Corruption cripples Health

August 5, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Corruption cripples HealthHaufiku calls for complete overhaul One of the health ministry's biggest challenges is the fact that the Central Medical Store has become a bottomless pit with no accountability. Health minister Bernard Haufiku says corruption in his ministry is entrenched and is eating away at the ministry's purse, making it difficult to function adequately.

In an exclusive interview with Namibian Sun on Friday, he said the ministry's poor performance was caused by a multitude of problems and players, and also because people simply do as they wish. He said he was calling for a complete overhaul of the structures, including an improved management, procurement and distribution process, adding that if it didn't happen, the ministry would always be dogged with controversy and problems. One of the biggest challenges is the fact that the Central Medical Store has become completely “dysfunctional with no accountability mechanisms. It is actually a bottomless hole.

“There is not much accountability going on there. I was there two weeks ago and I learned that stock is ordered at the district at any time and any hospital requests. Apparently, there is a policy that no one must be denied medicine. So even if I gave you 100 items last week and today, you want another 100, I do not ask what happened to the other 100, I just supply,” he said. The ministry has also been forced to abandon an arrangement in which it hired a consortium of consultants from the United Kingdom to turn around operations at the Central Medical Stores last year.

Haufiku pointed out that the ministry is spending a lot of money on buy-out items, medicines which are specifically and individually prescribed to state patients, which are often at triple the actual market value.

“In many of the cases, the budget can be managed to get what is required but the way it is spent is unacceptable. Items sometimes are bought at prices three times that of the market price because there are so many interests inside and outside the ministry who prey on the procurement process,” he said. “Even our catering tenders are working against us. People have tenders but 80% of the work is done by our government employees. But, the final decision is made by the then tender board and not the ministry. The taking of the food to the patient, the cutlery, the pots they use, it is all government owned and paid for,” he said. The change in procurement procedures which has seen ministry purchases reside under the permanent secretary and no longer with the hospital itself, has made the system tedious, Haufiku said.

“The change in tender procedures, which saw the budget move to the direct supervision of the permanent secretary, has created huge bottlenecks. Anything that a district hospital needs is subjected to approval from the PS, even for basic items such as a light bulb. The rest has to go to central procurement board and this too, creates delays and other challenges,” he said. He is of the view that it makes sense that the management of any district hospital must be able to handle the budget of their hospital and be held accountable for every penny they spend.

JEMIMA BEUKES

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Windhoekers run against poaching

August 5, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Windhoekers run against poachingRoad and trail runners appreciate nature The Daan Viljoen police checkpoint is the starting point for this weekend's Anti-poaching Run. The Windhoek City Runners Club, in collaboration with Varta Namibia, will host the Anti-poaching Run this Saturday.

The event is aimed at supporting nature conservation efforts and raising awareness of the dangers of poaching and the plundering of other natural resources.

“As a running club we take cognisance of the importance of nature to both our sport and our lives.

“Nature is essential to our lives and it is important in making our world look beautiful and spectacular,” the organisers say. Athletes will be running on open roads and natural trails in a beautiful landscape east of the city.

“It's important that our flora and fauna are preserved for both our generation and generations to come, and to ensure the continued attraction and survival of Mother Nature.

“We should therefore acknowledge the fact that natural features such as forests, rivers, oceans, birds and animals all contribute in beautifying the earth, for without these life forms, the planet would be desolate with no traces of life.”

An entrance fee of N$200 for non-members will be charged, while City Runners Club members will pay N$150.

The 30km and 20km runs will start at 06:00, and the five-kilometre run at 06:30. The Windhoek City Runners Club (WCRC) is affiliated to Athletics Namibia through Khomas Athletics.

The club was established with the aim to promote and develop running at competitive as well as social level.

It aims to encourage a healthy lifestyle incorporating running or walking regardless of age, gender or athletic ability.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

Help them from the start

August 5, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Help them from the start Reports have surfaced that some of Namibia's Paralympic athletes are struggling with funds to buy equipment and training gear.

These athletes, who aspire to become national heroes one day, are stuck and do not know where to turn as their dreams of winning gold medals are slowly fading.

Paralympic wheelchair cyclist Frans 'Tupac' Paulus's career is on the verge of collapsing following a series of financial setbacks.

The cyclist, who is based in the north, has been out of action since February and has been unable to train because of a lack of funds.

His wheelchair is not up to standard anymore, given a lack of funds to get it serviced.

Another Para-athlete, Etchegaray 'Etche' Nguluwe, needs a new prosthetic foot in order to compete locally and internationally.

The athlete was born with a clubfoot and his left foot was amputated in 2016.

The Namibia Paralympic Committee (NPC) raised money last year for a running 'blade' from Pretoria. However, the prosthesis doesn't fit anymore and is causing Nguluwe severe pain.

These guys are among our medal hopefuls at future competitions and I think it's important for them to get the help they need.

When Johanna Benson won the first Paralympic gold and silver medals for Namibia, individuals and companies flocked to give her assistance and money.

She was hailed as a national hero and named the Golden Girl of Namibia.

This financial boost only came after Benson had won a gold medal at the London Paralympic Games in 2012.

The same thing happened to Ananias Shikongo, who received a large amount of financial assistance after his success at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games.

The man who was living in a shack and walking to the Youth Complex for training before travelling to Rio received a house and other financial assistance after winning the gold medal.

Now let us forget about all those windfalls that came afterwards and remember how these athletes suffered before they became champions.

Transport and training gear were problems for both Benson and Shikongo. There were only a few people and companies who supported them before they became famous.

I find it disturbing that people will only help you after you have reached the top, but not while you are struggling to get there. I would therefore like to urge companies and individuals to support Nguluwe and Paulus.

They have proven that they are passionate about their sports despite their challenging circumstances, and that they want to become world champions.

It is therefore the duty of every Namibian company that makes money out of this beautiful country to contribute towards the growth of these struggling athletes.

Let us not just turn up and celebrate the success of people when they reach the top, but let us be with them during their struggles.

Nguluwe and Paulus need our help to reach the top of their careers.

I know that there are companies that are really helping athletes, but others continue to turn a blind eye towards their social responsibilities.



jesse@namibiansun.com

Your comment surprised us

August 5, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Your comment surprised us Mr President, you say that one Namibian that goes to bed hungry is one too many. We applaud you for that and further, we applaud the strides we know government has made to reduce poverty in this country.

However, when you say to a journalist that you do “not know what he is talking about” regarding 'many Namibians going hungry', we take offence.

You do not have to go far to find hungry Namibians.

In fact, as many Windhoek residents know, the street children in the capital are much like a measurement of weather.

They are back, both at the traffic light at the crossing of Robert Mugabe Avenue and Sam Nujoma Drive, and also, at the traffic light at the crossing of Hosea Kutako and Independence avenues.

Had the works ministry not demolished the dilapidated government house opposite the lands ministry in Robert Mugabe Avenue, you would have found entire community of hungry Namibians there, including babies.

Hungry Namibians, very young and very old, also frequent the strip mall in Okahandja.

They are so hungry in fact, they do not ask for money, but for bread, in exchange for watching your car.

While we acknowledge that coverage of the vulnerable has improved, and while we further acknowledge what you have done in your presidency for the old-age pensions, the fact that more orphans and vulnerable children are now receiving grants is sadly, not a good thing.

Those numbers should be coming down, not going up.

We are not doing well. We are beginning to pay for our lack of maintenance in our hospitals and, our lack of providing decent housing for our people. Diseases like hepatitis E are here to stay. And we do not have the money to upgrade especially Katutura hospital.

So Mr President, we cannot understand how you could say that you do not know what the journalist is talking about.

Haifidi to head NAC again

August 5, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Haifidi to head NAC againAochamub takes up diplomatic posting The airports company is still without a permanent CEO, only months before a security audit of Hosea Kutako Airport by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) on Friday announced the appointment of its strategic executive for corporate governance Lot Haifidi as acting CEO. Haifidi replaces Albertus Aochamub, who is expected to take up a diplomatic posting in Europe. Aochamub had served as the presidential spokesperson before his appointment as acting NAC CEO after Haifidi resigned in January. According to the NAC, the board decided on Friday morning to reappoint Haifidi as acting CEO. Namibian Sun understands that Aochamub will be named as the country's new ambassador to France. A statement, signed by NAC board chairman Patrick Kauta, said that this necessitated the appointment of a new acting CEO to lead the transitional period in light of intense preparations in respect of the impending International Civil Aviation Organisation security audit scheduled to take place at Hosea Kutako Airport in November.

“The NAC board of directors would like to thank Mr Albertus Aochamub for services he rendered to the institution during his acting period and wishes him the best in his future endeavours. The NAC board hereby congratulates Mr Haifidi on his appointment and trusts in his abilities to lead the institution with a view to efficiently executing the NAC's statutory mandate of managing, operating and controlling all civil aviation airports in Namibia in a safe and secure manner.”

JEMIMA BEUKES

Illegal fuel trade goes underground

August 5, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Illegal fuel trade goes underground Since the latest fuel price increases many northern motorists are flocking to the border town of Oshikango to fill up their vehicles illegally despite a police crackdown on the sale of fuel smuggled in from Angola.

According to one illegal fuel trader, it has become harder for them to do business since the demolition of the Okatwitwi informal location by the Helao Nafidi town council.

Fuel is now being sold from their shacks, and only to customers that they know.

Previously the town council said Okatwitwi was the centre of a thriving trade in smuggled Angolan products, including fuel.

The council decided to demolish it to control the sale of these illegal products. Namibian Sun visited the area over the weekend and found that the crackdown had made it harder to buy smuggled fuel. “We are being monitored by the police and we do not sell fuel to just anybody. We are only selling to the customers that we know already and they know how we are operating. The police are after us and since they demolished Okatwitwi its now difficult for us to operate,” a young illegal fuel trader said.

“It is also difficult to smuggle fuel into Namibia from Angola because the police are controlling the border. You must have connections with people.”

Young boys, Namibian and Angolan alike, are involved in the selling of illegal fuel at Oshikango. Petrol is sold in five-litre containers costing between N$65 and N$70, which amounts to between N$13 and N$14 per litre while the current price of legal fuel in the area is N$13.14.

“When the fuel price increases we also increase our price by a dollar.”

This does not affect our fuel demand because many motorists in the north prefer our fuel. Our price is different depending on the fuel availability.

“If you find there are many people selling then you're likely to get a five-litre container for N$65, but if only a few people are selling then the price will go up to N$70,” the trader said.

Motorists earlier said that the illegal fuel may cost the same as legal fuel, but they prefer to use it because it “lasts longer”.

They said the only problem is that the boys sometimes add water to the fuel.

The spokesperson for the Ohangwena police, Warrant Officer Kaume Iitumba, commended the Helao Nafidi town council for demolishing the informal location.

“Okatwitwi was located close to the border, making it easy for these people to smuggle illegal products into the country without us noticing them.

“Now that the town council has chased all the street vendors to the open market, which is situated a bit farther from the border, it makes things difficult for them,” Iitumba said.

“There is no way a person can carry products for a long distance without being noticed. We are also conducting stop-and-search campaigns throughout the town targeting those illegal products.”

He said the illegal fuel trade at Oshikango was on the increase and it was hard for the police to control. He called on the mines and energy ministry to assist the police by amending its regulations.

“Those boys are selling fuel in small containers and we cannot arrest them. The law states that one can only be arrested if found in possession of large quantities. We do confiscate their fuel, but we have no fuel storage facilities at the police station, making it dangerous for us to store it,” Iitumba said.

