Epango lyoPrEP otali keelele etaandelo lyoHIV

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Hell descends on Portugal

≪ Previous: NEFF a gandja uusama komalelo goondoolopa

$

0

0

Epango lyoPrEP otali keelele etaandelo lyoHIV Egandjo lyomayakulo gokukeelela etaandelo lyombuto yoHIV okupitila moPre-Exposure Prophylaxis kaantu mboka inaya kwatwa kombuto ndjoka, oshi li ondjila onde kuNamibia.

Ndhoka oohapu dhomukalelipo gwa Amerika moNamibia, Thomas F. Daughton.

Daughton okwa talelepo okaklinika kopomunkulo gwondjila mOmbaye, opo a mone uuyelele kombinga ye gandjo lyeyakulo lyoHIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

PrEp, omukalo omupe gwa gamenwa hagu longitha kaantu mboka inaya kwatwa kombuto yoHIV, ihe oye li moshiponga shokukwatwa kombuto ndjoka.

Omiti ndhoka ohadhi vulu okulongithwa komuntu kehe ngoka e wete kutya oku li moshiponga shokukwatwa komukithi.

Daughton okwa pandula epangelo lyaNamibia sho tali kambadhala okuyandjakaneka epango lyoPrEP moshilongo ashihe, ta popi kutya omiti dhoTruvada odha li dha andjakanekwa kAaNamibia ayehe muMei, omwedhi owala gumwe sho dha li dha ziminwa.

“Onkene tatu tsikile okumona iipotha iipe yekwato lyombuto ndjoka. Konyala aantu ya thika poomiliyona 1.8 oya kwatwa kombuto yoHIV miilongo yosub-Saharan Africa mo-2016. Shoka osha hala okutya aantu 19 oya kwatwa kombuto ndjoka mesiku kehe moNamibia. Omiyalu ndhoka otadhi ulike kutya oshindji osha pumbwa natango okuningwa mokukandeka etaandelo lyombuto ndjoka. Namibia okwa longo nuudhiginini shili mokukondjitha ombuto nokutula kepango mboka ya monika ombuto, ihe oshindji natango osha pumbwa okuningwa. Epango lyoPrEP, otali kwathele mboka inaya kwatwa kombuto opo kaya kwatwe.”

Okwa tsikile kutya elongitho lyomiti dhoPrEP itashi ti osha simana shi vulithe okulongitha oongumi uuna aantu taya yi momilao oshowo ekenko lyaalumentu ihe otali endele pamwe noonkambadhala ndhoka dhokwiigamena okukwatwa kombuto.

Society for Family Health (SFH) oshowo Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) oya tameke taya gandja epango ndyoka lyoPrEP omweedhi ndatu dha piti nomonena nepango ndyoka otali gandjwa muuklinika wawo mOshikango, Katima Mulilo, oshowo mOmbaye.

Epangelo lyaNamibia tango olya gandja epango ndyoka kongundu yontumba mo-2014, na okwa tegelelwa epango ndyoka li ka andjakanekwe .

Eyandjakaneko lyepango ndyoka olya tamekele mOmbaye meyambidhidho lyoWalvis Bay Corridor Group omwedhi ndatu dha piti, naantu ya thika po-60 okwa lopotwa ya tameka nale okulongitha epango ndyoka. Omwaalu gwaantu mboka taya longitha epango ndyoka okuniwe einekelo gu ka londe pombanda.

Ehangano lyUundjolowele mUuyuni, ano World Health Organisation otayi popile epango lyoPrEP omolwa kutya kali na iilanduli oyindji.

Omiyalu odha ulike kutya otali gandja egameno li li pokati koopresenda 92% no 100%. Uumbangi owa ulike kutya epango lyoPrEP ihali hwahwameke omaihumbato gonayi gokuya miihulo inayi gamenwa, naandyoka olimwe lyomomatompelo epango ndyoka tali popilwa kuuministeli wuundjolowele pethimbo wa gandja omagwedhelepo muNovemba gwo 2016.



OTIS FINCK

---

Hell descends on Portugal

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Swapo must reform

≪ Previous: Epango lyoPrEP otali keelele etaandelo lyoHIV

$

0

0

Hell descends on PortugalAuthorities say fire deliberately started While the fires in Portugal have not received the attention the fires in California did, the disaster has crippled the country. A wave of wildfires in central and north Portugal which started at the weekend has killed at least 31 people, civil defence authorities say.

Dozens of the 145 fires still raging are considered serious, a spokeswoman said.

To the north, fires which broke out across the border in Spain's Galicia region claimed at least three lives.

Thousands of firefighters are battling the flames, which erupted after a hot dry summer.

Conditions were worsened by Hurricane Ophelia, as it approached Europe's western coast, bringing strong winds to fan and spread the flames.

More than 50 people have also been injured in Portugal; 15 are reported to be in a serious condition. Local media say several people are still missing there, including a month-old baby.

In Spain, two of the victims were found in a burned-out car by the side of the road.

Some 30 “major” fires were reported to still be raging in Portugal on Monday afternoon.

A state of emergency has been declared in Portugal north of the Tagus River - about half of the country's land area. More than 6 000 firefighters in 1 800 vehicles were deployed by early Monday morning.

As a result of the fires, at least a dozen roads were closed, as well as schools in some places.

“We went through absolute hell. It was horrible. There was fire everywhere,” a resident of Penacova, near Coimbra, was quoted as telling Portuguese RTP Radio and TV.

Fabio Ventura, who lives in Marinha Grande, in Leria district, told the BBC that some of his friends in villages in the nearby forest had lost their homes.

“Currently, we don't have water in our homes because the pipes were damaged by the fire. We are avoiding taking showers to save water. The mobile network is going down several times and there is a huge cloud of smoke and ashes above my city.”

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy travelled to the Pontevedra area of Galicia and met emergency workers on Monday afternoon.

“What we are dealing with here is something that is not caused by accident. It has been provoked,” Rajoy said.

