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Young African survive relegation

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Young African survive relegationYoung African survive relegationStars, BA, Magic and Unam in the mix Some teams will have to dig deeper in order to avoid relegation, as the points gap between them and the leading pack has increased. JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA



Five teams in the MTC Namibia Premier League (NPL) secured their places in next season's campaign after getting the maximum points they need in order to avoid relegation.

Tura Magic, African Stars, Black Africa, Unam and Tigers have all cemented their places in the 2018/19 league campaign after the 24th round of matches were played on Saturday.

The teams guaranteed their places given that the teams in the relegation zone will not be able to obtain the points that these five clubs have so far.

Rundu Chiefs and Young Chiefs, who are lingering in the bottom half of the table, can only obtain 37 points if they manage to maintain an unbeaten record till the end of the season. Chiefs Santos can also just get 34 points if they manage an unbeaten run till the end of the season.

By Saturday, African Stars were already on 52 points, BA on 44 and Young African, Tura Magic and Unam all on 39 points, which puts them out of relegation danger and Tigers were on 37 points.

Young Africa coach Marley Ngarizemo said that he was proud that his team will remain in the premier league in their first season.

“Surviving was our plan when we started the campaign and now we have done that.

“I am happy for the team and all the players who have managed to help the team survive.

“However, our focus is to continue playing good football in order to finish at the best position,” Ngarizemo said.

Young African drew 2-2 with African Stars at the Sam Nujoma Stadium on Friday night.

On Saturday, Rundu Chiefs and Unam drew 0-0. Orlando Pirates defeated Young Chiefs 3-1 at the Sam Nujoma Stadium, while Life Fighters and Young Chiefs played to a goalless draw on Saturday.

Mighty Gunners defeated Citizens by a solid goal with no reply and Tigers were held 0-0 BY Blue Waters.

Tura Magic outshone Eleven Arrows 2-0 to secure their survival in next season's campaign.

Some matches in the 25th round were played late yesterday.

Ni hao Namibia

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Ni hao NamibiaNi hao NamibiaAfrica top destination for Chinese China is recognised as the biggest outbound tourist market in the world and its people have their eyes firmly set on Africa. Africa has moved into the first place as the top travel destination for Chinese tourists, dethroning the ever-popular Japan and Australia.

A survey by Travelzoo shows that a record number of Chinese respondents, more than 60%, are planning to travel in-depth in 2018.

'In-depth travels' is a term used by travel websites in China to describe the type of trips that involve more unconventional journeys beyond the typical tourist experience.

According to the survey, this is the first time that Africa has moved to first place as the top in-depth travel destination which Chinese travellers hope to visit in 2018.

Among the preferred African countries named by Chinese tourists are South Africa, Namibia, Tanzania, Morocco, Tunisia and Madagascar.

Travelzoo experts say the rapid growth in popularity in destinations such as Morocco and Tunisia is largely due to relaxation of visa requirements for Chinese nationals.

The survey also showed a 25% increase in the number of requests from Chinese tourists planning to take five or more holidays abroad in 2018. The lifting of major visa restrictions has opened up Africa as an experiential destination, the survey has found.

“Travelzoo members like to explore the less-travelled destinations and have immersive local experiences,” comments Yoyo Huang from Travelzoo in China.

“These Travelzoo members become influencers for their friends and family when they seek travel suggestions. Now that the major visa restrictions were lifted, our members are definitely keen on Africa and their friends will follow.

It is about time that Africa took off and continued to grow in popularity throughout the year.”

Beach holidays still top the activities that Chinese travellers are interested in, followed by food and wine.

Third place, however, was taken by historic attractions, rising from fifth spot last year.

Cruises climbed to seventh place from tenth and photography tours appeared in the top ten the first time. Otherwise, shopping dropped out of the top ten activities for the first time and sightseeing also fell from ninth spot to last.

“The days when Chinese tourists were entertained by merely sightseeing and shopping are long gone,” adds Huang.

“The middle class in China are now seeking unforgettable experiences at their own pace when they travel. The destinations that offer rich culture and nature should expect many more Chinese visitors, so we're confident in our prediction that 2018 will see Africa secure its place as the fastest-growing popular destination among avid Chinese travellers.”

Additionally, the survey revealed that the US - one of the top five destinations of all time for Chinese travellers - fell from the third place to fifth this year while Japan and Australia are second and third.

The UK retained the fourth spot, while no other Western European country made it into the top ten this year.

The number of Chinese tourists to Africa has more than tripled in the past year and it will have a significant spill-over effect on the African economy beyond just infrastructure and natural resources. Researchers show that Chinese tourists in Africa on average spend 40% more than their American or European counterparts. This will have a huge boom for local economies.

China already accounts for more than a fifth of the money spent by outbound tourists, twice as much as the next-biggest spender, the US, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

And the Chinese have barely started - only around 5% of them even have passports, and the government is issuing about ten million new travel documents every year.

The UNWTO says Chinese outbound tourism expenditure grew to $261 billion in 2016 (21% of the world market), an increase of 12% from 2015 and 11 times of the amount spent a decade earlier.

The number of outbound travellers climbed 6% to 135 million in 2016.

Numbers like these reinforced China's number-one outbound tourism status in the world since 2012.

Over the past few years the number of Chinese tourists travelling to Namibia has also increased considerably. According to the latest statistics available, a total of 12 512 Chinese tourists visited Namibia during 2016.

This was an increase of 8.8% from the previous year when 11 500 Chinese tourists visited the country.

Since 2011 there has been an increase in the number of Chinese tourists visiting the country with only 4 035 Chinese visiting Namibia that year, increasing to 9 910 in 2013 and 11 583 the following year.

The Namibia Tourism Board's marketing campaign has focused on Chinese cities with large middle-class populations such as Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Chongqing.

The coastal towns of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are also being marketed by NTB as two ideal leisure places where Chinese tourists could “experience exotic activities such as dolphin cruises, a Sandwich Harbour adventure trip, and quad-biking.” Other attractions being marketed to Chinese tourists are the Etosha National Park and the Himba people.



ELLANIE SMIT

AU launches ambitious bid for world's largest FTA

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AU launches ambitious bid for world's largest FTAAU launches ambitious bid for world's largest FTANigeria pulls out The CFTA is a key part of the AU's long-term development plan Agenda 2063, which calls for easing trade and travel across the continent. Chris Stein - Africa's leaders gathered in Rwanda Wednesday to launch what they say will be the world's largest free trade area but Nigeria has already pulled out, highlighting the challenge in getting the continent to sign up.

Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) with 55 African Union (AU) members having a cumulative GDP of US$2.5 trillion is one of the bloc's flagship projects.

However Muhammadu Buhari, president of one of Africa's largest markets Nigeria, this week cancelled plans to attend the Kigali launch and called for more consultations after business leaders objected to joining the world's biggest free trade area in terms of countries.

"The signature of the CFTA is something that makes Africa look good on paper, but for implementation it's going to have a lot of hiccups," said Sola Afolabi, a Nigeria-based international trade consultant.

Some 27 heads of state are expected to attend the Kigali meeting, but it is unclear who will sign on to the CFTA right away.

AU trade and industry commissioner Albert M. Muchanga said Africa's fledgling industries and growing middle class would benefit from the CFTA's removal of tariffs.

Intra-trade

Currently, African countries only do about 16% of their business with each other.

"If we remove customs and duties by 2022, the level of intra-African trade will increase by 60%, which is very, very significant," Muchanga told AFP.

"Eventually, we are hoping that all the African Union states will be parties to the Continental Free Trade Area," he added.

With underdeveloped service and industrial sectors across the continent, African countries have for decades seen their fortunes rise and fall with the prices of exported commodities such as oil, cocoa and gold.

In recent years, nations like Ethiopia and Ghana have tried to wean themselves from this cycle by building factories and new infrastructure for local industries, spurring rapid growth.

Landry Signe, a development expert with Stanford University in the United States, said the agreement could help these industries, while giving African countries a unified platform to negotiate trade deals with wealthier nations.

"With the CFTA, the manufacturing sector would be much more diversified, as the market would not be a few million people, but potentially 1.2 billion people," he said.

South Africa, a vocal backer of the trade deal, has argued that African economies are too small to support economic diversification and industrialisation on their own.

Regional integration "is critical to reduce the vulnerability of African economies to global shocks, a vulnerability which results from their heavy reliance on commodities," South Africa's trade and industry minister Rob Davies wrote in an editorial last week.

Agreements

However in Nigeria, the plans have not gone down well with unions and business leaders.

"We have no doubt this policy initiative will spell the death knell of the Nigerian economy," said the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

The CFTA is a key part of the AU's long-term development plan Agenda 2063, which calls for easing trade and travel across the continent.

At its most recent summit in Ethiopia in January, AU member states agreed to a common air transport market that could drive down air fares, as well as plans for visa-free travel for Africans across the continent.

Which countries will adopt these agreements remains unclear, as do the prospects for the CFTA, which requires 22 ratifications at a national level after its signing to come into force.

Afolabi said countries with more developed industries would embrace the CFTA because it could open more markets, but nations whose ports served landlocked neighbours could opt out, fearing a loss of revenue.

He worked on setting up the Economic Community of West African States's (ECOWAS) common market, which he has subsequently criticised for failing to punish countries that violated its terms.

"The regional trade agreements are not working and those are supposed to be the legs for the continental" version, Afolabi said.

"If there is no reward for compliance and there is no punishment for non-compliance, then it is going to be a very nice agreement without any teeth or any legs," he said. – Nampa/AFP

Fuel storage: Namcor digs in heels

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Fuel storage: Namcor digs in heelsFuel storage: Namcor digs in heelsSays it has right to choose partner Following an outcry over the growing costs of the fuel storage facility and now, the appointment of a partner with the skills to manage it, Namcor is standing its ground. The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) is adamant it has the mandate to choose a strategic partner that will jointly manage the controversial N$5.6 billion Walvis Bay fuel storage facility, which is set to be completed at the end of June.

This is according to Namcor spokesperson Utaara Hoveka, who said while there was no official communication regarding the awarding of a contract to manage the strategic fuel storage facility, discussions with government were positive, overall.

“It has always been our understanding that we will choose the strategic partner which we will then manage the fuel storage facility with. It has also always been our understanding that we will manage the strategic fuel storage facility,” Hoveka said.

The costs associated with the construction of the fuel storage facility skyrocketed from N$780 million in 2008 to N$5.6 billion in 2016, drawing the ire of the government.

The escalation was attributed to a lack of exchange risk insurance taken out by ministry of finance officials, a delay in appointing a contractor and a delay in payment made to the successful contractor, it was earlier reported. Mines and energy minister Tom Alweendo did not respond to questions about whether Namcor had the mandate to appoint a strategic partner, at the time of going to print.

Alweendo had previously said there was always agreement that Namcor would chiefly manage the fuel storage facility.

“It is not a simple facility… because of its complexity it was felt that Namcor would not have all the expertise [to manage the facility]. We have agreed that we will need expertise.

“Right now we are still in discussions to agree on the terms of reference. No company (strategic partner) has been appointed and when we do [appoint], we will do it in a transparent manner,” Alweendo said.

He also dismissed any allegations that a strategic partner had already been chosen.

“There are all sorts of innuendos about who will manage the fuel storage facility. It was agreed that it will be a state facility… that is still the case and Namcor will be the public enterprise who will manage that facility on behalf of government,” said Alweendo.

With the project expected to be completed within the next few months, Alweendo also expressed confidence that the fuel storage facility would be operational soon and that a joint venture partner will be announced in due course.

Vitol SA submitted a proposal to finance minister Calle Schlettwein last year, who then submitted it to cabinet for discussion, according to media reports.

The Swiss company is alleged to have offered government US$1 per annum and an additional N$160 million to rent the storage facility for ten years. Vitol promised to supply 19 000 cubic metres of diesel and 12 700 cubic metres of unleaded petrol to Namibian fuel stations, a proposal described by a source as a move that could hand the Swiss company 45% of the Namibian fuel market. The offer also states that the government would have to buy petroleum products at market prices from its storage facility.

Vitol spokesperson Andrea Schlaepfer denied claims that their offer was “peanuts”.

“Any proposal made by Vitol would be in line with current commercial arrangements. In case this is unclear, this means in line with what is currently charged for the same service by other storage companies,” she said.

Schlaepfer said Vitol was committed to following due process, as directed by the relevant authorities, and had done so in this instance.

OGONE TLHAGE

Supreme Court to decide Likoro's fate

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Supreme Court to decide Likoro's fateSupreme Court to decide Likoro's fate Former ministerial advisor, Vincent Likoro, has been granted leave to appeal his rape conviction and sentence in the Supreme Court.

Likoro was an advisor to then minister of lands and resettlement, Alpheus !Naruseb, at the time he raped a colleague.

He, the minister, the complainant, and other colleagues were on a working visit to Zambezi when the incident happened in July 2013.

Likoro was convicted and sentenced to ten years' imprisonment on 21 January 2016 in the Windhoek High Court. He had appealed both his conviction and sentence in the same court, which was dismissed in December 2017 by Judges Christie Liebenberg and Dinnah Usiku.

At the beginning of this year, he again approached the court with an application for permission to launch an appeal in the Supreme Court. His Supreme Court appeal request was granted on Tuesday by Usiku and Judge Johanna Salionga.

Usiku, who read out the judgement, said the essence of the matter was whether Likoro had effective legal representation during the course of his trial, whether he received a fair trial, as provided for in terms of the constitution, and whether the judges properly carried out their obligations in terms of the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act.

According Usiku, Likoro's grounds of appeal were that Liebenberg and Usiku erred in law, and on the facts, when they concluded that the cumulative effect of the alleged failure or omissions by his lawyer in conducting his defence fell short of constituting an irregularity that would necessitate the annulment of a conviction on appeal.

Likoro had argued that the conduct of his lawyer had unlawfully infringed his right to a fair trial, including his right to effective legal representation.

Usiku said it could be ascertained during the trial, through the answers given by Likoro, that he was acquainted with the law and legal principles - at least as far as the cross-examination was concerned - and that he was clearly satisfied with the manner in which his defence was being conducted.

However, Usiku continued by saying: “It is the principle of our law that courts must ensure that justice is not only done but must be seen to be done, whereby aggrieved persons receive a fair trial.”

According to her, the test in applications of this nature is that the applicant must satisfy the court there is a reasonable prospect of success on appeal, should the application be granted.

“The absence of any precedent in our jurisdiction on the subject matter and the authorities referred to by applicant, which are of persuasive nature, this court is persuaded that there is a reasonable possibility that the Supreme Court may or would arrive at a different view,” Usiku added.

Advocate Dominic Lisulo appeared on behalf of the state while Advocate Louis Botes appeared for Likoro.



FRED GOEIEMAN

Hostel video draws Katrina's ire

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Hostel video draws Katrina's ireHostel video draws Katrina's ire Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa says management teams at schools where infrastructure is of a substandard quality will have to answer.

She made the comments after a video went viral on social media which shows a school hostel dormitory in a dilapidated state.

The video shows showers and toilets not in working order, old and worn matrasses that the learners have to sleep on, and a blocked urinal.

The video is believed to be of a school in the Aminuis constituency in the Omaheke Region.

Speaking on the poor state of school infrastructure, Hanse-Himarwa said she will see to it that school authorities are held to account.

“I will reckon with the management teams of those schools whose properties are vandalised and are falling apart,” Hanse-Himarwa said.

She questioned how it was possible that some schools had very old infrastructure that was not falling apart, but that some schools were already in a deplorable condition.

Hanse-Himarwa added that of vandalism is not rife and if school infrastructure is maintained, there would be no need for these types of situations.

“There are schools that are very old but the infrastructure in place is still up to standard. If we do not vandalise schools and do regular basic maintenance, then we will not have these problems.” According to the minister it is also not fair that government was being held responsible. “Government cannot be expected to flush toilets. A national survey on the state of the infrastructure at schools has been undertaken. We will launch a renovation campaign in due course,” said Hanse-Himarwa, adding President Hage Geingob had instructed that a portion of an African Development Bank loan would be used to renovate some schools.

The national survey aims to establish the extent of infrastructure damage at some government schools.

In the current financial year, treasury has allocated N$55 million for the renovation and construction of schools.

OGONE TLHAGE & JEMIMA BEUKES

Africa Briefs

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Africa BriefsAfrica Briefs Ramaphosa suspends revenue service head

South Africa suspended the head of its revenue service (SARS), Tom Moyane, on Monday with immediate effect pending disciplinary action, the presidency said.

"Developments at the SARS under your leadership have resulted in a deterioration in public confidence in the institution and in public finances being compromised," President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement issued by his office.

Moyane refused to resign during a meeting earlier on Monday, when Ramaphosa said he had lost confidence in Moyane's ability to lead the agency, the statement said.

In last month's budget the Treasury said it faced a R48.2 billion rand revenue gap in the current 2017/18 fiscal year, partially due to SARS missing its revenue collection target.

The agency has been plagued by infighting over the last the three years and is subject to ongoing government investigations. – Nampa/Reuters

Zim changes mine ownership law

Zimbabwe has changed its empowerment law to limit majority ownership by state entities to only diamond and platinum mines and not the entire mining sector as in previous legislation, according to a government notice.

The amendments were included in the Finance Act, which covers the 2018 budget and were signed into law by Mnangagwa on March 14, a government notice seen by Reuters on Monday showed.

Only state-owned mining entities will hold majority shares in diamond and platinum companies. However, existing businesses do not need to immediately comply with the law as they can negotiate a timeline of compliance with the authorities.

Foreign investors are allowed to have full control in any other mining venture, the notice said.

Mnangagwa has said at various forums that "Zimbabwe is open for business" as he seeks to revive an economy that was ruined under Mugabe's near four-decade rule.

The amendments also open up 12 sectors previously reserved for locals such as bakeries, transport and beauty salons to Zimbabweans of all races instead of black Zimbabweans. – Nampa/Reuters

Egypt, Sudan agree to patch up differences

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir for talks in Cairo on Monday, with the pair pledging to boost cooperation after tensions between their neighbouring countries.

Bashir's visit comes two weeks after the reinstatement of Sudan's ambassador to Cairo following his recall to Khartoum in January.

One bone of contention is Egypt's administration of the Halayeb triangle, in a mineral-rich border area near the Red Sea, which Sudan claims as its own.

Tensions also rose over a dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, which Egypt worries will be impact its share of the Nile, in which it relies almost totally on for irrigation and drinking water.

The two presidents mentioned future cooperative steps over Nile water discussions, without providing much detail.

The Ethiopian dam, a project launched in 2012, is designed to feed a hydroelectric project to produce 6 000 megawatts of power, equal to six nuclear-powered plants. – Nampa/AFP

Kenya surprises with rate cut

Kenya's central bank cut base interest rates for the first time since September 2016 on Monday, fuelling talk that a government cap on commercial lending rates introduced in the same month will be modified or removed soon.

The 50 basis point cut in the benchmark lending rate to 9.5% took much of the market by surprise, with seven of 11 analysts polled by Reuters having forecast no change.

With the International Monetary Fund putting pressure on Nairobi to ditch the lending cap, set at 4 percentage points above base rates, Finance Minister Henry Rotich said last week it was unsustainable and the government was planning to change it.

The government introduced the cap in September 2016, in a bid to lower loan costs for individuals and businesses.

But the measure has had the effect of stifling the credit market as banks became more cautious in their lending practices, as economists predicted.

Private sector credit grew just 2.1% in the year to February, well below the central bank's target rate of 12-15%. – Nampa/Reuters

Trustco ad backfires

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Trustco ad backfiresTrustco ad backfiresOutrage stretches beyond Namibia's borders A controversial advert posted this week by Trustco has been deleted by Facebook. A Trustco Group Holdings recruitment advert that attracted widespread public criticism, including from Namibia's first lady, for being offensive, dehumanising, unconstitutional and perpetuating harmful stereotypes, was deleted by Facebook late on Tuesday.

The company did not elaborate yesterday in a press statement whether the ad was pulled for copyright infringements or for violating community standards. Yesterday Quinton van Rooyen, chief at Trustco, described the ad as their most successful to date.

The Facebook deletion followed widespread calls locally and internationally for the advert to be retracted, a public apology to be issued and gender awareness and sensitivity training to be implemented for staff and management. A petition, 'NO to Trustco's SEXISM', demanded that “Trustco high-level management receives transformative gender training”.

The recycled advert posted on Tuesday showcased global trans icon Caitlyn Jenner along with the statement “Some will do anything to get a seat”, plus the term “broadmember”.

The advert was based on a similar advert Trustco posted in 2015.

Phrases such as “because women just look better in board pictures”, “in the interest of equality” and “women just look better in boards anyways”, drew particular scorn.

The advertisement featured an Annie Leibowitz photograph taken for Vanity Fair magazine.

Many warned this week that the ad would likely further entrench sexist and transphobic stereotyping and could undermine efforts to address discrimination against women and the trans-community.

“Transgender women are women.Suggesting a woman would transition for opportunities fails to shine a light on the violence and suffering of the transgender community,” a petitioner wrote.

Wings To Transcend-Namibia (WTTN), a non-governmental organisation advocating for equality and the inclusion of transgender people in Namibia, said the ad was geared to “incite stigma and discrimination towards us with total disregard of how this will affect our interaction with society”. Another commentator pointed out that “the trans-community has a suicide rate 36% higher than the rest of the population.”

Director of gender at Lifeline/Childline, James Itana, described the advert as “discriminatory towards women as per our constitution, the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, the SADC protocol on gender and development, the national gender policy, to mention but a few”.

One commentator warned that “given our historic context and the prevailing gender disparities in Namibia, such repugnant, sexist, misogynistic and transphobic sentiments have no place in our society”.

One petitioner described the advert as “the most violently disrespectful advert I've ever seen in Namibia. The overt sexism and transphobia is staggering. It's so disgusting. Shame on you Trustco”.



Petitions, publications and public outrage

Van Rooyen publicly praised the advert on the company's Facebook page, writing: “Brilliant add Team Trustco (sic).” His public praise for the advert drew sharp fire on Tuesday, including from Monica Geingos, Namibia's first lady.

“This is wrong on many levels and quite frankly, unacceptable. What scares me more than the crass and casual disrespect, the overt sexism, the transphobia and innuendos … is @qvr_ calling it 'brilliant'. Don't trivialise how this ad makes people feel,” she tweeted.

Entrepreneur Ally Angula, described the advert as “sexist and in horrible taste! Disgusted”.

South African columnist for Business Day, Stuart Theobald, tweeted that “companies can be tone deaf about sensitive social issues. But this endorsement of overt sexism in the boardroom, not to mention transphobia, by JSE-listed Trustco is beyond the pale.”

On Tuesday, a neighbouring publication, The South African, published a story on the backlash, noting “we've seen some calamitous public relations own goals in our time, but this one from Namibia doesn't just take the cake - it insists a woman makes one for it”.

The article described the Trustco ad as “an incredibly crass job advertisement. Yet the company seems blissfully self-unaware about the insensitivity of their post”.

Yesterday, after the ad was pulled by Facebook, Van Rooyen told Namibian Sun he viewed the advert as a “perfect fit for the purpose it was created. And it was very successful - the most successful advertisement we have ever had”.

In response to whether the criticism against the advert had merit, he said no. He claimed the advert attracted an equal amount of critical and positive comments.

In a press statement, the company yesterday stated it had received a “record number of applications” in response to the vacancy advert.

The statement further noted that Trustco appreciates and respects the “different opinions on the invitation to apply as a member of our board”.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Govt raises water spending

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Govt raises water spendingGovt raises water spendingProjects receive more priority Budget allocations to water-related programmes have picked up this year. “The International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.” – The United Nations Ndama Nakashole - The government has allocated N$13.7 million for its integrated water resources management (IWRM) programme in the 2018/2019 national development budget.

This is a nearly double last year’s allocation of N$7.3 million, but still a lot less than the N$52.9 million allocated in 2016.

Given an evident cut in allocations to some development programmes, budget allocations for the IWRM programme are estimated to rise to N$14 million and N$24.4 million in the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 financial years, respectively, showing some recovery since the drastic cut in 2017.

Of this year’s budget of N$13.7 million, N$9 million is earmarked for water resource management projects.

While the whole of last year’s N$7.3 million IWRM allocation went to this project, this year’s allocation includes N$1.8 million for geo-hydrological investigations in the Cuvelai-Etosha basin.

The other N$2.7 million is allocated to the upgrading of a water analysis laboratory, as well as the quantification of groundwater resources in Namibia. Those two projects were allocated nothing last year.

IDMR Programme

Government has kicked off with a N$328 million allocation to the bulk water supply project for the 2018/2019 financial year.

That is about 42% of the total N$779 million allocated for the Infrastructure Development, Maintenance and Rehabilitation (IDMR) Programme this year. Of that sub-total, over half (or some N$403 million) is allocated to the construction of large dams, desalination and provision of water to larger settlements. This project group previously got large allocations of N$1.1 billion and N$414 million in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 respectively.

The smallest (N$2 million) of the allocations in this sub-category this year goes to the construction of water security infrastructure.

Other projects under the IDMR programme budget are rural water supply, construction of water points for livestock drinking and implementation of community-based management.

A total of N$45.4 million is allocated to those projects, equating to 5.8% of the total the IDMR programme allocation.

Although there is no allocation for floodwater and rainwater harvesting and irrigation scheme development, the government is planning to allocate N$26 million in 2020 once off for the whole medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period of 2018/2019 to 2020/2021.

Celebrating water

Today is World Water Day and this year’s theme is ‘Nature for Water’.

Namibia, as a member of the United Nations (UN), is accustomed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of which Goal 6 calls for access to safe water as well as a sound management of freshwater resources.

World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

The UN says the day is an opportunity to learn more about water issues, be inspired to tell others and take action to make a difference.

Corruption is sabotage

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Corruption is sabotageCorruption is sabotageSpeaks out against 'Bantustan mentality' The head of state says he will not allow those who propagate “the divisive Bantustan mentality of the past”, to gain a foothold in Namibian society. President Hage Geingob has urged all Namibians to actively participate in bringing about genuine change and structural transformation within the country's economy.

Speaking yesterday at the country's 28th independence celebrations held at the copper town of Tsumeb, Geingob also said it was “disheartening to note that allegations and perceptions of corruption continue to taint our government”.

“This has led to the public losing faith and confidence in a few government ministries and agencies. We cannot allow corruption to sabotage 28 years of progress. Corruption undermines stability and social cohesion,” he said.

He also spoke out against those wanting to propagate “the divisive Bantustan mentality of the past”.

“We either embrace unity in order to move forward as a nation, or we choose division, pouring scorn on the memory of the brave sons and daughters who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We have to choose unity.”

Geingob said the road to prosperity would require unified efforts and commitment spurred on by patriotism.

“We must stand together, united for the love of Namibia. Finger-pointing, playing the blame game or passing the buck should be avoided.

Let us therefore hold hands and place national interest and the pursuit of shared prosperity above self-interest.”

The head of state said in “this year of reckoning, we should guard against the existence of silo mentalities across government ministries, agencies and offices and the overall lack of cooperation and coordination between officials. We must equally guard against tribalism and racism”.

“We should therefore all mobilise around the goals of tackling inequality and unemployment which have been derived from the fact that our economic growth has neither been sufficiently inclusive nor is generating enough jobs.”

The president added that of late, it has been upsetting to note the frequency of reports of violent crime, mainly aimed at the most vulnerable members of society.

“I direct our security services to ensure that the safety and security of the people of Namibia, as well as that of our friends and visitors is guaranteed.”

He said Namibians have much to be thankful for and much to look forward to.

“For 28 years we have remained resolute in upholding the values of unity and peace. We are now at a pivotal point in our nation's history. The road ahead is filled with countless opportunities for Namibians to establish themselves as a people of character, a people of purpose, and a people with a shared destiny.”

Geingob said one of the primary objectives of this government has been to address the scourge of poverty.

“We still have many mountains to climb and frontiers of possibility to pursue. I have no doubt that if we pull together as one and adopt a unified approach towards achieving our national aspirations; it will not be long before we accomplish the goal of shared prosperity,” Geingob said.



Economic headwinds

Geingob said government would have loved to sustain a higher rate of progress and implementation.

“But we had to contend with independent intervening variables beyond our control. The past four years have been fraught with 'headwinds', brought about by a global economic downturn.

“This 'perfect storm' as some have termed it has had a direct impact on our economy and revenue base.

“We are aware that some of the necessary interventions have hurt small businesses and led to job losses. This is why as government we are encouraging small and medium enterprises to diversify their business portfolio,” the president added.

He also acknowledged the critical role played by his predecessors, founding president Sam Nujoma and former president Hifikepunye Pohamba.

Yesterday was a joyful independence celebration that saw people from all walks of life represented.

Politicians, business personalities, religious leaders and many influential people were in attendance.

Highlights included wonderful musical and cultural performances, which put the audience in the mood.

However, some youth, when questioned, said they do not see the relevance of the day and were more concerned about what they would be eating for lunch.

They also expressed their dissatisfaction with the organisers, saying they were dehydrated after receiving only one bottle of water throughout the over seven-hour long event.

“I just want to eat. I did not understand what my president was saying because I did not concentrate. I was just thinking about when he will finish his speech. I have been sitting here since 07:00 and I only received one bottle of water,” a young girl said.

Others were happy to be part of the celebrations.

“It was an honour to have been addressed live by the president, as well as seeing our other leaders. It is not every day you see all the former presidents at one event,” a young lady said, while dancing.



Corruption is sabotage - Geingob

Kambwa exposes retail robbery

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Kambwa exposes retail robberyKambwa exposes retail robbery Prominent northern businessman David 'Kambwa' Sheehama has made startling allegations, including that some foreign businesses are selling Namibians inferior products, repackaged to appear genuine, and that customers are also buying items with false litre and metre amounts indicated.

Sheehama, who is the owner of building material retailer Kambwa Trading, is backed by the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) northern branch, which is calling for the speedy finalisation of the Consumer Protection Act, in order to promote a fair, accessible and sustainable marketplace for consumer products and services.

The legislation, which has been in the pipeline for many years, will also establish national norms and standards to ensure adequate consumer protection and give guidelines for improved standards of consumer information that will prohibit unfair marketing or other unfair business practices, while also encouraging responsible consumer behaviour and the establishment of the National Consumer Commission. Sheehama said the unscrupulous activities being perpetrated against Namibian customers was happening under the noses of the Namibia Standard Institute (NSI) and the Namibia Competition Commission (NaCC). “For example, they (foreign business owners) indicate the diamond mesh fencing is 50 metres, but once the customer buys it they will find it is only 45 metres or the paint container is indicated as a 25-litre container, but there is only 20 litres of paint in. Sometimes they also repackage inferior products into genuine product packages and make them cheaper.”



According to Kambwa these traders are creating unfair competition by making their products cheaper to attract more customers, but at the same time they are not supplying what the customer thinks they are buying.

He said industry watchdogs are not doing anything, even if such unethical business practices and unethical traders are reported.

“This situation is being promoted by a lack of product quality and quantity assessment by the responsible institutions. These institutions are supposed to be visiting business places and investigating product authenticity,” he said.

NCCI northern branch chairperson Tomas Koneka Iindji told Namibian Sun Sheehama's complaints are genuine and that a number of related grievances had been reported over the years.

He said they had informed the Namibia Trade Forum, which drives the Namibia Retail Sector Charter (NRSC) that lays out principles and targets ensuring greater access for local products, as well as the NSI and the NaCC.

“At the NCCI we believe the complaints are legitimate. We have been advocating for business protection to prevent unethical business practices.

“These issues of providing wrong products to consumers are not good because at the end it is the consumer that suffers.

“As a chamber we are also calling on authorities to speed up the process leading up to the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act, as this will empower consumers to lodge complaints about a service provider, while promoting ethical business practices,” Iindji said.

He said consumer protection covers a wide range of issues, including product liability, privacy rights, unfair business practices, fraud, misrepresentation and other consumer/business interactions.

“This Act is pivotal for our development agenda in many ways. Among other things, the law will force service providers to explain their products and services better and vehemently protect the interests of the consumer.

“Consumer protection and consumer advocacy will bring the intentions of the company and products together with the necessity of customers and the market that they are in. Furthermore, consumer protection requires that companies provide detailed information about their products,” Iindji said.

He said this will not only apply to foreign traders, but also to local retailers.

“This law will also define which other bodies are tasked with covering specific consumer issues. It is hoped that the Act will also look at how consumers are represented and how the government will assist these consumer representative bodies.”

Iindji said the NCCI is encouraging all northern retail operators to join the NRCS as a signatories.

He said this is a tremendous opportunity to influence policy, to promote economic development and to support the Growth at Home strategy.

“The objective of the charter is to facilitate locally produced goods to find their way onto the shelves of our retail outlets. We need their visible support and active participation in this. Retailers who support government are fine and there are plenty of good examples. Those who don't are expected to cooperate.”

Iindji said greater access for locally produced goods into the retail market enables domestic economic growth, increases employment creation and the capacity creation of Namibian producers, while significantly boosting the economy.

“As consumer spending continues to increase in Namibia, we need to make sure that our retailers are capable of meeting this rise, so that these consumers don't look outside our borders for products and services. As members of the chamber leadership, we should all agree to be signatories to this charter, if you are dealing with retail operations.”

NSI spokesperson Joanette Eises said the NSI would respond in more detail later in the week.

“As per our telephonic discussion, the NSI will provide you with a response during the course of the week. There are a number of role players in quality and compliance of products and therefore I would further suggest you get in touch with the town/council to get more information on the compliance of quality of products.”

The NaCC did not provide comments to Namibian Sun at the time of going to print.

Ombudsman probe into Ya Toivo farm blocked

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Ombudsman probe into Ya Toivo farm blockedOmbudsman probe into Ya Toivo farm blocked American-born Vicki Erenstein Ya Toivo, who is at the centre of an unfolding public outcry over a resettlement farm she was awarded, says she will be occupying her land within 30 days.

This comes as ombudsman John Walters lifted the veil on how his office was ignored after it tried to probe in January whether it was true that well-to-do or politically connected individuals, including Erenstein Ya Toivo, had been lined up to benefit from resettlement land.It emerged on Monday that Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo's widow is among seven recent settlement beneficiaries. She received a 2 376-hectare farm in the Omaheke Region after the ministry advertised the land parcels in December 2017 and allocated them barely a month after.

Erenstein Ya Toivo confirmed that she indeed applied for a resettlement farm, but only because the initial one her late husband received in 2015 was in a poor condition and had no housing structures for workers, a broken borehole and broken fences in some areas.

“Against that background, in or about August 2017, I applied to the ministry of land reform, with the assistance of the executor of my husband's estate, to inherit the leasehold, in accordance with statutory procedures.

“Among other things, our daughters and my husband's surviving son had to appear before a magistrate to indicate their approval of my continuing the leasehold under my name. “When it came to my attention that other leasehold farms were being advertised by the ministry, I applied for two different leaseholds toward the end of the year. Along with my application, I provided the background set out above, and I indicated that I sought to 'swap' or relinquish the existing leasehold in favour of one of the ones for which I applied.

“The plots which I applied are better equipped, have better water condition, and are closer to Windhoek,” she said, while confirming she will in fact occupy the farm within 30 days.

Walters said the first complaint regarding this resettlement process had been received in January, as rumours swept through the Omaheke Region about who had been earmarked to be resettled.

According to Walters, his staff drove to Gobabis but were not allowed to attend a meeting held by the regional land reform committee and even though they had requested minutes of the gathering, in a bid to launch a probe into the matter, this was never received.

“It was too short notice to go to court to get a court order to stop it in order to allow the ombudsman to attend the meeting and we also did not have the money. We just saw in the newspaper, when they had announced the names, that it was now concluded,” he said.

Walters said it is time that government asked itself whether it is still honouring the key purpose of its land reform policy, which is to provide land to destitute and landless people.

“You cannot provide John Walters with farm, I am not destitute and I am not poor,” he said.

Walters, who compiled a 72-page report titled 'A Nation Divided: Why do Racism and Other Forms of Discrimination still Persist after Twenty-Seven Years of Namibian Independence', dedicated an entire chapter on the frustration brewing amongst Namibians towards the government's land reform policy.

The report revealed the deep dissatisfaction of citizens about the way in which land resettlement takes places, as well as sentiments that the process is tainted by unfairness and discrimination.

Toni Hancox, the director of the Legal Assistance Centre (LAC), highlighted that while she is not aware of the details and reasoning behind the decision to award Ya Toivo's widow resettlement land, it has long been LAC's stance that resettlement should be based on need and the ability to productively utilise the land.

“These factors should be there in equal measure. In particular, while we are cognisant of the sacrifices that were made by many in the struggle for independence, these sacrifices were made for the liberation and benefit of all Namibians.

“We are aware that many deserving people are waiting for inordinately long periods on the outcomes of their applications for resettlement, whilst there are instances of people - quite frequently the wealthy or politically connected - who always appear to be considered first,” said Hancox.

The Landless People's Movement (LPM) said the Ya Toivo family has never shown themselves to be farmers, while others need the land for their basic survival.

“The elite need it to show-off and they get it scot-free. It demonstrates how the land issues are also part of the class struggles, as the ruling elite take care of their own kith and kin. “Soon, any Chinese or Taiwanese woman married to any politician or those doing business with politicians, such as Jack Huang, will be allocated huge farms. If we thought there was a limit to the immoral and corrupt practices of Swapo, we were wrong!”

Namibian Sun visited the lands ministry to get hold of its permanent secretary Peter Amutenya, who was meeting with the land reform commissioners on Tuesday.

His secretary however referred all questions to the public relations department.

Spokesperson Chrispin Matongela said he sent all the questions he had received regarding the Omaheke resettlement farms to the PS.

Namibian Sun was also told lands minister Utoni Nujoma is aware of the media inquiries questions.

He was, however, unreachable.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Unam ready for Kudus test

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Unam ready for Kudus testUnam ready for Kudus test Defending Namibia Ruby Union (NRU) Premier League champions, Unam, have their sights firmly set on extending their lead during the current season, when they clash with Kudus on Saturday.

The two teams will meet in Windhoek at the Unam Rugby Stadium in the third round of the league.

Despite having some injury concerns, coach Johan Diergaardt is adamant his boys will emerge victorious against the coastal side.

Unam goes into the match with their heads held up high, after beating Reho Falcon 43-0 last weekend.

“We are always prepared for the challenge and this has been one of the reasons why we have been victorious. We have three players who are in doubt for the match, but that will not deter our spirit going into this game.

“We do not have any secret strategy, in terms of our success, but hard work has earned us the league title over the past few seasons,” Diergaardt said.

Kudus on the other hand are also expected to continue their form from last week, which saw them beating Rehoboth 47-17 in Walvis Bay.

Unam last year made a strong statement in the country's elite rugby league when they defeated Wanderers 42-28 to win the topflight title for the third year in a row.

Clubs like Western Suburbs, Trustco United and Wanderers have failed to match the powerful university side.

In other league action, Trustco United are up against Reho Falcon at the United Rugby Field.

United put up a brave performance last weekend when they narrowly beat Western Suburbs 18-13 at Suburbs Park.

Reho Falcon, on the other hand, are eager to dust themselves off after their humiliating defeat against Unam.

Wanderers will host Western Suburbs at the Wanderers Sport Field on Saturday.



Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Relegation battle intensifies

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Relegation battle intensifiesRelegation battle intensifiesClubs fear ejection from NPL With five matches left in the 2017/18 NPL season, clubs currently at the bottom of the log are having to face the very real prospect of relegation. Relegation is fast becoming a nightmare reality for bottom-placed Namibia Premier League (NPL) clubs, with Chief Santos, Rundu Chiefs and Young Chiefs all in the relegation zone with five matches remaining.

Santos sits at the bottom with 16 points and need to win all their remaining matches if they want to compete in the topflight league next season.

Rundu Chiefs has 22 points - a point less than Young Chiefs.

All of these teams hope that Orlando Pirates, with 28 points, does not collect any much-needed points in their remaining matches, in order for them to climb the log.

In Tuesdays match, log leaders African Stars, on 52 points, lost 1-0 to Black Africa, who are currently snapping at their heels with 47 points.

Speaking to Nampa after the match, African Stars Bobby Samaria coach said there is nothing to be ashamed of, as his club showed they can play football.

“We are disappointed that we let this one slip; they got one chance and scored. We also had our chances but failed to convert them, but we were the better team by far.

“Their goalkeeper made two or three great saves during the match and he stood between us and the three points,” Samaria said after the match at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Windhoek.

The experienced coach said BA is putting pressure on his team, but they need to keep their cool and focus on the upcoming games.

“We are the drivers of our own bus; the title is still in our hands. We still have a five-point advantage.

The only thing to do is to continue playing well and winning matches,” he added.

Black Africa coach Lucky Richter paid tribute to his players, saying they planned and played well.

“We practiced set pieces and we scored from one. It was a good game and I'm sure the fans enjoyed it,” he said.

Richter added that as much as they are harbouring ambitions to win the title, they are dependent on other teams to African Stars, while they also still need to win all their games.

He made special mention of his young goalkeeper, Calvin Spiegel, who he said won the match for the team.

“He is still a very young man who is learning every day. At the beginning he struggled a bit because of the magnitude of the team's status, but he is coming through very well,” he added.

Tura Magic, with 43 points, trail BA on the log, while Tigers are in fourth place with 40 points.

-Additional reporting NAMPA

LIMBA MUPETAMI

HopSol thrashed by FC Spartak

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HopSol thrashed by FC SpartakHopSol thrashed by FC SpartakPlayers use tournament as learning curve A Namibian youth team has suffered their second defeat at an international under-17 tournament being held in South Africa. The Black Africa HopSol under-17 team, competing in the 2018 Future Champions tournament in South Africa, has only recorded one win so far.

The team was thrashed 5-0 on Wednesday by FC Spartak in Gauteng.

The defeat is the second for the Namibian youth side at the championship. Their first defeat came in their opening match where they lost 1-3 against Orlando Pirates on Monday.

The Namibian boys however beat their opponents from Italy, AC Reggiana, 2-1 on Tuesday.

The team is competing in the tournament, which runs from Monday to Saturday, on invitation by Namibia Premier League outfit Black Africa.

Each match is played over 60 minutes. On Wednesday, in a match broadcast on SuperSport, the Namibian youth team conceded as early as the eighth and ninth minutes to trail 2-0 at half-time.

In the second half the Russian boys, who were a well-oiled machine, found the back of the net three times as the Namibians struggled to control them.

Speaking after his team's defeat, coach Collin Benjamin said they played a strong opponent that was good tactically and athletically. He said the competition was a good learning experience for his team.

“Competing with these teams is a good learning curve for the boys, who will hopefully be future stars,” he said.

Twelve u-17 teams from Europe and host continent Africa are competing in the 2018 Future Champions tournament.

The tournament is an inspirational development event. Launched in 2010, it has been staged in countries across the globe, utilising the power and popularity of football as a catalyst for growth.

NAMPA

Grace Mugabe sucked into ivory scam

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Grace Mugabe sucked into ivory scamGrace Mugabe sucked into ivory scamAccused of using state-owned ivory as gifts for Asian first ladies A state-sanctioned investigation into a massive ivory and rhino horn trafficking scandal that prejudiced the foreign currency-starved nation of millions of US dollars has sucked in former first lady Grace Mugabe. Zimbabwe's former first lady Grace Mugabe ordered national parks officials to release ivory to her from its storerooms to be given as gifts to first ladies in Asia, a newspaper claimed Wednesday.

Environment minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has commissioned an investigation into the alleged practice and the findings will be released soon.



Unnamed first ladies

“I was told that she (Grace Mugabe) would prevail upon (national parks) officials to release the ivory on the basis that they were the first lady's donations to unnamed fellow first ladies in the Far East,” Muchinguri-Kashiri told the private Daily News.

“I then commissioned a full investigation into the matter which has since been concluded and as of now, their report is being compiled, which I will release on conclusion,” she added.

Grace Mugabe was not contacted for comment on the claim.



Ivory stockpile

Two years ago Zimparks, the state wildlife authority, was reported to have 70 tons of ivory worth millions of US dollars stored in Harare. The tusks are those seized from poachers or collected from animals that died from natural causes.

The environment minister said the government is also probing the mysterious death of a police officer who was investigating the attempted smuggling of 200kg of ivory to Malaysia through Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in December.

The minister said the unnamed officer had gone to Mozambique on personal business and died there. The owner of the smuggled ivory is still unknown.



NEWS24

Kambonde a tindi uukombunda

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Kambonde a tindi uukombundaKambonde a tindi uukombunda Mayola gwondoolopa yaNiipa, Immanuel Kambonde, okwa ekelehi omapopyo ga ningwa kaakwashigwana kutya ota kutu miilonga ofamili ye, unene poompito oonene, na ota dhana onkandangala onene ngele tashi ya kuukombunda melelo lyondoolopa ndjoka.

Elelo lyondoolopa ndjoka oli na aantu yatatu ye na ofani Kambonde poompito dhiilonga oonene melelo moka, inamu kwatelwa mayola, naashoka osha geyitha aakwashigwana. Kambonde okwa popi kutya onga omayola, ke na oonkondo dhokukuta miilonga aaniilonga yelelo lyondoolopa, kakele komunambelewa omukuluntu gwelelo.

Okwa popi kutya ke na omukwanezimo ta longele elelo lyondoolopa.

“Otandi lundilwa kaakwashigwana yomOniipa kutya otandi kutu miilonga ofamili yandje. Nashi kale sha yela kutya ngame onga mayola gwondoolopa kandi na oonkondo dhokukuta miilonga aaniilonga yelelo lyondoolopa na ihandi kuutumba muukonaakono wu na sha negandjo lyiilonga. Oonkondo dhandje odha hulila meuliko lyomunambelewa omukuluntu gwondoolopa,” Kambonde a popi.

Aaniilonga mboka taya popiwa, oDavid Kambonde, ngoka e li kansela noshilyo shokomitiye yelelo lyondoolopa, menindjela gwiiyemo melelo lyondoolopa ndjoka, Victoria Kambonde oshowo omunambelewa gwomayakulo gopautekinika, oompangela nomidhingoloko, Wyclif Kambonde.

“Kandi shi aantu mboka ayehe, na kaye shi ofamili yandje. Omupya omunene okutya elelo lyondoolopa olya kutu miilonga aantu ayehe yedhina Kambonde ihe kaye shi ofamili.”

Kambonde natango okwa koleke kutya kansela omushona ngoka opo a ulikwa, Joseph Amutenya okanona ke kopambepo, ihe keshi kutya okwa ulikwa ngiini. Kambonde oku li mayola gwotango gwondoolopa yaNiipa, konima nkene ya tseyitha nokutokolwa opo yi ninge ondoolopa mo 2015. Ondoolopa ndjoka oya taalela omukundu gwaantu taya tungu omatungo gawo shaaheli paveta, mevi lyamuni.

ILENI NANDJATO

Kerina a pula eidhidhimiko nuukumwe mokati koshigwana

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Kerina a pula eidhidhimiko nuukumwe mokati koshigwanaKerina a pula eidhidhimiko nuukumwe mokati koshigwanaA pula oshigwana shi kondjithe uukwamuhoko Mburumba Kerina okwa pula aaleli yaNamibia opo ya pitike aanyasha ya thikame kuyoyene yo kaya endulule epuko ndyoka lya ningwa kaakokele. Omunaplotika ngoka okwa pula AaNamibia ya yambidhidhe Omupresidende Hage Geingob mekondjitho lyuukwamuhoko, uukombunda oshowo uulingilingi.

Okwa tsu omuthindo kutya Namibia ota dhimbuluka emanguluko lye oshikando oshiti 28, na okwa mono emanguluko lye sha landula etiko lyombinzi.

Kerina ngoka ina luka owala oshilongo ihe okwa dhana woo onkandangala metotepo lyongundu yoSwapo, okwa kunkilile kutya uukwamuhoko otawu etitha eso lyaAfrika.

Sho a pulwa kutya omolwashike a tokola okuluka oshilongo edhina Namibia, Kerina okwa dhimbuluka nkene a li a hiwa kegumbo lyepangelo lyaIndonesia , komupresidende gwotango gwoshilongo shoka Sukarno, ngoka e mu pula edhina lyoshilongo shawo.

Sho a yamukula kutya “South West Africa”, Sukarno okwe mu lombwele kutya “aapika noombwa ohadhi lukwa kooyene yadho, ihe aalumentu yamanguluka ohaya iluku yoyeyene”.

Konima sho a dhilaadhila ethimbo ele, okwa dhilaadhila kombinga yombuga ndjoka yali hayi ithanwa Namib kAaNama, na okwa mono kutya ndyoka edhilaadhilo ewanawa.

A tseyika nale nedhina, Eric William Getzen, Mburumba Kerina okwa tokola okwiilukulula konima sho a nongele mpoka a za.

Sho a pulwa kutya omayele geni ta pe AaNamibia, okwa dhenge omuthindo natango kutya uukwamuhoko omukundu omunene gwa taalela Namibia, oshilongo oshishona shoka natango kashishi kutya emanguluko nuukwamuholo oshike.

Kerina ngoka a tameke okukutha ombinga iikwapolotika mepupi lyoomvula ooshona, okwa pula aanyasha yoshilongo ya kale yiidhidhimika, ihe na ya kutheko oongaku na inaya kala yamwena ngele otaya ningilwa okwaahena uuyuki, mboka tawu vulu okutula oshilongo moshiponga. Omunamimvo 85, Kerina okwa popi kutya kutya okuhole oondjimbo dhaBig Ben, na okwiipyakidhila nokushanga embo lyondjokonona ye mwene, ndjoka ta popi kutya otayi pu okushangwa muule womvula yimwe.

Okwa popi kutya okwa hala embo ndyoka li kale oshiholelwa oshiwanawa kaanyasha yaNamibia, molwaashoka kaye na iiholelwa iiwanawa mbyoka tayi vulu okulandulwa.

Okwa popi kutya etumwalaka ta gandja kaaleli yoshilongo, okupitika aanyasha ya thikame kuyoyene, na inaye ya pitika ya ninge omapuko ngoka ga ningwa kaakokele.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Oongombe oonshona dha tomwa monooli mo 2017

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Oongombe oonshona dha tomwa monooli mo 2017Oongombe oonshona dha tomwa monooli mo 2017 Oongombe owala 854 dha tomwa monooli yomusinda omutiligane, omvula ya piti, ndhoka hadhi zi momalanditho gaanafaalama yeli moshitopolwa shoNorthern Communal Areas' (NCA).

Otaku tengenekwa kutya oshitopolwa shoNCA oshi na oongombe dhi li poomiliyona 1.6. Kuuyelele mboka wa pitithwa koMeat Board of Namibia, mokati koongombe 83 790 dhoka dha tomwa omvula ya piti, 854 odha tomenwa muutomeno wopakatimbo waMeatco moshitopolwa shoNCA.

Uutomeno mboka waMeatco owo owala omalandithilo ge li po taga vulu okulongithwa kaanafaalama monooli sho uutomeno hoka kaShakati oshowo kaKatima Mulilo, inawu tameka natango okulongithwa. Meat Board okwa tseyitha kutya oshikondo shiimuna unene mboka haya landitha iipa oshowo iilongomwa ya za kiimuna, omvula oye ya endela nawa.

Okwa dhidhilikwa e yo pombanda noopresenda 29.8 momalanditho goongombe, okuza poongombe 295 217 mo 2016 okuya poongombe 420 646 mo 2017. Nonando ongaaka okwa dhidhilikwa eshuno pevi momwaalu gwoongombe sha etithwa koshikukuta shoka sha dhidhiliwa moshilongo oomvula dha piti, naashoka osha etitha eshuno pevi lyomwaalu gwoongombe ndhoka dha totwa.

Oopresenda 65 dhoongombe odha tumwa nomwenyo momalanditho gopondje, oopresenda 17 odha tomwa muutomeno wopondje, omanga oopresenda 18 dha tomwa muutomeno womeni lyoshilongo.

Nonando uutomeno womoshilongo owa lopota owala oongombe 23 455 dha tomwa, iipa yoongombe yi li po 87 730 oya landwa muutomeno mboka, pe na eyooloko lyomwalu gwoongombe dhi li 64 275.

Natango Meat Board okwa popi kutya ondando yiilongomwa ya za kiipa yiimuna moNamibia oya londo pombanda pokati kaJanuari naDecemba gwomvula ya piti, okuza pookg 16.9 muJanuari okuya pookg 34.18 muDesemba.

Onkalo ndjoka natango otaku tengenekwa tayi holoka metata lyotango lyomvula , pauyelele mboka wa pitithwa koMeat.

ELLANIE SMIT

Kambwa a nyenyeta ekengelelo lyookastoma

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Kambwa a nyenyeta ekengelelo lyookastomaKambwa a nyenyeta ekengelelo lyookastomaA pula omalelo ga endelelithe oompango dhegameno lyaalandi Omunangeshefa gwomonooli yoshilongo okwa nyenyeta kutya ookastoma otadhi hepekwa unene kaanangeshefa aazaizai mboka haya landitha iilandithomwa yiikengelela nokukengelea ookastoma. Omunangeshefa a tseyika nawa monooli yoshilongo, David 'Kambwa' Sheehama okwa popi kutya aanangeshefa unene aazaizai otaya landitha ookastoma moNamibia, iilongomwa ya pakululwa nokutulwa iilimbo yilwe oshowo ookastoma otadhi landa iinima yi na uuyelele wa puka unene ongushu noondjundo dhiilandomwa.

Sheehama, ngoka e li mwene goostola dhiitungitho dhedhina Kambwa Trading, ota yambidhidhwa koNamibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) moshitayi shomonooli, ndjoka tayi pula opo ku endelelwe memanitho lyompango yoConsumer Protection Act, opo ku hwahwameke omalandithilo negandjo lyomayakulo geli pauyuuki.

Emanitho lyompango ndjoka otali ka etitha woo egameno lyaalandi nomilandu dhomauyelele gaalandi ndhoka tadhi ka indika eningo lyoongeshefa kadhi li pauyuuki nokweetitha etotepo lyoNational Consumer Commission.

Sheehama okwa popi kutya omaihumbato ngoka taga ningilwa aalandi otaga ningwa miipathi yoNamibia Standard Institute (NSI) oshowo Namibia Competition Commission (NaCC).

“Oshiholelwa ongaashi, oongeshefa dhaazaizai tadhi landitha oondhalate yuule woometa 50, ihe ngele omulandi okwa landa ondhalaye ndjoka otaka mona kutya oyi na owala uule woometa 45 nenge ehemele lyopainda yoolita 25, ihe mehemele moka omu na owala opainda yoolita 20. Ethimbo limwe ohaya pakulula woo iilandomwa nokuyi tula iilombo yilwe, nokuyi ninga ombiliha.” Pahapu dhaKambwa, aalandi mboka otaya e ta po omudhingoloko gwethigathano lyokangeshefa kali li pauyuuki paku landitha iilandithomwa yawo kombiliha nokunana ookastoma odhindji, omanga omathimbo gamwe taya landitha iinima yawo momukalo gokukengelela.

Okwa popi kutya aakondololi yonklao ndjoka kaye na shoka taya ningi nonando omukalo ngoka gwaaheli pauyuuki otagu lopotwa. Omunangeshefa ngoka okwa tsikile kutya onkalo ndjoka otayi hwahwamekwa sho Namibia ke na oshuputudhilo shoka shi na oshinakugwanithwa shokukondolola ongushu yiinima.

Omunashipndi gwoNCCI monooli yoshilongo, Tomas Koneka Iindji okwa lombwele Namibian Sun kutya omanyenyeto gaSheehama oge li mondjila na oya lopotelwa omanyenyeto ga faathana muule woomvula dha piti.

Okwa popi kutya okwa tseyithila omanyenyeto ngoka oNamibia Trade Forum, ndjoka tayi kwatele komeho oNamibia Retail Sector Charter (NRSC) oshowo NSI noNaCC.

“KoNCCI otu wete kutya omenyenyeto ngoka oge li mondjila. Otwa kala tatu kondjitha etulo miilonga lyegameno lyoongeshefa opo ku yandwe omaihumbato ngoka guulingilingi mongeshefa. Omukalo gwokugandja iilandithomwa ya puka kaalandi kagu li mondjila molwaashoka pehulilo lyesiku, aalandi taya mono iihuna.Otatu indile aatoti yoompango ya endelele opo ku manithwe etulo miilonga lyompango yegameno lyaalandi ndjoka tayi ka kondopeka aalandi ya vule okuninga omanyenyeto kombinga yomayakulo gankundipala ngoka taya pewa, omanga natango taku hwahwamekwa onkalo yopangeshefa yi li pauyuuki,” Iindji ta popi.

Iindji okwa popi kutya egameno lyaalandi olya pumbiwa, na itali pumbiaa owala okuza kaalandithi aazaizai ihe nokaalandithi woo yomoshilongo.

Iindji okwa tsu omukumo aanangeshefa ya wayimine oNCCI, molwaashoka shoka otashi kala nokugandja ompito ombwaanawa yokuhwahwameka omilandu, eyambulepo lyeliko oshowo okukondopeka oongeshfa dhaavalelwa mo. Iindji okwa tsikile kutya enkondopeko lyaanangeshefa moshilongo, otali kondopeke eliko, otali gandja nokweeta po oompito dhiilonga mokati kaakwashigwana nokutula eliko lyoshilongo pamuthika gwopaigwana.

Okwa tsikile kutya sho ondjele yaalandi tayi londo pombanda moshilongo, aanangeshefa oya pumbwa okukwashilipaleka kutya otaya vulu tuu okuthitika omwaka goompumbwe yaalandi, opo aalandi kaya ye pondje yoongamba taya kongo iipumbiwa molwaashoka oongeshefa moshilongo itadhi vulu okuthitika omwaka gwompumbwe. Omupopiliko gwoNSI, Joanette Eises kwa popi kutya ehangano lyawo otali ka yamukula muule woshiwike shika. “Ngaashi twa popi pankundathana dhetu dhopangodhi, NSI ote ke ku pa eyamukulo muule woshiwike shika. Ope na aakuthimbinga oyendji mboka taya dhana onkandangala mekalekepo lyongushu yiilandithomwa. Otandi ku pe omayele wu ninge ekwatathano nelelo lyondoolopa opo wu mone uuyelele owundji kombinga yegwanithepo lyomilandu dhongushu yiilandithomwa.”

NaCC ina yamukula omapulo ngoka a ningilwa koshifokundaneki shika, pethimbo onkundana ndjika ya nyanyangidhwa.

ILENI NANDJATO
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