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Brave Warriors improve rankings

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Brave Warriors improve rankingsBrave Warriors improve rankings Namibia's senior national football team has moved up three places in the latest FIFA rankings.

The country has moved from 132nd to 129th in the world, while also moving from 38th to 35th in Africa.

Namibia recently defeated Botswana 3-1 in an international friendly, which has resulted in their movement in the FIFA ranking table.

In June the Brave Warriors fell 62 places to 156th in the world and 47th in Africa, but the country has kept on improving since then.

Namibia is scheduled to play in the African Nations Championship (CHAN) slated to take place in Morocco in January.

Other top five rankings

World

1. Germany

2. Brazil

3. Portugal

4. Argentina

5. Belgium

Africa

1. Tunisia

2. Egypt

3. Senegal

4. DR Congo

5. Nigeria

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

N$20m for NPL season - source

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N$20m for NPL season - sourceN$20m for NPL season - sourceKick-off this weekend Speculation is rife that close to N$20 million is available to start the premier league season this weekend. The 2017/18 Namibia Premier League season is likely to be launched this week with a budget of over N$20 million, well-placed sources have indicated.

It was announced last week that the league had secured sponsorships from former sponsor MTC and FNB Namibia, but the amounts were not made public.

It was also announced that the league would kick off this week once the sponsorship agreement was signed.

All 16 clubs in the Namibia Premier League had agreed to the kick-off date for this season.

The league officials could not reveal their budget before the final deal with the sponsors was signed. The duration of the sponsorship deal is still a well-kept secret too.

Well-placed sources have indicated that the deal is almost done and the launch of the season will take place on Thursday.

The source said FNB Namibia agreed to sponsor N$5 million for the 2017/18 season while MTC would make N$15 million available.

It is also understood that one of the potential sponsors, Namibia Breweries Limited, remains reluctant to enter into an agreement with the league.

Namibia Premier League chairman Patrick Kauta would neither confirm nor deny the figures given by the source.

“Things at the moment are in the process and I honestly will not be able to confirm anything.

“I do believe that the sponsors will issue a press release once everything is in place.

“All I can tell you is that the league will definitely start this weekend,” Kauta said.

Attempts to get comment from the new sponsors were unsuccessful yesterday. The Namibia Premier League kickoff is more than a year overdue because of a lack of sponsorship. The crisis led to the resignation of NPL leaders and infighting within the football fraternity.

The problems of the league have affected more than 400 players, coaches and referees.

The league is finally picking up the pieces after the election of a new executive committee with Patrick Kauta as chairman.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Namib Daughters maintain SWSL lead

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Namib Daughters maintain SWSL leadNamib Daughters maintain SWSL leadWomen's league wraps up for the year The first leg of the Swakopmund Women's Soccer League (SWSL) ended at the Mondesa Stadium in Swakopmund on Saturday, with Namib Daughters extending their lead to five points. On Wednesday, Daughters, the champions of the competition's maiden season in 2015, beat Dream Team 5-1 at the same venue to collect three points against their closest rivals.

On Saturday, African Queens lost 2-1 to Kavetu FC while the game between Super Ladies and United Nations was postponed to next year (2018) because the United Nations coach had urgent private matters to attend to.

At the end of the first half of this year's league which kicked off in July, Daughters have 15 points from six games played, followed by Dream Team with 10 points, while African Queens occupy third position with nine points.

Defending champions Dragon City are in fourth position with eight points, Kavetu FC are fifth also with eight points while the new kids on the block, Super Ladies, are sixth with six points.

The bottom of the log is occupied by another newcomer, United Nations, who are on zero points after five games.

The league is scheduled to continue with its second leg over the weekend of 3 February 2018.

League chairperson Wilson Nguvauva told Nampa on Saturday that the league would only continue next year because they want to give players time to study for their exams and go on holiday thereafter.

The amateur women's football league comprises seven teams from Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Arandis.

The seven teams that compete in the league are Dragon City, Namib Daughters, Dream Team, African Queens, Kavetu, Super Ladies and United Nations.

NAMPA

Oompangela dhokukandeka eetandelo lyomukithi gwombulwa

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Oompangela dhokukandeka eetandelo lyomukithi gwombulwaOompangela dhokukandeka eetandelo lyomukithi gwombulwa Okwa tamekithwa oshikonga shewapaleko lyiishana yomeya mbyoka tayi adhika moBwabwata West sha landula sho oondjambameya 110 oshowo oongalangombe 20 dha si komukithi gwombulwa.

Oshitopolwa shoshikunino shiinamwenyo shoka, otashi ka pwata manga pethimbo taku ningwa ewapaleko ndyoka.

Ewapaleko ndyoka olya tameke oshiwike sha piti, onga oshitopolwa shoompangela ndhoka tadhi ningwa opo ku yandwe etaandelo lyomukithi ngoka, sha landula omutumba ngoka gwa ningwa kaanambelewa ya za muuministeli womidhingoloko nomatalelepo oshowo oshikondo shomayakulo giinamwenyo okuza muuministeli wUunamapya naanambelewa yuundjolowele oshowo aanambelewa yelelo lyoKavango East. Aakalelipo yoshikandjohogololo shaMukwe oshowo aanambelewa ya za muuministeli woohi oya kala woo momutumba ngoka gwa ningwa.

Oompangela dhekandeko lyomukithi ngoka odha kwatela mo woo omahwahwameko gontuntila nekeelelo lyeinyengo lyiimuna moshikandjo shaMukwe.

Aanambelewa yuundjolowele otaya ka gandja ekwatho lyuunamiti kaantu mboka ya gumu iiyamakuti mbyoka ya si.

Aanambelewa oya kunkilile oshigwana opo kashi kwate iinamwenyo mbyoka yiisile, nopehala nayi lopotwe kaanambelewa meendelelo.

Onkundana yiiyamakuti mbyoka ya si oya lopota momasiku ga 7 gaKotomba nuumvo.