Over the border in Spain, authorities are also dealing with multiple fires.

The Spanish prime minister, who is from Galicia, visited the region on Monday.

Galician leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo has claimed the fires were deliberately set by arsonists, in what he called “terrorist acts”.

Earlier, Spain's Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said several people had already been identified in connection with the fires, and appealed for anyone with further information to share it with the national protection service.

The wildfires follow a massive forest blaze in Portugal in June which killed 64 people and injured more than 130. Firefighters tackling that blaze also alleged it had been started by a “criminal hand”.

But in the aftermath, questions were raised about the speed of the response and the readiness to tackle such a fire. It also emerged that the country's rescue network, a public-private partnership, failed to connect several emergency calls to firefighters.

BBC

Swapo must reform

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Shot of the day

≪ Previous: Hell descends on Portugal

$

0

0

Swapo must reform The silly season is now in full swing following last weekend's central committee meeting of the ruling party, which wrapped up nominations for the top four positions. As widely expected, the leadership race has been thrown wide open with new candidates emerging for the four positions up for grabs. The top contenders for the Swapo presidency, namely Hage Geingob, Nahas Angula and Jerry Ekandjo are expected to intensify their campaigns in the coming weeks ahead of the elective congress next month. Their running mates will also participate in a number of various mass mobilisation campaigns countrywide. Despite the infighting, which is threatening to tear the party apart, Swapo is faced with a number of challenges.

The question is will the party embrace organisational, ideological and leadership changes? At the moment there is no serious battle of ideas within the party and that is a huge concern. The party is also struggling to move away from the traditional way of doing things. The party has clearly not yet embraced change and this is evident from the manner in which it is being run. Many a time, the party leadership is accused of abandoning its founding principles of democracy, solidarity, freedom, social justice and progress.

The party no longer has a strong and united voice when it comes to the oppressed and those seeking social justice in their daily life. The party has adopted a deafening silence when it comes to fighting corruption in the public service.

There is no serious attention given to jobs, public healthcare and education, among other priority areas. Are those running for office progressive enough and do they have the nation's interest at heart? Whereas the aspiring candidates will be aggressively marketing themselves with the elections barely a month away, it is our sincere hope that the campaigns will be issue-based.

The contests must be on the basis of logic and what each and every candidate plans to do to take the party forward. The bottom line is that Swapo needs to reform and prospective candidates must come up with innovative, fresh and proactive ideas needed to run this country.

Shot of the day

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Ohangwena and Omusati receive water tankers

≪ Previous: Swapo must reform

$

0

0

Shot of the day BERRIES GALORE: A picture taken with a drone shows Belarusians harvesting cranberries at a farm in the village of Selishche, some 290 km south of Minsk, Belarus. Photo: NAMPA/AFP

Ohangwena and Omusati receive water tankers

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: 25% of babies born without medical assistance

≪ Previous: Shot of the day

$

0

0

Ohangwena and Omusati receive water tankers The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) and Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry (MAWF) handed over two tank trucks to the Ohangwena and Omusati regions on Friday.

In a speech delivered on her behalf, OPM permanent secretary Nangula Mbako said that the decision to allocate the two water tankers to the regions was based on reported and proven incidents of dirty water being consumed at places such as Amalika, Uutsathima and others in the Omusati Region.

“Therefore, these two trucks are given to the two honourable governors as mitigation measures for such situations,” said Mbako about the two 16 000-litre water tanker trucks that were acquired at a cost of N$5 million from Germany. She added that they will continue to assist sector ministries and regional structures to ensure a reduction in disaster incidents such as loss of lives through polluted or a shortage of water. The permanent secretary of MAWF, Percy Misika noted that in many cases government provides facilities and infrastructure but the issue of maintenance, servicing and recklessness and irresponsible handling of the facilities grounds them to a halt.

“This [causes] those people who were supposed to have received services using this infrastructure to have no other recourse. [The] loss of those services and at the end of the day knocks back on Government and political leaders' doors, saying we needed these when there were already funds provided,” Misika mentioned. Misika encouraged the governors' drivers and communities to take good care of the trucks.

Training was provided to 26 drivers from the MAWF and regional offices on the operations of the trucks in July according to the OPM.

Receiving the trucks, Omusati governor Erginus Endjala said last year their regions made headlines about residents drinking unhygienic water which in some cases resulted in deaths.

“Receiving these two tankers will really serve the community and the purpose it was intended for,” Endjala added. Ohangwena governor Usko Nghaamwa pointed out that they used to get water from a tank truck from Grootfontein which is costly, adding that community members hence encouraged him to approach the office of the OPM for assistance.

NAMPA

25% of babies born without medical assistance

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Muharukua preparations underway

≪ Previous: Ohangwena and Omusati receive water tankers

$

0

0

25% of babies born without medical assistance South Africa is the only country in the sub-region with a sexual, reproductive, maternal, new-born and adolescent health (SRMNAH) workforce that is large enough and has the appropriate skills mix to meet all of the country's needs.

This was a finding of 'The State of the World's Midwifery', a 2017 report commissioned by the United Nations Population Fund for its eastern and southern Africa office.

According to this report launched this month, by 2015, on average, 61 000 pregnant women in Namibia were attended to by skilled medical staff, while 1.9 million women accessed pre-pregnancy services. In 2015, 86 000 births were recorded in Namibia hence, 25 000 women did not have access to a medical worker while giving birth.

The report added that there were 247 000 a routine antenatal visits while 243 000 visits were recorded for post-partum and post-natal care in Namibia. According to the report an estimated 265 maternal deaths were reported in 2015 in Namibia, while Mauritius is the only African country below target standing at 53 maternal deaths out of 100 000 live births.

In 2015, an estimated 16 babies died within a month in Namibia while 49 estimated neonatal deaths were reported in neighbouring Angola.

