SA Hawks ready to swoop in Nam

February 20, 2018, 2:00 pm

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SA Hawks ready to swoop in Nam South Africa's elite Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), popularly known as the Hawks, are investigating a money laundering a case in which a Chinese national and a Namibian were arrested at the Vioolsdrift border post with R2.6 million.

This comes amid questions being asked about how the large amount of cash passed unnoticed at Namibia's Noordoewer border post.

Hawks spokesperson Nomthandazo Mnisi confirmed to Namibian Sun yesterday that the crime-fighting unit, which is also at the forefront of probing state capture allegations involving the Zuma and Gupta families in the neighbouring state, had made the arrests at the South African border post on 13 February.

She, however, refused to answer questions related to whether the Hawks believed the current case is just the tip of the iceberg and whether they had already approached Namibian authorities to assist in the cross-border probe.

The two suspects, 40-year-old Chinese national Chen Dangygin and 32-year-old Namibian citizen Jemin Stanraus, who have been charged with money laundering and being in possession of stolen property, are due to apply for bail in the Springbok Magistrate's Court later this week.

Menisci confirmed yesterday that the duo had made their first court appearance on Thursday 15 February. “The matter was postponed to 19 February, pending further investigation, and it has now been postponed to 22 February for a formal bail application,” she said.

The Hawks target organised and economic crimes, corruption and other offences referred to it by the state president or the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Prominent cases currently being investigated by the Hawks include a state capture case in which former South African President Jacob Zuma's son, Duduzane, is implicated, along with the infamous Gupta family and senior Free State ANC politicians, in allegedly stealing over N$200 million from poor black farmers.

Meanwhile, questions have been raised about how the R2.6 million had passed through the Namibian border unnoticed on 13 February.





According to //Karas regional crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Chrispin Mubebo, not all cars are scanned at the country's border posts, which gives a window of opportunity for these kind of errors to creep in.

He explained that too many cars are making their way through border posts and it will create a bottleneck, should every single car be checked and scanned. “It is a very big concern but there is very little we can do about it at this point. People will end up complaining. And then we have the issue of manpower. Sometimes we have only one official on a shift and this person must handle the arrivals and the departures,” he said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Ngatjizeko retires

February 21, 2018, 1:49 am

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Ngatjizeko retires Unconfirmed reports indicate that the recently appointed presidential affairs minister Immanuel Ngatjizeko, who has not been in the best of health over the past few years, has retired.
Ngatjizeko, the former trade minister in President Hage Geingob’s Cabinet, was moved to his new position earlier this month, as part of a wide-ranging reshuffle.
The seasoned political veteran was a Swapo organiser from 1978 and served on the former liberation movement’s internal national executive committee before independence, after which he was elected to the Swapo Central Committee in 1991, and to the politburo in 2007.
He has been a parliamentarian since 2000, and a member of Cabinet since 2003, when he was appointed as director-general of the national planning commission.
From 2000 to 2005 he served as deputy mines minister, before being appointed first as trade minister and then as labour minister between 2005 and 2010.
From 2010 to 2015 he initially served as labour minister until 2012, before being appointed as safety minister.
In Geingob’s administration, Ngatjizeko was appointed as trade minister in March 2015, before being moved about two weeks ago into his new post.
At the time, Geingob said he had brought the ailing minister to State House, so he can look after him.
STAFF REPORTER

How to Communicate Effectively in the Workplace

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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How to Communicate Effectively in the Workplace Communication is key to success Communication is essential for the smooth running of a business, whether it is between colleagues, with a client or with customers.

With technology creating a multitude of different ways to communicate these days, it can sometimes complicate things and messages can be interpreted in the wrong way and misunderstandings have potential to create conflict and cause road blocks for work to be completed.

For this reason you must word your messages carefully and double check how comments may be interpreted, whether they are communicated in person or over technology.

High-five have put together a guide to help you effectively communicate in the workplace, to avoid messages getting lost in translation.

How do we communicate via technology?

From emails, to messenger apps, there are a multitude of different methods of communicating digitally and they can be hard to keep up with. Employees receive an average of around 304 weekly business emails and they check their emails on average 36 times an hour! It is hard to interpret tone when receiving a message digitally. Of those who have misinterpreted a message, 44% were via email, 27% were via voice recordings and 0% were face to face.

Things to keep in mind when communicating digitally:

Think about how you are using capitalisation. Text in all caps is often thought to represent shouting and can come across aggressive; whereas a lack of capitalisation entirely can appear informal or unprofessional. Punctuation can easily change the tone of your message. For example the use of exclamation marks can come across as fun and excitable, or it could seem assertive or urgent. Choose your method of contact based on the length of your message. Messaging apps can be handy for passing on quick notes or discussing a matter briefly; however anything more detailed or lengthy would be better suited to email.

How do we communicate face-to-face?

Our expression can reveal more about what we are thinking and feeling than the words we speak. 93% of communication is non-verbal and body language can help to avoid messages being misunderstood. It is easy to go off on a tangent when you are speaking to somebody in person, as more small talk occurs and there is more freedom for immediate reactions to comments, which can lead to unrelated topics. 50% of meetings are considered a waste of time and 31 hours are spent in seemingly unproductive meetings each month.

Things to keep in mind when communicating face-to-face:

The way that you articulate and emphasise words can impact how other people read them. Your posture can have and influence on the way that people pay attention to what you are saying. Eye contact is good for capturing and maintaining your audience’s attention.

-https://theundercoverrecruiter.com

Child support in shambles

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Child support in shamblesVery little has changed since independence While the country has strong regulations with regards to child maintenance, the system is failing needy mothers. Namibia's robust child maintenance law continues to fail many people because a myriad of flaws undercuts its potential, often leaving single parents and their offspring without support and facing a desperate financial plight.