Nonando omukithi ngoka gwombulwa ogwa li gwa lopotwa moomvula dha piti moNamibia, sho gwa taandele okuza miilongo ngaashi Botswana, inaku lopotwa ngashiingeyi etukuko lyomukithi ngoka, miishiindalongo yaNamibia.

Iiyamakuti mboka ya si otayi hwikwapo, opo ku yandwe etaandelo lyomukithi.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Uuministeli wUundjolowele wa hala okuhupitha iimaliwa

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Uuministeli wUundjolowele wa hala okuhupitha iimaliwaUuministeli wUundjolowele wa hala okuhupitha iimaliwaOondjambi dhaaniilonga itadhi gumwa Onga omukalo gwokuhupitha iimaliwa nokushunitha pevi elongitho lyiimaliwa yepangelo, oshikondo shuundjolowele osha tokola okushunitha pevi nokukaleka elongitho lyiimaliwa miinima yimwe mbyoka itayi yi moshipala epango lyaayakulwa yuuministeli. Ominista yuundjolowele nOnkalonawa Bernard Haufiku, okwa lopotwa ya thigi po ombelewa yawo ndjoka onene nokutembukila mombelewa onshona, opo ndjoka onene yi vule okulongithwa kaaniilonga yalwe, onga omukalo tagu longithwa koshikondo shoka, mokushunitha pevi omwaalu gwiimaliwa mbyoka tayi longithwa.

“Naminista okwa thiga po ombelewa ye nokutembukila mombelewa ndjoka onshoka, opo ndjoka onene yi topolelwe aaniilonga ya thika p yane,” omupeha amushanga muuminiteli mboka, Petronella Masabane lombwele oNamibian Sun.

Etokolo ndyoka olya ningwa onga etetulo lyelongitho lyiimaliwa nokukwashilipaleka kutya etetulo ndyoka itali gumu aapangwa, pahapu dhomupeha amushanga ngoka.

Okwa ningwa omatokolo ogendji muuministeli mboka opo ku shunithwe pevi omwaalu gwiimaliwa ngoka tagu longithwa, mwakwatelwa ekaleko lyokulanda iinima iipe, oshowo omakuto miilonga omape ngoka itaga kwatakanithwa nonkalonawa yaapangwa.

Uumunisteli owa pewa oshimaliwa shoobiliyona 6.51 nuumvo noobiliyona 3.29 odhili oshitopolwa shoondjambi dhaaniilonga.

Masabane okwa popi kutya omukalo ngoka ogwa etitha eshunitho pevi lyoomauwanawa gaaniilonga, na oya tula woo miilonga omuthigululwakalo gwokwaahepitha iinima, nokukaleka iinima yilwe mbyoka itayi yi moshipala epango lyaayakulwa wuuministeli.

Masabane okwa tsikile kutya aaniilonga oyendji oya taambako onkalo ndjoka, na otaya longele kumwe poondondo dha yooloka opo ya vule okuhupitha iimaliwa.

Uuministeli mboka owa kalele woo omalweendo gaaniilonga, naamboka ya pitikwa okuya momalweendo ongele owala pe na ompumbwe onene ngaashi ngele kwa tukuka omikithi ngaashi oyellow fever, malaria nenge omukithi gwombulwa.

Kakele komalweendo ngoka, omalweendo agehe gopondje yoshilongo nomoshilongo oga kalekwa kaleke kwaangoka taga futilwa okuza pondje yuuministeli, mwa kwatelwa omilalo, iikulya nomalweendo.

Elelo lyuuministeli mboka ihali pula woo iifuta ngele taya longitha iihauto yawo yopaumwene miilonga, kakele ongele omalweendo otaga yi pondje ookilometa dhi li po-500.

Eningo lyiigongi mbyoka tayi pula ehiilo lyomahala gokugongalela nalyo olya talika omeho, sha etitha elelo lyuuministeli paitopolwa li kale owala hali kala niigongi yokomvula.

Etulo miilonga lyomagongalo taku longithwa uutekinika osha etitha woo eshunitho pevi lyiimaliwa hayi longithwa momalweendo.

Okuhupitha iimaliwa mbyoka tayi longithwa mokuhiila oombelewa, oshimwe hoka sha etitha minista a tembuke mo mombelewa ye nokuyi gandja kaaniilonga.

Ekaleko lyelando lyiiwapeki yomoombelewa oshowo okunyanyangitha oombaapila dhomahwahwameko oyimwe yomiinima tayi talika woo omeho. Aaniilonga oya tseyithilwa opo ya longithe omikalo dhilwe dhomakwatathano ngaashi ooradio niikundaneki oshowo iigongi opo ku vule okushunithwa pevi omwaalu gwiimaliwa tagu longithwa mokunyanyangitha oombaapila dhomahwahwameko goopoloyeka dhuuministeli.

Minista okwa popi woo nokukunkilila kutya etseyitho ndyoka tali topolelwathana komapandja gomakwatathano gopainternet kombinga yehulithepo lyoondjambi dhaanashilonga yuunamiti mboka yeli momadheulo giilonga, kali li pamulandu nomondjila. Okwa koleke kutya inaku ninga omalunduluko moondjambi dhaaniilonga nomauwananwa gaaniilonga.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Olugodhi lwa tameke

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Olugodhi lwa tamekeOlugodhi lwa tamekeNUNW a nyenyeta Olugodhi kutya olye taka siandana po uuleli wongundu yoSwapo, olwa tameke, sho kwa tegelelwa ku ningwe omahogololo gaaleli yongundu ndjoka momutumba gwomahogololo ngoka tagu ningwa omwedhi twa taalela. Elelo lyongundu yoSwapo olya ningi omutumba mOsoondaha moshilandopangelo na olya hololwa polweela nokuninga omahogololo gaamboka taya ka kutha ombinga methigathano lyoshipundi shuupresidende wongundu, omupeha presidende, amushanga oshowo omupeha amushanga.

Nonando okwa kala omapopyo kutya omupresidende Hage Geingob itaka kondjithwa methigathano ndyoka, ethigathano ndyoka olya tseyithwa kutya olya patuluka, naakondjithi yaGeingob oya hololwa.

