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Omuhandjo gwoskola gwa hanagulwa po komulilo

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Omuhandjo gwoskola gwa hanagulwa po komuliloOmuhandjo gwoskola gwa hanagulwa po komuliloTaku ningwa omakonaakono gokumona oshiyetithi shomulilo Aanaskola yamwe po mosekundoskola ya Oshela Senior Secondary School mOkongo oya dhigwa ye na owala omizalo dhawo dhoskola sho iinima yawo ya hanagulwa po komulilo omutenya gwOmaandaha. Omukomeho gwoshikondo shelongo, mOshitopolwa shaHangwena, Isak Hamatwi, okwa popi kutya omakonaakono gopetameko otaga ulike kutya ekwatakanitho lyiikwamalusheno shaheli pamulandu komuhandjo gwaamati moskola, olyo lya etitha omulilo ngoka.

Hamatwi okwa popi kutya omunaskola gumwe aniwa oye a kwatakanitha oradio noongodhi dhi li kombanda.

“Etungo limwe lyomuhandjo olya yaka omulilo omutenya gwOmaandaha omanga aanona taya lesha koongulu dhoskola. Mondunda moka mwa tameke omulilo oya hanagulwapo ayihe,” Hamatwi ta popi.

Hamatwi okwa tsikile kutya omulilo ngoka ogwiihanene moondunda dha landula ko nomulilo ogwa etithwa kekwatakanitho lyoradio noongodhi dhili kombanda.

Molwaashoka kamu na ookadhimamulilo mOkongo omulilo ngoka ogwa dhimwa owala kolupadhi.

Ngoka ta longo pehala lyomukuluntuskola, Eunike Shinyongo okwa koleke kutya omulilo ngoka ogwa tukuka omanga aanaskola yali taya lesha koongulu dhoskola omutenya, naaniilonga oshowo aanaskola oya tameke okudhima omulilo ngoka. Oya li ya kwathelwa kopolisi oshowo aanambelewa yamwe po mokudhima omulilo, opo kagu taandele okuya koondunda dhilwe. Omulilo ogwa yonagula omaliko gaanaskola oshowo omaliko goskola, pahapu dhomukuluntuskola.

Okwa tsikile kutya aalongiskola yamwe, oya holola ohokwe yokukwathela aanaskola mboka ya kanitha iinima yawo.

Omukomeho gwelongo okwa popi kutya otaya tegelele omakonaakono ngoka ga tamekithwa sigo ga manithwa, molwaashoka kaye na lela uumbangi kutya oshike sha etitha omulilo ngoka.

Hamatwi okwa tsikile kutya aanaskola mboka oondunda dhawo dha piti, oya tembudhilwa koondunda dhimwe hoka ku na omahala molwa aanaskola yondondo onti 10 no 12 mboka ya manitha omakonaakono gawo na oya ya komagumbo.

ILENI NANDJATO

'Onda nhuka opo ndi hupithe omwenyo gwandje'

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'Onda nhuka opo ndi hupithe omwenyo gwandje''Onda nhuka opo ndi hupithe omwenyo gwandje' Warrant Officer Leonard Paulus (47), ngoka ta longo pehala lyaKomanda gwOpolisi yaMuthiya, ota ti po hwepo moshipangelo shaShakati, konima sho a pumwa koshiyenditho shopolisi yosheendo shomupresidende mOsoondaha.

Okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya kakele kokuteka okugulu, okwa ehamekwa woo molutu moka a ningi iilalo.

Paulus okwa popi kutya okwa kadhala okunhuka ohauto yopolisi sho a mono yuuka mu ye mondapo onene. Okwa popi kutya andola okwa li ina nhuka keshi ngele okwa hupa moshiponga shoka, nenge andola eehamekwa noonkondo.

Okwa popi kutya oshiponga shoka osha ningwa konima owala sho a mana okutopola aanambelewa yopolisi pethimbo lyetalelepo lyomupresidende Hage Geingob mondoolopa yawo. Okwa popi kutya okwa li adhikama pondjila yokuya kOngeleeka yaElcin mOmuthiya sho osheendo shomupresidende she ya tashi zilile ombinga yaNdangwa. Oohauto dhopolisi odha li tadhi thindikile omupresidende kongeleka, omanga inaka ninga omahwahwameko ge mondoolopa omutenya gwesiku ndyoka.

“Sho ndili pondjila mpoka onda li tandi tala onkalo kehe tayi inyenge. Opwa li oohauto ndatu dhopolisi yomoondjila ndjoka ya kwatele komeho osheendo. Oohauto mbali odhali tadhi hingwa dhili pamwe omanga ontitatu yi li konima. Onda mono kutya oohauto mbali dhotango odhi shi kutya ope na ondalayeokuya kongeleka na odha shunitha ondapo pevi okuya mondalaye moka. Ohauto ontitatu oya li natango mondapo onene na oya zi ko kopate opo yi yande okwiipuma moohauto oonkwawo,” Paulus a hokolola okuza mombete ye yoshipangelo.

“Onda mono ohauto tayi tondoka yuuka mungame na kandi shoka nda li tandi vulu okuinga. Molwashoka ngame omupolisi nda dheulwa, onda kambadhala okunhuka opo kandi pumwe. Onda iyadha ndili moshipangelo.”

Ekende lyohauto lyokomeho olya dhenge Paulus mokugulu.

Ngoka ta longo pehala lyomukuluntu gwoshipangelo shoka, Dr Vizkaya Amutenya, okwa koleke kutya Paulus okwa teka okugulu ihe ota ti po hwepo.

Opolisi oya patulula oshipotha shokuhinga nuuhasha, sha tulilwa mo omunambelewa gwopolisi ngoka a li ta hingi ohauto ndjoka.

Komanda gwopolisi moshitopolwa shoka, Armas Shivute, okwa popi kutya okuli mekwatathano kehe esiku naPaulus, opo a tale kutya onkalo ye otayi ti po ngiini.

ILENI NANDJATO

Alfa Romeo's first SUV scintilates

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Alfa Romeo's first SUV scintilatesAlfa Romeo's first SUV scintilatesStylish, sophisticated and in a class of its own The new luxury Stelvio will soon arrive in Namibia. Alfa Romeo's first utlity vehicle will soon arrive in Namibia and the automaker aims to upset the local medium-sized, premium SUV market.

Why the Stelvio moniker? The name is derived from the iconic Stelvio Pass; Italy's highest mountain pass and Highway 38, which crosses it, over 20 km in length and with more than 75 hairpin bends.

The Stelvio offers the Alfa Romeo Q4 all-wheel drive system, and can be optionally equipped with mechanical locking rear differential. The new SUV measures 4.7 m long, 1.7 tall and 2.2 wide.

At the time of launch, the Stelvio will be available in 'Super' guise as well as the limited First Edition with the choice of eleven body colours and three alloy wheels (from 18” to 20”).

Power

The SUV is powered by a 4-cylinder, 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit capable of 206 kW/400 Nm, mated to a 8-speed automatic transmission. The Stelvio, says Alfa, features best-in-class acceleration - 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds, with a top speed of 230 km/h.

The Stelvio features the new Alfa DNA selector, which modifies the car's dynamic behaviour as selected by the driver: Dynamic, Natural and Advanced Efficiency.

Inside, it has a high level of on-board comfort with the dual-zone climate control, the sophisticated Alfa Connect infotainment system and a fine audio system, with 8, 10 or 14 speakers (in this case by Harman Kardon) depending on version. It has 525 litres of boot space which, says Alfa Romeo, competes with the best in the segment, and has an electronic tailgate.

Stelvio features a number of safety systems, available as standard. Key amongst them is the Integrated Brake System (IBS), Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Brake with pedestrian detection, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) with Rear Cross-Path Detection and Active Cruise Control.

The Super guise offers leather seats available in three colours (black, brown and red), a perfect combination with the dashboard and door panel options. This version can also be equipped with luxury seats upholstered in choice full grain leather (in black, brown or red), sill with metal inserts and two different steering wheels; luxury with superior leather and sports with specific grip and leather wrapping.



Alfa UConnect 3D Nav

Alfa Romeo Stelvio is equipped with the ground-breaking Alfa Connect system – developed in partnership with Magneti Marelli – with a sophisticated set of features, especially the latest-generation HMI interface, with the system controlled from the Rotary Pad and the 8.8”display incorporated in the dashboard design.

With a class-leading voice recognition system, the device allows full connectivity with all mobile devices (with Apple iOS and Android operating systems).

The Stelvio Super is equipped as standard with a sophisticated audio system with 8 speakers (4 woofers and 4 tweeters) and the First Edition is equipped with 10 speakers (4 woofers, 4 tweeters, a mid-range and a subwoofer in the boot). The optional Harman Kardon system, features 14 speakers (4 woofers, 4 tweeters, 5 mid-range and a subwoofer).



The range

The Super version features 18” alloy wheels, leather seats in three colours (black, brown and red), and complimentary colours for the dashboard and door panels and sill with steel insert. The Stelvio Super can also be ordered with the optional Luxury Pack which includes seats with electrical adjustment and heating, as well as real wood inserts and aluminium inserts and steel pedal trims.

The First Edition features all the standard equipment of the Super, with the addition of 20” alloy wheels, full grain leather upholstery, 10 speaker sound system, Active Cruise Control (ACC), Blind Spot Monitoring electric sunroof and numerous other customer benefits.

The new Alfa Romeo Stelvio range comes with a 3 year or 100 000 km Warranty and a 6 year or 100 000 km Maintenance plan as standard.

- Wheels24

New hope for Zimbabwe

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New hope for ZimbabweNew hope for Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe finally resigned as president of Zimbabwe on Tuesday after 37 years in power, heralding a new era for a country which his as uncertain as it is hopeful.

The man who ruled for decades with an autocrat's grip finally caved to popular and political pressure hours after parliament launched proceedings to impeach him.

He refused to leave office during an eight-day crisis that began when the military took over last week. He was unable or unwilling to recognise that after so many years, he had lost control of both his party and the country.

So when the Speaker Jacob Mudenda announced that Mugabe had submitted his resignation in a letter, there was wild jubilation in parliament, followed within minutes by large crowds on the streets of Harare and other major cities.

The military generals moved against Mugabe due to factional struggles within the ruling Zanu-PF party, and with the support of his presumed successor Emmerson Mnangagwa, a party stalwart and liberation war veteran known as “the Crocodile”.

Mnangagwa's axing as vice-president at the start of the month triggered the takeover and the subsequent unravelling of Mugabe's control. The party that had bent to Mugabe's every will for so many years was quick to turn on the 93-year-old, first evicting him from his position as party chief and then leading the impeachment drive.

However, what began as a palace coup developed into a popular revolt. Mugabe's downfall unleashed extraordinary hopes as hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans poured onto the streets at the weekend to call on him to leave.

He has ruled as an autocrat, prepared to sacrifice the economic wellbeing of 16 million people in order to remain in power.

The deal Mugabe has struck to leave power might tempt other rulers to leave before they are pushed, if he is able to protect his family and some of the assets he is thought to have accumulated while in power.

Zimbabweans know that the change was driven as much by competition for power within Zanu-PF as by popular anger at a dictatorial and corrupt regime. For one evening, however, they wanted to focus on celebrating the change they had almost given up hoping would come, the end of a rule which has defined generations.

