Omaiyuvo kombinga yomusinda omutiligane onkene taga tsikile

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Omaiyuvo kombinga yomusinda omutiligane onkene taga tsikileKuniwe uumbanda wokutula moshiponga eliko lyoshilongo Aatseyinawa moshikondo shuunamapya oya kunkilile kutya ngele oongamba dhomusinda omutiligane odha lundululilwa koongamba dhaNamibia naAngola, otashi ka tula moshiponga eliko lyoshilongo. Pamaiyuvo gopaumwene gomutseyinawa moshikondo shuunamapya, Wallie Roux okwa holola kutya Namibia ota gwile oshiponga ngele okwa tukuka omukithi ngoka.

Roux okwa tsu omuthindo kutya omukithi gwekondo nelaka ihagu kwata owala iinamwenyo yomakondo ngaashi oongombe, iikombo noonzi, ihe ohagu kwatwa woo iinamwenyo yilwe ngaashi iingulu, oondjamba noonduli.

Okwa popi kutya aanamapya otaya gumwa nayi oshowo oshikondo shuukongo otashi dhengwa nayi pomutima ngele okwa holoka okuithi ngoka.

Oshikondo shuunamapya moshilongo oshimwe shomiikondo mbyoka yi li esipa lyombunda lyeliko lyoshilongo, sho hashi gandja koshilongo oshimaliwa sha thika poobiliyona 1.8 kehe omvula, nokugandja oompito dhiilonga kAaNamibia ya kalelapo oopresenda 20. Uukongo ohawu gandja koshilongo iiyemo ya thika poomiliyona 550 oshowo oompito dhiilonga dha thika po 15 000, nongele nena onkalo ndjoka oya piyaganekwa ketukuko lyomukithi gwekondo nelaka, nena shoka otashi ka kala ekanitho enen koshilongo.

Roux okwa tsikile kutya omusinda ngoka otagu vulu okulundululilwa koongamba muule woomvula 20 twa taalela, kwiikwatelelwa kiipumbiwa yimwe po mbyoka tayi pumbiwa tango okugwanithwa po. Omaiyuvo ge okwe ga ningi sha landula sho kwa hololwa omaiyuvo goshigwana opo omusinda omutiligane gu kuthwepo, sho oshilongo sha tegelela okuninga omutumba gwevi omutiyali moshilongo momwedhi Kotomba. Roux okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya yimwe yomiipumbiwa oAngola a vule okumona onkatu ya faathana naandjoka yapewa Namibia okuza koWorld Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), moka ta hololwa kutya okwa manguluka na okwa yela okuza komukithi gwekondo nelaka, ihe shoka oshimwe shoka itashi ka kala ondjodhi tayi tsu mbala.

Pahapu dhe, Angola ina simaneka unene oshikondo shuuniimuna kakele komahooli. Okwa popi kutya uunafaalama we owu li monkalo tayi limbilikile, sho inawu silwa oshisho nokukuthwa ko nesimaneko na onkalo ndjoka otayi tula moshiponga uundjolowele wiimuna.

Okwa tsikile kutya moshikondo shuuniimuna, iimuna oya pumbwa okusilwa nawa oshisho opo kuyandwe etaandelitho lyomikithi molwaashoka omikithi dhilwe ohadhi vulu okutaandelithwa komapuka unene miilongo mbyoka yi na onkalo yombepo ya kukuta ngaashi Namibia.

Omvula ya piti, ominista yoompangela dhepangelo pethimbo ndyoka, Tom Alweendo, okwa pula ekuthe po lyomusinda ngoka, opo ku vule kuyambulwepo oonkambadhala dhokukoleka eliko lyoshilongo. Alweendo okwa li popi kutya okwa pumbwa okutulwa odhalate ndjoka tayi ka kala oshikandekitho sheinyengo lyiimuna ya manguluka okuya nokuza moAngola.

Omupresidende Hage Geingob naye omwedhi nguka okwa popi kombinga yomusinda ngoka, ta ti kutya ekuthopo lyoongamba ndhoka hadhi ithanwa omusinda omutiligane kali shi epulo kutya otwe shi hala nenge inatu shi hala ihe epulo kombinga yonkalo yuundjolowele oshowo omalanditho getu.

Onzokundaneki yoNampa oya li ya lopota kutya Geingob okwa gwedha po kutya Angola okwa pumbwa okuwapaleka ombinga ye sho iimuna ye ya pumbwa okupangwa opo kayi etele Namibia uupyakadhi womikithi dhiimuna naashoka oshinima sha pumbwa okuningwa tango. Nonando ongaaka okwa tsu omuthindi kutya onkalo moka oshikongo sha topolwa miitopolwa iyali konima yoomvula 28 dhemanguluko, itayi idhidhimikilwa.

Omagwedhelepo gamwe ga ningwa kuRoux okulundululilwa omusinda omutiligane gwoVeterinary Cordon Fence (VCF) koongamba dhaNamibia naAngola, pokati komulonga gwaKunene naKavango, nomilonga ndhoka otadhi ka longa onga oongamba shomusinda omutiligane. Shoka otashi vulu owala okutulwa miilonga ngele iimuna ayihe monooli yoshilongo oya konaakonwa nokumonika kutya oya gwanithwa po iipumbiwa yEhangano lyUundjolowele wIimuna mUuyuni, nokukwashilipaleka kutya Namibia alihe olya yela okuza komukithi gwekondo nelaka.

Nonando ongaaka shoka itashi kwatele mo oshitopolwa Zambezi molwaashoka oshitopolwa shoka oshi li eshongo enene lyomikithi dhiinamwenyo ndhoka tadhi taandele nuupu okuzilila miinamwenyo ngaashi ooonyati dhoka dhi na omikithi na otadhi zilile ombululu yiilongo ngaashi Zimbambwe.

Omutseyinawa ngoka okwa popi kutya paku ningwa ngaaka epangelo olya pumbwa okutulapo epatololo lya kwata miiti pokati koongamba ndhoka sigo omefuta, opo kukwashilipalekwe kutya inaku yiwa pambambo iipumbiwa yehangano tali kwashilipaleke ekalekepo lyuundjulowele wiimuna muuyuni. Onkalo ndjoka otayi ka vula okukalekapo uukwatya waNamibia, kehangano lyUundjolowele wIimuna mUuyuni. Okwa popi kutya oshinano shoongamba ndhoka otadhi yelekwa shi li lwopookilometa 1 100 lwaampoka. Natango epangelo okwa tegelelwa li ka kandulepo onkalo yopankalathano pokati koofamili ndhoka tadhi lumbu koombinga ndhoka mbali dhoongamba. “Oshili ooshoka kutya aanafaalama mboka haya pititha iimuna yawo oongamba opo yi kanape haandiyaka yoongamba itaya ka vula we okushininga oshowo etaaguluko lyaakwanezimo pokati koombanga ndhoka taya talelathanapo itashi ka vula we okukala tashi ningwa. Shoka otashi ka etitha eshongo enene kepangelo opo li kwashilipaleke kutya okwa kwalekwapo ongushu yepatololo lyoongamba ndhoka.”

Sho a ningilwa omapulo kombinga yokugandja oompito dhuunangeshefa wopamuthika gwopombanda kaanafaalama yomoshitopolwa shonooli, Roux okwa holola omaiyuvo ge kutya omukalo guunangeshefa ngoka tagu longitha naaniimuna yomonooli otagu ya hupitha nonando okwa popi kutya kagu l ipankatu yopangeshefa yopombanda.

Okwa popi kutya onooli oyi na iimuna oyindji okuyeleka nomidhingoloko dhomuumbugantu. Okwa popi kutya neuveko lyuunafaalama wopamuthigululwakalo, ongushu yeliko ohayi talika komwaalu gwiimuna ngoka gu ninwe komuntu, nongele nena okwa hala oshimaliwa oha landitha oshimuna.

Onkene aanafaalama unene konooli oye na omaiyuvo nohokwe onshoka mokuyambulapo uunafaalama pangeshefa yopombanda.

Okwa ningi omapulo kutya olye taka kala noshinakugwanithwa shokukwata nawa omahala guulithilo oshowo omahala goomboola dhomeya mokati kaaniimuna yomonooli, ngele andola okuhwahwamekwe uunafaalama yopangeshefa yopamuthika gwopombanda. Pahapu dhaanafaalama yomonooli, Roux okuli mondjila.

Omwedhi nguka oya lombwele oshifokundaneki shoNamibian Sun kutya enenedhilaadhilo lyawo kali shi okuya mongeshefa yopauyuni ihe okukonga oompito dhuulithilo.

Oya popi kutya ngele oongamba dhaAngola odha patwa nena otashi ya thigi mompumbwe yuulithilo wiimuna yawo molwaashoka oofaalama adhihe muumbugantu woshilongo odha tulwa meni lyomaloogolo. Konyala oongombe dhAaNamibia dhi li po 30 000 ohadhi ka napa meni lyaAngola omanga AaNamibia ye li po 2 800 ye na omagumbo gawo nenge oofaalama dhawo meni lyaAngola. Aaniimuna mboka ohaya taagulukitha iimuna yawo ongula kehe okukakonga uulithilo meni lyaAngola nokugaluka aluhe kongulohi. Nena ngele oongamba dhaAngola odha patwa, onkalo ndjoka otayi ka hulapo.

Oongombe dhi li poomiliyona 3.8 otadhi adhika momudhingoloko gwonooli yoshilongo.

Okwa tsikile kutya oku na omaiyuvo kutya aanafaalama yomonooli kaye shi aanafaalama yopangeshefa yuuniimuna, okushi taalela pankantu nopamadhilongo guunangeshefa wopombanda.

Okwa popi kutya ope na ooprograma monooli yoshilongo ndhoka dha tulwa miilonga dha nuninwa okuhwahwameka nokutsa omukumo aanafaalama ya tonatele nawa iimuna yawo nokuyambulapo ongushu yiimuna yawo ihe nonando ongaaka ooprograma ndhoka otadhi longithwa kashona nakashona moshinakugwanihwa shokukambadhala okuuvitha ko aanafaalama kombinga yekuthombinga lyongeshefa yopamuthika gwopombanda nuunafaalama.

ELLANIE SMIT

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Company news in brief

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Company news in brief Philips, Asus, Pioneer and D&M hit with e-commerce fines

Dutch group Philips and three other consumer electronics companies were fined a total 111.2 million euros (US$130 million) by EU antitrust regulators on Tuesday for imposing fixed or minimum online prices for their products.

The ruling against Philips, Asus Pioneer and Denon & Marantz followed a 17-month investigation by the European Commission as part of its crackdown on online sales practices such as price restrictions based on a customer’s location or nationality.

-Nampa/Reuters

BRICS bank approves loans for SA, Chinese projects

The New Development Bank, set up by the BRICS group of emerging economies, has approved loans of US$300 million for energy projects in South Africa and US$300 million for a transportation project in China.

South Africa, which will host a BRICS summit later this week in Johannesburg, is trying to diversify its energy mix to reduce its reliance on heavily polluting coal-fired power plants.

It has launched several bidding rounds for billions of dollars of renewable energy deals in recent years, with the latest expected to open later this year.

-Nampa/Reuters

London taxi drivers mull suit against Uber

London cab drivers are examining the possibility of bringing a class action suit against Uber, their association said on Tuesday, after the mobile app was granted a temporary licence renewal to operate in the British capital.

Sky News reported that the overall possible bill to Uber for the potential lawsuit could be 1.25 billion pounds (US$1.64 billion).

-Nampa/Reuters

Facebook quietly sets up subsidiary in China

Facebook has set up a subsidiary in China with registered capital of US$30 million, according to an official business registration, hinting that the US firm may be ramping up its presence in the restrictive market where its social media sites remain blocked.

The subsidiary is registered in Hangzhou, home of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, according to a filing approved on China’s National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System last week and seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

-Nampa/Reuters

Eskom inks R33.4bn loan deal with China

Eskom has signed a US$2.5 billion (R33.4 billion) government-backed loan with the China Development Bank, which will be used for construction of Kusile power station.

The loan agreement was signed on Tuesday following bilateral talks between the Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Cyril Ramaphosa.

During the address by the two heads of state, Ramaphosa announced that China and South Africa countries also signed a number of trade agreements totalling US$14.7 billion (about R196 billion at current exchange rates).

-Fin24

Google parent Alphabet sees record highs despite EU fine

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Google parent Alphabet sees record highs despite EU fine Google parent Alphabet shares lifted Monday on a stronger-than-expected earnings report for the past quarter, as the tech giant's results eased concerns over huge fines imposed by the European Union for antitrust actions.

Profit dipped 9.3% to US$3.2 billion in the second quarter after accounting for the EU fines, the company said.

Revenues meanwhile jumped 26% from a year ago to US$32.7 billion, better than most analysts expected.

Shares in Alphabet jumped 3.6% to US$1 254.12 in after-hours trade, which could mark a new record for the internet giant if confirmed when markets open Tuesday.

"We delivered another quarter of very strong performance," chief financial officer Ruth Porat said.

"Our investments are driving great experiences for users, strong results for advertisers and new business opportunities for Google and Alphabet."

Last week, EU officials slapped a €4.34 billion (US$5 billion) penalty on the US tech giant for illegally abusing the dominance of its operating system for mobile devices.

Without the fine - which is being appealed by the company - profit would have been US$8.3 billion.

Brussels accused Google of using the Android system's near-stranglehold on smartphones and tablets to promote the use of its own Google search engine and shut out rivals.

Daniel Ives of GBH Insights said in a research note that despite some regulatory concerns, "advertising and 'bread and butter' search revenues were healthy and a good barometer of potential strength heading into the rest of 2018/2019."

The future of the Android mobile operating system - which powers more than 85% of smartphones - has been clouded by the EU action, which could force Google to change its business arrangements with device makers.

Google chief executive Sundar Pichai said that it was too soon to speculate on how Android may be affected by the ruling but said the company would take a "constructive approach".

"We look forward to finding a solution that preserves the enormous benefits of Android to users," Pichai told analysts after the earnings release.

Ads still lion's share

Following a reorganisation of the company, the Google unit that includes the main search engine and YouTube video service still delivered the lion's share of revenues at US$32.5 billion, with "other bets" driving US$145 million in revenue.

Within Google, advertising remained the key revenue source, pulling in US$28 billion in the three months ending in June, a 24% rise from a year ago.

Although advertising remains the key driver of revenue, Google has been moving into cloud computing services for businesses, artificial intelligence and devices, including its Pixel smartphones and notebook computers.

As it ramps up artificial intelligence efforts, Google is in fierce competition with rivals such as Amazon and Microsoft in the market for voice assistants that are powering the next generation of connected devices including appliances, cars and smart speakers.

Alphabet's "other bets" saw a 49% jump in revenues from a year ago they still lost money, with an operating loss of US$732 million in the past quarter.

The other bets include the self-driving car unit Waymo and the life sciences division Verily. Alphabet recently "graduated" two of these projects to be independent operating units, the Loon internet balloon service and Wing drone delivery.

Alphabet ended the quarter with cash reserves of US$102 billion and saw its employee headcount rise to 89 000 from 75 000 a year ago.

-Fin24

Fisheries ministry backpedals on Pty restriction

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Fisheries ministry backpedals on Pty restriction In the wake of widespread criticism over certain restrictive criteria, when it comes to applying for fishing rights, the fisheries ministry has now announced amended conditions.

Following regional consultations fisheries minister Bernhardt Esau announced this week the application criteria requiring Pty companies only has been relaxed, but not set aside entirely.

He explained “close corporations and other legal entities are now allowed to apply for fishing rights”, but are required to convert to a Pty if they are shortlisted.

Esau also confirmed the deadline for applications has been extended from 31 July to 31 August.

He said during the public consultations in all 14 regions the public supported the “need to protect vulnerable shareholders through the gazetted Pty approach”, the stated intention of limiting applications as gazetted in May.



Do your homework

The Popular Democratic Party (PDM) was a vocal critic of the conditions for new fishing rights applications.

PDM's Jennifer van der Heever publicly said the application criteria were exclusive and played into the hands of the “fishmonger lawmakers” and those who have historically benefited already, while pushing aside the poor, disabled and currently disadvantaged.

PDM's Nico Smit also tabled a motion that called for the reversal of the fishing rights criteria, emphasising a need to relax the conditions to allow more Namibians to apply.

Smit told Namibian Sun yesterday the amendments announced by Esau closely resembled the proposed changes he had included in his motion, apart from the condition that shortlisted candidates will be required to convert to a Pty before a final decision is made.

He emphasised again that the registration of a Pty is costly, amounting to between N$20 000 and N$30 000, which automatically pushed many Namibians to the sidelines in the fishing rights application stream.

“It excluded everybody,” Smit said, especially those intended to benefit as singled out by the minister, such as women, young people, people living with disabilities, liberation war veterans and people living in economically marginalised communities.”

Smit added that although he was happy and in agreement with the amendments, it was the “second time” the minister and his staff had “messed up.”

He referred to the steep hike in recreational angling permit fees, which were hiked by around 10 000%, from N$14 to N$1 500 a month.

Following an outcry within and outside Namibia's borders, the ministry was forced to do a U-turn and amend the prices again to affordable levels.

“After a week or two they had to backpedal. What is wrong with Esau and his people that they don't do their homework properly? And in the process, it costs a lot of money and frustration. They should do their work.”

JANA-MARI SMITH

City staff raises questioned

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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City staff raises questioned The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) party has lashed out at the Windhoek municipality saying it is to blame for city being one of the most expensive places in the world.

According to Nico Smit, the party treasurer, the PDM is deeply worried about the financial disaster and imminent collapse of Namibia's capital city as a result of maladministration.

He said it is a disgrace that the City had the “audacity” to award recent salary increases at a time of national economic recession, when thousands of people are losing their jobs and there is no relief in sight for the poor people living under desperate conditions.

Smit said it is obvious that the situation the City finds itself in should be laid directly at the door of the management and it is time for them to step up and shoulder their responsibilities, or ship out.

“It is becoming clear that the people we have put in charge of our city have no clue or interest in prioritising the projects that are required to develop the city and provide decent lives for citizens, although this is the most important task of any council and municipality.”

According to Smit the municipality finds itself in exactly the same position as the government, with no money in its coffers.

Smit said the PDM was shocked and dismayed when the Citys strategic executive head of finance, Jerome Davis admitted to the Residents' and Ratepayers' Association last week that the City awarded a salary increase of 8% or even 9% to its 3 500 employees.

This is despite the fact that it has no money and the national inflation rate is only 4%.

“This increase came into operation on the same day the City announced a whole raft of large increases in services to the public, including water, funerals and the use of municipal swimming pools. It has now come to light that the price of electricity is also set to increase by 7.6%. The citizens will be excused for believing that these service increases must pay for the fat-cats' salary increases,” said Smit.

He said all these increases come at a time when the country's economy is on its knees and thousands of people remain unemployed.

According to Smit figures presented by Davis showed that there is a municipal official for every 114 people living in Windhoek – and yet it takes weeks or even months to get a building plan passed.

Furthermore Davis stated that one of the City's main stumbling blocks is the fact that it does not have a long-term financial model according to which it should operate.

“The PDM is flabbergasted – what have the city managers been doing to earn the enormous salaries they receive if they have failed to draw up such a crucial document in their 29 years at the helm?”

Smit said another figure by Davis that, the N$205 million spent on the offices and support staff of the CEO and mayor, shocked, adding that the public should be informed exactly what these two people, and more specifically the mayor, actually do to earn their huge salaries and how this benefits the citizens of Windhoek.

He said municipalities across the country have never taken land delivery seriously and this should be seen as a deliberate plot by the ruling party to escalate land prices beyond the majority's means in a blatant attempt to increase their income by way of rates and taxes and services. “However, they fail to use this income to improve services, which is their main responsibility, and rather keep increasing their salaries.”

According to him it was decided in 1991 that government should spend 5% of GDP on national housing annually but at no time since then has this figure exceeded 0.1%.

ELLANIE SMIT

Review of leopard export quotas

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Review of leopard export quotas Namibia is currently performing a full survey to ascertain leopard numbers in the country.

A review of the leopard export quotas in Namibia is thus expected.

Due to their stealthy nature it is notoriously difficult to pinpoint leopard populations.

The planned review has been submitted to the 30th meeting of the Animals Committee and the 24th meeting of the Plants Committee and is awaiting approval.

According to the report, the annual leopard export quota for hunting trophies and skins for personal use in Namibia was set at 100 in 1992 and was reached for the first time in 2003.

It was then increased to 250 and has since then not been changed.

The latest nationwide estimate provided in 2011 indicates that the leopard population is at 14 154 and it was indicated that the key threat to the population was excessive off-take of problem0causing leopards as a result of human-wildlife conflict.

However the indices reported of leopards killed as 'problem animals' has declined over the past decade.

Between 2004 and 2017 a total of 1 458 leopards were killed as problem-causing animals. Statistics show that in 2004 alone 120 leopards were killed and that this declined to less than 80 by 2017.

The mean number of cattle reportedly killed by leopard annually was 726, ranging from 805 in 2008 to 646 in 2010. In addition, leopards were reported to have killed annually, on average, 1 926 head of game increasing the reported number from 1 795 in 2008 to 2 043 in 2010. However, landowners in Namibia have shown to have more tolerance toward leopards than other carnivore species because of the revenue generated from leopard trophy hunting.

Meanwhile, efforts are underway to update the information available on the population status, density and distribution of leopards through a follow-up leopard survey that is expected to be completed in 2019. This study aims to increase the knowledge base on leopards and to better understand the illegal off-take in the form of destroying problem-causing animals that are not declared to the environment ministry.

According to the report on average 142 leopards were hunted in Namibia between 2004 and 2017, representing 56% of the annual quota uptake.

“Prior to 2008, there was a strong increase in the number of leopard hunts, with the optimum of the allocated quota of 250 reached in 2008. The high level of success of leopard hunts was because there was no limit on the number of leopards to be hunted per outfitter, both male and female leopards are allowed to be hunted, and stalking, and hunting with dogs were allowed.”



ELLANIE SMIT

Liberation war hangover

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Liberation war hangover13 killed, 38 injured by explosive devices Namibians will have to live with the reality that for next 100 years, unexploded devices from the liberation war will still be lying around - mostly underground - in the country. Namibia may be a signatory to the 1997 convention against landmines, which required the country to be free of these devices by 2009, but the defence ministry says it cannot assure citizens there are no live devices hidden in general areas.

“We believe there are an unknown number of isolated landmines and other live devices in the country, especially in the northern areas,” Major Petrus Shilumbu, spokesperson for the defence ministry said.

Former South African defence force members agree, adding it is almost impossible to remove and clean up all of these devices.

The police have confirmed that during the past nine years, 13 people were killed and 38 injured due to live devices exploding. However, during the past five years, no fatalities as a result of landmines were reported.

On average, the police report that two people are killed and five injured annually due to exploding devices left over from the liberation struggle.

According to Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi, the police have since independence disabled thousands of active explosive devices across the country. Most recently, three landmines were destroyed using a controlled explosion near Ruacana.

“The police continue to educate the Namibian public and make them aware of these devices, particularly in those parts of the country where the danger is the greatest. During community meetings and at expos and fairs, we continue to promote our 'Don't touch it, Report it' campaign.”



Impossible task

A former sergeant and infantry inspector in the then South West Africa Territorial Force (SWATF) in northern Namibia, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it is an impossible task to remove all unexploded, live devices in Namibia.

“These devices, especially around old military bases, could have been part of a defence or attack plan or could have been used for training. Mortars and other ammunition have a tendency no to explode,” he said.

“During training, for example, old ammunition like mortars were often fired and inspections were not always done as to where these landed and if they detonated. Some of them were very heavy, up to 3 or 4kg and they would penetrate the sand.

“For the next 100 years, these devices will still be lying around in the country.”

According to the former soldier, these devices can lie around for years and never explode, even if herds of cattle pass over them. However, they are unstable and very dangerous and have the tendency to explode if handled. This is why, he added, it is very important that people do not pick these devices up or handle them in any way.

“I do not think it is fair to blame the government for not being able to trace and neutralise these devices,” he added.



Convention

According to Landmine Monitor, the Namibian authorities have reported that there are no more than 4 000 landmines left in known minefields in northern Namibia. The United Nations however, is of the view that there are roughly 50 000 anti-personnel landmines remaining in the country.

When asked whether the defence ministry can comply with the convention, Shilumbu said the government has done everything in its power to remove unexploded devices, adding the defence force has had several successful clean-up campaigns.

“The army was tasked by cabinet to find a solution and a large number of landmines have been neutralised by the defence force. This was also done to protect citizens that live where battles for liberation took place,” Shilumbu said.

He added it was impossible for the military to confirm that 95% of the remaining devices have been removed, saying “one cannot see what is underground”.

“We have, along with stakeholders, worked in targeted areas including Ruacana, the Hurricane base, Omahenene, Outapi, Okalongo, Etale, Ohangwena, Oshikango and Eenhana.”

He reminded members of the public not to touch or handle unidentified devices or landmines and to report the find to authorities immediately.

ELVIRA HATTINGH

China's pledges US$14.7b investment in South Africa

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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China's pledges US$14.7b investment in South AfricaEase worries Chinese President Xi Jinping promised US$14.7 billion of investment on Tuesday. We are looking to promote investment-led trade- Rob Davies, South Africa’s Trade and Industry Minister He made this promise during a state visit to South Africa, where President Cyril Ramaphosa is on a mission to kick-start economic growth after a decade of stagnation.

The rand firmed more than one percent after Ramaphosa announced China's investment pledge, which takes the amount overseas economies have committed to invest in South Africa to US$35 billion since the start of the month.

Those commitments will help ease worries about the health of the South African economy, which has performed poorly despite investor optimism when Ramaphosa replaced scandal-plagued Jacob Zuma in February.

“We have agreed that we must work as partners to improve the lives of our peoples by elevating our business, commercial and trade ties,” Ramaphosa told a joint news conference with Xi.

Xi said China would take “active measures” to expand imports from Africa’s most industrialized economy.

Ramaphosa will host Xi and the leaders of Brazil, Russia and India at a summit of the BRICS group of emerging economies in Johannesburg later this week, where he will be looking to secure further investment pledges.

Among agreements signed on Tuesday, Chinese banks lent a combined US$2.8 billion to struggling South African state power utility Eskom and logistics company Transnet.

Ramaphosa has focused on revitalizing Eskom, which received an injection of US$2.5 billion from China Development Bank and reported a US$171 million full-year loss on Monday.

Transnet, one of a handful of state firms accused of irregularities in the awarding of state contracts under former President Jacob Zuma, received US$300 million from Industrial and Commercial Bank of China . Zuma denies wrongdoing.

South Africa’s trade and industry minister Rob Davies said other investments planned by China included an expansion of electronics firm Hisense’s local operations and a metallurgical complex in Limpopo province.

“We are looking to promote investment-led trade,” Davies said. “The same is what we are looking for from our BRICS partners. More investment and less outright pushing of products into a market.”

-Nampa/Reuters

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Standard Bank upped risk appetite after Ramaphosa

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Standard Bank upped risk appetite after Ramaphosa Standard Bank elevated its risk appetite in January and allocated increased amounts to invest in various industries, particularly focusing on the renewable energy sector, after Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as ANC president at the party’s congress in late 2017.

This is according to Standard Bank South Africa CEO Lungisa Fuzile.

“We are exceedingly optimistic about the future of this country… much more so now than we were before December and certainly we got a further uplift in February when there was a change of presidents,” said Fuzile, a former Treasury director-general, speaking frankly on Tuesday night in Sandton.

Fuzile, who was appointed as Standard Bank CEO in December, said that Africa’s largest lender has allocated R10 billion to growing the renewable energy sector and the bank had anticipated that agreements with the Independent Power Producers (IPP’s) would be signed after Ramaphosa’s victory.

Agreements for the construction of 27 IPP projects, with an estimated investment value of R56 billion, were signed after several delays in April.

“Of course, we were hoping that other sectors would take off but they have not taken off as fast...so we are looking for opportunities and energy not only for SA but across the continent,” said Fuzile.

Fuzile, who resigned from Treasury in April 2017 after twenty years in the public service, warned that it is “unrealistic” to think that Ramaphosa could have turned the economy around in a few months after becoming president of the country in February.

“Of course, emotionally, because of the difficulties of the period through February when there was a change, people expected that the economy was going to fire on all cylinders, all too quickly.”

Fuzile formed part of a high level panel discussion on Tuesday night considering how to manage risk in an age of rising protectionism.

Deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund Zhang Tao, chairman of the Bank of China Chen Siqing, and Vice President and CFO of the New Development Bank Leslie Maasdorp all decried protectionist measures instituted by the Trump administration in the US, arguing that globalisation is irreversible.

According to Fuzile, he expects the leaders of the five BRICS nations to make a strong statement in the Johannesburg Declaration against threats of increased import tariffs.

Heads of state from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa will attend the Brics Business Forum on Wednesday afternoon where one thousand delegates are expected to meet and discuss issues.

-Fin24

Judge hammers City

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Judge hammers CityFor ‘playing ducks and drakes with public assets’ A high court judge has severely criticised the Windhoek municipality for dealing with the sale of public property assets in a “cavalier fashion”. The Windhoek municipality has been found gravely wanting in terms of the manner in which it has dealt with the selling of a public asset to Zest Investments Seventy Three CC.

The company had lost its long-running battle late in June to acquire a prime property measuring 5 277 square metres from the City, when High Court judge Boas Usiku determined it had not complied with the purchase agreement entered into with the municipality.

In November 2015 the municipal council took a decision to cancel the agreement, after Zest Investments failed to provide a bank guarantee for the full purchase price of N$8.6 million and decided instead to allocate the property to Quiver Tree 26 CC for N$9.5 million, which includes value-added tax (VAT).

Zest Investments challenged this decision, arguing the municipality had breached the material terms of the sales agreement and that it in fact tendered payment for the purchase price through a letter of undertaking.

It made this assertion on the basis of a letter of undertaking its lawyers had submitted to the municipality.

During the court proceedings Elli Shipiki, head of the municipality’s property management department, testified he had signed the sales agreement with Zest Investments on behalf of the City’s CEO.

He also confirmed he had instructed Zest Investments’ lawyers to attend to the registration of the transfer of the property on the strength of the letter of undertaking.

Shipiki said he had accepted the letter because the municipality had adopted a practice where it accepts letters of undertaking as a proper instrument of payment of the purchase price.

Judge Usiku, however, said a letter of undertaking does not guarantee payment of the purchase price against the transfer of the property.

The judge further said only a person who has funds available or who has the availability of such funds guaranteed, can guarantee payment.

He added the letter guaranteed nothing in terms of the sales agreement and that the municipality therefore had the right to cancel it.

Judge Usiku said the case had raised a number of “disturbing facts” regarding the sale of public property.

He said the sales agreement had apparently been orally altered by the municipality and Zest Investments was allowed to execute the sales agreement without furnishing the requisite proof of a loan approval.

Moreover, Usiku said the letter of undertaking was apparently regarded, initially, as a “good guarantee”.

He said it was “very alarming and disturbing” that the municipality had adopted such a practice particularly because it dealt with the disposal of public assets in which all taxpayers and ratepayers have an interest.

“Dealing with immovable property in such a cavalier fashion amounts to playing ducks and drakes with public assets. It is an abdication of the responsibility that the public reposes in the [municipality],” Usiku said.

He instructed the registrar of the High Court to refer a copy of his judgement to the City of Windhoek “in the hope that remedial action is taken”.

CATHERINE SASMAN

APP youth in dark over hearing

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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APP youth in dark over hearing A trio of All People's Party (APP) youth, including the leader of its youth league, say they have not been informed of a planned disciplinary hearing.

This follows a recent decision to place youth league Sebastian Ntjamba, as well as two other youth wing members, Kaghugongo Shinereshu and Hendrick Haikera on suspension for alleged disrespectful conduct and pushing a different agenda to the mother party leadership.

“Their behaviour is out of order and we have decided to suspend them. They have shown disrespect. They have even been using vulgar language,” party secretary-general Vincent Kanyetu told Namibian Sun recently.

“We are still on suspension.

They told us that we will be going for a disciplinary hearing, but we are still on suspension,” Haikera said.

“We would like to clarify our position on the alleged suspensions. We want to create clarity amongst the members of the youth league because there has been misunderstanding.”

The trio will be holding a meeting tomorrow to map out a way forward, Haikera added.

The meeting is meant to give other youth league members an understanding of what transpired.

“We would like to clarify our position on the alleged suspensions. We want to create clarity amongst the members of the youth league, because there has been a misunderstanding,” said Haikera.

Namibian Sun reported recently that the trio had been suspended for insubordination.

“Over the past two weeks, they have shown that they have a different agenda to the party,” Kanyetu said.

He also accused them of disrespecting party elders by using obscene language.

Disciplinary proceedings would be instituted against the trio, Kanyetu added.

Ntjamba said at the time it was because he has thrown his hat in the ring for the party presidency and wants to contest the current president Ignatius Shixwameni.

He added there was support within the APP to elect a new party president and Shixwameni only had the support of the Kavango East Region.

“We want a change in leadership. Many regions feel that we need a change of leadership, if the party is going to do well in the 2019 elections,” Ntjamba said.

According to him, the suspensions will not succeed, and if push comes to shove, the suspended trio will take the matter to court.

“They are not going to get that right,” Ntjamba said.

With the APP's elective congress due in November, he is confident he will be elected as its new president.

“I am going to stand for presidency in November. I am going to be president,” Ntjamba said.

OGONE TLHAGE

Namibia leads the pack

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Namibia leads the pack Results from the Namibia Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (Namphia) show that 77% of all HIV-positive adults have achieved viral load suppression, surpassing the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS) target of 73% by 2020.

According to a press release by Pepfar at the Aids 2018 conference underway in Amsterdam, Netherlands also stated that Namibia has reduced its adult HIV incidence rate by 50% in the past five years.

Namibia was commended for its progress by either reaching or exceeding the UNAIDS 90- 90-90 targets among women and, nationally, by attaining 86-96-91 among adults.

“Namibia accomplished this through the strategic expansion of HIV prevention and treatment services, with a focus on viral load suppression at individual and community level, and the swift implementation of forward-leading HIV policies,” the statement read.

The Namphia results also suggest that women aged 15 to 24 still have a far higher HIV incidence rate (0.99%) than same-aged young men (0.03%) in the country.

This highlights the continued need for expanded primary HIV prevention in young women, including through the PEPFAR-led DREAMS Partnership, and ensuring all men 25 to 35 are virally suppressed, such as through the new MenStar Coalition.

The statement pointed out that the assessments evidence important advances being made under the PEPFAR Strategy for Accelerating HIV/Aids Epidemic Control for 2017 until 2020.

It also indicates that among the ten countries Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe that released their ‘phia results, Namibia has achieved the highest level of viral load suppression among all HIV-positive adults.

“The impressive findings from the Namphia survey demonstrate the government’s successful commitment to confronting the HIV epidemic,” said the director of the International Centre for Aids Care and Treatment Programmes, Wafaa El-Sadr.

STAFF REPORTER

Jilted cop kills lover, self

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Jilted cop kills lover, self An off-duty police officer yesterday morning killed his ex-girlfriend in the well-known take-away and corner shop, Louis Botha, in Windhoek, and then shot and killed himself.

Spokesperson of the Namibian police, Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi confirmed the incident to Namibian Sun and said the two people were involved in a relationship.

According to him it is believed that the 24-year-old Alina Kakehongo who was the manager at Louis Botha supermarket ended the relationship with the 28-year-old Samuel Shali Nghihepa, who was a sergeant in the police's Special Reserve Force Division.

Nghihepa apparently found it difficult to accept that the relationship had ended and wanted to get back together, but Kakehongo was unwilling. This allegedly angered Nghihepa which led to the shooting.

Kanguatjivi said Nghihepa, yesterday morning at about 08:00, walked into the shop where he shot the woman using his service pistol and then turned the gun on himself. He died at the scene while Kakehongo was rushed to hospital with a head injury. She died shortly thereafter.

“This is a real pity and a tragedy that happened. We are entrusted with protecting the lives of people, not taking them.”

However he added people should not point fingers at all police in these types of incidences.

The horror continued as directly after the shooting, the body of a foetus, a baby girl, was discovered in an open field in Katurura. The body was discovered at about 09:00 yesterday morning in a field at Psalm Street and according to witnesses the dumping had to have occurred somewhere during the night.

ELLANIE SMIT

50% taxi fare hike is ludicrous

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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50% taxi fare hike is ludicrous We are all enduring tough economic times, given the status of our strained economy. From severe job losses across key industries such as mining, construction and manufacturing, among others, the reality on the ground is that Namibians are feeling the heat and have had to make very tough spending choices in the last couple of months. Despite these difficult challenges, the Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) is adamant that a 50% taxi fare hike is reasonable. The NTTU said this week it will go ahead with the implementation of the proposed fare hikes in September with or without the approval of the line ministry. A 50% price hike will result in taxi users paying as much as N$55 and N$75 for some routes. The actions of the NTTU have led to confusion within the industry and rival organisations, who are also heavily affected, have repeatedly called on the union to review their 50% fare hike proposal. Interestingly, some taxi drivers also feel the proposed fare hike is too steep and will not help the cause of customers, who have to put up with other daily challenges. It also appears the NTTU is hell-bent on sowing anarchy and chaos within the industry, given the fact that they are ignoring existing regulations such as getting approval from the transport board. The mere fact that other rival organisations are objecting confirms our argument that the NTTU proposal is not thought through enough, given the local conditions. Of course, we do take into consideration that there are transportation challenges and there has not been a taxi fare hike in ages. However, a 50% hike just does not cut it. Our appeal is for the NTTU and all other stakeholders, including the transport ministry, to seriously consider coming up with a lower increment, which is collectively agreed. There is really no need to add to the woes of already cash-strapped and impoverished consumers.

AR, LPM, Rukoro sidelined

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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AR, LPM, Rukoro sidelined The leaked official programme of the country's second national land conference slated for October indicates the event will be dominated by cabinet ministers and Swapo affiliates.

The programme line-up includes the country's two former presidents Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba, President Hage Geingob, Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Khomas governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua, works minister John Mutorwa and former agriculture permanent secretary Joseph Iita.

It also shows that former deputy prime minister Marco Hausiku and Kuugongelwa-Amadhila will chair a discussion on ancestral land rights and restitution from a South African perspective.

International relations minister Netumbo-Nandi-Ndaitwah and Libertine Amadhila, also a former deputy PM, will co-chair a discussion on land governance and security of tenure.

Local businessman Haroldt Urib and Mutorwa will chair a discussion on urban land delivery, looking at land prices and an upgradable land tenure system.

Iita and local land economist Martin Shapi will chair a discussion on land tax and the property valuation system.

Meanwhile, associate professor for land and property sciences at Nust, Wolfgang Werner, and International University of Management (IUM) professor Earle Taylor will give a presentation on thematic areas.







Unam lecturer Phaneul Kaapama will give a presentation on injustice and land ownership patterns in Namibia from historical perspective.

Ovaherero paramount chief Vekuii Rukoro yesterday criticised the inclusion of pro-government traditional chiefs and genocide committees, in contrast to the total exclusion of representatives from the Ovaherero and Ovambanderu Genocide Committee (OGF), the Landless Peoples Movement (LPM), the Association of Nama Traditional Leaders and the Damara King's Council of Gaob Justus Garoeb.

Job Amupanda's Affirmative Repositioning (AR) movement is also nowhere to be seen on the programme. Gaob /Gaseb, who has been under fire from his traditional community that demanded he step down in March, has been invited to represent traditional leaders. It was reported /Gaseb had failed to establish legislative authority structures and operated in a vacuum, allegedly selling, donating and alienating portions of communal land to private investors without the consent of the community.

Rukoro promised that just as they are fighting their exclusion from government's official negotiations for genocide reparations, they will also “fight tooth and nail” against their exclusion from the land conference. “In its proposed format, the land conference is fatally flawed and is thus doomed to fail, as it is designed to continue to entrench the privileges of the imperialists, neo-colonialists and the new tribal cabal that is seeking to capture our structure of governance.

“Those who never lost land during colonialism want to exclude us from discussing our ancestral land. They want to discuss land issues without our participation” he said.

LPM leader Bernadus Swartbooi believes the line-up of cabinet ministers and Swapo affiliates for the conference is a ploy to intimidate and threaten attendees to behave, while their talking time would also be limited.

“It is a Swapo election gimmick at best; this national land conference. The Swapo secretary-general (Sophia Shaningwa) forms part of this important committee and only one other political party is invited to say one or two things,” he said.

Government's land conference concept paper, which has been seen by Namibian Sun, bemoans the past imbalances in the land distribution, which remains one of the burning issues Namibia has faced since independence.

The state's objectives for the conference include reviewing the implementation of the 1991 land conference resolutions, addressing the structure of land ownership and deliberations on ancestral land claims for restitution and the removal of the red line, amongst others. “The slow pace of land acquisition, the scarcity of such land and inadequate financial resources to acquire land remain a bottleneck in the attainment of land reform objectives in the country,” the concept paper said.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Expert warns of FMD disaster

July 25, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Expert warns of FMD disasterOutbreak after red line is moved could destroy agriculture, hunting industries An agricultural expert has warned that an FMD outbreak after the red line is moved to the Angolan border would bring disastrous economic consequences for Namibia's N$1.8 billion a year agriculture and N$550 million a year hunting industries. Wallie Roux, an independent agricultural expert, says Namibia will be staring a disaster in the face, if the country is hit by a foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease outbreak after the proposed moving of the red line to the Angolan land border.

Roux stressed that FMD not only affects cloven-hoofed ruminants like cattle, sheep and goats. Pigs and all species of antelope, as well as elephant and giraffe, are susceptible to the disease.

“Hence, besides a devastating blow of an FMD outbreak to the farming community, it would also negatively impact on the hunting and agri-tourism industry, depending on the spread and severity of such an outbreak.”

These economic sectors will be directly influenced should an FMD outbreak occur, however, downstream sectors would suffer the same consequences in losing raw materials for further processing.

Agriculture, including downstream industries, contributes roughly N$1.8 billion annually to the GDP and provides 20% of Namibia's jobs. Hunting contributes roughly N$550 million to the country with 15 000 jobs supported by this industry. If these were to be halted due to a nationwide FMD outbreak, the effects would be disastrous.

Roux said further that the red line can be moved to the Angolan border in the next 20 years - under certain conditions.

His comments come in the wake of calls from several quarters for the removal of the veterinary cordon fence to be discussed in October at the upcoming second land conference.

Roux told Namibian Sun one of the conditions is Angola obtaining the same veterinary status as Namibia from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), meaning an official declaration of being FMD-free.

“This per se, would not be an option in the foreseeable future,” said Roux.

According to him, Angola is not well-known as a country with an animal husbandry sector. It is rather recognised as an oil exporting country.

“Hence, despite some farming with exotic fruits due to its sub-tropical climate, farming with animals was at no time a priority, and still is not.”





Roux further said animal husbandry in sub-tropical conditions poses additional challenges regarding animal health and the maintenance thereof. For instance, animals are more susceptible to the transfer of diseases by insects and the like as opposed to the much drier climate like in Namibia. “This obviously increases the surveillance and veterinary costs to maintain animal health on a farm.”

During October last year, the then economic planning minister, Tom Alweendo, called for the removal of the red line so that all Namibians could be incorporated into the mainstream economy.

“To achieve disease-free status, there is a need to expedite the erection of a fence on the northern border to eliminate the pockets of infection in the livestock populations in the Northern Communal Areas.”

President Hage Geingob also commented on the red line this month saying the “opening of the red line is not a question of whether you want it or not. It is a question of a health situation, about our other markets”.

Nampa reported that Geingob added that the Angolan side needs “to be addressed… if Angolan cattle are not treated, they will bring the diseases. It is a thing we must address.”

However, he emphasised that the situation, where Namibia is divided by the red line 28 years into independence, cannot continue unabated.

According to Roux, another option would be to move the Veterinary Cordon Fence (VCF) to the land-border between Namibia and Angola (between the Kunene and Okavango rivers). The rivers will act as natural borders given the level of water in each. If this option would be pursued, all animals in the Northern Communal Areas (NCA) would have to be inoculated according to OIE regulations to ensure that the entire Namibia could then be declared as a FMD-free zone. However this will exclude the Zambezi Region. This region has endemic animal diseases due to the proximity of neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe and the free-roaming of buffalo that carry the FMD-virus, but are not affected by it themselves.

“Given this option, the government would have to demarcate a surveillance zone to be monitored and patrolled all along the Okavango River, through the land-border between Namibia and Angola, and the Kunene River up to the sea. This surveillance zone and the monitoring thereof would be a requirement from the OIE to sustain the country's FMD-free status.”

The distance of this border would be roughly 1 100 kilometres.

Also the government would then have to overcome and solve the additional socioeconomic challenges of families living both sides of the border.

“In reality, it will mean that farmers who graze their animals cross-border depending on the available grazing, as well as do frequent cross-border visits to other family members in both countries will no longer be able to do this. This in itself would pose a tremendous practical challenge to the government in ensuring the effective patrolling of the surveillance zone.”

On questions of giving access to commercial markets for NCA farmers, Roux is of the view the current farming methods being used in the NCA are sustainable, given subsistence farming. However, he said it is not commercially viable.

He explained that there are more livestock in the NCA than in the areas south of the VCF.

But, in general, communal farming comprises of individuals each having a few livestock that graze on communal land and utilise communal water points.

Survey figures indicate numbers of six to 17 cattle per household.

“In the communal farming fraternity, wealth is hedged within the livestock owned - if you need cash you sell an animal.”

Roux said communal farming in the NCA therefore has little inclination towards expanding the farming operation. “Who takes responsibility for the grazing and the water points within a communal farming system?”

According to the farmers in the NCA, Roux is correct. This month, they told Namibian Sun their main need is not to export beef to international markets, but is rather the issue of grazing opportunities within the NCA. They say once the Angolan border is closed, this will leave them without grazing opportunities, while all the farms south of the red line are fenced off, which will make it difficult for them.

Over 30 000 head of cattle belonging to Namibians is said to be grazing in Angola and it is also believed that about 2 800 Namibians either own homesteads or farm in communal areas in the neighbouring country, while others cross the border with their livestock every morning for grazing and return to Namibia in the evenings.

This practice would have to stop if the red line is moved to the Angolan border. More than half of the country's 3.8 million cattle are in the NCA. According to Roux, in general, the NCA farmers are not livestock farmers from a commercial point of view.

According to him there are programmes in the NCA to encourage farmers to look better after their animals and to upgrade the quality of their animals. “However, despite successes, these programmes are diminutive in the task ahead to try and convince the average communal farmer to engage in a commercial venture.”

ELLANIE SMIT

ELLANIE SMIT

Drop in Namdeb’s profitability

July 26, 2018, 1:48 am

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Drop in Namdeb’s profitability Namdeb recorded an underlying EBITDA of US$90 million for the first six months of this year, down from US$105 million in the same half-year in 2017.
According to the latest financial results of Anglo American, owner of De Beers, capital expenditure at Namdeb for the six months under review amounted to US$19 million.
Read the full report tomorrow in Market Watch.

New guidelines for outstanding VAT refunds

July 26, 2018, 3:20 am

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New guidelines for outstanding VAT refunds The permanent secretary of the ministry of finance, Ericah Shafudah, has issued a statement saying all VAT registered vendors who are owed refunds older than January 2016 should visit the regional office of registration of Inland Revenue and submit relevant accounting records for verification as soon as possible so that refunds can be paid out.
Shafudah says in accordance to relevant legislation, Inland Revenue will carry out some audits and verifications to ascertain that such refunds are due and payable to the person claiming it.
“Furthermore, taxpayers are advised to settle outstanding balances on any other tax account that they are registered for as the Commissioner shall first apply the amount of the refund in reduction of any outstanding balance (tax, interest, penalty) before the remaining refund is paid out to the taxpayer,” she says.

Rugby semis set to thrill

July 26, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Rugby semis set to thrill The Namibia Rugby Union (NRU) premier league and its reserve league will come alive this weekend with a number of semi-final matches on the cards at the Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium.

FNB Western Suburbs will take on rivals FNB Wanderers at 17:00, while United Trustco confronts Unam at 18:45.

The reserve league will see Trustco United battling it out against FNB Wanderers at 13:30 and FNB Unam host Kudus at 15:15 in the other semifinal.



Premier league

Unam finished top of the premier league with 57 points from 12 matches.

The university side won 10 matches in the process, scoring 70 tries in the 12 matches they played, while losing only two.

Trustco United booked their place in the semis after finishing fourth on the log with 40 points, scoring 50 tries in the process. United won seven and lost five matches.

Western Suburbs secured a place in the semis after finishing second with 44 points from the 12 matches they played. The Khomasdal-based side won eight and lost four of their 12 matches, scoring 56 tries.

Wanderers are in the semis after they finished third, a point behind Suburbs. The team scored 68 tries during their campaign, winning six and losing six matches.



Reserve league journey

Unam's second team proved strong in the reserve league, finishing top with 50 points from 12 matches.

The university B-team won nine matches in the process, scoring 63 tries, while losing only two matches and drawing once during their campaign.

Kudus booked their place in the semis after finishing fourth on the log with 33 points, scoring 27 tries in the process.

Trustco United secured a place in the semis after finishing second with 49 points from 12 the matches they played. United won 10 and lost two of their 12 matches, scoring 39 tries.

The Wanderers B-team finished third with 41 points from 12 matches. The team recorded 68 tries during their campaign, winning seven and losing five matches.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Final beckons for Baby Warriors

July 26, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Final beckons for Baby WarriorsResilient Angola stand in their way The Baby Warriors stand on the cusp of qualifying for the U-17 Cosafa Cup final. Namibia's under-17 national team face a resilient Angola this afternoon in the semis of the Under-17 Cosafa Cup, which is currently underway in Mauritius.

The mouth-watering clash at the St Francois Xavier Stadium kicks off at 15:30.

The Baby Warriors will go into the match boasting remarkable goal scoring form in the competition so far.

Namibia put eight past Seychelles in their opening match and two past Botswana in their final group match.

The team will also rely prolific marksman Prins Tjiueza, who has already scored five goals in this year's competition.

Namibia will also have to tighten their defence, given that they have conceded four goals so far.

The Namibians conceded three against Seychelles and one against host Mauritius.

“We have regrouped and we have been planning for Angola. The sky is the limit; the boys have really surprised us and they can do more from now on,” coach Paul 'Shakes' Malembu said.

Angola, on the other hand, also have an impressive goal scoring record in the tournament, after they scored seven in the group stages.

Namibia's northern neighbours defeated Malawi 1-0 in their opening match, before trouncing Swaziland 4-0 and closing off their group stage encounters with a 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe.

Angola's results provide firm proof of the resilience at the back, in view of the fact that they have only conceded.

Namibia finished top of Group A with six points, followed by Mauritius who had a poorer goal difference, but qualified for the semis as the best losers.

Angola finished top of their group, while accumulating the maximum nine points.

South Africa will play host Mauritius in the other semi, which begins at 12:30 at the same venue.

This year's winner will qualify directly for the Afcon U-17 tourney.

The Afcon winner will qualify for the Fifa U-17 World Cup, which the Namibian team has never featured at.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa