Time to get your jab

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Time to get your jab The Ministry of Health and Social Services, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Unicef, yesterday launched National Vaccination Week with the theme 'Vaccine Works, Do Your Part'.

Speaking at the launch, deputy health minister Juliet Kavetuna reminded the public that vaccinations reduce child illnesses and deaths.

This year's National Vaccination Week runs from 4 June until 8 June and vaccinations are done throughout the country.

The targeted age groups are children under five years and childbearing women between 15 and 49.

“On behalf of the health ministry I want to call upon all parents, caregivers and the community at large to take children with their health passports to their nearest health facilities and temporary vaccination points to have them vaccinated throughout the country,” Kavetuna said.

At the same occasion she launched the national guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, which will ensure the provision of high-quality PMTCT services.

According to her these guidelines have been revised in line with the WHO recommendations of 2013 and the 2014 Anti-retroviral-Treatment (ART) guidelines recommending ART for life for all pregnant and breastfeeding HIV-positive women irrespective of their CD4 count or clinical stages.

“The revised guidelines maintain the recommendation that HIV-infected mothers exclusively breastfeed their infants for the first six months before initiating supplementary feeding and can continue breastfeeding until the infant is 12 months of age or longer, depending on availability of nutritionally adequate foods for the child,” she said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Company news

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Company news Nigeria's Stanbic shares traded in block deal worth US$195m

Some 1.14 billion shares of Stanbic IBTC Holding were sold at 53.75 naira each the stock exchange said on Friday in a block deal valued at about US$195 million.

The deal was negotiated trade between seller Rencap Securities Ltd and buyer Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Ltd. Stanbic IBTC Holding’s shares closed at 46.60 naira.

Stanbic IBTC, is the local subsidiary of South Africa’s Standard Bank.

-Nampa/Reuters

UK lender CYBG raises all-share bid for Virgin Money by 7%

British lender CYBG said on Sunday it had raised its offer to buy challenger bank Virgin Money by a 7% increase in the exchange ratio through an all-share combination.

Under terms of CYBG’s revised proposal, Virgin Money shareholders would own about 38% of the combined group as compared to the original 36.5% offer.

The proposed combination would provide a full-service banking offer for around six million personal and business customers, CYBG, the owner of Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank, said in a statement.

-Nampa/Reuters

Australia's CBA seeks redemption with record settlement

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) agreed to pay a record penalty of A$700 million (US$529.3 million) to settle explosive money laundering charges brought by Australia’s financial intelligence agency.

The biggest financial penalty in Australian corporate history was almost double the amount CBA had set aside, signaling the tougher regulatory framework Australian banks face following revelations of widespread misconduct.

-Nampa/Reuters

AccorHotels looks at taking stake in Air France KLM

AccorHotels said on Sunday it was looking again at possibly buying a stake in Air France KLM , in which the French government has a 14.3% holding.

AccorHotels said over the past years it had held discussions with Air France KLM with a view to develop joint projects, including an acquisition of a minority stake.

-Nampa/Reuters

Requirement for mining companies to list locally in Zim, removed

Zimbabwe’s parliament has passed amendments to the mining bill after removing clauses that required foreign mining companies to list locally, according to an official record of parliament’s debates seen on Friday.

Mines minister Winston Chitando had last month promised to remove the requirements, which he said caused panic among foreign mining firms and were contrary to the government’s push to open Zimbabwe to foreign investors.

-Nampa/Reuters

The countdown has started!

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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The countdown has started!Preparations in full swing for grade 9 semi-external exams The 2018 school year sees major reforms in the basic education curriculum being implemented. The Zone spoke to education officials to find out if preparations for the first grade 9 semi-external exams are in full swing. Tunohole Mungoba





The external grade 10 junior secondary examinations, which used to mark the end of the academic road for many learners, will be abolished in 2019 and the last batch of learners will write this year.

This forms part of the reforms, aimed at addressing high dropout rates and improving the quality of basic education in Namibia. The architects of the reforms say the goal is not only to keep learners at their desks for longer by diversifying subjects and strengthening student support, but also to improve teacher skills and qualifications - a vital ingredient in improving basic education quality in Namibia.

At the end of 2018, grade 9 learners will write the first junior secondary semi-external examinations, following which they will be promoted to the senior secondary phase, starting with grade 10. This will mark the start of a new, extended senior secondary phase of education, taking the form of a two-year Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level (NSSCO) course.

According to Clemmentine Tsumis, director at the Directorate of National Examinations and Assessment (DNEA), the examinations will be written as semi-externals.

“This means that these examination sessions will not be administered like the current JSC national exams. The schools prepare the learners like in any other grade, the only difference is that the question papers will be set at the national level, but marked at the school level. Results will be processed like any other results of exams currently done at school level.

“These exams are only for quality assurance and setting standards for the teaching and learning outcomes. The learners are prepared the same way they have been prepared in grade 9 all these years,” said Tsumis.

“There is no registration for the learners at national level and also no marking at national level. I advise all parents and other concerned citizens to take note that this is not a national exam for certification, as it was with the grade 10s.”

Hertha Pomuti, the director of the National Institute for Educational Development (Nied), told The Zone the reforms aim to keep children in school longer and reduce the dropout numbers. “This will also require extra training for the teachers. We need them to stand with us,” she says.

Pomuti explains that the junior secondary semi-external examinations in grade 9 are for quality assurance purposes, allowing learners to repeat if they fail.

Extending the final phase of schooling from two to three years has been proven internationally to keep children in school longer and to provide a more thorough, quality education, Pomuti says.

“One of the important factors with these changes is that learners will have more time to study for their senior secondary education, because the duration has been extended from two to three years,” Pomuti explains.

Once the revised curriculum begins in 2020, grade 11 will be the first exit point from basic education.

Pomuti says statistics show that roughly 60 000 children enter the first grade. By grade 5, 54 000 remain in the system and by grade 12, only 30 000 finish their schooling.

“So, we have to ask, where are these kids? They are all over the place. Losing them means you lose potential teachers, doctors and those who were supposed to be engineers.”

The principal of Ella du Plessis Secondary School, Jakavaza Kavari, told The Zone their school is ready to write the exams.

“We have qualified teachers who have started preparing the learners beforehand. They work very hard and we have nothing to fear,” he said.

Kavari added that his learners are looking forward to their exams, as they will be completing the first phase out of the two-phase grade.

“The learners know very well what is expected from them so it will not be difficult for them to deliver. Although it will not be marked externally, it does not take the seriousness out of these examinations. As the days draw closer, we will start preparing them more,” he added.

Land board wins illegal fencing battle

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Land board wins illegal fencing battle Three farmers that fenced off communal land in Omaheke have failed in their bid to secure an interim High Court interdict and review of a decision by the regional land board that they remove the illegal structure.

The court dismissed the urgency of the matter as self-created.

The court found the urgency was as a result of inaction and the “culpable remissness” of farmers Eliphas Kahorere, Mbamana Katuuo and Kamaaizemi Kahorere.

The respondents were the Omaheke Land Board, the lands ministry, the appeals tribunal and the Armnado Construction Contractor.

The farmers had lodged an application with the Omaheke Land Board on 15 July 2013 in which they sought recognition and the registration of their customary land rights and the authorisation to retain the communal land they had fenced off.

On 7 May 2014 the land board ruled the applicants should remove the retention aspect from their application.

It further directed the farmers to liaise with the Ovambanderu Traditional Authority who would consider for the allocation of customary land rights under Communal Land Reform Act regulations.

The land board on the same date issued an order in terms of the Act compelling the farmers to remove the fence within 30 days of receiving the order.

On 2 June 2014 the farmers appealed against the decision.

The appeal was heard on 29 January 2015 by the land board and judgement was delivered on 11 February 2015.

“The appellants must forthwith, remove or cause to be removed, the fence as directed by the land board. They must take up the matter with the traditional authority. The appeal is dismissed,” the ruling said.

The land board, when it became aware that the three farmers had launched a High Court appeal, issued another order directing them to remove the fence within 30 days of the receipt of the order.

The legal representative of the farmers then wrote a letter to the land board indicating the order was premature.

The board replied that the fence would be removed in terms of its judgement and notified the applicants on 21 May it had appointed Armnado Construction Contractor to remove the fence.

The farmers then proceeded on 23 May to apply for the registration of their customary land rights and for the retention of the fence.

They launched an urgent application on 30 May, seeking an interim interdict and a review of the decision by the land board

The respondents submitted there had been a delay of two years and five months from the date the applicants received a notification that the order to remove the fence would be executed.

“The urgency in the matter is self-created due the inaction and culpable remissness on the part of the applicant.”

The High Court on Friday dismissed the application on grounds that the urgency was indeed self-created.



FRED GOEIEMAN

Hardap trips over pregnant learner policy

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Hardap trips over pregnant learner policy Principals and life skills teachers in Hardap appear to struggle with implementing the learner pregnancy policy and feel embarrassed when dealing with pregnant learners, the region's education director, Mzingisi Gqwede, has said.

In an interview with Nampa, Gqwede said his office has of late been flooded with questions from parents and community leaders wanting to know how principals in the region apply the policy.

“Some principals are secretly talking to the parents of pregnant learners, asking them to take the learners out of school for a year or so,” the director said.

He said this compromises the implementation of the Education Sector Policy on Prevention and Management of Learner Pregnancy of 2009.

“It's not about how we feel about learner pregnancy, it's about the girl child being afforded the opportunity to complete school,” Gqwede said.

The education director warned that principals should stop showing pregnant learners the door and to implement the policy in order to maximise education opportunities for girls.

He further said teaching of life skills to prevent learner pregnancy should be strengthened by all schools and in the event that pregnancy occurs, it has to be managed.

“I personally presented the policy to both the principals and life skills teachers in the Hardap Region. To see schools now implementing their own policies is not right as schools are implementers of national policies,” he said.

The policy is based on national legislation and international agreements signed by the government.

In 2008, the Legal Assistance Centre was asked to create a new policy in conjunction with the education ministry.

Feedback based on input from, amongst others, learners, principals, teachers, regional education officers and counsellors was incorporated into a working draft, which was endorsed by the Ministerial Planning and Coordinating Committee in April 2009 and approved by cabinet in October 2009.

“The policy was developed through extensive, intensive and multidisciplinary consultations with people from all regions of Namibia,” Gqwede said.

The ultimate goal of the policy is to decrease the number of learner pregnancies and increase the number of learner-parents who complete their education based on six pillars - the right to education, prevention, information, respect, support and respect for culture and family.

Among others, it allows pregnant learners to remain in school until four weeks before the due date.

With regards to respecting differing cultural and family values, Gqwede said the government's role is to provide a flexible policy which maximises education opportunities for pregnant learners and learner-parents.

However, the policy allows for different family and cultural values to determine the timing and manner in which learners take advantage of the opportunities offered and emphasises ongoing communication between the school and family.

“What the policy does not allow is for one's family or community values to be imposed on other families and communities. Therefore, it allows pregnant girls to remain in school until four weeks before the due date, but it does not require that they do so,” he said.

NAMPA

Windhoek gets new developments

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Windhoek gets new developmentsGoreangab waterfront and a golf course There are lofty plans for developments in Windhoek which do not only include a waterfront and state-of-the-art golf course, but also housing. New developments such as a waterfront at the Goreangab Dam and a golf course in Eros will not only bring services closer to people but also increase housing in Windhoek.

Khomas governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua said in her State of the Region Address that that these projects form part of the Special Projects Portfolio of the City of Windhoek.

According to her the Windhoek City Council has approved a waterfront development at the Goreangab Dam.

The project entails a waterfront development with business-zoned erven with walkways and a residential component with amenities.

“Council and the communities will derive benefits from the project when implemented through a new commercial development which will bring services like supermarkets, clothing shops, restaurants and furniture shops closer to the people, where people currently have to travel long distances to access such amenities,” the governor said.

McLeod-Katjirua said the Windhoek City Council had also approved the development of a golf course and residential component by the Eros Valley Consortium. This will be located on Erf Re/403 Erospark and a portion of farm REM/EROS no.69. The development entails a state-of-the-art golf course with a residential component.

She said the council and communities were expected to derive several benefits from the project once completed. According to McLeod-Katjirua, these will include the development of residential plots that would otherwise not have been undertaken and the provision of 466 residential erven in Windhoek that would otherwise not have been a priority.

A total of 2 967 applications were received and processed by the Khomas Lands Regional Office. Out of the applications received only six applicants from the Khomas Region were allocated farming units.

As far as land delivery is concerned, McLeod-Katjirua said during 2017, the City Council offered plots through the offer-to-purchase, private treaty and tender methods with its partners in the suburbs of Academia and Otjomuise.

During 2017, the City also allocated additional land to the education ministry for the construction of schools in Khomasdal and surrounding townships.

She said the Mass Housing Project continued with land allocated by the City at Otjomuise Extension 10. According to her the finance ministry has now given all municipalities the mandate to alienate council-owned property in line with previous alienation methods as per the Local Authorities Act.

Ino Investment offered 116 available serviced plots in Otjomuise Extension 5 and Acacia Investment sold 98 serviced plots to successful applicants.

The last phase of selling erven in Academia Extension 1 and Otjomuise Extension 5 was under way, said McLeod-Katjirua.

Four informal markets were completed or upgraded to the value of N$1.1 million during the 2017/18 financial year. These included the Caesar Street Market in Wanaheda, the Lyeeta Market in Okuryangava, the Okahandja Park Market in Okahandja Park and the Post Street Mall Market in the Central Business District.

According to her the upgrading of these markets included the construction of new barbeque stands, extension of existing roofs to provide shelter against the sun and rain and the fencing of some markets.

“However, we take note with concern that some of such places set up for a very good purpose remain under-utilised. Some of the reasons include poor public consultation during the planning phase of those projects.”

With regard to the Northern Industrial Market she said the City had received N$3.5 million from the trade ministry to procure containers and create facilities and structures for trading at Erf 8219 in the Northern Industrial Area.

These projects included developing trading areas, barbeque stands, communal storage and ablution facilities, paving demarcated areas and connection to water and electricity services.

Construction of the new market at a cost of N$4.6 million was due to be completed by 30 April this year.

The Windhoek City Council has also approved the development of a market at Erf R/6296 (Herero Mall) in Katutura. The provision of ablution facilities and fencing of the site are currently under way at an estimated cost of N$300 000.

The City is also looking at finalising the designs for the market in consultation with all stakeholders.

ELLANIE SMIT

SAA CEO: All we ask is three years - and money

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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SAA CEO: All we ask is three years - and moneyTo restructure South African Airways (SAA) has reached the point where some hard decisions have to be made, CEO Vuyani Jarana told Fin24 on Monday. “We have now stress tested and refined our strategy for SAA and all we ask for is to be given three years, space to operate and money,”- Vuyani Jarana, CEO, SAA SAA is now getting to the phase where it is starting to tackle the tough issues, Jarana told Fin24 at the 74th annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Sydney.

These include issues like procurement spend and getting costs down. It also involves bringing in the right skills needed.

“We are cleaning up the supply chains and cost base issues, so now we have to deal with the restructure soon,” he said.

“The current operating base is not sustainable for the airline. We have to take hard decisions regarding people and the supply chain. Job losses will be inevitable, even though my priority is about job preservation by finding ways to find opportunities for our excess pilots and cabin crew to soften the impact. I have a heart. It is not just about cutting jobs. If we grow again, we will need them again, so we have to be sensitive and conscious about it.”

Break even

Jarana said there is now a “date in the future” where SAA will break even.

“We have now stress tested and refined our strategy for SAA and all we ask for is to be given three years, space to operate and money,” he said.

“We have defined the funding requirements to take us there. There is R9.2billion of existing debt owed to banks – debt I inherited when I took over as CEO. Then we also need R12.5billion of working capital to take SAA to the breakeven point. So, in total we need R21.7billion to fund the existing debt and to fund the working capital needed to get to the breakeven point.”

According to Jarana, SAA is working with National Treasury as its shareholder to find the optimal capital structure for the airline in terms of the mix of debt, equity and strategic partner investment.

“Either SAA must get a direct cash injection from our shareholder (government) or we have to find private sector partnering investment. We also have to bring the bank debt down and our plan deals with that, although it makes certain assumptions, for instance, about the oil price,” said Jarana.

He said SAA has already rebalanced its capacity in the domestic market between itself as a full service airline and the low-cost airline Mango in its stable. Since the bigger demand is for low-cost travel, SAA has moved four of its aircraft to Mango, resulting in improved margins for both Mango and SAA in this regard. Load factors with SAA and Mango were also improved.

“So, our strategy is holding well. We also made decisions regarding Central African routes which were not profitable and consolidated our London route by removing our second frequency,” he said.

-Fin24

Namibian youth join global peace walk

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Namibian youth join global peace walk On 25 May, hundreds of youth and representatives of civil society gathered in Windhoek to raise awareness about the need to achieve a conflict-free Africa, through a peace walk.

The event was jointly hosted by an international peace NGO, Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light (HWPL), its affiliated group the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and the Namibia Youth Development Organisation, which was joined by scores of hopeful youth who wanted to invest in the work of peace.

The peace walk formed part of the fifth annual commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace, which has been carried out in 100 cities in 50 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Tanzania, South Korea, UK, the United States, India and China. This global movement is aimed to promote a culture of peace, based on the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).

HWPL, which is affiliated with UN ECOSOC, held the first Declaration of World Peace commemoration in 2013 to call on all members of society to work together as peace messengers.

The HWPL chairman Man Hee Lee highlighted that every person in every country is responsible for establishing world peace.

“Rather than waiting to take peace for granted, it is we who should put an end to all wars to protect humanity and our world and leave peace as a legacy for future generations. Since laws of today cannot compensate for the lives sacrificed in war, what we need is an instrument that protects human life, a law that prevents war,” he said.

The peace walk was held in the vicinity of the Independence Museum.

During her address, Thormaline Shitaleni, who is a co-founder of Libra Foundation, a Namibian youth-run initiative advocating for gender equality, said the youth can unite and end wars.

“Peace can and will be achieved in our generation today; every effort we put into creating peace is one step closer to a conflict-free Africa.”

In addition to this, she reminded the audience of Lee’s words, that “when the youth of the world unites, all wars will cease”.

HWPL’s proposed DPCW embodies the value of the Declaration of World Peace. The DPCW consists of 10 articles and 38 clauses that addresses principles of conflict resolution and international cooperation for peace building, such as respect for international law, peaceful dispute settlement and spreading a culture of peace.

Civil society throughout the world is carrying out peace education, peace culture projects, and the Legislate Peace Campaign to establish a legally binding international law for peace and to create a peaceful environment in society, in cooperation with HWPL.

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Katrina hits back at Smit

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Katrina hits back at Smit'Talk to me, not the media' Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa has lashed out at PDM parliamentarian Nico Smit, who had criticised her decision to reject a land deal with a private school. Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa is standing by a decision not to give Kleine Kuppe land to a private school in exchange for a state-of-the-art school in an informal settlement, and further hit back at Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) MP Nico Smit by saying that she, and not he, is the education minister.

This follows a recent report that the minister had rejected a deal by the Windhoek Gymnasium private school, which wanted to buy land reserved for the education ministry in exchange for building 24 classrooms and other facilities at the Monte Christo School in the Havana informal settlement.

In a media statement at the weekend, Smit said his party was waiting for the minister to explain to the nation why she had reversed the decision to provide about 2 000 Namibian children with state-of-the-art school facilities and simultaneously give the desperately ailing Namibian economy a much-needed boost.

“The PDM wishes to remind the minister that ever since independence this government has made numerous appeals to the private sector to get more involved in education as this, and specifically primary education, is a huge drain on the national treasury.

“However, when the private sector, as in this case, does offer to get involved, the government, in the form of the minister of education, makes it as difficult as possible to actually get anything done,” he said.

Hanse-Himarwa hit back by saying that she does not make decisions willy-nilly but always in the best interest of the Namibian child.

She also emphasised that her decision was well thought through and made after extensive consultation based on fairness.

“It is really unprofessional for PDM to just run with what they read in the media. They have not engaged me on what they have read; they do not have any in-depth information on why the decision was made. I think they must first engage the relevant people before they go to the media,” she said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Govt coughs up N$58m to City

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Govt coughs up N$58m to City Significant progress has been made in settling government municipal debt owed to the City of Windhoek, with about N$58 million having been paid to date.

By the end of December last year the City's debt book reflected N$80.9 million owed by government, but by the end of March this amount was reduced to N$22.38 million.

“This notable reduction is worth applauding and we count on your continuous, similar support,” said Khomas governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua during her State of the Region Address last week.

At the launch of the City's strategic plan for 2017 to 2022 in July last year, its debtors' book totalled N$500 million.

By the end of December 2017, the city was owed around N$634 million by government, private residents and businesses.

Government was among the major culprits, as it owed the City about N$80 million, while state-owned enterprises owed N$18.5 million. Some of the major culprits were the education ministry (N$24.7 million), the works ministry (N$15.9 million), the health ministry (N$13.1 million), the safety and security ministry (N$8.3 million) and the defence ministry (N$4.5 million). McLeod-Katjirua said the City is currently in the third quarter of the first year of its transformational strategic plan, which was launched on 14 July 2017.

“The first two years of a strategic plan typically set the base for the necessary turnaround strategies, with clear governance, financial rescue and strategic funding plans.”

Among the highlights the governor mentioned were efforts to convert conventional meters to prepaid ones for the top 500 defaulting pensioners.

This project was to have commenced last month.

She said addressing the town planning applications backlog and the completion of all building and compliance inspections, within 48 hours and 10 days respectively, have also been finalised.

McLeod-Katjirua also elaborated on the Sustainable Urban Transport Master Plan (SUTMP): The Move Windhoek project.

She said transport affects the daily lives of Windhoek's residents, especially in terms of commuting to and from work or accessing essential services. According to her, Windhoek and its neighbouring towns need a new approach to ensure efficient and coordinated sustainable urban transport.

“The existing challenges of urban transportation congestion, insufficient parking and the inadequate provision of public transportation are already measurable and on the increase.”

McLeod-Katjirua said on 11 May 2016 it was decided to first develop bus lines 1 and 2 to high operational standards and provide passenger information for these, before operationalising the other lines.

A total of seven new bus lines were implemented (lines 1, 2 3, 4, 5, 6 and 11) during the 2017/18 financial year

The City, in partnership with GIZ, procured 26 new buses in order to improve the capacity of resources for improved quality service delivery. Twenty-four buses have already been delivered and the remaining two will be delivered before the end of this month.

The new buses have already been deployed to service the newly introduced bus lines, which have extended the coverage to Okahandja Park and parts of Khomasdal and Dorado Park.

ELLANIE SMIT

'Leave no one behind' is lip service

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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'Leave no one behind' is lip service Questions continue to be raised about the government's stated intention to leave no one behind in contrast to seemingly excluding criteria as related to the application requirements of the recently announced fishing quotas.

In a statement released by Mally Likukela of Twilight Capital Consulting yesterday, he noted that the new fishing quota application requirements were not in line with President Hage Geingob's vision of a Namibian house “where no one should feel left out.”

Likukela said that this vision “will not be met anytime soon as the announcement appears to be conveying a message of exclusion, leaving out the poorest and most marginalised groups in Namibia.”

He pointed out that the main bone of contention is a “crucial change” in the application requirement that applicants must be a shareholding Pty (Ltd), which he described as seemingly only including the “highest citizens” or owners of Section 21 companies, trusts and others.

Likukela wrote further that if leaving no one behind is a serious political intention it would require changes to government setups.

He emphasised that 'leaving no one behind' “is the moral issue of our age, and must be entrenched in all government policies.”

He recommended three government reform strategies.

These include “moving away from the siloed approach of different ministries that are responsible for 'their' sector of policy change, an increase in the inclusivity of political institutions and establishing a monitoring process to track outcomes.”

Likukela singled out four criteria that could boost the government's targeting of population groups or subgroups that “are likely to be left behind.”

He said these four principles included identifying those groups according to specific identities or characteristics, including minority groups, or occupations, illnesses and other criteria.

Further, identifying groups that “prefer to be hidden for fear of being judged by society due to sexual orientation, religious beliefs or cultural practices.”

The third principle, according to Likukela, is to include the “excluded, marginalised and discriminated.”

He noted that while they are at times different groups, they share the characteristics of being ignored.

The fourth principle to include when shaping inclusive criteria is to identify “vulnerable sub-population” groups, who are mostly disadvantaged due to their socio-economic situation.

Likukela's comments come in the wake of fisheries minister Bernard Esau's announcement last week that applications for fishing rights are alongside new criteria.

Namibian Sun reported that Esau encouraged all Namibians, but in particular women, youth, people living with disabilities, liberation war veterans and people living in economically marginalised communities, should benefit from the 96 new fishing rights in nine fisheries sectors.

He further noted that previous fishing rights, some of which were valid for 20 years, had lapsed, or would lapse soon.

In the wake of his announcement, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) chief whip Jennifer van der Heever said the “application criteria itself are very exclusive and hardly consider the poor, disabled people or the currently disadvantaged people.”

She argued that this is “evidenced by the requirement of registered companies for allocation of quotas, which mostly plays into the hands of 'fishmonger' lawmakers with big companies in good standing and in partnership with foreigners with enough and good equipment for fishing.”

The PDM's statement noted that “fishing quotas are dominated by elites and politicians … and the public does not get a sniff at the marine resources of the country.”

The party said it is time that this time around the public benefit more broadly from the newly announced fishing quotas.

JANA-MARI SMITH

Living in the 70’s

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Living in the 70’s holidays my fascination with learning slang from past decades began. I was at home and jobless, so I had nothing to do for an awkward amount of time. Logically, this simply turned my fascination into a legitimate obsession.

In response to something my uncle said that I have since forgotten, my aunt told him, “You are really hashing my mellow.”

I am admittedly just a huge bore and like discovering different ways to say things. I completely dropped what I was doing and said, “Um that is the single coolest expression I have ever heard.” So why does nobody I know use it?

This question has yet to be answered because everyone I have said those words to since agrees that it’s definitely a more fun equivalent of “You are killing my buzz,” although Keith Richards and Mick Jagger might say, “Get off of my cloud.”

Slightly different and more similar to “busting my chops,” “you are breaking my crayons” is one I like because of its added implication of immaturity.

To satisfy my own curiosity, I recently looked up obscure expressions. I am well aware that I don’t have enough power over people to either popularise my own slogans or revive old ones.

William Shakespeare is credited with coining phrases that are ordinary and integrated into the English language. We would probably never think that “for goodness’ sake” or “elbow room” were once illogical.

One thing that I can do is confuse everyone by using obsolete sayings that aren’t necessarily self-explanatory. My friends scratch their heads when I complain about those cheese-eaters in my discussion section.

My brother raises his eyebrows when I tell him to stop Bogarting after he short-stops the Parmesan at the dinner table.

Basically, the 70’s were prime time for coining new phrases and getting them to catch on although fashion and architecture design went down the toilet during the same decade.

While the following phrase ventures outside of the disco era, I am not ashamed to say that I first heard it from True Blood’s Sookie Stackhouse. In between whining “Beeeeel” and sulking about rejecting all of the guys with six-pack abs who are in love with her, the heroine blurts out, “I have gotta pee something fierce.”

If this way of raising an action is exclusively an oldie thing, please tell me, or otherwise I will probably sound like an idiot when I tell someone that he stinks something fierce.

Also, Encino Man is an absolutely horrible movie, but it’s worth watching just to glean some of Pauly Shore’s idiom. Some of his lines include, “If you’re edged ’cause I’m weazin’ on your grindage, just chill” and “Don’t tax my gig so hard, cruster.”

I don’t think that I have what it takes to pull off speaking in what seems like another language, but maybe later, I will ask my friends if they want to go get some grindage and see what happens.

As I said, I don’t think that I have the type of influence over people that would inspire them to use these quirky phrases, and I would not say that I am writing this column so that they start using weird lingo in their everyday conversation.

We have celebrated Africa Day on 25 May and this was the perfect time to go back and learn about slangs from the past in different languages.

However, if you feel inspired by my brief exploration of sociolinguistics, I encourage you to try out a new turn of phrase.

Africa briefs

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Africa briefs Kenya proposes new corporate tax rate that would be highest in East Africa

Kenya's treasury has proposed a 35% corporate tax for companies on annual income of more than 500 million Kenyan shillings (US$4.9 million).

– Nampa/Reuters



South African rand slightly firmer

South Africa's rand firmed slightly against the dollar early on Monday, as traders awaited growth and manufacturing numbers due this week to see how the economy is faring under President Cyril Ramaphosa.

At 0620 GMT, the rand traded at 12.6600 per dollar, 0.26% firmer than its close on Friday.

Statistics South Africa publishes first-quarter GDP figures on Tuesday and April manufacturing data on Thursday.

– Nampa/Reuters



Kenya launches pilot oil export scheme via Mombasa

Kenya has launched a pilot scheme to export crude oil via Mombasa as part of efforts to capitalise on the country's oil reserves.

The East African country discovered commercial oil reserves in its Lokichar basin in 2012 and a 800-km (500-mile) pipeline is due to be built before production starts up in 2021/22.

The national government and the regional administration of the northwestern Turkana region agreed last month on revenue sharing that will come into force when production reaches full capacity by 2022.

– Nampa/Reuters



Ghana gold output up in 2017

Ghana's gold output rose to 2.805 million ounces in 2017, up 10.2% from the previous year, data from the Ghana Chamber of Mines showed on Friday.

The growth reflected a general increase in output across most of the 12 mining firms operating in the West African country, the chamber said.

– Nampa/Reuters



Tunisia sees grain harvest falling to 1.4 million tonnes this season

Tunisia expects its grain harvest to fall to 1.4 million tonnes this season from 1.6 million tonnes because of lack of rain, the agriculture ministry said on Sunday.

The crop includes 923 tonnes of durum wheat, 119 tonnes of soft wheat and 362 tonnes of barley.

– Nampa/Reuters

KPMG to layoff 400 employees in South Africa

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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KPMG to layoff 400 employees in South AfricaPressure of graft scandal KPMG, which has been at the centre of corruption scandal lately will lay off staff in South Africa. "These hard decisions were necessary to put the firm on a more sustainable footing, while ensuring we continue to offer our clients the best service and support,” Nhlamulo Dlomu, chief executive, KPMG South Africa Global auditor KPMG said on Monday it will layoff up to 400 people as it closes offices in South Africa following a corruption scandal that resulted in the firm losing several major clients.

“These hard decisions were necessary to put the firm on a more sustainable footing, while ensuring we continue to offer our clients the best service and support,” Nhlamulo Dlomu, chief executive of KPMG South Africa, said in a statement.

KPMG has been under scrutiny since 2017 when its inquiry found flaws in work it did for the national tax agency. The auditor has said it is cooperating with authorities and addressing its shortcomings.

The firm’s troubles began over work it did for a company owned by the Gupta family, who are alleged to have used their links to former president Jacob Zuma to influence government decisions.

KPMG plans to only operate in four hubs in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

As part of plans to refocus the business, KPMG will appoint a number of senior KPMG partners from across the international network into board and executive positions as well as senior client service roles, it said.

Hikuminue Kapika continues battle for chieftaincy

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Hikuminue Kapika continues battle for chieftaincyBaynes project at heart of leadership crisis The High Court has ruled that the minister of urban and rural development had no business in choosing a leader for the Ombuku community. Hikuminue Kapika has indicated that he will appeal a High Court decision to strip him of his chieftaincy of the Kapika Traditional Authority as he continues to lobby for the Baynes hydro-electric dam project.

He lost a court challenge for the chieftaincy to his younger brother, Mutaambanda Kapika, when the High Court set aside a decision by the former minister of urban and rural development, Sophia Shaningwa, to install him as chief.

At the heart of the court challenge was Hikuminue's U-turn on the proposed Baynes hydro-electric dam when he, after having been against the construction of the dam, gave permission for the project to go ahead despite his people's opposition to it.

Mutaambanda had first approached the High Court in August 2017 to challenge then minister Shaningwa's decision to designate Hikuminue as chief.

Mutaambanda maintained that he was duly elected as the new traditional chief in March 2014 after Hikuminue's removal from that position he has held since 1982.

High Court judge Shafimana Ueitele in his judgement said while it appears that Hikuminue had led his community with honour since 1982, certain events during 2013 and 2014 had “disturbed” his leadership.

In the judgement it is alleged that three businessmen – Unotjari Katjimune, Mervin Hengari and Justice Tjirimuje – have approached Hikuminue on several occasions to get his approval for the construction project. It is alleged that the three businessmen had arranged a chief's delegation to visit hydro-electric projects in China.

The delegation had returned to Epupa from China during November 2013 and when Hikuminue was supposed to have a meeting with his community on the matter, he reportedly disappeared for a month and was later traced to one of the businessmen's farms, Farm Omuserakuumba in the Okahandja district.

When confronted on his 'abandonment', Hikuminue reportedly said he needed time to recuperate and only returned to Epupa during March 2014.

On his return to Epupa he was guarded by about 15 police officers and he allegedly refused to speak to his community leaders and desisted from having any meetings. It was alleged that he then also refused to meet with his councillors, which effectively meant a dismissal of the traditional councillors.

During that time he appeared on NBC to declare that he would no longer oppose the construction of the dam.

In response elders in the Ombuku traditional community during March 2014 called a public meeting at Omuhonga, allegedly attended by 625 people, where it was resolved that Hikuminue would be removed as chief.

Mutaambanda, after having been elected as the new chief, applied to be recognised by the minister in March 2015.

Shaningua did not respond to this application and instead arranged for Hikuminue's inauguration as chief in April 2016 since Hikuminue up to that point was never officially been recognised by the Namibian government. His designation was gazetted for the first time in June 2016.

Mutaambanda maintained in his court challenge that Shaningua had not considered the customary laws and norms regulating succession in the Ombuku community in her appointment of Hikuminue as its chief because she did not consult the traditional community on the matter.

Judge Ueitele in his judgement said at the time when Mutaambanda had applied to be recognised as chief there was in fact no “sitting chief” of the Ombuku community.

CATHERINE SASMAN

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Doing his civil duty

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Doing his civil dutyHambira chairs one of Namibia’s oldest think tanks In December 2017, Kavena Hambira was elected as the chairperson of the Namibia Institute for Democracy’s board - one of many feats he has accomplished in his young career. mibia Institute for Democracy (NID) is well-established through partnerships with civil society, NGOs, government agencies as well as the private sector.

The NID has successfully implemented civic education, civil society development, socio-political surveys and anti-corruption programmes in Namibia. After his election as the director in 2017, Kavena Hambira has been working hard to change the system.

“To be frank, the calibre of the NID as an institution made them highly visible, and I had actually been stalking them before I caught their attention. What sets the NID apart is their focus on capacity building and training, which is an area that aligns directly with my academic background and experience with conflict resolution,” said the 33-year-old.

However, while working as a European Union (EU) master trainer by capacitating civil society organisations (CSOs) in the Otjozondjupa Region last year, he noticed a gap in the NGO space precipitated by NID’s absence.

“I reached out to their former chairperson and executive director to discuss a potential revival. Following an additional 13 months of planning, developing new strategic roadmaps, as well as appointing fresh talent to the board, the institute is back,” said Hambira.

He is also serves as the executive advisor of Wildlife Ranching Namibia (WRN), which is a non-profit organisation representing the interest of the majority of game ranchers across the country.

“As the executive advisor to the council, my main function is to liaise between game ranchers and governmental and other non-governmental institutions on matters such as the proposed Protected Areas and Wildlife Management Bill and electronic permit system,” explained Hambira.

“WRN also recognises the need to diversify by affording emerging game farmers an opportunity to benefit from the industry; therefore I was tasked by council to drive the transformation committee.”

Asked about how wildlife ranching can contribute to the economy of the country, Hambira mentioned food security.

“Game is an excellent source of protein, is low in cholesterol and costs less than beef. Sustainable use of game products allows us to utilise a key natural resource,” he said. “Secondly, the wildlife economy has the potential to unlock jobs and create wealth for marginalised communities.”

After being awarded with a Fulbright scholarship, he completed a master in science degree, specialising in human resources at Golden Gate University in 2014. He also received a certificate in conflict resolution with the UC Berkeley extension programme in 2015.

“This gave me a competitive advantage and I soon landed up in San Francisco’s financial district as a corporate head-hunter in the banking and financial services industry,” he narrated.

“After surviving corporate America, I returned to Namibia to an offshore our US recruitment firm and encountered a range of overwhelming challenges. I registered an SME, which is the Onangalo Business Solutions CC, and today the business continues to grow, one client at a time.”

Hambira has a few other accolades to his name, such as having his short documentary film being screened at Stanford University in California and being the first African student to be selected to give a commencement speech at Golden Gate University’s graduation ceremony, all in 2014.

“This was indeed one of the greatest honours of my life as this was the first time in the 117-year history of institution to have an African student on that platform.”

In 2008, the Ohlthaver and List (O&L) Group of companies initiated its first Talent Attraction Program, by investing heavily in talent acquisition and development.

“This also happened to be my first job out of university, with zero work experience.”

Hambira says he was fortunate to have a loving father who raised him to be an independent thinker.

“Unfortunately he was killed in a car accident a few months after my 14th birthday. In essence, I am the product of a single parent home and my mother has been at the cornerstone of my existence since birth,” he says.

Hambira grew up in the Luanda transit refugee camp and moved to East Germany as a disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) child.

“My mother has always been present in my life. Her unconditional love and humble roots keep me grounded and I truly have no amount of words to thank her for her endearing support in all of my pursuits.”

Mother in court over baby burial

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Mother in court over baby burial A 26-year-old Angolan woman yesterday appeared before the Outapi Magistrate's Court, charged with murder after the body of her 17-day-old baby was found buried at their family homestead in the Omusati Region.

According to the police the body was discovered on Friday at Omikwiyu village by the grandmother of the suspect, Celina Tyimanha, who then called the police.

“It is alleged that the suspect, believed to be the biological mother of the deceased, allegedly used an unknown method and object to kill her 17-day-old baby boy and buried the body of the deceased in the bushes near their family homestead,” the police report read. The grandmother discovered something that looked like a grave and called the police at Omahenene, who then exhumed the corpse. At the time of the discovery, Tyimanha had fled to Caleque village in Angola. However, her grandmother contacted the family in Angola, who then escorted her back to Namibia where she was arrested that same day.

Twimanha was charged with murder and defeating the course of justice. She was not granted bail and the case was postponed to next Thursday.

KENYA KAMBOWE

Nudo plunges further into abyss

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Nudo plunges further into abyss Self-appointed National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) secretary-general Josef Kauandenge has implicated his predecessor, Meundju Jahanika, in a number of irregularities, which allegedly contributed to the party's financial troubles.

According to Kauandenge, who criticised his suspension by party president Asser Mbai last week, Jahanika linked the party's official bank account to his personal account and withdrew N$30 000, allegedly for personal use.

He also accused Jahanika of allowing payments of N$5 000 per day to a party staff member, which totalled N$220 000.

“These are the transgressions of Mr Jahanika that warranted his suspension and nothing was done because both the former president and former deputy secretary Mr Vetaruhe Kandorozu were protecting him. Until this day we don't know whether this money was repaid or not. It pains us that the boldness of Mr Asser Mbai to suspend leaders was lacking for all these two years, as the first person he should have suspended was none other than the former secretary-general Meundju Jahanika,” Kauandenge said.

He also accused Jahanika of having entered into an agreement with a certain Mr Kapukire to buy a house that would have been used as a party headquarters. Kauandenge said Jahanika paid Kapukire an amount of N$270 000 without any due diligence having been done.

The house is still not registered in the party's name.

Jahanika, however, strongly denied these allegations and said he did nothing wrong or illegal.

He also invited Kauandenge to open a case with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) but cautioned that he would have to pay when Jahanika's name is cleared.

“In the case of the N$30 000, the bank official mistakenly linked my personal account to all the accounts to which I was a signatory. It was during the December holidays and I withdrew and later realised there was a mistake. I informed the party treasurer and he wrote to the bank. After a forensic investigation the bank refunded the party, because it was their mistake,” Jahanika said.

He also blamed the bank for the overpayment to the party staff member, saying the instruction was that she be paid N$5 400 on the 27th of each month. However, the bank erroneously paid her that amount daily.

The party has been plunged into a tug-of-war leadership tussle.

Two opposing factions have resorted to mudslinging since the party's third elective congress ended in chaos a fortnight ago.

During the chaos, a grouping that includes Kauandenge declared themselves the legitimate leadership of the party, while the former leadership led by Mbai insist they are still in control.

Mbai suspended the supposed new leadership last week, who in turn recalled him from the National Assembly.

JEMIMA BEUKES

More teak to go

June 4, 2018, 4:00 pm

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More teak to goWith Chinese help Namibia's only Zambezi teak forest is under threat because of plans for enlarged irrigation schemes. The Mafwe Traditional Authority, in conjunction with a Chinese outfit calling itself the African Safari Wood Lodge, is planning to “harvest” and “transport” protected and endangered Zambezi teak trees on a massive 12 000 hectares.

The areas in which the harvesting is to take place are on 2 000 hectares of the Katima Farm Irrigation Scheme and 10 000 hectares of the Zambezi Modern Agriculture Irrigation Scheme in the Liselo communal area.

According to a scoping report done by Nyepez Consultancy, which was commissioned to do an environmental impact assessment of the proposed felling of the precious trees, the Chinese company was given the go-ahead by the Mafwe authority and the Directorate of Forestry in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry to cut down a 'specified number' of Zambezi teak trees on both farms.

It does not state what number of trees may be felled.

The report states that the Chinese company, in conjunction with the Mafwe authority, intends to cut the harvested timber into sizable pieces, to pack the timber into large containers and transport it to the Walvis Bay port for export to China.

It further states that the Chinese company was “hired specifically” to harvest the timber in the two project areas.

It is, however, reportedly not to be involved in the planned agricultural production in the two areas.



The report states that the African Safari Wood Lodge has “sought to acquire” a harvesting permit for small, medium and large trees from the forestry directorate in the Zambezi Region.



It could not be established from the agriculture ministry whether the company did indeed receive the permit. The Mafwe traditional authority could also not be reached for comment.



Nyepez Consultancy indicated that it did have consultations with identified stakeholders, whose recommendations would be taken into consideration during the preparation of the EIA study.



Nyepez Consultancy has placed an advertisement in which it announced a public consultation on the matter on 15 June at 09:00 at the Kamunu Social Hall in Katima Mulilo where the pros and cons of the project are to discussed.



Suggestions can be made until 22 June.







BACKGROUND



The two areas – Katima Farm and the Zambezi Modern Agriculture Irrigation Scheme – run along the border with Zambia.



The Katima irrigation project was decided on by the Zambezi regional council, Mafwe authority and the agriculture ministry to “revive” and “expand” it into a Green Scheme project. The size of the farm was then extended from 300 hectares to 2 000 hectares.



The so-called Zambezi Modern Agriculture Irrigation Scheme, leasing the 10 000 hectares of state forest, is the abandoned tobacco project of Chinese Ng Yung's Namibia Oriental Tobacco.



According to the scoping report Namibia Oriental Tobacco responded to the widespread criticism against the planned tobacco project and decided to change their proposal to growing maize, fruit and vegetables instead.







CONCERNS RAISED



Conservationists preferring anonymity have expressed concern over the planned felling of Zambezi teak, which is classified as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).



Already in 2005 the IUCN observed that these threes – protected by forestry legislation - were threatened by over-exploitation for timber, fencing and hut construction.



The conservationists said the planned irrigation schemes now provide the green light for the wholesale destruction of the only teak forest in Namibia.



Moreover, the second volume of the integrated land use plan for the Zambezi Region complied by the lands ministry in 2015 states that irrigation is not the best use of the land there despite its abundant water resources.



A strategic environmental assessment advised against large-scale irrigation farms “that involve extensive clearing of woodland or riverine habitat” to be replaced by mono-crops, or single crops on the same land year after year.



It states that it is “far less environmentally damaging” and more empowering for the local population to have many small-scale irrigation plots.



The agriculture ministry said it was looking into questions sent to it.

CATHERINE SASMAN

Ngarizemo denies selling Young African

June 5, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Ngarizemo denies selling Young African Young African Football Club (FC) owner and coach Maleagi 'Mali' Ngarizemo has rubbished rumours he sold the Gobabis outfit to the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust).

According to sources, Ngarizemo sold the club that has been in existence for four years, as he is unable to keep up with financial obligations and because several of his assistants have pulled out of helping to run the club.

It has become a norm for universities and colleges to bite into the cake of buying premier league clubs, in order to strengthen their football standing, hence Nust eyeing Young African.

The young outfit is not one to mess around, as they have capable and ambitious players, who made sure the club placed fifth on the recently ended Namibia Premier League (NPL) season with 47 goals.

In 2017 won the Debmarine Namibia Cup during the debut in the competition. They beat Mighty Gunners by 3-2 during extra time, in a thrilling five-goal final.

“It's a lie and plain rumours from people. Nust has been speaking to clubs like Citizens, Tura Magic and Civics, to name a few. However, I'm not selling Young African, it's something which is not possible.

“They will not be able to afford or meet the amount which I might ask for them,” he said.

One of the clubs that took a similar road in 2014 was Ramblers, which was sold to Nust for an undisclosed amount.

This was a bitter pill to swallow, as the club was one of the few remaining top sides like African Stars, Orlando Pirates, Black Africa and Tigers that had stood the test of time, despite many troublesome factors.

LIMBA MUPETAMI