either no courts or what is available is in an appalling state.

Next year, the tournament is expected to start in March and conclude in September, with the finals expected to be held in Swakopmund again.

Local company African Deli was founded in January 2013 in Walvis Bay. They launched the Dinolo Super Netball Tournament in the Khomas Region on 24 June.

“We understand the importance of physical well-being through sports. For netball enthusiasts, this is not only an adventure, but also a great way to keep fit,” African Deli spokesperson Anne-Marie Molatudi said in a media statement.

NAMPA

Nakudhipaga iifala kopolisi

October 3, 2017, 3:00 pm

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Nakudhipaga iifala kopolisi Omulumentu ngoka a zimine kutya okwa dhipaga omukadhona gwe ongula yOmaandaha momudhingoloko gwaTjomuise mOvenduka, okwiigandja kopolisi konima sho a longo oshimbuluma shoka. Kwiikwatelelwa kOmupopliko gwOpolisi, Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi, okwa popi kutya omulumentu ngoka okwa lopotwa ya li taya umana nomukadhona gwe ngoka ya kala naye oomvula dha thika po-9, nomokati koondjuma ndhoka okwe mu yaha momutse.

“Omufekelwa ngoka okwa hingi ohauto ye uuka kosasiyona yOpolisi yaVenduka, ihe mondjila ohauto ye oya ningi oshiponga oshishona. Omufekelwa okwa kwata otaxi opo yi mu fale kopolisi na okwa tseyithile opolisi shoka a ningi.”

Omufekelwa otaku popiwa kutya oye na uunona uwali nanakusa, ngoka a tumbulwa kedhina kutya omunamimvo 29, Maria Megameno Kamati.

“Ondjembo yombistoli yo 9mm Makarov oya kuthwa ko, naapambele yanakusa oya tseyithilwa eso lye, nomakonaakono gopolisi otaga tsikile.”

Omupevi minista gwUuthikepamwe nOnkalonawa yAanona, Lucia Witbooi okwa kondema noomuthindo oshiningwanima shoka, ta popi kutya aanona oya pumbwa ooyina.

Okwa popi kutya iimbuluma yomomagumbo oya londa pombanda noonkondo na oya pumbwa okukandekwa.

JEMIMA BEUKES