Shot of the day

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Shot of the dayShot of the day WE ARE FREE: People celebrate with Zimbabwe Defence Force soldiers on a tank in the streets of Harare, after the resignation of former president Robert Mugabe on Tuesday evening. PHOTO: NAMPA/AFP

Company news in brief

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Company news in briefCompany news in brief Total’s investment in Iran in jeopardy

France's Total will lose all of its investment of US$66 million if it pulls out of a deal with Iran to develop South Pars, the world's largest gas field, the Iranian oil minister said.

Total signed a deal with Tehran in July to develop phase 11 of Iran's South Pars field, marking the first major Western energy investment in the Islamic Republic since the lifting of sanctions.

However, Total's Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanne said last week that the oil major would have to review its Iran gas project if the United States decided to impose unilateral sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme, given Total's assets in the US market. – Nampa/Reuters



HSBC fine US$51 mln for Lehman-linked products

A Hong Kong tribunal imposed a fine of HK$400 million (US$51 million) on the private banking unit of HSBC in a case related to the sale of Lehman Brothers linked structured financial products between 2003 and 2008.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal (SFAT) said that HSBC's private banking unit was "culpable of material systemic failings in its marketing and sale of derivative products" in that period.

It also "partially suspended" its registration for dealing in securities for a period of one year. – Nampa/Reuters

SAA under-capitalised despite bailout

Even with a government injection of R10 billion, the struggling South African Airways will remain under-capitalised with a negative equity position of over R9 billion, a presentation to parliament showed.

The airline narrowly missed defaulting on debt repayments of around R5 billion owed to domestic lenders thanks to an emergency bailout by the National Treasury, which said a default posed a risked to the entire economy.

SAA has one of Africa's largest airline fleets but has struggled, relying on around R20 billion of guarantees from government to stay afloat. – Nampa/Reuters

MTN fights fee battle in Benin

South African mobile phone giant MTN is in talks with Benin's telecoms regulator after its subsidiary was slapped with a bill of more than US$200 million.

The regulator (Arcep) wants MTN Benin to pay 134.4 billion CFA francs – the equivalent of US$213 million - in frequency fees for 2016 and 2017.

But the company has called the fees "excessive".

MTN has the largest mobile phone network in Benin with more than four million subscribers but its relations with the government have deteriorated in recent months. – Nampa/AFP



Tencent more valuable than Facebook

Chinese social media and video game giant Tencent became more valuable than Facebook on Tuesday as investors sent the company soaring into the top five of the world's biggest firms.

Tencent's Hong Kong-listed shares have doubled in value this year, and on Monday it became the first Asian company with a market capitalisation of half a trillion dollars.

By the end of the trading day on Tuesday, Tencent's outstanding shares were worth a combined 4.08 trillion Hong Kong dollars (US$523 billion), surpassing Facebook's US$519 billion. – Nampa/AFP

Farmers fire at Kunene lions

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Farmers fire at Kunene lionsFarmers fire at Kunene lionsWhile livestock owners fear for their animals Marauding lions in the Kunene are causing severe damage for residents of the conservancies and farmers say the animals are provoking them. Farmers in the Torra Conservancy on Monday night shot at two lions after the animals again caused trouble and provoked the community members by amongst others, jumping on cars.

According to the conservancy chairperson, Tommy Adams, these two lions are part of the pride of nine lions that killed more than 230 livestock recently at Avante Post.

In the latest attack 145 sheep and goats were killed while in the previous attack 86 sheep and goats were killed.

Since then five lions have been translocated by the environment ministry and it is believed that the other four are still roaming the area.

Adams yesterday told Namibian Sun that it could not be confirmed whether the lions were killed. “We do not know if the shots missed or if they injured the lions. The trail of the lions was followed and no blood was found. It is therefore believed that the farmers missed.”

He said that the current situation is becoming very difficult. “This incident happened in the same area as the previous two attacks. I am an advocate for not shooting lions, but then you sit with these cases. It is only when you have no other choice that you must shoot.”

Adams said the situation must be brought under control. “Hopefully we will get good news soon and the other four lions will also be relocated.”

The environment ministry, is spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, said the ministry was not aware of the shooting of the lions and confirmed that those lions remaining will be removed.

Some farmers in the Kunene Region are now keeping their cattle and small livestock in buildings to protect them from lions.

Ripanga Rupembo, a farmer in the Sesfontein constituency, keeps his cattle in a building he intends to use as a shop. Rupembo said he had 31 cattle and now only has two after lions killed the rest.

“I had no choice but to convert my shop into a shed to protect the remaining two cows I am left with,” he said.

Rupembo said he finds it difficult to support his family as his income is not enough to cover all the necessary expenses, including paying for the education of his children.

“While the government has declared war against poverty, some of us are pushed right into poverty by the conservancy policy which does not allow for the killing of lions (if they have not been declared to be problematic or a threat to human lives), while they kill our livestock,” Rupembo said.

He requested the environment ministry to translocate the lions to other areas, where they will not be able to cause so much harm.

Ngaisiue Muheue, who also farms in the Kamanjab area, told Nampa they feel left out when they look at how the ministry reacts when a lion is killed compared to when a lion kills livestock.

“Our guns and traps are being confiscated and we are left without any means of defence against predators,” said Muheue.

- Additional reporting by Nampa



Ellanie Smit

Military vehicles should not cause panic

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Military vehicles should not cause panicMilitary vehicles should not cause panic The Ministry of Defence said all movements of military vehicles seen driving in convoys in Windhoek are all for benevolent purposes and has nothing to do with the dramatic events in neighbouring Zimbabwe, as some people may have – however far-fetched – surmised.

Information received on Tuesday was that a large convoy of seemingly support vehicles of the Namibia Defence Force (NDF) have been moving north via the Western Bypass in Windhoek.

Later, by midday, another large convoy of armoured vehicles was seen on the Western Bypass.

Another convoy of trucks carrying Jeeps were driving down Sam Nujoma Avenue in Klein Windhoek towards the Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA).

The acting head of public relations in the defence ministry, Major Petrus Shilumbu, said the convoy seen along the Western Bypass consisted of a new consignment of military vehicles deployed and dispatched from Windhoek to their respective units.

Shilumbu said the military vehicles seen weeks ago along the Sam Nujoma Drive belong to Botswana. These vehicles were in transit at Botswana's dry port in Walvis Bay and were being transported to Botswana.

“There is nothing going on in Namibia,” Shilumbu responded to a comment that the presence of the military vehicles on the roads could possibly hint at a military take-over by contesting factions within the ruling Swapo Party.

Shilumbu added: “People should stop spreading rumours and the Ministry of Defence hereby assures the Namibian nation not to panic. It is not the first time such convoys are observed and the convoys should not be connected to any political development in the country.”

Catherine Sasman

Whether new dawn or another false one, euro zone economy is full of surprises

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Whether new dawn or another false one, euro zone economy is full of surprisesWhether new dawn or another false one, euro zone economy is full of surprisesGrowth up, unemployment down Europe has accepted that growth sometimes needs help. There is an understanding that you can't just sit and wait for growth. - Paola Subacchi, Chatham House The surprise economic star of 2017, when it wraps up next month, will have been the euro zone: growth looks set to come in at 2.2% compared with a forecast this time last year of just 1.4%.

Combine this with four years of falling unemployment and inflation well out of the deflation-worry zone, and policymakers and politicians have something to crow about.

But is something substantial going on, or this another false dawn for an economy that has managed less than 1.6% average annual growth in its 18-year history?

A sceptic might say it is all just cyclical, soon to reverse. Or that it is simply the result of 2.2 trillion euros in already-being-rolled-back European Central Bank stimulus forcing a famously sclerotic economy to budge.

Both have certainly played a role - but although there are risks that does not mean the growth impetus is not different from previous upswings or that it will end quickly.

The cyclical argument, for example, stems from the euro zone's proclivity to lag the US economy, tending to start a take-off just as the latter is stalling. Indeed, the current euro zone cycle is four years behind the US one.

With some signs the long US economic recovery might be peaking - recent surveys have been flat to lower, and bonds are giving warning signals – the sceptic could claim that in typical fashion the euro zone has started just as the Top Gun has finished.



Differences

But there are differences from, say, 2006 when after four years of lagging growth the euro zone surpassed the United States only to tumble as the financial crisis hurt both countries.

One, says Paola Subacchi, a senior fellow at Chatham House, is Europe's acceptance that growth sometimes needs help.

“There is now an understanding - even in (fiscally hardline) Germany – that demand needs to be supported,” she said.

“Unlike 10 years ago, or even five years ago, there is an understanding that you can't just sit and wait for growth.”

It is not that austerity measures introduced after the financial collapse have been dumped wholesale, rather that some governments are more willing to add spending to the mix - especially after many voters deserted mainstream parties.

Germany, for example, has increased public spending on roads and bridges, faster internet and social housing - turning state spending into one of the most important growth drivers in the euro zone's economic powerhouse over the past two years.



Momentum

Some structural reforms have been undertaken after years of being called for in vain by central bankers, the International Monetary Fund and others.

More flexible labour laws - notably in Spain and Ireland - have helped prompt growth, notes Florian Hense, European economist at Berenberg bank.

“What keeps things going are employment gains,” he said.

The argument here for a continuation of growth is that there is plenty of spare capacity in the work force.

Although well off its mid-2013 high of 12.1%, the euro zone's unemployment rate is still 8.9% - enough, Hense reckons, for two more years before there is any labour shortage.

Attempts are also being made to keep such reform coming. In France, President Emmanuel Macron has already signed decrees to cap payouts on unfair dismissals, while also giving companies greater freedom to hire and fire.

The balance for euro zone reformers will be how to achieve their plans against a wave of anti-establishment sentiment among voters angry at being left out of the post-financial crisis recovery.

The euro zone's new growth climate has also been fostered by the ECB's stimulus, but its withdrawal may not be as damaging as it was in 2011-2012.

Sarah Hewin, chief economist for Europe at Standard Bank, says the ECB pulled stimulus too early then and that its balance sheet - the assets it holds – was shrinking in 2012-2014, when the euro zone slipped into its second recession.

But that was also the height of the euro zone debt crisis, much of which has been patched up.

The ECB's recent decision to halve what it buys has caused little angst because it is moving slowly. Stimulus will continue - balanced against growth - and low interest rates are pretty much a euro zone fixture.



Rosy

So is everything rosy? No. Risks remain, including broad ones like a China-led global slowdown.

The latest worry is the prospect of political disruption in Germany given Chancellor Angela Merkel's failure to build a coalition government. Add to that possible electoral upheaval in Italy next year and you have the same kind of political uncertainty as at the beginning of 2017, when there were concern about anti-euro zone candidates winning in the Netherlands, France and Germany.

But for now, economists appear to see this as just noise, banking on the foundations of euro zone growth to call for just a gentle slowing next year after this year's surprise.

“It would require a major policy upset somewhere around the world (to end this),” Berenberg's Hense said. – Nampa/Reuters

Jeremy Gaunt -

Valombola trial stalled until 2018

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Valombola trial stalled until 2018Valombola trial stalled until 2018 The trial of northern businessman Maurus Valombola, who stands accused of the death of Benhard Kalimbo in 2013, has been postponed to early next year.

Valombola (59) on Monday appeared in the Oshakati High Court for the submissions by the State but the matter could not continue as the prosecutor, Lucious Matota, was absent.

Matota is said to be out of the country.

Judge Werner Januarie remanded the matter to 26 January 2018 and Valombola will remain in custody.

He is represented by Pieter Greyling. He is charged with the murder of Kalimbo, who died on 7 February 2013, from injuries sustained when he was assaulted and run over by a car.

The incident took place in the Okeeke area of the Anamulenge constituency in the Omusati Region.

In July, Valombola told the court he had no motive to kill Kalimbo. Therefore he should not be blamed for the murder.

During cross-examination by Matota, Valombola said it was possible that he was being framed by someone else and that witnesses were instigated to testify against him.

This came to light after Valombola had disputed the testimonies of several witnesses, including his employees and that of police officers.

Valombola said he was involved in an argument with Kalimbo at his bar, MK Special, on 6 February.

According to witnesses, he hit Kalimbo with a pool cue and fired a shot into the ground.

It was further revealed in court that Valombola's family paid N$50 000 towards Kalimbo's funeral as a way of compensation.

Valombola, however, denied that the money was meant for compensation but was rather a contribution from his siblings and extended family towards the victim's funeral costs.







KENYA KAMBOWE

NMP blasts critics over seabed mining

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NMP blasts critics over seabed miningNMP blasts critics over seabed mining'Baseless, emotive response to phosphate' The company says it is clear that what is good for the goose, is no longer good for the gander. Amidst an ongoing legal battle regarding the controversial mining of marine phosphate in the country, Namibian Marine Phosphate (NMP) says the development of the industry continues to be hamstrung by public emotion, legal action and bureaucratic delays.

In a statement this week, the company said the marine diamond industry continues to flourish in the same environment and ecosystem as offshore phosphate mining, using dredging that is on a larger scale, and yet, it remains unopposed.

“We urge against unfairness and double standards in favour of objectivity and scientific empirical evidence.

“This is to be the basis on which the viability of the phosphate mining industry in Namibia is assessed. Motives and justifications to oppose and deny Namibia the opportunity to benefit from this natural resource must be interrogated and understood, free from emotions,” NMP said.

The environment ministry last year November granted an environmental clearance to NMP for the 'Sandpiper Project' that is located about 120km southwest of Walvis Bay for offshore phosphate mining.

The granting of the environmental clearance to NMP caused public outcry with interested and affected parties and the fishing industry, saying they were not afforded the opportunity for inputs.

The environmental clearance was later withdrawn by the ministry leading to the current matter before the courts.

NMP and the fisheries and environment ministries are embroiled in a legal tussle over the licenses and clearance certificates.

“It is an undeniable fact that both seabed mining for diamonds and phosphate mining utilise forms of seabed dredging, involving the removal of surface seabed sediments, with fine sediment discharged overboard. Seabed mining methods used in the two processes are effectively the same, however, diamond operations have a significantly larger annual footprint than phosphate mining,” NMP said.

It said the announced expansion of marine diamond mining in Namibia received unilateral support from most ministries in government.

The company said this was contrary to the outcry against the establishment of a new marine phosphate industry.

“There was also no formal resistance, objections or legal injunctions from the fishing industry as a whole to the planned expansion of marine diamond mining in Namibia.”

NMP believes the lack of opposition is presumably because of economics. According to NMP, the diamond industry is the largest single contributor to the Namibian GDP at around 9%.

“The imminent closure of four major coastal diamond mines means that in future, up to 95% of annual diamond production will be derived from seabed mining.”

It said in contrast to marine diamonds, for the past five years the opportunity to develop a new marine phosphate industry in the same marine environment has been frustrated and delayed with unsubstantiated, emotively charged resistance from the fishing industry and self-styled environmental activist groups.

“These same parties have failed to utter a single word to oppose the expansion of the marine diamond industry. Why this double standard and hypocrisy? Marine diamond mining and the envisaged phosphate mining would operate in the same environment. Is what is good for the goose, no longer good for the gander?”

According to NMP, just like the marine diamond industry, the phosphate industry is premised on the sustainable harvesting of Namibia's natural resources in order to significantly contribute to Namibia's GDP and create employment opportunities. It said the company will also empower previously disadvantaged communities in Namibia, starting with the residents of the coastal areas. According to NMP, the government openly invites foreign investment in the mineral sector and has approved the licenses to explore for minerals and develop new mines, which is the primary objective of any exploration.

It says since 2008, its shareholders have invested more than N$780 million into the development of marine phosphate exploration and mining licenses issued by the government to NMP.



ELLANIE SMIT

'I jumped to save my life'

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'I jumped to save my life''I jumped to save my life' Warrant Officer Leonard Paulus (47), the acting station commander at the Omuthiya police station, is recovering in the Oshakati Intermediate Hospital after he was hit by a police car in the presidential motorcade on Sunday.

He told Namibian Sun that besides a broken left leg, he sustained only scratches and bruises.

Paulus said he tried to jump over the police car when he saw it approaching him at high speed.

He said the accident took place a moment after he had finished deploying police officers to maintain security during President Hage Geingob's visit to the town.

He was standing at the turn-off to the Omuthiya Elcin church when the president's motorcade approached from the Ondangwa side.

The police cars were escorting Geingob to the church for a service before his campaign rally at the same town that afternoon.

“When I was at the turning point I was vigilant and observant. There were three escort traffic vehicles leading the motorcade. The first two cars were travelling parallel while the third one was behind them,” Paulus said from his hospital bed.

“I noticed that the two leading cars knew were the turning point was and they started reducing speed while approaching the turn-off. The third car was still at high speed and it swerved out of the road to avoid hitting the other vehicles.”

“I saw the car was coming straight at me. There was nothing I could do. Since I am a trained police officer, I decided to jump to avoid being hit. The next thing I saw I was already in the hospital.”

The car's windscreen hit Paulus in the leg.

The hospital's acting medical superintendent, Dr Vizkaya Amutenya, confirmed that Paulus sustained a broken leg and was recovering well.

The police have opened a case of reckless driving against the traffic officer who was driving the car.

The regional police commander, Commissioner Armas Shivute, said he was in contact with Paulus every day to check on his recovery.

ILENI NANDJATO

Angolans top non-citizen list

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Angolans top non-citizen listAngolans top non-citizen list70 000 legal foreign residents in Namibia Almost half of the foreigners living legally in Namibia are from Angola, the latest demographic survey shows. Angolan nationals represent the highest proportion of foreigners residing in Namibia at 43.4%.

According to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA), there are 70 373 foreign nationals legally residing in Namibia. Of these, 30 521 are Angolans; 16 883 are male and 13 638 female.

The results of the latest demographic survey by the NSA were released Tuesday.

“Angolan nationals presented the highest proportion of foreigners in Namibia, with a very high increase from 2011 to 2016. The same trend was observed with the South Africans, Zambians and Zimbabweans,” the NSA said.

Even if the citizens of Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia living in Namibia are added up, they still do not exceed the number of Angolans.

The last demographic survey was conducted in 2011. At the time, Angolans accounted for 28.9% of the foreign citizens in Namibia.

The latest survey shows that Zambians (10 716, or 15.2%) are the second largest group of foreign residents in Namibia.

In third and fourth place are South Africa (8 851 residents) and Zimbabwe (8 839 residents), both at 12.6%.

Botswana has the lowest proportion of citizens resident in Namibia at just 521, or 0.7% of the total.

Nationals from other Southern African Development Community countries, such as Swaziland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Tanzania, account for a combined figure of 1 433 or 2% of the total.

Nationals from other African countries account for 4.7% of the total at 3 285.

Remarkably, Asian countries account for only 2.7% of the total number, with 1 925 nationals said to be resident in Namibia.

This is in stark contrast to recent reports which indicated that the number of Asian nationals may be a lot higher, with 7 000 said to be resident in Namibia.

This was announced in July by the minister of home affairs, Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana.

“Our most reliable figures are based on records drawn from the issuance of permanent residence permits since 1990 up to 21 February 2017, which currently stands at 1 358,” she said in the National Assembly.

The minister said there were 4 470 Asian work permit holders, while temporary residence permit holders - usually spouses and children accompanying the work permit holders – numbered 1 124.

The proportion of citizens of other African, American and Asian countries decreased in the period observed, the NSA noted.





OGONE TLHAGE

PDM lashes 'reckless' govt, Schlettwein

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PDM lashes 'reckless' govt, SchlettweinPDM lashes 'reckless' govt, SchlettweinSaying one thing and doing the opposite The government is borrowing as if there is no tomorrow and that is to blame for the country's junk status, opposition MP Nico Smit says. “Irresponsible”, “reckless”, and “unreliable” were some of the words used by People's Democratic Movement (PDM) member of parliament Nico Smit to describe finance minister Calle Schlettwein's handling of the country's purse strings.

He made the remarks in reaction to a recent decision taken by ratings agency Fitch to downgrade Namibia's debt stock to junk status.

According to him the government, and particularly Schlettwein, have a knack of saying one thing and doing completely the opposite. This was largely evident in the way the government has been handling its money matters, he said.

“We will go nowhere for as long as government cannot control itself, for as long as government expands the civil service, for as long as government makes promises, for as long as government carries on with the budgeting the way they go about it.

We can forget to get out of the situation that we are in,” said Smit.

According to Smit, the government does not stick to its budget promises and it is no wonder that government debt has now acquired junk status.

“Government announced austerity measures and just six months later they throw it overboard and continue.

We are not credible and we are not reliable. We are saying one thing but another thing is happening in our economy. Fitch is justified,” said Smit.

According to him, it is an impossible task to try and pull the wool over the eyes of international agencies like Fitch.

“You cannot lie to international agencies like the International Monetary Fund and Fitch, you have to be honest about what is going on,” he said.

“We can say whatever we want about them but investors look at them and trust them, hence we will just shoot ourselves in the foot if we discredit them,” said Smit in response to protests that were aired following Moody's decision to downgrade Namibia's debt stock to junk status in August.

Smit accused the finance ministry of using shoddy data to compile the budget and said ratings agencies like Moody's and Fitch could not be easily be fooled with regard to Namibia's creditworthiness.

“The data that government is using is not reliable; it is made up… false data. Moody's and Fitch are not in this game from today.

“The ministry of finance was expecting this and allowed the situation to deteriorate, irrespective. The ministry of finance just carried on.”

Smit said at some point the government would have to draw the line with regard to the amount of debt taken up.

“We are in serious trouble if government continues as if we are a money machine.

If you keep borrowing and do not restrain yourself, it will become more and more difficult to build trust,” said Smit.

OGONE TLHAGE

ACC wants more teeth

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ACC wants more teethACC wants more teethPleads for bolstered capacity The Anti-Corruption Commission does not have enough staff to carry out its mandate and meet public expectations. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is appealing to the government to make adequate financial and human resources available to it to meet huge expectations from the public, especially regarding its mandate in tackling corruption.

It has been subjected to growing criticism and accusations that it is a “toothless dog”, not sufficiently going after the “big fish”, and as a result there has been a loss of public confidence.

The truth of the matter, however, says the ACC, is that it is buckling under a constraining shortage of financial and human resources.

With the current cash crunch experienced in the public sector, and government offices, agencies and ministries having been ordered to tighten their belts, the ACC is pleading to have two vacant positions for investigating officers filled.

The ACC has the second smallest budget of all government institutions, with a budget of just over N$59.4 million for the 2017/2018 financial year.

In the revised budget that was reduced by N$207 000.

The newly formed Ministry of Public Enterprises, with a far smaller staff complement, has the smallest budget at N$57.8 million.

The deputy director-general of the ACC, Erna van der Merwe, says the two vacancies would cost just over N$1.05 million, but were not budgeted for in the current financial year. In actual fact the ACC is clamouring to fill at least five positions, which would cost the state a mere N$2.4 million more than what has been allocated to the ACC during this financial year.

The ACC's organisational structure makes provision for 99 posts; only 85 are currently filled.

To illustrate the point, Namibia's anti-corruption body has much less capacity than its counterpart Botswana.

According to the latest UN estimates, Botswana's population is about 200 000 less than Namibia's – 2 291 661 against Namibia's 2 554 584 citizens by 20 November.

Yet, Botswana's anti-corruption body has 76 investigators; the ACC has 29 investigators, including the head of the directorate, Nelius Becker.

This means that 29 staff members have to deal with over 300 ongoing investigations. An average corruption investigation of medium complexity takes about nine months to conclude.



Van der Merwe says the limited staff is preventing the ACC from exercising its mandate.



“We actually need a team of investigators but we have to juggle cases with the limited capacity,” commented Van der Merwe.



“We realise that the government is not keen on increasing the wage bill of the public sector. However, this is not a case of nice-to-haves; this is a necessity. If we have more capacity, we can spend less on outsourcing commissions because we would be able to do investigations in-house more speedily.”



The pervasive sentiment at the commission is that it will be able to fulfil the mandate if there is sufficient political will to bolster the capacity of crime-busting institutions.



Therefore, the ACC has requested additional specialised staff for its investigative unit to enable it to meet the public expectation of speedy investigations.

With the ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, the Namibian government undertook to sufficiently fund anti-corruption bodies such as the ACC.

Chapter 2, Article 6 and Chapter 3, Article 36 of this convention require state parties to grant anti-corruption bodies the necessary material resources and specialised staff, and to provide training that such staff may require to carry out their functions.

The ACC also intends to sharpen its mandate to prevent corruption in public and private bodies and has initiated the development of a national anti-corruption strategy and action plan, which was adopted in 2016 after extensive consultations in all regions.

“Fighting corruption requires shared leadership in the fight, thus we cannot rely on the effectiveness of a single organisation such as the ACC. It requires all institutions to do what they are supposed to do. If there is good governance and if internal measures are properly applied, corrupt practices can be nipped in the bud,” Van der Merwe said.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Boy 7, raped by girl, 14

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Boy 7, raped by girl, 14Boy 7, raped by girl, 14 A seven-year-old boy was raped at a house in Block E, Rehoboth, on 15 November.

In their daily crime bulletin, the police say the boy was raped by a girl aged 14.

According the bulletin, the girl sat on top of the boy and had sexual intercourse with him.

No arrest has been made and investigations into the matter continue.

Meanwhile at Rundu, the headman of Mashare village was arrested on Monday in possession of a crocodile skin, two otter skins and three python skins.

The man, aged 95, had no documentation for the game products and was arrested.

He made his first court appearance in Rundu yesterday.

In another rape incident at Eenghala village near Ongwediva, a woman was raped by an adult male. The police did not provide the ages of the suspect or the victim but said the woman was walking to the shops when the suspect dragged her into the bushes and raped her.

The suspect was arrested and investigations are ongoing.

The police recorded one attempted murder and a murder in the bulletin.

On Monday, 20 November at Eyambeko bar in Opuwo, a 35-year-old man was stabbed in the head with a broken beer bottle. He sustained serious injuries and is being treated at the Opuwo State Hospital.

No arrests have been made.

At Sun City location in Rundu during the early hours of Tuesday morning, Kavu Paulus Kambinda was stabbed to death by a 27-year-old man.

According to the police, Kambinda and the suspect were fighting at Kambinda's bar at his home.

The fight was allegedly stopped by patrons at the bar but continued again in the courtyard.

According to the police, Kambinda's body was only discovered on Wednesday morning by passers-by.

“It is alleged that both the victim and the suspect were under the influence of alcohol during the incident. The suspect was arrested and is expected to appear in court soon. Police investigation continues,” the bulletin said.

At Ondangwa, Sakeus Elago Kanzi, 44, fainted in front of his home in Etemba village at around 22:00 on Monday evening. He died en route to the hospital. Kawnzi had apparently been at a local shebeen all day. A post-mortem will be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.

STAFF REPORTER

Hope and scepticism among Zim expats

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Hope and scepticism among Zim expatsHope and scepticism among Zim expats When the sun rose over Zimbabwe yesterday morning, a 37-year-old reality was changed forever with the resignation of Robert Mugabe on Tuesday evening.

He resigned shortly before the country's parliament would have moved to impeach him.

Former vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to replace Mugabe. It is a historic event, not only for Zimbabwe but for the continent as a whole because what started out as an apparent coup shed not one drop of blood. Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans, scattered across the globe, are expected to return to their country of birth and begin to rebuild what was once the breadbasket of southern Africa. While many throughout the diaspora are packing up their bags to finally take up jobs back home, jobs they are qualified for, some are sceptical of the new regime, saying “things do not happen overnight”.

Nelson Shoko (48), a senior school teacher from Zimbabwe reduced to a street vendor in Namibia, says nothing much has changed. He has been in Namibia for three months and intends staying on for a while.

“Things do not change overnight. At the moment Zimbabwe is a country without industries, a currency and without opportunities… We do not really know what will happen now,” he said. Shoko has a family of four waiting in Zimbabwe for his monthly pay cheque generated from the sales of airtime, biscuits, fruit and cigarettes. Shoko is just one of the many displaced Zimbabweans, regarded as the continent's most educated people, who have been reduced to menial jobs.

Edwin Chiwone, a 36-year-old marketing professional who is making a living as a bus driver in Namibia, is a happy man, but has no plans to return to Zimbabwe. His biggest regret is that his father, a staunch anti-Mugabe activist, died before witnessing Mugabe's resignation.

“I would have loved for my dad to have been here now… he died with a broken heart because all his children are scattered across the continent in pursuit of greener pastures which we didn't even find,” he said.

Chiwone too, can only hope that things will eventually change for the better.

“What has happened is the greatest thing in my lifetime. It is the epitome of democracy, but we can only pray and hope things change and improve. My son has never seen my mother, his grandmother… imagine how that must feel. Finally there is an opportunity that my people can live normal lives,” he said.

Across the globe people celebrated with and for the thousands of displaced Zimbabweans, the resignation of Robert Mugabe is a promising step in rebuilding not only the country, but the lives of its people.



In Namibia and throughout southern Africa ecstatic Zimbabweans took to the streets to celebrate what they believe is the real 'liberation' of Zimbabwe.

Simbarashe Shuumba, who came to Namibia at the dawn of his adulthood when he just turned 21, said he is not waiting and will be returning home once he has gathered enough money.

Shuumba has been a bus conductor for the last 15 years, living what he describes as a “pitiful life in a kambashu” in one of Windhoek's impoverished informal settlements.

“We are happy. We are finally free from that monster Mugabe. He has stolen our dreams. Imagine if you go to school and university, you live with the anticipation of finding a job and make a decent living in your own country. We were robbed of that opportunity, we were trapped, enslaved in other countries.”

JEMIMA BEUKES

Population grows by 200 000 in five years

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Population grows by 200 000 in five yearsPopulation grows by 200 000 in five years The estimated population of Namibia grew from 2 113 077 in 2011 to 2 324 388 in 2016, which represents a 10%, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).

The population was estimated to have grown by 1.9% annually between 2011 and 2016, compared to the 1.4% recorded in 2011.

This was announced by NSA statistician-general, Alex Shimuafeni, when he launched the 2016 Namibia Intercensal Demographic Survey (NIDS) Report on Tuesday.

Intercensal surveys are conducted five years after the census. The 2016 NIDS was conducted between the 2011 Population and Housing Census and the next census scheduled for 2021.

Shimuafeni explained that with regards to sex distribution, there were more females at 51.4% than males, who made up 48.6% of the Namibian population in 2016.

“This ratio somehow remains the same as with the 2011 figures of 51.6% and 48.4% respectively,” he said.

The Khomas Region recorded the highest number of people at 415 780, followed by Ohangwena at 255 510 and Omusati at 249 885.

The Omaheke Region had the least number of people in 2016 with a population of 74 629.

The literacy rate for the population aged 15 years and above remained the same since 2011 at 88.7%.

Shimuafeni said the information in the report is useful for evidence-based planning and decision-making at national and regional levels, and assessing the impact of the Fifth National Development Plan (NDP5) and the Harambee Prosperity Plan.

At international level, the information will be used to monitor development plans such as the United Nations’ Africa Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). - Nampa

Debmarine plans world’s biggest offshore diamond mining vessel

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Debmarine plans world’s biggest offshore diamond mining vesselDebmarine plans world’s biggest offshore diamond mining vesselN$2 billion investment The new vessel is expected to start operations in 2021. There is a great amount of potential in Namibia’s marine diamond deposits. - Bruce Cleaver, CEO: De Beers Group Anglo American's diamond unit De Beers has ordered a new US$142 million diamond mining ship as part of its strategy to grow its offshore operations, the firm said on Tuesday.

De Beers said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Norwegian firm Kleven Verft AS to build what it said would be the world's largest custom-built diamond mining vessel.

The new vessel, an investment of about N$2 billion, is expected to commence operations in 2021.

It will work alongside the five other mining vessels in the Debmarine Namibia fleet, enhancing the business’s ability to recover diamonds off Namibia’s Atlantic coastline. At 176 metres long, the vessel will be two metres longer than the largest vessel currently in the fleet, the mv Mafuta.

Debmarine Namibia is a 50/50 joint venture between the Namibian government and De Beers Group.

“This is an exciting undertaking not only for the business, but also for the wider Namibian industry. We will remain focused throughout on safety, quality, timely delivery and cost containment,” said Otto Shikongo, CEO of Debmarine Namibia.

"There is a great amount of potential in Namibia’s marine diamond deposits and this new vessel will support our strategy to continue to grow our offshore operations," said Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers Group.

Diamonds, particularly marine diamonds which are generally more valuable than land-based stones because lower quality gems are washed away by waves, are an important commodity in Namibia and make up around 20% of its foreign export earnings.

In June, De Beers launched the world's largest diamond exploration vessel, the SS Nujoma, in a move to maintain high production levels until 2035. – Nampa/Reuters and own report

Alweendo seeks US help to fight illicit capital outflows

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Alweendo seeks US help to fight illicit capital outflowsAlweendo seeks US help to fight illicit capital outflows Tom Alweendo, the minister of economic planning and director-general of the National Planning Commission (NPC), has asked the United States of America to help stem the massive outflow of illicit capital from Africa.

Alweendo made the request in Washington, D.C. on Friday during a ministerial meeting on trade, security and governance in Africa. The two-day event was hosted by US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, and was attended by foreign ministers from 36 African countries.

Alweendo said the economic development of Africa has been impeded by illicit flow of funds from the continent. The continent is estimated to be losing more than US$50 billion annually through illicit capital outflows, which equates to about 2% of the continent’s total GDP in nominal terms.

The illicit flow of funds from the continent hampers service delivery, diverts resources away from building much needed infrastructure and schools as well as the training of teachers and law enforcement officers, Alweendo said.

“It is here where we need the assistance of the United States of America to help us stem this outflow.”

Trade

For Africa’s industrialisation to be realised, the continent needs to trade in the international markets, Alweendo said. As of 2015, Africa’s share of global trade was less than 3%.

“We thus also need to look at how the current international trading system is arranged. Our experience shows that the system is tilted in favour of the developed economies,” Alweendo said.

There is a need for Africa’s developed trading partners to show willingness to re-look at how best to level the playing field when it comes to international trade.

In his remarks, Tillerson said the refocus on trade was geared towards helping unlock the tremendous potential of Africa, which he noted is expected to become the world’s most populous continent in coming decades.

“Africa is a growing market with vast potential. Five of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies are in Africa and consumer spending there is projected to exceed US$2 trillion by the year 2025,” he said. - Nampa
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