Namibian Sun

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday after 15 seasons, leaving the team with two big voids after their head coach made the same decision this week.

The 38-year-old Palmer was drafted first overall in 2003 by the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played eight seasons, and then after a forgettable two-year stint with the Oakland Raiders joined the Cardinals in 2013.

“Over the years, I've had teammates who decided to hang it up and I would ask them how they knew when it was time to walk away,” Palmer wrote in a statement released by the Cardinals.

“The answer was almost always the same 'you just know'.

“For me, that time is now. Why? Quite simply, I just know.”

Palmer enjoyed early success with Cincinnati as he led them to a division title in 2005 but on the first snap of his first playoff game he suffered a torn ACL after taking a low hit.

After a lacklustre stint in Oakland where he won eight games over two seasons, Palmer rejuvenated his career in Arizona under head coach Bruce Arians' vertical-passing scheme and alongside future Hall of Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

But Palmer's career was hampered by injuries, including in the 2014 season when he missed Arizona's playoff run with a torn ACL.

Palmer, who missed the final nine games of Arizona's season with a broken arm, ends his NFL career 12th on the all-time rankings with 294 touchdown passes.

He also hold the Cardinals franchise records for passing yards and passing touchdowns in a season, both marks set in 2015.

Arians announced his retirement on Monday and Fitzgerald, 34, has said he does not know if he will return for the NFL's 2018 season.

NAMPA/REUTERS

Moyes hails Carroll's towering displayHammers face Spurs Andy Carroll ended a nine-month scoring drought with a second-half double at the London Stadium on Tuesday.

Very few Premier League defenders can cope with the aerial threats posed by West Ham United striker Andy Carroll, club manager David Moyes said after the player's match-winning performance against West Bromwich Albion.

The 28-year-old's first goal was a majestic header, leaving West Brom defenders Jonny Evans and Kieran Gibbs grounded.

“They were top goals,” Moyes told Sky Sports. “I don't know if there are many centre-halves that could have dealt with his leap for the first goal, and I must say the ball in is terrific.

“And you have to give him great credit for the finish for the second goal.”

West Ham moved five points clear of bottom side Swansea City having ended their four-game winless run in all competitions.

Moyes admitted his team were not up to the mark but said it was crucial for his team to collect points and avoid getting caught into a relegation battle.

“You can see how important it was, it would have been the same had West Brom scored, (manager) Alan (Pardew) would have felt the same.

“It was vital three points for us,” he added.

“We want to be out of the bottom three.

Psychologically you don't want to be in it at all, I was disappointed when we did slip back into it, but tonight we got a result and we've got to try and move on.”

West Ham face a short trip to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the league, before visiting third-tier Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

NAMPA/REUTERS

Mountain-bike world champ hurt in car crash Two-time Olympian and world champion cyclist Caroline Buchanan has been seriously injured in a car crash, with the Australian detailing her horrific injuries in a social media post yesterday.

Buchanan, a five-time mountain bike world champion who has also won the BMX world title three times, said her lungs had collapsed and she had broken her sternum and nose.

“I wouldn't say 2017 ended quite as planned,” she said on Facebook, alongside pictures of herself in a hospital bed in a neck brace and with a bloodied nose.

“It's been a rough couple of days in ICU after a vehicle roll. I just moved to a private room and everything is moving in a positive recovery direction.

“Injuries are... Broken sternum, broken nose, collapsed lungs. I'll keep you guys up to date as we go.” The 27-year-old Canberra-born rider, who competed at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, did not say how the crash happened, but local reports said it was a single car accident.

NAMPA/AFP

Shekau releases video

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau released a video message on Tuesday claiming a series of attacks in northeast Nigeria during the festive season.

The shadowy leader released his first video message in months amid a surge in violence casting doubt on the Nigerian government's claim that the jihadist group is defeated.

"We are in good health and nothing has happened to us," said Shekau in the 31-minute video message spoken in the Hausa language common across northern Nigeria.

"Nigerian troops, police and those creating mischief against us can't do anything against us, and you will gain nothing," he said.

"We carried out the attacks in Maiduguri, in Gamboru, in Damboa. We carried out all these attacks."

The video then shows footage from a Christmas Day attack on a military checkpoint in Molai village on the outskirts of the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri, which the military said was thwarted by troops after one hour of battle.

Boko Haram fighters in torn clothes were shown shooting from the back of battered pickup trucks.

Shekau's message comes during an acceleration of Boko Haram attacks and just days after the jihadists killed 25 people outside Maiduguri, the birthplace of the Islamist insurgency.

In December, Boko Haram attacked convoys of Nigerian soldiers and dispatched suicide bombers into crowded markets in towns across northeast Nigeria.

At least 50 people were killed in November when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a mosque in Adamawa state.

But Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari said in his New Year address that Boko Haram has been "beaten".

"Isolated attacks still occur, but even the best-policed countries cannot prevent determined criminals from committing terrible acts of terror," said Buhari.

Shekau, a leader known for his lengthy, wild-eyed video messages, took over Boko Haram in 2009 after the death of its founder Muhammad Yusuf.

Boko Haram, whose Islamist insurgency has left at least 20 000 dead in Nigeria since it began in 2009, has long been fractionalised.

In 2016 it suffered a major split, when the so-called Islamic State group recognised Yusuf's son, Abu Mus'ab al-Barnawi, as leader.

NAMPA/AFP

My button is bigger than yours

President Donald Trump has fired off a tweet against North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un, claiming to have a “more powerful” nuclear weapons launcher.

Trump's tweet, amid a barrage of angry posts, is a belated response to Kim's New Year speech, in which the North Korean leader claimed, “The entire United States is within range of our nuclear weapons, and a nuclear button is always on my desk.”

“This is reality, not a threat,” Kim said, adding that “these weapons will be used only if our security is threatened.”

Trump’s tweet read: North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!

In Kim's New Year message, he also offered some hope of a thaw in relations with South Korea, saying he is open to talks over the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics. Trump attributed that to "sanctions and 'other' pressures" starting to have an impact on North Korea, before returning to his usual belligerent attitude.

Late last month, the United Nations Security Council unanimously approved more sanctions on North Korea, which the hermit kingdom condemned as an “act of war.” The sanctions were approved in retaliation to an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch, which North Korea has since commemorated with a stamp showing Kim overlooking the defiant move.

Tensions have been building on the Korean peninsula, spurred on by combative US rhetoric. The White House has vowed to put "maximum pressure on Pyongyang," with America's UN envoy Nikki Haley saying earlier the North would be "utterly destroyed" should there be war. Adding fuel to the fire, the US and South Korea have persisted with their joint military drills on the North's borders.

Moscow, while also condemning North Korea's nuclear and missile activities, has been urging moderation and mutual concessions. Russia's call for calm has been blatantly snubbed by Washington.

RUSSIA TODAY

US using aid cuts to force talksPalestine will be forced to the table with Israel US wants to cut aid to UN refugee agency to force Palestine into talks with Israel.

The US wants to stop funding a UN agency aiding millions of Palestinian refugees to coerce Palestine into talks with Israel. The negotiations soured after Washington's contentious recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

President Donald Trump appears to be on course to punish the United Nations after most UN member states refused to endorse the US President's recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital. Trump now wants to cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) which has received over US$5 billion in US aid since 1994. In 2016, the US gave the agency over US$368 million.

"The President has basically said that he doesn’t want to give any additional funding, or stop funding, until the Palestinians are agreeing to come back to the negotiating table,” US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said in New York Tuesday. "What we saw with the resolution was not helpful to the situation. We're trying to move for a peace process, but if that doesn't happen, the president is not going to continue to fund that situation."

Haley's statement come on the heels of Trump's tweet rebuking Palestinians for not showing enough "appreciation or respect" to the US after he had "taken Jerusalem, the toughest part of the negotiation, off the table." Trump also suggested ending the payments of "hundreds of millions of dollars a year."

In the days following Trump's 6 December announcement on the status of the Holy City and his orders to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, the US vetoed a UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution which called for a reversal of Washington's decision. Opposition to the new American policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict took centre stage on 21December, when the UN General Assembly (UNGA) overwhelmingly voted in favour of a non-binding resolution calling on the US to rescind its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Only nine states voted against the UNGA resolution while 35 nations abstained.

On Tuesday, Haley slammed the many UN voices opposing Washington's 'vision' of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, which has sparked deadly violence across the occupied Palestinian territories. "We very much still want to have a peace process, nothing changes with that. The Palestinians now have to show the world they want to come to the table," Haley said. "As of now, they're not coming to the table, but they ask for aid. We're not giving the aid, we're going to make sure they come to the table and we want to move forward with the peace process."

UNRWA is entirely dependent on voluntary contributions from UN member states, and in 2016, the US funded almost 30% of UNRWA’s budget. UNRWA's humanitarian relief is one of the few lifelines extended to over 5 million registered Palestinian refugees who fled their native land in the wake of the 1948 exodus of Palestine, and the 1967 Six-Day Wars, which shaped the current boundaries of Israel.

The agency provides education, health care, and social services to the Palestinian diaspora in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. On a symbolic level, UNRWA provides hope that someday, Palestinians can return to their lands now occupied by Israel. The refugee question is a major obstacle to a two-state solution which aims to forge an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel based on 1967 borders, and which would make East Jerusalem the capital of Palestine.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation's (PLO) political committee was scheduled to meet yesterday to discuss the latest developments directed from Washington as articulated by Haley, Haaretz reports.

Both Palestinians factions, Hamas and Fatah, have refused to accept the American decision on Jerusalem. While Hamas is committed to fighting for the Palestinian cause, Fatah, led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, vowed to explore all efforts to muster international support for the Palestinians. Earlier, Haaretz reported that the Palestinian Authority will soon apply to join 22 international treaties and conventions in protest against the Jerusalem recognition.

RUSSIA TODAY

ACC a tamekitha omakonaakono mongeshefa yetumo lyiiti moChina Sha landula oolopota ndhoka dha pitithwa komapandja gomakwatathano gopainternet oshiwike sha piti, Okakomisi kOkukondjitha Uulingilingi moNamibia, oka tamekitha omakonaakono moshikonga oshinene sheyako lyiiti.

Okakomisi koAnti-Corruption Commission (ACC) oka tamekitha omakonaakono guudha moshipotha sheyakelo pondje yoshilongo iiti na oka kwatako woo omwaalu omunene gwiiti peinda lyondjila lyopolisi mOmbaye.

Pahapu dhomunambelewa omukuluntu gwomakonaakono mokakomisi hoka, Nelius Becker, otaku fekelwa kutya ope na elyenge lyuulunga wiiti mboka kombinga yaZambia, na otaku gandjwa omikanda dhiikengelela.

Okwa yelitha kutya omikanda ndhoka tadhi gandjwa mokututa iiti mbyoka odha faathana na odhina oonomola dha faathana na kadhi shi dhoshili.

“Otu na okulelepeka omakonaakono getu nokuya pondje yoshilongo koongamba dhaZambia oshowo okukwatela mo omalelo gaZambia, molwaashoka otashi ulike kutya uulingilingi mboka otawu longwa okuzilila kombinga ndjiyaka. Otwa hala woo okutseya kutya iiti mbyoka otayi zi peni, ngele oya landwa tuu nenge oya yakwa.”

Pauyelele mboka wa tulwa kepandja lyoACC lyoFacebook, ondumba yiiti yorosewood yoocubic metre 20 oya kwatwako mEtine lya piti, omanga omakonaakono taga tsikile.

Omikanda odha holola kutya iiti mbyoka ya za mehangano lyoSesheke Hardwood Limited moZambia na oya li tayi falwa kehangano lyoZhejiang Wutong Tree Supply Chain Management Co. Ltd moChina.

Okakomisi koACC otaka ningi omapulaapulo woo kutya okambaapila komalandelo giiti mbyoka otaka ulike kutya oya landwa kooUS$1 200 shoka tashi ulike kutya oya landithwa kooUS$60 kehe mocubic metre.

Okakomisi otaka ningile woo omapulaapulo okambaapila komafutilo hoka ke na owala onomola 00002.

“Ondokumende otadhi ulike kutya odhiikengelela molwaashoka oshitopolwa shimwe shonzapo yophytosanitary oshi na onomola ya faathana nonomola yoRCT ndjoka ya longithwa keloli limwe ndyoka lya li lya humbata iiti mbyoka mEtitatu, na uuyelele owala wopevi lyonzapo ndjoka mboka tawu holola shoka sha humbatwa owo wa lundululwa.Omulandu gwewapaleko lyiiti mbyoka ogwa ningwa muMay gwo 2017 netumo lyiiti mbyoka okuza moZambia olya ningwa muDesemba gwo 2017,” ACC a holola.

Okakomisi oka holola kutya shoka otashi yi pondje oompango dhopaigwana ndhoka tadhi utha kutya iiti oya pumbwa okutumwa pondje yoshilongo konima yomasiku 14 uuna ya walepekwa.

Metitatu lyomasiku 28 gaDesemba, ACC okwa landula uuyelele mboka wa tulwa kepandja lyoFacebook, kutya ope na omaloli ga monika mOmbaye ga humbata iiti, na otashi ulike kutya ope na sha inashi yela mehumbato lyoondongelwa ndhoka.

Sha landula omakonaakono, ondumba yiiti mbyoka hayi ithanwa Mukula wood, oya kwatwako kokakomisi, opamwe nomikanda dhokuhumbata iiti mbyoka ndhoka tadhi limbilike. Na natango okwa kwatwako iiti yorosswood mesiku lyalandula.

Okakomisi oka popi kutya otaka fekele kutya iiti mbyoka oya kuthwa moDemocratic Republic of Congo.

Omakonaakono otaga tsikile.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Aanyasha yomOmaalala ya gandja ekwatho kokinda yomomudhingoloko gwawo

Aanyasha yopomudhingoloko Omaalala oya gongala pamwe pethimbo lyiituthi yomatango omanene nokugongela oshimaliwa shooN$30 000 shoka sha nuninwa oskola yoshikunino yomomudhingoloko ngoka yOmaalala Sunshine Kindergarten.

Pahapu dhomuunganeki Joseph Munyongi, iimaliwa mbyoka otayi ka pewa okinda ndjoka tayi ka tokola yoyene kutya otayi ka longitha shike iimaliwa mbyoka.

Munyongi ngoka a za mOmaalala ihe oha kala mOvenduka, okwa popi kutya okwa gumwa noonkondo kolopota ndjoka ya pitithwa koshifokundnaeki shoNamibian Sun omvula ya piti, kutya Omaalala Sunshine kindergarten popepi noAdolfi mOmaalala otayi kongo ekwatho moshigwana opo ehala lyokinda ndjoka li vule okukala tali gandjwa enongelo kaanona ya thika po 45 mboka haya hiti enongelo pokinda ndjoka.

Munyongi okwa popi kutya oya putukile monkalo ya faathana naanona mboka, ihe okwa nyanyukwa sho aanyasha yopomudhingoloko ngoka ya tokola okugandja omakwatho kokinda ndjoka. Omunyasha ngoka okwa popi kutya ngashiingeyi oshi li omukalondjiigilile okutameka omvula yo 2013, sho ya tokola okukala haya gongala pamwe pehulilo lyomumvo, nokutopolelathana omahokololo goonkalamwenyo dhawo.

Okwa tsikile kutya omvula ya piti, oya tokola okuyambidhidha okinda ndjoka, na oku na etegelelo enene kutya natango numvo otaya ka ninga sha shomupondo.

Omvula ya piti, omutotipo gwokinda ndjoka, omunamimvo 25, Emilia Victory, okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya oya pumbwa iitaafula, iidhanitho yuunona oshowo iinima yimwe tayi pumbiwa meyambulepo lyekoko lyaanona aashona.

Okwa li a popi kutya omolwa ompumbwe, aavali oya tameke okufala koskola iidhanitho ya longwa koonyala opo aanona ya vule okukala ya nyanyukwa pethimbo ye li woo koskola.

ILENI NANDJATO

AaChina nayo otaya uthwa ya fute iishoshela yepangelo Omaiyuvo goshigwana kutya AaChina inaya uthwa okufuta iishoshela yepangelo, oga kuthwa po sha landula sho uuministeli wemona lyoshilongo tawu pula oshigwana shi ya lopotele mboka itaya gwanithwa po ompango ndjoka tayi utha efuto lyiishoshela yepangelo.

Komufala gwOompale dhEpangelo, Justice Mwafongwe okwa zimine kutya uuministeli wawo kawu na ontseyo kutya oongeshefa dhaChina ohadhi futu ondjele yi li pu ingapi yiishoshela yepangelo.

“Uupyakadhi moNamibia oomboka kutya inatu ninga omapekaapeko ngoka otwa ninga owala omakonaakono ihe inatu ninga omapekaapeko.

Opwa pumbwa okuningwa omapekaapeko kwaashoka hashi ithanwa kutya o'tax gap'.

Otwa ningila omakonaakono aafuti yiishoshela mwa kwatelwa aanangeshefa yaChina, nayamwe po oya tulwa miipandeko omolwa okwaahafuta iishoshela yokongulu,” Mwafongwe a popi.

A tax gap otayi fatululwa kutya eyooloko pokati komwaalu ngoka hagu futwa iishoshela naangoka gwiiyemo mbyoka hayi monika komufuti gwiishoshela. Shoka ohashi etithwa sho aafuti yiishoshela ihaya popi omwaalu gomondjila gwiiyemo mbyoka haya ningi, oshowo mboka haya futu kwa lata.

Mwafongwe okwa tsu omuthindo kutya aazaizai inaya patelwa pondje mefuto lyiishoshela yepangelo.

“Omulandu gwetu gwiifuta yiishoshela inagu tala kutya omuntu omukwashigwana gwoshilongo shini, ihe ogwa tala kutya omuntu oha mono iiyemo yi thike peni.”

Nonando ongaaka ope na aazaizai mboka haya futwa kuuministeli iishoshela yawo mbyoka ya futu, okupitila mOmpango yoIncome Tax Act yomo 1981.

Kohi yompangu ndjoka, iishoshela ihayi futwa kaazaizai mboka ye na uukwatya wopaudiplomatika. Aanambelewa mboka oya uthwa ya puleko iifuta yawo mbyoka ya futu, uuna taya gandja uumbangi wuumbaapila womafutilo awuhe, mboka tawu yambidhidha uumbangi kutya aanambelewa mboka oya futa shili iishoshela yokongulu. Meshunitho lyiishoshela mbyoka inamu kwatelwa iishoshela mbyoka ya futwa, uuna taku landwa iikunwa.

Aakwashigwana yaNamibia okupitila muutumwalaka uufupi oshowo komapandja gomakwatathano gopainternet, oya holola kutya aakwashigwana yaChina ihaya futu iishoshela yokongulu, nenge otaya ihumbatelwa momukalo gwowina kepangelo.

Yamwe oya popi kutya AaChina uuna taya landa poompito dhilwe ohaya pula opo ka ya futithwe iishoshela yokongulu miilandomwa yawo.

Mwafongwe okwa ekelehi omaiyuvo ngoka kutya kape na mboka ya pitikwa okukala itaya futu iishoshela yepangeo, ta popi kutya ngele ope na mboka haya futitha aantu inamu kwatelwa iishoshela yepangelo, nena itaya gwanithwapo ompango yoshilongo.

Okwa tsikil kutya oye na ontseyo kutya aalandithi yamwe ihaya gandja uumbaapila womafutilo kaalandi yawo, nomatompelo owala geshiwike kuyo.

Etalelepo koChina Town mepandanda lyaNewcastle mOvenduka, olya koleke omanyenyeto ngoka, sho oostola odhindji ihadhi gandja uumbapila womafutilo.

Aalandithi oyendji oya holola kutya kaye na ontseyo kombinga yomapulo giifuta yiishoshela, noyendji inaya yamukula omapulo nokwiipopila kutya aahona yawo kaye po.

Yamwe mboka haya gandja uumbaapila womafutilo wa shangwa moshiChina, itawu ulike wu na oomonola dhiifuta.

Mwafongwe okwa popi kutya kashi shi owala AaChina ya tegelelwa okufuta iishoshela yepangelo, ihe kehe ehangano hali ningi iiyemo yi vulithe poN$500 000 komvula.

Omunongononi gumwe okwa popi kutya ngele oostola dhaaChina inadhi shangithwa opo dhi vule okukakala tadhi futu iishoshela yepangelo, nena otashi ulike kutya ngiika ihadhi ningi iiyemo yi vulithe po 500 000.

Nonando ongaaka okwa popi kutya aanangeshefa yaChina itaya pitika okukala mongeshefa miilongo yopondje, omanga taya ningi iiyemo yi pevi lyooN$500 000.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Egweko lyolusheno monooli lya nyenyetwa

Nonando okwa lopotwa egweko lyolusheno iikando yontumba iishona pethimbo lyiituthi yomatango omanene monooli yoshilongo, egweko lyolusheno ngashiingeyi olya ninga omukalondjiigilile noshinima sha kehe esiku, kehe oshiwike, sha etitha aayakulwa mboka ya gumwa noonkondo ya pule opo aayandjakaneki yolusheno ya kandulepo omukundu ngoka.

Sho omuloka gwa tameka ngaashiingeyi okwa hololwa kutya onkalo yegweko lyolusheno otayi ka londa pombanda, naayakulwa otaya pula opo ku ningwe sha ko ku yandwe onkalo ndjoka tayi etitha ekanitho enene, mokati kaanangeshefa.

Aanangeshefa mboka ya yi moonkundathana noNamibian Sun oya popi kutya ohaya kanitha oshindji onga oshizemo sholusheno ndoka halu gu ko, ndoka poompitio dhimwe, haku kala kwaahena olusheno uule woowili 12, otaya gandja uusama kehangano lyoNorthern Regions Electricity Distribution Company (Nored).

“Uuna olusheno lya gu ko uule wethimbo ele, oongeshefa dhetu ohadhi gumwa noonkondo molwaashoka iilandithomwa yetu mbyoka yi li mookila dhokutalaleka otayi ningi nayi, na iinima ohatu yi ekelehi owala molwaashoka oya yonuka,” Petrus Nambinga, omunangeshefa gwomOshikuku a popi.

Nambinga okwa popi kutya olundji, egweko lyolusheno ohali holoka momahulilosiwke moka oongeshefa dhawo hadhi ende nawa okuyelela nomokati koshiwike. Omanga ethimbo lyiituthi yomatango omanene inali tameka okwa dhidhilikwa egweko lyolusheno olundji moondoolopa odhindji monooli yoshilongo ngaashi Oshakati, Oshikuku, Ongwediva nOndangwa moka olusheno halu gu ko ongula nolundji ohalu galuka owala kongulohi. Nonando ongaaka, omupopiliko gwehangano lyoNored, Simon Lukas okwa yelitha shoka hashi etitha egweko lyolusheno. Okwa popi kutya kashi shi ehalo lyawo andola okukala taya kutha ko olusheno ihe ohaye shi ningi uuna taya gwedhamo kastoma omupe, nenge poompito dhopaulumomhumbwe.

Lukas okwa yelitha kutya olundji shoka tashi etitha uupyakadhi mboka, iilongitho ya kulupa ngaashi oopala dholusheno dhoka dha kulupa, na otadhi pumbwa okulundululwa omathimbo nomathimbo.

Omunambelewa ngoka okwa popi kutya oyuuviteko omakemo goshigwana nompumbwe onene yolusheno, kutya otalu dhana onkandangala onene meyambulepo lyeliko lyoshilongo, na otaya kambadhala mpoka taya vulu opo onkalo ndjoka yi shunithwe pevi yo yi ha ninge oshinima sha kehe esiku.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Shot of the day

LONG ROAD: The Pulitzer-winning picture by Yannis Behrakis shows a Syrian refugee kissing his daughter as he walks through a rainstorm towards Greece's border. The photo was described as the latest devastating reminder of the refugee crisis that is hammering Europe. PHOTO: NAMPA/REUTERS

We need to gain control Rarely does a week go by without a headline involving Chinese nationals that are implicated in some sort of crime, whether it be tax evasion or the poaching of the country's natural resources. It appears, to the layman, as though Chinese nationals, many of whom appear to be poor people, are able to open and operate businesses and sell pirated goods in the country without any limits at all. They are able to gain entry to the country with what appears to be reckless abandon and there seems to be no end. The chief of police, Lieutenant-General Sebastian Ndeitunga has been quite outspoken on this issue. He has at times accused shop owners in the various Chinatowns scattered across the country of harbouring criminals and storing contraband, including drugs and forbidden animal products. He has held an open press conference with multi-millionaire and fraud-accused Jack Huang where he indicated that a certain suspect in a rhino poaching matter was invited to Namibia by Huang. The donkey abattoirs too, have been linked to the Chinese and the most recent, the illegal logging matter which is finally being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission. Let us make this abundantly clear. We are not opposed to foreign nationals that enter Namibia to invest in our country, create jobs, add value to raw materials before export, and train locals, providing skills. But this does not seem to be the case and more and more, we are developing the assumption that somewhere, somehow, someone has a finger in a pie that has power. We seem unable to bring the number of transgressions by Chinese nationals under control. In the matter of rhino poaching, one national was allowed to return home and there, subsequently died… and in a second matter, one absconded, while his passport was to be in possession of the authorities. If Chinese business owners are not keeping records and are working on a cash basis without as much as a till, how will the Receiver know if there are so-called tax gaps? It is an absolute impossibility. So why is this happening and why does it happen so often?

These are the issues which beg clarification.

Record year for Volkswagen6 million cars built in 2017 More than 150 million Volkswagens have been built since the first Beetle rolled off the production line. pull quote: Thomas Ulbrich, VW board member - "Our plants and employees are continually improving their production competence."

WHEELS24/NEWSPRESS

By the end of 2017, Volkswagen had produced more than six million vehicles, setting a new record.

The largest model offensive to date in the history of the Volkswagen Group, combined with growing demand from customers across the globe, have led to the new record. The Volkswagen Jetta, Golf, Santana, Passat and Polo lead the brand's global production rankings.

Thomas Ulbrich, member of the board of management of Volkswagen, said: "More than six million vehicles produced in 12 months - there is one thing that this shows above all: our plants and employees are continually improving their production competence. We have top teams in production which successfully master growing demand from customers."

More than 60 models in the range

This development is driven by the long-standing best-sellers Jetta, Golf, Santana, Passat and Polo, growing demand for the Tiguan and recently launched products such as the new Polo, Arteon and T-Roc. Overseas models have also contributed to the production record. The Chinese Santana sedan is an especially popular model.

The Volkswagen brand produces vehicles at more than 50 factories in 14 countries. Since series production started with the original Beetle 72 years ago, more than 150 million Volkswagens have rolled off the production lines. The brand's global product portfolio now includes over 60 models.

Within the framework of its ‘Transform 2025+’ strategy for the future, the Volkswagen Group's core brand is stepping up its model offensive. In 2017 alone, Volkswagen launched more than 10 new models throughout the world.

Over the next few years, the entire product range is to be renewed and expanded in core segments such as SUVs and e-mobility. In this first phase, especially the brand's presence in the SUV segment is to be boosted. By 2020, the brand will offer 19 SUV models throughout the world and will increase the share of SUVs in the overall model range to 40%.

In the second phase, from 2020 onwards, the brand is to build up a comprehensive family of full-electric vehicles on the basis of an entirely new electric architecture. The I.D. will be the automobile future of Volkswagen. The family will include the I.D., I.D. Crozz and I.D. Buzz.

These three models are part of the initial formation which Volkswagen will be introducing at rapid intervals from 2020 onwards to launch its worldwide electric offensive. In 2025, one million electric Volkswagens are to reach the roads.

Otjozondjupa cops owed N$3mHundreds bust for drunken driving Traffic enforcement in the Otjozondjupa and Erongo regions worked hard over the festive seasons and while successes are recorded, many warrants of arrest are still outstanding.

More than 3 200 vehicle operators are wanted by Otjozondjupa's police traffic department in connection with unpaid traffic fines issued between 2015 and 2017.

The sub-divisional head in the region, Inspector Joseph Severus on Tuesday expressed concern with the high number of unpaid traffic fines.

Severus said the issued fines amount to nearly N$3 million and urged all motorists who know that they have outstanding traffic tickets issued against them by the Otjiwarongo, Otavi, Okahandja, Grootfontein and Okakarara police to pay them off at the District Magistrate's Courts where they were issued.

He said most of the fines are mostly for speeding on the national B1 road, operating vehicles without valid driving licences, operating non-roadworthy vehicles and failing to comply with the traffic road markings and signs.

“We have a total of 4 093 warrants of arrests issued to these traffic offenders in our region as from 2015 to 2017,” Severus said.

He said that about 822 of them were traced and taken to different district courts in the region during the same period of time, and the State then generated about N$107 800 from the tickets.

He said a total of 3 271 of these traffic offenders have not yet paid their fines, and warrants of arrests were issued against them.

Severus said these drivers have until 31 January 2018 to make proper arrangements or pay in full their fines and no arrests will be made.

He further attributed the failure of payment of the traffic fines to ignorance.

In the Erongo Region, a total of 62 people were arrested and charged with drunken driving over the festive period.

They were all found guilty by the courts and fined between N$4 000 and 8 000 – adding up to roughly N$496 000.

The arrests took place in Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Karibib, Henties Bay and Omaruru from 17 December 2017 to 1 January 2018.

A crime report issued by the Erongo regional crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu on Tuesday, showed that Walvis Bay topped the list with 29 cases.

Swakopmund recorded 23 drunken driving cases while Henties Bay recorded five.

There were four drunken driving arrests in Karibib and one in Omaruru.

The Namibian police and lower courts teamed up earlier in December to make sure that the message that drivers should be sober was loud and clear during the holiday season.

Iikuyu said the aim was to avoid loss of lives through car accidents mostly caused by drunk drivers.

NAMPA

Expect power cuts - Nored

Despite a lower number of power outages experienced in northern Namibia over the festive season, electricity interruptions have been a weekly occurrence in the regions. Businesses and other stakeholders are calling on the northern power utility Nored, to urgently address the issue.

With the rainy season still in its early stages, it is expected that power outages will continue to occur, and possibly increase, as bad weather conditions are one of the factors which can lead to unexpected power failures.

Business people who spoke to Namibian Sun said they were making losses due to the lack of power, which in some cases, lasts for more than 12 hours. They placed the blame squarely on the northern electricity utility, the Northern Regions Electricity Distribution Company (Nored).

“When the power goes off for hours, our businesses are heavily affected because our products in fridges get spoilt and I am forced to throw them away. This is a loss to both my company and my customers. In some cases we are not able to communicate effectively and therefore, we are unable to plan or order products in time,” Petrus Nambinga, a businessman from Oshikuku said.

Nambinga further argued that power outages are mostly planned during the weekends which are the days when business is better.

Before the start of the festive season, towards the end of 2017, planned power outages were a weekly occurrence especially in the towns of Oshakati, Oshikuku, Ongwediva and Ondangwa, where power would be off from the early morning hours and would only be restored late in the evenings.

However, Nored's spokesperson, Simon Lukas, explained the issue surrounding the power outages saying that the company does not “wish” to cut off power but it only does so when they have to add new customers onto the grid or if an emergency situation is experienced.

Lukas said that the main driver of these outages is the aged infrastructure, especially the wooden poles, and the transformers that require replacement and upgrading. He added that Nored has invested in grid modernisation with the view to reduce and minimise the number of interruptions.

Lukas also said Nored, being in the distribution industry, knows and understands the effects of power outages on its stakeholders saying that electricity is the driver of economic development and has since become an essential service to individuals and the business community.

“In the electricity supply industry, it is natural to receive complaints, however, power outages occur so that Nored can fulfil its complete mandate which includes grid extension and the maintenance of infrastructure. Sometimes outages are planned or are due to an emergency,” Lukas said.

“Nored therefore tries to ensure minimum interruptions to customers and to effectively perform its duties with due diligence in the shortest possible time, thereby reducing the impact of these outages,” Lukas further explained.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Wall St begins 2018 with gainsTechnology firms drive gains Technology stocks on the S&P and Nasdeq may bring in good returns for investors this year.

NAMPA/REUTERS

US stocks rose on Tuesday in the first session of the New Year as investors were optimistic that 2018 will bring more gains for the market.

Gains were driven the most by technology, though consumer discretionary, healthcare, energy and materials sectors were also up more than 1% each.

Apple, Facebook, Alphabet and Microsoft pulled the technology index higher, following a 37% surge in 2017 that made it the best performing S&P sector.

Major stock indexes closed out 2017 with their best performances since 2013. Many investors say the rally could continue this year with the help of a US tax overhaul that is anticipated to boost profits as well as the economy.

"When you look at the sentiment indicators ... We're starting to see sentiment really pick up. Our best guess is the first quarter or half of the year can be OK as a continuation of last year," said Paul Nolte, portfolio manager at Kingsview Asset Management in Chicago.

But, he said, there are risks ahead. "Valuations are still stretched, interest rates are still rising, and those will provide headwinds to the market at some point."

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 61.04 points, or 0.25%, to 24 780.26, the S&P 500 gained 17.53 points, or 0.66%, to 2 691.14 and the Nasdaq Composite added 92.43 points, or 1.34 percent, to 6 995.82.

The S&P consumer discretionary index was up 1.5%, helped by a gain in Amazon.com. J.C. Penney, Nordstrom and Kohl's climbed after a bullish Citigroup note on the retail sector detailed benefits from the corporate tax cuts.

Energy shares were up even though oil prices dipped. Oil hovered near mid-2015 highs amid large anti-government rallies in major exporter Iran and ongoing supply cuts led by OPEC and Russia.

The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite notched record closing highs on Tuesday, the first trading day of 2018, while European equities finished lower and the US dollar fell to its weakest level in over three months against key currencies.

MSCI's gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.74 percent. In 2017 the index set scores of record highs and rose by one-fifth in value.

Major stock indexes closed 2017 with their best performance since 2013. In the US market, the advance came amid strong economic growth and corporate earnings, low interest rates and hopes, now realized, of US corporate tax cuts.

US equity indexes closed higher on Tuesday, buoyed by gains in technology and consumer discretionary stocks.

Swakop high-rises welcomeNew directive, limited areas only The Swakopmund municipality says that following a new directive from Minister Shaningwa, high-rises will be permitted at the coastal town but only under review.

The Swakopmund municipality is not entirely opposed to the construction of high-rise buildings in the picturesque holiday town and has said any such planned developments can blend in perfectly in the town, but only in select areas.

This follows a recent proposal for the construction of a high-rise building rumoured to be planned to be constructed near the Mole.

Municipal spokesperson Norika Goaises said that any such planned developments would first have to meet the approval of an aesthetics committee before any construction activities would be allowed to commence.

“This is possible, yet not everywhere and at some places only under very specific conditions, which is why the Heritage Area is subject to the requirements of the Heritage Act and is monitored by the aesthetics committee,” Goaises said in response to Namibian Sun.

Interest for a high-rise building also garnered much attention from contractors to the extent that the minister of urban and rural development, Sophia Shaningwa had to issue a directive with building restrictions, the town said.

“A few developers identified interest. One such a developer compiled a lengthy discourse to the minister which resulted in the minister's directive towards bulk and height restrictions.”

Under the new directive issued, contractors are allowed to build up to a maximum of 15 metres for a general residential building, and 30 metres for general residential buildings, commercial buildings, light industrial buildings and office buildings, the Namib Times recently reported.

She also encouraged residents and other interested stakeholders to visit the municipality to acquaint themselves with the new developments.

“The municipal position is reflected in Scheme 61 available from the manager for town planning. The council resolution pertaining to this is on public record and available from the archives of the municipality,” she said.

Initial proposals calling for changes to height restrictions for buildings were presented to the ministry of urban and rural development in July 2016.

oGONE TLHAGE

Omaalala youth to the rescue

The youth of Omaalala came together during the festive season and raised N$30 000 for the needy Omaalala Sunshine Kindergarten.

According to the organiser of the group Joseph Munyongi, the money would be given to the kindergarten to decide how it will be used.

Munyongi, who hails from Omaalala but lives in Windhoek, said that he was moved by one of the reports in Namibian Sun last year that Omaalala Sunshine Kindergarten near the Adolfi location in Omaalala village was appealing to the public to help them to make the small school a special place for the 45 children that go there.

“Growing up at Omaalala, we went through the same experience as those children. We had no proper facilities or toys to play with. After school we would look after goats and cattle. It was surprising to see what the youth of Omaalala has done to assist these children. Their generosity really touches my heart and gives the motivation to do more in future,” Munyongi said.

Munyongi says that since 2013, the youth of Omaalala hold an annual get-together where they meet up and share memories.

“We have different groups that grew up together and we built our own memories. As we grew up, we left the village for many reasons, including finding work. In 2013 we came up with an idea to gather at Afro Park, which would be about celebrating and cherishing friendship and keeping our memories from childhood alive. It's emotional to meet friends from yesteryear, to learn and exchange ideas.

“This year we decided to add value to the gathering by assisting the kindergarten. I also want to thank everyone who contributed to this year's success. Since the youth are willing to help their community, during next year's gathering we will see what else we would be able to do for the community.”

Last year, the kindergarten teacher and founder, Emilia Victory, 25, told Namibian Sun that they need tables, toys, stationery and playground facilities as these are essential for early development in young children.

She said due to the need, parents started bringing homemade toys for kids to have fun while at kindergarten.

“These kids are all very special and are fast learners and now we want them to have modern and educational toys that will prepare them for pre-primary and primary school,” she said.

ILENI NANDJATO

Police choppers on standby for rainy season

According to the police chief Inspector-General Sebastian Ndeitunga, police helicopters will be used to transport officers into the far-off communities to fight crime when the access roads are affected either by floods or bad terrain.

During the rainy season, especially in the northern parts of the country, people, most often pensioners who live alone in far-off villages are often targeted by criminals who rob them and due to the lack of access roads, criminals are not brought to book.

With the rainy season still in its early stages, some roads have already been affected making not only access to police services difficult but other services, including health, as well.

Ndeitunga in an interview with the Namibian Sun yesterday said helicopters will be deployed.

“We have helicopters and if there is a crime committed on the other side where we do not have access we can fly,” Ndeitunga said.

“There is no way criminals will take advantage of us,” Ndeitunga added.

Currently the aircraft to assist the communities in the northern regions are stationed at the N$14.8-million hangar in Oshakati which was inaugurated in 2015.

Apart from the challenge of access to certain areas caused by flooding, some regions such as the Oshikoto Region with bad roads, also have limited access, even when it is dry.

The helicopters are also assisting in the fight against poaching as they can easily and quickly reach the Etosha National Park in Oshikoto Region as well as the Bwabwata National Park in the Zambezi Region from Oshakati.

At the inauguration of the police hangar, Ndeitunga was quoted as saying that crime will be brought to an “acceptable level” with the establishment of the facility which was revamped.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Dangote bets on farmingDiversifies from cement somewhat Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, is set to invest US$4.6 billion in Nigeria’s farming sector.

NEWS24

Dangote Group, controlled by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, plans to invest US$3.8 billion in sugar and rice and US$800 million in dairy production in the next three years as the company seeks to expand and deal with a shortage of dollars in its home market of Nigeria.

The conglomerate plans to increase its production of sugar to 1.5 million metric tons a year by 2020 from 100 000 tons now and is seeking to add 1 million tons of rice, Edwin Devakumar, executive director at Dangote’s industries unit, said on Tuesday in an interview in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub.

The company also plans to have 50 000 cattle producing 500 million litres of milk a year by 2019, he said.

A lack of foreign exchange means companies are struggling to pay for imported goods, increasing the burden on local agriculture to meet demand for food from Nigeria’s population of more than 180 million, Devakumar said. “All raw sugar has to be imported today, same thing for flour milling,” he said.

Dangote, whose cement unit is Nigeria’s biggest listed company, has been investing in agriculture as the country’s government seeks to diversify away from oil, which accounts for 90% of the nation’s export earnings and the bulk of revenue. The economy, which plunged into its first recession in a quarter-century last year amid falling crude prices, is forecast by the World Bank to expand by 1.2% this year.

The company has established Dangote Rice and will list the unit on the Nigerian Stock Exchange “at the appropriate time,” Devakumar said.

Dangote plans to cultivate 350 000 hectares of land for sugar cane and add 200 000 hectares for rice, according to the executive director. The company has ordered five plants for sugar milling and 10 for rice from Switzerland to be located in the north of the country, he said.

SOURCING FUNDS

The Lagos-based company will finance the projects through “internal resources or equity funding” and loans from banks and export-credit agencies, Devakumar said. The funds will be used mainly to procure “farm-development equipment” as well as sugar and rice mills, he said.

Dangote is “at the planning stage’’ to invest in other agricultural projects including production of soybean, oil palm, palm kernel and corn, according to the executive director. It will support rice cultivation by supplying high-yield seeds, pesticides and fertilizers to contract farmers, he said.

Dangote, 60, has a net worth of US$12.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. That ranks him just inside the top 100 worldwide.