He also said that by keeping the fuel in their shacks, the smugglers endanger their own lives and those living near them.

“We suspect that there are Namibians who are in partnership with the Angolans and they employ these boys to sell in Namibia. It is not easy for Namibians to access that fuel. Due to our open border they smuggle the fuel into the country.”

Helao Nafidi mayor Eliaser Nghipangelwa said the council was advised by the police to do away with the Okatwitwi location and they cooperated. He said illegal fuel sales were only one of the many illegal activities happening at Okatwitwi.

“The police have informed us that we have to remove Okatwitwi location because this is where many illegal and criminal activities occur. There are many illegal activities the police have informed us about but I am not at liberty to discuss them,” Nghipangelwa said.

He said Okatwitwi residents were relocated to a formalised area, where the council provided water, electricity and some toilets to those they had authorised to do business there.

“There are those who were saying that they were not going to move and we suspect that these are people who are behind all these illegal activities. There is no way we will let them stay. We will move all of them,” he said.

ILENI NANDJATO

Shinguadja lashes Shoprite as retailer bows

August 5, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Shinguadja lashes Shoprite as retailer bows Grocery chain Shoprite on Friday announced the withdrawal of a N$4.5 million lawsuit against 93 of its workers for losses sustained during illegal strikes in strike in December 2014 and July 2015.

The announcement came shortly after a mass demonstration in Windhoek and the threat of a national boycott of Shoprite and all its subsidiaries.

The permanent secretary of the ministry of labour, Bro-Matthew Shinguadja, also called on all state entities, and in particular the Food Bank administrators, not to buy from the Shoprite Group of Companies.

In an angry statement Shinguadja said business and trading licences must come with a revoking clause and should be conditional to better labour conditions, fundamental rights and freedoms of workers. He warned the security industry, filling stations, retailers and wholesalers and trucking companies that they were under the labour microscope to initiate self-reform.

“Abuse and exploitation of workers are manifestations of a master and slave relationship that should be condemned by all Namibians who care,” said Shinguadja.





In a statement issued on Friday, Shoprite Namibia said it had decided in the interest of all parties involved to withdraw the summons issued to 93 staff members of Shoprite supermarkets in Windhoek.

It pointed out that internal disciplinary hearing against these employees were continuing and an outcome was expected in the next few weeks.



“The Shoprite Group has a long-standing view that all workers are entitled to reasonable working conditions. We have always made an effort to base dealings with our employees on the principles of fairness and respect and in compliance with provisions of prevailing labour legislation,” the statement read.



Lawyer Nixon Marcus, representing the Shoprite workers, disputed some of the statements made by Shoprite.



According to him Shoprite's claim that it issued the summons following a cost order issued in its favour in November 2015 for loss of sales, legal costs and damages incurred because of the strikes in December 2014 and July 2015, was untrue.



“First, loss of sales and damages are never awarded in the form of cost orders, not in this country, not in our courts. That is why they instituted the action against the workers to recover these costs in the first place,” said Marcus.



He added that Shoprite approached the Labour Court in an attempt to recover the legal costs for the court application relating to the December 2014 strike.



“In the judgment of 22 September 2015, the Labour Court not only refused Shoprite the costs they sought to recover, but the court awarded special costs against Shoprite for having attempted to recover these costs in the manner it did,” he said.



Marcus added that with respect to the July 2015 strike, the Labour Court did not make an order on costs when it disposed of the application on 24 September 2015.





JEMIMA BEUKES

City starts using emergency water

August 5, 2018, 4:00 pm

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City starts using emergency waterWindhoek Aquifer unsustainable The City of Windhoek has started supplying the southern suburbs with borehole water from the Windhoek Aquifer, which is the city's emergency supply. The emergency water supply strategy has been implemented in Windhoek. New mandatory savings for residents now stand at 10%.

These savings are critical to maintain since abstraction from the Windhoek Aquifer, the city's emergency reserve, is unsustainable.

Windhoek's southern suburbs will be primarily supplied with water from at least nine boreholes that were drilled in the aquifer over the past year.

This is a first for the City, which has been preparing to launch the aquifer supply scenario for more than a year, in anticipation of a possible drought following the lengthy water supply crisis that ended last year.

Last week the City announced that water savings had to be increased from 5% to 10% after inflow to the central dams supplying Windhoek amounted to 24.91% of the average expected inflow, as announced by NamWater recently.

Residents were applauded for saving as much as 7.69%, more than the required 5% each month.

As of 1 August, at least 20 000 cubic metres of water will be pumped from the boreholes to supply households in Academia, Pionierspark, Kleine Kuppe, Olympia and Auasblick.

This supply strategy was designed to address the lack of inflow to the three main supply dams of NamWater, which has now halved its supply to the City, from around 60 000 cubic metres daily to 30 000.

In addition, Windhoek will receive 17 000 cubic metres a day from the Windhoek reclamation plant, the maximum output that can be provided.

Yet, in order to ensure the new daily usage target of 67 000 cubic metres a day can be achieved, residents have a vital role to play by ensuring 10% water savings.

Koos Theron of the City of Windhoek's infrastructure, water, and technical services division explained that it is crucial residents do their part, pointing out that the current water supply operation is highly risky as it relies on an emergency resource, the aquifer.

He explained that the current abstraction of around 20 000 cubic metres a day from the aquifer is not sustainable over the long run, based on the average natural recharge of the underground water source which amounts to around 1.7 million cubic metres per annum.

At the current rate, around 7.5 million cubic metres per annum are being extracted, almost 4.5 times the recharge rate.

“If everybody can contribute, we should be able to get to the 67 000 cubic metres a day. If we do not, we have to exploit the City of Windhoek boreholes further, which is not a good option, because we are already using our 'retirement money'. Or we could ask NamWater to supply more water, but then we are not sticking to the plan. The easiest way is water demand management,” he said.