An estimated 11 stillbirths per 1 000 live births were reported in Namibia in 2015. In her foreword, Julitta Onabanjo UNDPF regional director, indicated that the eastern and southern Africa region has made significant progress in recent years in improving the survival and health of women, new-borns, adolescents and youth.

She pointed out that it will be possible for governments to meet the global sustainable development goals (SDGs) with the right investments in a skilled health workforce.

According to her, maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in the region has been reduced by an average of 3.3% per year between 1990 and 2015, faster than the global 2.3%.

“In 2015, MMR in the region is estimated at 455 per 100 000 live births, a 50% reduction from the baseline MMR of 913 in 1990. However, most countries in the region will need to accelerate on this progress in order to meet national, regional and global sustainable development goals targets. The vast majority of maternal, new-born, and adolescent deaths are preventable, if women, adolescents and children are able to access skilled health workers who are adequately equipped,” she said.

According to her, most countries in the eastern and southern Africa region will need to accelerate on this progress in order to meet national, regional and SDGs targets.

Meanwhile, the report stated that many midwives and nurse-midwives particularly in Africa feel disrespected and undervalued in the workplace and or the community, which limits their ability to meet the needs of women, adolescents and babies.

“There is also evidence that midwives are not valued professionally due to the sociocultural feminisation of midwifery, which has led to under-investment in midwifery education, regulation and services.

This is despite the wealth of recent, high-quality evidence of the importance and effectiveness of midwives,” the report states.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Muharukua preparations underway

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Understanding gender equality

≪ Previous: 25% of babies born without medical assistance

$

0

0

Muharukua preparations underway Preparations for the memorial and funeral service for the late Kunene Governor Angelika Muharukua are going well at Opuwo and Okatjetje village, where the family are gathered since her death on 1 October.

The chairperson of Kunene Regional Council, Julius Kaujova told Nampa that his office has set up a committee that is running all the operational and logistical activities.

Kaujova confirmed that they have already cleared the road to Okozongondjoza with assistance from the community and family members of the late governor.

Kaujova called on business people to assist by participating in the preparation of national and local activities in honour of Muharukua.

Furthermore, he requested the residents of Opuwo and its surroundings to cooperate and assist where possible with the memorial and funeral arrangements.

The first memorial service will take place today in Windhoek at Parliament Gardens, while on Thursday her body will be flown to Okatjetje for traditional activities.

On Friday, another memorial service will take place at the sports complex in Opuwo.

Muharukua will be laid to rest on Saturday at Okozongondjoza village next to her grandfather as she had willed, bringing to an end almost two weeks of disagreement between families as to whether she should be buried at Heroes’ Acre or Okozongondjoza village.

President Hage Geingob on Friday of last week intervened in the dispute between the families advising that the former governor should be laid to rest next to her grandfather as she wished.

Muharukua died of a suspected heart attack on 1 October at her home in Windhoek, two years after her husband Uaundjisa Festus Muharukua.

Her husband died in 2015 when his vehicle was swept away by a flooded stream.

NAMPA

Understanding gender equality

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Anthrax fears rise

≪ Previous: Muharukua preparations underway

$

0

0

Understanding gender equalityMale authority plays a large role Gender equality is not about women taking the power away from men, but is about equal partnerships where responsibilities are shared, say the experts. The frequent headlines announcing the death or violent assault of women at the hands of intimate partners in Namibia have laid bare some of the attitudes around gender equality and the fears linked to the changing traditional roles of men and women.

Although statistics on what has been dubbed 'passion killings', a term criticised by many, are incomplete or unavailable, hundreds of women report assault by boyfriends or husbands annually.

Dozens die each year when arguments with current or ex partners spiral out of control.

In October, family members of the late Maria Megameno Kamati (29), who was murdered by her live-in partner of nine years, 41-year-old Erastus Heita, revealed they had been aware of the violent nature of their relationship.

The family, however, were quoted as saying that those cultural norms dictated that they not interfere even though Kamati had told them of the abuse she suffered at the hands of Heita, the father of her two children. The murder, as always, led to an outcry against gender-based violence, as well as many attempts, especially on social media, to explain the causes of Namibia's murderous attitude towards women.

The factors contributing to the high rate of domestic violence in Namibia are complex and diverse, but many experts agree that patriarchy, where males are still the primary holders of power in relationships and in general in Namibia's society, as well as traditional practices and beliefs, contribute to the problem.

Psychologist Shaun Whittaker wrote in 2012 that 'passion killings' in Namibia seem “to be based on the notion of male authority and male power, i.e.: that somehow the needs of men are more important and that men should be in control.”

He wrote that the available evidence indicates that “patriarchy seems to be at the root of these killings.”



A crisis for men

A recent social media post, which was liked and shared multiple times, stated that “Women have more power and protection these days and us men feel worthless. Men's lives don't matter anymore, and that is the reason why some men who are not strong enough, end up killing their women and taking their own lives or end up going to prison.”

Human rights activist and lawyer, Norman Tjombe, warned that this attitude is problematic and wrong.

“No person should ever be harmed or even murdered because of what they say or how they behave. If someone is in a relationship in which he is not happy, he must simply move on and terminate the relationship.”

The Legal Assistance Centre's (LAC) gender advocate Dianne Hubbard said many “men so often blame their use of physical violence on the verbal and emotional provocation of women.”

Tjombe added that “there should never be a situation that a woman's choice is either she stays in a destructive and unhappy relationship, or has to die. Never.”

Hubbard added that male possessiveness, which is fuelled by dominance and power, adds to the problem.

“Too many men commit violence or even murder when this happens on the theory that 'if I am not going to have you, then no one else will.' The fear of violent consequences can trap women in unhealthy relationships.”



Deadly beliefs

Blaming gender equality for violent responses underlines that the term is not only often rejected but also misunderstood.

“Equality does not mean being the same, but it does mean being treated equally. And equality begins at home,” Hubbard explained.