The failure to implement the sturdy law is linked to a number of reasons, such as insufficient funding and human resources, burdensome and costly payment systems, unhelpful staff and a murky understanding of the law's strengths by public and court officials.

Findings published by the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) in 2013 showed a deluge of complaints by women about their difficulties in securing child support, as well as the inefficient operations of maintenance courts, that were identified as a priority concern, shortly after independence.

“Cases brought to the attention of the LAC in more recent years, indicate that the situation has not changed much since then,” Yolande Engelbrecht of the LAC said.

Findings suggested that, on average, someone registers a maintenance complaint in Namibia every 30 minutes during working hours and that the majority of cases are brought by women.

“However, only approximately two-thirds ever result in an order being made by the court.”

On average, single parents request N$500 in child support and typically, defendants, have a history of refusing to provide financially for their children.



Good law, bad application

Legal practitioner Norman Tjombe underlined that it is “not the law that is bad” but “invariably” the issue can be traced to the “lack of work ethics of officials responsible” for enforcing the law.

“When a person complains that another has stopped making payments, it is such a difficult and cumbersome process to get the person to pay not only the regular maintenance but also the arrears amount,” he said.

In many cases, single parents who approach the court for help are tasked to carry out, in their own capacity, an investigation and provide the courts with the location of absent defendants and their assets.

Tjombe said ultimately the price is paid by children and single parents, mostly women, “who are almost always poor, and who in any event would find it difficult to enforce their rights”.

Engelbrecht confirmed that while the law is purposefully gender neutral, the bulk of claims are by mothers.

“This is because it is usually women who take care of children on a daily basis. Both parents have a legal duty to maintain their child and all children are equal in the eyes of the law.”



Urgent need for overhaul

Last year, the Ombudsman's office announced an investigation into child support will be conducted this year to identify problems and provide answers.

“The legislation we have in place is brilliant, if it works,” Eileen Rakow, the director of the Ombudsman's office, said.

“One of the concerns we have is that there are only certain hours and days that you can pick up your child support payments at the court,” she explained.

This can become a costly and time-consuming problem for parents who live far away, in other towns or farms. Some simply can't afford transport costs, which can deeply cut into the little childcare payment they receive.

“You have to physically go to court, stand in a queue and then get your money, if it was paid into the court's account,” she explained.

Earlier this year, the judiciary announced several legal reforms, including plans that would allow the courts to make direct electronic transfers to beneficiaries using special court-appointed bank accounts.

Rakow noted that the psychological impact on children, who feel abandoned and neglected when one parent refuses to help pay the bills to raise them, can be traumatic and long-lasting.

“For me, this is the saddest part. Many children feel unloved if they realise their dad, or parent, don't pay maintenance. So there is this whole psychological element of feeling unloved and unsupported.”

She added this helps to encourage “a broken society”.



The answers are there

The LAC found that a key weakness undermining the law “is the critical need to hire maintenance investigators”. “Maintenance investigators will allow the maintenance courts to ensure that defendants and witnesses are found and the financial status of the parties is properly investigated, resulting in a higher success rate.”

The LAC also proposed amendments to the law that would incorporate the best interests of the child and the concept of child participation, where appropriate.

Another major concern is that many of the innovative options included in the Maintenance Act “are not being utilised”.

This includes the option of direct deductions from the salary or wages of the defendant and default orders in cases where a defendant, who was summoned, fails to appear in court.

Awareness campaigns to highlight the law's helpful features, training volunteers to assist in cases, and improving ways to ensure the law is well-implemented, are some of the recommendations by the

LAC.

Maintenance officers, moreover, should be encouraged to use their powers of investigation “more assertively” and arrear payments must be handled more quickly and effectively.

JANA-MARI SMITH

The Basics of Branding

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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The Basics of BrandingBranding is one of the most important aspects of any business, large or small. An effective brand strategy gives you a major edge in increasingly competitive markets. But what exactly does "branding" mean? How does it affect a small business like yours? Simply put, your brand is your promise to your customer. It tells them what they can expect from your products and services, and it differentiates your offering from your competitors'. Your brand is derived from who you are, who you want to be and who people perceive you to be.

Are you the innovative maverick in your industry? Or the experienced, reliable one? Is your product the high-cost, high-quality option, or the low-cost, high-value option? You can't be both, and you can't be all things to all people. Who you are should be based to some extent on who your target customers want and need you to be.

The foundation of your brand is your logo. Your website, packaging and promotional materials--all of which should integrate your logo--communicate your brand.

Brand Strategy & Equity

Your brand strategy is how, what, where, when and to whom you plan on communicating and delivering on your brand messages. Where you advertise is part of your brand strategy. Your distribution channels are also part of your brand strategy. And what you communicate visually and verbally are part of your brand strategy, too.

Consistent, strategic branding leads to a strong brand equity, which means the added value brought to your company's products or services that allows you to charge more for your brand than what identical, unbranded products command. The most obvious example of this is Coke vs. a generic soda. Because Coca-Cola has built a powerful brand equity, it can charge more for its product--and customers will pay that higher price.

The added value intrinsic to brand equity frequently comes in the form of perceived quality or emotional attachment. For example, Nike associates its products with star athletes, hoping customers will transfer their emotional attachment from the athlete to the product. For Nike, it's not just the shoe's features that sell the shoe.

Defining Your Brand

Defining your brand is like a journey of business self-discovery. It can be difficult, time-consuming and uncomfortable. It requires, at the very least, that you answer the questions below:

What is your company's mission? What are the benefits and features of your products or services? What do your customers and prospects already think of your company? What qualities do you want them to associate with your company?

Do your research. Learn the needs, habits and desires of your current and prospective customers. And don't rely on what you think they think. Know what they think.

Because defining your brand and developing a brand strategy can be complex, consider leveraging the expertise of a non-profit small-business advisory group or a small business development centre.