Aanapolotika mboka taya ka kondjitha Geingob ongaashi omunapolotika e li moshipundi shevululuko, Nahas Angula, oshowo ominista yOmaudhano, Jerry Ekandjo.

Omupevi presidende, methigathano omu na Helmut Angula, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana naNetumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

Methigathano lyuuamushanga wongundu omu na oArmas Amukwiyu naSophia Shaningwa omanga lyuupeha amushanga, Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, Marco Hausiku naPetrina Haingura.

Pethimbo lyomutumba ngoka gwa ningwa, Geingob okwa popi kutya ethigathano ndyoka olya manguluka, ihe okwa kunkilile opo aanapolotika ka ya ninge olugodhi ndoka oshinima shopaumwene nokweeta iikonene pokati kawo.

Geingob ngoka a kala ta longo pehala lyomupresidende wongundu okutameka mo-201,5 konima nkene omuleli nale, Hifikepunye Pohamba e mu pe oshipundishuuleli, okwa popi kutya ethigathano ndyoka otali ka kala euliko lyuundemokoli moshilongo.



NUNW ita tsu kumwe

Konima owala yowili oonshona sho omutumba gwelelo lyoSwapo gwa manithwa, oNational Union of Namibian Workers (NUNW), oya nyenyeta nokulundila amushanga gwongundu yoSwapo, Nangolo Mbumba kutya okwa yi moshipala ehogololo lyaaulikwa yongongahangano ndjoka tayi kalelepo aaniilonga.

NUNW okwa popi kutya okwa tseyithila Mbumba kutya omupresidende nale gwoNUNW, Kasuta ota kuthwa oonkondo opo ka vule okukutha ombinga miinyangadhalwa ayihe yongundu naAlbert Liswaniso oye ta longo pehala lyomupresidende gwongunduihe shoka inashi landulwa.

Mombaapila yimwe ndjoka ya pewa Mbumba, oya holola kutya

Petrus Nevonga oye ta kala omukalelipo gwehangano ndyoka momutumba gwoSwapongoka tagu ka ulika aakuthimbinga methigathano, oshowo omusholondondo gwaaulikwa otagu ka tuminwa Mbumba.

Oya popi kutya Mbumba okwa tsikile nokulongitha edhina lya Kasuto onga omupresidende gwoNUNW. Omukalelipo gwoNUNW, Nevonga, okwa li a kuthwa mo momutumba gwelelo lyoSwapo, namushanga gwoNUNW, Job Muniaro, okwa popi kutya shoka otashi tumu etumwalaka lya yooloka kaaniilonga, molwaashoka omatokolo gawo, gomuhogololwa gwawo, oga patelwa pondje.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Oontamanana momutumba gweelo lyondoolopa yaShakati

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Oontamanana momutumba gweelo lyondoolopa yaShakatiOontamanana momutumba gweelo lyondoolopa yaShakati Omunashipundi gwokomitiye yelelo lyondoolopa yaShakati, okwa li ali moonyandi sho ookansela ya tindi okutsa kumwe nomagwedhelepo gokomitiye.

Mayola gwondoolopa yaShakati, Angelus Iiyambo okwa li a thiminikwa konkalo opo a kaleke omutumba gwelelo lyondoolopa ndjoka, Metine lyoshiwike sha piti, uule woominute omulongo sha landula oontamanana.

Oontamanana ndhoka odha tukuka sho elelo lya ningi uutokolitho wokugandja ooplota 100, kaatungi yeli yaheyali opo ya tungemo mooplota ndhoka omagumbo.

Kansela gwoDTA, Linus Tobias okwa pataneke omagwedhelepo ngoka kutya okugandja ooplota 100 komutungi gumwe kashi li mondjila na okwa pula opo aatungi ya ewe ooplota 40 ko kutalike tango iilonga yawo, yo taya ka pewa nduno odhindji ngele ope na ndhoka dha hupuko.

Tobias okwa popi kutya monakuziwa elelo olya li hali gandja ooplota 10 nenge 20 kaatungi.

Mayola Iiyambo okwa yambidhidha omaiyuvo gaTobias. Kansela Louise Shivolo ina tsa kumwe na okwa popi kutya ooplota 70 odhi li nawa.

Omunashipundi gwokomitiye yelelo, Gabriel Kamwanka, okwa thikama nokupopya newi lyomuthindo kutya ooplota 100 nadhi gandjwe kaatungi mboka, molwaashoka okomitiye oye shi dhilaadhila nale.

Kamwanka okwa popi kutya aatungi mboka, oyeli AaNamibia, na oya kala taya yambidhidha iilonga yelelo lyondoolopa.

“Ngele elelo lyaShakati li na shoka lya pumbwa hatu yi kaanangeshefa mboka opo tu ka konge ekwatho, onkene oya pumbwa okupewa ooplota 100 kehe gumwe.”

Okwa popi kutya elelo lyondoolopa olya hogololwa koshigwana opo li ungaunge niipambele yondoolopa lyolyene pehala lyokukala lya tegelela aluhe uuminsiteli. Okwa yambudhidhwa komupeha omunashipundi gwokomitiye ndjoka Johannes Shilongo, ngoka a popi kutya okomitiye oya kundathana nale oshinima shoka.

Shilongo okwa popi kutya elelo oli na oomvula ndatu omanga omahogololo inaga ningwa, na olya pumbwa okuthiga ko uuthiga weyambulepo lyondoolopa.

Konima owala sho Shilongo a popi, Iiyambo kwa kaleke omutumba na okwa gandja elombwelo opo ookansela ayehe ya ye mombelewa ye. Kamwanka tango okwa li a tindi okuya mombelewa yamayola, ta pula kutya mayola oku na oonkondo dhini okuya ithana mombelewa ye. Iiyambo okwa yamukula kutya omunashipundi gwomutumba oku na oonkondo okukaleka omutumba. Ookansela oye mu landula mombelewa ye, nokonima oya shuna momutumba.

Iiyambo okwa pula Shivolo opo eendulule momapopyo ge opo ku gandjwe ooplota 70, nomaiyuvo gaShivolo oga yambidhidhwa kuShilongo.

caption

UUHONA: Omunashipundi gwokomitiye yelelo lyondoolopa yaShakati, Gabriel Kamwanka.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Shot of the day

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Shot of the dayShot of the day SHELTER: A Rohingya refugee woman tries to shelter from the rain at Kutupalaong refugee camp in the Bangladeshi district of Ukhia. Bangladesh on 5 October announced it would build one of the world's biggest refugee camps to house all the 800,000-plus Rohingya Muslims who have sought asylum from violence in Myanmar. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Health is wealth

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Health is wealthHealth is wealth A stitch in time saves nine and those that do not heed this wise call, will before they know it, find out that procrastinating shall become the burden of their being. A big pat on the back to the health ministry for taking stock of its budget to maintain its financial heartbeat. Let this be a call for all government ministries and public enterprises. While other public offices are whining about the budget cuts, Dr Bernard Haufiku and his ministry staff are leading by example to keep, not only the ministry's finances healthy, but they have taken it a step further to stop the haemorrhaging of service delivery which is critical for the health of the nation. It is high time the government cajoles public office bearers and legislators to be innovative and sustainable service providers. It is high time people are appointed on merit and innovative competency. This country is endowed with both mineral and flora and fauna wealth and with its small population, every citizen should be living a decent life. We do not need rocket science to understand such obvious truths. But, as long as we do not take full responsibility and run ministries and public institutions with a conscience, we shall squander crucial time blaming others for our failures. Unless a tree is pruned to rid it of dead brunches, that tree shall not continue to bear fruit and instead of being an asset, it becomes an expense. The time is nigh for those holding the reigns of national leadership to offload excess baggage, to maintain the health of its citizens and that of the country's economy. At the rate things are going, and the casual attitude of civil servants, the real and rapid decline of everything is imminent. Efficiency should be what drives public institutions in this era of financial woes. What we need is leadership that is competent and innovative. What is the point of hiring expensive turnaround strategists whose strategies are snubbed and thwarted by political interference? Democracy embraces diversity. And, in the spirit of progress and sustainability, let us cast aside our different political garments for the common good of this country, now!

Training traditional courts

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Training traditional courtsTraining traditional courts Community court officials in the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority (OTA) on Friday received training on the various laws in the country which is aimed at assisting them in their decision-making processes.

The one-day training took place at Ohangwena and roughly 15 community court officials, comprising of headmen, senior headmen, assessors and other traditional authority leaders gained the necessary information in terms of exercising their powers effectively and ensuring they are in line with the country's constitutional provisions.

The training was offered free of charge by lawyer Silas Kishi Shakumu.

The training comes at a time when in recent years several community members, who have been prosecuted by a community court are not satisfied with the ruling and then seeks justice from a magistrate's court.

According to some, this is happening because people are now more aware of their rights as stipulated in the constitution of the country and not like in the past where the decisions made in a community court were hard to challenge due to traditional values.

Engela village headman, Djemo Popyeinawa, who took part in the training, said that they have been experiencing challenges in terms of incorporating both national laws and those of the traditional authorities when making their decisions in the community courts.

Popyeinawa said although there are some traditional laws written down, most of the laws are not which he says is a challenge as people nowadays appeal the decisions and in most cases the magistrate's courts rule in the favour of the appellant.

“When an appeal is taken to court, you as a community court judge will be asked according to which Act you made that decision,” Popyeinawa said.

Popyeinawa therefore applauded Shakumu on behalf of Oukwanyama queen, Martha Mwadinomho waKristian yaNelumbu, saying that the training which he described as an 'eye-opener' will see traditional leaders under their authority make the better decisions.

Shakumu questioned the community court judges as to what their roles are and what qualities they should possess after which he coached them on these matters.

He educated them on the difference between substantive and procedural law and how to use these, the sources and the nature of customary law, the Namibian justice system, jurisdiction and the common disputes in the authority and the difference between communal-, traditional authority- and community court's laws.

Issues such as community court messengers not being respected when delivering a summons to a community member were also discussed.

It was also said that in some cases the police refuses to assist these messengers in executing their duties.

Shakumu said it is not wrong for the police to assist the messengers if people are refusing to accept the summons, but it must be done according to the law.

“If the police is informed that you are doing this because of such and such an Act, he will comply and next time there will be no need to remind him or her. They will just do it,” Shakumu said.

Due to the complexity of laws, Shakumu said that a series of up to four training sessions is needed which he will offer in the near future.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Amid high infections, PrEP is an option

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Amid high infections, PrEP is an optionAmid high infections, PrEP is an option“The provision of sustainable HIV prevention services through making Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis available to HIV-negative people who are at substantial risk of contracting the virus, is a definite milestone for Namibia,” American ambassador to Namibia, Thomas F. Daughton said.

Daughton visited a roadside clinic in Walvis Bay to gain first-hand insight into the provision of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for people at substantial risk of acquiring the disease, recently.

PrEP is the safe and effective use of antiretroviral drugs by people who are not infected with HIV but are at an elevated risk of contracting the virus. The medication can be taken by anyone who has reason to believe that they are at an elevated risk of acquiring HIV.

Daughton commended the Namibian government for being in the lead to fast-track the roll-out of PrEP in Namibia and said the drug Truvada was made available to all Namibians in May one month after it was approved.

“We continue to see new HIV infections occurring. Approximately 1.8 million people were infected with HIV in 2016 and two-thirds of these were in sub-Saharan Africa. This means 19 persons on average were infected every day in Namibia. These numbers highlight that there is still work that needs to be done to improve HIV prevention strategies and interventions. Data shows that Namibia has made great strides in diagnosing people living with HIV and getting them on ARV treatment. More work however needs to be done and access to treatment services for key populations remains very low in the country. PrEP is a direct and effective way of helping people in those key populations.”

Daughton underscored that no single intervention, including PrEP, offers perfect protection from HIV and said PrEP was the latest addition to the package of high-quality HIV prevention interventions that is available to people in Namibia.

“Taking PrEP does not negate the importance of other measures like the use of condoms or voluntary medical male circumcision. It is a combination of all of these interventions that is moving Namibia step-by-step to an Aids-free generation.”

The Society for Family Health (SFH) and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) started offering PrEP three months ago and currently manage container clinics in Oshikango, Katima Mulilo, and Walvis Bay.

The Namibian government first made PrEP available to a limited group in 2014 and the plan to expand its use is still in its early stages. The decentralisation of PrEP started in Walvis Bay with the support of the Walvis Bay Corridor Group three months ago and there are already 60 individuals using PrEP. This number is expected to increase steadily with the continued expansion of the programme.

The World Health Organisation recommended PrEP due to it being highly effective and having few side effects. Data shows the PrEP is between 92% and 100% effective. Evidence also shows that PrEP does not lead to an increase in risky sexual behaviour and these are some of the reasons why the health ministry included these recommendations in the national guidelines for antiretroviral treatment in November 2016.





OTIS FINCK

NYS cooks unhappy over zero overtime

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NYS cooks unhappy over zero overtimeNYS cooks unhappy over zero overtime As part of saving costs, the National Youth Service (NYS) in December last year discontinued overtime for kitchen staff at the Rietfontein campus. However, this has not been well received by the cooks on the campus who want to be paid for their weekend's work.

Before December 2016, the kitchen staff at the NYS Rietfontein training centre used to claim overtime for working during weekends but now the situation has changed as Sundays and public holidays are considered as part of 'ordinary working days' as long as they do not exceed eight hours worked.

According to one of the cooks, who opted for anonymity, the entire groups feel overworked by their employer saying that they do not work only eight hours a day and added it is unfair to let someone work on a Sunday and not pay them their legal double-time dues.

“We feel like volunteers here. How you can expect someone to work abnormal and long hours and they cannot claim overtime?” the source asked.

He added they were only informed verbally that the system has changed this year and that there is no further payment of overtime.

“We did not sign any document agreeing that we will work for free and if they are talking about saving costs, they recently had a meeting here at Rietfontein and most of them were from Windhoek. Why did they not have the meeting there? They came all the way here simply to claim S&T because they will not come here for free like we are working for here,” the source remarked.

The source also said that currently there are only eight cooking staff who operate in groups of four per day shift, saying that the fact that overtime is removed is like an insult, because on a daily basis the four staff on duty are expected to cook for and serve the over 400 students enrolled, as well as clean up.

“This is too much work for us. All four of us have to cook, serve and clean up.”

Contacted for comment, NYS spokesperson, Johanna Kambala refuted the claims made by the cooking staff regarding the issue of overtime.

She confirmed that in the past the cooks used to work overtime but said this is not the case anymore as the NYS introduced new shifts in order to cut costs.

“NYS confirms that the cooks worked overtime in the past. However, this was discontinued with effect from 1 December 2016 due to budget cuts and as a result, new shifts were introduced,” Kambala said.

“The discontinuation of overtime was communicated to the kitchen staff through the relevant channels in an email dated 9 December 2016. Hence, the claim made by the staff members that the new arrangements were not communicated to them is a deviation from the truth,” Kambala further said.

Kambala said that under the new shifts the staff members work strictly eight hours per day which is different from the 07:00 to 18:00 claim made by the source.

She also said that in total the staff members under the new shift work a total of 126 hours per month which is far less than the 160 hours as prescribed by law.

Kambala said prior to Namibian Sun's enquiry they had received a letter of grievance from the cooking staff's union representative, Namibia Public Worker's Union (Napwu) over the overtime issue. She said they responded explaining the reasons why the overtime was cancelled.

“…as expected, the kitchen staff were supposed to receive this information from their representative,” Kambala said.

Kambala explained that the recent budget cuts negatively affected the operations of NYS and as a result management had to come up with measures to cut cost.

“NYS management had to come up with austerity measures to cut costs which will allow the service to carry out its mandate, that of empowering the Namibian youth through the provision of skills training,” Kambala said.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Mouton to plead in 2018

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Mouton to plead in 2018Mouton to plead in 2018Rearrested after missing docket was found Morné Mouton, accused of killing a City Police officer and two others while driving drunk, will plead in January next year after his case was resumed when his missing docket was found. A young man accused of killing a police officer and two civilians while allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol in July 2015, is scheduled to plead to the charges against him on 24 January next year.

According to Nampa, Morné Mouton, 20, made another appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Friday morning and his case was remanded until 24 January 2018 for the purposes of plea and trial.

Mouton is free on bail N$6 000 and his bail was extended until his next court appearance.

The date to enter pleas was decided upon as per agreement reached between Mouton's defence lawyer, Nambili Mhata, and public prosecutor Rowan van Wyk before Magistrate Vanessa Stanley on Friday.

Mouton was arrested on 4 July 2015 on charges of culpable homicide and driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol after he ran over two civilians and an on-duty City Police officer along Sam Nujoma Drive in the Hochland Park residential area at about 04:00 that day.

Mouton was driving a Volkswagen sedan vehicle at a high speed while allegedly heavily intoxicated, and hit the three men who were standing on the sidewalk.

The deceased persons - Werner Simon, 22; Joshua Ngenokesho, age unknown; and City Police officer Manfred Gaoseb, 35, were killed instantly.

On 26 September, Mouton's matter was struck from the roll of the Windhoek Magistrate's Court because of a missing docket, leading to the withdrawal of the charges.

The missing docket was retrieved the same week on 28 September from the office of the court's prosecutor, Rowan van Wyk.

Hans Tourob, the control prosecutor of lower courts in Windhoek, at the time told Namibian Sun that they had issued a new summons on the same day for the case to be placed back on the court roll.

Tourob added that his office ordered Van Wyk to explain why the docket was not handed to the prosecutor assigned to the case.

“The incident has placed the State's case and the whole of the prosecution in a very bad light,” Tourob said.

The unavailability of the docket led to Magistrate Vanessa Stanley refusing to grant the State a postponement of the trial.

She struck the case from the court roll when the prosecutor turned up for the trial without witnesses or a case docket.

STAFF REPORTER

Struggle vet seeks eviction of eight families

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Struggle vet seeks eviction of eight familiesStruggle vet seeks eviction of eight families A veteran of the liberation struggle is asking the High Court in Windhoek to evict eight households who set up homesteads on land in the Katima Mulilo area which he says he inherited from his grandfather.

Alex Kamwi, in an application submitted to the court, said that eight households are occupying land in the Ngala and Mahundu districts, in the Zambezi Region unlawfully, and he asked the court to authorise the deputy sheriff to evict them from both the occupation and possession of his residential, grazing and ploughing area.

Kamwi maintains he is bringing the application, duly authorised as the grandson, the successor of his grandfather Kamwi Mointsa, and the head of Kamwi family unit and as a person controlling and administering his deceased's grandfather's estate according to their customs and customary laws.

The Ministry of Land Reform is cited in that they in terms of the Communal Land Reform Act possess the land in dispute in trust.

The Zambezi Land Board is also cited as a respondent as it exercises control over the allocation of customary land rights by chiefs or traditional authorities in the region.

The two respondents are authorised in terms of the provisions of the Communal Land Reform Act to institute legal action against the other eight respondents evicting them from the piece of land back to Shanshuma allocated to them by late Chief Maiba Moraliswane.

“The ministry and the land board failed to act despite the matter having been reported to them several times, as well as the court ruling in which it was stated the only land they were allocated was at Shanshuma,” Kamwi said.

He further argued that the other eight respondents Luckson Mahosi Chika; Phillemon Munichezi Nasilele; Simasiku Raymond Siluzungila Ntomwa; Charles Lisulo; Benson Ntomwa; Albert Shamukuni; Nchindo Simasiku and Samuele Buchana and their respective families residing at Penduka Mayungu, Chihahama, Seke, Muyako areas, have set up their homesteads on his land.

This, he said, was despite the ruling by the Magistrate's Court at Katima Mulilo dated 3 March 1995 against Chika's late father Zacharia Chika Simasiku.

“They continue to disobey the said ruling by residing unlawfully in my residential, grazing and ploughing area in Ngala, Mahundu district, Zambezi Region,” he charged.

He also asked the court to interdict the respondents and all persons through them from crossing the Shanshuma River or point at any direction which serves as a boundary between his residential, grazing and ploughing customary land rights in Nghala and their customary land rights in the Shanshuma area.

The respondents are yet to reply as the matter was only filed.

FRED GOEIEMAN

Speaker seeks Finnish help in tackling GBV

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Speaker seeks Finnish help in tackling GBVSpeaker seeks Finnish help in tackling GBV The Speaker of the National Assembly, Peter Katjavivi, is concerned about increasing cases of gender-based violence in Namibia and appealed to the Finnish political leadership to help curb the calamity when he met the president of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, and his counterpart, the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, Maria Lohela, in Helsinki recently.

Katjavivi was on a three-day visit of Finland to seek cooperation between the two legislatures.

Given Finland's good track record in tackling the scourge of gender-based violence, Katjavivi believes a joint effort between the two countries' parliaments could address many of the gender-related challenges that Namibia has been grappling with.

“We are dealing with a particular challenge of gender-based violence in Namibia. It has become a major problem. No day passes without hearing of men killing their own partners. Finland, which has done exceptionally well in tackling this challenge, can strengthen our ability to fight it,” said Katjavivi.

Katjavivi implored Finnish lawmakers to help devise mechanisms to fight the curse in collaboration with their Namibian counterparts.

He felt particular attention should be focused on targeted training for identified stakeholders to tackle this challenge. He also cited the resolutions of a global summit to end sexual violence that took place in London in 2014 as a yardstick that could be used as possible mitigating measures.

“We would want to identify stakeholders such as justice, the police, the gender ministry and others properly trained to be able to deal with victims and shame the perpetrators. Our reception centres for GBV victims should be upgraded to avoid subjecting already traumatised victims to further suffering,” proposed the Speaker.

Former Finnish ambassador to Namibia Anne Saloranta, whose term of office ended recently, reiterated in one of a series of meetings her government's commitment to gender issues, noting that Finland has and continues to fund projects on gender issues, particularly gender-based violence in Namibia.

The Finnish government has also continued to collaborate with the ministry of poverty reduction in order to alleviate poverty, one of underlying causes of gender-related challenges.

President Niinistö was particularly happy with Namibia's efforts in tackling reproductive health rights challenges.

Of particular interest to him was the mooted “HEforShe” campaign to be launched soon in Namibia that will jointly compel men and women lawmakers to take a stand against gender-based violence and demand women's advancement.

Finland and Namibia have a long relationship that dates back to the days of Finnish missionaries who arrived in Namibia more than 100 years ago, predating that country's role in Namibia's struggle for independence.

Katjavivi, who also met leaders of various opposition parties, was accompanied on his visit by lawmakers Elma Dienda and Heather Sibungo. He is now attending the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly in St Petersburg, Russia.

*George Sanzila works as the chief information officer in the Division Research, Information, Publications and Editorial Services at the National Assembly.

GEORGE SANZILA

Can Swapo heal itself?

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Can Swapo heal itself?Can Swapo heal itself? Political analysts are concerned that the once “mighty” Swapo may not make it in one piece through its highly anticipated elective congress next month.

Sunday's central committee meeting saw Swapo veterans Jerry Ekandjo and Nahas Angula joining the race for the party's top position, in opposition to the current acting president, Hage Geingob.

Contesting for the position of vice-president are Helmut Angula, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana and Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, while those running for the position of secretary-general include Armas Amukwiyu and Sophia Shaningwa.

Those running for the position of deputy secretary-general include Martha Namundjebo-Tilahun, Marco Hausiku and Petrina Haingura.

Political commentator Professor Nico Horn says while it is too early to tell whether factions are driving the divisions in the party it is clear through the nomination process that certain politicians opted to oppose Geingob.

“But what is strange is why do we have two camps if both teams expressed dissatisfaction with Geingob?” he asked.

He added that it is interesting that Iivula-Ithana and Ekandjo are both still serving in the cabinet both at the behest of Geingob.

According to Horn, Iivula-Ithana and Ekandjo are biting the proverbial hand that feeds them.

“He can fire them anytime; even in parliament he can recall them. Basically they are vulnerable at this point, but then it is obviously not the appropriate time to get rid of them.”

In 2015, Geingob extended what many regarded a “political lifeline” to his 2012 Swapo vice-presidential rivals Iivula-Ithana and Ekandjo, both of whom did not make it into the sixth National Assembly after the ruling party won only 77 seats.

It would appear as if this decision is coming back to haunt Geingob as both candidates have expressed frustration and impatience with his leadership.

Iivula-Ithana last week said she was ready to “sacrifice even her life to restore the party's principles as she contests the vice-president's position”.

Ekandjo was quoted in a weekly newspaper saying Geingob has “stifled democracy in the party”.

This is unprecedented, said political commentator Phanuel Kaapama when comparing Geingob's presidency with those of his predecessors Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba, who both served two terms uncontested.

In fact Nujoma, served three terms as state president after a bill that required only his signature was passed allowing him to stand for a third term.

The decision to oppose Geingob in his very first term as state president is an interesting development, observed Kaapama.

“When you look at the people that are contesting then you can see that they are throwing their names in a hat. And through that you can sense a lot of disgruntlement and dissatisfaction,” he said.

He insisted that Swapo's biggest test is whether it can bounce back from the divisions currently ravaging the party.

“The key question now is not who wins but whether it can heal the party, or will Swapo be haunted by this damage going into the future?” he asked.

JEMIMA BEUKES

New minimum wage for farmworkers

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New minimum wage for farmworkersNew minimum wage for farmworkers25% increase from 1 November The minimum pay of N$1 400 per month is for entry-level workers and the real average pay on commercial farms is higher. The minimum wage for farmworkers has been increased by 25% and will come into force on 1 November this year.

This follows successful negotiations that took place last week between the Agricultural Employers Association (AEA), Namibia National Farmers Union (NNFU), Namibia Emerging Commercial Farmers Union (NECFU) and Namibia Farmworkers Union (NAFWU).

According to the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), consensus was reached to raise the minimum wage by 25% from the 2014 rate.

According to the union, the minimum cash wage increased from N$3.70 to N$4.62 per hour, or N$900 per month, for a worker who works 45 hours per week.

For employers who do not give free rations, the ration allowance increases from N$400 to N$500 per month. The total minimum pay is thus now N$1 400 per month.

To calculate the value of free rations an average price of N$30 per kilogram of meat and N$6 per litre of milk was taken into consideration, according to the NAU.

Other free products are calculated at cost price. The allowances for housing, sanitation and water facilities as well as electricity (if available) have not changed.

“The AEA is of the opinion that unskilled workers on farms are better off than in other industries as farmworkers usually get free housing, rations, water and firewood while workers in other industries have to pay a lot for this.”

The aim of the farmworkers' minimum wage is a starting wage for workers engaged without experience.

The real average basic salary of farmworkers on commercial farms was already N$1 975 per month, inclusive ration value, according to the 2016 AEA wage report.

“This is 41% more than the minimum wage which will now come into force on 1 November,” said the NAU.

The report is published every second year by the AEA to determine the average wages farmworkers receive on commercial farms.

The report further pointed out that over the past 14 years the total remuneration package for farmworkers in Namibia has not even doubled, while farmworkers on some commercial farms in Namibia are still being underpaid, two years after the national minimum wage for farmworkers was implemented.

According to the report out of the 3 497 employees represented in the survey, a total of 57 employees (2.28%) in this survey received a cash wage below the minimum hourly rate of N$3.7 that came into force on 1 July 2014.

These workers were paid between N$2.02 and N$3.69 per hour.

The survey on the other hand noted that whereas the current minimum wage agreement is N$3.70, on average farmworkers in Namibia received N$6.90 in 2015/16.

The survey said that the average basic monthly monetary remuneration of permanent employees on commercial farms amounted to N$1 975.12, while the total remuneration package of permanent employees on commercial farms amounted to N$3 320.64 on average.

ELLANIE SMIT

Namibia's hunger pangs lessen

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Namibia's hunger pangs lessenNamibia's hunger pangs lessenSituation improves from 'alarming' to 'serious' The percentage of undernourished people in Namibia has dropped from 35.8% to 28.8% since 1992. Good progress has been made over the past 25 years to reduce Namibia's hunger levels by 27%, the Global Hunger Index shows.

According to the latest index released this year, Namibia's score is 25.7 compared to 1992 when it stood at 35.4.

This means that the hunger position has improved from being classified as “alarming” to “serious”.

According to the index, Namibia is ranked 87th out of the 119 countries covered in the report. The country's score was 30.8 in the year 2000 and 30.9 in 2008, while last year it scored 31.4.

Compared to other countries in Africa, South Africa has a hunger score of a mere 13.1 and it is ranked 55th globally. It means its hunger situation is “moderate”.

Kenya has a score of 21 and is ranked 70th on the global list. Kenya's score has dropped by 44% since 2000, moving the country from “alarming” to “serious”, verging on “moderate”.

But Zambia's situation remains one of the worst, ranked 115th out of the 119 countries measured. It scored 38.2, placing it in the “alarming” category.

According to the report, the percentage of undernourished people in Namibia between 1991 and 1993 was 35.8%. This has dropped to 28.8% for 2014 to 2016.

During the same period the prevalence of wasting in children younger than five decreased from 9.6% to 7.1%, while the prevalence of stunting in the same age group dropped from 35.7% to 23.1%.

According to the index, the under-five mortality rate also decreased from 7% to 4.5% during the same period.

The report stresses that despite years of progress, food security is still under threat.

“Conflict and climate change are hitting the poorest people the hardest and effectively pitches parts of the world into perpetual crises. Although it has been said that hunger does not discriminate, it does. It emerges the strongest and most persistently among populations that are already vulnerable and disadvantaged,” the report says.

According to this year's scores, the level of hunger in the world has decreased by 27% from the 2000 level.

It says the regions of the world struggling most with hunger are South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with scores in the “serious” range (30.9 and 29.4, respectively).

“Even as the average global hunger level has declined, certain regions of the world still struggle with hunger more than others, disadvantaged populations experience hunger more acutely than their better-off neighbours.”

According to the report, sub-Saharan Africa has a higher child mortality rate and struggles more with undernourishment, reflecting overall calorie deficiency for the population.

It says undernourishment in sub-Saharan Africa has remained virtually the same in 2014–2016 (at 21.6%) as in 2007–2009 (at 22.0%), and currently it constitutes the highest regional undernourishment rate in the world.

Rising food prices, droughts and political instability contributed to this stagnation.

Economic growth, particularly in certain sectors of the economy such as agriculture, and investment, especially in public services such as health and education, have helped some countries in the region to reduce their undernourishment levels.

Countries with a score of below 9.9 in the index are regarded as having low hunger levels; 10.0 to 19.9 moderate; 20.0 to 34.9 serious; 35 to 49.9 alarming and a score above 50 are extremely alarming. The only country scored above 50 this year was the Central African Republic (50.9) which was rated the worst of all the countries.

ELLANIE SMIT

NEFF blames councils for failed housing promise

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NEFF blames councils for failed housing promiseNEFF blames councils for failed housing promise ILENI NANDJATO

The Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) blame local authorities for the failure of their grandiose N$3 billion housing scheme.

The party says local councils did not give them a chance to secure the N$3 billion needed for the construction of affordable houses promised in its 2014 national election campaign.

Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, NEFF’s national coordinator, Kalimbo Ipumbu, said apart from the Ondangwa town council, all the local authorities rejected their proposals to acquire land through the NEFF housing project that had registered 65 000 landless people.

The Ondangwa council invited them for a presentation, but later abandoned the plan.

In 2014 NEFF told local media that the N$3 billion would be paid into a local bank before 10 December 2014 from Asian and Arabic countries.

However, the political party presented to Namibian Sun a financial statement prepared by an Oshakati-based financial consulting company in which no N$3 billion transaction was recorded.

Kalimbo said their prospective donor would not release the money to them because none of the local authorities could provide them with land despite their requests.

“The NEFF housing project money was only to be released to us once we received proof from the local authorities that we have land available to service and for the construction of houses. But we later informed them that we could not secure any land. We wrote letters to every local authority requesting for land, but they all rejected our proposals,” says Kalimbo.

Kalimbo expressed disappointment in the local authorities, saying they denied poor Namibians a golden opportunity to own houses. He said more than 65 000 people had registered for the NEFF housing project, to which they would pay only N$300 per month for their homes.

“N$3 billion is a lot of money, but since our local authorities are politically controlled by the ruling party it could not materialise. The management of the Ondangwa town council called us for a presentation where they expressed a keen interest until they reported to the council which rejected our plan.

“This was our effort to secure funds from the international community to meet our government halfway, but they rejected it,” he said.

He showed rejection letters from nine local authorities - Henties Bay, Karibib, Otjiwarongo, Swakopmund, Oranjemund, Walvis Bay, Okahao, Otavi and Grootfontein – to Namibian Sun. The majority of the local authorities said they did not have serviced land available for such a massive project.

Henties Bay, Otavi, Swakopmund, Grootfontein, Karibib and Walvis Bay indicated that they were already involved with other developers such as the National Housing Enterprises (NHE) and public-private partnerships.

Another NEFF leader, Abraham Ndumbu, said if local authorities could allocate them virgin land they could use the money to service it.

“We were not getting money to establish a new town, but to assist local authorities with land servicing and housing delivery. We could just develop the land through companies that we would contract to do the work. If local authorities are still interested we can still contact our partners,” Ndumbu said.

According to the financial statement, the party has no assets registered in its name and no income recorded since its establishment. Its account balance is N$-55 462.

Teachers' demo on for today

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Teachers' demo on for todayTeachers' demo on for todayVacancy bulletin the final straw A union representing teachers has organised a one-day walkout during the year-end exams to protest against cost-cutting by the ministry. Teachers are determined to stage protests today to express their frustration with the ministry's delay in publishing the vacancy bulletin for next year.

This protest action comes at a time when grade 10 and 12 learners are writing their most crucial examinations, but the union says it is a one-day affair.

The demonstrations, described by the Teachers' Union of Namibia (TUN) as peaceful, will take place in Windhoek, Ongwediva, Oshakati, Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop and Rundu from 10:00 today.

The secretary-general of TUN, Mahongora Kavihuha, yesterday confirmed that the demonstrations will take place across the country today.

“I will also be in Windhoek and union members will start arriving at 08:00 already,” he said.

The education ministry has apologised for the delay in the posting of teaching vacancies but said the temporary inconvenience was necessary in order for the ministry to comply with government orders to trim unnecessary expenditure.





Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa told a media briefing on Thursday last week that the deadline for regions to submit their staff vacancies was Thursday. The ministry then had to wait for cabinet ratification and hoped to publish it by the end of the month, she said.

She attributed the delay to a stringent auditing of staffing needs in order to cut the ministry's wage bill as much as possible.

Other cost-cutting measures included not filling vacant management positions, except for principal's posts. Department heads would be appointed only on an acting basis.

However, TUN is not having any of this, saying the vacancy bulletin is but one of the reasons they are fed up with the ministry.

“We welcome it, but it came too late,” Kavihuha said.

According to him the bone of contention is the cost-cutting measures which are “overloading and overburdening” teachers.

“And even the bulletin that the ministry plans to release by next month will not include positions for heads of departments, which is very problematic for us.”

This action comes exactly a year after teachers went on a countrywide strike demanding a salary hike of 8%, while the government offered 5%.

The government tried to halt the strike with an urgent application in the High Court but the court ruled in favour of the teachers.

JEMIMA BEUKES
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