She said the question men and women have to ask is “what part of a man's or a woman's biological make-up suggests that the two sexes should not be equal decision-makers in the household or equal partners in household duties?”

She said gender equality does not deny that there are physical differences between the sexes “but that should not affect equality any more than we would accept different treatment of people on the basis of different levels of pigment in the skin, or eye colour, or height.”

The author of the social media post condemned violence against women and wrote that he understood the forces that drive some men to kill their partners.

He wrote that “if I was a weak man, I could have killed my wife”, who he said he is currently divorcing.

He noted that his soon to be ex-partner had emotionally and verbally abused him during the marriage to the point where he sometimes “felt like taking a gun and put a bullet in her head (sic)”.

He emphasised that this type of action would not resolve the issue and cause only more hurt.

He instead advised men to remember that “no matter what the law says, we will always be stronger than women, but we need to learn to get over women who do not want us anymore and learn to move on.”

One of the issues, he writes, is that women wear the “pants today in relationships” and that women misunderstand gender equality.

“They think that being equal is to have everything that men naturally have, including strength and high testosterone, but in fact they need to be reminded that no matter how much education or money she has, she will never be a man.”

He says laws have to be changed in Namibia to address this issue, and women need to be educated about their “positions in the households”.

He concluded his post with the hashtag 'All Lives Matter'.



Deep-rooted crisis

Tjombe said the post showed that “violence against women has been because of deep-rooted beliefs that women have a particular role to play in society or that they are inferior to men. This is obviously hogwash.”

He warned that “only when it is accepted and it becomes our culture that men and women are equal beings, can we have a reduction and ultimately an end to violence against women.”

Hubbard said the writer “seems to equate masculinity with strength and power. What a limited view.”

She said men and women deserve to be able to express all of the aspects of their personalities, and “ignoring the full spectrum of the personalities of either men or women is damaging to both and a contributor to violence and suicide rates.” Both Hubbard and Tjombe emphasised the importance of mutual respect.

“We need to teach our children and young people, both girls and boys, that we need to respect each other and that violence to settle a dispute is not appropriate,” Tjombe said.

Hubbard: “If we all treated each other with respect, many of Namibia's problems would be resolved.”

JANA-MARI SMITH

---

Anthrax fears rise

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Norwegian quota advertised

≪ Previous: Understanding gender equality

$

0

0

Anthrax fears riseBotswana on high alert Several hippo carcasses have entered the Okavango Delta from Namibia and tests indicate they are positive for anthrax. Botswana authorities are on high alert following the discovery of hippo carcasses in the Okavango River that succumbed to an anthrax outbreak in Namibia.

These carcasses have made their way into the Botswana territory with the flowing river from Namibia and authorities are concerned that the scores of hippo carcasses are posing a health hazard in areas along the river.

The Okavango Delta is not only a major tourist attraction in southern Africa, but also a very important conservation area, supporting a diverse range of wildlife.

There has been, however, criticism that authorities in Namibia could have acted faster in disposing of the carcasses.

Namibia confirmed an outbreak of anthrax in the Mahango Game Reserve of Bwabwata National Park last week, which killed 120 hippos and 25 buffalo.

Mass deaths of hippos were reported in the Okavango River on the Namibian side since 1 October.

The mass deaths were confirmed by government officials on 7 October after an aerial survey by helicopter.

The outbreak of anthrax was officially confirmed on 11 October by the Namibian authorities.

According to the spokesperson of Namibia's environment ministry, Romeo Muyunda, 64 hippo carcasses have been removed and destroyed.

The carcasses are burnt to avoid spreading of the disease.

Muyunda said that by Saturday evening 20 carcasses were destroyed and another 32 carcasses were burned on Sunday.

“On Monday, 12 carcasses were also removed from the river and the work is ongoing,” Muyunda told Namibian Sun.

He said currently new counts of carcasses are not being done because the focus is on removing the existing carcasses from the river. “We will count the carcasses as we remove and destroy them, but we are not diverting our attention at the moment. We are doing the best we can to clean the river.”

According to him, Botswana is in the process of putting up a mesh wire at the border between Namibia and Botswana to prevent any animals infected with anthrax from coming into their country.

In a statement issued by the Botswana government, it said hippo carcasses floating in the Okavango River crossed into Botswana from Namibia.

The river, which flows into the northern part of Botswana, is shared between Botswana, Namibia and Angola.

With the contagious nature of the disease, authorities have been on alert to avert any possible spread of the disease into the Okavango area.

This is not the first time the two countries experienced the devastating effects of anthrax.

In 2004, Botswana experienced a massive anthrax outbreak in the Chobe National Park which later spread to Namibia and also threatened the tourism industry.

The outbreak which led to the closure of some parts of the Chobe National Park was responsible for deaths of over 200 buffaloes and other animal species.

Anthrax is an infection caused by bacteria, Bacillus anthracis, usually transmitted from infected animals. It causes skin, lung and bowel disease. Most anthrax infections are deadly and occur when people touch contaminated animals and/or their products like wool, bone, hair, hide, as well as touching or consuming their carcasses. The infection occurs when the bacteria enters a cut on the skin.



ELLANIE SMIT

Norwegian quota advertised

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Illness stalls murder trial

≪ Previous: Anthrax fears rise

$

0

0

Norwegian quota advertised The Meat Board of Namibia has started with the process to allocate the Norwegian quota for 2018 to appropriate export abattoirs.

Namibia is in possession of a 1 600-ton beef quota from Norway, which is allocated to suitable abattoirs annually.

The quota was allocated to Meatco and Brukkaros Meat this year, with the bulk of the quota going to Meatco.

Meatco received 1 400 tons and Brukkaros Meat Processors received 200 tons, respectively.

According to the Meat Board, the expectation is that the Norwegian quota will be fully utilised.

It said all applications should be submitted to the Meat Board before 31 October this year, after which the board will make a recommendation to the Minister of Industrialisation, Trade and SME Development.