Once you've defined your brand, how do you get the word out? Here are a few simple, time-tested tips:

Get a great logo. Place it everywhere. Write down your brand messaging. What are the key messages you want to communicate about your brand? Every employee should be aware of your brand attributes. Integrate your brand. Branding extends to every aspect of your business--how you answer your phones, what you or your salespeople wear on sales calls, your e-mail signature, everything. Create a "voice" for your company that reflects your brand. This voice should be applied to all written communication and incorporated in the visual imagery of all materials, online and off. Is your brand friendly? Be conversational. Is it ritzy? Be more formal. You get the gist. Develop a tagline. Write a memorable, meaningful and concise statement that captures the essence of your brand. Design templates and create brand standards for your marketing materials. Use the same colour scheme, logo placement, look and feel throughout. You don't need to be fancy, just consistent. Be true to your brand. Customers won't return to you--or refer you to someone else--if you don't deliver on your brand promise. Be consistent. I placed this point last only because it involves all of the above and is the most important tip I can give you. If you can't do this, your attempts at establishing a brand will fail.

-https://www.entrepreneur.com

SA to discuss Namibian corruption

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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SA to discuss Namibian corruptionRoundtable on Monday in Joburg A South African discussion on corruption in Namibia has raised eyebrows locally with some saying the kettle is calling the pot black. A roundtable discussion hosted in South Africa, to discuss whether anti-corruption efforts in Namibia have reached a tipping point, has raised eyebrows.

The discussion is taking place in Johannesburg on Monday. It is hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs, the Namibian Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA).

It aims to discuss the intimate relations between politics and money, the numerous legal loopholes and inconsistencies between Namibia's domestic law and the regional and international conventions it has signed.

Another issue which will be discussed, is the perceived general lack of political will which continues to hamper the country's fight against corruption.

Constitutional law expert Professor Nico Horn has questioned the location of the discussion, saying the fact that Namibia is discussed like this in South Africa is a matter of “the pot calling the kettle black”.

According to him it is unfair to compare Namibia with South Africa, “where one can hardly do something without paying a bribe”.

“Of course Namibia has corruption. Some of the things are very worrisome but it has not reached the [same] sort of level as in South Africa.

Of course some of the complaints about corruption are very serious and we cannot ignore these, especially in the building and construction industry,” he said.

Horn added that the sudden interest in Namibia's corruptness could be politically driven because some people may see Namibia as an alternative to South Africa.

Meanwhile, a high-placed source in the labour industry says while it is not necessarily worrying that Namibia is being discussed in South Africa, it certainly is interesting.

He argues that it could be because there are positive signs in Namibia.

“When they say tipping point, maybe we are?

Is the new [South African] president going to ensure there is change? Is this the tipping point?

“If one looks at the volume of money that has gone the wrong way, money that could have been invested in education or health, then perhaps this is the question.

But on the other hand, we have just got a new Procurement Board, maybe we must give them a bit of time to find their feet. But there are serious concerns about state tenders and Chinese companies building in Namibia.

“One would like to know whether there was corruption. Is there any palm greasing going on?

There is just so much we do not know. Look at the way fishing quotas were issued in the past, was it done in a corrupt manner?” he asked.

IPPR director Graham Hopwood confirmed that he would speak at the discussion.

The director-general of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Paulus Noa, declined to comment, saying he was unaware of the discussion.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Baster community to debate new leadership

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Baster community to debate new leadership A newly established committee is calling on interested Rehoboth Baster people to attend a community meeting at Rehoboth on Sunday, 11 March at 15:00.

The meeting will take place at the Hermanus van Wyk community hall in Rehoboth.

This follows what they call the illegal inauguration of Martin Dentlinger as the acting Kaptein of the Rehoboth Baster community.

Dentlinger served as adviser to former Kaptein John McNab, who stepped down because of ill health.

According to a letter written by the committee's press secretary, Reverend George Kotze, the meeting will elect a steering committee that will be responsible for arranging a “legitimate” election of a new Kaptein and Kapteinsraad (chief's council). The committee insists that Dentlinger's appointment as the traditional leader of the community was not in accordance with the Paternal Laws of the Rehoboth Basters, which stipulate that in the absence of an election the two longest-serving councillors must take over the administration.

Kotze added that the Rehoboth Baster community believes that a Kaptein and his council can only be elected as prescribed by the Paternal Laws, regardless of their political affiliation.

“All aggrieved Rehoboth Basters across the country are invited to make the necessary arrangements to attend this important meeting. It was further agreed that a steering committee be established to mobilise the community for the meeting.

“Depending on the outcome of the meeting on 11 March 2018, meetings will be conducted in other towns and villages to ensure that all Basters are given the opportunity to be part of the process,” said Kotze.

The committee includes prominent community leaders Aldon Cloete, Willem Bismarck, Heleon Beukes, Jan van Wyk, Gino van Wyk, Manfred Draghoender, Lukas de Klerk, Josef Izaaks, Basie van Wyk, Henry Beukes, Tony Olivier, George Kotze, Edgar Dunn and Andy McNab.

STAFF REPORTER

Elephants cause havoc

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Elephants cause havoc Several elephant herds have over the past few weeks caused havoc on farms in the Outjo District, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

Three herds of at least 45 elephants invaded a farm located about 70km from Outjo on the Khorixas road during the past few weeks.

According to Johan Steenkamp, the owner of the Landeck Farm, he reported the invasions on five different occasions to the environment ministry's office in Outjo.

Steeenkamp, however, says the ministry officials only showed up on Tuesday after the elephants had moved on to a neighbouring farm on Monday.

According to Steenkamp, ministry officials gave him excuses that they were unable to come to his farm because there were no vehicles available and staff were on leave.

He says that damages incurred at his farm can be anything between N$200 000 and N$300 000.

According to him they are building a lodge on the farm and had put up a new game-proof fence. This was completed in December last year.

He says the new fence was damaged by the elephants at 32 different places, while two different water installations were also destroyed. Normal fences were also destroyed and a 3km pipeline was jerked out of the ground.

Steenkamp adds that new game were bought in last year and had escaped, together with other animals, when the game-proof fence was destroyed, because the damage was too vast to be repaired immediately.

According to Steenkamp it will take at least a month to repair the damage to the game-proof fence and it will cost about N$40 000.

He says to replace the game will cost anything between N$100 000 to N$300 000.

According to him a final count must still be done to determine how much game and what species were lost. They have already determined that kudu, springbok and hartebeest have escaped.

Steenkamp added that blue wildebeest are missing and this can cause major problems if the animals should wander onto nearby livestock farms, as they are carriers of foot-and-mouth, among other diseases.

He stressed that this can cause major problems within the agricultural sector, but added that the environment officials are not assisting.

According to him this problem has existed for the past five years and the expenses paid for the repair of fences, water installations and the replacement of game are very high.

“The excuse of the environment ministry is always that they do not have enough manpower, a lack of transport that they must wait until a person is back from leave and then only they come here when the elephants are gone and the damage has been done (sic).”

In June last year herds of approximately 100 elephants also caused damages on the same farm.

At that time, game fences at four different places and underground water pipes at a dam were destroyed, while a 10-litre water tank was damaged and normal fencing on the farm was also destroyed. Ministry officials at the Outjo office gave the same excuses for not coming out on time to the farm.

Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said he would follow up with the officials at Outjo. At the time of going to print he was still unable to give any feedback.

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta this week said human-wildlife conflict has frustrated many people, in particular farmers, to the point where they have resorted to taking the law into their own hands.

“I encourage our staff members to be prompt in responding to issues of human-wildlife conflict. Delayed responses will trigger a bad reaction from the already frustrated farmers, some of whom hunt and kill predators that have caused damages to their properties.”

ELLANIE SMIT

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Mwoombola fights back

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Mwoombola fights backFormer health PS wants hearing halted The former health PS says it as an open secret that the ministry was rife with corruption and nepotism, at the time he become its accounting officer. Former health permanent secretary Andreas Mwoombola has launched a two-fold application in the Labour Court, in which he wants to court to either halt his disciplinary hearing or compel the respondents to furnish him with further particulars of the charges against him.

Mwoombola wants the decision by secretary to cabinet George Simaata to establish the disciplinary committee, the refusal of the committee to provide him with additional evidence, as well as further particulars, to be reviewed and set aside. The former PS was initially suspended, reinstated and then transferred late last year to the Office of the Prime Minister. Simaata established the disciplinary committee using provisions of the Public Service Act.

The committee consists of Shivute Indongo as chairperson, as well as Ono Angula and Rector Finyeho.

Alternatively, Mwoombola wants the court to set aside the decision taken by the disciplinary committee on 12 September 2017, which rejected his protestations over its composition.

According the Mwoombola, the disciplinary committee also refused to order the initiator of the proceedings to give him further particulars of the charges against him on 9 October 2017.

In the event that the court does not halt the disciplinary proceedings, he wants it to order that he be furnished with further particulars before the hearing commences. Mwoombola also wants the court to order that any respondent opposing the application must pay the costs. He also wants Simaata to give reasons why he appointed Indongo as the disciplinary committee chairperson, and wants a copy of his curriculum vitae, along with those of Angula and Finyeho.

Mwoombola is also requesting that the court compel health minister Dr Bernard Haufiku and Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa to hand over copies of minutes of a consultative meetings held with Simaata. He also wants Haufiku's written proposal to Kuugongelwa in which he asks that two permanent secretaries be appointed in his ministry, as well as a copy of the prime minister's response. The former PS also wants Indongo to hand him transcripts of the 12 September 2017 and 9 October 2017 sittings of the disciplinary committee. He also wants Indongo to provide copies of all the evidence collected in support of the charges.

Mwoombola wants a order that disciplinary proceedings only commence once this has been complied with and that he obtain access to his laptop and personal computer, which is currently in the Anti-Corruption Commission's possession. Mwoombola said in a sworn affidavit that his relationship with Haufiku, who had effectively head-hunted him, had broken down irrevocably.

“I was extremely reluctant to take on this position as I was happy in my position at Nedbank,” he lamented.

According to him it's a well-known fact that the ministry was rife with corruption and nepotism and he now believes the minister wrongly suspected that he allegedly took part in alleged corrupt practices. He was suspected to have participated in assisting private companies to gain favour and advantage over and above the interests of the ministry.

“The minister without ever discussing any situation with me has indicated that he has lost complete trust in me,” Mwoombola said.

The matter is still at the case management stage.

Union warns private schools

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Union warns private schools Foreign teachers allegedly exploited A union representing teachers claims that some private schools are guilty of gross transgressions of the Labour Act. JEMIMA BEUKES



The Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN) intends to clamp down on fly-by-night private schools that allegedly exploit foreign teachers for cheap labour.

According to TUN secretary-general Mahongora Kavihuha, his office has been inundated by complaints from foreigners employed at local private schools.

They are allegedly required to undergo full medical check-ups before their contracts are renewed. Others complained that their employers threatened to report them to the police for not having work permits if they dared join a trade union.

“Many private schools and private vocational education training institutions turn to hire the vulnerable educators such as foreign teachers who do not have papers, and young under-qualified or retired educators, for the purpose of oppressing, humiliating and threatening them (sic),” he said.

According to him, a common threat used by these school managers is: “We are connected and will make sure you are taken care of.”

Kavihuha added that some of these teachers live in deplorable conditions, “worse than a security guard”, because of the low salaries they are paid.

He said because private schools are subsidised by the government, they must be held accountable and cannot be allowed to “enslave” workers in their quest to make a profit.

“We are now going on some campaigns which include the involvement of police to enter private schools and other learning institutions and apprehend the foreign educators without relevant papers. We will also try and engage the ministry of labour for a minimum wage in the education sector, especially for educators, and to assess how accessible these private schools are for education graduates,” he said.

3 Key Social Media Trends for recruiters and HR

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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3 Key Social Media Trends for recruiters and HR2. Employee Branding 1. Recruiting in the world of transparency Like it or not, you are recruiting in the world of Google. Just as easily as you can go to the Internet to look things up, so can your employees and your potential new recruits. That potential candidate is most likely looking at you before they even respond to your email, job posting, or call – and when they do, what do they see?

Back when I started out, the only jobs I could see were the ones posted in the newspaper, and I didn’t know if 1 person or 1000 people had applied, nor did I know how many opportunities were actually on the market. That meant my company could treat me poorly, and I’d stay because the fear of being unemployed held me there.

How different the world is today! A quick search for relevant jobs here in London and 2700 possibilities pop up for consideration in just the first three results.

Are you treating your employees well?

Today, employee engagement is also impacting your ability to recruit because your employees have the opportunity to leave their thoughts about you and your organisation on Glassdoor, Indeed, Facebook, Twitter and more.

What do your reviews say? Would you join your organisation?

And what about your own profiles and those of your hiring managers; do you look approachable? Are you sharing great insights into what you’re doing as a company? Can future recruits hear excitement from their future boss and colleagues? In 2017, your management is going to need to get social.

Now I know this is a turnaround. Not that long ago we were banning our employees from using social media, thinking gagging them was the best way to avoid negativity, but now people have access to social media in their pockets and employees can use it freely. So embrace it!

Why shouldn’t your happy employees share photos of their working lives? Why should that be controlled by marketing or HR? You trust your employees to use the phone and email, so why not trust them to share about your organization on social media?

Do you feel a little sceptical when you see those PR polished employer branding videos? Do you wonder at the authenticity and the missing ‘ums’? Your future recruits may prefer to see real videos of real employees that were taken simply on a smartphone, full of shakes, ‘ums’ and authenticity. I know I would.

Call it profersonal or using hyperpesonalisation. You are going to need to be more, ah, well more human to succeed. Sure, you are seeing a rise in robotics, AI, Chatbots and more, and I am sure they’ll find their place, but recruitment is fundamentally a person-to-person interaction.

As candidate engagement rates drop and as transparency increases people will be looking at you to see the real things about you. Like when they look at me and see more than my social recruiting expertise; they see my Aussie British-ness, that I live in London with my 2 dogs, and that I am usually to be found on a plane or in a field.

People will also expect you to make an effort and look beyond a LinkedIn profile. As you’ll see in the webinar, there are tools to use that make this easy for you and that give you conversation starters and true insight. Personalised messages from caring recruiters will win.

But also remember, no matter how much you see about a person online, there will always be things they don’t share that will stop them taking your job. Be human, talk to them.

https://theundercoverrecruiter.com

One Africa Television Chief Executive Officer

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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One Africa Television Chief Executive OfficerCelebrating 15 years of existence in 2018, the station has appointed Stefan Hugo as Chief Executive Officer. Signifying a new era of leadership and innovation set to catapult the media platform into the digital age of media transformation. Namibia’s first ever free-to-air, independent TV broadcaster in Namibia, One Africa Television was founded in 2003, the brainchild of Namibian photographer and businessman, the late Paul van Schalkwyk.

The One Africa Board of Directors confirmed Stefan Hugo’s appointment as Chief Executive

Officer in January 2018. Stefan will take over from Mr Cyril Lowe, a seasoned media executive who served the company as CEO for the past 2 years and will continue to support the company in his new role as Chief Operations Officer.

Stefan, is a former PwC Namibia Partner. Before joining One Africa, Stefan executed dual responsibilities as PwC Namibia’s Operations Partner, as well as Tax Leader for the firm’s local

tax practise.

Under Stefan’s leadership, PwC’s tax practise in Namibia rolled out innovative service solutions

such as PwC’s TaxTim (an online tax return completion tool) and RemChannel Namibia (an

online Namibian salary survey).

In addition to overseeing financial and IT operations, he directed the marketing team in social, online and traditional media marketing, and the facilitation of key industry events like the annual Budget Speech Review with the Minister of Finance.

Talking about the future of One Africa, Stefan says: “We believe that One Africa Television must play a crucial role to empower Namibians through independent news, real Namibian stories, education and entertainment. Our main focus will be to curate and create local content that resonates with the people in this country and our continent.

An example of a locally crafted show is Today On One, a daily current affairs feature combining online and traditional TV broadcast on weekdays at 19:00. It’s a Wrap, a satirical conversation about issues of the day hosted by Erica Gebard, airs on Fridays. Kirsty Watermeyer now hosts 99FM’s popular MYD (Master Your Destiny) radio show, on One Africa on Tuesdays. One Exclusive is a weekly discussion programme with influential Namibians aired on Mondays. These are a few examples from our bag full of plans to entertain and inform our followers on air and online.

African content is sought after globally and One Africa aims to enable talented Namibian video and film producers to take their programs to market. We want to use our platform to leapfrog technological and digital development to narrow the divides that still exist in our communities

and contribute to an empowered nation through education, inclusion, information and commerce. Paul van Schalkwyk believed in the power of television. He used to say that the television was the modern “fire” around which communities gathered to hear stories, to learn about the past and get inspired for the future. As much as the media landscape has evolved, the truth remains that people relate to content that speaks to their country, their city, neighbourhood, street, family and themselves. I am a proud Namibian. I believe in developing people to form strong and diverse teams in businesses that are built to last, to deliver quality services that add exceptional value to our community. That is the dream we are chasing for One Africa.

Namibian shareholding and Smart partnerships Another important goal is to buy back foreign shareholding in OATV, so that it will once again be a 100% Namibian owned business.

We also plan to enter into a number of smart media partnerships during the coming year that will strengthen our ability to create and disseminate unique Namibian content, while offering our clients extended reach across multiple media platforms.”

Stefan is a Chartered accountant and alumni of the African Leadership Institute.

One Africa Television is a fully commercial, free-to-view television channel in Namibia, receiving no state subsidies.

One Africa Television broadcasts on GoTV Channel 90, DSTV Channel 284 and the NBC platform Channel 301.

Kuvukiland time bomb

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Kuvukiland time bombThousands of shacks, no services A hygiene disaster looms large in Tsumeb's Kuvukiland informal area, where the number of shack dwellers has escalated from ten to anywhere between 6 500 and 15 000, while they have no services to speak of. Kuvukiland, Tsumeb's largest informal area, has grown from a mere ten inhabitants in 2010 to anywhere between 6 500 and 15 000 people, a Namibian Sun investigation has revealed.

These thousands of shack dwellers have no access to electricity or a sewerage system, leaving them to wallow in filth and poverty.

Earlier this week, Namibian Sun reported how a number of people from Kuvukiland spend their days at the town's dumpsite, where they pick up food scraps and discarded items that they can sell.

According to the Kuvukiland socioeconomic survey that was conducted in September 2017, there were 6 507 people living in the area, 64% of them female.

A spokesman for the Kuvukiland B community, Philip Nashilongo, claims that this figure is much higher.

Nashilongo says when they conducted their own survey over a period of six months about a year ago, the number of people in the three Kuvukiland settlements stood at around 15 000 and continued to grow.

Kuvukiland was established at the end of 2010 when ten people, who desperately needed a place to call home, started to erect shacks that were said at the time to be illegal. The land belonged to Weatherly Mining Namibia until 2016, when the company gave it to the Tsumeb municipality to develop.

Over the years, the number of people living in Kuvukiland has grown exponentially. Nashilongo says uncertainty about ownership of the land is the residents' main concern. According to him they erected shacks at Kuvukiland because they had no other option, as renting in Tsumeb had become too expensive over the years.

“We have been working in Tsumeb for many years but we could not get land from the municipality and it was on that basis we decided to establish Kuvukiland. First we were just ten and now it's thousands of people and we all want land.”





Nashilongo says they are grateful to the municipality for providing them with water, but they also need electricity and sanitation services. “It is dark at night here and we are forced to use the bushes. We cannot make our own toilets because the plots are small and the terrible smell from toilets will not be good among neighbours,” he says. Residents of Kuvukiland A and B have access to three public water points, as four others are not in a working condition. Kuvukiland C residents rely on water trucks that the municipality sends to the area at weekends. Nashilongo says the demand for water is high in Kuvukiland because of the large families who live there. “If you visit these community taps early in the morning and after 17:00, you will see long queues because people from one house can come with up to ten buckets and this means that you will have to wait long for your turn.” Nashilongo says they do not have municipal refuse bins in Kuvukiland, which is why they dump their rubbish in the veld, where it lies uncollected. “The heaps of rubbish you see around Kuvukiland have been there for many years and we have been asking the municipality for a very long time to come and collect it but no positive response has come our way,” Nashilongo says. Regarding the formalisation of Kuvukiland, it has been asked whether the community would be able to afford the municipal rates, because the area is mountainous and expensive to service. When contacted for comment, Tsumeb town council spokesperson Stella Imalwa-Nangolo said the concerns raised by the residents of Kuvukiland were genuine, and efforts were being made to address them. Imalwa-Nangolo said the establishment of Kuvukiland was a consequence of the town's growth, as people flocked to Tsumeb hoping for a better life. “On Monday we had a community meeting at Kuvukiland where the new councillors were introduced to them and we also talked about future developments. Issues were raised and we took note,” she said. Imalwa-Nangolo stressed that the council was making positive strides in terms of getting partners who would assist in the planning and mapping of Kuvukiland.

The cost of servicing the rocky area, and the resulting high municipal rates, were raised at Monday's meeting, she added. She said the council was aware of the problem and people living in the rocky area near the national road would be moved to a better location. Imalwa-Nangolo admitted that water provision remained a challenge despite the municipality's efforts.



KENYA KAMBOWE

Outjo donkey abattoir off the table

February 22, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Outjo donkey abattoir off the table Plans to build a donkey abattoir in Outjo have folded.

Fu-Hai Trading Enterprises, reportedly co-owned by Swakopmund estate agent Shane Quinton Hangula and a Chinese business partner identified only as 'Mr Chengdabiek', has pulled the plug on plans to operate a donkey abattoir at Outjo.

Fu Hai Trading instructed Quivertree Consulting, the company hired to conduct the mandatory environmental impact assessment last year, that they would no longer proceed with the abattoir plan following a review of the draft EIA, sources told Namibian Sun. Svenja Garrard of Quivertree briefly confirmed this development yesterday.

Garrard declined to comment further on the matter, saying that relevant information would be shared as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism's department of environmental affairs confirmed that Fu Hai Trading Enterprises had applied for an environmental clearance certificate last year.

But a departmental spokesperson said this week that the “Outjo proponent has expressed intent to withdraw their application, although they have not done so officially as yet.” Namibian Sun was informed off the record that 'Mr Chengdabiek' had given instructions for the company's abattoir equipment and deep freezers to be sold.

When Namibian Sun reached Shane Quinton Hangula on his cellphone yesterday, he claimed that the phone reception was bad and he could not hear the questions. Further attempts to contact him failed.

It remains unclear what the exact reasons for the scrapping of the planned abattoir were.

Initial indications are that findings contained in the draft EIA led to the abandonment of the project because it was not economically viable.





The assessment apparently found that Fu Hai Trading Enterprises' plan to slaughter 70 donkeys per day was likely unsustainable and that a census of the country's donkey population was first needed.

None of the senior officials at the Outjo municipality were available for comment yesterday. The municipality had fully supported the controversial donkey abattoir from the start. It argued that a donkey abattoir would bring investment and employment to the town.

Locally and internationally, many opposed the donkey abattoir, questioning its sustainability and the ripple effects it would have on Namibian society.

Another environmental impact assessment that was completed last year for Agrinature Investment and Trade, also reportedly a Namibian and Chinese joint venture, to establish a donkey slaughterhouse at Okahandja is still under review at the environment ministry, officials confirmed this week.

JANA-MARI SMITH

DebMarine prelims to kick off in Kunene

February 23, 2018, 2:00 pm

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DebMarine prelims to kick off in Kunene The DebMarine Namibia Cup kicks off on 3 March countrywide, with clubs in the first and second divisions battling it out to secure a place in the round of 32.

There are only 16 spots up for grabs and Kamanjab will play host to the Kunene Region hopefuls.

The Kunene preliminary round will take place on 3 and 4 March at the Kamanjab Combined School, after the draw was conducted last Thursday at Oase Super Market in the town.

Outjo Football Academy, who won the preliminary round last year, will open the action at 07:00 against Bethlehem Boys, which will be followed by the clash between Gariseb Orlando Pirates and Robber Chanties.

Green Dangers FC and PUBS FC will then battle it out at 09:45, followed by Kunene Nampol against Black Africa Warriors.

Revengers FC and Young Eagles will face-off at 12:35 before the last first round match between Sixty Eleven and Etosha United at 14:00.

The quarterfinals will start at 15:25 with match one pitting the winners from the first two games, and will continue on Sunday at 07:00, all the way to the final at 14:00.

All the action will take place at the Kamanjab Combined School Sports Stadium.

In 2017, the Kunene regional playoff was contested at Outjo Sports Stadium and Outjo Footfall Academy beat Okaukuejo’s Young Eagles 3-1 in the final to reach the round of 32, where they defeated United Stars 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw and eventually lost in the round of 16 to Omaheke’s Eastern Chiefs at Mariental.

More regions were to have submitted their 2018 DebMarine Namibia Cup preliminary round fixtures to the Namibia Football Association (NFA) Secretariat before tomorrow.

Each regional winner will walk away with N$20 000, while the losing finalist with get N$10 000 and each losing semifinals with receive N$5 000 for their part in the football extravaganza.

Two regional champs will then be drawn to face each other in the elimination match, which will see one regional winner ousted from the competition.

NFA

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112 karatekas selected at national trials

February 23, 2018, 2:00 pm

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112 karatekas selected at national trials NAMPA

A national squad of 112 athletes was selected during the Namibia Karate Union’s national trials held in Windhoek earlier this month.

A media statement issued by the union this past Friday said the trials were limited to athletes who placed either first or second in the 2017 national champs. One wildcard entry per style division was also allowed.

The primary objective was to select athletes to represent Namibia at numerous international events throughout 2018.

“The trials not only highlighted Namibia’s greatest karate talents, but also served as a basis for the selection of a larger squad to develop the sport in Namibia and prepare our athletes for elite level competitions,” it said.

Athletes competed in both kata and kumite across 58 categories. Kumite is roughly defined as punching, while kata involves kicking.

The squad of 112 athletes is made up of 77 male and 35 female athletes.

Over the next few months, they will undergo rigorous training and physical testing before national karate coach, Sensei De Wet Moolmann, makes his final decision regarding his national team.

The national team will compete in the Region 5 Karate Championships in Gaborone, Botswana on 26 May.

CEO hunt intensifies

February 25, 2018, 2:00 pm

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CEO hunt intensifiesTen shortlisted for NPL top post Ten frontrunners have emerged for the NPL CEO post, which has been vacant since 2011. The Namibia Premier League (NPL) has shortlisted ten candidates, who will go head-to-head for its coveted CEO spot.

The shortlisted candidates are Kavezemburuka Siggie Veii-Mujoro, Irvine Ndjavera, Donelly Erastus Nell, Roy Alexander Klassen, Lucas Sindere, Martin Nyambe Limbo, Allen Mashazi Sameja, Gerald Guther, Harald Fuelle and Johannes Smit.

The NPL is seeking to fill the vacant CEO post as soon as possible and the names of the ten aspirants were announced this past Friday.

The post has been vacant since Mathew Haikali was fired in 2011. Haikali indicated last year that he was interested in reapplying for the post, but he does not feature among the top ten candidates.

Haikali parted ways with the NPL, after he was accused of having unlawfully hiked his own salary and those of his subordinates, which led to his suspension and sacking.

Since his departure, the league has been operating without a fully-fledged CEO, a scenario which has seen the workload being piled onto the league chairperson.

Patrick Kauta, who is the league chair incumbent, is currently carrying nearly the entire burden, when it comes to making crucial decisions.

This is something that is about to change, as the new CEO will share most of the responsibilities presently being handled by chairman, leaving Kauta to attend to other key duties.

According to previous media reports, the new NPL CEO's top priorities will be to secure sponsorship for the country's first division streams and also to touch on crafting and implementing other various strategic and administrative policies.

The CEO will also be expected to pursue and seek ways and means by which the league can benefit from television rights, as well as ensure that the league is well-marketed as a brand, locally.

Kauta also mentioned last year that the CEO will be expected to ensure the league's Board of Governors (BoG) receive accurate and clear information, to enable them to monitor performance, make sound decisions and give appropriate advice to promote the success of the NPL.

The CEO will also be expected to manage BoG and executive meetings, so that sufficient time is allowed for the discussion of complex issues, while ensuring that all members' contributions are both encouraged and valued.



LIMBA MUPETAMI

Sweden ends Korean fairy tale

February 25, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Sweden ends Korean fairy taleAsian nation bags curling silver Sweden outclassed South Korea to win gold in the women's curling competition at the Winter Olympic Games. Sweden beat South Korea 8-3 to claim their third women's curling gold medal in four Winter Games on Sunday, ending the 'Garlic Girls' fairytale Olympic run that captivated the home nation.

While Sweden confirmed their status as the dominant force in women's curling, Korea's silver marked a major Asian breakthrough in the sport, with two teams on the podium after Japan defeated Britain on Saturday to take the bronze.

The only previous Asian team to win an Olympic medal were China's women, who won bronze at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

“Just thinking about the journey it makes me almost want to cry,” said Sweden skip Anna Hasselborg “In 2015 we had this team together every single day. Since then we have worked so hard to reach this game

“Team Kim has really worked well and worked hard for the last couple of years and we have a lot of respect in that team.

“People ask if I'm surprised by them being in the final game, I was not surprised at all; they played better and better.

“The Asian teams had strong performances here. It's good for the curling sport.”

With a Swedish side in the final for the fourth consecutive Olympics, Hasselborg's team played with cool confidence, while the charismatic Korean four from the small garlic-growing county that had been thrust into the global spotlight, seemed to finally wilt under the immense pressure.

“It's an honour for us to win South Korea's first silver medal and we have faced many struggles to come this far,” said Korean skipper Kim Eun-jung.

“Today Sweden showed a really perfect game and great shots enough to go to the top place. I even thought whether I should change my name to Kim Geum-jung from Kim Eun-jung, because we've lost several times in the finals.”

Eun means silver in Korean and Geum means gold.

One of four golds to be decided on the final day, Korean fans packed the Gangneung Curling Centre and began with a roar when the 'Garlic Girls' scored the first point but the mood slowly soured as Sweden took control.

The Swedes hit back in the third end, scoring twice on a last stone draw from Hasselborg that triggered groans from the crowd.

In the fourth end with Sweden lying shot rock, Korea skip Kim Eun-jung attempted a raised take out that backfired and allowed the Swedes to steal a point.

There was more trouble in the fifth for Korea when Kim Eun-jung failed to take out two Sweden stones, leaving one for another steal. Korea scored one in the sixth, but handed the hammer back to Sweden, who put the match out of reach during the next end with a three to surge ahead 7-2.

Korea got one back in the eighth, but when Sweden answered with a single in the ninth, the Koreans huddled and after a brief discussion walked over and shook hands.

They then lined up, turned and bowed before leaving the ice to a standing ovation, in tears.

SUPERSPORT

Chiefs frustrated by Celtic

February 25, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Chiefs frustrated by Celtic Kaizer Chiefs were unable to make up ground on Absa Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns after they were held 0-0 by Bloemfontein Celtic at the FNB Stadium on Saturday night.

Sundowns' earlier draw against SuperSport United gave the Amakhosi the chance to close to within three points of the summit, but their stalemate leaves them five adrift in second place. Phunya Sele Sele remain in 12th.

Chiefs enjoyed the better chances through the opening 45 minutes, the first of which arrived early on and saw striker Leonardo Castro fire a low shot on target from the left of the penalty area, only for Patrick Tignyemb to make a fine one-handed save.

Just before the half-hour mark the Soweto giants created another good opportunity when defender Siyabonga Ngezana got on the end of a left-flank cross and powered a header toward goal - his effort bounced up off the turf and flashed over the crossbar.

Another Amakhosi chance saw Castro get on the end of a knockdown from Ryan Moon, but his volleyed effort from the edge of the box was somewhat hurried and failed to trouble the Celtic goalkeeper.

Celtic had a few threatening moments in attack, with the likes of Victor Letsoala and Ndumiso Mabena occasionally finding themselves in space in the final third, but ultimately Itumeleng Khune wasn't called upon to make any serious saves.

The Chiefs keeper was finally brought into significant action on the hour-mark when Celtic, who had enjoyed a strong spell of possession in the five minutes prior, put together a move which gave Deon Hotto a sight of goal, but his low effort was kept out at the near post by the Bafana Bafana shot-stopper.

The Amakhosi's lull in attack was brought to an end midway through the second half when George Maluleka tried a long-range shot which took a wicked deflection to wrong-foot Tignyemb, but passed just wide of the target. On 74 minutes they put together a good passing movement to give Moon a sight of goal, but his powerful left-footed effort was parried to safety by Celtic's goalkeeper, while a minute later Daniel Cardoso hit the woodwork with a header from a corner kick.

Those proved to be the last major chances for the home side, who were unable to muster any further openings against a resilient Celtic defence.

SUPERSPORT

Jarmann eyes reclaiming title

February 25, 2018, 2:00 pm

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Jarmann eyes reclaiming title Local boxer Anthony Jarmann will fight for the vacant WBA Pan African welterweight title on 13 April in Swaziland.

Jarmann has a record of 17 fights, with 14 wins, eight knockouts, one draw and two losses.

He lost the same WBA title in August 2017, when he was defeated by Hassan Mwakinyo from Tanzania.

The title became vacant when Hassan did not want to defend his title against Jarmann, as per an agreement.

Jarmann was scheduled to box for the vacant title against 'Smart Boy' Mwankema of Tanzania on 23 February.

Unfortunately Mwankema withdraw from the fight at the last-minute and the fight was rescheduled to 13 April.

Jarmann's promoter, Kinda Nangolo, said his boxer is hard at work, ahead of the title clash.



LIMBA MUPETAMI