Theron explained that all relevant stakeholders have agreed to immediately convene a meeting should there be a substantial inflow into the dams, to discuss whether the current supply scenario can be amended.

He added that the first change would be to reduce the pressure on the aquifer, by either reducing the extraction rate or shutting it off completely.

This may not be on the cards soon as the American National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted an increasing chance for the El Nino weather phenomenon during the coming rainy season.

According to the administration, El Nino will strengthen to around 65% during spring and will strengthen further to 70% during the summer season.

El Nino typically reduces rainfall and a strong occurrence almost guarantees lower than average precipitation increasing the chances for drought.

This does not bode well for the economy. By May this year, the construction industry had seen 30% job losses with more than 60% of the industry's businesses closing their doors. Roughly 60 000 jobs had been lost across all sectors during the 2016/17 financial year due to the depressed economic conditions, coupled with low rainfall.

JANA-MARI SMITH

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Wanderers win NRU league

August 5, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Wanderers win NRU leagueUnited stumble There were wild celebrations after FNB Wanderers claimed the Namibia Rugby Union Premier League at the weekend. FNB Wanderers overcame their nerves as they defeated rivals Trustco United 30-22 in the final of the league at the Hage Geingob Stadium on Saturday evening.

Wanderers signalled their thirst for victory from the second minute of the match when Rudi Pretorius converted a penalty to put his team in the lead.

Trustco United responded with a try by Morne Blom in the 12th minute of the game, which increased the volume of the United spectators.

Winmar Rust, who failed to score a penalty for United in the eighth minute, failed to score the conversion. As result, Denzil van Wyk gave the champions their first try of the match, followed by a conversion by Rudi Pretorius.

The league champions once again showed their dominance in the 23rd minute as Stefan Hattingh ran in their second try while Pretorius showed his fine form with the boot, extending their lead to 17-5 with another conversion.

Wanderers' lead did not last long though, as United pulled themselves together and struck back with a try in the 32nd minute by Rust, who finally found his scoring boots as he converted from the spot.

He added three more points through a penalty just before the half-time break to keep the score close at 17-15 heading into the break.

In the second half, United took the lead for the first time when Rust showed his dominance against the Wanderers defence when he crashed over for a second time in the 42nd minute and he converted the subsequent spot kick to hand United a 22-17 lead. After going down just three minutes into the second half a well-disciplined Wanderers beefed up their attacked despite United's stern defensive efforts.

United's defence was finally broken in the 57th minute, when Janry du Toit ran in their third try of the match, before Pretorius added an improbable conversion from the touchline to give his side a 24-22 lead. United tried all they could to put points on the score sheet but their efforts failed to pay off as basic errors handed Wanderers two penalties which were scored by Pretorius to complete the 30-22 triumph.

Prior to the match, news was circulated that the final match had been cancelled before it was announced that it was back on again.

This is said to have had a physiological effect on some of the players.



Unam win Reserve League

Unam's second team managed to beat Wanderers (B) to win the reserve league at the Hage Geingob Stadium.

The University boys came from behind late in the match to score a try which earned them a 14-12 win.

Both teams were level at 0-0 before halftime following a series of great defences from both sets of backlines.

The match picked up momentum in the second half, resulting in tries by both Unam and Wanderers.

Unam scored a try in the dying minutes of the match to earn the Reserve League trophy.

- Additional reporting by NAMPA

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

ILO big shot in Namibia

August 5, 2018, 4:00 pm

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ILO big shot in Namibia Guy Ryder, the director general of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), arrived in Windhoek yesterday on his first official mission to the country.
During his visit, Ryder is expected to meet Pres Hage Geingob, the minister of labour, industrial relations and employment creation, Erkki Nghimtina, as well as cabinet members, employers, workers’ representatives and heads of UN agencies.
As the ILO mandate is premised on human rights and social justice, Ryder will also be visiting an informal settlement to get a first-hand look of the manifestation of inequalities and the challenges faced by communities living and working in poverty.
His visit will culminate with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the new Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Namibia.
The DWCP is the ILO’s programme of support to its member countries based on the national development plans within the framework of the United Nations Partnership Assistance Framework.
Ryder will depart again tomorrow.

New members on board

August 6, 2018, 4:00 pm

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New members on board Promoting the prominence of libraries and archives The education ministry held an inaugural ceremony for the fifth Namibia Library and Information Council (NLIC) on Friday in Windhoek. Justicia Shipena





The main objective of the NLIC is to promote the development and use of libraries.

Speaking at the event, education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa said: “The new council members should have the capacity to determine and refine the purpose of the libraries and archives, and will assist the education sector in response to changing environmental conditions and broadly draft a course of action to be undertaken to meet the information needs of the community.”

Hanse-Himarwa also thanked the outgoing council members for their dedication and commitment towards advancing and promoting libraries and information services as well as the National Archives during their term in office.

The core functions of the council members are to support all the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular eradicating poverty, ensure inclusive and equitable education, and build resilient infrastructure.

According to Sanet Steenkamp, permanent secretary of the ministry, people take libraries for granted.

“Under the leadership of the new council, we believe that we will reach over a million people and that is our aim. I am delighted to say that the smell of a book will never go out of fashion despite all the digital platforms we have,” she said.

Steenkamp added that libraries are used to access information but there are more activities that the incoming council members can provide in terms of the direction, guidance, support and strong governance principles.

“There have been many successful projects, such as the construction and inauguration of the three regional libraries at Oshana, Ohangwena and Omaheke regions, and the implementation of different projects such as Library Development Project funded by the Finnish Library Association,” she said.

Metropolitan donates over desk bags

August 6, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Metropolitan donates over desk bags Finalist for the Mrs Africa Foundation, Lizelle Groenewald, together with the Pinnacle Metropolitan Empowerment Trust, sponsored desk bags valued at N$17 500 to the Paraclete Kindergarten in Havana, Katutura. The little ones only have chairs and don’t have desks. The desk bags therefore provide a portable desk and bag solution. It allows a child to carry books and stationery to and from school. The bags are waterproof, reflective and light for pre-primary scholars to use and have a lifespan to last throughout primary school.

The Paraclete Kindergarten was founded by Pastor Ben Niyakuri and his wife. They saw that Havana needed an intervention because most of the children are from disadvantaged backgrounds and they wanted to make a difference in the lives of these children. Pictured, from left to right, Adelinde Kapundya a teacher at the school, Lizelle Groenewaldt, Benaya Niyukuri and Ariah Mokomele, project assistant of the Pinnacle Metropolitan Empowerment Trust. PHOTO: CONTRIBUTED

Listen to the needs of athletes - Uutoni

August 6, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Listen to the needs of athletes - Uutoni Justicia Shipena

The Athletes Commission, under the auspices of the Namibia National Olympic Committee and Commonwealth Games Association (NNOC-CGA) in partnership with the sport ministry, the Namibia Sports Commission and Nust, hosted the first-ever Athletes Forum at university.

Speaking at the event, sport minister Erastus Uutoni, said there is a need to work closer with athletes and listen to their needs as they are the greatest assets.

“It’s therefore vitally important that we have a system that puts the wellbeing and welfare of the athletes first. This system will empower and support athletes to succeed beyond the field of play. It is important that athletes help each other in career transition, education and policies which affect them,” he said.

At the event, athletes learned about anti-doping rules and regulations at international level, were informed about the importance of sports psychology and were introduced to career options available to retired athletes through sport management degrees offered at Nust.

Uutoni further stated that former athletes should remain involved in sports through roles in public relations, sports administration and sports education.

“It is always easier in such instances for an athlete to relate to another athlete,” he said.

Uutoni further urged that parents, educators, administrators, coaches and sponsors educate and remind themselves against the dangers and life-threatening impacts of doping so that we, in turn, can collectively fight against it in our sporting fraternity.

The forum’s aim was to educate exclusive and high-performance athletes and serve as a platform to gather relevant information on how they can improve in their quest for excellence.

According to Gaby Ahrens, Namibia Athletes Commission’s chairperson, the initiative is an important platform to address appropriate issues facing athletes and all other high-performance related factors.

“It is not only aimed at providing information. The aim is also to encourage athletes to become involved in their own development, while understanding their role and that of their coaches in preparation for future international competitions,” she said.

She added that the testing procedure can be stressful for the athlete at an event if they are not aware of the constraints. Preparation is therefore essential in order to mitigate and avoid stressful situations.

The event was graced by well-known international and local speakers representing multiple areas of expertise in sports. World-renowned motivational speaker and sport psychologist, Dr Henning Gericke, highlighted the importance of achieving mental toughness during competition. Zimbabwean Kirsty Coventry, one of Africa’s most successful Olympic athletes was also in attendance.

Namibian athletes such as Collin Benjamin, former international and national soccer player; 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallists Helalia Johannes; Jonas Junius and double Paralympic gold medallist, Ananias Shikongo, shared their personal journeys to sporting success.

Speaking to The Zone after the forum Kaela Schimming, an athlete for the national girl’s hockey team, said that the forum provided her a platform to learn how she can develop sports in different regions. She also commented on the sports management programme which she thinks is a good initiative as it is opens doors to individuals.

“Something I learned from Dr Gericke was how to mentally prepare myself and how to be mentally stronger,” she said.

Canoe polo qualifies for 2020 championships

August 6, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Canoe polo qualifies for 2020 championships Namibia's under-21 men's canoe polo team has qualified for the International Canoe Federation World Canoe Polo Championships in 2020 after finishing 11th in this year's edition of the world competition over the weekend.

The Namibian team made it to the second round of the competition, which took place in Welland, Canada, but did not qualify for the semi-finals after finishing bottom of their group.

However, they defeated Japan in the playoff for 11th place on Sunday to gain automatic qualification to the 2020 World Canoe Polo Championships which will be hosted in Rome, Italy.

Sixteen countries participated in the under-21 men's section of the world championships, with Namibia finishing above Japan, Ireland, Chinese Taipei, Canada and Argentina.

Namibia's senior men's team finished 21st out of 23 participating teams after defeating Argentina 8-3 in the playoff for 21st place on Sunday. The team did not win any of their first seven matches at the world championship, but held their own to win their final match and to finish above Argentina and Singapore.

The Namibian team's participation in the World Canoe Polo Championships was in jeopardy when the company hired to manufacture their boats was involved in an accident.

A Canadian company stepped in and sponsored seven canoes to the Namibian team, valued at around N$278 000.

The Canadian company also offered to ship the canoes from China to Canada, just ahead of the start of the competition.

The leader of the Namibian team, Anton Jacobie, was quoted by a Canadian newspaper as saying the canoes they had ordered from the European manufacturer did eventually arrive in Canada, three days into the competition.

Jacobie told the newspaper that the Namibian team then had six extra canoes, which they decided to sell at less than cost price to the Iranian team, which also had equipment problems.

Canoe polo is a little-known sport in Namibia with only a handful of people, mainly family groups, engaging in the sport.

Jacobie said his teams received no assistance from the government and had to cover their own travel, accommodation, equipment and participation expenses.

NAMPA

Tour de Windhoek next month

August 6, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Tour de Windhoek next monthExciting cycling races ahead The famous and exciting cycling tour will be the main sporting attraction in Windhoek this September. Cycling enthusiasts will be treated to energetic cycling when the Tour de Windhoek takes place next month.

Windhoek will host the cycling competition from 21 - 23 September.

The competition will include five stages: Dordabis, Team Trial, Hollard Bypass, Pupkewitz Megabuild Criterum and the Tony Rust Track.

The distances for each stage will vary from 107km for Dordabis to 23km in the Team Trials.

Tour de Windhoek returned last year after years of absence and it saw the best of the local riders pitted against each other and international riders.

“With the boom in interest from coming riders, as well as achievements by local riders on the international circuits, the Tour de Windhoek is not only the pride of the Namibian road cycling.

“It also gives a platform for our local riders to enter and experience the thrill of professional competition at its best.

“It guides them to greater heights as they climb the ranks and develop their talents,” organiser Leander Borg said.

This year, the event has been made possible by sponsorships from Hollard, Pupkewitz, Radio Wave, NBL, Kickstart Events, Windhoek Pedal Power and the Namibia Cycling Federation.

Organisers lauded these companies for their contributions, which are expected to make the tour bigger and better than before.

“Cycling is a very good thing and such competitions are important because they can serve as tourist attractions,” Namibia Cycling Federation (NFC) president Rolf Adrian said.

Team representatives have been requested to confirm their starters and collect their race numbers and timing chips at the Hollard Assessment Centre.

Once again this year, South African teams have confirmed that they will be part of the competition.

One of the organisers, Manny Heymans, said: “My initiative, which is the Tour de Windhoek Light, will be incorporated in the Tour de Windhoek.

“The Tour de Windhoek Light is mainly for female competition and other cyclists interested in joining are welcome.”

The entrance fee for teams is N$3 000 and only six individuals per team are allowed, with a minimum of three in a team. The Light category will cost N$500 per individual entry.

The distance that will be covered is 400km for the Tour de Windhoek, and 21km for the Light category.

The winners of the tour will walk away with N$15 000, second place will take home N$11 000 and third N$8 000.

The fourth-placed team will receive N$5 000 for their efforts, while fifth place will get N$2 000 and sixth N$1 000.

The first prize in the King of the Mountains will be N$5 000, second N$3 000 and third N$1 500.

The best sprinter will receive N$5 000, the second sprinters N$3 000 and the third N$1 500.

The best young rider will get N$5 000, the second-best N$3 000 and the third-best N$1 500.

The best team will receive N$8 000, second place N$5 000 and third place N$2 000.

The organisers also came up with a new N$5 000 prize that will be awarded to the best Namibian team of the competition. The reward was created to avoid South African teams walking away with all the prizes like last year.

JESSE JACKSON KAURAISA

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'No time to cry' for Mourinho

August 6, 2018, 4:00 pm

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'No time to cry' for MourinhoUnited fall to Bayern United's roller-coaster pre-season ended in defeat on Sunday when Javi Martinez's second-half header earned Bayern Munich a 1-0 victory at the Allianz Arena. NAMPA/AFP



Jose Mourinho admitted that he may not have his ideal side at his disposal when Manchester United open their Premier League campaign on Friday.

Spain international Martinez nodded in from a corner on 59 minutes as the German champions overcame a lacklustre display from Mourinho's side who face Leicester City at home on Friday.

"In the week, we have to organise the week in a way so we can be fresh for Friday because, on Friday, the Premier League starts. We play for points and it's with the players we have," Mourinho told MUTV.

"There is no time to cry. Players are not going to be here on Friday and we have to go with best possible team and with a great mentality."

Mourinho still remains hopeful of strengthening his side in the transfer window before the August 9 deadline, with Brazil international midfielder Fred the club's top signing this summer.

"My CEO knows what I want for quite a long time," Mourinho told German TV ahead of Sunday's game. "I know he tries to do the best for me, and I still have a few days to wait and see what is going to happen."

Marcus Rashford and Victor Lindelof returned for United on Sunday after their post-World Cup break, although the visitors lost Eric Bailly to injury after the interval following a collision with Serge Gnabry.

"Finally, it's over. Finally, such a difficult pre-season is over. The players were, once more, brilliant, they could not have done better than what they did," added Mourinho to MUTV.

Rashford wore the number 10 short, previously the Old Trafford property of the likes of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"He wanted it. He always wanted it," said Mourinho.

"Of course, he respected Rooney and then Zlatan wanted to have it. Of course, he was in the shadow, waiting for the opportunity and now the shirt is empty.

"It's something fantastic for the kid, let's give the shirt to him."

Bayern, under new coach Niko Kovac, will head back to their training camp in Tegernsee ahead of next weekend's German Super Cup against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Danny Boy calls out Hitman

August 6, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Danny Boy calls out Hitman Albinius 'Danny Boy' Felesianu has called out former world champion Paulus 'Hitman' Moses to fight him at The Dome in Swakopmund in December.

Speaking to the media following Jeremiah Nakathila's victory over Malawi's Wilson Masamba at The Dome, the former International Boxing Federation Africa lightweight champion said he wanted to fight Moses in the lightweight division.

“Nestor (Tobias) is here, I am saying to him, make this fight happen. I want Paulus Moses here in December. I am the best in the lightweight division,” Felesianu said.

In response Moses questioned Felesianu's credentials.

“That boy has no title. What does he want? I have proven to everyone that I am a world-class boxer. I won a world title in Japan. I defended it in Windhoek. I just fought for another world title, so why must I prove myself?” he asked.

However he said he was ready for Felesianu – anytime, anywhere as long as the money was good and the fight was arranged accordingly.

“That boy does not have any promoter or manager. His career is washed out, he just wants to use my name,” he added.

He further said Felesianu does not know boxing rules because he uses the wrong platforms to arrange fights.

Moses said every fighter wants to fight champions and he is therefore not fazed by the attention from 'backyard boxers'.

“I fought in America recently because Raymundo Beltran wanted to fight the best. He called my manager. I did not call him. That boy must do the same. He should stop being childish. Hitman is under Nestor Sunshine Tobias Promotions, talk to them and make an offer,” he advised.

Moses said he has already signed a contract to fight for the World Boxing Organisation Africa title in Ghana in October and the contract has been signed with an unnamed fighter.

He went on to say he is disappointed that Namibian boxers are busy trying to be the best in Namibia while his focus was to be the best in the world, revealing that he still has hopes for winning a world title.

Moses vacated the same title when he fought Beltran in the United States of America, and his unnamed Ghanaian opponent won the title after beating Zonke Fana of South Africa after that.

The former world champion beat Fana in 2013 in Windhoek by technical knockout.

Moses added that since his fight in Ghana is in October, he will be more than ready to fight in December.

“We do not entertain craziness. Who is Danny? What title does he have? Who has he fought before? What is his ranking? I mean, there is no news there, it is as good as you saying you are challenging (Floyd) Mayweather. No one will take you serious,” said his manager, Nestor Tobias.

NAMPA

Uutoni calls for rugby in northern Namibia

August 6, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Uutoni calls for rugby in northern Namibia Minister of sport Erastus Uutoni says it is hard to find rugby being played in northern Namibia despite the fact that the area has strong and talented athletes for the game.

Addressing the youth at the Oshakati Youth Expo at the Oshakati Independence Stadium over the weekend, Uutoni said rugby is mostly prominent in Windhoek, Swakopmund and Rehoboth.

“I want to see Windhoek, Swakopmund and Rehoboth playing rugby with Oshakati here,” Uutoni told his audience, which included Oshana governor Clemens Kashuupulwa.

For rugby to be developed in northern Namibia, Uutoni suggested that a rugby academy be introduced and for local business personalities to consider the provision of rugby facilities and fields.

During his visit to northern Namibia last month, Uutoni bemoaned the fact that existing sports facilities were allowed to fall into disrepair in the regions and called on regional leaders to ensure that such facilities are maintained.

He singled out Caribbean, a volleyball, basketball and tennis court in Oshakati, as one facility that has become dilapidated.

He urged regional governors to join hands with the business community to organise and sponsor sports indabas in their regions for sport advancement.

Talented athletes, Uutoni said, should be identified and groomed by means of regional sport tournaments for national teams.

NAMPA

Unmolested Shelby Mustang on auction

August 6, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Unmolested Shelby Mustang on auctionGlobal interest expected The car still wears its original Wimbledon White paintwork with Guardsman Blue door sill striping. This car may well be the only original, unrestored Shelby GT 500 in existence. - Greg Marucchi, Organiser: Concours SA The organisers of the Concours South Africa Classic Car Auction at Steyn City are expecting huge global interest in a completely original and unrestored 1968 Shelby Mustang GT 500 on 11 August.

The achingly-original special Mustang GT500, one of just over 1 100 examples produced by Carrol Shelby in conjunction with Ford in 1968, will go under the hammer at the auction which is being orchestrated by international classic car auctioneers Coys of Kensington.

Coys have already distributed their catalogue to some 25 000 of their clients and global bidding is expected to be intense for the auction which will feature almost 80 cars and some rare motorcycles.

The Shelby GT 500 is one of the 75 cars forming the Plit Portfolio, which will be auctioned on the Saturday evening, as one of the highlights of the three-day Concours South Africa 2018 spectacular. Johannesburg collector Wayne Plit is the third owner of the Shelby, which was bought new by a South African travelling in the US in 1968. The car was driven around the US, including a trip to Disneyland in 1969, before being shipped out to South Africa in 1970.

Soon after it arrived here it was acquired by its second owner, Johannesburg enthusiast Francois Lamprecht who owned the car for four decades before selling it on to Wayne Plit.

Original

The car still wears its original Wimbledon White paintwork with Guardsman Blue door sill striping. It was ordered by the original owner with the high-horsepower KR-specification 428 cubic-inch V8, and also KR-spec dual fuel tanks. It still wears its original, unrestored 10-spoke alloy Shelby wheels and a T-bar Hurst shifter (also factory-original) for its four-speed gearbox. The engine has never been opened, and the original spare wheel still resides in the boot.

This car was super-quick in its era, with a 0-100 km/h time under six seconds. Every single piece of trim and Shelby-specific equipment is present on the car, which has only covered 67 300 miles!

“This car may well be the only original, unrestored Shelby GT 500 in existence,” says Concours South Africa organiser Greg Marucchi. “The Mustang is only slightly patinated despite being half a century old, and we would advise the new owner who acquires it at Steyn City on 11 August to preserve its originality as an absolute priority.

“A car is only original once. As soon as it has been restored it loses that factory-built originality which is irreplaceable. The wonderful thing about this Shelby is that it is still remarkably presentable in its original paint and trim.

We would love to see it entered, as sold, at Concours South Africa 2019!”

Many more rarities

Apart from the Mustang, there are many rare cars being auctioned at the Concours South Africa festival.

One of these is a Renault Alpine A110 in the very rare 1600 S specification, which again makes it very desirable on the global market. The car was once owned by classic car racer Brian Evans, and is a 1973 model, that is believed to have resided in Angola and then Rhodesia before arriving in this country.

Evans sold the car on to well-known motorsport photographer Danie van Jaarsveld, who then sold it to auctioneer and historic racer Shannon Winterstein. The car was bought by its current owner at a Johannesburg auction in 2016, and is very original, still with its factory-fitted roll cage and beautiful Alpine-spec alloy wheels.

Rare motorcycles

Those with inside knowledge value the original Honda CB 750 K0 and K1 series models, launched in 1969, as amongst the most collectable superbikes in the world.

At least one of these will be up for auction on 11 August at Steyn City as part of the Plit Portfolio, and other rarities will include a mid-1960’s Honda CB450 “Black Bomber” in café racer guise, and a Ducati 750 GT. There will also be rare BMWs on the auction, and Harley Davidsons. And for those hipsters and mods out there, a pair of original Vespas will also be on the auction, along with many more rare, classic motorcycles.

Delectable Alfa Romeos

One of the most beautiful Alfa Romeo sports cars of all time is the Giulia SS model with flowing Pininfarina coachwork. A red Giulia Sprint Speciale 1600 (to give the car its full title) will be on the Concours South Africa 2018 Auction, along with a Giulietta Sprint Veloce from 1962 and a trio of Alfa Romeo Spiders from the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s.

All these cars feature the classic Alfa Romeo Twin cam all alloy motor that built the marque its huge reputation for affordable sporting motoring, especially during the 1950’s through to the 1970’s. One of these is the very collectable 1600 Duetto round-back version.

And for Olde English lovers

Lovers of classic British cars will not be disappointed.

Headlining the selection of rare Britons will be a mid-1930’s Singer le Mans, of which only three were ever built. Another beautiful British classic is the Alvis TD21 Saloon. This 1961 model features coachwork styled by the Swiss specialist Graber and crafted by Park Ward. And the Alvis features wire wheels and an enticing wood-panelled dashboard!

Also on offer will be an Austin Healey BN1, one of the early Healeys that gained such a good reputation here in South Africa, a Jaguar XK120, a Triumph Spitfire, a Triumph GT6, and a number of TVR’s. There will also be a couple of original-spec Mini Cooper S models on offer. - MotorPress

Haufiku a hala omalunduluko muuministeli we

August 6, 2018, 4:00 pm

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Haufiku a hala omalunduluko muuministeli weEkondololo lyankundipala oshimwe shomwaambyoka otayi teya po oshikondoo shuundjolowele Ominista yUundjolowele oya popi kutya uulingilingi muuministeli mboka owo tawu shunitha pevi oshikondo shoka. Moonkundathana ndhoka a ningwa naye koshifokundaneki shoNamibian Sun mEtitano lyoshiwike sha piti, Minista Bernard Haufiku okwa popi kutya iilonga yankundipala muuministeli otayi etithwa komaupyakadhi ga yooloka oshowo aakuthimbinga ya yooloka.

Okwa popi kutya okwa hala elunduluko muuministeli mboka okuza kelelo lyoshikondo, omukalo getopolo lyiikwaniipangitho, ta popi kutya ngele inaku ningwa omaunduluko ngoka nena oshikondo shoka otashi tsikile nokugwa pevi.

Uupyakadhi wumwe mboka wa taalela oshikondo shoka oompungululo oonene dhuuministeli mboka, dhoCentral Medical Store ndhoka taalela uupyakadhi wokwaahena ekondololo ewanawa.

“Ope na omwaka omunene. Kape na ekondololo. Ondali koompungulilo ndhoka wiiwike iyaali ya piti na onda nongele nehaluko kutya iinima otayi gandjwa owala ethimbo kehe ndyoka ya pulwa. Aniwa kape na omulandu ngoka tagu indike okugandja omiti. Nena ngele onda pula iinima yi li 100 oshiwike sha piti ihe nena natango tandi pula iinima 100 okuza moompungulilo ndhoka, otandi pewa owala pwaahena omapulo kutya iinima mbyoka nda pula oshiwike sha piti oya yi peni, otandi tumu owala,” Haufiku a popi.

Uuministeli owa thiminikwa woo natango opo wukaleke omalongekidho ngoka wa li tawu ningi opo wu tume aanambelewa okuza koUnited Kingdom ya vule okulundulula oompungulilo ndhoka.

Haufiku okwa tothamo natango kutya uuministeli otawu longitha iimaliwa oyindji mokulanda omiti ndhoka tadhi pulwa kiipangelo yimwe po oshowo koohandimwe, noomiti ndhoka otadhi landwa kongushu yi li pombanda noonkondo okuyelela nondando yomalanditho.

“Ethimbo limwe oshimaliwa shoka shi li po otashi vulu okulanda shoka sha pumbiwa po ihe momukalo moka tashi longithwa itagu idhidhimikilwa. Iinima yimwe ethimbo limwe otayi landwa kondando yi li pombanda niikando itatu okuyelela nonando yomomalanditho molwaashoka ope na oyendji mboka ye na ohokwe melando ndyoka meni lyuuministeli oshowo pondje, na otaya longitha pambambo omukalo gwokulanda iipumbiwa yuuministeli.”

“Omulandu gwetu gwomayakulo nago itagu longo muuwanawa wetu. Aantu oye na ootendela ihe oopresenda 80 dhilionga mbyoka otayi longwa kaaniilonga yepangelo. Etokolo lya hugunina ohali ningwa kelelo lyotendela ihe hakuuministeli. Efalo liikulya kaapangwa, iilongitho tayi longithwa oshowo oombiga niinima ayihe mbyoka epangelo tali futile.”

Omalunduluko ngoka ga ningwa momulandu gwelando lyiinima yuuministeli okupitila muamushanga ihe hakiipangelo we ogwa etitha uupyakadhi, nomwaka guulingilingi.

Okwa popi kutya omalunduluko ngoka otaga etitha kehe shimwe shoka tashi pulwa kiipangelo na osha pumbwa okulandwa shi ziminwe kuamushanga naashoka poompito dhimwe osha etitha enkundipalo megandjo lyomayalkulo. Minista okwa gandja oshiholelwa ngaashi poompito ndhoka oshipangelo sha pumbwa olamba ompe nena osha pumbwa okuzilila tango kuamushanga guuministeli.

Okwa gandja omaiyuvo ge kutya andola, iipangelo oya pumbwa okupewa oshinakugwanithwa shokulanda iinima mbyoka tayi pumbiwa nokukala noshinakugwanithwa shokulongitha iimaliwa yo tayi vulu woo okukala taya hokolola kutya iimaliwa yawo oye yi longitha ngiini.

JEMIMA BEUKES