According to Meatco, Norway is a very rewarding market for Namibia and the hope is that as many producers as possible will benefit from it.

“Meatco was allocated 1 400 tons of the Norwegian beef quota, which translates to 87.5% of the total quota approved for Namibia. To date, that entire quota was utilised,” Meatco said.

It said the EU, UK and Norwegian markets account for 43.2% of Meatco's sales by volume, while South Africa and Namibia make up 55.72%.

According to Meatco overall, the 2016/17 reporting period was a successful year for Meatco in terms of marketing and sales, although the excitement associated with the opening of new markets was tempered somewhat by the challenge of reducing the effects of the drought.

In spite of export volumes, Meatco remains committed to the local market by continuously expanding the product range and extending national market reach. This reaffirms Meatco's ability to supply the local market with a good, affordable source of protein, the company said. The Norwegian market is a highly lucrative market that increases the profitability of the Namibian meat industry. Last year, Meatco was granted the full 1 600 quota.

It was reallocated the full quota after Brukkaros Meat Processors and Witvlei Meats, initially allocated 225 tonnes and 175 tonnes respectively, and failed to utilise their quotas before the 30 June deadline.



ELLANIE SMIT

Illness stalls murder trial

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Student teachers demonstrate

≪ Previous: Norwegian quota advertised

$

0

0

Illness stalls murder trial The trial of two Americans accused of murdering a Namibian man in 2011 has been stalled due to the illness of one of the suspects. As a result, the trial was adjourned until 22 March next year.

On Monday, Kevan Townsend was taken to hospital suffering from acute nausea and diarrhoea and yesterday his lawyer, Mbanga Siyomunji, handed in a medical certificate in this regard. The accused is booked off until 20 October, the period in which the case was set down for trial in the High Court.

Judge Christie Liebenberg, after the state had no objection to the proof of the accused's absence, postponed the matter to 22 March next year for continuation of trial.

This, he said, is also pending the outcome of the petition sent by his co-accused Marcus Thomas to the Supreme Court for an appeal against the dismissal of the application for the judge's recusal.

Townsend, together with his co-accused Thomas, are accused of killing André Heckmair with a single gunshot to the back of the head on 7 January 2011 in Gusinde Street in Klein Windhoek. They allegedly robbed him of his cellphone and wallet containing at least 100 Swiss francs.

They face charges of one count of murder, one count of robbery with aggravating circumstances, three counts of contravening the Ammunitions Act and one count of defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

In a sworn statement handed to Namibian Sun, Townsend last week indicated that he will submit a complaint against Liebenberg, who is presiding in the matter, for what he called gross negligence and disgraceful public conduct during the arguments and subsequent judgment for his recusal in May and July of this year.

Their bid to have the presiding judge step down from the case was dismissed after the court found that Thomas failed to show reasonable apprehension that Liebenberg will not bring an impartial mind to bear when adjudicating the matter.

Townsend alleged that the judge during the hearing of that application had provided a disclaimer to the state and defence saying he had received the heads of argument in the recusal application, adding that neither of them needed to recite at length the contents but should merely briefly highlight pertinent parts thereof.

They were told to present any new thoughts or points relevant to their filed heads of argument. However, the judge allegedly stopped Townsend's lawyer prematurely from doing so.



FRED GOEIEMAN

Student teachers demonstrate

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Donkey abattoirs cause stir

≪ Previous: Illness stalls murder trial

$

0

0

Student teachers demonstrate A group of student teachers yesterday demonstrated and further threatened to take action if the ministry of education does not release its vacancy bulletin soon.

The protests took place in Windhoek and Ongwediva. In Windhoek, the demonstrators who were led by the Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN) refused to hand over a petition to the education permanent secretary Sanet Steenkamp.

“We refused to give it to the permanent secretary because the minister was not there. We understand she was in a cabinet meeting,” said TUN leader Mahongora Kavihuha. The petition indicated that teachers are ready to take “further action” if the bulletin is not released on 17 November as was promised by the ministry.

“The demonstration witnessed is a direct result of the ministry's arrogance in failing to respond to the demand posted to them earlier and failure in not informing stakeholders on the causes of delay,” the petition read. Education ministry spokesperson Absalom Absalom confirmed the group has refused to hand over the petition to the authorities because of the minister's absence.



JEMIMA BEUKES

Donkey abattoirs cause stir

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Oshikoto land grabs spiral out of control

≪ Previous: Student teachers demonstrate

$

0

0

Donkey abattoirs cause stirTourism giant says no to slaughterhouses More and more Namibians are protesting the slaughtering of donkeys for commercial purposes. A video footage asking for help to stop donkey abattoirs from opening in Namibia that was produced by a prominent Namibian tourism operator has been viewed by more than 66 000 people since last week.

The 90-second video, produced by Gondwana Collection Namibia and shared on their popular Facebook page last week, asks followers to “Help us save Namibia's donkeys”.

The video urges those opposed to donkey abattoirs to sign an online petition, which has so far attracted close to 4 000 signatures.

Since it was made public, the video has been shared more than 520 times and attracted over 100 comments, many in favour of banning donkey abattoirs but some also in support.

Footage tracing the history and important role of donkeys in the lives of Namibians, is set against the backdrop of a popular Afrikaans song about donkeys – 'die donkie is 'n wonderlike ding' (the donkey is a wonderful thing). The video concludes with a request to “sign the petition to stop the donkey abattoir in Namibia”.

Globally, the demand for donkey skins in China has led to a boom in the trade of donkey skins and a sharp increase in the value of donkeys, donkey theft and the illegal trade.

An article by the BBC this month states that “the world's donkeys are facing a population crisis because of the huge demand for their skins in China, where they are used to make health foods and traditional medicine.” The same fears are present in the current debate in Namibia, with many arguing that the donkey population, estimated to be no more than 160 000, faces extinction should two proposed donkey abattoirs in Outjo and Okahandja open their doors.

“These figures are wholly unsustainable when weighed up against the lengthy breeding cycle of donkeys and the mature age a donkey needs to reach for slaughtering for the skin,” Alex Mayers of the Donkey Sanctuary UK said in the wake of a visit to Namibia recently.

In a statement this month, the Donkey Sanctuary, which is leading the efforts to draw worldwide attention to the trade in donkey skins for the use in traditional Chinese remedies, sounded the alarm over the proposed donkey abattoirs after visiting the regions and proposed sites with the SPCA Namibia and the NSPCA South Africa. Mayers concluded that “Outjo and Okahandja municipalities, along with the central government of Namibia, have an opportunity to learn from the disastrous consequences of the skin trade in other African countries, and protect the livelihoods of the tens or even hundreds of thousands of Namibians that depend on donkeys. We call on them to hear those voices.”

In September, a statement by the Donkib (||îb) Ge Cultural Group listed the crucial role of donkeys in poor communities and warned the trade could further impoverish many.

Several recent international and local articles have warned that legalising the trade opens the doors to the black market, and theft, with donkey smugglers taking advantage of already existing criminal networks to meet the demand for donkey skins.

The BBC article interviewed a Kenyan man recently, whose donkey, Carlos, was stolen and killed by poachers for the skin trade. He told reporters that the theft of his donkey led to a domino effect which has led to a loss of money for school fees, rent and providing for his family.



JANA-MARI SMITH

Oshikoto land grabs spiral out of control

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: A cry for dignity

≪ Previous: Donkey abattoirs cause stir

$

0

0

Oshikoto land grabs spiral out of control The Ondonga Traditional Authority's senior leader for the Onalusheshete district, Eino Shondili Amutenya, says the grabbing of grazing land in the area has spiralled out of control.

Residents of Onalusheshete in Oshikoto Region are accusing Amutenya, governor Henock Kankoshi as well as the Ministry of Land Reform for the illegal land invasions and for not taking the plight of the affected farmers seriously.

The residents have also threatened to name and shame a group of high-profile people who they say are under Amutenya's protection and are involved in the fencing off large tracts of land in the area.

This, they say, is happening because of the current Ondonga leadership dispute.

“There is nobody in Onalusheshete with a farm covering 50km, either those who took land by themselves or those who were allocated land by traditional leaders.

“I am not aware of such big farms, unless they are new. It is true that people are grabbing land and residents are reporting this to me, but I do not have the power to do anything apart from reporting them to traditional authority,” Amutenya said.

Residents in villages such as Otyolo, Elavi and Ohainghete claim Amutenya, who survived the mass firing of Ondonga leaders, is lying as he is the one protecting those grabbing land.

“Every time we attempt to stop those land grabbers, they report us to him [Amutenya] and he always comes threatening us. He claims that he has the power to do whatever he wants in his district. What he does not know is that he does not have power to allocate land since he is not a village headman. He is also allocating land to acquaintances without consulting the headmen,” complainants told Namibian Sun.

However, Amutenya has challenged these people to come forward with names of those he allocated land to, or in the alternative, they should report them to the traditional authority's office for investigation.

Onalusheshete district is regarded as a prime grazing area, which also covers the Mangetti area where commercial farming is undertaken. Kankoshi recently confirmed that his office has received several letters of complaint from concerned farmers.

He said he is aware of the complaints, but he could not act on them because they were not addressed directly to him.

“My office has received letters of complaint over land at Onalusheshete, but I could not act because these complaints were not addressed directly to me. My office was only copied in. I can only act once the complaints are addressed to me directly. However, with the lack of information and feedback, it is clear there is crisis in that area,” Kankoshi said.

The Oshikoto land board chairperson Melania Iiputa last week also said her office has received numerous complaints from community members that they attended to, but they found it difficult to address.

“We investigated cases we received in our office, but it is very difficult for us to address. Community members are saying that it is land grabbing, but once we approach the traditional authority they will say they allocated the land to that person. We cannot differ with that because we don't allocate land. It is the traditional authority's responsibility,” Iiputa said.

The complainants have advised both Kankoshi and Iiputa to approach them in order to get the right information on the ground.



ILENI NANDJATO

A cry for dignity

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Genocide wounds are still raw - Rukoro

≪ Previous: Oshikoto land grabs spiral out of control

$

0

0

A cry for dignityOld cultural practices a threat to girls Ancient cultural practices in some parts of Namibia remain a serious threat to the future of the girl child. A 2015 report on harmful cultural practices in Namibia found that for some rural Namibian girls, the onset of menstruation marks the start of incest and rape, forced work and isolation among other degrading cultural demands.

The report, which was submitted to a United Nations committee on the elimination of discrimination against women (CEDAW), found although there has been some progress in regard to beefing up legislation and policy to protect the rights of rural women, too many girls are still left “at the mercy of many discriminatory and oppressive customary laws.”

Researchers found that in some OvaHimba and OvaHerero communities in Kunene, Otjozondjupa and Omaheke regions, “men have the right to sexual relations with their female cousins who have just commenced their menses.”

Girls do not have the right to refuse sexual relations with their relatives as “this practice is not viewed to be incest or rape,” the study notes.

Published by the Namibian non-governmental organisations forum (Nangof) trust, the report stated that rural women in Namibia “remain under the control of traditional (feudal) patriarchal family structures which are governed by customary law and ruled over by traditional authorities.”

The continued practice of harmful cultural practices “encourages and sustains cultural views of women as subordinate to men and as objects to be used for men's sexual pleasure.

They undermine women's autonomy and violate their human rights to life, dignity, personal security, health, and freedom from violence,” the authors wrote.



High risk

These practices also place women at extremely high risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/Aids.

The study found that dry sex, where women use herbs to dry out and tighten the vagina for the sexual pleasure of men, is taught to young women in some Namibian communities, including the Zambezi and OvaHerero communities.

Researchers also heard that in some Zambezi communities “girls are taught from around nine to ten years of age to stretch their labia minora, using sticks, string, stones and their hands to pull on their flesh, thereby causing swelling and sores.”

Vaginal stretching is expected to be done throughout a sexually active woman's life based on the belief that “long labia are more sexually appealing and satisfying to a male partner, and a man will not stay with a woman who has not submitted to it.”

Moreover, a major focus of initiation in many Zambezi communities is to teach girls how to sexually please their future husbands, and they are “sometimes tested for sexual readiness by male relatives.”

Men in some communities are also taught that they can fall sick if exposed to women who menstruate, who have recently given birth, or miscarried.

“The prevention of such illnesses is through physically isolating women and girls in separate huts and washing them with herbs.”

Menstruating girls are also often forced to work hard to teach them “endurance as well as submission and subservience to their future husbands and in-laws.”

Fatigue or protest is met with severe beating and other forms of violence.



Cut up

Another female genital mutilation practice is the removal of growths in the vagina and anus from mothers of ill children, based on the myth that this could cure the child.

“Yet women may be cut repeatedly whenever a child becomes ill, and there is often a lack of hygiene during this practice, with the same blade used on different people.”

Other harmful practices listed in the report include the marking cleansing of widows, early, arranged and forced marriages, bridal payments and wealth and property and inheritance rights.

The report's authors criticised the lack of progress in reviewing customary laws to ensure that they are in compliance with Namibian civil laws and the lack of research on the magnitude and types of harmful practices in Namibia.

These issues were also addressed the UN CEDAW committee, in a 2015 report on Namibia.

Namibia ratified the UN convention in 1992, and since then the CEDAW committee has repeatedly cited the need to address the impact of customary laws on women in Namibia.

The Nangof report recommended that the Namibian government should ensure that all enacted gender laws and policies are fully implemented to help protect rural women across the country.

Moreover, that the state should adopt and implement the customary marriages bill and commission research on harmful cultural practices in all communities in Namibia.



JANA-MARI SMITH

---

Genocide wounds are still raw - Rukoro

October 17, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Clubs call for NPL delay

≪ Previous: A cry for dignity

$

0

0

Genocide wounds are still raw - Rukoro OvaHerero paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro has called on the German community in Namibia to wake up and smell the coffee.

Rukoro yesterday said the local community can no longer ignore that they are beneficiaries of a “bloody genocide” of the Nama and OvaHerero a century ago.

“Do not provoke us anymore,” Rukoro charged yesterday when he related that a New York-based journalist reporting on the genocide issue received death threats from local Germans. “We are calling on the Namibian government to please talk to your right wing people, because our wounds are still raw and are not yet treated and our land is not given back yet,” he said. Rukoro was, however, quick to add that there are no deliberate intentions by the two affected communities to invade German-owned farms. Descendants of the Nama and OvaHerero filed a federal class action lawsuit in January this year against Germany in New York in the United States seeking restorative justice for the 1904-08 genocide. The case was filed under the Alien Tort Statute and the first hearing was heard by Judge Laura Taylor Swain. However, to date, Germany has not been officially served with any court papers and has therefore not made any appearance in the New York court. According to Rukoro, the German embassy in the US has rejected court papers and instead referred lawyers to its government headquarters in Berlin.

“And so we employed an international organisation that assisted us to serve the court papers in Berlin at their justice ministry. However, they refused to accept it in Berlin and said they want it through diplomatic service through the Hague Convention,” related Rukoro. The group has eventually managed to enlist the US government as a sovereign state although Rukoro pointed out this process was “cumbersome” and very “costly”. “They told us to get another sovereign country and through its foreign affairs department we could hand over our court documents to the German foreign affairs minister. On top of that we must translate our papers into the German language,” said Rukoro. He added that choosing the US was not a coincidence but a deliberate move as it is a world superpower and “Germany cannot ignore it for too long”. By the time the group appeared in the New York court last week, Germany was yet to be served with court papers, and was once again a no-show. “Germany is using delaying tactics because they know they have no case to answer. They day they appear in that court room and see each other eye to eye, then Germany will be found guilty as charged and hit with a heavy monetary bill. “And it will be the first time that it will be exposed for the criminal state it is and the brutal and uncivilised killer it was or perhaps it still is, judging from its refusal to apologise,” he said. He claimed the Germans appropriated the cattle and land of the OvaHerero in Namibia. The case has since been postponed to 25 January next year.



JEMIMA BEUKES

Clubs call for NPL delay

October 18, 2017, 12:14 am

≫ Next: Geingob eulogises Muharukua

≪ Previous: Genocide wounds are still raw - Rukoro

$

0

0

Clubs call for NPL delay Four clubs of the Namibia Premier League (NPL) have requested for the postponement of the 2017/18 kick-off date.
The new football season will be launched this morning.
Black Africa, Orlando Pirates, Tigers and Blue Waters have all raised their concerns about the issue and asked for three weeks to get ready.
This is after it was announced earlier this week that the campaign will start with a match between Orlando Pirates and African Stars on Friday.
The four clubs through their legal representative Sisa Namandje & Co. Incorporated issued a demand letter requesting for the delay yesterday.
“Our clients had no expectations that the league could start during this year (2017) as the lawfully announced and communicated football season calendar by NFA is February to November each year.
“Considering that the league has been inactive for a period of more than a year, it is unreasonable, unprocedural that our clients to buy or sell players, sign contracts with players register the players and get them ready in this short time,” The letter reads.
The Namibia premier league has been idle for more than a year after it failed to secure a sponsor.
The league, however, managed to secure a sponsorship with MTC and FNB this month.


SPORT REPORTER

Geingob eulogises Muharukua

October 18, 2017, 8:58 am

≫ Next: I will execute someone – Walter

≪ Previous: Clubs call for NPL delay

$

0

0

Geingob eulogises Muharukua President Hage Geingob today paid glowing tribute to the late Kunene governor Angelika Muharukua who died in Windhoek on 1 October. At an official memorial service in her honour at the Parliament Gardens, Geingob hailed Muharukua as a community leader and national figure who overcame trying times and adversity. “There can be no glory without overcoming and comrade Muharukua is one of who has endured and prevailed,” said Geingob. “Comrade Muharukua and her husband paid an expensive price for being prominent Swapo party members, in a predominantly non-Swapo region, at the time. They were constantly targeted and arrested by koevoet and their South African masters. However, this political harassment did not deter Comrade Muharukua to uphold the Swapo party ideals.” Geingob added that Muharukua was an active parliamentarian who contributed to debates in the house. “As a legislator in parliament, the late comrade was active on key debates that were close to her heart. She played by her own rules and was neither discouraged nor intimidated by her inability to articulate her views fluently in English,” said Geingob. Muharukua will be buried at her home village of Okatjetje in the Kunene Region this Saturday.
STAFF REPORTER

I will execute someone – Walter

October 18, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: NPL bus is leaving - Kauta

≪ Previous: Geingob eulogises Muharukua

$

0

0

I will execute someone – Walter The highly anticipated Champions in Action Boxing Bonanza slated for Saturday at the Country Club in Windhoek is set to go.

The main fight will feature Walter 'Executioner' Kautondokwa, who is defending his WBO Africa middleweight title against Tanzanian boxer Meshack Mwankemwba.

The Executioner is defending his title for the fifth time and promised that he would make short shrift of his opponent.

“Turn up early, as the fight will be a quickie,” he said, much to the delight of the crowd.

The Executioner has a record of 15 undefeated fights, while Mwankemwa has had 22 fights with 17 wins, 5 losses and 2 draws.

Mwankemwba said he is undefeated in Africa and came to Namibia to put on a great fight.

Undefeated Mike Shonena will exchange gloves with Juma Waiswa from Uganda in a WBO Africa welterweight title fight.

Shonena said it's going to be war in the ring even though it's never easy to fight an opponent with a great record like Waiswa.



Other fights:

Junior middleweight fight will be between Max Ipinge and Joseph Hihangwa. In the bantamweight category, Andrewas Amupolo will meet Julius Sheetheni. Charles Shinima and December Nuuyoma will face each other in the welterweight category. In the flyweight division, Jacob 'Jay Jay' Jacob will exchange leather with Salatiel Moses.

In the international middleweight Paulinus Paulus will fight it out in the ring with Silas Mandeya from Zimbabwe.

Harry Simon Junior will also exchange gloves with a slightly more experienced Nathaniel Shimanda in the lightweight division.

There will be a national welterweight fight between Emmanuel Mungandjela and Ebenestus Kaangundue as well.

The national featherweight title fight between Onesmus Nekundi and Kendy Imalwa promises to deliver fireworks.

The boxing bonanza will feature 11 bouts including the mysterious fight between “female boxer Selma” and “Mike”.

LIMBA MUPETAMI

NPL bus is leaving - Kauta

October 18, 2017, 3:00 pm

≫ Next: Losers Egypt back in 2018 CHAN

≪ Previous: I will execute someone – Walter

$

0

0

NPL bus is leaving - Kauta2018/17 season launched MTC Namibia Premier League officials insist that they will not compromise the start of the season because several clubs have said they are not ready. MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL) chairman Patrick Kauta believes that all 16 premier league clubs will be playing in the opening weekend of the 2017/18 season.

This is after a letter was issued to the (NPL) by four clubs through their legal representative, Sisa Namandje & Co., asking for the league to be postponed.

Black Africa, Tigers, Orlando Pirates and Blue Waters said they were not ready for kickoff this weekend.

Blue Waters management, however, differ on the petition as some feel that the team is ready to play.

“Our clients had no expectations that the league could start during this year (2017) as the lawfully announced and communicated football season calendar by NFA is February to November each year.

“Considering that the league has been inactive for a period of more than a year, it is unreasonable, non-procedural that our clients to buy or sell players, sign contracts with players register the players and get them ready in this short time,” the letter reads.

Kauta however rebuffed the complaints, saying that all the clubs had enough time to prepare for the league.

“All I can say is that I do not believe that there are clubs that will not show up at the start of the season. The NPL bus will leave on 20 October,” Kauta said.

The chairman also reminded the teams that there are laws guiding the league and will deal with those that are trying to sabotage the start of the season.

Kauta said this at the launch of the 2017/18 season where MTC announced a sponsorship of N$15 million per season, and FNB Namibia N$5 million per season, for the next three years.

The premier league has been idle for more than a year after it failed to secure a sponsor.

“This sponsorship has primary benefit as it engages 480 youth in six towns in the country.

“Now that football is back, it will keep many young people away from alcoholism and other challenges,” Kauta said.

The chairman also announced that the league will advertise many vacancies in order to boost its administration.

The league will also appoint a CEO by December who will directly run the affairs of the premier league.

MTC's Tim Ekandjo lauded the former leadership for handling their finances well and asked the new leadership to liaise with the former leadership as to how things are done.

“The former leadership has taken the league sponsorship from N$2.5 million to N$15 million.

“However, football must consider themselves very fortunate to get a sponsor after the mess they have been in.

“All we need from the new leadership is transparency and accountability,” Ekandjo said.

Ekandjo thanked FNB for coming on board and becoming a partner with MTC as far as the league is concerned.

Speaking on behalf of FNB, E-Bank head of sales Jerry Elago said they were looking forward to the season.

“We are pleased to say that FNB and MTC have finalised negotiations and that the league will finally start.

“We are also pleased to deliver on the dreams of many football lovers,” Elago said.

All clubs will receive monthly grants of N$65 000, with the winners of the league taking home N$1 million.

The sponsorship does not include the first division and the league will therefore seek further sponsorship for that division.

The first game of the season is between Orlando Pirates and African Stars on Friday at 20:00 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium. The other teams are expected to play on Saturday and Sunday.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA